Connect with us

News

Seth Waugh Is Stepping Aside After 6 Years Leading The PGA Of America

Published

on

waugh

Seth Waugh is departing the PGA of America after six years as CEO, during which the organization experienced a significant increase in golf participation and membership and relocated its headquarters from Florida to a huge campus in Texas.

waugh

Seth Waugh | Athlon Image

Seth Waugh Is Stepping Aside After 6 Years Leading The PGA Of America

Waugh was CEO of Deutsche Bank Americas when he joined the PGA of America board as an independent director and was then appointed to head the 30,000-plus members in 2018.

Waugh’s contract was up for renewal on June 30, and he elected not to renew.

“It feels like the right time, personally and professionally,” Waugh told me. “We’ve accomplished a lot in the past six years. The game has never been in better condition. Participation is currently at an all-time high. It’s increasing in all the ways we expected.

“Women and people of color are the fastest growing demographics. We strive to make the game appear like the rest of the world, and the world will behave more like our game.

Waugh will remain with the PGA of America in a senior advisory role. He will attend the British Open and the Olympics in Paris, and he hopes to compete in the Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black next year.

The PGA of America announced that it has initiated a search for a CEO, including candidates from within and outside the association. Kerry Haigh, chief championships officer and key leader since 1989, will serve as temporary CEO but will not be a contender.

“We are grateful for Seth’s leadership and all that he accomplished for our members, our game, the business, and our people,” PGA of America President John Lindert stated. “He expertly guided us through extremely difficult circumstances and was always an excellent companion. We are fortunate to be able to rely on him for future advice and counsel.”

Waugh’s engagement in golf predates his tenure with the PGA of America. He was instrumental in bringing a PGA Tour event to the TPC Boston in 2003, with PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan serving as the inaugural tournament director of the Deutsche Bank Championship, and he has been a significant voice in business and golf throughout.

Seth Waugh | Golf Digest Image

Seth Waugh Is Stepping Aside After 6 Years Leading The PGA Of America 1

Seth Waugh Is Stepping Aside After 6 Years Leading The PGA Of America

“Seth’s voice on important issues has been steady and stellar as the golf world has gone through unprecedented change during his tenure,” Masters chairman Fred Ridley said.

One of his primary priorities as CEO was to encourage the professionals who spend long hours teaching the game. This includes a deferred compensation retirement plan for PGA of America members.

“It was the first time in 110 years that someone figured it out. “I used my experience to help with that,” Waugh explained. “But our membership satisfaction is at an all-time high.”

He stated that the average professional wage has topped $100,000 for the first time, and membership has surpassed 30,000, setting another landmark.

Waugh has been hinting since April that he was nearing the end. He signed up for a four-year term as CEO, comparing it to a college or presidential term, believing that would be ample time to effect change. He committed to two more years in 2022 after golf weathered the COVID-19 pandemic with increased participation.

The age of those playing stood out the most to Waugh.

“We’re not declaring victory by any means, but the greatest statistic is 48% of all golfers are under the age of 35,” he told me. “That’s generational development; people aged 25 to 75 are playing, as opposed to 65 to 75. It’s such a drastic difference.

“You realize this generation wants to do things with purpose, and golf has purpose,” he told me. “You are a teacher and coach with a goal to improve people’s lives. The whole reason I took this position was that I felt I’d never have the opportunity to have a greater impact on more people’s lives.”

He has no immediate intentions following his board work at the Olympics.

waugh `

Seth Waugh | Golf Magazine

Seth Waugh Is Stepping Aside After 6 Years Leading The PGA Of America

“I have often said that golf is one of the great engines of good on Earth,” according to him. “I am perhaps the most significant all-time beneficiary of that good, and I want to thank the membership, my colleagues, all of the various board members, past presidents, our extraordinary partners, my peers at all other golf bodies, and everyone who plays and loves our beautiful game for all of their support and friendship throughout this journey.

“What a gift that has been.”

SOURCE – (AP)

Continue Reading

News

Trudeau Rocks to Taylor Swift While Montreal Burns

Published

on

Trudeau, Montreal

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has come under fire yet again after a video surfaced on X, showing him dancing at a Taylor Swift performance while anti-Nato protestors ransacked downtown Montreal.

Trudeau attended Taylor Swift’s concert in Toronto on Friday night. Before Taylor Swift approached the stage, X shared a viral video of him dancing and singing along to the song “You Don’t Own Me.”

The image of Trudeau dancing amid violent protests in Montreal generated widespread indignation online. Some social media users even compared Trudeau to the ancient Roman dictator Nero, known for “fiddling while Rome burned.”

Don Stewart, a Member of Parliament (MP) representing part of Toronto, called out the prime minister in a post on X.

“Lawless protesters run roughshod over Montreal in violent protest. The Prime Minister dances,” Stewart wrote. “This is the Canada built by the Liberal government.”

“Bring back law and order, safe streets and communities in the Canada we once knew and loved,” the MP added.

On Saturday, the day after Taylor Swift’s concert, Trudeau condemned the anti-NATO protests, calling them “appalling.”

Anti-NATO activists set off smoke bombs and marched through Montreal’s streets waving Palestinian flags. According to the Montreal Gazette, rioters set fire to automobiles and battled with police.

Pro-Palestinian protests

Protesters also tossed tiny explosives and metal objects at officers. At one point, the mob torched an effigy of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Police used tear gas and batons to disperse the gathering, and three persons were arrested for attacking officers and impeding police operations.

Masked protesters were seen burning flares and bashing storefront windows in videos and photographs shared on social media. Pro-Palestinian protests have been taking place across Canada since the Israel-Gaza conflict began late last year.

Critics have lambasted Trudeau for doing nothing to stop the violent pro-Palestinian marches, with some claiming he has fueled anti-Israel sentiment in Canada.

On Friday, Trudeau stated that Canada would respect the orders of the International Criminal Court (ICC), which issued an arrest warrant for Mr Netanyahu, even if it meant arresting the Israeli prime leader on Canadian soil.

Related News:

Trudeau Called the Greatest Threat to NATO

Trudeau Called the Greatest Threat to NATO

 

Continue Reading

News

Calgary Zoo Admits Human Error in Death of Baby Gorilla

Published

on

Baby Gorilla, Calgary Zoo
The zookeeper's negligence caused the death of a 2-year-old baby gorilla

The Calgary Zoo has admitted in a public statement that a zookeeper’s negligence caused the death of a 2-year-old baby gorilla. Eyare, a newborn gorilla, died last week after being slammed in the head by a hydraulic door.

The accident occurred when a zoo worker attempted to separate Eyare from the rest of the gorilla tribe for a solitary training session.

The gorilla died from significant head injuries, according to the zoo’s statement.

“This tragedy has struck us all in the deepest way imaginable,” Colleen Baird, director of animal care at the Calgary Zoo, said during a news conference. “Eyare’s brief but meaningful existence gave so much joy to our community, and all will sorely miss her. We will do everything possible to prevent repeat accidents.”

According to Baird, the staff member involved was immediately removed from the workplace and will be reassigned to another area of the zoo. The Calgary Zoo stated that it would take preventive steps, such as specialist personnel training and animal behavioral training, to avoid a similar incident.

Calgary Zoo Questioned

It is not the first time an animal at the zoo has died from negligence at the Calgary Zoo. A capybara was accidentally crushed by a hydraulic door similar to the one that killed Eyare in 2019.

An otter died in 2016 after being entangled in an “unauthorized” pair of jeans that a zookeeper had dropped in its enclosure. In 2013, a penguin died in “a freak accident” after swallowing a stick.

Animal Justice, a Canadian group that promotes animal welfare, has called for an independent investigation of animal safety and oversight at the Alberta facility.

“The Calgary Zoo appears to have a higher rate of animal deaths compared to other zoos, and in light of Eyare’s death there should be a systematic review of the zoo’s operations and practices, conducted transparently by the government or another outside party,” according to Camille Labchuk, the executive director of Animal Justice.

The Calgary Zoo refuted that it has more animal deaths than other zoos, emphasizing that it adheres to operating requirements and has maintained accreditation by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ independent Accreditation Commission since 1978.

“We love and care for more than 4,000 animals representing over 100 species that call our zoo home,” stated a Calgary Zoo representative.

“Human error-related deaths in animals are quite infrequent. We have lost two animals in the last ten years: a North American river otter in 2016 and ‘Eyare’ this week.

While rare, even one human-caused death is too many. These unfortunate instances have served as vital learning experiences, prompting us to examine and tighten protocols to provide the greatest level of care.”

Baird said at the news conference that using hydraulic doors is “common practice with accredited zoos,” adding that the facility will consider switching to alternate doors to improve safety.

The Calgary Zoo, which established the Wilder Institute in 2021, caters to nearly 4,000 creatures, including six more western lowland gorillas.

Related News:

Beluga Whales Dies at Canada’s Marineland

Outrage Erupts After 17th Beluga Whale Dies at Canada’s Marineland

Continue Reading

News

Canada’s Lotto Max Jackpot Climbs to $80M

Published

on

lotto max, Canada

Lotto Max in Canada has reached $80 million for only the second time in Canadian lottery history. Friday’s draw sought a winner for a $75 million pool, but the top reward remained unclaimed as of Saturday, increasing the jackpot.

Only once did the jackpot reach $80 million in September, when it broke the previous record. Before that, the prize was $75 million, a record.

The Lotto Max prize maximum was boosted earlier this year, enabling for jackpots of more than $70 million. The cap is now at $80 million.
While a greater fee may encourage more people to play, the odds of winning the lottery remain extremely low.

According to the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation, the odds for a $5 ticket are around one in 33,294,800.

While there was no jackpot winner in Friday’s draw, someone did match six of the seven winning numbers, plus a bonus, earning them a payout of more than $320,000.

Lotto Max History

Lotto Max is one of three national lottery games in Canada, overseen by the Interprovincial Lottery Corporation. The game was introduced on September 19, 2009, and its inaugural draw occurred on September 25, 2009. It replaced Lotto Super 7.

The odds of winning the Lotto Max are 1 in 33,294,800. This is correct to a point but misleading.

Let’s have a look at the rules:

  1. Players choose 7 numbers out of 50
  2. Numbers cannot be repeated
  3. Numbers are automatically sorted into ascending order
  4. Each play buys 3 lines
  5. Each play costs $5

Seeing that players choose 7 out of 50 non-repeating numbers, the equation for the total number of possible combinations (this is different from permutations where the order in which the numbers appear is significant) when playing the Lotto Max is 50! / (7! x 43!)

Continue Reading

Trending