PGA of Canada Podcasts

On today's episode of the PGA of Canada Podcast, PGA of Canada Managing Director of Digital Content & Communications Brendan Stasiewich sits down with Bob Weeks to learn more about his career in golf media. A member of both the Canadian Curling Hall of Fame and Canadian Golf Hall of Fame, Bob started his career with ScoreGolf and has since become the face for golf in Canada on TSN. This conversation dives into how Bob began his career in golf media, some stories from the TOUR, how PGA of Canada professionals are helping shape the sport throughout the country and more! 

Join host Mark Roe for a thought-provoking conversation with Dr. Kathy Bishop, an Associate Professor in the School of Leadership Studies at Royal Roads University. Dr. Bishop, an expert in values-based leadership, sharing insights on integrating values into daily operations, shaping organizational culture, and fostering leadership growth. Don't miss this exploration of leading with purpose in today's complex world. Tune in to "Leading with Purpose: A Conversation on Values-Based Leadership with Dr. Kathy Bishop."

Join host Mark Roe in a lively conversation with Allison George, affectionately known as "the wizard of fun," as she shares her unique journey from growing up on the golf course to becoming the General Manager at Toad Valley Golf Course. Discover the dynamic and diverse career experiences that have shaped Allison into a leader in the golf industry. In this episode, delve into Allison's strategies for success, including how she strengthen Toad Valley Golf Course by introducing innovative programs to the public and staying ahead with modern marketing content. Explore the top components of fun that can transform golf clubs into vibrant community hubs. Listen in as Allison discusses the challenges and barriers she faced in maintaining a fun atmosphere and how she integrates the element of fun within her team. Gain valuable insights into strategies that can be implemented to highlight and focus on fun, ensuring a positive and engaging presence in the golfing community. Tee up for an insightful episode that not only explores the fun side of golf but also offers practical advice. Join us for "Swinging Success: The Fun Factor in Golf Clubs with Allison George, the Wizard of Fun.”

Join host Mark Roe in an engaging conversation with Salimah Mussani, the current Head Coach of the Women’s National Golf Team. Born in Ontario, Salimah's journey from being a standout golfer at Stanford University to a successful professional on the Epson and LPGA Tours is captivating. In this episode, delve into Salimah's remarkable career and her transition from player to coach. Discover the challenges Salimah faced on her path to becoming the Head Coach of Team Canada's Women's golf team. Gain insights into the intricacies of coaching at the highest level and the importance of staying involved in continuous skill development. Whether you're a golf enthusiast or interested in leadership and coaching, this episode offers a fascinating look into the world of competitive golf and the invaluable role of coaching in shaping champions. Tune in to "Fairways to Leadership: A Coach's Journey with Salimah Mussani" for an inspiring and insightful conversation that transcends the boundaries of sports and leadership.

The relevancy of the PGA Professional is no more important than it is today. In this energy filled episode, Golf Industry Guru co-founder James Cronk describes what he means by a 'powered-on pro' and the leadership traits and characteristics of the modern day professional. James and host Mark Roe dive into the challenges facing today's leader, how your club become the employer of choice in your market, the evolution of the role of a PGA member, the opportunities in a post-COVID workforce, and much more. Don't miss this invigorating episode that is bound to give you the motivation, energy, and tips and tricks to elevate your role in the industry and beyond.  About James Cronk James Cronk is a club industry leader with over 30 years-experience in the golf and service industry. He has presented keynote sessions and workshop seminars at major golf industry events around the world, including the NGCOA National Conference (16 times), the Asia Pacific Golf Summit (6 times including India in November 2019), the European Golf Business Conference (3 times including Portugal 2020), the CMAA World Conference (twice) and many more. In 2022 he was the keynote speaker at the Australian Club Managers Conference in Melbourne.   A former golf professional and club manager, James’s has real life experience in the industry, and his success as a leader is evident in the recognitions bestowed upon himself and his teams, including his facility being recognized by Golf Digest as having the ‘5th Best Customer Service in North America’ and being rated by BC Business Magazine as one of British Columbia’s ‘Top Ten Employers’.    His company CRONK GROUP helps clubs and organizations achieve their goals and increase their profits by improving their systems, their service, and their people. In 2022 James and his business partner Scott Masse launched GOLF INDUSTRY GURU, a global on-line training platform for golf clubs featuring tools, tips, templates, videos, and blogs from many of the world’s leading golf and hospitality industry gurus. 

Former LPGA pro, former director of business strategy at Topgolf, graduate of Yale, and current founder and CEO of SportsBoxAI, Jeehae Lee joins us with host Mark Roe. We uncover how Jeehae uncovered the need for SportsBoxAI in the golf industry, the importance of positive change for the golf industry moving forward, her early experience moving from the LPGA Tour to the boardroom and being the only female in the room, making data driven decisions with your athletes, how SportsBoxAI and other technologies are critical to the core of the PGA professional, and so much more.   About Jeehae Lee Jeehae Lee is a former professional golfer on the LPGA Tour and an executive in the sports media entertainment industry. As the Founder & CEO of Sportsbox.ai, Jeehae is building products using 3D motion analysis technology that will transform the way people learn and improve skills in sports, starting with golf. Prior to founding Sportsbox, she led strategy and new business development for various divisions at Topgolf, including Toptracer. Jeehae has a BA in Economics from Yale and an MBA from The Wharton School at University of Pennsylvania.

He was a former keynote speaker at Tee Talks Live in 2019 in Halifax and is back by popular demand. He's a global innovation strategist, a best selling author, recognized as Edify's Top 40 Under 40, in 2021 was named Forbe's best virtual speaker ever seen...welcome to this week's guest, Shawn Kanungo. Back with our incredible host from TSN, Mark Roe, we get Shawn's spin on Steve Job's 'crazy one's' concept, what went wrong with companies like Sears and Blockbuster, the consequences of maintaining status quo for PGA professionals at their club, facility, or business, how PGA of Canada leaders can unleash their innovation, where Shawn goes for innovative ideas, and so much more.

In this episode, we sat down with the glass ceiling breaking, mover, shaker, and all things epitomizing a PGA Professional, Past President of the PGA of America and President, Golf Nation - Suzy Whaley. Host Mark Roe from TSN chats with Suzy about evolutions she has seen in the role of a PGA Professional, being a role model for young women in the profession of golf and what ally's to do to create a more inclusive environment. They also discuss how Suzy has been able to navigate a hectic schedule and what PGA professionals can do in today's burnout type world, how PGA professionals can be at the helm of retaining golfers post-COVID, making golf a more viable employment opportunity for today's youth and incoming workforce, and disruptions currently facing the golf industry. That and so much more with the one and only, Suzy Whaley.   About Suzy Whaley he first woman ever elected to serve as an Officer of the PGA of America, PGA President and PGA Master Professional Suzy Whaley is the PGA Director of Instruction for the Country Club at Mirasol in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. She is also the PGA Director of Instruction for Suzy Whaley Golf. After serving two years as PGA Secretary, and two years as Vice President, Whaley was elected as the PGA of America's first female President at the PGA Annual Meeting in November 2018. Recognized in 2019 as one of GOLF’s “Top 100 Teachers in America,” Whaley's resume includes: Golf Digest Top 50 Instructor LPGA Top 50 Instructor Two-time Connecticut PGA Teacher of the Year 10-time Golf Digest State Teacher of the Year U.S. Kids Golf Master Kids Teacher She is a five-time PGA Jr. League Championship finals Coach and has instructed more than 300 children to collegiate golf. Previously, she enjoyed a five-year tenure at Jim Flick Golf Schools, before becoming the Head Golf Professional at Blue Fox Run in Avon, Connecticut, in 2002. From 2004-06, she worked as an LPGA golf commentator for ESPN, and began her own instruction and coaching business, Suzy Whaley Golf, after ESPN. A dual member of the PGA of America and LPGA Teaching & Club Professional division, Whaley was an LPGA Tour member in 1990 and 1993. She famously qualified and participated in the 2003 Greater Hartford Open, becoming the first woman since Babe Zaharias in 1945 to qualify for a PGA Tour event. This occurred after Whaley became the first PGA of America woman professional to win the Connecticut PGA Championship. Whaley also is a three-time Connecticut Women’s Open Champion; National LPGA Teaching & Club Professional winner; Connecticut PGA Section Champion; Connecticut PGA Club Professional Champion; and a two-time LPGA Northeast T&CP Section Champion. She competed in both the 2002 and 2005 PGA Professional Championships. Whaley also recently competed in the USGA Senior Women's Open, as well at the LPGA Senior Women’s Championship. A 2016 Greater Syracuse Sports Hall of Fame inductee, Whaley also serves on both the ANNIKA Foundation Board and the PGA Tour Policy Board. In addition, she is an Honorary Director for the First Tee of Connecticut. Whaley was honored with the 2017 Betsy Rawls Award from the American Junior Golf Association for her service, dedication and contributions to women’s golf. She was also named a 2015 Sports Business Journal “Game Changer,” cited as a woman leader who has had a major impact on sports business. Whaley also received the 2015 Margo Dydek Award from the WNBA’s Connecticut Sun, for her ability to engage, challenge and inspire, while serving as a role model. A 1989 graduate of the University of North Carolina with a Bachelor’s Degree in economics, Whaley and her husband, Bill, are both PGA Members. Bill is the National Director of Golf for the PGA Tour Properties Division. They have two daughters, Jennifer and Kelly.

  Fresh off a championship run this past December/January in Halifax with Hockey Canada's World Junior Men's team, we sat down with Head Coach Dennis Williams to talk leadership in this episode. Host Mark Roe from TSN talks about he as a leader responded after the opening night loss to Czechia, getting the most out of your team and a group of individuals, managing different personalities and the changes in 'today's' generation, career highlights and low lights and how he responded and persevered even through the tough times, the importance of culture, and how he as a coach and leader focuses on being better every day. Whether you are teaching and coaching or leading a team on the operations side of golf, this podcast is a can't miss episode. Everything from performance to culture and leadership and everything in between, we were thrilled to connect with Dennis fresh off this event that brought the nation together. About Dennis Williams: Dennis Williams, 43 (8/14/79), is in his sixth season behind the bench as Silvertips head coach and second season as general manager. Under Williams, Everett has earned four U.S. Division titles, three Conference regular season titles and a Western Conference championship, as well as success in the classroom and on the international and professional stage. Williams presently has a record of 203-66-11-11 behind the bench in his WHL career, earning his 200th career win on Oct. 12, 2022. He was promoted to the dual position of general manager and head coach on Jul. 12, 2021. And of course, he led the World Junior hockey team to a gold medal this past holiday season in Halifax.

In this episode, host Mark Roe connects with a legend in the golf industry, former CEO of the PGA of America, Joe Steranka. Joe discusses the evolution of golf during his time as CEO from 2005-2012 and the changes since then. Joe coins professional sport as the 'the original reality TV’ and talks about how can golf capitalize on this at a local level with the PGA professional leading the way. From reality tv to marketing and more, Joe shares just a glimpse of his expertise and the opportunity for PGA professionals to be at the helm of leadership and innovation for golf.   About Joe Steranka Steranka Sports + Strategy is the strategy practice of Buffalo.Agency. Headquartered in the Washington, DC suburb of Reston, Va, and conveniently located near Dulles International Airport, Buffalo connects upscale sports and lifestyle brands with discerning audiences around the world. Steranka Sports + Strategy led by Joe Steranka, CEO of the PGA of America from 2005 to 2012. Recognized for contributing to golf’s return to the Olympics, Steranka also led the global development of the PGA brand and built media platforms to elevate the Ryder Cup and PGA Championship. His near 40-year career in sports includes work with the NBA’s Cleveland Cavaliers and Washington Bullets, and sports agency ProServ where he directed communications strategies for Michael Jordan, VolvoTennis, Jimmy Connors, Major Indoor Soccer League and the late Payne Stewart.

We can all benefit from disagreeing just a little more. Going along to get along is going to be far more successful - being a dissenter can be equally as successful. Challenging the status quo can bring much needed change to any organization. These stalwarts are arguing out of compassion with an aim to improve ideas. Andrew Millar sits down with host Mark Roe to share the keys to how being a serial dissenter can strengthen your golf club, business, and mindset.   Andrew Millar considers himself a serial dissenter and has questioned, challenged and argued his way from one job to the next. From Playstation to Swatch to Infiniti and now PVH, Andrew enjoys driving sales and his colleagues a little crazy. He is passionate about the importance of dissent and will argue with anyone who doesn’t agree. Millar holds an MBA from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology. He is currently growing and curing olives, batches of passata, and plans to someday make homemade wood-fired pizza.

In part II of this podcast, host Mark Roe from TSN and Steve Graves from Creative Golf Marketing delve into trends of PGA professionals elevating themselves into the next chapter of their careers. Focused on the transition to becoming a General Manager, Steve uncovers the key aspects to how PGA professionals can make themselves distinguishable and move from a 'generalist' mindset to specializing in certain fields of becoming more business focused. Steve also discusses the importance for PGA professionals to understand golfer/member acquisition and retention. This and so much more in part II of this podcast with the brilliant mind of Steve Graves.

Steve Graves, current golf professional and President with Creative Golf Marketing since 1990, stops by the podcast to share his knowledge and expertise on how golf has grown over the past couple years. Steve talks about how to grow and create momentum after the pandemic, how to drive interests in golf and how PGA professionals are a BUY now stock.

Stefan Cox, Director of Instruction at the Calgary Golf and Country Club, joins the podcast and talks about how his role has evolved through 5 years at the club, and how he knew coaching and instruction was his passion. Stefan talks about how having a team, with each person having a specific area of expertise is vital for success for the club and promoting your brand. Being clear and concise is Stefan’s key for marketing campaigns, tune in to hear his career and his opinion on the do’s and don’ts in the golf marketing world.

In the journey of working as golf professional, not everyone takes the same route. In this sitdown with Brian Siddle from Strong Coffee Marketing, Luke Rundell discusses his journey after becoming a pro in 2009 and how he eventually moved away from working at courses, and into running his own business In Alberta, training young golfers. The last two years saw a spike in golf, as it was one of the only activities that allowed us to see others. Luke goes over how these years have influenced his business with all factors. He goes over the satisfaction he gets training talented young golfers and helping all his students improve. He likes to think he provides the tools for young golfers to succeed and is even starting to see golfers coming to train and learn the game at the age of 6. Tune in to learn marketing techniques and other tips for running a golf training business in this growing market.