On Wednesday, June 2, the Pacific Western Athletic Association (PACWEST) announced that golf would not be returning as a conference sport for the 2021-2022 season. The Camosun Chargers are a part of PACWEST, meaning the Chargers golf team has been paused.
The Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA), which PACWEST is a member conference of, has a threshold of three teams needed to remain in the league, and there were only two golf teams remaining, the Chargers and the Langara Falcons, from Vancouver’s Langara College. (Prior to COVID-19, PACWEST also had golf teams from Vancouver Island University and Douglas College.)
Acting director of Chargers athletics and Camosun vice president of student affairs Evan Hilchey says that the college is disappointed by the announcement, as golf has been a part of the Chargers community since the team started up in the fall of 1995.
“It’s disappointing to our department, and disappointing to the student athletes who are directly impacted,” says Hilchey.
The college is working with the Camosun College Student Society to see if there is some way that students who want to play golf during their time at the college can.
“That’s the type of conversation that myself and the current coach of the golf program are having and will be having with the student athletes who are directly impacted by this,” says Hilchey. “What’s to come is still to be determined around how, and if, we can offer a continued golf experience for these particular student athletes.”
Hilchey says that there is not a league to engage with unless other institutions begin a golf program and joined PACWEST.
“Therefore, Camosun is unable to offer the golf program,” he says.
Hilchey says that golf was a unique and valuable part of Chargers culture, and while nothing changes academically as a result of this for student golfers, he says it could change whether or not the students choose to stay enrolled at Camosun.
“It doesn’t change academically in the sense of being enrolled at the college, it changes whether or not they would like to continue to be enrolled at the college,” says Hilchey. “Student athletes have two key components of their experience. One, their academic journey, and two, their athletic experience, and so we will continue to support those student athletes, and I will be meeting with them, along with the coach, to provide information and supports to ensure that they feel continued [to be] supported through this transition period. It will be up to them to make a choice as to whether or not they continue their academic credential here at Camosun or not.”