Wilson Creek resident and retired pro-golfer Alvie Thompson was inducted into the BC Golf Hall of Fame at the end of June. The induction dinner will be held on Oct. 22 at the Marine Drive Golf Club (MDGC) in Vancouver.
“I feel thankful for those who helped me develop as a professional,” Thompson said.
Thompson began his career in the early 1950s. In 1957 he became a member of the PGA of Canada as an assistant at MDGC, where he worked with golf legend Stan Leonard.
“Stan Leonard was, in my mind, Canada’s best tournament player,” Thompson said. “He helped me to do things right, and now.”
When he was still in school in Vancouver, Thompson would skip class to go down to the golf course and watch Leonard play. Thompson said that Leonard would chastise him into going back to school, but it didn’t really work.
“When [Leonard] knew that I really wanted to play seriously, he started helping me with my game,” Thompson said. “He gave me instructions and let me caddie for him.’
Later, but still early in his career, Thompson played a tournament against Leonard and another pro golfer George Knudson. Knudson and Leonard tied with 69 points. Thompson beat both of them with 64.
Thompson was humble when he spoke about beating his mentor.
“You have to get yourself into the highest form of concentration. So really, it’s like he’s not there,” Thompson said. “You can’t be thinking about what he’s guessing, what he’s thinking. I just wanted to win. It’s a selfish thing to do, but then it’s no big deal. Many walks of life seem to have a selfish side to them.”
Thompson has had a long and successful career as a professional golfer at courses across Canada. He said the most rewarding part of his life’s work has been teaching others to play golf. Or, in his words, “Well, you know – when you help people to hit the golf ball straight.”
Last year the PGA of BC presented Thompson with a lifetime achievement award. Thompson’s wife Donna was also inducted into the Manitoba Golf Hall of Fame recently.
Thompson finished his career at the Sunshine Coast Golf and Country Club (SCGCC) in Roberts Creek where he helped to establish their professional services when they expanded from nine to 18 holes.
SCGCC head pro-golfer Jim Pringle met Thompson early in his career when Thompson was head pro at the McCleery Golf Course in Vancouver.
“He’s a very unassuming, well liked individual,” Pringle said. “I didn’t know anything about him at the time, but as the word got out I learned he was one of the top players in Canada in his day. He has just an incredible amount of knowledge about – not just golf – but golf business and a great mentor for all of us.”
