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Jason Hnatiw at Edmonton CC |
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| Pro name: | Jason Hnatiw |
| Pro bio: |  For Jason, golf was never a decision, it just happened. Growing up in Lloydminster, Saskatchewan, he and his brother and friends took their 5 irons and hit balls up and down the field near his home. A broken window later, they realized that it was time to move to the golf course. At age 10, he got his first membership at the Lloydminster Golf & Country Club and began golfing almost every day.
It was the hole in one that he scored on the 4th hole that hooked him. Jason never took any formal instruction except a few tips from the Head Professional, Peter Cushner. At age 14, Jason began working in the backshop for Peter. For the next 3 years he worked at the club, developing a love for the golf business, making his career path an easy choice.
While working in Lloydminster, Jason also started building his golfing career. He played in many local and provincial golf tournaments that built his competitive spirit. At age 15, he finished fourth at the Saskatchewan Provincial Junior Golf Tournament and earned a spot on the Saskatchewan Junior Golf Team. The following years included a 2nd place finish in the 16 & under category and a 5th place finish at Provincials in 1999. In his first year at college, he competed in the ACAC provincial golf tournament. He won the event and helped his team win the overall team portion.
In 1999, Jason enrolled in the Professional Golf Management program at Grant MacEwan College in Edmonton. He applied for a position at the Edmonton Country Club and in the spring of 2000 he was working under Head Professional Gary Ward (2001 PGA of Alberta Club Professional of the Year). "It didn't take me long to realize that everything I needed to know about being a Golf Professional could be learned from observing how Gary Ward conducted himself and I am very thankful for the opportunities that he has provided," said Jason. That same summer Jason became an Apprentice Golf Professional, successfully completing the Playing Ability Test (PAT). After completing the Apprentice Training Program, Jason became a Class "A" member of the Canadian PGA in 2006.
It didn't take Jason long to begin teaching golf and shortly after completing the PAT, he conducted junior golf clinics, adult clinics, indoor winter swing classes, and individual lessons. "I thrive on the excitement that my students show when I help them with their golf swing. Their eyes light up! It is the most rewarding part of my job," says Jason.
For the past 3 years, Jason has sat on the Assistants Board of Directors for the PGA of Alberta, and is currently the Assistants' President. He has also been involved with the Edmonton Consumer Show for the past 6 years, volunteering his time to help with the Clubs for Kids, the Presentation Stage, the Golf Lesson's area, and the Driving Range. In 2006, Jason was awarded the PGA of Alberta Assistant Golf Professional of the Year, and honour awarded to him and voted on by his industry peers. |
Edmonton CC 6201 Country Club Road Edmonton, AB, AB Par 71 6963 yards |
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| Description: | The Edmonton Country Club was formed in 1896 and members played on a five hole course situated on the land presently occupied by the Legislative building and grounds. In 1911, the Edmonton Country Club obtained a Provincial Charter and purchased the land at its present location. Part of the course now in use, plus an area in the lower flat land, was being played upon in 1913. The first Clubhouse was rebuilt around the original fire place , where it stood for 43 years. The old stables for member’s horses are now only memories and the accommodations for members who became marooned by impassable roads in rainy weather are no longer needed. Over the years many changes were made in the layout of the course. One major change took place between 1933 and 1935 when the “back nine” was moved from the lower flats to the upper terrain it now occupies. This required the purchases of new land and sale of the bottomland below the Clubhouse. Between 1945 and 1949 world renowned golf course architect Stanley Thompson made significant enhancements to the course. Natural artistry has been ascribed as the essence of Stanley Thompson’s design philosophy. He clearly demonstrated this with his strategic movement of many tee and green sites in order to bring the natural ravines on the site into play. Thompson golf holes were created to look as if they had always been there and were always meant to be there. Over sixty years later members and guest continue to enjoy his efforts. In 1956, a new “modern” Clubhouse was built. There were many additions and changes over the years and improvements to the Golf course, parking lot and road access into the Club from the City of Edmonton. A great change to the Club was made with the construction of the elegant Clubhouse facility in 1989. Undertaken by the members and in some instances actually constructed by the members, this facility stands as evidence to the dedication and effort of Edmonton Country Club members to provide the finest Clubhouse and test of Golf in the City of Edmonton. The Club’s centennial celebrations took place in 1996. As the highlight of the celebrations the Club hosted the 1996 LPGA du Maurier Classic. The du Maurier Classic was one of the four majors on the LPGA Tour. The event attracted the world’s best players, all playing for a share of the $1 million US purse. In the end Laura Davies emerged as the Classic Champion in 1996. Today, years later, the success of the event continues to ring through the golf world. There are many interesting and amusing stories to be told about the exploits and adventures of members from the horse and buggy era to present time. The Club has not yet finished the polo grounds started in 1913, nor does it now maintain milk cows for the staff. The streetcar line has not yet reached the Club and the building lots on the second nine that were surveyed in 1913 only recently have been developed. Development around the Club continues to grow. The Club has been and will continue to be one of the great landmarks of the City of Edmonton and a proud monument of the faith and work of its members. |
| Website: | www.edmontoncountryclub.com |
| Phone number: | 780-448-1333 |
| Email address: | |