MARCH 16, 2020
KELOWNA, BC (PGA of British Columbia) - More than two dozen PGA of British Columbia Professionals returned to the Education Series in-person this Tuesday after two years of the series being conducted soley through virtual means. The 2022 education stop landed in Kelowna at The Harvest Golf Club hosting three speakers from across the coaching sector.
Speakers covered topics such as dealing with obstacles and change, developing junior golfers and building a community.
Principal of Charity Success Coaching Kevin MacDonald took the stage in our first education session back in the flesh to speak on obstacles and how to use them to your advantage.
"There are times when it is hard to forget what we have been through in the past two years and there are times when it is hard to remember how limited and restricted we were not that long ago...Now it is time to check in with ourselves to make sure we are ready for what is next." - Kevin MacDonald, Prinicpal at Charity Success Coaching
Apprentice Professional Conner Kozak (The Okanagan Golf Club) was second to speak at The Harvest Golf Club explaining how there are some fallacies when it comes to teaching today's youth. Conner had an impressive junior golf career highlighted by several championships and top finishes in high-level competition. Kozak was named captain of the UBC varsity golf team for three out of his four years during the 2011-2015 seasons.
"Coaching and developing today’s junior golfers can present several challenges along with common misconceptions. How can we effectively learn to nurture and encourage junior golfers to take the next step in their game?" - Conner Kozak, Apprentice Professional at The Okanagan Golf Club
In recent years Kozak has been awarded with the PGA of BC’s Jack McLaughlin Junior Golf Leader of the Year, and this past season he added the Jack Westover Coach of the Year Award to his resume.
Apprentice Professional Kyla Inaba closed out the speakers in Kelowna with her ideas on how to build community in an academy and in a professional network. Kyla is the Academy Manager at the Predator Ridge Resort and played golf professionally in 2013-2018 before diving all-in to golf instruction and coaching. Her flagship program at Predator Ridge is "Swing Like a Girl" and was recognized as the PGA of BC's Teacher of the Year for the Interior Region in 2020.
Video recordings of all presentations will be made available on the PGA of BC Education Series Archive in the near future.
Thanks to General Manager Gilles Dufort, Head Professional Bruce Vermee of The Harvest Golf Club and Nathan Grieve of Talking Rock Golf Course as well as the rest of the team at The Harvest Golf Club for hosting the event again this year.
To sign up for upcoming Education Series events click here.
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For more information, please contact:
Owen Simpson
Communications & Marketing Manager, PGA of BC
(604) 303-6766
owen@pgabc.org