Bryce has been a member of the Assistants’ Board since the beginning of 2019 and has been actively involved in the Association through all facets including committees, tournaments and education. He is the recent recipient of the PGA of Alberta Apprentice Professional of the Year Award in 2020 and a finalist for the National Award being announced on January 28th. Click here for more details.
The Assistants’ Board is in great hands moving forward with Bryce and the other Board members all striving towards making a positive impact for the Association and Assistant Professionals. Thank you to former Assistants’ Board President Sam Kirkness (Inglewood G&CC) for all of your hard work over the past year.
About the Assistants’ Board of Directors... Class A Professionals and Apprentice Professionals also have a voice in the Association, through the Assistants’ Board of Directors. Up to nine Class A Members or Apprentice Professionals are invited to run annually for two-year terms on the Assistants’ Board of Directors, and upon election assume a portfolio, and attend Committee meetings consistent with those on the Board of Directors.
If you are interested in running for a position on the Assistants’ Board of Directors in 2021, please click the link below (login required) for more information and to be directed to the Nomination form which can be submitted online. Deadline to submit your interest is Friday,January 22nd, 2021 (end of day).
Awards News
Dean Ingalls Takes Home Two National Awards after Outstanding 2020 Season
Congratulations to Mr. Dean Ingalls of Carnmoney GC on his historic evening after receiving two National Awards yesterday (Jan. 28th) at the PGA of Canada Awards Night. Dean was the recipient of the Murray Tucker Club Professional of the Year and the Pat Fletcher Retailer of the Year (Silver Springs G&CC) awards. Find more information below on Dean and the impact he made in 2020 leading him to these prestigious awards.
Podcast Series Reminder - In case you missed it earlier this month, be sure to check out Episode 1 of the PGA of Alberta Podcast featuring none other than Dean Ingalls. In this episode Dean discusses Leadership Strategies & Retail Innovations and helps us understand the importance of teamwork in his operation, some creative retail strategies during the pandemic and the crucial part of networking & mentorship throughout his career. CLICK HERE to be directed to links for the episode.
Murray Tucker Club Professional of the Year A double-award winner in 2020, Dean Ingalls is the Club Professional of the Year as well as the Retailer of the Year. Ingalls showed tremendous leadership in the early days of the pandemic, taking shifts with the turf department and helping food and beverage with curbside pickup. Once the extreme busyness of the season set in, Dean ensured Silver Springs ran smoothly, developing programs for new golfers and leagues for seasoned members. He continued to mentor young pros and he did not let 2020 impede his charitable nature. As one example, Dean used proceeds from customized water bottle sales to buy back $9,000 worth of unsold 2019 inventory and donate the clothing to a women’s shelter.
Pat Fletcher Retailer of the Year Remarkably, Dean Ingalls led the Silver Springs G&CC shop to a record sales year in 2020. The now two-time Pat Fletcher Retailer of the Year Award winner created Vision 2020, whereby staff members were put in charge of individual categories and asked to maximize sales with creative ideas. Silver Springs also sent members daily value pricing videos that were often injected with humour as shop staff modelled clothing and showcased products. Sidewalk sales, customized water bottles, and constant shop reorganization were other retailing techniques that Ingalls spearheaded.
Partner News
PGA of Alberta Expands Partnership with E-Z-GO in 2021
The PGA of Alberta is thrilled to announce an expanded partnership with golf cart manufacturer E-Z-GOfor the upcoming season. E-Z-GO will continue as a Presenting Sponsor of the upcoming Education Spring Seminar taking place on February 22nd & 23rd through a digital platform this year. If you are interested in attending the Seminar, please CLICK HERE (open to PGA members and industry professionals).
New for this season, E-Z-GO will become the Presenting Sponsor of our Pro-Pro Scramble classic which will be held in the Edmonton area in 2021. The Pro-Pro Scramble has become a member favourite on the tournament schedule over the past few years which features two PGA of Alberta Professionals competing in a team scramble format.
"E-Z-GO is proud to build on our relationship with the PGA of Alberta", said E-Z-GO’s Regional Director of Sales, Peter Restino. "The E-Z-GO team strives to be an active part of the golf community and we will continue to build on our relationships as use of our innovative, industry-leading products continues to grow in the region."
About E-Z-GO… During a hot summer in 1954, in a cramped one-room machine shop in Augusta, Georgia, E‑Z‑GO was born. Two brothers started with a simple belief that they could build a better golf car, that better met the needs of the customer, than any other vehicle that’s on the market.
E‑Z‑GO is a world leader in transportation and a leading global manufacturer of golf cars, utility vehicles and personal transportation vehicles. From their headquarters in Augusta, they build tens of thousands of vehicles each year, many of which feature game-changing technology and innovations, such as ELiTE lithium technology, to improve vehicle efficiency and enhance the user experience.
For more information on products, click here to be directed to their website OR contact your local Sales Rep below:
Peter Restino - Regional Sales Director T: 1-800-241-5855 C: 704-574-8267 E: [email protected]
Education News
Professional Development Podcast - Episode 2
The Education Committee is happy to present the second episode of our new Podcast series featuring various PGA of Alberta Members. Our second guest will be Mr. Bob Paley of Kananaskis Country Golf Course. He will be discussing Growing Culture and Authenticity Both Personally and Professionally with our Host, Bryce Halverson of Valley Ridge GC & PGA of Alberta Education Committee Member. In this week’s episode, Bob will help us understand the importance of authenticity & culture in his operation, and everyday life, while also sharing his journey through the industry and some humorous stories.
This new opportunity allows us to provide our members with more relevant topics from our industry leaders. The episodes are an easy listen, and we are confident that you will be able to extract some information that will help you professionally and personally. Our committee has enlisted the following guests for season 1 of the show; Dean Ingalls, Adam Werbicki, Riley Fleming, Bob Paley and Tahlon Sweenie. Each episode will be unique and cover specific topics that are relevant to our industry.
PGA of Canada Bursary Opportunities worth $500 Each - Deadline Jan. 29th
Each year, the PGA of Canada Foundation awards up to twenty (20) bursaries of up to $500 each to encourage, promote and support Members and Apprentices pursuing professional development / educational opportunities.
A bursary award is contingent upon a Member or Apprentice completing one or more professional development opportunities during 2020. Bursaries are only valid for the cost of registration/tuition of any one or more professional development opportunities during the calendar year.
The deadline to apply is Friday, January 29th, 2021.
Both 2021 Calgary & Edmonton Golf Shows will be cancelled this year due to COVID-19.
As the PGA of Alberta prides itself on being the Most Trusted Resource in Golf, we want to protect our Members, Exhibitors, Customers, and staff. These events will not be rescheduled to a later date in 2021. We want to keep everyone safe as that is the most important thing on our minds at the moment. Please remember to take care of yourself. Let’s bend the curve together.
If you have any questions, concerns or comments please contact:
PGA of Alberta Extends Partnership with Website Design Company Pixel Army
The PGA of Alberta is pleased to extend its partnership with website developer Pixel Army for 2021. Pixel Army will continue as the Presenting Sponsor of the Pro-Lady North which consists of one Professional paired up with a female amateur golfer in a team net stableford format.
Pixel Army has been a Proud Partner of the PGA of Alberta since 2017 supporting the Pro-Lady North event. They are responsible for creating and designing the revamped PGA of Alberta website launched at the beginning of 2018 making it more user and mobile friendly in addition to other enhancements.
"Pixel Army is proud to be once again partnering with the PGA of Alberta for the 2021 season", said Kevin Labbé, President at Pixel Army. "As our relationship has evolved throughout the past few years, we have felt a growing support from its membership. Our current sponsorship of the Pro-Lady North tournament has been a wonderful way for us to demonstrate our commitment back to the Association".
About Pixel Army… Pixel Army specializes in Website Design & Development, Digital Advertising & Search Engine Optimization. They design and develop custom websites from their home base of Edmonton, Alberta. Pixel Army builds visually appealing, highly functional sites that integrate with your entire organization; delving deep into organizational pain points to turn your website into an integral part of your overall strategy.
In their first 15-years their portfolio has expanded to include a wide variety of clients from a number of industries; small and large, private and public, for-profit and non-profit. Whoever the client, their talented team of designers & developers spend extra time on the small details to deliver websites that are tailored to each client’s unique requirements.
For more information on Pixel Army includingpricing (click here) and other websites they have created (click here), please visit their website or contact:
The Education Committee is excited to launch our new Professional Development Podcast series. With the impact of COVID-19 our committee agreed that we would not be able to provide our familiar educational offerings throughout the off-season. Like everything else, we were forced to adapt to the circumstances of the world. As you have seen we have moved our Spring Education Conference to an on-line format and now we are thrilled to launch our PGA of Alberta Podcast Series to replace our Professional Development seminars that are typically offered throughout the off-season.
This new opportunity allows us to provide our members with more relevant topics from our industry leaders. The episodes are an easy listen, and we are confident that you will be able to extract some information that will help you professionally and personally. Our committee has enlisted the following guests for season 1 of the show; Dean Ingalls, Adam Werbicki, Riley Fleming, Bob Paley and Tahlon Sweenie. Each episode will be unique and cover specific topics that are relevant to our industry.
We hope you take the time to enjoy learning from each other. Happy New Year!
PGA of Canada National Awards - Good Luck to Alberta Professionals
The PGA of Canada is thrilled to announce the finalists for its 2020 National Awards. Each year, a National Selection Committee evaluates nominations from Professionals across Canada. Winners for each national award are traditionally recognized during PGA of Canada Night at the PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando, Fla., however, this year will see winners revealed live during the Association’s virtual National Award Ceremony on Thursday, January 28th, 2021.
“We are blessed to have a family of over 3,600 professionals who proudly share their passion and expertise with golfers from coast-to-coast,” said Teejay Alderdice, the Association’s President. “On behalf of the PGA of Canada, I would like to congratulate all nominees and finalists for their outstanding accomplishments this year. I look forward to celebrating their collective achievements later this month during our virtual National Awards Ceremony.”
Good luck to the following PGA of Alberta Professionals up for a National Award in 2020:
Dean Ingalls(Silver Springs G&CC) - Murray Tucker Club Professional of the Year
Slade King (The Links of GlenEagles) - Dick Munn Executive Professional of the Year
Todd Halpen(Golfuture) - George Knudson Teacher of the Year
Ben Van Deurzen(Stewart Creek G&CC) - Stan Leonard Class “A” Professional of the Year
Bryce Halverson (Valley Ridge GC) - Moe Norman Apprentice Professional of the Year
Bill Dreger (Canmore G&CC) - Jack McLaughlin Junior Leader of the Year
Luke Workman (Glencoe G&CC Teaching Centre) - Ben Kern Coach of the Year
Silver Springs G&CC (Head Professional - Dean Ingalls) - Pat Fletcher Retailer of the Year
Chris DiPasquale (Par 3 Golf Academy at Bridge Valley Golf) - Warren Crosbie Community Leader of the Year
CLICK HERE to view all Finalists this year. To register for the PGA of Canada’s National Award Ceremony, please click the button below.
Association News
Run for the Board of Directors or Assistants Board - Deadline Jan. 22
Nomination Form
If you are interested in running for a position on either the Professional Golfers’ Association of Alberta Board of Directors or Assistants’ Board of Directors in 2021, please click the link below (login required) for more information and to be directed to the Nomination form which can be submitted online. Deadline to submit your interest is Friday,January 22nd, 2021 (end of day).
REMINDER - SAVE DRAFT FEATURE You can now save your forms online before submitting. Please follow the steps below:
You must be logged into your account to be able to save your draft.
Save Draft button is located at the bottom of every form on the website.
To find Saved Drafts, please go to "My Account" or "Manage Account" > My Saved Drafts.
Click "Edit" beside the form you want to update.
Submit when finished!
Board of Directors
Sets all policies, rules and regulations for the PGA of Alberta, meeting on a quarterly basis to conduct the business affairs on behalf of the Members. There are between nine and twelve Members elected to the PGA of Alberta Board of Directors, all are Class A Members of the PGA of Canada. Elections to the Board are held every year at the Annual General Meeting in March and election terms are set at three years. There will be four (4) spots open for election in 2021 for the Board of Directors. CLICK HERE to see the current Board.
Assistants’ Board of Directors
Assistant Professionals (Class A) and Apprentice Professionals also have a voice in the Association, through the Assistants’ Board of Directors. Up to nine Class A Members or Apprentice Professionals are invited to run annually for two-year Committee terms on the Assistants’ Board of Directors, and upon election assume a portfolio, and attend Committee meetings consistent with those on the Board of Directors. There will be five (5) spots open for election in 2021 for the Assistants’ Board of Directors. CLICK HERE to see the current Assistants’ Board.
