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PGA of BC
E-NEWS
JULY 31, 2024
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PGA OF BC PARTNER SPOTLIGHT
PING CANADA
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PING is a family-owned golf manufacturer, founded in 1959 in the garage of the late Karsten Solheim, a mechanical engineer with an extensive background in the aerospace and computer industries.
Solheim and his company are credited with numerous innovations that became industry standards, including perimeter weighting, custom fitting and the use of investment casting in golf clubs. As a brand, PING is synonymous with innovation, quality and service in the world of golf and supports over 100 tour players worldwide including Viktor Hovland, Sahith Theegala, Tony Finau, Linn Grant, Jennifer Kupcho, and Canadians Mackenzie Hughes, Corey Conners and Maddie Szeryk.
PING Canada is proud to offer online courses through PING Academy as well as other online resources and Fitting Tools like PING Co-Pilot, WebFit, and WebFit Wedge. Professionals who participate in PING Academy courses will earn Professional Development Points. PING Academy is an online training portal providing instruction and certification in Product Knowledge, Fitting Science, Fitting Tools and Brand & Heritage Knowledge. Through PING Academy, professionals can gain greater knowledge of PING products and improve their skills as a custom club-fitter. PING Academy is complimentary for all PING accounts. Please visit PING Education or reach out to your local sales representative to learn more about PING Academy and other training opportunities.
PING Canada is located in Oakville, Ontario and is responsible for sales, marketing, distribution and the service of all PING products in Canada.
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JACK MCLAUGHLIN MEMORIAL PRO-JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES: SHADOW RIDGE GOLF CLUB | |
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Last week, the 2024 Jack McLaughlin Memorial Pro-Junior Championship Series headed to the Interior to take on Shadow Ridge Golf Club on July 24. Twelve teams made up of a PGA of BC professional and three junior golfers competed in the two-net Best-Ball tournament.
Congratulations to Kelowna Golf & Country Club's Jason Jurimae (Pro), Beckett Johnson, Connor Brasnett and Carver Millard on their victory, which they achieved by shooting a phenomenal Net score of 18-under par.
Penticton Golf & Country Club's Matt Jones (Pro), Cohen Bitzer, Devon Alger and Grayson Holmes earned second place at 16-under par, while Kelowna Golf & Country Club's Rob Anderson (Pro), Kolton Matthews, Kailie Matthews and Brielle Leach finished in third place, shooting 15-under par.
Thank you to General Manager James Presnail, Head Professional Mark Kitts and the entire Shadow Ridge Golf Club team for their first-class hospitality.
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JACK MCLAUGHLIN MEMORIAL PRO-JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES: FAIRWINDS GOLF CLUB | |
KEVIN STINSON BREAKS NICKLAUS NORTH COURSE RECORD WITH 11-UNDER 60 IN G&G TOUR VICTORY | |
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Kevin Stinson won the latest G&G Tour event Monday at Nicklaus North Golf Course, a victory he earned by shooting a course-record and G&G Tour-record 60 (-11).
The Cheam Mountain Golf Course Head Teaching Professional made nine birdies and an eagle during his bogey-free round to achieve this incredible milestone. He started his round steady but unspectacular, sitting at 1-under par through six holes. However, he caught fire soon after, birdieing holes 7, 8 and 9 for a 4-under 32 on the front nine. The back nine is where Stinson absolutely dominated for a resounding win and to clinch the record. Birdies on 11, 14, 15, 17 and 18, and an eagle on the par-5 13th hole propelled Stinson to an inconceivable and mind-boggling 7-under 28 on the back. Stinson's exploits earned him a commanding five-stroke margin of victory over runner-up Khan Lee (GreenTee Country Club) to win his third G&G Tour event of the 2024 season.
Stinson said his experience at last year's Whistler Open, where he was unable to maintain his position atop the leaderboard, impacted his play on the back nine Monday.
"I played the Whistler Open on the Vancouver Golf Tour last year. I had a four-stroke lead going into the back nine and I blew it. I was thinking ‘You’re kind of in the same position, make sure you finish it off,’ and that kept me going and I kept hitting good shots."
The immaculate conditions at Nicklaus North presented a great opportunity for such an elite round.
"I would call that perfect golf conditions. It was supposed to rain on us and had rained a little bit before we got there, so that softened things up. We played with very little wind and a course that was in perfect condition, so that always helps with scoring. The fairways were perfect, the greens were some of the best I’ve seen this year, so hats off to Andrew [Smart] and his team for such a great job," said Stinson.
At last week's PGA of BC Jack McLaughlin Memorial Pro-Junior Championship Series event at Cultus Lake Golf Club, Stinson made seven birdies and an eagle for another incredible result, finishing at 8-under par. Playing with his junior teammates motivated him.
"I would give a little credit to playing in the Pro-Junior. That putting day I had there, that gave me some confidence and got me feeling pretty good. Getting to play with my juniors, it inspired me to try really hard and play really well," said Stinson. "The round at Nicklaus North was similar, kind of had that same feel where the putts were going in and the ball-striking was good. It was a lot of fun to get to tee it up and every pro that can should try to take a team and play the Pro-Junior."
For the full leaderboard from Monday's G&G Tour event, please click here.
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CANUCKS JUNIOR GOLF WEEK SPREADS LOVE OF THE GAME TO OVER 800 BC YOUTH | |
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With Canucks Junior Golf Week wrapped up for the 2024 season, the PGA of BC is thrilled to see consistent growth in the program across the province with over 800 BC youth taking part this year.
Canucks Junior Golf Week took place in dozens of communities throughout BC, where children effectively learn the game of golf through certified PGA of BC-instructed, single-day camps. The initiative has introduced over 6,000 British Columbia youth to the sport since launching in 2014.
PGA of BC professionals are the engines that drive Canucks Junior Golf Week, taking time out of their busy schedules to host camps and introduce aspiring juniors to the sport. The Association extends our gratitude and appreciation to every professional and facility that hosted camps this year.
Predator Ridge Golf Resort Professional Kyla Inaba hosted a camp this year, and emphasized the potential impacts that a program like Canucks Junior Golf Week can have on the future of the sport.
“Growing the game of golf and seeing the shared joy that golf can bring to kids, whether they’re experienced or brand new, is something that inspires me. Giving back to the game, which has given me and other pros so much, is a cool thing. Can one of these kids become the next Kyla Inaba or [Predator Ridge professionals] Sean Burke or Ward Pateman?” said Inaba.
This important initiative would not be possible without the incredible support from our partner, the Vancouver Canucks. Canucks mascot Fin joined a camp at Mayfair Lakes Golf & Country Club where he showed off his swing and interacted with the participants. The Association thanks the Canucks for their partnership and commitment to junior golf in BC.
To read the full recap, please click here.
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TOBIANO HEAD PROFESSIONAL SHANNON MCGEADY FEATURED IN LIGHTSPEED GAMECHANGERS BLOG SERIES | |
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Via Geoff Parent, Lightspeed; and originally published via the PGA of Canada
When you speak to Shannon McGeady about her role as head golf professional at Tobiano, the first thing you notice is a sense of pride, gratitude and validation.
After committing so much of her life to playing golf at a high level, working at a variety of golf courses and learning the intricacies of golf course management, the opportunity to represent one of Canada’s finest public facilities is one she still savors after ten seasons on the job.
Of course, this is the kind of luck that’s earned, and it’s not hard to understand why Tobiano’s leadership wanted Shannon for the role. She’s engaging, she’s incredibly passionate about golf and she understands that good management—like good instruction—comes down to a love of working with people.
It’s a concept that hit home for her as she moved through the PGA program at Lethbridge College.
“Golf is a customer service industry and there’s a lot that goes into it, but without the people, there’s no industry. So I really resonated with the management and communication courses, with trying to learn how different personalities function, how different people work and how to get the best out of people. Trying to understand what type of learner the person is.”
Developing and championing this people-first mentality has been key to Shannon’s impact as a head professional both on and off the course.
Read the full feature on the PGA of Canada website.
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The PGA of Canada Member Assistance Program (MAP) provided by Family Services Employee Assistance Programs (fseap) is a benefit for PGA of Canada members offered by an experienced national provider with a background in not-for-profit organizations and member-based associations.
The MAP provides members and eligible immediate family members with access to free, professional, and confidential counseling, coaching, and consulting services. These services can help you manage personal, family, and/or work-related concerns.
For full details on the MAP and how you can reach their 24-hour services, please click here.
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The Lower Mainland's G&G Tour hosted their latest tournament at Nicklaus North Golf Course on July 29. Kevin Stinson (Cheam Mountain Golf Course) set the course record with an 11-under 60, including an eagle and nine birdies, to win the event by five strokes. Khan Lee (GreenTee Country Club) finished in runner-up position with a 6-under 65. Zac Carson (Nicklaus North Golf Course) earned third place, shooting a 5-under 66. Read more about Stinson's all-time performance in the section above.
The Vancouver Island Club Pro Tour competed at Gorge Vale Golf Club on July 16. Winning the event by three strokes at 2-under par, Jake Scarrow (Gorge Vale Golf Club) earned the victory with his strong play. Sharing second place with scores of 73 were Christof Appel (The Golf Performance Project), Nate Ollis (Cordova Bay Golf Course), and Mark Bicknell (Gorge Vale Golf Club).
The Westland Insurance Interior PGA Tour held a tournament at Sunset Ranch Golf & Country Club on July 29. Finlay Young (GOLFTEC Kelowna) won the event in emphatic fashion, finishing at 6-under par for a 66 and the four-stroke victory. Todd Tweedy (Nk'Mip Canyon Desert Golf Course) took second place at 2-under, while Mark Kitts (Shadow Ridge Golf Club) finished in third with a 71.
The Kootenay Pro Tour took on Trickle Creek Golf Resort on July 15. Scott Merriam (Cranbrook Golf Club) and Dan Bourgeois (Wildstone Golf Course) tied after 18 holes shooting matching -4 68s. Bourgeois finally broke the tie on the third playoff hole to take the victory. Harold Simkins (Bootleg Gap Golf) earned third place with a 3-under 69.
Make sure to read the Regional Tour Roundup every week to stay up-to-date with the achievements of our members and to never miss any information!
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If you would like to place an advertisement in the Classifieds section, please contact Marketing & Communications Manager Graham Abraham at graham@pgabc.org to place a listing. | |
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Nathan Boal's application to the PGA of Canada has been approved and he becomes an Apprentice Professional at Burnaby Mountain Golf Club
Brayden Ellis's application to the PGA of Canada has been approved and he becomes an Apprentice Professional at Radium Resort
For all Members on the Move information, please click HERE.
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For any job postings that have been approved and published on the PGA of BC website, the Association will share relevant social media posts to assist your facility in the search for a candidate. We will share one post/story per job posting. Please ensure that you tag the PGA of BC's social media account in any post or story relevant to the posting. To ensure that we share the post/story in a timely matter, please also reach out to Communications & Marketing Manager Graham Abraham at graham@pgabc.org to notify us of the post.
For all job opportunities listed on the PGA of BC website, please click HERE (Log-in required).
For all job opportunities listed on the PGA of Canada website, please click HERE.
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SAVE THE DATE
UPCOMING EVENTS
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August 19-20
Axis Insurance PGA of BC Championship presented by GOLFTEC
Morgan Creek Golf Course, Surrey, BC
Waitlist Registration
September 11-14
PGA Assistants' Championship of Canada presented by Callaway Golf
The Redwoods Golf Course, Langley Township, BC
Register Here
September 30-October 1
Srixon/Cleveland Golf Club Professional Championship presented by Nike Golf & Mobilicab
Nanaimo Golf Club, Nanaimo, BC
Register Here
Cancellation deadlines for PGA of BC tournaments are 30 days prior to the event. Please ensure that you communicate your withdrawal to the PGA of BC Office Team before this date.
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