Recap: 2026 PGA of BC Education Seminar presented by TaylorMade Golf Canada
February 12, 2026 - The 2026 PGA of BC Education Seminar presented by TaylorMade Golf Canada took place earlier this week at Tsawwassen Springs Golf, where over 210 golf professionals gathered for valuable presentations from a variety of insightful and inspiring speakers. From expert golf instruction to leadership strategies to mental health awareness, the lineup of presenters sparked meaningful conversations and helped advance professional development in BC.
The Seminar opened Monday with an uplifting and energetic talk from Coach Valorie Kondos Field, UCLA Gymnastics Head Coach (1991-2019) and seven-time NCAA National Champion, who shared her journey from a ballet dancer to an all-time great, legendary gymnastics coach, and the mindset she used to reach those heights.
Lesley Hawkins, Marsley Canada Partner, keynote speaker and podcast host, joined attendees to discuss her leadership strategies and expertise, with a focus on overcoming unforeseen challenges in senior leadership roles with adidas Canada throughout the pandemic.
Ed McLaughlin, son of iconic BC golf professional Jack McLaughlin, explored his own career from working in leadership roles in the golf industry to now serving as Executive VP and COO of Rogers Arena. McLaughlin talked about how his experience in sports helped shape the leader he's become.
Closing out Monday's sessions, we were joined by PGA of BC Life Professionals Hal Eremko, Earl Francis and Tryg Wenn, who have combined for 165 years as members of the PGA of Canada. In a conversation moderated by PGA of BC Executive Director Mark Strong, they shared wisdom and advice from their long, respected and successful careers in the industry.
Tuesday's slate of speakers featured an engaging presentation from renowned golf instructor and Golf Digest Top 50 Best Teacher in America Jon Tattersall, who explored the connection between ground force and ball speed. Tattersall highlighted how effective pre-swing ground interaction, including setup, balance, and pressure into the ground, lays the foundation for generating more speed and maximizing performance.
Tyler Smith, who survived the deadly 2018 Humboldt Broncos bus crash and won Season 9 of The Amazing Race Canada, shared his story of resilience and recovery, from his initial physical recovery to the long-term ongoing mental and emotional recovery necessary after a traumatic event. Smith spoke about the support system he relied on in the wake of tragedy and the personal philosophies that have helped him cope with loss and grief.
Matt Simone, who serves as Director of Product Creation - Custom for TaylorMade Golf at the company’s headquarters in Carlsbad, California, closed the Seminar with an informative presentation on TaylorMade’s technological advancements. He underscored the company’s use of cutting-edge artificial intelligence to optimize equipment and drive engineering innovation.
Aidan Schumer, Apprentice Professional at Pacific Golf Academy (Richmond), attended his first Education Seminar this week.
"I definitely expected a lively and uplifting atmosphere, and that's absolutely something that was delivered. My expectations were exceeded by the sense of community and cooperation there. I definitely felt the brotherhood and sisterhood, and it was great to be a part of that," said Schumer.
"I learned a ton, and I feel that much more motivated to do good work, give back to the game, and grow the game in my career. I have a clearer picture of where I want to be five, ten years down the road because of my experience these past two days."
Noah Dube, Apprentice Professional at Pitt Meadows Golf Club, has attended several Education Seminars and emphasized the variety of topics and diversity of viewpoints that serve as valuable building blocks in golf professionals' career advancement.
"There was a great variety of speakers and topics. We had aspects of coaching, fitting, personal growth, it covered all walks of your career and life while keeping you engaged from start to finish," said Dube.
"You can go in not knowing what to expect, and you can walk away with a new outlook on who you are as a professional and what you need to do to grow. You can learn from people you didn't think you'd learn from or meet ever in your life."
The PGA of BC extends a special thank you to TaylorMade Golf Canada and Sales Manager Lance Antonenko for their continued, generous support of the Education Seminar. We encourage members to send a note of appreciation to Antonenko at Lance.Antonenko@taylormadegolf.com.
Antonenko said he was thrilled by the level of engagement from attendees and thanks members for their participation.
"Education gets everybody thinking and learning in different ways. Doing it early in the spring, before the season really gets cranking, the golf pro always seems to pick up a few things from each speaker and overall, that makes them more well-rounded golf professionals," said Antonenko.
The Association also thanks Head Professional Matt Sutherland, Event Sales Manager Lauren Griffiths, Customer Experience Manager Tom Kwan, and the entire Tsawwassen Springs team for their hospitality.
For more information, please reach out to Communications & Marketing Manager Graham Abraham at graham@pgabc.org.