PGA of BC PARTNER SPOTLIGHT
OAKCREEK GOLF & TURF LP
Oakcreek Golf & Turf LP is Western Canada's full-service distributor of Yamaha Golf Cars, Toro Commercial Turf Care Equipment and Toro Golf Irrigation Equipment, plus all additional related products. It proudly offers the very best quality products and professional service and support to golf courses, municipal parks, independent landscapers and private clients.
 
The company has been in business since 1969 and currently employs approximately 100 people throughout the year at its six locations throughout Western Canada, which include Surrey, Kelowna and Duncan in British Columbia.
 
Oakcreek Golf & Turf LP is a Silver-level partner of the Association and a Presenting Sponsor of the PGA of BC Club Professional Championship. Click below to visit Oakcreek Golf & Turf LP online.
BIRDIES & BUCKETS WIN AT SHUSWAP LAKE IN RETURN OF JACK McLAUGHLIN MEMORIAL PRO-JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP PRESENTED BY COBRA PUMA GOLF
The Surrey-based Birdies & Buckets Family Golf Centre team consisting of Head Teaching Professional Jeff Hallborg and juniors Gavin Giesbrecht, Nathan Freer, and Levi Hallborg blistered Shuswap Lakes Golf Course last Friday, taking home their first Jack McLaughlin Memorial trophy.

The popular event made its return after a two-year pause due to the COVID-19 pandemic, last hosted in 2019 at Highland Pacific Golf in Victoria, BC. The tournament’s unique format comprises teams of one PGA of BC Professional and three juniors from the same facility in an 18-hole, Two-Net Best Ball format.

Birdies & Buckets Family Golf Centre claimed victory at 14-under par, two strokes better than Andrew Bentley, Bryden Cavanagh, Nate Turner, and Aaron Cattermole representing Kamloops Golf & Country Club, and the all junior girls team of Malania Sidhu, Lauren Nedo, Meera Miunhas representing The Vancouver Golf Club led by Professional Jordan Rourke.

All participating juniors enjoyed their day, each having taken home a piece of the $8,500+ retail prize table, furnished mostly of COBRA PUMA Golf products. Additionally, participants also received valuable tee gifts representative of both brands.

For a full recap on this event, please click below.
NOMINATION PERIOD FOR 2022 PGA OF BC AWARDS NOW OPEN
The PGA of BC is pleased to announce that nominations are now being accepted for the Association's 2022 Awards Program.

The open period will take place for one (1) month, closing on Thursday August 25, 2022. Submissions may be made by members of the PGA of BC and the general public in recognition of excellence on the part of a member Golf Professional, Facility or Sales Representative.

Nominations are accepted for awards in the following categories:
  • Dick Munn Golf Professional of the Year
  • Fred Wood Class "A" Professional of the Year
  • Jock McKinnon Apprentice Professional of the Year
  • Cec Ferguson Executive Professional of the Year
  • Golf Facility of the Year
  • Alvie Thompson Teacher of the Year
  • Ben Colk Golf Shop of the Year
  • Jack McLaughlin Junior Golf Leader of the Year
  • Herb Paterson Sales Representative of the Year
  • Jack Westover Coach of the Year
  • Davie Black Professional Development Award


The 2022 PGA of BC Awards Celebration presented by Replay Golf Supplies & Tribal will honour this year's Regional and Provincial Recipients on Wednesday, Oct. 12th, 2022 at the River Rock Casino Resort in Richmond, BC. More details and ticketing information about this event will be made available in coming months. For full details on the nomination process, please click the below link.
APPLICATION WINDOW NOW OPEN FOR SCHOLARSHIP & BURSARY
Members are advised that applications are now being accepted for the 2022 Jim Gibson Scholarship and PGA of BC Community Leadership Bursary.
 
The Jim Gibson Scholarship is given annually to an individual within the PGA of BC community that best exemplifies volunteerism and demonstrates dedication to furthering their education to benefit others in a community. The 2021 recipient was Robert Clarke (Nanaimo Golf Club) to assist his pursuit of High-Performance Coaching and Leadership at the University of British Columbia.
 
The PGA of BC Community Leadership Bursary is awarded to an individual or member facility within the Association demonstrating an extraordinary desire and passion to make a significant difference in the lives of those around them, and in doing so, sets an example of “giving back” that all PGA of BC members can be proud of. The 2021 recipient was Larry Ramstad (Lone Wolf Golf Club) to benefit the continued growth and accessibility of junior golf in the surrounding areas of Taylor, BC.
 
Both awards are in the amount of $1,000. Applications will be accepted until September 16th.
 
Click below to learn more about the two awards and access their respective application forms.
OFFICE HOLIDAY CLOSURE NOTICE
Please be advised that the PGA of BC administration office will close next week in observance of British Columbia Day.

The office will be closed on Monday, Aug. 1. Regular office hours will resume at 8 a.m. PT on Tuesday, Aug. 2. The next issue of E-News will be delivered on Thursday, Aug. 4.

The PGA of BC wishes all members, industry friends and their families a safe and happy holiday weekend.
CONGRATULATIONS
Congratulations to The Okanagan Golf Club's Conner Kozak and Cordova Bay Golf Course's Nate Ollis, both of whom were victorious on their respective regional tours this week. Kozak and Ollis both pick up their third wins of the season.

The Interior PGA Tour made a stop in Oliver where 30 members gathered at NK' Mip Canyon Desert Golf Course on Monday. Kozak (pictured above) shot a 1-under par 71 for a 4-stroke victory over Mark Kitts (Shadow Ridge Golf Club) and Brian McDonald (Fairview Mountain Golf Club) to claim the $560 first place prize. Kitts and McDonald both earn $367.50 each as runners-up.

Meanwhile in Courtney, BC on Tuesday, Crown Isle Resort & Golf Community hosted 28 members of the Vancouver Island Club Professional Tour where Ollis continued his fine play by being the only player finishing in red figures. The Apprentice Professional posted a 2-under par 70 to earn a $540 pay day. Three-stroke back were Jason Giesbrecht (The Golf Performance Project), Bill Kelly (Crown Isle Resort & Golf Community), Lucas Nonni (Bear Mountain Golf & Tennis Resort), and Dylan Cheyne (Victoria Golf Club). Each posted 1-over par 73's to take home $322.50 for their efforts.

All four regional tours have one event remaining on their 2022 PGA of BC Order of Merit-eligble schedule in addition to their respective Tour Championships.
MEMBERS ON THE MOVE
Nathan Hickey has left Marine Drive Golf Club and joins GOLFTEC North Vancouver as an Apprentice Professional
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
Associate Professional - Pitt Meadows Golf Club
PGA of BC PROFESSIONAL SPOTLIGHT -- JORDAN MURPHY
Head Professional, Bear Mountain Golf & Tennis Resort

Member Since: 2013

At which golf facility did you first begin working within the industry, and who was the PGA Professional?
Cardiff Golf & Country Club, Trevor Commet (Executive Professional)

What is your most cherished golf memory?
Attending the 2018 Masters with my dad

Which significant accomplishments are you most proud of?
Becoming a Head Professional was a dream of mine since joining the association.

If you had to share one piece of advice with a new member of our Association, what would it be?
Ask questions and don't be afraid to try something new. Taking on responsibility and showing initiative goes a long way.
Want to be featured in the Professional Spotlight of an upcoming E-News? Click here to complete the PGA of BC member profile questionnaire.
FACT OF THE WEEK
Since commencing the promotion of Member-profiles in E-News in January 2021, over 75 members have had their stories shared through the weekly publication. This feature has served as a great opportunity for PGA of BC Professionals to get to know their colleagues and to introduce them to the province's golf community as a whole.

Less than 10% of the PGA of BC membership has been shared and the Administration Office would like to encourage more members to take the time to fill out the short questionnaire survey about their accomplishments, advice for up-and-coming Professionals, and more.

Profiles are selected at random for each E-News publication. To fill out the survey, please click here.ember Profile Questionnaire
PGA of British Columbia | info@pgabc.org | (604) 303-6766 | pgabc.org
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