Meet the Team

Born and raised on the beautiful Sunshine Coast, BC, Josh has called Vancouver home for the past 10 years. Growing up around the game from a young age, golf has always been a central part of his life. After spending nearly a decade working in the industry, he turned professional in 2019. His career thus far has allowed him the opportunity to work alongside and learn from some of Canada’s top PGA Professionals. As a proud PGA member, he is passionate about the great game of golf and finding unique and creative ways to deliver an excellent golf experience.

Josh enjoys the outdoors and is an avid sports fan. You will likely find him with a cup of coffee in his hand talking golf around the golf shop, on the lesson tee or on the golf course.

Phil comes from a family that has a rich history in golf. Born in Derby England, Phil was destined to have a career in the golf business. His Father, Uncle and Grandfather were all golf Course Superintendents. Phil learned at an early age, the importance of his grandfather’s legacy, which ultimately instilled in Phil a love of the golf industry. Phil’s family immigrated to Canada for his father to assume a role as Superintendent at the highly acclaimed Royal Colwood in Victoria, BC. The seed of a career in the golf course management had been planted in Phil’s mind while he worked summers on this course along side his Father.

Phil’s experience spans over 37 seasons, serving for the past 10+ years as the Golf Course Superintendent at University Golf Club. During Phil’s tenure at UGC, he has implemented an “Attention to Detail” maintenance program that has enhanced both the quality and playability of the course. Committed to supporting the profession, he has been an active member of the CGSA, GCSAA, BCGSA and the Western Canada Turfgrass Association. Phil, his wife and their two sons live in the quaint fishing community of Steveston, BC.

Originally from St. Catharines, Ontario, Justin discovered the sport of golf amidst the beautiful greens of Niagara. From a young age, he has travelled extensively across Canada and the US to play on some of the most scenic courses and conquer some of the most challenging slopes. He started his career in hospitality and event management at the Fairmont Banff Springs, where he enjoyed the best of both worlds: snowboarding in the Rocky Mountains during winter, and golfing on the renowned Stanley Thompson-designed course during the summer. In 2021, he moved to Vancouver to pursue his dream of working in the golf industry and playing golf year-round. With an extensive knowledge of creating memorable experiences, Justin is eager to apply his expertise to every golf event he organizes.

Despite his loyalty to the Maple Leafs, don’t be surprised to find Justin wearing a Canucks hat and jersey on game days.

Stephen was born and raised amidst the scenic landscapes of Vancouver, with a brief stint in the Prairies adding diversity to his upbringing. With a passion for hospitality and retail, he dedicated three decades to perfecting his craft in these industries before finding his calling at UGC six years ago. Starting as the manager of the driving range, Stephen quickly proved his mettle and expanded his responsibilities to include overseeing the Outside Services team.

An avid sports enthusiast, Stephen’s love for anything sports-related knows no bounds. Whether it’s discussing golf or the latest football game, he’s always eager for a conversation. However, his true joy lies in ensuring that every customer, whether at the range or on the course, receives the highest level of service and an unforgettable experience. With his unwavering dedication and focus, Stephen continues to elevate the standards of customer satisfaction at UGC.

 Darren, originally from Wicklow, Ireland made the trip to Canada in 2023, bringing a wealth of golfing knowledge along with him. His passion for the game has been a lifelong affair, with the privilege of playing and working on prestigious courses from his homeland, including favorites like Druids Glen, Royal Dublin, and the European Golf Course. Recently, Darren earned honors from Setanta College in Strength and Conditioning, a testament to his dedication to helping others enhance their skills. When not perfecting his own technique on the fairways, you’ll find him stationed in our pro shop. Don’t hesitate to drop by for a chat about all things golf – Darren is always delighted to assist you.

Kim’s passion for cooking ignited at a very young age in the family kitchen, setting the stage for a remarkable culinary career. He kicked off his professional journey with the Four Seasons Hotel in his late teens, where he completed their prestigious management program. From there, Kim took his skills worldwide, training at culinary school in Paris and studying wine in Bordeaux, France. Back in Canada, Kim shared his expertise as a consultant for some of Vancouver’s top restaurants before taking an entrepreneurial leap with his own Schezwan Chinese restaurant in Zihuatanejo, Mexico. His love for Vancouver brought him back to the city, and today, as our Food and Beverage Director, Kim is making his mark, blending his global experience with his passion for excellence. His leadership is truly the secret ingredient to our success—he’s cooking up something special here every day!

Andy’s passion for food is legendary. Whether he’s creating a cup of hot chocolate for heli skiing guests, fresh from the sea lobster for resort guests in the Seychelles, or perfecting a recipe for beer soup at a brew pub, Andy’s passion for food and cooking infuses every dish he creates. When he’s not in the kitchen Andy enjoys photography, particularly photographing vintage cars and the colours and textures that make Vancouver an amazing city. He’s recently created a line of delicious take home comfort food, our Westward Ho! To Go!, available every day in our restaurant!

Joni is a local, born and raised in the Vancouver area (how rare is that these days) and has been in the Food and Beverage industry for 40 years having spent 37 years of that time in Food & Beverage at University Golf Club. Joni is currently our Events & Catering Manager, however she has had a variety of roles within the department since she started working here while attending the University of BC acquiring her Bachelor of Education. Joni has her WSET Advanced Certificate in Wines and Spirits and enjoys wine and wine education (aka ‘market research’). When not working she can be found spending quality time with family and friends, working out at the gym and playing the occasional round of golf (although she would like to play more to try and get that elusive hole in one). She thoroughly enjoys being a part of the Food & Beverage team at University Golf Club.

Fionnan (also known as Finn), was born and raised in Dublin, Ireland. He made the move to Vancouver in May of 2023 and brings with him a wealth of knowledge and professional experience in the hospitality and events space. Fionnan recently obtained a Masters degree in Event Management from Technological University Dublin which has helped him bring a unique perspective to the UGC team. He has a passion for creating and crafting memorable experiences for guests and would be delighted to assist you with your next event.

When not working he can be found trying to improve his golf game (sometimes to no avail), or fishing for Salmon on the Capilano River.

Kevin hails from Halifax (he says it’s a great place to be from) and came out for the Expo party in 86 and never went back. He loves to golf but is not that good even though he says it’s not about the score it’s the laughs that happen during the round and after. The man has many stories to tell, want to know about running in the Olympic torch relay, Robert Mondavi’s 85th birthday party, serving Jean Chretien, or the ghosts at the Langtry house just ask him, I’m sure it will only cost you a glass of wine or two.

Michael has been the University Golf Club’s General Manager since 1997. Prior to that, he was the club’s Head Golf Professional for three years. Before coming to UGC in 1994, he spent 14 years working at the prestigious Capilano Golf & Country Club in West Vancouver.

To date Michael has scored 6 hole-in-ones during his golf career…but who’s counting! He is the only member of his family not born in beautiful British Columbia. He was born in Scarborough, Ontario but we won’t hold that against him as he’s definitely not a Leafs fan.

He and his wife Jacquie, were married at UGC’s gorgeous gazebo garden in the summer of 2009. They were blessed with the birth of their first child, Nathan, in the spring of 2012 and then the arrival of beautiful Aubrey, in the spring of 2014. If you recall…those same two springs, Bubba Watson won the Masters…so we’ll always be curious of what might happen if he manages a third ‘green jacket”!!

Words to live by: “Life isn’t a dress rehearsal…and it goes by far too quickly!”

Michael – known as Spike – hails from a career of construction, starting when he arrived in Vancouver coming from the Hammer in the summer of 1992. Spike entered the commercial construction industry almost immediately on the ground level. In 1997 he earned his ticket as an Interior Systems Mechanic and then spent the 5 years prior to joining UGC in the residential construction industry.

Spike enjoys golfing in his spare time and loyally watching The Leafs and Ti-cats. Oskee Wee wee.