FEBRUARY 2, 2022
RICHMOND, BC (PGA of British Columbia) – As the PGA of British Columbia’ signature professional-development event, the Association’s Spring Education Seminar annually provides a wide range of learning opportunities for its member Professionals regardless of their career paths.
When the event returns on Monday and Tuesday of next week, it will once again feature a number of highly acclaimed instructors and coaches like Andrew Rice, Trillium Rose and Gareth Raflewski. Other notable names from outside the golf industry – including actor Lochlyn Munro and hockey personalities Jarome Iginla, Jim Hughson and Bob Nicholson – will share some of the successes and lessons learned in their accomplished careers.
But the Seminar also provides opportunities to hear from new and emerging voices within our sport. Over the past year, Canadian golf course architect Christine Fraser’s has been one of the loudest.
In addition to working alongside esteemed architects such as Martin Hawtree and Jeff Mingay, Fraser’s socially responsible approach to design and her status as one of few women working in the field have brought her much-deserved exposure through golf media since late 2020, starting with a feature penned by Rick Young that originally appeared online via SCOREGolf and brought her unique perspective to a wider audience.
“Then they published it in the magazine, then the Toronto Star picked it up, then Golf Channel got in touch with me,” Fraser recalled in conversation with the PGA of BC administration team. “All of that has happened within the past 12 to 18 months and it’s just been incredible.”
Beyond additional interest in her services, time in the spotlight has quickly made Fraser an influential personality in the golf world.
“The number of people who have emailed me saying, ‘I read your article and it was really inspiring,’ or … ‘Hey, I have a daughter who’s interested in starting to play golf, do you have suggestions for her or can she reach out to you?’ – there have been so many inspirational messages like that and it’s been so nice,” said Fraser, who never expected to be an aspirational figure by following her passion into course design.
“I figured if I could pay the bills and have fun doing it, I’d be happy, but all of this extra stuff has been such a bonus.”
Fraser’s impressive portfolio includes work on notable European courses including Royal Birkdale Golf Club, Sunningdale Golf Club and Royal Aberdeen Golf Club as an apprentice under Hawtree. Now based back at home in Ontario, Fraser’s domestic work includes re-design work at Toronto Golf Club. This past year, Fraser and Mingay were named as collaborators in developing a master plan for renovation work on the Stanley Thompson-designed Beaconsfield Golf Club in the Montreal area.
Fraser’s one-hour session on Tuesday afternoon will be structured as a conversation with the PGA of BC’s 2018 Dick Munn Golf Professional of the Year, Cindy Soukoroff (St. Eugene Golf Resort & Casino). Their discussion will bridge the gap between elements of architecture and golf operations with emphasis on Fraser’s sustainable approach to course design – both environmentally and in the accommodation of golfers of all abilities and backgrounds.
“Recruitment and retention of players, and specifically women, to the game is crucial and we all need golf to be sustainable in that way to have jobs. The more beginners that we can entice to come in and join the game, the better for everyone,” said Fraser.
“(I hope) Professionals can go back to their club, pick up their scorecard and say, ‘OK, these are some objective numbers or wordings that Christine mentioned that maybe we can improve upon,’ in terms of making the golf course more accessible to people with disabilities, for beginners, seniors, women, and that we can touch on some architectural tricks and tips and thoughts that I have and when we’re designing forward tees or fairway lines and how that translates to the experience of the golfer.”
Fraser will also be welcoming questions from the audience during her session.
“Nothing’s really off limits,” she said.
The Seminar will again allow for expertise within the PGA of BC membership to be highlighted through a presentation from Point Grey Golf & Country Club Head Professional Dave Zibrik, who will lead a session on building a brand and developing culture, using his facility’s new practice facilities known as The Farm as a case study. The Association is also pleased to have business mogul and Seminole Golf Club President Jimmy Dunne open our program on Monday morning, while fitness expert Ali Gilbert will kick off the schedule on Tuesday.
Remaining in a virtual format for 2022 has allowed the Association to engage high-profile guest speakers from across North America for the two-day event, bringing world-class insights from accomplished experts right to PGA of BC Professionals at their home, office or facility. But to Raflewski, the exchanging of information in a forum like the Spring Education Seminar is a two-way street.
“As much as I’m taking advantage of the opportunity to share my ideas, I’m looking forward to hearing other people’s ideas as well,” said Raflewski, a two-time recipient of the PGA of Canada’s George Knudson Teacher of the Year Award whose client base includes four LPGA Tour players who have reached No. 1 in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings.
“I follow some of the Professionals out in BC and getting an opportunity to connect with more people out there is a big bonus for me, because I’m well known in Ontario but there are a lot of Professionals out west I’d like to get to know more as well.”
Raflewski is already known to many PGA of BC members, as the short-game guru shared his expertise on putting during an education session at the Association’s 2020 Buying Show. His talk next week will delve into some of his knowledge with scoring clubs, but also provide guidance on the business of teaching for burgeoning instructors.
“I like to help younger Professionals coming up because if you’re getting into golf, you’re not getting into it for the money, so how do we help them stay in the business a little bit longer?” Raflewski asked. “Not all of them are going to be driven to be teachers, but if we can give them a way to increase their income levels through (their early years in the industry), we tend to retain them.”
More than 140 Professionals are already signed up to attend. Event registration remains open until 4 p.m. PST on Friday, Feb. 4. PGA of BC members can obtain access to both days of the seminar for just $99 plus GST. Non-members are welcome to attend for $199 plus GST with the reference of a Class “A” Professional.
Click here to access the Spring Education Seminar event page, which includes a link to registration and complete details on each speaker and presentation.
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EVENT ITINERARY:
Monday, Feb. 7
8:45 a.m. – Opening Remarks – Donald Miyazaki; Executive Director, PGA of BC
9:00 a.m. – Jimmy Dunne; Vice-Chairman & Senior Managing Principal, Piper Sandler
10:00 a.m. – Gareth Raflewski, PGA; Class “A” Professional, RiverBend Golf Community
12:00 p.m. – Break
1:00 p.m. – Panel Discussion: Jarome Iginla, Bob Nicholson & Jim Hughson
2:30 p.m. – Trillium Rose, PGA; Director of Instruction, Woodmont Country Club
4:00 p.m. – Adjournment & PGA of BC Annual General Meeting
Tuesday, Feb. 8
9:00 a.m. – Ali Gilbert; Founder, Metabolic Golf
10:00 a.m. – Dave Zibrik, PGA; Head Professional, Point Grey Golf & Country Club
11:00 a.m. – Lochlyn Munro; Actor
12:00 p.m. – Break
1:00 p.m. – Christine Fraser; Course Architect, Christine Fraser Design
2:00 p.m. – Andrew Rice; Director of Instruction, The Club at Savannah Harbor
4:00 p.m. - Adjournment
**Schedule & lineup subject to change
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For more information, please contact:
Eric MacKenzie
Communications & Marketing Manager, PGA of BC
(604) 303-6766
eric@pgabc.org