Page 8 - GBC ENG Winter 2025

Message From The CEO, NGCOA Canada • Jeff Calderwood
The
First
Tee
Farewell, Thank You, and
Gotta Wear Shades!
As the Publisher, I have written this
First Tee in 114 consecutive issues of
Golf Business Canada, plus a few cover
stories. You’d think it would get easier
all the time. But this one is probably the
hardest!
I guess saying goodbye after a 34-
year run as CEO isn’t expected to be easy.
There are so many great friendships
developed along the way, which I’m so
grateful for. I’ll certainly miss that the
most. Such great memories throughout
the membership to take with me. So, my
sincerest personal thank you to every
one of you. A special thank you to Mark
Seabrook, your voicemail in 1991 set this
incredible journey in motion.
The growth and business
accomplishments of the NGCOA Canada
have been well celebrated. I do take pride
in my own role with those successes. But,
it has been a team effort every step of
the way. So, a very special shout out to
all of the exceptional boards and staff
teams that I have had the absolute
pleasure to work with over the years!
I would also like to recognize our
partners in the industry. From our
Golfmax suppliers to sponsors, exhibitors
and advertisers, the NGCOA Canada has
been able to excel in large part due to
the member value and funding support
that those business relationships have
provided. The word “partner” is so
appropriate.
Similarly, I am highly appreciative of
all of our allied association relationships.
At the NAGA table, thank you to the
CGSA, Golf Canada, CMAC and PGA
of Canada for their shared leadership.
Provincially, the NGCOA Canada has
also had great respect for each allied
association. We are all doing whatever
we can to further propel the Canadian
golf industry, and it is working!
Our NGCOA USA affiliation has
also been an important and enjoyable
working relationship. I think that one
of the smartest moves we made when
launching NGCOA Canada was to align
that branding and vision. Over the years,
both associations have benefitted from
the greater critical mass together and
the continuous sharing of best practices.
Similarly, thank you to the European Golf
Course Association.
Going forward, the future of the golf
industry is very bright indeed. That feels
comforting to me as I retire. Golf is cool
again, still gaining in popularity, and a
great business to be in. Canada boasts
the highest golf participation rate in the
world, something to be proud of and I
intend to continue bragging about it!
As for the NGCOA Canada itself,
your Association will be in very good
hands under the CEO leadership of
Nathalie Lavallée. Her 25 years of prior
NGCOA Canada experience, exceptional
abilities, and the overall strength of our
staff and boards will continue to deliver
great value to all Canadian golf course
owners and operators.
As they say, “The future’s so bright,
I gotta wear shades”. And I’ll be on a golf
course somewhere, shades on, cheering
hard for that next chapter of NGCOA
Canada success, and your own. I hope to
see you again soon…
Onward and upward!
Jeff Calderwood, CEO NGCOA Canada
jcalderwood@ngcoa.ca
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Golf Business Canada