Stephen Yanitski named PGA of Canada Class "A" Assistant Professional of the Year
Congratulations to Stephen Yanitski of Valley Ridge GC for receiving the 2023 Stan Leonard Class "A" Assistant Professional of the Year Award! This Award is the highest honour the Association can bestow on a working Class “A” Assistant Professional at a golf course whose total contributions to the game best exemplify the PGA of Canada Class “A” Assistant Professional.
About Stephen
"Education and professional development have played a central role in my development as a golf professional and as a rounded community sport participant. I have taken every opportunity throughout my career to expand my knowledge base and skill set as a golf professional and manager of community recreation and sport."
PGA of Alberta Assistants’ Board Member since 2020
Katy Rutherford Wins PGA of Canada Female Player of the Year
Congratulations to Katy Rutherford of Silver Springs G&CC winning 2023 Brooke Henderson Female Player of the Year Award! The Brooke Henderson Female Player of the Year Award recognizes an outstanding female player among the ranks of the PGA of Canada membership.
2023 Accomplishments
Co-low PGA of Canada professional at the ORORO PGA Women’s Championship of Canada
PGA of Alberta Women’s Championship - Runner Up
PGA of Alberta Order of Merit Championship - Ladies’ Division
Katy received a PAT exemption in August of 2021 and achieved her Class "A" status in March of 2023. Katy will be recognized during the PGA of Canada Awards Night at the PGA Show in Orlando on January 24th, 2024. Click Here for more information on the National Awards Program.
Association News
Featured Facility Friday & Pro Tip Tuesday
Featured Facility Friday
Looking to promote your facility this off-season? Take advantage of the Associations social media initiative where we feature a new facility every Friday in the off-season on ourX and Instagramaccounts (~ 8,500 followers!).
How It Works
All you have to do is submit the required information on the form (see link below) to have your facility featured! Please note that facilities will be selected at random and all information must be filled in to be considered (unless noted as optional on form). In the event we have more submissions than Fridays available, we will store your information to be used the following off-season.
Important
To prevent having multiple submissions from the same facility, please collaborate with your staff/team to ensure only one application is sent for the initiative.
Prize Giveaway
As you’ll see in the form, please let us know if your facility is willing to donate a prize giveaway to help increase engagement with your post! This is OPTIONAL and not mandatory but will help increase the amount of viewers for your post. Prize could be green fees, merchandise, lesson, gift card, golf simulator usage, etc. As part of this giveaway, viewers will need to follow your facility’s account along with other conditions in order to be eligible to win.
Past Examples
Below are a few posts from past years. This will give you an idea of the exposure your facility will receive as part of this initiative:
Stewart Creek G&CC gained 99 new followers in the four days after the post
3,792 impressions on post
326 likes on post
If you want your facility featured,DEADLINE to submit the form is January 31st, 2024. If you have any questions, please contact[email protected]. PLEASE NOTE - Priority will automatically be given to facilities that were not part of the initiative last year.
Pro Tip Tuesday is a social media initiative that showcases your skills as a Golf Professional to help bring exposure to you and your facility. The Association wants to give golfers a reason to check out the PGA of Alberta Instagram account, including your own! We will start posting Pro Tip Tuesday submissions in January.
How Do You Become A Part Of Pro Tip Tuesday?
All you need to do is create a quick tip video between 30 seconds to 2 minutes and submit using the Dropbox link below. One video will be posted per week during the off-season beginning in January.
In addition to golf instruction tips, we are allowing other categories of submissions for Pro Tip Tuesday including the following:
Fashion tips - Types of apparel to wear on certain days, clothing accessories, latest fashion trends, etc.
Technology tips - Different technologies to utilize to improve game, technology features most golfers are unaware of, new technology in the golf industry, etc.
Rules of Golf tips - New rules in the game, common rules the average player is unaware of, proper rule procedures, etc.
Etiquette tips - Things the average player should be doing on the golf course, how to best fix a divot/ball mark, pace of play etiquette, etc.
Video Tips
Be Professional. You are representing the Association so ensure you look and act the part.
Intro. State your name, club, and position as the intro to your video.
Length. Ensure your video is between 30 seconds to 2 minutes.
Rehearse. Practise your video tip a few times before the final "shoot".
Setting. Make sure there’s no noise/visual distractions around you so viewers can focus on you. Your video can be shot indoors or outdoors.
Look at past examples of Pro Tip Tuesday videos for inspiration:
Everyone who participates in Pro Tip Tuesday will earn 3 Top 100 points for the program year. You can only receive 3 points per year. We recommend doing more than one video but a max of 3 points will be rewarded for the Top 100 program.
PGA of Canada National Awards - Good Luck to Alberta Professionals
The PGA of Canada is thrilled to announce the finalists for its 2023 National Awards.
“We are blessed to have a family of over 3,800 professionals who proudly share their passion and expertise with golfers from coast to coast,” said Gord Percy, the Association’s President. “On behalf of the PGA of Canada, I would like to congratulate all finalists for their outstanding accomplishments this year. I look forward to celebrating their collective achievements.”
Each year, a National Selection Committee evaluates nominations from professionals across Canada. Winners for each national award will be recognized during PGA of Canada Night at the PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando, FL on Wednesday, January 24, 2024.
Good Luck to the following Alberta Professionals up for a National Award in 2023:
Chris Paskin(Valley Ridge GC) - Murray Tucker Club Professional of the Year
Steven Young (Banff Spring GC) - Dick Munn Executive Professional of the Year
Josh Fleming (365 GOLF) - George Knudson Teacher of the Year
Stephen Yanitski(Valley Ridge GC) - Stan Leonard Class “A” Professional of the Year
Elizabeth Carr (Edmonton Petroleum G&CC) - Moe Norman Apprentice Professional of the Year
Nicola Greaves(Willow Park GC) - Jack McLaughlin Junior Leader of the Year
Scott Stiles (Earl Grey GC) - Ben Kern Coach of the Year
Silvertip Resort (Head Professional - Chris Cooke) - Pat Fletcher Retailer of the Year
Garrett Hadfield(Rundle Park GC) - Warren Crosbie Community Leader of the Year
Lyndon King(Collicutt Siding GC) - Warren Crosbie Community Leader of the Year
Carson Taylor(Winston GC (The)) - Warren Crosbie Community Leader of the Year
Chris DiPasquale(Par 3 Golf Academy at Bridge Valley Golf) - Warren Crosbie Community Leader of the Year
Katy Rutherford(Silver Springs G&CC) - Brooke Henderson Female Player of the Year
Wes Heffernan(Dynamic Motion Golf Performance Centre) - Mike Weir Player of the Year
Mitchell Fox (Speargrass GC) - Mike Weir Player of the Year
Interested in running for a position on either the PGA of Alberta Board of Directors or Assistants’ Board of Directors in 2024? If yes, click the link below (login required) for more information and to be directed to the online Nomination Form. Deadline to submit your interest isFriday, January 19th, 2024 at 11:59pm.
Board of Directors The 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.
Four (4) spots are open for election in 2024 for the Board of Directors. Click hereto 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.
Five (5) spots are open for election in 2024 for the Assistants’ Board of Directors. Click hereto see the current Assistants’ Board.
