The PGA of Canada Remembers

The PGA of Canada is saddened by the passing of Life Professional Alvie Thompson at the age of 81.

Thompson was inducted into the PGA of Canada Hall of Fame earlier this year. He received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the PGA of BC in 2014 and was also named to the Golf Hall of Fame of BC in 2015. The PGA of BC’s Teacher of the Year Award is named in Thompson’s honour.

Born in Unity, Sask., in 1936, Thompson became a professional in 1957 and spent the majority of his career based in British Columbia. First working as an assistant at Marine Drive Golf Club in the late 1950s, Thompson moved to Ontario and Quebec before returning to Marine Drive as head professional in 1972 for a four-year stint. He then spent 18 years as head professional at McCleery Golf Club before retiring to the Sunshine Coast in 1994.

Thompson was an accomplished player as well, perhaps best known for his 28^th-place finish in The Masters in 1963. He collected a number of impressive titles over the years, including the 1962 PGA Championship of Canada--defeating George Knudson and his own personal mentor, Stan Leonard, in a playoff--and the 1963 PGA of Canada Match Play Championship. He was also a three-time winner of the Manitoba Open and captured the 1959 PGA of BC Assistants’ Championship. Internationally Thompson represented Canada on the World Cup team in 1962, and had top-10 finishes in multiple PGA Tour events.

Thompson is survived by wife Donna.