Talking Rock Head Professional Nathan Grieve has received some major recognition over the past year and it was well earned…

Last October at the PGA of BC Awards, Grieve was presented with the PGA of BC's 2022 Dick Munn Golf Professional of the Year Award. Later that evening, he received the Fore Season Golf Professional Award from the BC chapter of the National Golf Course Owners Association. Talking Rock also took home the Facility Of The Year Award.

The accolades should not really come as a surprise as the 29-year old Grieve’s career has been on an upward trajectory since his first job in 2013 as a Golf Shop Attendant at Salmon Arm Golf Club at the age of 18. Three years later he would become an assistant professional at the same Club and then move on to Talking Rock in 2018 becoming Golf Operations Manager in 2019 and Director Of Golf in 2020.

Along the way, he earned the prestigious 2020 PGABC professional development program order of merit award. Consideration for the award is based on participation in continuing education, competitions, and various forms of volunteerism. The person who came second was Nathan’s boss Adam Blair, the then Executive Professional at Talking Rock. One thing that may have contributed to Grieve's getting to #1 was his participation in the RBC PGA Scramble of Canada, where his team was crowned national champions. (see story HERE).

Much of the recognition last Fall was a result of his leadership during a very tough time for Talking Rock. In April of 2022, Adam Blair had just left  to start in a new role as General Manager at the Vernon G&CC. Only one moth later the accommodation wing of the Quaaout Lodge & Spa would burn to the ground. Amazingly, Nathan and his team would have the golf course component of the facility back up and running less than a week later.

British Columbia Golf connected with Nathan in mid-March and got his thoughts on the awards, the challenges of last year and where he and the resort are headed in 2023.

#1 What was your reaction to winning multiple awards... one from the NGCOA and the other from your peers?
Definitely shocked and honoured. I set goals personally and as a team, and on those lists has always been to win these provincial awards. But to have three in the same year was something I never dreamed of. There are so many Golf Professionals and Facilities that do incredible things for the game, so to be recognized among the best was truly a night I will never forget.

#2 You re-opened the course less than a week after the fire. How challenging was that? How challenging was the entire 2022?
Definitely a lot of logistical challenges. A massive thanks to the first-responders and volunteers for ensuring everyone got out safely from the fire. Once we knew that everyone was safe and the damage to the building was done, it was all just about perseverance. We believed that the golf course re-opening would bring positivity to the community after such a tragic event, so we wanted to try and lead that movement. The entire team we have here was incredible in offering to do anything they could to help us re-open so quickly.

#3 We understand the accommodation wing rebuild is now in the design stage. Is there a projected date of re-opening yet?
Not yet. But we will be sharing updates on social media throughout the process.

#4 On Facebook, you said "... if you work hard enough and invest in yourself some great things can happen. So many brilliant individuals that we can learn from in this industry." Who has/have been your mentor(s)? Who have you learned from?
My biggest mentor in golf is Adam Blair. He has helped me develop as a professional immensely and I am very fortunate to also call him a good friend of mine. He has always preached to get involved with different associations (PGA of BC, NGCOA, etc.) and to continually keep learning.

#5 The Dad Bod Classic looks like it’s becoming an iconic event. Tell us about its history and evolution.
It started with a project I had in University. I took a Sports Event Marketing class where we were tasked with developing a sporting event and a marketing plan around it. I created the Dad Bod Classic presented by Travis Mathew, and have been lucky enough to bring it to life. We are heading into the 3rd year of it in 2023 and it sold out in 25 minutes, which still blows my mind. I just wanted to create a tournament that could offer a different experience than others, and I think we’ve been able to do that.

#6 On social media, you have questioned why manufacturers can only produce drivers that cost $800 and not some "second tier" equipment at a lower price point. Do you see this as an impediment to getting more players into the game and/or selling more equipment overall?
I definitely think it is an untapped market that golf could capture. However, we are lucky that compared to equipment in other sports (ie. Hockey sticks), golf clubs break far less frequently which allows for a pretty strong used club market for those looking to get into the game or upgrade their current equipment.

#7 Talking Rock has a very good reputation. To close, what do you think separates Talking Rock from other golf facilities?
We always strive to focus on providing exceptional service. Right from day 1 when we hire our team for the year, everything we stress is on service. We’re lucky that our superintendent, Daryl Adama (shown in inset below) and his team keep the course in fantastic condition. Having a great layout and conditioning definitely makes my job easier, then it’s just up to our Golf Operations team to deliver great service to our guests and reputation starts to build. Whether you play on a Tuesday afternoon in April, or a Saturday morning in July, we want to provide the same consistent service every single day.

To find about more about Talking Rock, click HERE