Your Thoughts On CPGA Name Change?

You may recall a blog I wrote here last week.

Among the various random thoughts that day, I mentioned some conversations I had engaged in with various people around the Canadian golf industry shortly after the association formerly known as the Canadian PGA would now be known as the PGA of Canada.

You can read that story by clicking here.

Not entirely everyone was enthralled with the name change, their reason being that there’s nothing wrong with a name that has been built over the decades for an association that just celebrated its 100^th anniversary. Read more

Name Change Aligns Canada With Other PGAs

I understand the reasoning behind the name change from Canadian PGA to PGA of Canada.

It’s aligning our association with every other PGA. We used to be known as the Alberta PGA, but we changed to PGA of Alberta years ago.

If you Google APGA, for example, there are several other groups and associations that go by the same acronym, but the reality is that we wanted to align ourselves with the PGA branding.

I know that there is tradition involved. Even though we’ve changed the Canadian PGA logo, I still think that the crest of the Canadian PGA is stunning, but times change and you have to be on the leading edge if you’re going to market and brand.

Sometimes, we become creatures of habit in which we get so traditional that change is a bad thing. The name change aligns us with other PGAs around the world and it still has the three letters that people automatically recognize.

It took me awhile to get my head around the new name, but by aligning ourselves with the World Alliance, we’re strengthening our association with others around the globe.

Canadian PGA Or PGA Of Canada?

Just some random mid-week thoughts on events and discussions I’ve had in the past week with various industry types:

• Not everybody is enthralled with the name change from the more familiar Canadian PGA to the new PGA of Canada. You can read the association’s reasons for the name change here. Many of the people I’ve discussed this topic with feel that the Canadian PGA name or the oft-used CPGA abbreviation has become a familiar and distinguished handle of the association over time, so it seemed like change for the sake of change when it went to the new moniker during its Centennial year. Canadian PGA is already a well-recognized brand around the world and the CPGA is already a member of the PGA World Alliance, so sounding like the PGA of America will not accomplish much, they say.

Read more

That’s PGA Of Canada, Thank You

Canadian PGA members and the association’s board of directors have approved a name change to the PGA of Canada. The association logo will remain unchanged.

 “After celebrating our centennial, it’s important for our association to not only recognize our history but to build on our future”, said president Glenn Cundari.  “We are excited about our future as we implement new and exciting initiatives, giving our members the tools to grow the game. 

“Changing our name to PGA of Canada is one of those initiatives, allowing us to harmonize with the international golf community and making our members part of the larger PGA family,” he added.

Executive director Gary Bernard added that the PGA brand is one of the most recognizable brands in the world.

“This name change will allow us to leverage the PGA brand more effectively and better align our association and our members within the PGA World Alliance, ultimately giving us better visibility within the golf industry”.

The PGA of Canada is a member of the PGA World Alliance, an organization that includes 10 PGAs and 56,000 members worldwide

Snapshots: CPGA Centennial Gala

The Canadian PGA held its Centennial Gala on Monday evening at the Hilton Lac-Leamy in Gatineau, Que. GNN joined the celebrations and thought we’d bring the Gala to readers who couldn’t make it through these random photos:

Change Is Inevitable In Business And Golf

Continuing with the theme of the Canadian PGA’s Centennial, one of the biggest changes I’ve seen over my career is the shift in focus among many golf professionals of my generation.

I could play, but I wasn’t a great player, and I think when we were really young, we always thought, `Wow, that guy’s such a great golf player, he’s going to be a great golf professional.’

That was true and it was fair back then.

Gar Hamilton, the great head professional at the Mississaugua Golf and Country Club, is a perfect example. Gar is both a great player and a great businessman and it’s morphed into a situation where we still play with the member, but we’re not playing with them every day.

I realize that I’m generalizing, but I’m just saying that’s the way it is in the majority of cases. There are still clubs out there that want the great player who goes out with the members and teaches the members and there’s still room for that in the golf business.

On the other hand, golf clubs are paying more attention to the business side of the game and they need people to run the pro shop, take care of members with great customer service and look after the bottom line.

Like technology, the golf business is changing and we have to change with the times. My contemporaries have done a great job of doing that in going from young golf pros who thought we need to play well to, 25 years later, needing to play okay and know all the business aspects of golf.

People fear change, but change is inevitable, especially in business. You see many big businesses changing every six months or every year.

I think the fear factor is lessening these days because people in the golf business see that we’re in a changing environment and if we don’t like it, we might as well get out now because it’s going to keep changing.

I’m proud of my generation who saw this and did a great job of adapting to changing times.

Tell Us About Your Mentor

One of the topics that continues to pop up in my discussions with people in the golf industry is the warm feeling they have for mentors from the past.

Certainly, that’s a topic that continually is raised when I’m chatting with GNN bloggers Tiffany Gordon and Kevin Thistle, who both recognize the importance of mentorship today and like talking about the people who were positive influences on them early in their careers. Read more

Education, Diversity Are CPGA’s Greatest Strides

The Canadian PGA held its Centennial Gala Monday evening in Gatineau, Que., and looking all the way back to the association’s roots, the biggest change, in my mind, is in education and employment.

We’ve been really focusing on making sure that our members are getting jobs and education is a big part of that goal. We’ve made huge strides in how we’re training our professionals.

We’ve become diversified. There are different avenues you can travel in order to be a part of this industry and still be a Canadian PGA member, be it as a sales rep, player, manager, merchandiser or clubfitter. We’ve expanded our horizons.

Education also helps us groom our staff members to be future leaders. Mentorship is such a big part of growth as is relationships. In my case, I know I wouldn’t be in the position I’m in if not for the people I’ve been involved with over the years.

Like any other association, the Canadian PGA is what you make of it. I think we’ve come a long way and they’re making every attempt to keep that going.

Education, employment and mentorship will always be an ongoing process. It’s no different than our jobs – every day, you’ve got to go in and make things better.

The staff at the Canadian PGA and the various zones are increasing awareness in our communities. They’re making sure we’re aligned with great partners. They’re ensuring the marketability and promotion of the golf professional continues.

Now, that we’ve enjoyed the celebration of the Canadian PGA’s past, we’ll enter into our second 100 years with the same values.

Senior Champ Keeps Moe In Mind

It’s the nature of the beast when you’ve been around as long as Ontario’s Ken Tarling and win a national championship, yet still get a good-natured ribbing from your peers about one bad shot.

In Tarling’s case, his approach shot on the 17^th at King’s Riding near King City, Ont., on Friday rolled into an environmentally-sensitive area and he took a triple bogey that quickly shrunk a five-shot lead into a two-shot margin.

“I played very well tee to green. The only time I messed up until 17 was eight. I mis-clubbed on eight and I hit it fat on 17 when I had lots of green to work with,” said Tarling.

“Those were the mistakes that I made, but on the positive side, I hit the ball very well, like really close – inside of 12 feet. I controlled my distance and I controlled my trajectory, which are always my goals as far as ball-striking,” he added.

“I wasn’t great on the greens. I was a bit shaky. I was a bit nervous,” said Tarling, who won the Mr. Lube Canadian PGA Seniors’ Championship by two shots over Calgary’s Scott Allred.

It was his first national Senior title, but his 100^th professional win, so you would wonder after all those triumphs, many coming around the world, Tarling would be nervous. He says it’s part of trying to follow the legacy established by the likes of Moe Norman, Al Balding and Bob Panasik, to name a few.

“I used to come to watch Moe play these tournaments, so for me to have a chance to chase him down … I’m never going to win as many as he won, but I’m trying. I’m a bit tight about it because I want to join them,” said Tarling.

“Just to be able to do something similar to what they’ve done means a lot to me, so I was quite shaky with the putter,” said Tarling, who says his wife Tina helped keep him calm in Friday’s final round.

He says he went into damage control on the par four 18^th and was only too happy to come away with the par that sealed his victory.

“I play little games where I say, `Okay, you’ve got a one-shot lead, or a two-shot lead or a three-shot lead. You need to do this to get in the house,’ and I’ll play different holes with these different games to teach myself how to win,” said Tarling.

“I’ve done this since I was younger and it’s worked out quite well. I used to do that with Moe a lot. We used to play scenarios is the term I use,” he said.

Tarling first met Norman as a 14-year-old working at Twenty Valley golf course in Southern Ontario. He remembers being beckoned to the par three 13^th to watch Norman hit three balls over a valley to the elevated green more than 200 yards away.

“Moe stands up and hits four wood, three of them, and we get in the cart, we drive around, we get up on the green,” said Tarling, adding that the closest ball to the hole was two feet, with the longest being a mere six feet.

“Moe says, `What’s so tough about this hole,’ gets in the cart, went back to the parking lot and got in his car and went back to Kitchener,” said Tarling.

Like many who knew him, Tarling says he has a million Moe stories, but likely more than most because he would travel with Norman, not only to play, but also emcee clinics and demonstrations for Norman, who was renowned for his shyness around people he didn’t know.

At one, Tarling asked Norman how he controlled his trajectory. Norman told him he visualized an apartment building and aimed for the 10^th floor or the 11^th floor. The story was somewhat different when it came up the next day during a clinic at Twenty Valley.

“I’m feeling pretty sure of myself and I’ve started the clinic,” recalled Tarling.

“I say, `So Moe, when you’re changing the elevation of the shots, what do you do, think about an apartment building?” he said, waiting for Norman’s reply.

“`Oh no, never, never. I think of clouds’ and he changed it up. I learned right there, don’t ever put a word in Moe’s mouth and you’ll be okay,” said Tarling, who is making a case for himself in the footsteps of Norman, Balding and Panasik.

In August, he’ll try for his fourth consecutive Ontario PGA Senior title. In October, he’ll head back to Australia where he’s won five times in 16 events on the Legends Tour and leads the Order of Merit. If he stays on top, he’ll earn a direct ticket into the final stage of European Senior Tour Q-school.

“My game has been pretty solid,” he said.

“I identified a couple of areas that need some work. I changed my putting technique. I worked with a fellow named Paul Dewland, who helped me with my mental state. We’re working on a program to be more rested for events,” he said.

Every little bit helps when you set the bar as high as he does.

Watch For GNN Centennial Coverage

GNN will be at the Hilton Lac-Leamy in Gatineau, Que., on Monday evening to cover the Canadian PGA Centennial Gala.

Due to time constraints and travel, we will be unable to get photos and other stories up in time for delivery on our Tuesday morning e-mail, but we will make every effort to start coverage later in the day on Tuesday.

Be sure to watch GNN for continuing coverage of the Centennial.

Number 1 And Number 100 For Tarling

Ken Tarling of Sanford, Ont., posted a two-under-par 69 in Friday’s final round of the Mr. Lube Canadian PGA Seniors’ Championship and walked away with his first win at that event held at King’s Riding near King City, Ont.

Just a couple of days before the Canadian PGA celebrated its’ 100^th birthday, the win at King’s Riding proved to be the 100^th of Tarling’s professional career. Tarling’s three-round 205 gave him a two-shot edge over runner-up Scott Allred of Calgary, but there were some tense moments at the end.

With a five-shot lead going on to 17, Tarling wound up with a triple bogey and was forced to keep his nerves in check on the final hole, which he managed to par.

.“It means a lot to me to win this tournament”, said Tarling, a disciple of the late Moe Norman, a past champion who Tarling first met when he was 14 years old.

“For me to join Moe, because of what he meant to me, and Al Balding, who took the time to teach me stuff, is fasntastic. These guys are legends and I’m so happy to be a part of it,” said Tarling.

For final scores, click here.

Tarling Makes Second Round Charge

Ken Tarling of Sandford, Ont., posted a three-under-par 68 to tie Calgary’s Scott Allred going into Friday’s final round of the Mr. Lube Canadian PGA Seniors’ Championship at King’s Riding Golf Club in King City, Ont.

“I played pretty well today. The birdie on the second hole set me off to a good start,” said Tarling, the winner of the 2001 Canadian PGA Club Professionals Championship. “I used my hybrid to get the ball over the water, pitching it close to the pin, then making a five-foot putt for birdie.

As Tarling posted his second consecutive 68, Allred stayed tied for the lead after shooting a one-under 70 on Thursday, when he bogeyed the second hole, but went on to birdie four holes on the front nine and another on the back, but he bogeyed 14 and double bogeyed 18.

Dave Bell of Windsor, Ont., won the Super Seniors (60 and up) division.

For scores leading into Friday’s final round, click here.

Watching CPGA Centennial From Afar

I’m not one of the lucky ones who will be on hand to celebrate the Canadian PGA’s Centennial, which will be capped off by Monday’s gala in the nation’s capital region.

Obviously, it’s disappointing that I won’t be there. The Canadian PGA is an association that is near and dear to my heart. To have an opportunity to be there would be fantastic, the chance of a lifetime really.

The Alberta Ladies’ Amateur will be here at Cottonwood. That’s a commitment we made and I’ll have fun doing that. Gregg Schubert, our head professional, will be at Centennial, and I’m sure I’ll be getting updates.

There are a lot of people who won’t be able to make it because of what we do and I think every club will be feeling something special that day. We’re flying the Centennial flag here all year and every morning when I pull in and see that, I know the Canadian PGA is part of who we are as golf professionals.

There will be a few hundred people at Centennial out of 3,700 members across the country, but unfortunately, you can’t change the date or accommodate everybody. I think on that day, everyone will carry some sense of pride and offer some acknowledgement of the occasion.

I think e-mails will be going back and forth and there will be some action on Twitter about the occasion. Everyone will celebrate in some way, shape or form and those who can’t physically be there will still continue to carry their pride.

Allred’s All Ready For Start Of CPGA Senior

Scott Allred of Calgary shot a five-under-par 66 to take the first round lead at the 2011 Mr. Lube Canadian PGA Seniors’ Championship at King’s Riding Golf Club, in King City, Ont.

Allred, a rookie at this years’ event, was two-under through the front nine and managed three more birdies on the back nine.  

“I played with a great group”, said Allred, the head professional at Elbow Springs Golf Club.  “The course played tough, but I was able to relax, hit the fairways, make a few birdies and play well.”

Allred heads into Thursday’s second round two a two-stroke lead over three-time Club Pro champion and 2008 Seniors champion Yvan Beauchemin of Louiseville, Que., and 2001 Club Pro champion Ken Tarling of Sanford, Ont.

“I played well after a restful weekend,” said Tarling, who recently earned a spot in the British PGA Seniors Championship and is ranked sixth on the Canadian PGA national rankings.  

“I had a couple of early birdies and then went on to play some solid golf all the way through, finishing with a nice birdie on 18.  I look forward to playing well over the next few days,” he added.

Beauchemin recovered after two bogeys early in the round to finish with a solid 68. 

For a complete leaderboard, click here.

CPGA History Is Fascinating, But Future Looks Good Too

I’ll be heading east to the nation’s capital region this weekend to take in the Canadian PGA Centennial celebrations.

I don’t play a lot of professional golf anymore, but I’m very proud to be a member of the association. A lot of my great friends who are golf pros agree and many of my friends are golf pros, I think, because we’re like-minded people who enjoy the game and the business of golf.

There’s so much history to the association, but I also think there’s a great future. I look around and I see guys from my generation and before us who are mentoring a lot of great young pros.

I’ve got four guys right now in my shop who are associates and all four are going to be head professionals one day. I can guarantee you that the young people these days are better-equipped through education and they’re growing up in a business environment.

I think I grew up in a business environment, but I may have just been on the cusp of it. When I was a young golf pro, most of us were still focused on playing and giving lessons, but we grew into the business of golf.

I still love to play, but I see the young people now who may be great players – there always will be great players in our business – but I think what has changed is the business side of it, with more young people aspiring to be a general manager who comes from the golf side.

The four guys in my shop are incredible and I see that everywhere I go these days. I’m really impressed with the calibre of people who are coming into the business and I think we can be proud if we’ve had a hand in mentoring them.

I’m looking forward to the future and I think the Canadian PGA will be in good hands. There are so many young golf pros who are well-equipped to become great head professionals and great general managers through business programs and ongoing education through the association.

A CPGA Family Affair

With the Canadian PGA about to gather in the nation’s capital region later this week and early next to celebrate the association’s 100^th anniversary, Gord Holder of the Ottawa Citizen took a look at people who made being a golf professional a family affair.

You can read that story by clicking here.

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