PGA of Canada Professional and Founder/Director of Instruction of the Tour Development Academy in Richmond, B.C. Nathan Leonhardt recently worked as the Golf Consultant on the new Apple TV+ series 'Stick' starring Owen Wilson, premiering on June 4. 

In this podcast, Nathan talks about working on the set of a hit TV show and how his experience as a PGA of Canada professional provided him the skills necessary to help produce the show. 

TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley has quickly become one of Canada's premier golf destinations, with three of Canada's Top 100 Courses - including the North Course, set to host the RBC Canadian Open June 5-8. 

Marketing Director Brian Decker sits down to talk to us about how the club is preparing for the upcoming championship, and also how the club elevates its customer service year-after-year. 

Amaya Athill joins Brendan Stasiewich on the PGA of Canada podcast to discuss the work that earned her the 2024 Warren Crosbie Community Leader of the Year Award.

Amaya started her career as an attorney-at-law and was called to the Bar of England and Wales, Antigua, and Ontario. Amaya spent the first 10 years of her career practicing in Antigua and the United Kingdom in the areas of civil litigation, international law, and human rights.

A golfer since the age of 5, after moving to Canada in early 2022, Amaya began working in the golf industry. Currently she is the Manager at Golf Canada where she manages the implementation of First Tee in Ontario, a program that provides opportunities for young people from historically excluded and systemically marginalized communities to access golf.

Amaya qualified became a PGA of Canada Apprentice Professional in May 2023 and is one of the few black women members. Amaya has a passion for introducing BIPOC women to golf and her coaching is primarily focused on instruction of groups of beginner golfers within this demographic. In 2022 she founded Black Women Golfers, a group dedicated to creating space for Black women to learn, practice, and play golf.

Amaya is an avid advocate for accessibility and diversity in the sport and utilizes her social media (IG: @golf_interrupted) to conduct interviews with BIPOC women in golf, highlight the importance of municipal golf, and collaborate with BIPOC golfers of varying levels.

Dr. Luke Benoit is constantly innovating. With a deep understanding of motor learning and biomechanics, the use of science in his coaching has helped his students in the past five years win five state high school championships in Minnesota, five state opens and five state amateurs. Brendan Stasiewich sat down with Dr. Benoit for an informative conversation about how more pros can use science to help their students improve. 

On today's PGA of Canada podcast we are joined by Golf Canada's amateur and young pro squad coach Derek Ingram, who has picked up five PGA of Canada National Awards in his career including a pair of Coach of the Year and Teacher of the Year titles. He currently coaches PGA TOUR winners Taylor Pendrith and Corey Conners, who was just named to the Canadian Olympic Men's Golf Team. Host Brendan Stasiewich spent some time chatting with Derek about his career and his approach to coaching at all levels of the game.

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.