Canadian Roots for World Cup of Golf

Ontario Golf carried a wonderful reminder last week of the Canadian roots out of which last week’s World Cup of Golf was born. As Canadians, we’re notoriously humble. And as a golfing nation, we often minimize our importance within the world of golf. This is unfortunate.

Canada did indeed spawn the World Cup of Golf. I’ve included the article below, or you can find it on the Ontario Golf website.

Congratulations to Brothers Francesco and Edoardo Molinari who captured Italy's first World Cup title!

Congratulations also, of course, to the Canadian Football League’s 2009 Grey Cup Champions, the Montreal Alouettes! It was another fantastic, tight Grey Cup finish.

Here’s the OG article on the World Cup.

World Cup of Golf Was Born in Canada

Twenty-eight teams are teeing it up this week at the World Cup of Golf at the massive Mission Hills Resort in China. Canadians Stuart Anderson (Calgary) and Graham Delaet (Weyburn, Sask.)-each a three-time winner on the Canadian Tour-are tied for fourth after Round One.

Three years into its 12-year tenure at Mission Hills, the World Cup has recovered much of its old stature and romance. Dr. David Chu, Mission Hills' chairman, has rekindled the event's early ideals and made it unique on the world golf calendar. Chu's vision clearly jibes with that of the late John Jay Hopkins (photo [above]), the founding father of the World Cup-known as the Canada Cup from 1953 to 1966. The Santa Ana, California-born Hopkins, who was president of General Dynamics (which created the world's first atomic submarine), saw golf as "a civilized and civilizing" pursuit and one which could promote international goodwill.

In 1957, defending champions Ben Hogan and Sam Snead brought immense crowds to Tokyo. But the Japanese team, relative newcomers to the sport, stole the show when Koichi Ono and Pete Nakamuru came out on top. Hopkins passed away shortly before the event, but Fred Corcoran, the World Cup's tournament director, knew exactly what he'd have thought about the results.

"If," said Corcoran, "I had any doubts about Hopkins' sincerity and the soundness of his doctrine, Tokyo erased them. It was hard to believe, watching the teams chatting easily on the first tee, that many of these nations had been at war only a few years earlier."

Overnight, Japan became a nation of golf fanatics and Ono and Nakamuru became national heroes. In 1956 alone, no fewer than 20 new courses were rolled out across the country and the first double-decker driving range shot up in Tokyo.

When Argentina won in 1953 at Beaconsfield GC, just outside Montreal, it was one of only seven two-man teams. The event would gain steam through the 1960s and '70s, becoming a "must play" tournament for the world's best players. However, its status soon began to dwindle.

Today there are 28 teams eagerly vying to place their names on the original John Jay Hopkins trophy (18 of whom qualified automatically, while another nine were drawn from qualifying events in Europe, Asia and Latin America). The field is rounded out by the host nation, China.

By offering the event a spectacular 12-year home at Mission Hills, Dr. Chu has made his own distinct contribution to its storied lore. Twelve, he explains, is a special number in China, one that signifies the 12 years in the Chinese horoscope and the completion of a cycle.

Meanwhile, his picture of the world swinging in unison is evolving all the time. When YE Yang, who is competing in this year's event, became the first Asian player to capture a major at the 2009 PGA Championship, the festivities were not confined to Asia. Over in Montreal, there was a day-long celebration that attracted in excess of 200 golfers from the city's South Korean community.

Where was it held? At Beaconsfield GC, the World Cup's original home.

Busy Week in Parmasters KW and Canadian Golf News

It’s been a busy week so far, in more ways than one. Lots of fun though, which I believe is really the only reason we’re all here!

As mentioned, my meeting schedule is ramping up significantly, both with respect to Parmasters Kitchener-Waterloo, which is gaining some great momentum, and also on the consulting side of my business, through S.H. Southern and Associates.

There seemed to be a separate activity just about every evening this week so far. Monday evening I was in meetings near Pearson Airport in Toronto. Tuesday my eldest played hockey. Wednesday I did relax at home with my lads. Thursday evening was the annual football banquet at my eldest son’s school. And last night I had the pleasure of attending the Guelph Storm vs. Erie Otters tilt at the Sleeman Centre. An old friend had rented a box for the evening.

Tonight, I think I’ll just stay in and read, or maybe watch a movie.

It’s been a busy week in golf news as well. I won’t touch upon the news de jour regarding young Mr. Woods and his unfortunate incident. As is the case with everything Woods does, this too shall be over-analyzed from every conceivable angle.

No, let’s focus on Canadian golf news!

For example, Golf News Now ran a great story this week noting that the overall purse on the 2010 Canadian Tour could increase by as much as $650,000. This is great news for the Tour, for Canadians, and for Canadian Tour players, such as our very own Ryan Kings. You can find the entire article here, and also included below.

Continuing with the great Canadian golf news, Mike Weir will enter the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame this weekend. This, of course, was widely reported. I’ve included an Ontario Golf blog entry by Robert Thompson below, and it can also be found here.


Tour Schedule Will Be “Unprecedented”: Commissioner
November 22, 2009 by Ian Hutchinson

The finishing touches are still being applied, but the 2010 Canadian Tour schedule could be “unprecedented” in terms of prize money, according to commissioner Rick Janes, who says the raise in overall purse on the season could be as much as $650,000.

“The real highlight of (the 2010) schedule and what we’re working on right now is prize money increases that are really going to be quite unprecedented,” said Janes.

Increases are expected at existing events such as Times Colonist Open in Victoria, the Players Cup in Winnipeg and the Canadian Tour Championship. An announcement about an event in Alberta is expected later this week, but Janes wouldn’t elaborate.

Another announcement coming soon is expected to outline a rebranding of the tour’s Montreal event.

“I think people are going to be quite surprised at what this looks like, particularly in a tough economy, and it will only get better,” said Janes.

“It’s not perfect, but it’s probably the best schedule in terms of prize money – and that’s the operative, in terms of prize money – that the Canadian Tour’s ever had. There’s a bit of risk in this, risk in the sense that we still have a lot of work to do in terms of sponsorship,” he added.

“My board is supporting what we’re doing here. It is a bold effort,” said Janes, adding that as many as 17 Canadian events could take place in 2010, but will more likely be around the 13 mark compared to 10 in 2009.

New markets being considered include Fort McMurray, Alta., the Okanagan Valley in British Columbia, Thunder Bay, Ont., and possibly Vancouver.

Janes went on to say that rumours of the demise of the tour’s swing through Latin America have been greatly exaggerated in recent media reports. Last year at this time, the tour was making stops in Chile, Argentina and Costa Rica, tournaments that were part of the 2009 schedule despite being played in ’08.

Janes stresses, however, that the tour has not severed ties with Latin America.

“I really don’t know where that came from. No, we’re not giving up on Latin America at all,” he said. “The fact of the matter is that they couldn’t create a schedule of consecutive events. We really wanted that on the circuit, but they just couldn’t put it into the rotation of events.

“What we’re doing is looking now towards a series of events in the spring right now in Argentina and Colombia,” said Janes, adding that those events, played towards the end of March, would be co-sanctioned by the European Challenge Tour and Tour de las Americas.

Even though the swing through South American is still developing, Janes believes there is a strong upside to continuing.

“The reason why we’re in South America and the reason why we’re in Mexico is that we can’t play in Canada at that time of year and I’m very happy with the results of South America,” he said.

“One of the byproducts of it was that we attracted players like Hugo Leon (Chile), who joined us in South America,” said Janes, also pointing to players such as Mauricio Molina and Rafael Gomez, both from Argentina and both two-time winners over the past season.

Janes adds that his isn’t the only tour eyeing South America these days.

“What you’re going to see is PGA Tour expansion into South America, no doubt about it,” said Janes. “You will see, in all probability, on the Nationwide schedule another South American event, most likely in Colombia, in the coming year.

“The reason we’re in South America is to, first and foremost, give our players these international opportunities, to expose some of the top young players from South America to our tour and to bring them to Canada to play.”


All Roads Lead to Brights Grove: Mike Weir and the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame
November 27th, 2009 by Robert Thompson

This weekend in Brights Grove , Ont., a little suburb of Sarna, Mike Weir will enter the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame at the age of 39. I’m heading down with Ian Andrew, Weir’s design partner. It’ll be the second HOF induction I’ve attended, having given the introduction speech for Jim Barclay two year’s ago at St. George’s.

Of course this is premature — and everyone, including Weir recognizes it. During a conference call about the induction earlier this week, the point was made that the plaque, which will be at the Golf Hall of Fame in Oakville, can be altered should Weir win again.

Weir was nominated for the accolade by Ian Hutchison, the golf writer at the Toronto Sun, among other places. We’ve had a good discussion about how I think it was wrong — but within the current standards of the HOF, Ian had every right to put Mike up. He was always destined for the place — it just seems odd to do it now. Talking with Richard Zokol the other day, I asked why he wasn’t in the BC Sports Hall of Fame. His answer was simple: “I’m not 50 and you have to be 50 to get in.”

Regardless, Weir was as reflective as I’ve seen him while discussing the honor. I particularly liked his discussion of putting after dark on the practice green at Huron Oaks, where the ceremony will take place:

“There was a little flood light that came from clubhouse that gave a little light on the putting green and I’d put there until my mom made me come home,” he said. ”I found a little corner with some light on it and I’d spend all my time there.”

In my experience Weir isn’t a very reflective man. He doesn’t think about his past accomplishments all that often. This award has surely given him a time to consider what he’s done — which is more than anyone, himself included, expected — but he’s still looking forward.

“I definitely feel like there’s a lot of business to take care of in my years going forward,” he says. ”Where that leaves me when it is all done, I’m not sure. Hopefully my impact is awareness of the game in this country and that we can produce quality, world-class players. Hopefully I’m doing it the right way – all across the board.”

Interestingly, initially the proceedings were scheduled for the Canadian Open. Then in LA at the Northern Trust Open, I had the chance to ask Weir about the HOF announcement, specifically when and where it would take place. Weir said the plan was to hold it in Oakville in July, which I mentioned was odd since the entrant’s home club was usually the place where the reception took place. Score’s Bob Weeks, who was standing behind me, chimed up that this wasn’t the case — that some had been done at LPGA Tour stops, for example — but he agreed the home club was the normal route. Mike seemed surprised. I think people forget he hasn’t lived in Canada with any regularity since he was 19, and he’s never attended a Canadian Golf Hall of Fame induction and didn’t know the protocol for such events.

The RCGA now seem to see the folly of the initial decision.

“We’re happy to take it to the location best suited to the inductee,” said Karen Hewson, director of the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame and Museum, and one of the truly helpful people in the Canadian golf industry, the conference call earlier this week.

Truthfully, Brights Grove is the right place for this. Huron Oaks, where Weir visits a couple of times a year, is the course in Canada most affiliated with the golfer, who was never connected to Toronto/Oakville with the exception of his link to IMG Sports.

“We talked about having it at the Canadian Open – but it was such a busy week. The more I thought about it – when I heard that I could have it where I wanted to have it and that other inductees had it at their home clubs – I thought it made sense to have it at Huron Oaks. Originally I didn’t know I could have it there,” Weir says.

“It is where it all kind of began for me and it is an opportunity to share this moment with a lot of friends and family and people who have been supportive of my career,” he added. “In that regard I thought it was the right thing to do.

New Series of Informative Videos from Parmasters HQ

My meeting volume has been climbing significantly lately. It’s still manageable, and a productive use of my time, but I do keep an eye on these things. As Lou Gerstner, former CEO of IBM Corp. once said, “Never confuse activity with results.”

Over the next few blog entries I’m going to share some videos. In my opinion, this series of videos is fantastic and basically speaks for itself.

The videos to which I refer all feature Parmasters HQ President and CEO, Tom Matzen, presenting information on one particular aspect of Parmasters. They all feature background footage of Parmasters Memphis.

Again, I’ll share them over the course of the next several blog entries.

This first video focuses on Parmasters Golf Training Centers in general.

You can find the video here.

The Incredible Stories of Vijay, Charlie and Esteban

I stumbled upon the following uplifting post, from 2006, by Matt Adams. Immediately I knew I had to share it on this blog. Enjoy.

You can find the original here.


Vijay, Charlie, And Esteban
By Matt Adams
Posted: March 3, 2006

Forging a plan to get from where we are to where we want to go can feel like a journey of a million miles. Sometimes it helps to see the path forged by others to help us see the possibilities on our own horizons. Take for example, the varied journeys of Vijay Singh, Charlie Sifford, and Esteban Toledo to reach golfing success.

Vijay Singh knew from a very early age that he wanted to be a professional golfer. But growing up in Fiji with five siblings and his parents in a cramped little house, the world of professional golf must have seemed like a very unlikely prospect. Unlikely, that is, if you were not Vijay Singh.

As a boy, Singh loved the game so much that he would sometimes make his way through various drainage pipes that ran beneath the runways of the Nadi Airport to reach the golf course. The pipes were completely dark, and the lanky Singh had to crouch down simply to fit. The putrid water drained sewage to the ocean, and it would normally run higher than his ankles. Singh was so committed to his plan that he would drop out of school by the time he was sixteen in order to pursue his dream.

Vijay Singh was blessed with a gift and a conviction—and these would be the ticket to his dreams. His gift was his ability to play “with peace.” Part of this gift was just his natural disposition. He had the ability to stand over a putt that might mean the difference between playing on the weekend or going home, and he would not be overcome with crushing anxiety. Vijay has long been a student of Eastern philosophy, and he has mastered the ability to control his breathing, and, as a result, his temperament in high-stress situations. Singh was also convinced from very early in his life that nothing can beat unrelenting hard work and practice. He has worn this philosophy like a shield for his entire professional career. Singh has said that the reason he has become successful is that he has always had a disposition to do “whatever it takes.”

Like Singh, Charlie Sifford had to wade through plenty of filth to play golf, but the indignity he endured poured from the hearts and minds of ignorant people. Today Charlie Sifford, now in his eighties, seems relaxed and unassuming, yet his pleasant demeanor belies the trials he had to endure to realize his dream of playing professional golf against the best in the world.

Sifford is an African American, and during his prime years of playing golf, black golfers were banned from playing on the PGA Tour. Sifford would sharpen his game wherever he could. He won the National Negro Open five times straight from 1952 to 1956. Sifford has said he believed that if he kept working on his game, eventually the doors of opportunity would crack open.

Sifford made history in 1961 when he became the first African American allowed to compete on the PGA Tour. By that time, Sifford was forty-one years old, and his best playing days were behind him. Much like Jackie Robinson, Sifford was well aware of the significance of the path he was blazing. What’s more, simply making it to the big dance was not the end of his struggles. Sifford endured insults, threats, and indignities virtually everywhere he played. An example was the time he was barred from eating with the other players in the men’s grill room at a country club in Florida. Sifford was forced to eat in the caddie yard. Many of the other players knew that Sifford’s treatment was wrong, and Ken Venturi led a group of players out to the caddie yard to dine with their friend.

That Sifford could remain focused and committed to his plan to become a professional golfer is an incredible testament to his fortitude. Sifford would go on to win the 1967 Hartford Open and the 1969 L.A. Open. He won the latter in a play-off over Harold Henning at nearly fifty years old.

It is commonplace that great golfers are measured by the number of major tournaments they have won. But Charlie Sifford’s victory over racial injustice could be the greatest success story the game has ever known.

Esteban Toledo also had to overcome great odds to make it as a professional golfer along a path that was marked by extreme poverty, death, and a fighting spirit.

Toledo was born in Mexicali, Mexico as the youngest of eleven children. The family lived in a “choza,” the Mexican word for a hut. Actually, “hut” as a description of his family’s living conditions probably paints too nice a picture. The reality of their existence in the barrio was near destitution. Their tiny house had no plumbing, and their roof leaked like a river during even the smallest amount of rain, probably due to the fact that their roof was little more than cardboard. His family was forced to find space for all of them to sleep on two small beds.

Life was hard on Toledo and his family. When he was a small boy his older brother was found dead in a river, probably murdered. The thought that by 1994 Toledo would be playing on the PGA Tour was inconceivable.

But Toledo was a fighter, literally. Searching for a way to break out of gripping poverty, Toledo turned his hopes toward becoming a boxer. He fought with a ferocity that allowed him to amass a 12–1 professional record. His boxing took him to Tijuana, Los Angeles, and Las Vegas. He was once paid $5,000 for a fight in Las Vegas. Toledo thought boxing would be his ticket to freedom, but reality once again put him down for the count.

An infection set in after appendicitis surgery and his boxing days were done. So it was back to the barrio for Toledo. He landed a job at a dusty golf course on the border—the same course where as a kid he used to sell golf balls he found back to the golfers for three for a dollar. Now he was cleaning clubs, shining shoes, doing whatever the boss told him to do. In the small slivers of time when he was not working, he would swing a golf club until the boss told him to stop.

One day, Toledo met Jon Minnis. Minnis was from California, but he might as well have been from heaven. Minnis was kindhearted, and he saw potential in Toledo. Minnis took Toledo under his wing and brought him back to California, away from the oppression of the barrio. Minnis found him a place to live and helped him to become a golfer, nurturing Toledo’s natural athleticism into a highly proficient yet simple swing. Toledo calls Minnis his father for the kindness and mentoring he has provided.

To this day, Toledo’s boxing instincts continue to serve him on the golf course. Toledo believes that boxing teaches you patience under pressure—the pressure of someone trying to knock you out. Toledo learned that the game of golf is like boxing in that you have to wait for your chances. You need to be patient until opportunity presents itself, but while you are waiting you need to work and be prepared. Clearly, Toledo knows the value of hard work and preparation, and he has been smart enough to turn opportunity into success.

The varied paths of Singh, Sifford, and Toledo prove that with conviction and tenacity a dream can be turned into reality.

Copyright 2006 Matthew E. Adams Fairways of Life

Editor's Note: Matt Adams is a reporter for The Golf Channel, equipment expert, twenty-year veteran of the golf industry and speaker. In addition, he is a New York Times and USAToday bestselling coauthor of the Chicken Soup for the Soul series and author of Fairways of Life, Wisdom and Inspiration from the Greatest Game. Fairways of Life uses golf as a metaphor for life and features a Foreword by Arnold Palmer. To sign up for Adams’ Golf Wisdom email quotes or for more information, go to www.FairwaysofLife.com.

Continue to (Re)Consider the Optimal Size (Sq. Ft.) for Parmasters KW

We’re working on many different aspects of Parmasters Kitchener-Waterloo, including space planning, networking to find the correct final additions to our investor team, working with agents to do the same, etc. We’re also reviewing the optimal size for your golf training center.

We’ve always targeted a floor plan of approximately 15,000 sq. ft. Parmasters’s experience suggests that a center of this size would support a membership of approximately 1,500. This seems reasonable given the number of golfers in Waterloo Region, our specific target markets, and many other factors that we consider.

That said, we also constantly question this logic and thus contemplate a much larger center, as well as a smaller center. Perhaps 25,000 sq. ft. would be a more optimal starting size, with all things considered. Or, perhaps 10,000 sq. ft. is the way to go.

The myriad of factors that must be considered in these decisions are far too lengthy and complex to list here. They do include current circumstances, supplier relationships, the real estate market, timing, capital required, likely membership structure, capacity challenges, the location of the next/second Parmasters Golf Training Center in Waterloo Region, and the list goes on and on.

Nevertheless, as we work to secure the last remaining portions of capital that we require to build and operate Parmasters KW, still working towards a 15,000 sq. ft. center, we do have the option to adjust that footprint size up or down as we see fit. And we continue to review that decision, to ultimately ensure we’re building the best golf training center this side of the Alberta-Saskatchewan border. (My colleague Colin Christensen is building a Parmasters center in Edmonton as I type.)

Also yesterday, unfortunately, my eldest son’s high school football team lost their semi-final tilt. They played a powerful opponent that beat them very handily in the regular season. Yesterday they lost 13-7, and had several opportunities for another major score, but just couldn’t quite get the extra few inches required. Regardless, my son and his teammates played a fantastic game, focused and determined. They gave it everything they had, and they left that field knowing they’d done so. It’s something they’ll always remember.

Ferris Brothers Launch The Golf Glove

Friends of mine have launched a new golf-oriented website and online community. The Golf Glove launched earlier in 2009 and has been growing steadily since.

The founders are brothers Jason and Andre Ferris. Andre is the Canadian Regional Franchisor for Parmasters Golf Training Centers Inc.

You can find The Golf Glove at www.thegolfglove.com. It contains a wealth of content, news, views and interesting golf-related information.

You can also subscribe to their newsletter to bring a great source of golf information directly to your email inbox.


This past weekend was busy with quite a bit of work and lots of relaxing as well. I introduced my two sons into the western movie genre with the modern flick, 3:10 to Yuma. We definitely enjoyed it.

I also picked up two more golf-related books.

Published in 1993, Great Golf Stories boasts 21 individual short stories. It was edited by Gordon Jarvie and includes stories by incredible writers such as Stephen Leacock, A.A. Milne, John Updike and many others.

The Golf 100 is Robert McCord’s 2001 account of the top 100 golfers to ever play the game. Of course, and unfortunately, McCord actually focuses on the top 100 male golfers. He does address female golf, dedicating some 20 pages at the end of the book to his take on the top 40 female golfers. This compared to some 360 pages devoted to the men.

But, setting aside the sexism, McCord’s account dedicates multiple pages to each of the golfers that make his top 100 male golfers list.

Remember, the book was published in 2001. So, who holds the number one position, in 2001, in McCord’s eyes? Jack Nicklaus.

You can then likely guess number two. Yes, it’s Tiger Woods.

Rounding out the top ten, in McCord’s view, in order from two to ten, we have Ben Hogan, Bobby Jones, Sam Snead, Byron Nelson, Arnold Palmer, Gary Player, Walter Hagen and number ten, Gene Sarazan.

Some interesting mentions include Vijay Singh way down at number 78, but of course this book was published before Vijay challenged Tiger for the number one ranking in the world. Lee Janzen makes the list at number 87. And gregarious John Daly rounds out the list at number 100.

The World’s Best Tee – Ontario Golf Magazine

It seems perhaps not all tees are created equal.

Ontario Golf Magazine, in their periodic electronic newsletter, included a snippet from Ted McIntyre’s blog. McIntyre highlighted test results from GolfTest USA.

GolfTest USA evaluated 24 different tee models based on ten different criteria. Sixty “testers” were involved, with GolfTest USA selecting the evaluations from the 50 testers they felt “rated all the tees in the fairest and most consistent manner.”

Unfortunately, the ten criteria were all subjective (e.g. tester was asked to “rate how durable this tee is”) and not objective (e.g. driving distance in an automated setting).

McIntyre’s blog mention can be found here, and is included below.

The GolfTest USA results can be found here.


THE WORLD’S BEST TEE

I knew Evolve Golf’s Epoch tee boated [sic] some serious numbers—I mean with 123 major Tour wins, including 46 PGA Tour victories, since it 2004 debut, and all. But now it’s official, thanks to GolfTest USA’s 2009 “Comprehensive Golf Tee Test.”

The Epoch tee downed 24 competing designs from every other leading manufacturer. Determined by a panel of 60 testers rating each tee in 10 categories, the test examined performance, appearance, ease of use, durability and eco-friendly composition. (Technically, the Epoch tied for the overall top mark with the Perfect Tee, but since it kicked Perfect Tee’s ass in the distance category, I’m giving Evolve Golf the edge.) Check out the results here.

Leadership Waterloo Region AGM

It’s been a great week thus far, with many productive meetings and lots of projects moved forward significantly. And it’s still only Friday morning. Still three more days to go!

I attended the Leadership Waterloo Region AGM last night. I went through the program in 2001 and 2002. Of the 25 or so that were part of our 2002 class, only four of us attended last night, myself and three ladies. I’ve lost touch with too many of those old friends.

Yesterday early afternoon my eldest played nose-tackle in their first post-season football game. His team won 14-0, and he personally had another great game. Now they’re off to the semi-finals sometime next week.

And lastly, as I sped through yesterday, zipping from the office to meetings, to the office, to more meetings, and ultimately noting that many old friendships from 2001-2 had fallen off; I was reminded of this poem. Perhaps it will serve as a welcomed and well-timed reminder for some of you.


Slow Dance

Have you ever watched kids
On a merry-go-round?
Or listened to the rain
Slapping on the ground?

Ever followed a butterfly's erratic flight?
Or gazed at the sun into the fading night?

You better slow down.
Don't dance so fast.
Time is short.
The music won't last.

Do you run through each day
On the fly?
When you ask How are you?
Do you hear the reply?

When the day is done
Do you lie in your bed
With the next hundred chores
Running through your head?

You'd better slow down
Don't dance so fast.
Time is short.
The music won't last.

Ever told your child,
We'll do it tomorrow?
And in your haste,
Not see his sorrow?

Ever lost touch,
Let a good friendship die
Cause you never had time
To call and say,'Hi'

You'd better slow down.
Don't dance so fast.
Time is short.
The music won't last.

When you run so fast to get somewhere
You miss half the fun of getting there.
When you worry and hurry through your day,
It is like an unopened gift....
Thrown away.

Life is not a race.
Do take it slower
Hear the music
Before the song is over.

Gary Player Receives Canadian Lifetime Achievement Award

Gary Player, the Black Knight himself, has been named the inaugural recipient of the Golf Business Canada Lifetime Achievement Award by the National Golf Course Owners Association.

Golf News Now provided excellent coverage in their Industry Insider newsletter this morning.

The first article, found here on the GNN website, and also included below, covers Player’s win.

The second article, found here on the GNN website, and also included below, notes Player’s reaction and his acceptance speech. As always, he spoke with eloquence and grace, while consistently challenging his audience to think. Please enjoy.


Player Receives NGCOA Award

November 11, 2009 by GNN

Gary Player has been presented with the inaugural Golf Business Canada Lifetime Achievement Award by the National Golf Course Owners Association.

The Black Knight was honoured for his remarkable playing career, as well as his charitable work, design business, environmental stewardship, his work with children and his emphasis on physical fitness at the NGCOA currently underway in Vancouver.

NGCOA executive director Jeff Calderwood applauded Player, known as the world’s most-travelled athlete, as a big reason for golf’s growing global popularity in recent decades.

“Of all the people who may have played a role in leading us to where the golf industry is today, none has had any more positive impact than Gary Player,” said Calderwood.


Abandon Greed For Green: Gary Player

November 11, 2009 by Ian Hutchinson

For all the compliments Gary Player received upon receiving the Golf Business Canada Lifetime Achievement Award yesterday in Vancouver from the National Golf Course Owners Association, he handed some back to Canada.

“You have sufficient food to feed yourselves. You have a rainbow coalition of people, high standard of education,” said the Black Knight, who has been traveling throughout this country since the 1950s.

“You’ve got the minerals. You’ve got the oil. You’ve got the water, probably one of the most important ingredients. The world is running out of water very fast. It’s going to be one of the great problems of the world,” he said.

In his own inimitable fashion, Player was warning us about complacency, that things don’t stay the same and we should be prepared for big change and golf is part of that evolution.

“There are people who are against golf courses and, to a certain degree, sometimes they’re right because we use too much water and too much fertilizer,” he said.

“Now, we’re going into a new era where we’re going to use less fertilizer and we’re going to have great respect for the environment and that’s something the young people have got to do,” said Player, 74.

In order to reach that ultimate goal of golf being an environment-friendly greenbelt for all to enjoy, Player says the golf industry needs to separate itself from the greed that caused the recent economic meltdown, which is affecting his design company like any other business.

“We had 65, plus or minus, active jobs and I would say that, due to the economic crisis, 30 said, `Well, we’ll continue in two years.’ Another 15 said, `Okay, we’ll wait a year,’ and the other 15 were gone,” said Player.

“It’s affected me like everybody else and I think it’s a very good thing. It’s detoxed the world to a great extent. I think we’ve got to get away from that greed and cut back to basics,” he said.

That will affect not only the oversupply of golf courses in many areas, but our approach to building them, according to Player.

“We’ve got to now make sure we go in and redesign golf courses, make them shorter, make the greens less undulating, so the members can enjoy it and do something to encourage the family to take an active role in the golf club,” he said.

Of course, the temptation in recent years has been to super-size golf courses, muscle them up to tour standards, making them more intimidating to the majority of golfers who don’t play anywhere near that level.

A big part of that has been in reaction to the benefits of technology. Player says he is hitting the ball farther now than in his prime.

“Due to the technology, I hit the ball on a calm day, normal conditions, 260 and in my prime, I hit it about 250, but it you gave me the equipment they have today, I would have hit it 310,” said Player, who zeroes in on one aspect of technology for the challenges golf is facing today.

“The ball is going way too far,” he said. “They should cut the ball back 50 yards for every professional tournament. This is why we’re finding ourselves in trouble. The golf ball has ruined golf. The golf ball is partly responsible for these high costs and for the demise of golf at the moment.

“Every single golf course is making the golf course longer, the greens more undulating and the members hate it, the ladies hate it. There are less rounds of golf. The costs are just soaring,” said Player.

“Leave the golf course the length they were and cut the ball back,” he added.

“It’s for the good of the game”

It’s also good for the environment with less land usage and less water and fertilizer usage.

Football, Music, Hockey and Investors

I haven’t blogged since Friday, largely because it’s been a busy time.

Last night I was up at RIM Park again, attending the WSM clinic with my oldest son. We were only there for a short while as he’s now fully recovered from his torn oblique. This wasn’t any great surprise as he took on the nose guard position in his team’s last regular season football game last Thursday evening.

He finished the game with a punt block, a fumble recovery, several scrimmage line tackles or part tackles, and another nice tackle on his team’s 4-yard line, to prevent a TD. He’s also back playing hockey, helping his line pot two of the team’s four goals last night in their 4-2 win.

My youngest has been recovering from a nasty cold. He was away from school part of last week, and none to spry even over the weekend. He is back to school this week, thankfully. Yesterday he netted a 4- (I believe that’s like an A-) on his musical recital. He plays the trombone, and is really enjoying it. The music teacher at his school does an incredible job with all of the students, including those that show very little interest in music until they meet her!

My youngest also nailed a French test, missing just one question. Although he wasn’t very pleased about that.

If I sound rather like a proud father, it’s because I AM! I know I’m blessed.

The bulk of today will be spent in meetings, just as was the case yesterday. I’ll be viewing some interesting new website software shortly.

We continue to work night and day to track down the ideal investors for Parmasters Kitchener-Waterloo. Hence the volume of meetings. We’re making progress, and we know where we’re going.

Olympic Inclusion ‘Opens the Door’ – Lorne Rubenstein

Lorne Rubenstein wrote a nice piece a while back on golf’s inclusion in the 2016 Olympics. I touched upon this subject of course, here, but have wanted to share this Rubenstein article, excerpted from the Globe and Mail.

You can find the article online here, and also included below.


Olympic inclusion 'opens the door'

LORNE RUBENSTEIN

Published on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2009 12:00AM EDT
Last updated on Thursday, Oct. 29, 2009 2:59AM EDT

rube@sympatico.ca

Ryo in Rio. Can't you just see this as a headline when golf returns to the Olympics in 2016 in Rio de Janeiro?

Japan's Ryo Ishikawa is 18, he's playing for the International team this week in the Presidents Cup, and he's likely to qualify for the golf competition.

Okay, great. We got the cute headline out of the way. And yes, it's potentially helpful to the game's growth that golf will return to the Olympics for the first time since 1904, when Canada's George S. Lyon won the gold medal in St. Louis. Sure, only Canada and the United States competed, but a gold medal is a gold medal. Men and women will compete in Rio. But does golf's admission to the Olympics mean that it's suddenly become a truly global game?

Well, it's actually always been a global game. The International Olympic Committee's imprimatur wasn't required to confirm golf as an international sport. It's been played around the world for many, many years. The game as we know it began in Scotland centuries ago. Or was it the Netherlands? There's evidence for that as well. It's been played in India and Australia and Canada and the United States and China and South America and Eastern Europe and France and Italy and Israel and elsewhere.

People who know something about the history of golf must shake their heads when competitions come along that supposedly put an official stamp on golf's international nature.

When the Presidents Cup came along in 1994, it was said it was needed because more players from outside the United States, Britain and Europe were winning tournaments.

But South Africans Bobby Locke and Gary Player had won majors long before then. Argentina's Roberto de Vicenzo had won the 1967 Open Championship. Australia's Peter Thomson had won five Opens. Bob Charles of New Zealand had won the Open.

Meanwhile, the first official Ryder Cup was played in 1927. Amateur golf has long had the Walker Cup for men and the Curtis Cup for women. Canadian industrialist John Jay Hopkins founded the annual World Cup in 1953, for teams of two professionals representing countries around the world.

It was first called the Canada Cup. Hopkins founded it to promote what he called "international goodwill through golf."

Golf has long spanned the globe, then. The IOC didn't recognize that, while there was criticism of the game as an elite sport even up until the member countries voted to include it in Rio. Meanwhile, the organizing bodies of the game, meaning the United States Golf Association and the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews and smaller groups, including the Royal Canadian Golf Association, didn't do enough to disavow critics of that belief.

Golf should have been included in the Olympics years ago. It isn't an elite sport, except that it's reported as such and few publications or television networks pay any attention to its amateur side, or even any professional tours beyond the PGA and Europe. There's a false impression golf is all about the Masters, the other three majors, and the Ryder Cup, Solheim Cup, and maybe even the Presidents Cup, although it doesn't make much, if any, of an impact in Europe.

But golf is about all the people who play it far from the elite private clubs. It's about the golfers slogging it out in the rain yesterday at Toronto's municipal Don Valley course and whacking the ball around the Kildonan Park course on the banks of the Red River in Winnipeg, and all the public courses across the country.

Golf in the Olympics could provide kids playing these courses, and yes, private courses as well, the dream of representing their countries. Boys and girls and young men and women who know something about the Olympic Games because of their profile might now focus on golf.

That could also happen in Asia, of course, where golf is still relatively young. But the game is going to have to be made far more accessible, which means less expensive, than it is now. Millions may well take up the game in China. They'll need courses that are affordable.

In the end, there's no point in being a curmudgeon about golf getting into the Olympics.
Mike Weir said at the Presidents Cup yesterday, it's "awesome news." He said its inclusion "opens the door for so many kids around the world and in Canada who may be playing junior golf today and competing for a gold medal in seven years."

Fair enough. It's indeed long past time that golf should have been in the Olympics. But at least the game is in. Now we'll see just how many doors it opens around the world, or whether it will do nothing more than provide another stroke-play competition for Woods, Lorena Ochoa and their fellow tour pros.

Do You Allow the Happy Moments as You Golf?

I’ve recently subscribed to a very brief email, a daily quote if you will, from the Abraham-Hicks organization. This is what it said yesterday.

“A happy life is just a string of happy moments. But most people don't allow the happy moment, because they're so busy trying to get a happy life.” -Abraham

Isn’t that so very true! So many people run around, working/worrying themselves into the ground, promising that they’ll slow down and really enjoy life (i.e. they’ll be HAPPY) once they achieve X.

“X” of course varies from person to person. It may be a new job, a new car, a vacation, when the children are older, once they finish some schooling, blah, blah, blah. The point is many people refuse to enjoy the moments because they’re waiting until the future to enjoy life.

Now let’s look at a game of golf.

Can we not say that a happy round of golf is just a string of happy moments? Can we not go on to state that most people don’t allow the happy moment, because they’re so busy trying to get a happy round of golf?

Do you do this?

Say your tee shot on the 5th ventures out of bounds. Perhaps not a “happy moment.” But, you begrudgingly hit three off the tee and eventually find yourself on the green, within twelve feet, facing a bogie putt. And you drain it. Do you “allow the happy moment?” Or do you complain to your partners that it should have been a birdie?

Have you ever made a big number on the opening hole, whatever a “big number” is to you and the current state of your game? Have you ever let that big number derail your confidence, your enjoyment, your ability to be in the moments, for several holes thereafter, perhaps even for the entire round.

So you’ve just made that big number on 1 and you’re now several strokes over par. Number 2 is a par three and your tee shot lands gently on the green, six feet from the pin. Do you “allow the happy moment?”

And lastly, here’s a far more telling example. Your tee shot finds a massive wooded area on number 18. You eventually get back to the fairway, but the rest of the whole is a bit of a mishmash and you end up taking a triple. But two of your playing partners have just birdied the hole. Do you celebrate with them? Are you happy for them? Do you “allow the happy moment?”

Perhaps you should take some time before your next round of golf to consider the fact that, indeed, a happy round of golf is just a string of happy moments.

Brad Matthews Leaving Whistle Bear

Brad Matthews has reportedly resigned from the Whistle Bear Golf Club. Golf Scene reported this news in their periodic electronic newsletter, specifically in From the Publisher section by Norm Woods. You can find the Golf Scene article here, and also the Matthews snippet below.

The Golf News Now electronic newsletter also reported on the Matthews departure (available here) and included the following quotes from Matthews.

“I have loved working here at Whistle Bear and I’m certainly proud of the accomplishments of the entire club since opening in 2001,” said Matthews.

“Working with the owners, talented staff and the members has made this facility what it is today. I was searching for a new challenge and I’m really looking forward to the next stage in my career, as well as spending a lot of time with my family,” he added.

Lastly, I must share this photograph. (Thank you Rose!) It’s titled Sunset at the North Pole and was apparently taken during the week of May 11, 2009. A friend shared this with me; I believe it’s making the rounds via email. Our universe most certainly includes some humbling and awe inspiring sights. We must simply slow down and see them. Enjoy!

From Golf Scene:

And another note from Brad Matthews, long-time area golf professional and most recently the Director of Golf at Whistle Bear Golf Club in Cambridge. Brad has decided to leave the golf business and move into the financial services field. Brad will be missed by everyone. He was a great promoter of the game and has had a highly successful golf career. Good luck in your new venture Brad and thanks for all you have done for the game of golf in the area.

Striving Relentlessly to Find the Correct Investor(s) for Parmasters Kitchener-Waterloo

We continue to work relentlessly to develop the remaining outstanding capital required to build and operate Parmasters Kitchener-Waterloo. One key strategy we’re putting in place now involves greatly extending our network of contacts by linking up with other extensive networks. This allows us to put the opportunity in front of many more individuals, and will hopefully help us uncover the ideal investor(s).

The Information Cards that we printed and distributed in the latter half of the summer have yielded many inquiries, which of course was their stated purpose.

We are more than confident that the correct investor(s) shall be found. Parmasters KW will not only be a tremendous indoor golf training center, ready to serve the needs of golfers, offering, of course:

Better golf. More fun. Guaranteed.

Parmasters KW will also become a fantastic business, offering those that help create it a tremendous opportunity to play a major role in helping golfers improve their games and have more fun on and off the golf course.

I recently came across a September 2009 media release from a company called EDR Media. It seems they’ve acquired The Golf Network. The media release is available here and I’ve included it below.

The Golf Network, as mentioned previously here, is one of our suppliers, offering flat panel LCD displays beaming golf news and coverage 24x7 into each Parmasters location around the globe.


EDR Media acquires digital out-of-home golf retail network
11 Sep 2009

LAS VEGAS, Nev. - EDR Media has announced that it has formed Sports Retail Networks LLC and has completed the acquisition of The Golf Network, a high-end digital out-of-home signage network currently serving advertisers at golf retailers across the country at the point of purchase.

The Golf Network was launched in 2008 after two years of development and production by its founders and Big Picture Studios. Hosted by award-winning ESPN golf commentator Jim Kelly and popular actress/entertainer Susan Anton, the high-definition digital signage network features interviews and tips with top golf pros and many Hall of Famers, technology updates, travel and lifestyle features, and related information and advertisements directed to the nation’s avid golf enthusiasts.

Studies show that the network already has produced significant results in-store. According to Arbitron, The Golf Network has produced a sales lift of as much as 30 percent in testing locations, and over 40 percent of viewers made an unplanned purchase after watching the network’s programming.

The Golf Network currently airs in 100 stores nationally, including Golf Etc., Golf USA, Pro Golf Discount, ParMasters, and Dunham’s Sporting Goods, and reaches an audience of over four million viewers. The Network plans to increase to 250 locations by the end of 2009, with an ultimate build-out to 1,000 locations.

Happy Halloween to All – Be Present

It’s been a busy Halloween weekend thus far. Mostly lots of fun with my two boys.

As mentioned a while ago, my eldest was injured in his first regular-season football game. We enjoyed the comforts of the Grand River Hospital emergency room the next morning.

Well, his recovery continues. He tried to play a couple of weeks ago but reinjured himself in the first series. Thus, he’s been off both the football field and hockey rink most of both seasons.

We’ve been heading up to Waterloo Sports Medicine at RIM Park for regular treatments and advice. It’s a great facility run by Mike Clermont and his team. Special thanks to Angela and Craig, as my son seems to be making great progress.

We were at WSM again on Friday afternoon.

Friday evening we watched the second Transformers movie while playing some board games and preparing for Halloween. My youngest son picked out Transformers. It's not really my favourite genre, but I did enjoy it. Good choice on his part!

Saturday morning we watched another movie, Yes Man, along with lots of other Halloween preparation.

We also learned that pumpkins are sometimes sold out on the afternoon of Halloween. We did eventually find some, but it took a while.

Of course, handing out treats last night was lots of fun. I didn’t see many ghosts, goblins or other scary creatures. We were mostly visited by princesses, movie characters, cute little frogs and puppy dogs, and many similar passersby.

All of these activities, especially the young and glowing faces that visited while trick or treating, reminded me of this following quote.

“There is one thing we can do, and the happiest people are those who can do it to the limit of their ability. We can be completely present. We can be all here. We can ... give all our attention to the opportunity before us.” -Mark Van Doren

Our visitors were most definitely “completely present.” My boys were also “completely present.” And, happily, so was I.