Copper Point Golf Club Executive Professional Brian Schaal was a big winner at the recent PGA of BC Awards Receptions. Not only did Schaal walk away with an NGCOA Award, he was named the 2013 PGA of BC Professional Development winner.

Schaal gives back to the sport in many ways, not the least of which is paying for all his professionals' entry fees to play in the local Kootenay Pro Tour Series.

"I believe if we are trying to grow the game, we need to play the game even more today," said Schaal. "It is a minimal cost that produces maximum results."

Schaal has also shepherded programs which include Copper Point adopting a local school, Eileen Madson Primary School, for the National Golf in Schools program; Copper Point participating in the Take A Kid To the Course program and and branching this off to create another program where kids 12 and under play golf free all year long; and Schaal personally playing in the Annual Longest Day of Golf which supports the ALS Society.

Schaal also helps give back to the local community, volunteering on the Board of Directors for the Summit Youth Centre, a local yough club that keeps kidds off the street and introduces them to the sport of golf; starting Tim Hortons Junior Camps where more than 25 kids a year learn and play golf at Copper Point; and starting a program called Feed The Town, where the club makes Christmas Dinner for everyone free of charge, as long as you bring a non-perishable food item for the local Food Bank.

"Feed The Town helps break the barrier between golfers and non-golfers, as we all meet at the clubhouse to support a cause that is not directly linked to golf," said Schaal.

Outside of the golf course, Schaal is a lifelong Toronto Maple Leafs fan who recently went out to Calgary to see his beloved Leafs win. Schaal was also lucky enough to enter son Luke in a recent PGA of BC prize draw where Luke won the right to skate out with the Vancouver Canucks before their Sept. 23 pre-season game against the Phoenix Coyotes.

Congratulations to Brian on being the 2013 PGA of BC Professional Development winner.