Tyler Halls was born and raised in Brandon, Manitoba and has been golfing since 1987 when he started Grade Seven.
"I came from an elementary school in the country and I ended up going to a city school and basically all the guys I ended up hanging out with had golf memberships," said Halls, adding that he started teaching golf in 1994 and spent eight years as a professional at a small golf course in his hometown, before moving to Vancouver and teaching lessons out of North Vancouver for about ten years.
Halls currently has a 4.7 handicap due to a lack of being able to play as much as he would like to over the last five years since he opened up his fishing lodge in Quatsino, and his longest drive was "wind aided under very dry conditions, but I think it was close to 400 yards. But I would say on average I usually hit it 250-260."
What he likes best about teaching golf lessons to kids is "seeing the progress and how quickly they take to the sport. It's quite gratifying seeing any student improve. I really enjoy that part."
So far, the golf lessons at Seven Hills have been going "Really good. I kind of got the sense from Sharon Schraud (Seven Hills manager), that there hasn't been a lot of junior programs developed there, and I approached her in the fall of last year and basically mentioned that since their former pro had left, I'd be interested in teaching if there was anything that came up. I heard from her in May, she gave me a call, and we set it up from there. We ended up getting six juniors in total for a session," said Halls, adding that he thinks it's "definitely a good start in getting the kids lessons going. The adult turnout has also been good. At one point we had 12 students in a session, the feedback has been excellent and the students have really improved."
Halls has played the Seven Hills course a handful of times now, and he really likes "the third hole, it's a real beast. I think the first time I played it I parred it and I haven't done it since. It's a very difficult hole, demanding off the tee and the second shot, the approach shot, isn't any easier, really."
His personal best round at the course was an even par on nine, and he thinks that for this sort of rural community, "the facilities are excellent. It's got a covered driving range, a putting green, and the nine holes are a really good test."
Above all, Halls just wants to "encourage any parents that have kids who are interested in starting golf that the lessons are still available, and it's a great way to get kids into enjoying the game. Private lessons are also available all year round."
When this reporter asked Halls how to possibly fix his slice, Halls laughed and said "It's a timing and path issue. Basically you're late at impact, and you have to release the club a littler earlier," but any more information than that would require a golf lesson.
To book lessons with Halls, please contact Sharon at the Seven Hills Golf Club at 250-949-9818.