Friday 17 June 2016

Grow The Game

In my new post at Port Colborne Country Club I am fortunate to have a lot of great members surrounding me. One of the best parts of the job is the banter that goes on daily around the Pro Shop. While most of the membership consists of retirees, there is also a great mix of  young golfers for good measure. All of this makes me think. What is the next generation of golfer going to be like?

If I were to think back to the "pre-Tiger" days there wasn't really much going on in the way of the game being grown. The reality is that Tiger Woods brought a lot of new golfers to the game who otherwise would not have taken up the game. In his heyday, Tiger brought together a wide array of golfers to the game from all walks of life. Admittedly, I guess I fall into this category in a way even though I was never really a Tiger fan. There is no doubt that he's the most dominant player to walk the fairways of this generation. Maybe it is now considered the previous generation now. After all it seems that there has been a torch of sorts passed. Can you imagine what no Tiger would have done for the career of a guy like Phil Mickelson? In my opinion, Tiger is the first person since Arnold Palmer to really have an impact on the game. Legions of fans, tournaments with huge purses and of course big time television ratings. This was all a prelude to the current crop of Tour players that have reaped the benefits of those before them. Guys like Rory, Jordan, Day and Fowler are now bringing more youth to the game. The youth... a necessity to make the game of golf sustainable in dire times when play is dropping off. I'm sure the Olympics in Rio may help grow the game a little bit too. There is so much out there now for junior golfers. Great equipment, trendy fashion, clinics, technology and all of this could lead to "paid for" educations. There are a lot more pros than cons when it comes to introducing youth to golf.

Getting back to my course. As much as I like the banter around the Pro Shop from the "Old Guard"  I would have to say that my favourite thing around there is the junior golfers. They bring such a different energy to the course. They are curious about the game and they are always looking for information when it comes to equipment. But I think the really fun part is watching them go out as a group onto the course. "The Boys" come into the Pro Shop to make their tee time for their afternoon round like everyone else. Then as their time approaches they gather at the first tee... not before spending time on the range and maybe the green. Then before we know it it's 12:22 and off they go. By the time they hit the 6th green you can hear their voices carrying throughout the tree-lined golf course. Usually it's laughter or youthful exuberance but sometimes there is an argument about what one kid did and how it wasn't golf etiquette.

I was fortunate to have had the opportunity to golf with one of our board members last week, his son Ethan and another junior Sawyer. Sawyer was actually one of the first members that I met in the off-season and as it turns out he lives two doors down from the golf course. I told him then that I better see him at the course every day. Now even though he isn't there every day he is there more often than he isn't. As much as I enjoyed the golf what I enjoyed more was the fact that they were out there. I had to leave after nine holes but it was at that point where we took off our caps and shook hands.

The juniors out there are a resource that we need to have to grow the game. With Father's Day approaching,why not get out on a range of golf course and play some golf with the junior in your life?

Until the Next Tee

Monday 6 June 2016

So You Wanna Work in The Golf Industry?

It really is so hard to believe. Firstly, it's hard to believe that I have not written since April 27th. Honestly, it truly does feel like a lifetime since I sat down and wrote about what I love. But the fact remains is that I have been extremely busy. Busy with work and there is an old saying in the industry and that saying is "If you want to golf a lot... don't work in the golf industry". Believe me folks, there is a ton of truth to that.

As most of my readers know I became the Director of Golf Services at Port Colborne Country Club in Port Colborne, Ontario. The course is a beautiful classic parkland-style golf course that dates back to 1929. The time in golf architecture where names like Travis, Ross, Tillinghast and Canadian Stanley Thompson reigned supreme is golf course architecture. While our designer wasn't among these names our designer was a gentleman by the name of Bob Moote Sr. who had a great resume of courses to his credit. The more that I talk to long-standing Members at the course, the more interesting facts and stories I learn about its history. It really is a remarkable place.
I love everything that I do at the course and to be honest I have a hard time leaving it behind or more to the point... staying away from it as I enjoy it that much. However, this doesn't come without it's drawbacks. Playing time!! Now don't misconstrue what I'm saying as complaining because it isn't intended this way. But the lack of playing time really does suck. Everyday I drive into this wonderful place where the fairways are lush and the greens are fast, firm and flawless. The old oak and elm trees that adorn themselves along the fairways. The smell of the fresh dewy grass accompanied by the whirring of mowers. The sweet call of the cardinals as they greet me as I exit my beat up Ford F-150. But as I greet my morning "dewchasers" Peter, Sigi, Leo, Don, Howie, Bob and Alex I can't help but wish that I was one of them headed out onto the links. Jealousy? Maybe a little. As every day passes I am mired in the paperwork of arranging events and orders for the Pro Shop. At times there is a little confusion with "the ways of the club" and I admit that I don't like the way of some things that occur. But then a part of the English vocabulary enters the fray and it's one that I wrote about some time ago. Acceptance. Accepting some of things that you don't necessarily agree with... and suddenly there is a little stress taken out of the equation. Of course there is always the stress of trying to make everyone happy which is mostly an impossibility but I like to think that I've done well to this point. After all, my employment hasn't been terminated yet.

When there's a will there most certainly is a way when you want something bad enough. Those long days turn into longer days if you want to stay "current". Routinely, I have hit balls on the range after a 10, 11 or 13 hour long shift. On a few occasions I have managed to sneak a few holes in as the sun was setting on the course. In fact, I have managed to play approximately 20 holes of golf. Not rounds... holes (not including our Member Victoria Day Scramble). But then there are the other days where I feel and am way too tired to even think about swinging a golf club and resign myself to going to the truck and driving home. The peculiar thing here is that even with the paltry amount of time that I have spent making swings I find myself in a really good place where I want to play... compete. The swing feels automatic, effortless and right. When I have played I have hit my spots and I have seen good results. Swing ownership? Maybe.
So even though my playing and practice time have taken a hit, the fact remains that I want to work in the golf industry. The fresh air, sights and sounds. The banter and company of the members as they get ready to tee off. The laughs with my staff (and at times frustration) which is usually at their expense. The juniors hanging around the shop and answering questions with their curiosity and unmistakable passion for the game. I love what I do... and as a bonus it's only 6 more years until 50.

#AllInFore50

Until the next tee.