CEO Mike Kelly to leave Golf Ontario for position in Southern California
Uxbridge, ON – The Board of Directors of Golf Ontario (GO) today announced that current CEO Mike Kelly will be leaving the organization in March of 2023 to take on the role of Executive Director of the Southern California Golf Association.
Susan Vail, President of the Board, said, “This is a bittersweet announcement as we are very happy that Mike is taking another step in his impressive golf career and saddened by the loss of an outstanding leader who has been with the organization since 2006 and CEO since 2015.”
Over the past 16 years, Mike has created a culture of mutual respect, collaboration and innovation within Golf Ontario and the Ontario golf community. He successfully led the association toward a vision where all are welcome to participate, and those with competitive and performance aspirations are able to realize their full potential. His many accomplishments include developing the Golf in Schools program, launching the first ever Ontario Disabilities and Indigenous Championships and transforming how we work with member facilities through the Regional Support Strategy. Through his efforts and leadership, Mike’s legacy leaves a lasting impact on the over 100,000 Golf Ontario members across the province.
“I am truly heartened by where Golf Ontario sits right now, “said Mike. “In fact, it is the favourable state of our organization that has helped me make this difficult decision. To be sure, there will always be challenges, but I feel that Golf Ontario is now poised to enter an exciting period in its history. The staff is led by both a committed Board of Directors and a very solid executive leadership team. Golf Ontario’s programming, events, administration and management are all in good standing. I believe that now is the time to secure Golf Ontario’s future by making room for new leadership with a keen eye, a fresh vision and boundless energy.”
“Mike has developed and led a committed team, each of whom plays an integral role in the everyday running of our successful organization,” said Susan. “We will miss Mike, but he leaves Golf Ontario in a very strong position for future growth and we sincerely thank him for his vision, leadership and dedication to the game. Mike will continue to lead the organization for the next few months and he will assist the Board with the development of a transition plan including the search for a new CEO.”
ABOUT GOLF ONTARIO
Golf Ontario is Ontario’s Provincial Sport Organization focused on enhancing participation, elevating performance, and supporting the passion of golfers in Ontario. With over 100,000 individual members and 500 member clubs, Golf Ontario is one of the largest golf associations in the world. From rating courses and keeping the integral rules of the game intact to growing the game at the grassroots level and hosting the best amateur tournaments in Canada, Golf Ontario is a passionate group dedicated to Shaping Lives Through Golf.
