Connections

"You'd be surprised at how much success in the business world is related to success on the golf course," says Ray Chateau. "For me, it boils down to the ability to establish goals and maintain the focus and commitment to meet those goals." Ray should know: He's the Program Coordinator of the Business School's Professional Golf Management program and Head Coach of the Canadian University National Golf Team.

SUCCESS IN THE BOARDROOM 

The Professional Golf Management program takes traditional business administration courses like accounting, human resource management, and marketing and mixes them with courses on turf management, bar and restaurant operations, and sports psychology. Add two full-time paid field placements, and the result is a diploma program with a ninety-three percent job placement rate. And an endorsement from the Canadian Professional Golfers' Association, the first for a golf management program in Ontario.

"It's kind of funny, but one of the things that makes the Professional Golf Management program unique is that our grads have to deal with the reality of multiple job offers upon graduation. They are highly sought-after employees," says Ray.

A critical part of the program's success can be attributed to the professionals who teach the classes. According to Ray, "the strength of the golf program is the strength of our professors. We are fortunate to be located in the GTA with access to outstanding individuals who are committed to sharing their knowledge and experience with our students. Our professors bring to the program specific expertise related to each course they teach. No other professional golf management program can boast the strength of faculty that Humber has."

SUCCESS ON THE FAIRWAY 

In addition to his role as Program Coordinator of the Professional Golf Management program, Ray Chateau is also a long-time coach with Humber's varsity golf teams and Head Coach of the Canadian University National Golf Team. In September 2006, he led that team to a strong fourth-place finish at the sixteen-team World University Golf Championships in Turin, Italy. "A large key to my success as a coach and a teacher is my ability to establish a positive rapport and effectively communicate with my players and my students."

One of those students was Ryan Willoughby, who was also a member of the 2006 National Golf Team. "I started golfing as a kid, on a little course, playing everyday with friends and my Dad. When I got a little older, I started competing in tournaments. Then came varsity golf, the Ontario championships, the national championships, and now the world championships. It's been pretty wild."

Ryan says having the World Championships on his resume was a great way to get the attention of potential employers. But being a Humber student was equally as important. According to Ryan, "the golf industry in Ontario is made up of about 800 courses. That may sound big, but when you actually count the number of people who can offer you a good job, the number of potential employers is actually quite small. So your reputation as a Humber student is priceless. Ray and the other profs know a lot of people in the industry and a ton of people have come through the Humber program. Humber definitely gives you great connections."

Contact Ray Chateau at ray.chateau@humber.ca to find out where Humber's Professional Golf Management program can take you.