麻豆社区

Jeff Wiggins' love affair with the game of golf began by accident, but has been paying dividends ever since.

Last month, one of the biggest accolades of the 35-year-old's career came from the Professional Golfers' Association of British Columbia, when he was named Golf Professional of the Year.

"It's a significant award,鈥� the Mountain View Golf Club golf pro said this week.

"Personally, I never do things with the intention of receiving merit or awards for doing the work. But I think the biggest thing personally is the reassurance, the reassurance that everything I do, the advice that I give, and my work performance locally, provincially and nationally 鈥� I'm on the right path. I'm doing the right things and I'm staying ahead of the curve, which is something that I've always aspired to do.

"That's what the award means to me,鈥� Wiggins said. "It's a reflection that hey, you're doing the right things, you're thinking the right way, and you're obviously getting the results that you intend to get.鈥�

Wiggins called the award a motivator to continue the work he's poured his life into.

The Saskatoon-native became a golf professional 16 years ago at the tender age of 19.

Wiggins said that when he was just a young 11-year-old, he and his brother found a golf club and two golf balls at a small nine-hole golf course in Wadena, Sask.

"We played golf that day, and I got addicted from that day forward,鈥� he said. "The rest is history.鈥�

Wiggins came within an inch of a hole-in-one the first time he took to an actual course. Shortly after, he asked for a job at his hometown course, and he's been working at golf courses ever since.

"I knew when I was 16 that I wanted to be a club professional,鈥� he said. "It's the one career that combines business with athletics. When you're a club professional, you have to perform at certain levels and there's so many different dynamics.

"I enjoy it, and I always have.鈥�

Playing on tour was out of the question, he said, due to a weak putting game.

By winning the B.C. award, Wiggins will automatically be considered for the national award alongside six other provincial winners from across the country.

Wiggins said he believes his body of work could qualify him for the top award in Canada.

"In an industry that's becoming a little bit stagnant, when guys are out there and they're putting places on the map, or creating a buzz, or doing a good job marketing themselves and golf, it's something that's not happening as much as it should,鈥� he said.

A celebration to honour the award winners from B.C. will be held in Vancouver this February.

Wiggins has spent the last five years developing and growing the sport of golf in the Yukon. He called the par-72, 18-hole Mountain View Golf Club "an unbelievable golf course.鈥�

As the population and the number of professionals moving to the Yukon capital grows, expectations for the sport of golf are also heightening, Wiggins said.

With these changes come "a ton of potential growth.鈥�

"I see this place having substantial growth over the next five years,鈥� he told the Star.

Wiggins said his personal objective is to take the sport into the community, and is stressing the availability of inexpensive memberships for the younger demographic.

A $150 junior membership grants a player, age 18 and under, full range to the course for the entire year.

The game can be relatively inexpensive for younger players, and Wiggins said the golf club is committed to helping out potential juniors who may not be able to afford the game.

"We have a facility here that has a lot of resources,鈥� he said.

He also noted that the Mountain View Golf Club's learning centre will open in mid-January, which includes the use of a virtual golf simulator.

Mountain View Golf Club is located at 250 Skookum Drive.