Chris MacDonald
UBC Women's Golf head coach - 2001 to 2025
UBC Men's Golf head coach - 2004 to 2025
2015-16
Chris MacDonald enters the 2015-16 season, his 15th campaign as the head coach of UBC women's golf and his 12th year as the head coach of the men's team.
MacDonald guided the UBC women's team to an Association of Independent Institutions (AII) conference title and seventh place finish at the NAIA Championships in 2013 and an Association of Independent Institutions (AII) conference title. The women would go to win the RCGA Canadian University Championship for the 10th time in the progam's history.
During his tenure MacDonald has led the women to three NAIA Championships (2012, 2010, 2004), three silver medal finishes (2005, 2006, 2013), and three bronze medals (2003, 2007, 2008). They have also won the RCGA Canadian University Championships in ten of the 12 years since its inceptions in 2003.
Last season, MacDonald led the UBC men to an Association of Independent Institutions (AII) conference title and an 11th place finish at the 2014 NAIA Men's Golf Championships. They would also finish second at the RCGA Canadian University Championship. Third-year player Scott Secord earned individual medalist honours, winning the tournament by an impressive seven shots.
As the head coach of the men’s program, MacDonald quickly took the team from relative obscurity to its current standing as one of the top programs in the association. In 2008, his squad won the NAIA National Championships, the first time a school from outside the United States had claimed that honour. He led the men's team to four straight NAIA Region 1 Championships leading up to that national title.
Since 2008, the men have won a NAIA championship (2008), finished second once (2011), and in third place twice (2009, 2012).
He was named in the NAIA Coach of the Year in 2004, 2008, 2010 and 2012. He has also been recognized as the Golf Coaches Association of Amercia coach of the year - the Dave Williams Award in 2008, the Marilyn Todd Award as the Canadian Golf coach of the year, and the Lower Mainland Golf coach of the year in 2012.
Before heading the golf staff at UBC, MacDonald was an assistant professional at Nicklaus North Golf Club in Whistler, where he also ran the Sea to Sky Junior Golf Tour.
His record of professional education is extensive, having received a diploma in professional golf management from Camosun College while continuing to improve his knowledge of the sport through external programs and seminars. He has completed levels I – V of the CPGA TCCP Elite training program, attended the PGA Teaching and Coaching Summit in 2005 and has been consistently involved in RCGA player development and BCPGA seminars.
Most recently, he was a member of the committee responsible for producing the Long Term Player Development (LTPD) manual in golf for Sport Canada. MacDonald is a graduate of the University of New Brunswick and Bishop’s College School. He completed his Master’s degree at UBC in Human Kinetics.
MacDonald has been an associate professional at Shaughnessy Golf and Country Club for the past 11 years and in 2005 was the head coach and head of delegation with Team Canada at the FISU World University Championships in Korat, Thailand.
Chris lives in Vancouver with his wife Hilary and his two daughters, Lucy and Emma.
