The PGA of Alberta recently named Jim Jempson and Douglas Lecuyer as the newest Lifetime Achievement Award recipients.
Jim Jempson, Leadership Pillar
Born in 1948 in Calgary, Jim Jempson began his PGA of Canada career in September, 1972.
Spanning over 50 years now, he achieved Life Professional designation in 2015.
He began his professional journey at Willow Park Golf and Country Club in 1972 as an assistant professional.
After four years at Willow Park, he headed north to Edmonton to the Royal Mayfair Golf Club for three seasons before taking the head professional job at Sturgeon Valley Golf and Country Club in St. Albert.
After four seasons from 1978-81 at Sturgeon Valley, he moved back to Calgary to take on the head professional role at Willow Park, where he was a stalwart for the next 33 years.
During his time at Willow Park, he was involved in or responsible for several projects that had major impacts on the membership and in the greater community through charitable endeavours.
One of his crowning achievements during this time was the conception of the Willow Park Charity Golf Classic that has provided $11.1 million dollars to date to various Calgary charities.
He also was key in instituting Alberta junior boys camps from 1972–90.
The impact he has had as a coach or teacher cannot be overlooked as he has worked with a multitude of junior champions, many now being professionals in the Alberta Zone in similar roles of nurturing and mentoring the next generation.
He has held a multitude of roles within the PGA of Alberta over the years, serving as vice president in 1983, president in 1984 and serving on the board of directors for seven years.
He was involved in the education portfolio as education director from 1977–81. During that time, he served as chairman of the education seminars and helped pioneer and develop national education meetings with Tex Noble. He was also was involved in the development of the recertification program for Humber College.
He has been a recipient of some notable awards and competitions during his 50 years of membership. He was the1976 PGA of Alberta champion, 1997 PGA of Alberta Club Professional of the Year and 2003 PGA of Alberta Merchandiser of the Year.
He is the fourth member to receive the PGA of Alberta Lifetime Achievement Award in the Leadership Pillar.
Douglas Lecuyer, Player Pillar
Born in 1958 in Wainwright Alberta, Doug Lecuyer has been a member of the PGA of Canada since 1982.
He was a talented junior golfer and a gifted hockey player and followed the hockey avenue first, becoming a professional hockey player in the NHL from 1978-1983, playing for the Chicago Blackhawks, Pittsburgh Penguins and Winnipeg Jets.
He returned to golf following his hockey career and had a 30+ year career as a club and teaching professional in Alberta and British Columbia.
Some of his more noteworthy results are:
Alberta Junior Champion 1973, ’74, ’76.
Alberta Men’s Amateur Champion in 1975 at only 17 years old.
Won the PGA of Canada Assistants’ Championship in 1983 at St. Charles Golf and Country Club in Manitoba.
Played in the 1984 Canadian Open.
Winner of the PGA of Alberta Championship in 1984, ’85, ’86.
Five-time Edmonton Open Champion in 1975, ’80, ’81, ’84,’85.
Team member of Alberta’s Willingdon Cup Team in 1977, ’79, ’81.
Team member of Alberta’s Titleist Cup winning Team in 1996 and member of the ’98 team.
His club professional career was mostly spent in northern Alberta with lengthy stints at Hinton Golf Club, where he spent 15 years at head professional and during the transition from a nine-hole course to 18-holes, seven years as the assistant professional at the Links of Spruce Grove, nine years as the teaching professional at Lewis Estates Gold and Country Club and two years as head professional of Eagle Point Golf Resort in Kamloops, B.C.
In 2019, he received Life Member status with the PGA of Canada after being a Class “A” Member for over 30 years. He becomes the fourth member to receive the PGA of Alberta Lifetime Achievement Award in the Player Pillar.