 |
Publisher's
Essay
Halliday ushers in a new RCGA
 | |
John Bodenhamer
Publisher |
When James J.A. Halliday was elected as the new President of the Royal Canadian Golf Association at its annual meeting in January
amidst the storied surroundings of Victoria's Fairmont Empress Hotel, it marked several milestones.
First, he became the 100th president of the governing body for amateur golf in Canada. Second, he became the association's first
president from Victoria Golf Club, which was a founding member club of the RCGA in 1895. Third, he became the first president to
preside over a newly amalgamated association of men AND women, as the merger with the Canadian Ladies Golf Association was
finalized at with the result being one "unified" organization under the RCGA banner.
A successful Canadian Tire store owner, Halliday still finds time to play a little as he maintains an RCGA Handicap Factor hovering
around scratch. He brings into office with him additional and impressive credentials that will assist him to lead the RCGA into a
new era.
Halliday is one of the most well respected Rules officials in North America and represents the RCGA on the Joint Rules of Golf
Committee headed by the USGA and R&A. Over the years, he has officiated the Rules of Golf at the highest level, including the
U.S. Open, Masters, the Players Championship, and of course, at the RCGA's own Bell Canadian Open and Bank of Montreal Canadian
Women's Open.
 |
| Jim Halliday (second from left) with members of the victorious BCGA Morse Cup team
at the 2003 Pacific Coast Amateur. |
For the past several years, Halliday also has represented the British Columbia Golf Association as a Trustee of the Pacific Coast
Golf Association, which conducts the Pacific Coast Amateur each year, one of North America's premier amateur championships. In
2003, Halliday served as PCGA president and was the captain of the BCGA team that won the Morse Cup Team Matches, which marked
the first time the trophy resided north of U.S. border.
Halliday also is among a small number of Canadians who have been afforded membership in the Royal ∧ Ancient Golf Club of St.
Andrews in Scotland.
It is also safe to say that in his leadership role as an RCGA Governor, he was instrumental in shepherding the historic merger with
the ladies this past year. His thoughtful demeanor and leadership style undoubtedly helped ease any concerns the ladies might
have had in joining forces with their male counterparts. This bringing together of two outstanding associations will benefit the
game in Canada like never before and it is being implemented in 2005 under Halliday's watch.
The RCGA would be hard-pressed to have a president with greater stature within the game than Halliday. This was evident at the
annual meeting as three members of the influential USGA Executive Committee traveled great distances to be on hand for the
ceremonies. Mary Bea Porter-King from Hawaii, Jim Reinhart from Wisconsin, and USGA President Fred Ridley from Florida were each
in Victoria to support their good friend and fellow Rules official.
As one of the keynote speakers during the evening, Ridley poked a little good-natured fun at Halliday, then closed by recognizing
his dedicated volunteer efforts and the support of his lovely wife Evana.
It was wonderful that Halliday was installed in his hometown, in an elegant hotel that for almost a century has played host to
kings, queens and presidents. As I watched his good friends, Margaret Todd (Canadian Golf Hall of Fame) and Findlay Young
(past RCGA president) escort him to the podium and into office, I could not help but think the ceremony and setting were only
fitting, as his presidency will also surely be one that honors tradition and leads with excellence. Congratulations Jim!
|
|
