Page 8 - GBC spring 2015

Message From The President • Gilles Debut
In The Fairway
When I started to golf I discovered a beautiful world. Soon after, I decided that I have to play life the way I play golf. This thought reminds me of Bobby Jones. He was part of the second generation of the golf boom, before Arnold Palmer and Tiger Woods. He was an important golfer to America and to the whole world.
He was a very handsome guy, who won everything before he was 30 years old. He had everything, including a beautiful family. When he was about 55 years old he developed a degenerative sickness and was soon confined to a wheelchair.
One day a journalist asked him, “You had everything. You were the most popular guy in the world and now you are in a wheelchair with very limited mobility, yet you look very happy. What is your secret?” Bobby responded, “I play life like I played golf. I play the ball as it lies.”
Play The Ball As It Lies
That mentality is very important. I keep that in mind when we face a challenge. We play the ball as it lies and perhaps beautiful things happen because we accept what it is and we do something with what it is.
We are in the business of golf and like all other businesses; we deal with some challenges like the weather, taxes, competition and so on. This is one of the reasons that I, and many of you, attended the Golf Business Canada Conference & Trade Show this past November, to address the challenges together. That is also the goal of the NGCOA Canada, to talk about these challenges and find solutions together. We are here to help each other.
During the Conference, I learned a lot of things including two key points: Don’t answer a question, deliver a message. And, we are the messengers of our business.
We are in the world of golf. Every morning, like many of you, I go to my office. My office is on a golf course. I pass the gate and suddenly I am in a golf Wonderland with flowers, grass, and birds singing in the trees. I park my car and going into the clubhouse I meet my customers – my friends – the golfers. They are happy to be here because they love the game of golf like we all do.
The values of golf are harmony, respect for nature, respect for each other, and respect for the course. As the leaders, we are models to everybody else. We are the ambassadors for the game. Our business has to be fun and happy. So, as your new President, and one of the messengers, I am proud to say I believe in the future of the business of golf.
Our Association is a leader. We are part of the solution for a bright future. We will work together to stay simple, to be innovative and to be different. Together, you, me, everyone - we are the solution. I look forward to working with all of you over the next two years.
Respectfully,
Gilles Debut
Owner, Club de Golf les Quatre Domaines, QC President, NGCOA Canada GDebut@golf4d.ca
8 Golf Business Canada