Eric Banks, Going Pro

When he was just six, Truro golfer Eric Banks’ parents took him to a golf clinic after losing a Timbits soccer match. In his words, he “wanted absolutely no part of being there.”

Then, at twelve, he snuck onto the Truro course during a rainy day. He hit a perfect drive off of number nine and he’s been hooked ever since.

At nineteen, he had open-heart surgery. Eric had just finished his freshman year at the University of Florida. He’d been recruited to play golf and UF has a storied golf program. In fact, in 2023, it was ranked number one in the country. But open-heart surgery put Eric in a long recovery and made him question his future with the sport.

Almost exactly a year later, in 2013, he qualified for the Canadian Open. Qualifying meant everything. That’s the moment Eric knew he wanted to go pro. “It closed the door on recovery and proved that I still had the skill set to earn a spot at the highest level,” says Eric. He went on to play all four years at UF and was a two-time academic All-American. He also graduated with a degree in economics.

Training to Go Pro

These days, you can find Eric Banks at Fox Harb’r, training for the season. His day starts early, at 7:30, with his dynamic golf warm-up. From nine to one, he shoots eighteen holes. After a quick break, he’s either at the driving range or practicing his short game, targeting any issues from the morning round or working on specific shots for upcoming events. After all that, he either cools down or does an actual workout, wrapping up his long day by six.

There are some real advantages to training and playing at Fox Harb’r, which, we like to stress, are a true links course. Eric appreciates the challenge. He tells us, “The facilities at Fox Harb’r are world class. The benefit of an oceanside course, other than the views, are the ever-changing elements. When the wind is blowing, it really amplifies a bad shot, so your focus and execution have to be spot on. When the wind is down, you’re able to get a gauge on how your stock shots are performing and hopefully make some birdies! The calm days at Fox Harb’r are some of my favourite on earth.”

On Tour

All that work has a clear purpose. “My biggest goal is to earn a Korn Ferry Tour card. It’d be great to play a full calendar year of events and see if we could earn a PGA Tour card,” Eric tells us. He’s on the PGA Tour Americas this season and will be playing other Canadian events, such as the Vancouver Open and the Canada Cup.

So far, Eric has racked up eight professional wins. His largest was the Canada Cup in 2019, where he had a great week firing rounds of 63-67-66-68 for a total of (-24). “This set the all-time tournament scoring record and led to my biggest payday too.”

The Fox Harb’r Advantage

Since we couldn’t help ourselves, we asked Eric for his favourite hole and he offered a little tip for you golfers out there.

“My favourite hole at Fox Harb’r is number 14. After taking in the breathtaking view from the tee, pick a section of Mr. Joyce’s retaining wall to aim at. From there, it’s all about getting the ball into the proper spot on the green. The green has three tiers: front left, back left, and back right. If you’re able to hit your second shot on the same section as the pin, you’ll have a great look for birdie!”

No doubt you’ll see Eric Banks on the pro circuit. Until then, you can find him teeing up at Fox Harb’r. Speaking of, there’s one last thing he’d like to say:

“I’d like to thank the entire staff and membership at Fox Harb’r for the continued support. Kevin, Elliott, and the whole golf staff have been incredible. The access to Fox Harb’r has been one of the greatest contributions to my professional career and has a direct impact on tournament performance. Also, a special thank-you to long-time member Jim Mills. Jim spearheaded a sponsorship group that I use to this day. It helps cover the multitude of expenses that come with professional golf, and I wouldn’t be in the spot I am today without it. Thank you, Jim!”