Ladies and Gentlemen we have a problem. I am not writing this to say that there is a problem with all golf course owner's in this wonderful country, but there are some who don't see the big picture. Grass Roots Professional Golf, Provincial/National Amateur Events, and Junior Golf Events are the future of the game....
I began working with the Great Lakes Tour Tournament Operations Crew for many reasons, and one of them was to gain some insight into how golf courses operate internally and externally. Externally, I have found ground maintenance have some problems setting a golf course properly for day to day play, be it tee positioning, pin placements, or marking of hazards. I find this not a great problem, but one that should be assessed to insure all players are getting a fair chance to score their very best. However, internally I am seeing greater problems and IT HAS TO STOP.
As a CPGA Professional, I come into contact with many golfing individuals on a daily basis. These avid or keen golfers listen to almost anything a golf professional will say. When I tell them of a great golfing experience I had or an equipment change I made or a swing thought that works, they really listen. In the end, that individual will tell his friends and they will go try that golf course I told him about or buy that new driver or practice that new technique. So it makes no sense that any golf course manager or owner should feel inconvenienced or angry when the Great Lakes Tour comes to their facility.
I was recently told by a course owner while tearing down after an event on the GLT that I was disrespectful and everyone on the tour doesn't honour the game and etiquette of the sport. This as I was expressing my thanks to him and his staff. I feel that the Great Lakes Tour has some of the finest Professionals to ever be associated with the game. Ben Ferguson, Danny King, Warren Sye, Keir Smith, Brian McCann, Alan McLean, and Danny Mijovic were all playing in the field on that particular day. I don't believe any of these great players are at all disrespectful to a facility that opens their doors for us on a day in the busy summer months.
So I find it no wonder that REAL competitive tournament golf is falling off in our country. There is very little support from the fortunate few who can actually make a difference..... THE OWNERS. Many managers and owners have been very snooty towards us, and feel that we are not worth the hassle. However, always remember that we on the Great Lakes Tour are a close knit community and we all talk about the good, the bad, and the ugly to all our clients, members, and family. So if your an owner of a golf club and your reading this... HAVE AN OPEN HEART AND WELCOME ALL TO YOUR FACILITY BECAUSE WITHOUT YOU WE HAVE NOTHING. And if this state of mind keeps up.... we'll truly have nothing for everyone in the not so far future.
As a CPGA Professional, I come into contact with many golfing individuals on a daily basis. These avid or keen golfers listen to almost anything a golf professional will say. When I tell them of a great golfing experience I had or an equipment change I made or a swing thought that works, they really listen. In the end, that individual will tell his friends and they will go try that golf course I told him about or buy that new driver or practice that new technique. So it makes no sense that any golf course manager or owner should feel inconvenienced or angry when the Great Lakes Tour comes to their facility.
I was recently told by a course owner while tearing down after an event on the GLT that I was disrespectful and everyone on the tour doesn't honour the game and etiquette of the sport. This as I was expressing my thanks to him and his staff. I feel that the Great Lakes Tour has some of the finest Professionals to ever be associated with the game. Ben Ferguson, Danny King, Warren Sye, Keir Smith, Brian McCann, Alan McLean, and Danny Mijovic were all playing in the field on that particular day. I don't believe any of these great players are at all disrespectful to a facility that opens their doors for us on a day in the busy summer months.
So I find it no wonder that REAL competitive tournament golf is falling off in our country. There is very little support from the fortunate few who can actually make a difference..... THE OWNERS. Many managers and owners have been very snooty towards us, and feel that we are not worth the hassle. However, always remember that we on the Great Lakes Tour are a close knit community and we all talk about the good, the bad, and the ugly to all our clients, members, and family. So if your an owner of a golf club and your reading this... HAVE AN OPEN HEART AND WELCOME ALL TO YOUR FACILITY BECAUSE WITHOUT YOU WE HAVE NOTHING. And if this state of mind keeps up.... we'll truly have nothing for everyone in the not so far future.
