Professional Billy Simkin leaving NOTL Golf Club

After achieving his goal to become the longest-serving head professional in the history of the Niagara-on-the-Lake Golf Club, Billy Simkin is taking on a new role at a new club.

“It is time for me to move on to a job that will give me more time to be with my boys, Avery and Emmett,” he said in an online post. “This move will also allow me to enjoy and play the beautiful game of golf again.”

A Guelph native, Billy fell in love with the game while playing as a junior at Victoria Park West Golf Club. After rising through the region’s junior golf ranks, he moved on to play at Puslinch Lakes Golf Club in Cambridge. 

His career in golf began at age 12 at Victoria Park West in his hometown. At 16, he moved across the road to Victoria Park East and a year later began working at Guelph Lakes Golf Club.

The class A head professional spent three years after high school studying at Georgian College while working at Blue Springs in Acton. He continued to work in  Acton for another three years after graduating from Georgian. 

In 2006, Billy moved to NOTL to take on an assistant professional role. After a year, he was hired by the club’s board as the head professional, taking over from Scott Cochrane, who had held the position for the previous two years.  

John Wiens purchased the club in 2007 during Simkin’s first year as head professional. 

“He’s done a lot of good things here,” Wiens tells The Local. “We worked well together. We were both new to the club at the time, so we learned and grew together here the first few years. It was all good, very positive.”

Simkin thanked all current and past members and all locals who visited the club over his 15 years for what he called an incredible ride at North America’s oldest course. He also praised the board of directors for giving a then-24-year-old unproven pro a chance. 

“I will never forget what Bob Cheriton, Bruce Murdoch, Ron Ashenhurst and the late Glen May and Rex Williams did for me,” he added. “And thank you to owners Jill and John Wiens for the past 15 years.”

Simkin also gave special thanks to assistant pro Ricky Watson, whom he referred to as his co-pilot at the club and in life. Late last year Watson also  announced his departure from the club to pursue a career in real estate. 

Simkin and Watson have been a welcoming, enthusiastic team in NOTL the past eight-plus years. Their exuberance and love for the game made members of all ages, as well as casual golfers, feel at ease on the links and in the pro shop. They especially had an effect on young golfers through their patient, relatable approach during youth golf camps. 

The pair organized a number of trips with members over the years, and invited some to play in pro-ams with them across the province. 

“I want to thank every member who ever made an attempt to join in the club events and getaways that I organized,” he said. “Without (their) support I could never have grown the club to what it is now.”

“To all the staff that have ever worked for me and gave 100 per cent, I thank you,” Simkin continued. “I want all members to know that I truly strived to make Niagara-on-the-Lake Golf Club a great place to be a golf member and I hope the club continues to grow and improve on what Ricky and I have built.”

Simkin is joining the staff at Peninsula Lakes Golf Club on Highway 20 in Fonthill as the head teaching professional for the 2022 golf season. 

Wiens says the process has begun to hire Simkin’s replacement. The job opening has been posted through the PGA of Canada’s website, and he hopes to have the new head professional in place by the end of March, with the club opening the first week of April.