Page 66 - GBC spring 2016

The Parting Shot
ABest. Conference. Ever.
Bob gives his opening remarks as the Conference Chair of the 2015 Golf Business Canada Conference & Trade Show, while paying homage to his Toronto Maple Leafs.
s this year’s Conference Chair, We believe that as an Associa-
All of this content is packed into 2.5 days, but leaves enough time for the very important formal and informal networking opportuni- ties that being with so many other owners and operators pro- vides. As many delegates will tell you, this is just as valuable as the sched- uled content of the Conference.
To conclude, YOU need to be at the Conference in 2016! I can’t tell you how many friends I have made over the years from attending our annual Conference - in fact, I haven’t missed one! The contacts I have made are invaluable. I en- courage everyone across the Coun- try to consider coming to beautiful Whistler, November 17-19th... I guarantee you won’t regret it.
I had a firsthand view of why the annual Golf Business Canada Conference & Trade Show is con- tinuously so successful and con- stantly achieves a 5 star rating from 99% of the participants.
My personal thanks to all the NGCOA Canada staff for the tireless work they put into executing such a full program. I would like to make special mention of Jeff Calderwood and Natalie Lavallée for the leadership and profession- alism that they displayed to me throughout my experience chairing this fantastic event.
For those who know me, you know that this was my final re- sponsibility with the NGCOA Can- ada. Having been with Cardinal Golf Club for the past 23 years, it was with a heavy heart that we sold the Club in July of 2015. Cardi- nal was, and will continue to be, a staunch supporter of the NGCOA Canada and all it stands for.
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tion, we can meet and discuss com- monproblemsandideasthatben- efit all of us. Over the years we saw the Association grow and ma- ture, with Jeff’s leadership, into the respected and leading voice of the golf industry that it is today.
As a committed member, I joined the Chapter Board and then took on the President’s role not once but twice, which gave me the opportunity to sit on the National Board for a number of years. Now that we have sold the Club my time is over, but I highly recommend that YOU take an active role in your Chapter ... it is very satisfy- ing and I will truly miss it.
This year’s Conference featured a fantastic program, including Keynote Speakers Ron Tite, Gregg Patterson, and Andrew Wood, Operational Educational Sessions, Trade Show at Lionhead Golf Club & Conference Centre, Great Idea Debate, opening reception party and a ‘Just for Fun’ Comedy Night & Dinner that had everyone laughing. We also kicked off the Conference this year with a pre- Conference marketing session that sold out!
Bob Kilgour
Bob helped grow Cardinal Golf Club into Canada’s largest golf facility with 72 holes, over the past few decades in King City, ON. Bob can be reached at bob. kilgour@pitwayholdings.com.