Another RCGA Exec Jumps Ship — Carroll, Regional Membership Director, Departs

First it was the McDonald’s guy, Peter Beresford, the RCGA’s former COO, and now the former executive director of the CPGA, the well-liked Steve Carroll, is the latest to jump ship from Golf Canada’s membership program. Can’t be good news for Golf Canada’s Executive Director Scott Simmons, who put a lot into launching Golf Canada, with its ambitious rebranding of the RCGA and its membership drive. Carroll played a “key role” in the membership initiative, according to Golf Canada, but insiders say he faced a lot of challenges in selling Golf Canada’s membership program.

Carroll was hired at the end of last November.

Here’s the press clip from Golf Canada:

As one of Golf Canada’s Regional Membership Directors, Steve has spent the past year playing a key role in our new membership initiative, visiting golf clubs, engaging stakeholders and helping to tell the new Golf Canada story.  Steve joined us after a lengthy tenure as Executive Director of the Canadian PGA and his experience, professionalism and relationships in the Canadian golf industry made him a tremendous addition to the Golf Canada team.

It has always been Steve’s desire to get back to the best fit for his skill set and experiences, specifically as an Executive Director with a sport governing body.   With his 23-year career as an association executive and sport administration staff leader, Steve will now bring his leadership skills to the Ontario Volleyball Association where he will play an integral role in helping the OVA achieve their mandate to develop and grow the sport of volleyball across Ontario.   Click here to read the OVA’s official announcement.

Interesting, when Carroll left the CPGA and then joined Golf Canada, there was a lot of talk about how he wasn’t seeking the responsibility of being top dog. Now apparently he likes that feeling — and has a thing for nets and volleyballs. In fact, when he signed on to Golf Canada last year, Carroll told me he wasn’t looking to return to a director’s role, but apparently a year of selling has led him to reconsider that notion…