Longtime Cutten Club Pro Passes

The Ontario PGA has announced the passing of Victor Whibley, longtime head professional at the Cutten Club in Guelph, Ont.

For more on Victor Whibley and arrangements, click here.

Tarling’s Top Dog Down Under

Ken Tarling of Ken Tarling’s Golf Academy finished off a spectacular year by winning the  E-Z-Go PGA of Australia Legends Tour Order of Merit.

Earlier this year, Tarling won the Mr. Lube PGA of Canada Senior title, which you can read about here and here.

He also won the Simmlands Ontario PGA Senior crown for the fourth consecutive year, before being named Ontario PGA Player of the Year.

They’re Replacing Some Highly-Respected Pros

A couple high profile head professional positions in Canada have been filled.

At Mississaugua Golf and Country Club in Mississauga, Ont., where Gar Hamilton is retiring, Scott Dickson will be joining the staff from across the country where he worked at Shaughnessy Golf and Country Club, the home of this year’s RBC Canadian Open in Vancouver.

Hamilton will be staying on as Honourary Professional Emeritus.

Across Toronto at Bayview Golf and Country Club in Thornhill, Ont., former PGA of Canada president Warren Crosbie will be replaced by Ontario PGA president Dustin Kerr-Taylor of Mandarin Golf and Country Club in Markham, Ont.

Crosbie is also retiring.

(Thumbnail: Gar Hamilton)

Ontario PGA Announces Passing Of John Moffat

The Ontario PGA has announced the passing of association and PGA of Canada Life member John Moffat on Tuesday.

He was a long time head professional at Erie Shores Golf ad Country Club and most recently owned the Bluffs of Port Stanley Golf Course.

First visitation will be held Saturday from 12 to 1 p.m. at the Forest Chapel of Denning Funeral Directors, 9 James St., South, in Forest, Ont., with funeral to start at 1 p.m. at the same location.

Ontario Hands Out The Hardware

The Ontario PGA handed out its 2011 awards on Tuesday evening at Angus Glen Golf Club in Markham. The following are the recipients:

Player of the Year

Ken Tarling, Ken Tarling’s Golf Academy

Retailer of the Year

Ryan Ennis, National Golf Club of Canada

Apprentice/Candidate for Membership of the Year

Cameron Thin, St. Catharines Golf and Country Club

Junior Leader of the Year

Jeff Moore, Northridge Public Golf Course

Teacher of the Year

Scott Cowx, Hamilton Golf and Country Club Teaching Academy

Professional Development Award

Ian Webb, Credit Valley Golf and Country Club

Golf Professional of the Year

Chris Wehrle, Whistle Bear Golf Club

We Wish You Well, Heather Howell

Tuesday evening will be a special time for me, not only because I’m going back for a visit to Angus Glen, where I worked for years, but also because the Ontario PGA is paying tribute to retiring director of operations Heather Howell at its 2011 awards night.

We both started at the same time 29 years ago and Heather became a special lady in my career. Every time, I see her I tell her I don’t even remember the year we started, but she keeps me on track, which was the case as our careers progressed.

I was captain and president of the Ontario assistants and went on to become chair of the employment committee, so I worked closely with Heather.

In my early days as an assistant, we ran a lot of tournaments. She called me “Trouble” because I’d always have to change something, or I needed something, or I forgot something and she was always there to bail me out.

I don’t play many tournaments any more, but even at my last event, I needed a favour from her. No wonder I earned the nickname, Trouble.

Heather has been through thick and thin with the association. She’s been the rock and everyone knows her and loves her. She will be missed.

We have a wonderful staff and I know they look up to her, so it won’t be the same without Heather, but she deserves a great retirement after being a special part of not only my life, but many others.

Ontario Names 2011 Award Finalists

The Ontario PGA has announced its finalists in seven categories for 2011 awards in seven categories. The association will hold its awards night on Tuesday, Oct. 25, at Angus Glen Golf Club in Markham, Ont.

The finalists are as follows:

Apprentice/Candidate for Membership

Megan Chapman (The Academy at The Georgian Bay Club)

Brandon Dyment (Hamilton G&CC)

Cameron Thin (St. Catharines G&CC)

Junior Leader of the Year

Jon Blomme (St. Catharines G&CC)

Randy McQueen (Roseland Golf and Curling Club)

Jeff Moore (Northridge GC)

Player of the Year

Danny King (The Performance Academy at Magna)

Ken Tarling (Ken Tarling’s Golf Academy)

Professional Development Award

Henry Brunton (Henry Brunton Golf)

Doug Lawrie (Within Range Golf Centre)

Ian Webb (Credit Valley G&CC)

Retailer of the Year

Ryan Ennis (The National)

Jamie Trenholme (Eagles Nest)

Teacher of the Year

Shawn Clement (Richmond Hill GC)

Scott Cowx (Hamilton G&CC Teaching Academy)

Bradlee Ryall (The Academy at BraeBen)

Golf Professional of the Year

Colin Imrie (Weston G&CC)

Shawn Morey (BraeBen Golf Course)

Chris Wehrie (Whistle Bear GC)

Ontario PGA Names New Executive Director

Kevin Purcell has been named executive director of the Ontario PGA.

Born in Halifax, Purcell began golf as a junior at Oakfield Golf and Country Club, where he became an assistant professional in 1990.

While working at Oakfield, he also attended Saint Mary’s University, where he took a Bachelor of Commerce, with a major in business administration.

He moved to Sarnia, Ont., in 1991 to pursue his PGA of Canada apprenticeship and served as an assistant, then associate professional under Peter Boyce and Steve Bennett in seven years at the Sarnia Golf and Curling Club.

He spent 12 years as director of golf at Caledon Country Club in Caledon, Ont., and served on various committees for the provincial and national associations before serving on the board of directors for both organizations.

He has spent 11 years as an Ontario board member and is a past president. Purcell has spent the past two years as general manager of Rebel Creek Golf Club in Kitchener, Ont.

Industry Notes: Kane To Play Bayview

Charlottetown’s Lorie Kane will play in he PGA of Canada’s Women’s Championship to be played Aug. 30-Sept. 1 at Bayview Golf and Country Club in Thornhill, Ont. The four time LPGA Tour winner is a five-time champion at the PGA of Canada event¸ with her victory in 1997 coming at Bayview … The registration deadline for the Women’s Championship has been extended to Aug. 19 …The Ontario PGA is launching its Golf Talk Canada radio show with host Mark Zecchino this Saturday on TSN 1050 in Toronto at 9 a.m. Guests include LPGA Tour icon Annika Sorenstam, Coppinwood president and GNN blogger Kevin Thistle, Rob Coulter of Merit Golf Vacations and Barry Wallis of Callaway Golf Canada … Warren Mapė of Flightscope is working with the Changing Kids Pro-Am at Glen Abbey in Oakville, Ont., on Aug. 24. The tournament benefits several programs including Diva Dreams, which provides lessons and equipment to girls whose families can’t afford it, MYIND (Mentoring Youth in New Directions) and Kids n’ Elders, which pairs students with elders who live with diminished cognitive and physical abilities for bi-weekly visits. The tournament has several sponsorship options available. For more information,  click here or contact Warren at warren@flightscope.com.

Ontario PGA Seeks Executive Director

The Ontario PGA has begun its search for an executive director.

Responsibilities include human resources, financial administration, risk management assessment, office management, representing the association at annual general meetings, board and national meetings¸ attending and supporting operations at consumer shows, overseeing playing ability tests and the awards dinner and tournament administration.

Qualifications include knowledge of the Canadian golf industry, expertise in administration including association governance, bylaws, procedures and policies, and financial management, including planning, budget preparation and management and expense controls.

The position will also require proposals, presentations, marketing and promotion, including employment services, brand and image enhancement.

Resumes and cover letters can be sent to info@ontariopga.com. The application deadline is Friday, Aug. 26.

Will Trade Shows Become Extinct?

If the good folks of the Alberta PGA wish to argue the premise of this week’s GNN Poll, it would be completely understandable.

Controversy has surrounded the fall buying shows in Canada for years, but the Alberta show has managed to avoid it all and is generally recognized as the top show in Canada, year-in and year-out.

The reason for that is simple. If you want to have a good show, which is used as prime revenue source for zones in Canada, simply have good attendance from pros/buyers who are willing to do business there in order to maximize the return on investment by exhibitors. Read more

Ontario PGA Cancels 2011 Show

The Ontario PGA board of directors has voted unanimously to cancel its 2011 buying show.

The association had moved the show from its traditional October date to August and had taken a new venue at the Toronto Congress Centre. However, the Canadian Golf Industry Association chose not to participate, citing the traditional problem of attendance by buyers.

Ontario PGA president Dustin Kerr-Taylor said in a release the move to August was a test to see if it better-served exhibitors and the buying cycle.

“Since taking over the buying show this winter, we have been in a long process of review to determine the best options for our members and our retail suppliers,” said Kerr-Taylor. 

“It was obvious that the previous format and date was not adding value, so we attempted to find a date earlier that would align better with the retail cycle.  This was a significant change for our membership, but we were encouraged by their support of the changes,” he added. 

Kerr-Taylor added the association will continue to look at different options for the show.

“It remains the opinion of the Ontario PGA Board that there is a version of a buying show that can be productive for the Ontario golf industry.  We recognize that not every supply partner will see value through booking orders at a formal show,” he said.

“That being said, we were obviously disappointed that the CGIA formally voted to not participate with the Ontario PGA after much discussion over the past eight months.  In the end, we were not able to secure enough supply partners to deem the buying show a success.”

For more on the Ontario show and challenges facing British Columbia, click here and here.

Shows Must Go On, Even Without CGIA

Buying shows to take place in August in British Columbia and Ontario will go ahead without the support of the Canadian Golf Industry Association.

The Ontario PGA show was moved from its traditional October dates to Aug. 25-26 at a new venue, the Toronto Congress Centre, while the PGA of British Columbia elected to go with two shows, one Aug. 30-31 and another Nov. 15-16 to allow for better timing for apparel and equipment companies, respectively.

B.C. also moved locations from Penticton to the Vancouver area, where the shows were to be held at the River Rock Casino Resort in Richmond, but according to executive director Keith Keindel, the decision by the CGIA was based on the belief that the shows in B.C. and Ontario still faced a traditional challenge. Read more

Ontario PGA Director To Retire

Ontario PGA director of operations Heather Howell has decided to retired after 28 years with the association.

Howell began as a secretary for George Clifton in 1983 and has helped steer the association through financial challenges over the years. She became director in 1998.

She will retire at the end of the 2011 season.

August Show Is Worth A Try

Anybody who regularly reads this blog will know that initially, I had my concerns with the August date, but changed that opinion once I thought about it.

I still don’t know if August will be any better or any worse than October, but I think we need to at least give it a try.

If it wasn’t working in October, then you need to try to shake it up a little and that’s what the Ontario PGA has done by moving the dates. I think you have to keep changing, even when things seem to be working well just to keep a product or an event fresh.

The Ontario PGA has done its due diligence. It’s not like they’re suggesting they run the show between Christmas and New Year. They’ve checked out if people can get their samples or whether most golf professionals can make it.

As I’ve said in the past, I’m going to make every effort to be there and I know Dennis Firth and his team here at Coppinwood will go, so it’s not like they’ve announced the new dates and everyone has said they’re not going.

We know the new dates. We’ve planned for it. We might not be able to stay as long at the show, but maybe some can stay longer. Everyone has different circumstances, but I hope we can give the new dates at least a shot and I hope it works out for everybody in the industry because we want everybody to prosper.

New Look Shows Could Face Same Old Problem

Through all of the discussions and arguments that have surrounded the Canadian buying shows, and there have been plenty of them over the years, several changes have been made as a result.

Many of them have downsized from big booth to smaller pipe-and-drape rep shows.

This year, the Ontario PGA show was moved from October to August and to a new venue at the Toronto Congress Centre. B.C. would like to do two shows in 2011, one in August and the other in November and in Vancouver, instead of Penticton.

Despite all of these changes, the main problem that has haunted the shows over the years still exists in the eyes of member companies within the Canadian Golf Industry Association and it won’t be cured by date and/or venue changes, according to that association’s executive director Keith Keindel. Read more

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