Gallagher’s Canyon to host new Mackenzie Tour event, the GolfBC Championship, in 2016
4th February, 2016
GolfBC Championship coming to Kelowna in 2016
Gallagher’s Canyon Golf and Country Club to host new Mackenzie Tour event
Gallagher’s Canyon Golf and Country Club to host new Mackenzie Tour event
The Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada and GolfBC announced today a new official event for 2016, the GolfBC Championship, which will focus on making a positive charitable impact in the Kelowna area.
The inaugural event will take place June 6-12, 2016 at Gallagher’s Canyon Golf and Country Club in Kelowna. GolfBC, which owns and operates a collection of world-class courses throughout British Columbia and in Hawaii, will be the title sponsor as part of a four-year agreement.“We’re thrilled to be adding a new event in the Okanagan Valley to our schedule, especially one that will be focused on charity and giving back to the community,” said Mackenzie Tour President Jeff Monday. “This event will provide a tremendous opportunity and platform for our players to achieve their goals of making the next step on the path to the PGA TOUR.”
Gallagher’s Canyon, a 6,802-yard Bill Robinson design considered to be one of the top courses in the Okanagan Valley, will host the event.
“GolfBC is very proud and excited to help bring such a prestigious event to the Okanagan. The GolfBC Championship will host some of the finest young golf talent and prepare them for the next step in their professional careers,” said Andy Hedley, Vice President of Operations for GolfBC, adding “We are very excited that this event will showcase Gallagher’s Canyon - one of GolfBC’s most distinctive and popular designs - as well as generate a significant contribution to one of our preferred charity beneficiaries, the BC Cancer Foundation.”
As with every Mackenzie Tour tournament, raising support for charity will be a key priority for the event. Last year saw charitable donations by Mackenzie Tour events increase by 60.5%, rising to a total of more than $1-million given back since 2013.
“The BC Cancer Foundation is honoured to be the benefitting charity of the GolfBC Championship,” said Lou Del Gobbo, Interim President & CEO, BC Cancer Foundation. “We know the funds from this tournament will go a long way in supporting the life-saving research taking place at the BC Cancer Agency, giving hope to over 26,000 British Columbians who will be diagnosed with cancer this year alone.”
“We are long-time supporters of the BC Cancer Foundation, and are thrilled to be working with them as the charitable beneficiary of the GolfBC Championship. On behalf of the Chan Family Foundation and GolfBC, I want to express our pride to be supporting such an important, community-serving cause through this exciting Mackenzie Tour event," said Christian Chan, Trustee of the Chan Family Foundation, the charitable arm of Burrard International, parent company of GolfBC. “Giving back to the community is at the core of our family and company philosophy, and medical causes have always been an important focus for us. Along with the BC Cancer Foundation, we also work closely with Vancouver General Hospital, Ronald McDonald House, and others. As such, we couldn't be more pleased to be able to aid the important work being done in this arena through the GolfBC Championship.”
VMC Sports & Entertainment Corp., which previously operated the SIGA Dakota Dunes Open for the past eight seasons on the Mackenzie Tour, will manage the event’s operations, with Hugh Vassos serving as Tournament Director.
“This is an exciting day for professional golf fans in the Okanagan, and our team is excited to manage this prestigious golf tournament and week-long golf festival. We look forward to engaging the local sponsors, volunteers, and the entire golf community in presenting what we believe will soon become one of the top stops on the Mackenzie Tour,” said Vassos.
The full 2016 Mackenzie Tour schedule will be announced in the coming weeks.
About the Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada
The Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada is a series of tournaments played across Canada each summer – it’s where tomorrow’s stars begin their path to the PGA TOUR. The leading five money winners at the end of each season earn status on the Web.com Tour for the following season. The Mackenzie Tour’s mission is to deliver a PGA TOUR experience for our members, fans, volunteers and our partners in order to develop the future stars of professional golf and enrich the communities we visit.
Twitter: Mackenzie Tour @PGATOURCanada
Facebook: Facebook.com/MackenzieTour
The Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada is a series of tournaments played across Canada each summer – it’s where tomorrow’s stars begin their path to the PGA TOUR. The leading five money winners at the end of each season earn status on the Web.com Tour for the following season. The Mackenzie Tour’s mission is to deliver a PGA TOUR experience for our members, fans, volunteers and our partners in order to develop the future stars of professional golf and enrich the communities we visit.
Twitter: Mackenzie Tour @PGATOURCanada
Facebook: Facebook.com/MackenzieTour
About GolfBC Group
Vancouver-based GolfBC is a golf and resort management and investment company committed to defining a higher standard of quality and consistency among premier golf destinations. Since 1989 GolfBC has been creating premium golf destinations and master planned golf communities in British Columbia. GolfBC is the owner/operator of eight championship golf courses in British Columbia, including Nicklaus North (Whistler), Furry Creek (near Lions Bay), Gallagher’s Canyon (Kelowna), Olympic View (Victoria), The Quail and The Bear (The Okanagan Golf Club in Kelowna), Mayfair Lakes (Richmond), Arbutus Ridge (Cobble Hill), a 9-hole facility, The Pinnacle (at Gallagher’s Canyon), and the Gold, Emerald and Blue courses at Wailea Golf Club on Maui, Hawaii.
Twitter: @golfbc or @gbcchampionship
Facebook: Facebook.com/golfbc or facebook.com/gbcchampionship
Vancouver-based GolfBC is a golf and resort management and investment company committed to defining a higher standard of quality and consistency among premier golf destinations. Since 1989 GolfBC has been creating premium golf destinations and master planned golf communities in British Columbia. GolfBC is the owner/operator of eight championship golf courses in British Columbia, including Nicklaus North (Whistler), Furry Creek (near Lions Bay), Gallagher’s Canyon (Kelowna), Olympic View (Victoria), The Quail and The Bear (The Okanagan Golf Club in Kelowna), Mayfair Lakes (Richmond), Arbutus Ridge (Cobble Hill), a 9-hole facility, The Pinnacle (at Gallagher’s Canyon), and the Gold, Emerald and Blue courses at Wailea Golf Club on Maui, Hawaii.
Twitter: @golfbc or @gbcchampionship
Facebook: Facebook.com/golfbc or facebook.com/gbcchampionship
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