I’ll be motoring east from Toronto this weekend to take part in the Canadian PGA’s Centennial celebrations in the nation’s capital region.
During that four-and-a-half hours on the 401 and other routes into Ottawa, I’ll have plenty of time to reflect on this significant milestone and I’m sure once I get there, I’ll hear plenty of fond memories, as well as swap the lies we all love to share over putts and pints.
It’s a busy week for the Canadian PGA with the Mr. Lube Senior event also starting on Wednesday, so many of the association’s staff will have to high-tail it to Ottawa right after that tournament ends on Friday at King’s Riding in King City, Ont.
Of course, not everybody will be able to make the festivities from across the country, either due to schedules or distance, but I’m sure in a perfect world, golf professionals would love to meet with colleagues from around the country or friends they haven’t seen in awhile.
Absence doesn’t mean members and friends can’t take part in the discussions that are sure to take place. That’s what GNN is for and we would enjoy hearing from those who can’t make it and those who will be at the festivities.
Of course, there will be a lot of chatter about the association’s colourful history and while 100 years is a significant milestone, the association’s present and future is certainly a relevant topic along with the pride that members have in the association’s past.
Where the association is headed is as much a reason for discussion as where the Canadian PGA has been, so take a moment to reflect on the past and look into the crystal ball. We want to hear from you on this important occasion in the history of the association.
What are your fondest memories from being a member?
Are golf professionals still the personification of the game in Canada?
What is the image of golf professionals among consumers?
What are your main concerns with the changing role of the golf professional over the years?
If a Canadian PGA founder could be time-warped into 2011, what would that founder’s opinion be of today’s golf professional?
Given the state of the game today, do you expect more significant change in the role of the golf professional?
Does a young golf professional have to wait too long before making enough money to raise a family and reach the personal goals of his/her contemporaries in other jobs?
Is enough being done to attract women who might aspire to being golf professionals?
What should the Canadian PGA be focusing on going forward – tournaments, education or other priorities?
Where do you think the Canadian association stands among other PGAs from around the world?
Those are just a few questions to mull over and I’m sure you have many more topics you’d like to discuss in respect to the Canadian PGA, whether they have to do with the past, present or future of the association.
So tee it up as we head into this significant celebration by offering your thoughts on this wide variety of subjects in the Comments box below this blog.
I’m heading to the University Golf Course in Vancouver to participate in BC’s celebration of our Centennial. This was organized by Barrie McWha who oversees the BC Golf House. I am definitely looking forward to hooking up with golf pros young and old with the hopes of having a few laughs and memories. I’ll be traveling with my Associate, Brett Standerwick, our Teaching pro Steve Busswood and Thornhills legend Bill Smith.
I want to thank Barrie and UGC GM, Micheal Mather for making this happen. I can’t wait!
In Vancouver, as Ward Stouffer just pointed out, 72 PGA of Canada members, and friends are gathering for an informal golf day to celebrate our Association and its centennial.
Michael Mather, Executive Professional of the University GC and University Golf Holdings have generously made their golf course available for us to all celebrate.
The BC PGA was formed in 1930 and the 18 members who created it paid $5 in dues, assistants paid $2 and they held a tournament. Life was obviously simpler then, and we all thought it would be fun to just step back in time and have a golf day, dinner and maybe a drink of two!
Dick Munn is bring three of his former assistants, Ward is bringing his team from Vancouver Island, as are many other old friends hooking up. Some of the women in the Association are playing as well and it should be great day. Alvie Thompson, Bill Wright, Richard Liesen, Ray Dodson, Al Kennedy, Mike Graas and Bryan Hart are just a few of the members, some of whom are retired, that are playing, along with many current members
When we stop and think about it, the friendships we make in this industry are the most important part, and when the career comes to an end, the friendships still last!
Cec Ferguson and I have been close friends for 30 years and while he lives in Vernon, and I live on the Sunshine Coast, this will be a wonderful day to tee it up together again.
Happy 100th birthday to our Association! While most of us will not be in Ottawa next weekend, we will be thinking of those that are, and wishing them a great celebration!
Great questions, here are my answers Hutch:
What are your fondest memories from being a member?
The bonds and relationships created through this association with some really great professionals whom I have maintained in touch with over the 20 years. We may be all different but we have one common bond.
Are golf professionals still the personification of the game in Canada?
I believe we ARE, however we need to do a lot more branding of ourselves to others as the “experts” and get out of our own way. We need to stop worrying about “image” and more about giving back to the game that brought you here.
What is the image of golf professionals among consumers?
I believe in certain circles they could be sought after as an expert, but it has changed from “player / teacher” to more of a “business / provider” to ensure the people enjoying the course have the best experience. Again consumers have so much choice today it is hard for them to stay loyal. Too many players wanting a piece of the pie to be successful.
What are your main concerns with the changing role of the golf professional over the years?
There is a large gap in the understanding of what your role is as a golf professional in this period of the golf industry. There is a lack of leadership, mentoring, participation in education, etc…It is almost as if we don’t want to take a chance in bettering ourselves or stepping out of our comfort zone in fear of someone seeing it as a weakness that there is an area where we need improvement.
If a Canadian PGA founder could be time-warped into 2011, what would that founder’s opinion be of today’s golf professional?
Where has the passion gone? Why are you stuck behind your desk crunching numbers? Why is there more time spent on how much $ can be made, instead of providing exceptional service, reliability, patience and honesty. Now that doesn’t mean we aren’t honest, it just shows that the golf business today has changed and while it HAS to change, the path that it is on isn’t necessarily containing the CORE values that a “Founder” may have had.
Given the state of the game today, do you expect more significant change in the role of the golf professional?
YES! The role of the golf professional must realize 3 main points.
1. In order to survive you MUST continue to seek out new ways to improve oneself.
2, How are you going to mentor, lead and grow the successors of your position?
3. It’s not about YOU, it is about everyone else, so get over yourself and be the GOLF EXPERT that you are by engaging, speaking and building a better CPGA professional.
Does a young golf professional have to wait too long before making enough money to raise a family and reach the personal goals of his/her contemporaries in other jobs?
YES! Golf and it’s wages have always been: “Work hard for little pay” . There is a problem here with the seasonal nature of the game, the “value for work” type of stigma attached to golf. The current payscale for anyone entering the golf “club” business is faced with a decision about how to make it work, and if they want to work that hard to get there. Society and the generation of “replacements” coming up in this busines are not going to stay if not valued.
Is enough being done to attract women who might aspire to being golf professionals?
NO. Golf is still “the boys club” and while there is a larger influx of young women playing and at ahigh level, there should be a nurturing and coaching component to help them get into this business. Female CPGA Professionals are as important as the men. Again, I will echo my points about leadership, mentoring, and growing the professionals of the future is poor. Some do it but not many.
What should the Canadian PGA be focusing on going forward – tournaments, education or other priorities?
Education. Professional Development, and trying to create a level of pay scale equity.
Where do you think the Canadian association stands among other PGAs from around the world?
We are constantly told that we are “leaders” and doing things to grow the game that far outreach other PGA’s. While I have no doubt, as I believe we have a great leadership at the National level, I do believe we need to gleen information from other PGA’s about what they do that is successful. I believe the Canadian PGA is looked upon similarly as Canada a Nation is looked upon. We are friendly, honest, do a really great job of supporting others, and when necessary we can grab the bull by the horn and take charge