Alan Ogilvie, a life professional with the PGA of Canada Ogilvie passed away on April 1 at the age of 90.
Born and raised in Truro, N.S., Ogilvie developed a lifelong love of golf as a caddie at nine years of age at the Truro Golf and Country Club. By age 14 he held the course record and became the head pro at 18.
His career continued in the Maritimes with head pro stints at New Glascow Golf Club, Moncton Golf and Country Club and Ashburn Golf Club.
In 1964 he moved to Montreal to take over as head professional at Summerlea Golf and Country Club where he stayed for 12 years before moving to Toronto in 1976 to accept the head pro position at Lambton Golf and Country Club.
Ogilvie was a forward thinker and recognized that to advance his career into new realms, he needed to move into club management. The opportunity to achieve this goal came when the RCGA, then the owner of Glen Abbey Golf Club in Oakville, Ont., offered him the position of head professional/general manager.
Ogilvie moved to Glen Abbey in 1982 and in three years, turned the financial fortunes of the club around by developing a highly successful program for corporate group outings and tournaments, as well as innovative ways to host high profile charity events.
He remained at Glen Abbey for nine years and then moved to head up the development and opening of Lionhead Golf Club in Mississauga, Ont., followed by the Angus Glen Golf Club in Markham, Ont.
He ended is official career in the golf business at Spring Lakes Golf Club, where he was general manager in 1995 and 1996.
He always had a special fondness for Lambton and prior to moving to California in 1998, enjoyed a return to Lambton to give lessons for two summers.
In addition to his career at a variety of golf clubs, Alan won the Maritime Open and the Ontario Senior title. He was especially proud of having held the course records at all the clubs he worked at until that came to an end at Glen Abbey.
Alan was always extremely generous with his time with his staff, mentoring and advising many young golf professionals just starting their careers. Among those he mentored are Dudley Jones, Kevin Thistle, Bob Lean and Charles Lorimer.
Alan leaves his wife Sally and children Patti Thornhill of Calgary and Robert Ogilvie of Toronto.
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