St. Eugene To Host 2025 Indigenous Championship British Columbia
St. Eugene Golf Resort Image Courtesy Tourism Cranbrook
St. Eugene Golf Resort in Cranbrook has been selected by BC Golf as the host site for the 2025 Indigenous Championship British Columbia from July 21st to 23rd.
“British Columbia Golf and the BC Indigenous Golf Association are excited to return to St. Eugene, which is an outstanding property with a rich history,” said Jerome Goddard, BC Golf Director of Rules & Competitions. “The golf course and surrounding resort amenities will deliver a memorable experience for players, volunteers, friends, and family members.”
Nestled in the spectacular Rocky Mountains and located within the traditional territory of the Ktunaxa Nation, St. Eugene Resort celebrates a unique history within a beautiful and rare setting. Once a former residential school, the Mission Building was reclaimed under the visionary leadership of the Ktunaxa Nation and transformed into a full-service resort and beacon of light for the community.
St. Eugene Director of Golf Operations, Cindy Soukoroff, responded to being asked, what it meant to the facility to be hosting the Indigenous Championship by saying, "St. Eugene Resort is proudly owned by the Ktunaxa Nation & Shuswap Indian Band and is located on the traditional territory of Ktunaxa Nation. We are honoured to host the 3rd Annual B.C. Golf Indigenous Championship and are excited for the opportunity to showcase indigenous athletes and their culture. This event provides an opportunity to showcase everything our beautiful resort has to offer while building pride and a sense of unity within the community."
As an award-winning member of the PGA of Canada and past Head Professional for several years at St. Eugene, Soukoroff offered this assessment of what it will take to score well on St. Eugene golf course, "At St. Eugene there is a target in view of every tee shot and strategic ball placement off each tee is extremely important to avoid the numerous fairway and greenside bunkers. Club selection and knowing which side of the pin to error on is very important on all par 3’s. The final three holes provide an advantage to the long ball hitter with two reachable par 5’s in the right conditions and one of the longer par 3’s."
T'esóts'en (Patrick Kelly), the President of the BC Indigenous Golf Association and former president of British Columbia Golf said, "The B.C. Indigenous Golf Association is honoured to accept with gratitude the invitation from the St. Eugene Golf Club in Cranbrook to host the third annual Indigenous Championship British Columbia at your spectacular course.
“We acknowledge the Ktunaxa Nation who have been the custodians of your territory for many generations. We thank you for welcoming us to your beautiful place. Indigenous golfers from around the province will bring their best to meet the excellent challenge of a great golf course."
The most recent Provincial Championship held at St. Eugene was the 2019 Women’s Senior, won by Kim Carrington of Calgary, Alberta.
The Indigenous Championship will be contested over 36 holes of stroke play with a field size of 120 players. Top finishers will qualify for the Indigenous Challenge Match between British Columbia and Ontario in Fall 2025.
Registration will open on March 26th at 12PM.