Wayne Hachey (left), the founder of the Osoyoos Desert Golf Academy, has selected local teenager Dylan Holz to join him in Spain to compete on the new Evolve Golf Tour in January. Hachey selected Holz as part of his ‘Create a Star’ program, where he takes one local golfer to compete and work behind-the-scenes on a European professional golf tour. Photo by Keith Lacey.
Dylan Holz is going to have to start brushing up on his Spanish very soon.
That’s because the talented young golfer has been selected by Wayne Hachey, the founder of the Osoyoos Desert Golf Academy, to join him in Spain to compete and work behind the scenes on the newly-formed Evolve Pro Tour early next year.
Hachey developed the “Create a Star” program last year that sees him select one local junior and invite him or her to join him in Europe to play in a couple of tournaments and spend several weeks behind the scenes organizing tournaments in Spain.
Hachey made his announcement following his annual Desert Golf Academy Fun Day Scramble Saturday evening at the Osoyoos Golf and Country Club.
Last year’s recipient, David Montreuil, told the crowd Saturday evening how travelling to Spain and playing against young professional players last spring was the greatest experience of his young life.
Holz, 18, who just graduated from Osoyoos Secondary School, was thrilled and honoured to be selected by Hachey to join him in Spain a few months down the road.
“I’ve never been over to Europe and never played against the pros, so it’s going to be an awesome experience,” said Holz. “I can’t wait to go.”
Hachey joined the Evolve Pro Tour in June 2012. With his professional golf background and 15 years of tournament organization experience, mostly in Europe, he brings a vital component to the Evolve Pro Tour Team.
Hachey has spent much of the past 22 years in Europe. He founded and operated the EPD Tour for 10 years as well as the Hi5 Pro Tour.
His main focus is to give as many young, up- and-coming players an opportunity to play competitive golf to further their careers.
Holz was an easy choice for his “Create a Star” program this year, said Hachey.
“I just started working with Dylan last year and I could see he not only had talent, but a great work ethic,” he said. “He works very hard to continually try and improve his game and that’s exactly what I’m looking for when I make my selection.
“He’s got goals in his mind that he wants to achieve in the game of golf and he’s willing to put in the time and work to achieve those goals and that’s exactly what I’m looking for. I want a kid who can not only play the game, but has a great demeanour on and off the course.”
Holz said the opportunity to play against top young professionals and work behind-the-scenes helping Hachey organize different tournaments is going to be very exciting.
“I’ll get to see how the pros prepare for tournaments and the kind of work they put in and hopefully I will learn a lot,” he said.
Holz, who has only been golfing for six years, said he has plenty of work on his own game to improve on before heading over to Europe.
“My strength is with my driver as I’m very good off the tee,” he said. “But I really have to work on my putting because I miss way too many short putts.”
Holz has unlimited potential as a golfer, said Hachey.
“He has a lot of raw, natural ability and he has the terrific work ethic to try and improve his game, which is what you need because there are so many talented young golfers out there,” he said. “Exposing him to the pro game and allowing him to play in a couple of pro tournaments can only help him.
“I know he’s excited to get over there and I’m excited to bring him along.”
Although a new tour, the Evolve tour management team has a 15- year history of establishing and operating successful professional satellite tours in Europe and is now establishing one of the strongest platforms for young professional golfers from across the world, said Hachey.
The vision of the Evolve Pro Tour is to have a tangible impact on European golf, he said.
Due to winter climate restraints throughout most of Europe, many of Europe’s finest tournament playing golfers are unable to obtain optimal competitive playing conditions. With ideal weather and great facilities offered in Murcia in the southeastern area of Spain, Evolve’s aim is to successfully provide dynamic tournaments for players to remain competitive.
Hachey and Holz will be leaving for Spain at the end of January and will return to Osoyoos in the middle of March.
