2020 Year in Review

2020 Year in Review

Dear PGA Professionals,

Now that we can put this crazy season behind us, we would like to take a moment to reflect on a truly unforgettable year. From the entire season being in jeopardy, to seeing a boom in the industry – this year certainly presented immeasurable highs and lows.

Proudly, the PGA of Ontario completed numerous Championships and Playing Ability Tests which kept doors open for member play and applicant admission into the Association.

We saw the ignition of eight regional Chapters, connecting our members from end to end of the Ontario Zone.

We launched the inaugural year of our Professional Recognition Program.

The PGA of Ontario Zone Awards program received a record-breaking number of completed nominations for fellow Pro’s to be recognized for their accomplishments this year.

We launched our very own Hall of Fame, inducting 35 members into the Charter Class.

And finally, a virtual Awards Night celebration to wrap-up our annual programs and recognize some of our leading Professionals.

Thank you for being a part of this journey with us. Here's our 2020 highlight reel - enjoy!

Tournament Highlights

Player of the Year Series

The season kicked off in August at Nobleton Lakes Golf Club for the 2020 PGA of Ontario Zone Championship.

Seven events later, three players who rose to the top of their respective Player of the Year leaderboards were crowned.

We are thrilled to announce our 2020 Players of the Year:

Apprentice Professional Player of the Year & Breenie Cup Champion: David Sheman (Emerald Hills Golf Club)

Women’s Player of the Year: Jennifer Jaszek

Senior Player of the Year: Keir Smith (The National Golf Club of Canada)

To view the Player of the Year leaderboard please click here.

To read more about the Player of the Year Series events please click here.

Team Series

Our final playing events of the year were the Pro/Pro Team Series presented by G&G Golf Company, followed by the popular Fall Scramble which returned to Glencairn G.C. for the fifth consecutive year.

Special thanks go to all host facilities that made this 2020 Tournament Program possible amid our circumstances. We are grateful for your support and were thrilled to be able to deliver some fun and competitive opportunities for our Professionals to safely reunite and play the game we love.

To read more about the Team Series events please click here.

Playing Ability Tests

The PGA of Ontario saw an increase in applicants in 2020, and we are proud to say we were able to conduct five Playing Ability Tests during such a tough season.

It wouldn’t have been possible without these clubs and Pros that offered their facilities and welcomed us to their tracks.

A big Thank You to Trevor Hay (Head Professional at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley), Andrew George (Head Professional at Station Creek Golf Club), Chris Miranda and Carla Munch-Miranda (Executive Professional and Head Professional at Cambridge Golf Club) and Mark Napier (Head Professional at Heron Point Golf Links).

Forty-five players earned their PGA of Canada Membership Card through Playing Ability Tests in 2020, and another twenty-six members joined us by being granted exemptions.

Thank you to the following volunteers who started our 2020 PATs and engaged with our applicants:

  • Trevor Hay, Head Professional, TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley
  • Kevin Thistle, CEO, PGA of Canada
  • Hendrick van der Geld, PGA of Ontario Director & Director of Operations, Wyndance Golf Club
  • Jaime Steedman, PGA of Ontario Director and Teaching Professional, Ladies' Golf Club of Toronto
  • Simon Bevan, PGA of Ontario President & Executive Professional, RiverBend Golf Community
  • Mike Johnston – Class ‘A’ Professional, Cedar Brae Golf Club

Hall of Fame

In a spirit of gratitude, there comes a time in all enduring communities that we put aside the tasks of the day and honour those who led us forward, passed on their wisdom and laid the foundation that has made our lives richer.

That time has come for the PGA of Ontario.

Click here to view the PGA of Ontario Hall of Fame Charter Class.

The Selection Committee is now accepting nominations for the Hall of Fame Class of 2021 until May 1, 2021.

Please visit our website for more details.

Professional Recognition Program

The PGA of Ontario announced our first round of the PRP Top 100, culminating the inaugural year of this initiative in October.

The following names represent 2020’s Top 5 PRP winners:


1: Jason Wyatt, Sunningdale Golf Club - 365 points

T-2: Billy Simkin, Niagara-on-the-Lake - 322 points

T-2: Dustin Kerr-Taylor, Bayview Golf and Country Club - 322 points

4: Mike Johnston, Cedar Brae Golf Club - 278 points

5: Chevy Rennie, The Toronto Golf Club - 268 points

Congratulations to all PGA members on our leaderboard. We thank you for your support and wish you the best of luck as the tally for 2021 has begun!

Chase the leaders throughout the year by following the PRP Leaderboard available on the PGA of Ontario website.

Awards

We hope that you were able to join us as we celebrated our 2020 Ontario Zone winners. A recording of the Awards Night celebration is still available for viewing, here.

Congratulations to our winners and best of luck in the running for National Awards!

Education

We hope you have taken advantage of the many complimentary education offerings that have been available to our members this year.

Keep an eye on the website for upcoming 4ore Learning workshops in the New Year!

 

We recognize that this has been an incredibly challenging season for our Pros and we congratulate you on all of your successes.

Please note that PGA of Ontario staff is working remotely as a result of the recent public health measures issued by the Ontario government. During this time, we encourage you to contact us via email, as noted below. We will also be checking our voicemail regularly.

From our team to yours, we wish you a safe and healthy off-season and we look forward to brighter days in 2021!

Sincerely,

The PGA of Ontario Team