“Developing champions on and off the course” was the goal of the University of Manitoba Golf Team when it was co-founded in 1999 by Garth Goodbrandson and Manitoba Golf Hall of Fame Honoured Member Derek Ingram. This goal is also descriptive of Goodbrandson’s entire professional career.
Born in Selkirk, Manitoba in 1960, sports immediately became an important part of Goodbrandson’s life. He attended Manitoba Golf Association development camps as a junior and his talent and passion for golf increased so much that he decided to make golf his profession.
Goodbrandson joined the PGA of Canada in 1982 and served as an Assistant Professional at Tuxedo Golf Course in Winnipeg from 1982 to 1986. After attaining his class “A” status, he was the Head Professional at Halcrow Lake Golf and Country Club in The Pas, Manitoba from 1987 to 1990. Goodbrandson returned to Winnipeg to become Associate Golf Professional at Breezy Bend Country Club in 1991 and then served as the Head Professional at Minnewasta Golf & Country Club in Morden, Manitoba from 1992 t0 1997.
Goodbrandson’s professional career direction changed from club professional to golf coaching and leadership when he became the Director of Player Development for Golf Manitoba in 1997, the first full time coach hired by any provincial golf association. In that capacity, Goodbrandson, in addition to providing support for the introductory to elite level players, has coached over 20 provincial teams at national events since 1998 and has been instrumental in establishing ongoing development programs for Canada, Western Canada and Manitoba Summer Games golf teams in the province. He was a member of the Royal Canadian Golf association Coaching Team from 2004 through 2007 and has been the Tournament Director with the Maple leaf Junior Tour since 2004.
Goodbrandson has coached every University of Manitoba Bisons Golf Team since 1999, initially with Ingram, and since then with Ed Boge. The University of Manitoba bestowed on him the University of Manitoba Coach of the Year Award in 2012. In 2014, the Bisons Men’s Golf team won the Canadian University Championship which was remarkable accomplishment given that Manitoba has a much small population to draw on and a shorter golf season than some of the perennial powers in Canadian University Golf. In recognition of this accomplishment, Goodbrandson was named Canadian University Golf Coach of the Year in 2014 and received the City of Winnipeg Outstanding Achievement Award in the same year. The Golf Team was a finalist for the 2014 Manitoba Sportswriter/Sportscaster Team of the Year. In spite of all these deserved accolades, Goodbrandson is most proud f the quality of the individuals who have made up all of the Bisons teams ha has coached.
Goodbrandson has also received multiple recognition of his professional excellence both within and outside of Manitoba: PGA of Manitoba Junior Leader of the Year (1999 and 2000) and Professional Development Award (2014); PGA of Canada Junior Leader of the Year (1999); Named as a Top 50 Teacher in Canada by National Post (2007); Nominated as a Top 100 Teacher by Golf Magazine (2006).
Goodbrandson continues to be the Director of Player Development for Golf Manitoba and Head Coach of the University of Manitoba Bisons Golf Team.
Garth Goodbrandson is an inductee in to the Manitoba Golf Hall of fame and Museum Inc., September 19, 2016.