Come August, B.C.’s best golfers will be converging on Salmon Arm.
For the third time in a dozen years, the Salmon Arm Golf Club will be hosting the PGA (Professional Golfers’ Association) of B.C. Championship.
It was held in Salmon Arm in 2001 and again in 2006, explains club pro Doug Herron.
“We’re happy to be hosting it again.”
About 100 B.C. golf professionals are expected to come to the event.
“It’s quite exciting from that standpoint,” he says. “We have a number of golf professionals in B.C. who are considered to be the best in Canada. It will be an exciting field.”
Along with pros from around the province, those from around the region are expected, he says. Pros such as Jesse Crowe from Canoe Creek Golf Courts, Adam Blair from Talking Rock, Brian O’Keefe from Shuswap Lake Estates, Rick Thompson from Hyde Mountain and, of course, Herron from Salmon Arm.
Also expected are a couple of names from the past champions list such as Brad Clapp from Chilliwack and Bryn Parry from North Vancouver.
He said the 2006 championship attracted a fair number of spectators, including a number of volunteers spotting for balls.
“We certainly hope we see some community people out trying to catch a glimpse of these guys,” Herron said, adding that he’s hoping to set up an opportunity for local golfers to play with some of the pros.
“Not really a pro-am, but there might be an opportunity on a practice round. It’s fun to see somebody who really knows how to play.”
The championship, taking place Aug. 19 and 20, will consist of 36 holes. The golfers will start about midday Monday for round one, with a morning start Tuesday for round two.
