Tex Noble Award Winner Caught Off Guard

"To be quite honest, I didn't even know what the Tex Noble award was," Stevens told BC Golf News this week, "Needless to say, the phone call from (CPGA Executive Director) Gary Bernard came as quite a shock."

The award, named after the CPGA's former General Manager and esteemed Education Director, is the Association's top recognition for accomplishing a high standard of excellence among Canadian PGA Apprentice Professionals. Stevens obtained an impressive Class "A" Examination test score of 96%.

* See Editor's Note

Asked what he thinks the award means and what it may do for his career, Stevens says: "In short, I think it just shows my dedication to the game, both playing and teaching as well as my passion for being around golf. Golf has been extremely good to me over the past 13 years and it is my chance to start to give back to it. It also adds credibility to me as a golf professional and instructor."

Stevens played the majority of his junior golf at Riverside Golf & Country Club in Rothesay, New Brunswick. He graduated from the Professional Golf Management Program in Lethbridge, Alberta in 2004 and remained in southern Alberta for 4 years. He then moved to B.C. and the Nicklaus North Golf Course in Whistler where he worked as an Assistant Professional for two years

In January 2009, Stevens joined Granite Point as Golf Operations Manager and in late December successfully completed his Class "A" exam and became the Head Professional.

This winter Stevens has been totally engrossed in remolding his new pro shop and preparing programs for the coming season.

"We are increasing the number of junior camps, group lessons and instructor availability, as well as a few course improvements that are needed," says Stevens. "I do plan on spending the next few years, if not longer, here in Nelson and I find myself loving it more everyday. The people, our members and my co-workers are a pleasure to be around and it's starting to feel like home.

"This season I am hoping to play in more golf tournaments throughout the province to try and regain the form of old. Things are great here, and I feel like I am in a great place in my life."

* Editor's Note:
Tex Noble, whose golf career began an assistant at the Calgary G&CC in the late 30's, spent a lifetime in the military before retiring as a high ranking officer. He was one the creators of what is now known as CSIS. His love of golf was always present and in retirement was a devoted CPGA volunteer. In the late 1970s he was the Education Director for the Canadian PGA, creating and managing an education system that was used for more than 20 years and became the envy of PGA's around the world.

In 1983 he was hired as the CPGA's General Manager and proved invaluable in helping to resolve various internal issues. Totally devoted to the Association, Noble has been described as "having had the capacity at the age of 70 to churn out more work in an 8 hour day than most 30-year-olds."

When he finally retired form the CPGA the Tex Noble Award was created to honour his service to the Assocation and to annually recognize the apprentice achieving the highest mark on the Canadian PGA accreditation exam, the final threshold in earning the coveted CPGA Class 'A' Professional designation.

(With thanks to Barry McWha, Executive Director, BC Golf Museum and Hall of Fame.)