Canadian PGA Hits the Century Mark
Photo Galleries from the Centennial Celebration:
Click here for Centennial Golf photo gallery
Click here for Centennial Gala photo gallery
Close to 400 members, guests and industry leaders from around the world joined in celebrating 100 years of the PGA of Canada. View the photo galleries and take in the celebrations.
Organization’s formation celebrated with gala event in Ottawa
(ACTON, ON) July 9, 2011: One-hundred years ago the Canadian PGA was formed by a small, dedicated and inspired group of the country’s leading golf professionals following the playing of the Canadian Open. On July 10 and 11, today’s golf professionals and industry leaders will convene at Royal Ottawa Golf Club, site of the organization’s formation, to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the world’s second-oldest professional golf association.
“From its humble origins at Royal Ottawa to the current day, where over 3,700 golf professionals work across the country, the Canadian PGA has played an integral role in developing and growing the game of golf in Canada,” said Canadian PGA Chief Executive Officer Gary Bernard. “This celebration will recognize our association’s contribution to golf not only over the past 100 years, but also highlight the important role the Canadian PGA will play over the next century.”
A highlight of the celebration will be a historical display featured at the Hilton Lac-Leamy in Gatineau, Que. The display will feature information on the early history of the association and its’ founders, historical photo’s and equipment while also detailing the many milestones the association has achieved over the last 100 years.
Today’s Canadian PGA is made up of over 3,700 golf professionals, working at golf facilities across the country, in support of the game including some of the country’s best-known players, including Lorie Kane, Mike Weir and Graham Delaet. With involvement in programs from the CN Future Links Program and elite-level coaching, to partnering in the National Golf in Schools (NGIS) initiative, the Canadian PGA promotes all facets of golf in Canada.
“The PGA of America congratulates our friends in the Canadian PGA as they celebrate their Centennial with a tribute that honors their grand and illustrious history,” said Joe Steranka, Chief Executive Officer, The PGA of America. “We are delighted that the Canadian PGA has stood jointly with The PGA at the forefront of growing the game and business of golf, serving as international partners in teaching and promoting our great game to enthusiasts worldwide.”
The Centennial is proudly sponsored by Mercedes Benz and includes two days of celebrations that will be held in recognition of this tremendous milestone, with professionals from across Canada and abroad participating in golf tournaments at Royal Ottawa Golf Club and Rivermead Golf Club. The gala dinner, held on July 11 at the Hilton Lac-Leamy in Gatineau, Que., will be hosted by Brian Williams,?CTV-TSN Olympic Anchor, and Honorary Director of the Canadian PGA.
A magazine celebrating the centennial has also been created. Entitled Canadian PGA: A Century of Golf in Canada, the publication details the history and evolution of the association, and will be distributed to Canadian PGA members and golf industry personnel.
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For more information contact:
Kelly Dixon
Director of Communications
Canadian PGA
kelly@cpga.com
800.782.5764
Cell: (705) 716-6628
About the Canadian PGA:
Established in 1911 and the second oldest professional golf association in the world, the Canadian Professional Golfers' Association is a non-profit Association comprised of 3,700 golf professionals across the country. The Association’s mandate is to develop, promote and support our Members as experts in the game and business of golf and, in so doing, serve both its Members’ needs and those of the golfing public through the Association’s varied programs and events. The Association consists of the National Office located in Acton, Ontario and nine Zone Offices across the country. For more information please visit www.cpga.com