Tee 2 Green with Barry Sharpe - - January 16/2010

Unless Canada's Nick Taylor turns professional between graduation this spring and the summer of 2016, when golf is due to return to the five-ringed circus in Rio de Janaeiro, the closest he's likely to get to being a part of the Olympic games will be on February 7 at 7 in the morning when he travels to Merit, BC to carry the Olympic torch some 300 metres as part of the journey toward Vancouver and Whistler where the winter Olympiad will be staged come rain or snow.

The chances of an amateur representing Canada in the summer Olympics would appear rather slim since we are now in an era where profession athletes are the rule of the day. More than likely, however, Taylor, who is currently the Number Three Ranked Amateur in the world according to golf's governing body, the R & A, and currently No. 15 in the Golfweek/Sagarin College Rankings, will likely will be putting for big dollars by then, unless he pulls off a James Lepp and decides to design golf clothing instead of winning tournaments.

Taylor, a first-team All-American last year for the Washington Huskies, a former Canadian Junior and Canadian Men's Amateur champion, who was inducted into his hometown Abbotsford Sports Hall of Fame in 2006, is looking forward to being one of the 12,000 torchbearers that will have carried the Olympic flame.

"It's cool. It's quite an honor to have the Olympics in Vancouver. I would have liked to run in my hometown but I had no control over that. I guess I'll just get a track suit, run and then go back to sleep."

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The Vancouver Golf Tour continues to grow and mature with each new season. Commissioner Fraser Mulhuland may have to decide one of these years soon whether he wants to be a Teaching professional, a tournament organizer, a head professional, a golf administrator, a tour player or the super salesman that he is now. For look at the season ahead for pros and amateurs, visit the Vancouver Golf Tour

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Members of the PGA of British Columbia, unable to participate in the Golf and Travel Show usually held in February at BC Place Stadium (which is undergoing an Olympic upgrade), are instead preparing for the 2010 PGA of BC Spring Education Seminar March 16-17 at Marine Drive Golf Club in Vancouver. Highlight of the seminar will be some time spent listening and watching world-renowned golf instructor David Leadbetter,

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The latest PGA of BC changes reported by clubs throughout BC would seem to indicate more members are on the move, more new names are coming into the game and more pros are elevating their skills through educational programs.

Bill Wilson is the new Head Professional at Mabel Lake Golf & Country Club

Jesse Crowe left Mabel Lake and has become an Associate Professional at Canoe Creek Golf Club

Brad Russell has passed the Class A exam and becomes an Associate Professional at Seymour Golf & Country Club

Drew Bolokoski has passed the Class A exam and becomes an Associate Professional at Osoyoos Golf & Country Club

Mike Hobson has passed the Class A exam and becomes an Associate Professional at Sechelt Golf & Country Club

Cindy Soukoroff has taken a Maternity Leave of Absence - Congratulations!

Greg Pidlaski is no longer the Head Professional at Kelowna Golf & Country Club

Shayne Dysart is no longer the Head Professional at Wildstone Golf Course

Andrew Toews has resigned from the Canadian PGA

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Here are some of the Career opportunities now available at the PGA of BC

NEW
CPGA Technical Consultant
Callaway Vancouver Performance Centre

NEW
Head Professional
Eaglecrest Golf Club

NEW
Assistant Professional
Highland Pacific Golf

NEW
Assistant Golf Professional
Arbutus Ridge Golf Club

NEW
Assistant or Associate Professional
Merritt Golf Club

NEW
Guest Services Manager
Tobiano

NEW
Associate Golf Professional Class A
Tobiano

NEW
Entry Level &/or Assistant Professional
Sunset Ranch Golf & Country Club

NEW
Associate/Assistant Professional
Quilchena Golf & Country Club

NEW
Pro-Shop - ELITE Assistant Golf Professional
Victoria Golf Club

Assistant Golf Professional
Olympic View Golf Club

Assistant Professional
Point Roberts Golf & Country Club

Assistant or Associate Professional
Glacier Greens Golf Club

CPGA Assistant Professional
Copper Point Golf Club

Assistant Golf Professional
Cranbrook Golf Club

Assistant Golf Professional
Shuswap Lake Estates Golf & Country Club

Associate or Assistant Professional
Golden Golf Club

Assistant Golf Professional
Lakepoint Golf & Country Club

To view more careers listed in the Members Only section visit www.pgabc.org

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The Washington State Golf Association (WSGA) has announced their 3rd annual Winter Tournament Series will begin January 22 with a Stableford event at Bellevue Municipal Golf Course, followed February 19 with 2-person Scramble at Oakbrook Golf & Country Club in Lakewood. On March 26 The Cedars at Dungeness in Sequim, will host Stroke Play competition and he wingter tournament series concludes April 9 at Apple Tree Resort in Yakima with 2-person Best-Ball final. For additional tournament information visit www.thewsga.org or contact the WSGA at (800) 643-6410.

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