Christina Lake’s Kevin Maffioli named top golf pro in BC

From provincials to nationals

Christina Lake Golf Club manager Kevin Maffioli, who has been head professional at the course for nearly 17 years, is the 2013 recipient of the PGA of BC’s award for Top Professional in the province. Maffioli accepted the prestigious award on October 16 at the PGA award show in Vancouver and said that he was shocked when he was chosen and slightly flustered about delivering an acceptance speech.

“I was pretty surprised that I won the award because it’s such a big field and there are so many good golf professionals in the province,” said Maffioli. “And coming out of the Kootenay region, there weren’t many from around here, but there was really strong representation from the Coast and the Island, and the Okanagan winner was also a very solid candidate. So I really didn’t expect to win, and I was very surprised when they called my name.”

After being selected for the provincial award, Maffioli then went on to the Canadian national awards ceremony at the PGA of America show in Orlando, Florida—which Maffioli said acts as host because the majority of Canadian courses are actually closed during the time of year the awards take place.

A golfing celebration

Not only is the event a celebration of golfers and golf professionals, but a celebration on an international scale. The recipient of the Top Professional in Canada award was Sheryle Rowland, head pro at Calgary’s Silver Springs Golf and Country Club, but Maffioli said that he was pleased just to have been able to attend the event.

“It’s an award that only one person has ever won twice, so it was pretty neat to be able to go to Orlando and just be part of the celebration,” he said. “It’s really indescribable how large it is, and all of the different things you can see in terms of products for the coming year. It would be unbelievable for any golf pro in their career to go to that golf show at least once.”

Though it is an honour to be selected by PGA members for the BC Top Professional Award, Maffioli has also been the recipient of awards chosen by the public, including GolfWest’s very own Platinum selection for Favourite Pro in BC. Both, he said, hold very important places in his heart.

“Well, I think that being chosen by peers... you’re being selected in the industry," he said. "So though they don’t see you often, they hear from other pros that you’re doing a good job and they hear that you run a great facility, so the award from your peers is a great feeling,” he said. “And being chosen by the readership is special, because coming from the general public that you run a good show and that they enjoy coming to the golf course makes you feel really good—both are very special.”