Is PACE On Pace To Pass?

It may not get as much publicity as the Rolling Stones or Justin Timberlake going out on tour, but Canadian PGA president Lindon Garron and sidekick Roger Hogel, an executive professional within the PGA of Saskatchewan, recently embarked on a cross-country tour of their own.

The tour is to help solidify the stated objective of a stronger working relationship between the national office and nine zones, where disagreements often took place and fireworks once ensued on various matters in the past. Garron says the town hall meetings across the country are for communication purposes.

“The town halls are basically information Q&As with our members. It was a decision that we made as part of the National Zone Protocol partnership that we signed with the zones. As part of that, the president will visit the zones and see people face to face and gather information,” said Garron.

“They can share all the good things about the Canadian PGA and then, share some of the challenges. We’ll be able to address some of the concerns or comments and, hopefully, bring our members a little closer together,” he added.

“It’s a session where they can say anything and everything and it will be helpful to the board in determining some direction in the future,” said Garron.

“Our national zone representatives have been very good about bringing back feedback from their zones, but it’s always nice to hear sometimes face to face with their members some of the issues and the concerns that they have,” he said.

The fact that Hogel is chair of the CPGA’s PACE (Professional Advancement and Career Enhancement) committee is a hint about what is expected to a big topic at the town hall meetings.

An earlier version was defeated last year and a tweaked PACE proposal will be up for consideration at the annual general meeting in March.

“Obviously, PACE will be a big part of that presentation as well, for Roger and I to clarify certain areas there,” said Garron

“My gut feel is that it will be supported. The feedback that we’ve had from the zones has been very positive. Zones have gone on record to support it. We’re still answering a few questions with respect to it,” said Garron, adding the association listened to the concerns about the first edition of PACE.

“The changes since the last time were that we met with all the zones again to gather information and feedback on what they didn’t like about the first proposal and then, we passed it on to the PACE task force,” he said.

“I think the communication of it back and forth from the task force to the board to the zone boards and zone presidents has been better. I’ll go on record as saying I hope it does pass because it’s a program that’s really beneficial to our members,” said Garron, whose presidency will end around the same time as the final vote.

There are a couple of main differences between the first and second proposals of PACE, according to Garron.

“Generally, the connection with the Class A membership – I think mentoring and not necessarily having to work under a Class A was a bit of it,” he said. “The more we delve into it, that wasn’t as significant an issue as we first thought.

“There were some opportunities in the first one to work outside of the golf industry and still gain your membership. It’s all competency-based, so Joe Smith who was working at the local restaurant could get into the Canadian PGA as long as he jumped through all the hoops.

“In hindsight, even though we wanted to demonstrate we were competency-based, we believe there is an employment attachment. In the current edition, you must be working in the golf industry,” said Garron, stressing that can include positions outside of the traditional golf professional role of most CPGA members.

“I think that was the big thing that our members believe – you have to be in the industry and we happen to believe that as well,” said Garron, adding that Class A members will still mentor and help people through the program under the revised PACE.

“The Class A attachment has been addressed too,” he said.

“We’re trying to bring back that camaraderie and networking that, in some areas, has probably gone away,” said Garron. “Hopefully, this will encourage it. The young pros will be involved with some of our more experienced members.”

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