PGA of BC

E-NEWS

OCTOBER 9, 2024

Manage pace of play and on-course operations with optimization technology

Tagmarshal’s innovative technology provides courses with full, real-time operational oversight and reporting. Using a hybrid of advanced GPS technology, AI and powerful algorithms based on data from more than 75 million tracked rounds, performance-driven managers can proactively manage pace and flow of play to enhance the player experience, increase efficiency through automation and generate additional revenue.

The intuitive and customizable system features advanced data visualization tools with in-depth analytics and reporting that will help operators save labor hours and optimize their tee sheet capacity.

“The tool has been invaluable for managing our members and staff. The team at Tagmarshal is professional and attentive and our Club loves the product.” Matt Johnson, General Manager/COO, Royal Mayfair Golf Club

Tagmarshal partners with private, daily fee, public and resort courses, including 40 of the Top 100 US courses and more than 600 courses globally, as well as several golf management groups. Canadian course partners include Royal Mayfair, Golden Golf Club, St. Eugene Resort, Fairmont Jasper Park, Priddis Greens, Ladies Golf Club of Toronto, Wooden Sticks, St. George's Golf and Country Club and Donalda.

Whether you’re a private club or a $50 daily fee course, watch our demo at tagmarshal.com/demo to learn how Tagmarshal will transform your operation. Alternatively, contact Stephen Knoop, Managing Director of Tagmarshal International, at stephen.knoop@tagmarshal.com to schedule a live demo and ROI calculation.

The PGA of BC encourages members to apply for the Jim Gibson Scholarship and the Community Leadership Bursary by Thursday, October 17, in advance of the Association’s Awards Celebration on October 29. Information on both awards can be found on the Scholarship Program page on our website.

In honour of the late Jim Gibson, the PGA of BC is proud to offer the Jim Gibson Scholarship in tribute to the commitment and dedication of the longtime Association ambassador. The award will be given annually to a PGA of BC member that best exemplifies volunteerism and demonstrates dedication to furthering their education to benefit others in a community.

To access and complete the Jim Gibson Scholarship application form, please click here.

With the pursuit of education serving as a pillar of this award, we encourage members to ensure their Professional Development Program submissions are up to date, as submissions in the “Education” category could help to supplement your application. To fill out the PDP Submission Form, please click here.

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.

To access and complete the Community Leadership Bursary application form, please click here.

We encourage members to ensure their Community Engagement Program submissions are up to date, as participation in that program exemplifies the values of the Bursary and could supplement your application. To fill out the CEP Points Requisition Form, please click here.

The Jim Gibson Scholarship and Community Leadership Bursary will be presented to the winners at the PGA of BC Awards Celebration on October 29.

For more information, please reach out to Communications & Marketing Manager Graham Abraham at graham@pgabc.org.

2023 Jim Gibson Scholarship winner Vince Trama

2023 Community Leadership Bursary winner Brady Stead

Recap and photos via the PGA of Canada

The PGA of Canada Women’s Cup team comprised of Emma de Groot, Caroline Ciot, Katy Rutherford, Casey Ward and Christine Wong put up a valiant effort at the 2024 PGA Women’s Cup, placing second out of six teams at Sunriver Resort in Sunriver, Oregon.

Team Canada entered the final round six-strokes back of the Americans, but Team USA pulled away on Saturday with four of their five plyers firing under-par rounds. Canada finished the tournament at 2-under par as a team (the top 3 player’s scores out of 5 counted each round), and finished 16 strokes ahead of the third-place team from Australia.

This is Canada’s third-consecutive runner-up finish in the biennial event which began in 2019. More information about the history of the event can be found here.

Christine Wong was the low player for the Canadians, firing rounds of 70-70-71 (-2) to finish third overall behind Americans Allie Knight (-3) and Stephanie Connely Eiswerth (-6).

"I absolutely enjoyed my experience at my third PGA Women’s Cup!" said Wong. "I am proud of our team play as we fought to the end although we just fell short. Maybe next time! I am proud to be Canadian and to represent our country on the Women’s PGA world stage."

Three Canadians finished within the top-10 overall, with Ciot finishing 9th and Ward finishing 10th with both players closing with a final-round 69.

For the final leaderboard, please click here.

Recap and photos via the PGA of Canada

The team comprised of PGA of Canada professional Devon Schade and amateurs Ethan Hunter, Kayle Tosh, William Middleton and Tanner Chamberlin, who originally qualified from Larters at St. Andrews Golf & Country Club in Manitoba, were dominant the past three days at Cabot Cape Breton, firing net -64.1 (gross rounds of 58-55-56) to win by 4.1 strokes over the team from Niagara National Golf Club at the RBC PGA Scramble National Final.

With the win, the full team wins special Cabot Cape Breton RBC PGA Scramble headcovers produced by Dormie, as well as a trip to the 2025 RBC Canadian Open at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley.

The runner-up was the team from Niagara National Golf & Country Club which included PGA of Canada professional Keaton Jones and amateurs Ryan Nagy, Mike Formica, Shane Belanger and Mike Maloney, while the team from Pinegrove Country Club featuring PGA of Canada professional Louis-Alexandre Pitre and amateurs Luc Guevremont, Laurence Guevremont, Amelia Guevremont and Charles Guevremont rounded out the top 3.

In total, the 2024 RBC PGA Scramble featured over 12,000 players from across the country looking to earn a spot at Cabot Cape Breton at over 180 local qualifiers hosted by PGA of Canada professionals. The tournament also set a record with over 1,200 female participants.

For the full leaderboard, please click here.

Did you know that the PGA of BC will be running an hourly draw prize program at the 2024 PGA of BC Fall Trade Show?

Members who attend the event can win great prizes. The Association extends its thanks to Corey Austin and the entire team at Sundog Distribution (Sundog Eyewear, Blue Tees Golf, et al.) for already supplying a variety of awesome merchandise that can be won by those in attendance.

This year’s Fall Trade Show takes place October 29 & 30 at the River Rock Casino Resort in Richmond, BC. For more information about the 2024 Fall Trade Show, click HERE, or reach out to a PGA of BC office team member.

The Lower Mainland's G&G Tour hosted its two-round Tour Championship at Shaughnessy Golf & Country Club and Marine Drive Golf Club on October 7 & 8. Tying in first place as G&G Tour champions, Bryn Parry (Seymour Creek Golf Centre) and Khan Lee (GreenTee Country Club) each closed the tournament at 9-under par. Lee held the Round One lead after shooting 67, which he matched in the final round, while Parry fired rounds of 68-66 to draw even with Lee and earn the shared title. John Shin (Northview Golf & Country Club) and Kevin Stinson (Cheam Mountain Golf Course) tied in third place, three shots back of the lead at 6-under. Michael Caan (Riverway Golf Course) rounded out the top five, finishing at 5-under.

The Vancouver Island Club Pro Tour competed at Arbutus Ridge Golf Club and Gorge Vale Golf Club on October 7 & 8 for the Tour Championship. Brad Liptrot emerged as the Vancouver Island Club Pro Tour champion, firing rounds of 72-69 to finish at 1-under and take the two-shot victory in a come-from-behind win. Nate Ollis (Cordova Bay Golf Course) and Mark Bicknell (Gorge Vale Golf Club) tied as runners-up, closing the championship at 1-over. Ben Griffin (Uplands Golf Club) finished in fourth place, while Christof Appel (The Golf Performance Project) was fifth.

The Westland Insurance Interior PGA Tour held its Tour Championship October 7 & 8 at Gallagher's Canyon Golf & Country Club. Shooting rounds of 72-69 to finish at 3-under for a two-stroke victory, Mark Kitts (Shadow Ridge Golf Club) earned the title of Interior PGA Tour champion. Kitts showed resilience in persevering after three bogeys on the first five holes of Round One. Lionel Taylor (Monte's Golf Shop) and Cody Bell (Talking Rock Golf Course) tied for second place at 1-under. Brian McDonald (Fairview Mountain Golf Club) earned a solo fourth place finish, while Kyle McMurphy (Two Eagles Golf Course & Academy) and Russ Latimer (Black Mountain Golf Club) tied for fifth.

The Kootenay Pro Tour held its Tour Championship September 16 at St. Eugene Golf Resort & Casino and September 17 at Wildstone Golf Course. Trevor Simkins (Bootleg Gap Golf) won the 2024 Kootenay Pro Tour Championship, tapping in a birdie putt on the first playoff hole to claim the victory. Simkins outlasted Peter Kenneford (Creston Golf Club) and Chase Bodoano (The Springs at Radium) in the sudden-death playoff after the three competitors tied following 36 holes. In addition to winning the Tour Championship, Simkins topped the KPT Order of Merit standings and was named Player of the Year. Life Professional Harold Simkins won Most Improved Player, and Jerome Thorne (Eagle Ranch Golf Resort) took Rookie of the Year honours.

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!

UBC Thunderbirds

Women's Coaching Staff: Chris MacDonald, Jeff Buder, Tim Wilson, Tyler McNeil, Taylor Kim

Men's Coaching Staff: Chris MacDonald, Jeff Buder, Tim Wilson, Tyler McNeil, Patrick Lago, Keir Smith

The UBC Women's Golf Team won the Canada West Championships at the Okanagan Golf Club (Bear Course) on October 7 & 8, with a cumulative team score of -16 to win by 34 shots. Elizabeth Labbe took the individual crown, lighting up the course with a tournament-low 66(-7) on Tuesday to finish with a two-round total of 138 (-8)

The UBC Men's Golf Team finished in second place at the Canada West Championships at the Okanagan Golf Club (Bear Course), shooting a team score of 7-under. The Thunderbirds were paced by Mackenzie Bickell, who closed the tournament at 4-under to finish tied for third place on the individual leaderboard.

To read a full recap of the event via Jake McGrail, UBC Communications, please click here.

Simon Fraser University Red Leafs

Coaching Staff: Krysta Schaus, Matt Cella, Kim Senecal, Scott Kerr, Timothy Rattan

The SFU Women's Golf Team competed in the West Texas A&M Regional Preview at La Paloma Golf Club in Amarillo, Texas September 30-October 1. The Red Leafs earned an eighth place finish, with Izzy Ferguson taking ninth place on the individual leaderboard to lead the team. Host university West Texas A&M won the event.

The SFU Men's Golf Team competed in the Western Washington Invitational at Bellingham Golf & Country Club on September 30 & October 1. The team finished in second place overall, with Colorado Christian University taking the victory. The Red Leafs were paced by Brendan O'Brien and Danny Im, who tied for thirteenth place on the individual leaderboard.

UVic Vikes

Coaching Staff: Justin Clews, David Rands

The UVic Women's Golf Team competed in the Canada West Championships at the Okanagan Golf Club (Bear Course) on October 7 & 8. The Vikes earned a spot on the podium, closing the championship in third place overall. Cindy Koira was the Vikes' leader, carding rounds of 74-69 to finish in individual third place.

The UVic Men's Golf Team competed in the Canada West Championships at the Okanagan Golf Club (Bear Course), finishing in fourth place. Jagre Knight was fifth on the individual leaderboard at 3-under.

To read a full recap via Alexis Chevalier, Vikes Sports Information, please click here.

UBC Okanagan Heat

Coaching Staff: Clay Stothers, Mackenzie Barrie, Brandon Raine

The UBCO Women's Golf Team took a silver medal as runners-up at the Canada West Championships this week. Closing the two-round championship with a team score of 18-over par, the Heat were propelled by Bess Chan, who finished at even-par to lead the team and earn sixth place among individuals.

The UBCO Men's Golf Team took their program's first ever Canada West Championships title in dominant fashion, posting a combined score of 24-under to win by 17 strokes. Ryan Gillis (-9) won the individual title, while Thomas Lemay (-7) finished as runner-up and Andrew Rouble (-4) tied for third.

Full recaps via Jamie Howieson:

Women's | Men's

University of the Fraser Valley Cascades



Coaching Staff: Connor O'Dell, Kathy Stecyk, Sean Douglas

The UFV Women's Golf Team competed in the Canada West Championships, where they finished in third place. Morgan Best led the way for the Cascades, shooting one-over par to tie for seventh place among individuals.

The UFV Men's Golf Team earned a fifth-place result in the Canada West Championships. Eli Greene was the top performer for UFV, closing his tournament at 2-over and tie for 16th place on the individual leaderboard.

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.

MEMBERS ON THE MOVE

David Kuss' application for Life Member designation has been approved

Steve Phillips' application for Life Member designation has been approved

Krysta Schaus has become Head Golf Coach at Simon Fraser University

Max Vaclav has left Storey Creek Golf Club 

For all Members on the Move information, please click HERE.

Assistant/Associate Golf Professional - Nanaimo Golf Club

Assistant Golf Professional - Storey Creek Golf Club

General Manager - Chilliwack Golf Club

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.

October 29-30

PGA of BC Fall Trade Show

River Rock Casino Resort, Richmond, BC

Member Registration

Dates TBA

PGA of BC Simulator Series

Various Locations

December 9-12

PGA Head Professional Championship of Canada presented by Callaway Golf

Mission Resort & Club, Howey-In-The-Hills, Florida

Register Here

CONTACT THE PGA OF BC OFFICE TEAM