FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JANUARY 4, 2022
RICHMOND, BC (PGA of British Columbia) – The PGA of BC is proud to recognize its Top 100 Golf Professionals of 2021, as determined by the Association’s Professional Development Program (PDP) Order of Merit presented by Sunice & Bobby Jones.
The PDP Order of Merit acknowledges PGA of BC Professionals who make outstanding contributions to the Association, their communities, the province’s golf industry and, most importantly, themselves. The PDP provides an avenue to showcase and reward the diverse strengths of PGA of BC Professionals by crediting their participation in continuing education, the Association’s annual Buying Show and Awards Program, tournament competition and various forms of volunteerism.
“Sunice and Bobby Jones would like to congratulate all PGA of BC members named to the Association’s Top 100 Golf Professionals of 2021,” said Sunice CEO Derek Faith. “The individuals comprising this year’s Top 100 list are a remarkable group of men and women demonstrating tremendous dedication to their craft and personal growth.
“We are proud to support an initiative like the Professional Development Program that recognizes the hard work of PGA of BC members to the benefit of all in British Columbia’s golf community and industry.”
Additionally, the PGA of BC is pleased to acknowledge Brian McDonald, Executive Professional at Fairview Mountain Golf Club, as the first-place finisher on the 2021 PDP Order of Merit.
McDonald accumulated 107 points over the course of the season to top the standings by just a single point. The 50-year-old earned the maximum number of points available in the Education category through his participation in PGA of BC-administered professional-development sessions via the Spring Education Seminar, Education Series and Buying Show, as well as in extracurricular education. McDonald’s efforts in volunteerism throughout 2021 were also key to his first-place finish, as no other member earned more points in the Volunteer/Other category during the past year.
“I am so proud to have been awarded the honour of top spot in this year’s Professional Development Program,” said McDonald. “I have always aimed to be a lifelong learner with a goal of continual self-improvement, primarily by engaging in educational opportunities. I feel this is so very important and regularly emphasize to my team the importance of being actively involved in the PGA of BC and PGA of Canada’s initiatives, education seminars and competitions.”
The result marks McDonald’s second time placing among the top 10 on the PDP Order of Merit, as his previous best finish came when he ranked eighth during the 2015 campaign. However, it was McDonald’s 2020 placing on the Order of Merit – his first-ever finish outside the top 50 since the program was launched in 2013 – that compelled him to make a charge at the top of the standings this past season.
“That really motivated me to increase my participation across the board to become more active not only within the industry, but also within my community of Penticton, specifically in relation to charitable events and worthy causes,” said McDonald.
“As leaders in the golf industry, I cannot stress enough the importance of Golf Professionals continuing to grow in our roles at our facilities, and the importance of remaining current and relevant for those like myself who have been in the profession for 25-plus years.”
McDonald barely edged Dennis Bradley (Copper Point Golf Club) for the PDP title, as Bradley amassed 106 points to finish just one off the winning total. As a three-time regional award recipient and the PGA of BC’s provincial recipient of the Davie Black Professional Development Award, Bradley was one of only two members who secured the maximum number of available Awards category points in 2021, and was once again active in tournament play, education and volunteerism to earn his first finish inside the PDP top 10.
Three past leaders of the PDP Order of Merit rounded out the top five, each falling just short of becoming the program’s first-ever two-time winner. Adam Blair (Talking Rock Golf Course, 2016 winner) placed third with 99 points, while Greg Pool (Northview Golf & Country Club, 2017 winner) and Nathan Grieve (Talking Rock Golf Course, 2020 winner) tied for fourth place with 95 points apiece.
CLICK HERE to view final standings for 2021 and more information about the Professional Development Program.
Thanks to the patronage of Sunice and Bobby Jones, the top-10 finishers on the Order of Merit will once again split a bursary purse of nearly $5,000, meant to provide financial opportunity and incentive to pursue additional education and professional-development undertakings in the future. We thank Sunice and Bobby Jones for their generous, ongoing support of the program.
Please note that these results have not yet factored in the PGA of Canada’s National Awards, which will be presented later this month. Points will be added retroactively to the Order of Merit should any of the PGA of BC’s eligible nominees be selected for a national award. However, the administration team has determined that the outcome of any national awards will ultimately have no impact on the final composition of the Order of Merit’s top 10 finishers or the list of Top 100 Golf Professionals.
Congratulations to the PGA of BC’s Top 100 Golf Professionals of 2021, listed below alphabetically with their primary facility or employer affiliation for the past year:
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Visit Sunice and Bobby Jones online to learn more.
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For more information & media inquiries, please contact:
Eric MacKenzie
Communications & Marketing Manager, PGA of BC
(604) 303-6766
eric@pgabc.org