Canadian PGA Announces 2008 National Award Winners
Canadian PGA Announces 2008 National Award Winners
ACTON, ON (February 5, 2009) — The Canadian PGA has announced the 2008 winners of its prestigious National awards for exceptional and dedicated service as Canadian golf professionals.
The 2008 winners are:
• Club Professional of the Year – Bill Wogden, Barrie Country Club, Ontario
• Teacher of the Year – Rob Anderson, Shadow Mountain Golf Course, British Columbia
• Merchandiser of the Year – Tim Moore, Thornhill Golf and Country Club, Ontario
• Jack McLaughlin Junior Leader of the Year Award – Mike Kelly, Golf Association of Ontario
Each year, a National Selection committee evaluates nominations from more than 3,500 Canadian PGA Members coast-to-coast and recognizes winners in each of the four categories. The winners will receive their award at the 2009 Club Professional Championship in November.
“Our 2008 National award winners are symbols of the passion and dedication to excellence that Canadian PGA Members bring to their profession in making the game of golf better for Canadian golfers,” said Lindon Garron, President of the Canadian PGA. “This year’s winners have set standards of excellence that all Canadian golf professionals can aim to achieve. On behalf of the Canadian PGA, the Zones, and the membership, I congratulate them all for receiving this recognition.”
Club Professional of the Year – Mr. Bill Wogden
Bill Wogden, Head Professional at Barrie Country Club in Barrie, Ontario is the 2008 recipient of the Canadian PGA Club Professional of the Year award.
Bill’s career in the golf industry began in 1979 at South Muskoka G & CC, a semi-private course in Bracebridge, ON where he was hired into the pro shop by CPGA Member Ron Webb. In 1981, Bill joined The National Golf Club when Ben Kern hired Bill to join his Professional Staff.
Ben recognized Bill’s strengths were more than just as a competitive golfer, so he provided him with the opportunity and challenge to quickly become the Club’s top Assistant. As The National made one of the first successful transitions to an equity club and Ben’s role in the overall club’s operation increased, Bill took charge of the golf operation and continued to lead it successfully to the expectations of the membership.
Bill achieved his Class ‘A’ status at the end of 1983. His continued strong work ethic and success on and off the golf course, was recognized by the Ontario PGA when he was named the Assistant Professional of the Year in 1989.
After the National, Bill worked one season at Royal Woodbine Golf Club, after which he joined the staff of Barrie Country Club in 1992. During his tenure at Barrie Country Club (1992-present) Bill has lead Golf Operations of Barrie Country Club, so that it is now recognized as one of the top clubs and operations in Central Ontario. Bill continues to own the Pro Shop operation at the 18-hole private club and through Bill Wogden Mgmt. Inc. is responsible for the hiring, training, supervision, and payroll for a staff of 20 employees.
Bill looks for opportunities for both his team and himself to develop relationships with the members. The “Play with the Pro” program allows Bill or the Assistant Professionals to play golf with over 100 members each season. His involvement with and the development of his Professional staff has allowed five of his Assistants to advance to their own Head Professional positions.
Bill has been teaching Future Links programs at Barrie Country Club since his first year at the Club. The “Introduction to Golf” programs start as young as age four, and are offered at three age and ability levels each season. This early start and exposure to golf has helped grow and maintain a junior golf membership of 80-90 juniors each season, including over 20 junior girls at Barrie Country Club.
Bill has a great relationship with the local media and works with the local A Channel, Rogers TV, Barrie Examiner and Barrie Advance to promote events at the Club and the accomplishments of the players. He has also written monthly golf tips for the Bay Area Golfing Magazine and has been on The Fan 590 Golf Show to provide weekly tips.
Over his career Bill has played in seven CPGA Championships and made the cut five times. Bill has competed in over ten CPGA Club Professional Championships with most results in the 25th - 40th place range.
Teacher of the Year – Mr. Rob Anderson
Rob Anderson, Head Professional at Shadow Mountain Golf Course in Cranbrook, BC, is the 2008 recipient of the Canadian PGA Teacher of the Year award.
Following four seasons on the Canadian Tour (1994-1997) and time on The Harvest Golf Club’s (Kelowna, BC) grounds crew, Rob moved into the Harvest’s Golf Shop. At that time, the Teaching Program was modest at best, with the bulk of teaching being directed towards members and the Roots International group of young Japanese golfers.
Over subsequent seasons, the programs offered to the general public expanded significantly with either Rob’s direct involvement or support. Programs included the creation of The Harvest Golf Academy, Gail Graham’s Women’s’ Only Golf Schools, The Harvest Junior/Junior and the creation of Rob Anderson’s Golf Academy @ The Harvest Golf Club in 2008.
Last year, Rob coached eight junior/college level players from BC’s interior and conducted several Future Links/BCGA junior clinics. He was also a Regional Coach for the RCGA’s Player Development Program and attended an RCGA National Training Camp following the RCGA’s National Women’s Amateur in Squamish (2005).
Rob created programs for both junior and adult members at Harvest Golf Club. The junior program consisted of weekly group lessons in spring and summer for Junior Members with reduced lesson rates for private lessons. The adult program consisted of price sensitive group sessions for the membership directed towards seniors who are often reluctant to take lessons as well as reduced lesson rates for private lessons
The junior program at Harvest is essentially a hybrid of the Future Links junior development model and the new LTPD guide. The junior program is designed to develop young athletes who have shown an interest in the game or wish to explore golf as ‘their’ sport. Students are required to take part in some physical activity for warm-up, to develop healthy habits and to learn basic physical skills relative to all sports (ball tossing, target practice, kicking and ‘throwing in’ a soccer ball, agility exercises, running).
Despite the responsibilities of being a Head Professional and a parent, Rob has inspired his fellow professionals in his zone through his participation in local, zone and national events, by teaching fellow professionals and mentoring up-and-coming players, both amateur and professional alike.
Rob will also receive a complimentary laptop courtesy of Dell Computers, a proud sponsor of the Canadian PGA, for his 2008 accomplishments.
Merchandiser of the Year – Mr. Tim Moore
Tim Moore, Head Professional at Thornhill Country Club in Thornhill, Ontario is the 2008 recipient of the Canadian PGA Merchandiser of the Year award.
Born and raised in London, Ontario, Tim worked at the Highland Golf and Country Club under Head Professional Mike Silver for 12 years. A graduate of Bowling Green State University in 1994 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree, Tim competed, and was a member of the Varsity Golf Team. After graduation Tim began his professional career under Head Professional Neil Verwey at St. Georges Golf and Country Club. Tim spent eight seasons there until becoming the Head Golf Professional at the Ottawa Hunt and Golf Club in 2002.
Tim is known as a member service driven professional and strives to create the best Golf Shop team in the country. Tim is a level five TCCP instructor and was presented with the Ping Club Fitter of the Year for the Ottawa/Quebec Region last year as well as in 2003.
The mission of the Thornhill Country Club Pro Shop is to provide every member and guest with an individualized and personal golfing experience. The Golf Shop carries a wide assortment of products to meet the individual needs of a diverse membership. Member service is the primary goal of the Golf Shop.
The shop utilizes all of the newest technologies; however Moore feels that nothing beats a personal handwritten note, a personal phone call or a one on one conversation on the first tee. “That is where we have an advantage on other golf retailers. We use a wide range of technologies such as email, mailouts, phone calls and promotions to grow our marketing,” states Moore. The shop is heavily displayed with women’s, men’s and junior products. Folding and hanging are regularly checked to keep product fresh. Attention to personal attention allows the shop to direct the member towards what he or she wants. The golf shop at Thornhill has an old Scottish feel. Dark wood and plaid wallpaper along with antique features create a true feel of golf. There are six professionals and a full time merchandiser in the shop. The starters have also become a key figure in promoting member programs and merchandise.
The shop offers innovative ideas such as a guest package program that include logoed products ranging from $30- $60. Members are informed of guest package program when they book their tee time and packages are ready upon guest arrival. The club also hosts Men’s & Ladies Night Wine & Cheese Holiday Shopping Event. This is an event where separate nights exist for men and women to come into the shop and buy holiday gifts. Wine and cheese is provided as well as special draws. Members shop in a festive atmosphere and are assisted with their holiday shopping by golf shop staff. Complimentary gift wrapping is also provided. Thornhill also hosts a member appreciation program, where members receive a thank you letter and a Golf Shop Gift Certificate for their support of the Golf Shop. Letters and gift certificates are sent out three times a year in June, September and the end of November.
Jack McLaughlin Junior Leader of the Year – Mr. Mike Kelly
Mike Kelly, Director of Player Development at the Golf Association of Ontario is the 2008 recipient of the Canadian PGA Jack McLaughlin Junior Leader of the Year award.
After graduating from Union College in Barbourville, KY with a Business Administration diploma, Mike attended the Professional Golf Management program at Georgian College in Orillia, ON where he graduated in 2003. Since then, Mike has spent the better part of six summers as an Assistant Golf Pro at three golf clubs, most recently Cherry Downs in Pickering, ON.
Mike has made significant contributions to junior golf programs in the Ontario PGA zone both at the participation, grass roots and at the High Performance level. His commitment to Elite Athlete development and High Performance programming has increased the focus on the importance of appropriate coaching. Through a dedication to working with the RCGA/CPGA’s LTPD model and the GAO’s Long Term Athlete Development plan (LTAD) Ontario athletes are now receiving world class instruction and coaching. Under this umbrella, he assists with coaching/instructing and directs a variety of programs and competitions for juniors. Mike is also responsible for a dramatic increase in participation through teaching, developing and directing programs at the grass roots level.
Mike sits on the National Golf in Schools Curriculum Committee which approves the learning resource development by PHE, previously CAPHRED for grades K-6 for schools across Canada.
He has shown an incredible commitment to the development of junior golf at the both the club and community level. Mike has been teaching junior golfers since 2003, and although his work with High Performance athletes is impressive, teaching in the school yard, gym, parks, camps and community events is where his passion lies. His belief is very simple, “teach for participation.”
Mike founded and designed the Golf 4 Kidz program, which brought to life the game of golf for elementary school students across Ontario through the passion of Mr. Knickers and Sticky Dave.
The Golf 4 Kidz mission, is to expose all children to the great game of golf, regardless of financial well-being, physical disability or ethnic background. His success with the Golf 4 Kidz program lead him to his current role and the launching of the Provincial and now national Callaway Golf in Schools program. A 4 ‘tee’ program, Callaway Golf in Schools aims to provide students with developmentally appropriate curricula and instruction. Through the Golf 4 Kidz program, Mike provided countless positive first experiences to school students across Ontario.
Mike’s image and reputation as a passionate Canadian PGA professional is echoed by the Ontario PGA zone for his dedication to junior golf. He facilitated his Golf 4 Kidz program for free to elementary schools for two years. As a result, Mike is a two-time nominee of the Premiers Award of Excellence, nominated by Georgian College for his work in Ontario communities. He has also provided leadership for the Zone in the development of written training material and lesson plans for instructors in community based programs. Through the Callaway Golf in Schools program and First Fairways, Mike created the Ontario PGA instructors manual to implement the School Orientation program (teacher training) portion of the program.
Mike’s infectious attitude and passion for teaching kids has garnered him the respect and admiration of his fellow members. His programs and work with Canadian PGA members in Ontario have led to a greater awareness of the Canadian PGA brand and membership in communities across Ontario.
About the CPGA:
Established in 1911, the Canadian Professional Golfers’ Association is a non-profit association comprised of approximately 3,500 golf professionals across the country with a mandate to promote and advance the game of golf, serving the needs of both its membership and the golf public through professional and junior golf development programs and high-calibre competitive events. The National Office is located in Acton, Ontario with nine Zone Offices across the country. For more information, visit www.cpga.com
For more information contact:
Erica Duffy
Communications Coordinator
Canadian PGA
erica@cpga.com
800.782.5764 (x234)