Golf clubmaker receives
national, international awards
A New Minas businessman is basking in the reality that, for the next year anyway, he, is considered by his peers to be the very best at what he does.
When Dana Wong co-proprietor of The Village Golf Shop in New Minas, made his annual trip to the Golf Clubmakers Association (GCA) annual convention in Austin, Texas, last month, he already know he had been named Nova Scotia Clubmaker of the Year.
Little did Wong know that before the convention was over, he would add not only the distinction as Canada's best clubmaker, but the 2004-2005 GCA international Clubmaker of the Year award, as well.
"The GCA Clubmaker of the Year Award acknowledges the best clubmaker in the business, and is one of (our industry's) highest honours," Ken Brugh, vice president of Golfsmith International Inc., which founded the GCA back in 1980, said in a Nov. 2 news release. "This award recognizes Mr. Wong's ability, integrity and professionalism."
Wong was selected from among hundreds of nominations from around the world. A panel of company officials and other clubmaking experts reviewed all the applications and selected winners from each U.S. State, Canada province and European country.
Regional finalists were then chosen from northern, southern, eastern and western sections of the United States as well as Canada, Europe and all international venue to cover all over nominees. Wong was a winner at all three levels of competition.
Wong, who with his wife Pam has operated The Village Golf Shop for close to 10 years, first in Kentville and now in New Minas, has been an official certified clubmaker since 1998.
He now has his 'Class A' certification, and is trained as a Master Craftsman.
Wong acknowledged on Wednesday that he is "the first Canadian, and actually, the first non-American" to be selected GCA international Clubmaker of the Year since the award's inception in 1996.
He noted that any certified clubmaker is eligible for consideration for the award at its various levels. The actual nominations are made either by the GCA or by the manufacturing company.
Nominations are anonymous
"You're never actually told who nominated you, but what makes it special is that you've been nominated by your peers in the industry," Wong said.
He added, "I'd gotten a phone call before the conference, which we usually attend anyway, telling me I had been selected Nova Scotia Clubmaker of the Year." The other two awards, both of which were a total surprise, were presented during the conference.
"It's not something I've thought a lot about," he said. "It's just something that I do as part of my business. It's amazing to be recognized like this for something I enjoy doing."
Though he'd been to other conventions, and watched the award presented, Wong admitted that hearing his own name called "really caught me by surprise."
"They passed out the local awards, which I already knew I'd won," he said, "I was feeling what a great honour it was just to be on the stage with the rest of the nominees, and then they announced me as the Canadian winner. My legs were like rubber."
Then he was announced as the international winner as well, and was left "pretty much speechless. Over the years, you watch the winners being recognized, and you're really happy for them. I guess this was my year."
Wong found out later that what tipped the scales in his favour was his mission statement, "I will not jeopardize (the integrity of my business) to cut costs or assemble a club that is less than perfect when it leaves my shop.
"That was what I was told stood out above the rest," he said, "and what apparently clinched it for me."
He emphasized that the clubmaking industry "is always changing, and you have to work hard to stay on top of it. You attend these conferences and workshops to improve yourself." And though professional integrity is something he practices everyday and does as a matter of course, "it's pretty special to have your efforts recognized."
The Advertiser
by John DeCoste
Tueday, November 16, 2004
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