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 is a Presenting Sponsor of the PGA of BC Club Professional Championship. More details about this year's tournament will be released with the full PGA of BC championship schedule in the near future. Click below to visit Oakcreek Golf & Turf online.
EDUCATION SERIES CONTINUES MOMENTUM AT VICTORIA GOLF CLUB
Tuesday's stop at Victoria Golf Club on the 2020 PGA of BC Education Series presented by Foresight Sports Canada was another great event, with more than 30 members and guests from across the province in attendance.

Approximately one-quarter of the attendees traveled from out-of-region to experience insightful presentations from Robert Ratcliffe (Bear Mountain Resort Community, pictured), Greg Pool (Northview Golf & Country Club) and Lindsay Benard, Senior Corporate Trainer with our Preferred Partners at Dale Carnegie Training of British Columbia.

Click below to read a full recap of the event. Video recordings from each of Tuesday's presentations will be made available in the Education Series Archive at the administration team's earliest opportunity.

The Association would like to thank host Executive Professional Scott Kolb, Head Professional Lindsay Bernakevitch and the entire Victoria Golf Club team for their hospitality in hosting the event. The PGA of BC is also grateful for Foresight Sports Canada's continued support and commitment to furthering our members' education.

More information on the remaining events of this year's Education Series appears further below in this issue of E-News.
PING CANADA ENTERS PARTNERSHIP WITH PGA of BC
Earlier this week, the PGA of BC was proud to announce that PING Canada is once again a Preferred Partner of the Association.

In addition to being a Silver-level Preferred Partner through the 2022 season, PING will be a Presenting Sponsor of the PGA of BC Tournament of Champions for the duration of the agreement.

Over the past decades, PING has been a tremendous supporter of PGA of BC events and championships. Its generous sponsorship of the Tournament of Champions continues this long tradition.

The 2020 Tournament of Champions is scheduled for May 25 at a Vancouver Island facility. Full details will be released when the complete PGA of BC championship schedule is issued in the near future.

Click below to learn more about our new relationship with PING Canada.
REGISTRATION ENDS THURSDAY FOR KELOWNA EDUCATION SERIES STOP
Members are reminded that registration will close Thursday for next week's Kelowna stop on the PGA of BC Education Series presented by Foresight Sports Canada .

The Interior-region gathering is set for Tuesday, March 10 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Gallagher's Canyon Golf Club. The final installment of the series will happen April 27 at Fairmont Hot Springs Resort.

The presentations scheduled for the two remaining events are as follows:
 
“Building a Junior Culture at your Club”
Myles Johnson ; Head Professional, Hillview Golf Club
 
“Overcoming Obstacles to Instruction”
Clay Stothers ; Class "A" Professional, The Okanagan Golf Club
 
“Mental Fitness: Be the Boss of your Brain”
Sian Flanagan ; Founder, The Business of You

Registration deadline: Thursday, March 5
 
 
“Effective Tourism: Leveraging & Maximizing Available Grants”
Trevor Simkins ; Head Professional, Bootleg Gap Golf Course, &
Simon Jones ; Head Professional, Kimberley Golf Club
 
“Taking Advantage of Technology”
Jason Giesbrecht ; Head Teaching Professional, The Golf Performance Project

Registration deadline: Thursday, April 23

Please note that the registration window for the Victoria event closes at 4 p.m. PT tomorrow.

Click each event's heading for more detailed information and access to registration, or click below to view the PGA of BC Schedule of Events with direct registration links.
WORLD HANDICAP SYSTEM SEMINARS TAKING PLACE IN INTERIOR
British Columbia Golf will be conducting seminars on the new World Handicap System in Kamloops and Kelowna later this month.

The seminars provide a detailed look at the system that took effect on Jan. 1, and are appropriate for club staff or volunteers who will be involved with handicapping at a club level. Please note that at least one person from each club will need to be certified under the WHS. Exams will be administered to certify each club; more information on certification will be released at a later date.

The details for these Interior-region seminars are as follows:

Bighorn Golf & Country Club (Kamloops)
Friday, March 20; 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Click here for registration information

Sunset Ranch Golf & Country Club (Kelowna)
Saturday, March 21; 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Click here for registration information

Click below for more seminar details via British Columbia Golf.

Members are advised that points can be earned toward the PGA of BC Professional Development Program when making a requisition after attending the event and providing the necessary supporting documentation to pdp@pgabc.org .

As well, those who missed seminars in their region earlier this winter are reminded that a video recording of the Introduction & Overview of the World Handicap System presented by Doug Hastie (British Columbia Golf) during our Education Series presented by Foresight Sports Canada event at Richmond Country Club in January is available to view for a nominal fee in the PGA of BC Education Series archive .
MEMBERS ON THE MOVE
Mark LaVigne has left Birdies & Buckets Family Golf Centre

Jim Smith has transferred from the National Zone and joins Osoyoos Golf Club as a Class "A" Professional

Kenneth Maki has left Fernie Golf & Country Club

Richard Ingle has left Arbutus Ridge Golf Club

Robin Hutchinson has resigned from the PGA of Canada

Dakota Chase has left GolfTEC Richmond and joins Capilano Golf & Country Club as an Apprentice Professional

Nicasio Amoranto has left GolfTEC Vancouver Terminal Ave. and joins Marine Drive Golf Club as an Apprentice Professional (April 1)

Keith Martin 's application to the PGA of Canada has been approved and he becomes an Apprentice Professional at Tower Ranch Golf & Country Club 

Kate Weir has left Burnaby Mountain Golf Club and joins Rivershore Golf Links as the Head Professional

Kevin Oates becomes Executive Professional at Rivershore Golf Links

Daniel O'Connor 's has transferred from the PGA of Great Britain & Ireland and he becomes a Class "A" Professional at McCleery Golf Course

Darcy Dhillon has left Acushnet Canada Inc. and joins Morgan Creek Golf Course as a Class "A" Professional

Quinn Vilneff has left Eagle Ranch Golf Resort and joins Northview Golf & Country Club as an Apprentice Professional (March 17)

Jeff Hallborg has reinstated with the PGA of Canada joins Birdies & Buckets Family Golf Centre as the Head Teaching Professional

Justin Ford has left Bear Mountain Golf & Country Club and joins Victoria Golf Club as a Class "A" Professional

Cailean Hourigan  has left Bear Mountain Golf & Country Club and joins Victoria Golf Club as an Apprentice Professional 

Sam Young has left Victoria Golf Club
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
Assistant/Associate Professional - The Vancouver Golf Club
FACT OF THE WEEK
Do you have items that are still in good working condition at your facility that you are planning to replace for the season ahead? Or are you looking for gently-used items that can be re-purposed at your club? Don't forget that the PGA of BC offers classified listings as a complimentary service to members wishing to post want-ads and items for sale.
 
Members are welcome to place classified advertisements in our weekly newsletter for up to two consecutive weeks, but listings can remain on the Association's dedicated classifieds web page for longer periods. This page is restricted to members only, so website login will be required.
 
To place a classified listing in E-News and on the website, please contact Communications & Marketing Manager Eric MacKenzie at eric@pgabc.org . Click below to see available classified listings on our website. 
PGA of British Columbia | info@pgabc.org | (604) 303-6766 | pgabc.org
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