(As of June, 2025)
Chris MacDonald is one of the most successful coaches in NAIA golf today.
He's completed his 24th season as the head coach of UBC women's golf and his 21st year as the head coach of the men's team.
During his tenure, MacDonald has led the women to seven NAIA Championships (2004, '10, '12, '19, '22, '23, '25), three silver medal finishes ('05, '06, '13), and four bronze medals ('03, '07, '08, '24). The women’s program has also won 18 Golf Canada Canadian University Championships (2003-'07, '09-'12, '14, '16-'19, '22-25) and five Cascade Collegiate Conference Championships (2019, '22-'25).
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 both 2008 and 2023, his squad won the NAIA National Championship. 2008 marked 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 also earned two silver medals (2011, '16), and two bronze medals (2009, '12) at the NAIA Championships. The program has also won five (2019, '22-'25) Cascade Collegiate Conference championships. The men’s program under MacDonald has captured nine Golf Canada Canadian University/College Championships (2008, '09, '13, '15, '16, '19, '22, '24, '25).
MacDonald is a nine-time NAIA Coach of the Year (2004, '08, '10, '12, '19, '22, '23 (both men's and women's), '25) and has been recognized as the Golf Coaches Association of America 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. MacDonald was also chosen as the winner of Sport BC’s 2020 Male Coach of the Year Award.
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.
