Aeration: Short Term Pain, Long Term Gain

Usually, we’ve pushed aeration back as late as we can go.
We usually go at the end of September, but we’ve been caught a couple of times where the weather hasn’t been really good afterwards and we haven’t had really good regrowth, so we’re aerating this week.
We may have to give up some revenue, but we’re [...]

I Want To Believe Golf Is Rebounding

The first two weeks of August were probably the busiest I’ve ever seen it for that time of year.
I’m not sure if the reason is the improving economy and, to be honest, I really don’t need an explanation. I’ll just take it. I think a big part of it is that we’ve had such good [...]

Let’s Hope Fires Don’t Affect B.C. Tourism

We’re nowhere near the fires that are burning in the interior of British Columbia. We’re probably about three hours, at least, away from it.
I guess it’s conceivable that it could affect us here on the Lower Mainland, but it’s pretty low risk because most of the fires in B.C. are started by lightning. If we [...]

Travel Is The Only Concern About Shaughnessy

As I’ve mentioned in previous blogs, playing in the 2009 RBC Canadian Open was one of the most cherished experiences of my life and I hope to make it back there one day. It would be extra sweet if I could play in my own backyard in 2011 at Shaughnessy Golf and Country Club in [...]

First Open Is An Eye-Opener

My first PGA Tour event was a real eye-opener after I made it to last year’s RBC Canadian Open at Glen Abbey in Oakville, Ont., for winning the Titleist and FootJoy Canadian PGA Club Professionals Championship in Port St. Lucie, Fla., the year before.
You learn a lot in a heartbeat about what those guys do [...]

St. George’s Will Enhance Its Reputation

I’ve had the pleasure of playing at St. George’s Golf and Country Club, the site of this year’s RBC Canadian Open, once and that was about eight or nine years ago.
To sum it all up, I would use the word awesome.
Even back then, I heard about the practice facility being small, but I loved it. [...]

Rain, Rain Go Away For This Open

After my first experience at the RBC Canadian Open last year at Glen Abbey in Oakville, Ont., I’m hoping that this year’s event catches a break as far as the weather goes.
The rain that we got last year was frustrating because there’s a good chance that it might be my only shot at a PGA [...]

Each Course Has Its Own Unique Challenges

With Point Roberts being located in the State of Washington, obviously we don’t have to deal with the Harmonized Sales Tax that will be affecting British Columbia courses that aren’t that far away from us.
However, we all have our own unique situations to deal with and one of the challenges at Point Roberts is that [...]

Send Them Away With Smiles On Their Faces

We’re doing something a little different for our golfers this year.
I can’t remember where I heard about this, but our marshals are going around and, if they see a great shot out there or somebody doing something over and above – like raking two or three bunkers, for example – that golfer will receive a [...]

HST Won’t Hurt B.C. Golf, But I Still Don’t Like It

You may have heard that former British Columbia premier Bill Vander Zalm is going riding to riding, hoping to get enough names to force a referendum on the Harmonized Sales Tax, which goes into effect on July 1.
I’m not really paying attention because I don’t think he’s going to be able to pull it off. [...]

CPGA Centennial Is Important Milestone

The 100th anniversary of the Canadian PGA in 2011 is a huge milestone. I think all of the association members and the people involved with the Canadian PGA should be proud of the centennial.
Hopefully, with the PACE program now passed, our association gets stronger and stronger and we’re well on our way into the next [...]

CPGA Championship Is Part Of Our Heritage

The return of the Canadian PGA Championship would be great for the association, especially with our 100th anniversary coming up in 2011.
I think for a faction of Canadian PGA members who come from a playing background or know the tradition of the event, it’s huge.
There are a lot of newer members of the association or [...]

CPGA Has Resources To Build Education Modules

As I mentioned in my last blog about the recently-passed PACE (Professional Advancement, Career Enhancement) program, I’ve taken several education topics put on by the PGA of America.
One of them was tournament operations. You think you’ve got yourself dialed in because, as a golf professional, you’ve done so many tournaments, but there is tons of [...]

PACE Questions Were Answered Before Vote

I was pleased to see the passing of the PACE program because I think in the long run, it’s going to be very beneficial for the Canadian PGA and its zones.
It’s like anything else that’s new. There will be some detractors and there will be some people who are a little standoffish about it, but [...]

Focus On Fitness Continues To Grow

It’s no secret that fitness has become an important aspect of golf the past few years, but I’m finding that the emphasis is starting to pick up even more.
At first, it was the really avid people who were taking an interest in fitness, but now it seems that for people just getting into the game, [...]

Golf Courses Are Living An Olympic Dream

As I began this blog, I looked out the window and saw not a cloud in the sky. I can see the Vancouver Mountains and, contrary to popular belief, they do have snow on them, not a lot, but there is some.
 It was like an April day and it was expected to stay that way [...]

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