Garron Passes Torch To Cundari
March 24, 2010 by Ian Hutchinson
In the relay of Canadian PGA presidents the past few years, Lindon Garron took the baton from the likes of Al Scott and Warren Crosbie and is now comfortable handing it off to Glenn Cundari of North Bay, Ont., who was named to that position at the association’s annual general meeting on Wednesday in Moncton.
“I think we have a very, very strong board right now, a fairly young board, but really, really committed people who bring a lot to the table,” said Garron.
“Glenn is certainly one of them. He brings a good perspective to our association. He’s bright, he’s been very active in the teaching and coaching side of our association, long-term player development, junior golf development,” he added.
“He’s got other experience that he can draw upon in other organizations that’s he’s volunteered in and I think that will be a big thing,” said Garron. “Glenn is an outgoing guy. He will carry on what we’ve started, with respect to relationships with other organizations nationally and internationally.”
Cundari, 40, is a former winner of the Jack McLaughlin Junior Leader of the Year Award and has served on the board of directors and in a variety of roles. See the News Now story on the GNN home page for more.
Outside of his extensive background in coaching and junior/player development, Cundari has new challenges ahead of him, including the Professional Advancement, Career Enhancement (PACE) program, which was voted in at Wednesday’s AGM.
While Garron’s main mission during his term was fine-tuning the program to meet the membership’s approval and carrying out PACE information sessions, the mission changes gears as Cundari moves in as president.
“One thing that he’s going to be having to deal with is more operational stuff. We’ve got lots of things to do,” said Garron. “We’ve got to get out and promote that program. We’ve got to get with the employers,” he said.
“We’ve got to develop a good employment strategy for our members, a good branding initiative, which has already been undertaken, but we need to get the image of the Canadian PGA up there. We need to work with our (National Allied Golf Association) partners,” said Garron.
Cundari comes in at a time when associations within NAGA appear to be working together, which wasn’t always the case if you look back on eras past when associations within golf often feuded with one another over who was responsible for what and how issues should be handled.
“We don’t debate with the RCGA and the golf course owners and the superintendents about things we used to in the past,” said Garron, adding that constructive discussion is more the case now and that Cundari is capable of working in such an environment.
The new president will also have a solid support system from within the Canadian PGA, starting with executive director Gary Bernard, according to Garron.
“Quite frankly, we have a new executive director, so the relationship with Glenn and Gary is very good and they’ll be able to support each other. He’s going to have a great support group with him and that’s important.”
Ian Hutchinson is a veteran Canadian golf writer, whose history in the game includes an extensive background with Canadian golf trade publications. A golf columnist with Sun Media, Hutch is also a regular contributor to publications and websites in Canada and the United States.
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It was a very nice evening last night and thank you for inviting me. On behalf of Jeff and the entire NGCOA Canada team, Board of Directors and our 1400 members, congratulations on a job well done and also on the passing of the PACE program. We look forward to continuing a strong working relationship with the CPGA and with Gary and Glenn leading the charge, I am confident that will happen.