Courtesy: Cory Kartusch
It is a tremendous honor to be able to present the PGA of Manitoba Distinguished
Service award to Mr. Jim Collins. It makes it even more special that his son, Glenn
Collins, could be here with us today to accept this award. I know you have many friends in this room, and I know they are all thrilled you are here. Glenn is joined by Jim’s family and friends, including his wife Lucette who often played with Jim at St. Charles.
I would like to share with you a little bit about one of the greatest golf professionals in
the history of the PGA of Canada.
I am sure that everyone who grew up playing golf in Manitoba or who had aspirations
in the golf business knew Jim Collins. Some of you in this room worked for Jim in the
past or played with him. On thing for sure, all of us in one way or another have been
impacted by his contributions to our profession. Simply put, Jim is a legend in
Manitoba and Canadian Golf history.
Jim’s legacy revolves around him being the longest tenured golf professional in St.
Charles’ history. Jim was and always will be St. Charles. His name and his influence will
always be associated with the club. He began his long tenure working in the pro shop as
a junior golfer, and in the process, he became one of the top junior golfers in Manitoba.
He played and practiced with the legendary George Knudson. He held his own finishing
runner up to him twice in the MB Junior championship.
In 1959 Jim moved east and became the assistant professional at Oakdale in Toronto.
He won the Ontario assistants championship in his time there and then returned to St.
Charles in 1961 to become the clubs Head Professional. From there, he served 37 years
to his retirement in 1997. Jim dedicated himself to St. Charles in all aspects of the
profession. A remarkable player, a true leader at the club and a mentor to his staff.
A few highlights from Jims’s career as a golf professional are:
- 3-time PGA of Manitoba Zone Champion
- PGA of Canada Club Professional Champion in 1980
- 5 Time PGA of Manitoba Seniors Champion
- PGA of Canada seniors’ championship in 1990
- 2 Time PGA of Canada Club Professional of the Year
- Served the PGA of Manitoba Board for 9 years, twice as president and served
the national Board for two years. - A member of the Manitoba Golf Hall of Fame and the PGA of Canada Hall of
Fame. - Shot his age countless times!
When I had the fortune to become the assistant professional at St. Charles in 2001, I
very quickly learned of Jim’s importance to the club and its members. The members
often commented on Jim’s influence on the club as a professional and a person. They
clearly expressed how much they adored him. I had never experienced a situation where
the club professional was so revered by the membership. Five years after Jim retired the
membership still referred to him as “Mr. Collins” and that remained for many years after.
As I got to know Jim it did not take long to figure out why.
He was the truest of gentlemen. He had an amazing way to make people feel welcome
and valued. He had an unbridled passion for the game. He was a true golf professional.
He played the game well and practiced most every day (10 shots with every club he
told me). He was a model professional in how he handled his business. His interactions
with the members were attentive and genuine. The members truly adored him.
Jim was mentor to many. His career as a whole was an important lesson for all golf
professionals. His tenure was no secret. He put the club first. He truly loved St. Charles
and shared that passion with the members. His decision making was always with St.
Charles and the club at the forefront of his mind. As a result, he was adored by the
membership and had a tenure of 37 years. His legacy remains in many areas of the club.
Of the many, Jim founded the St. Charles Invitational Pro Am and the trophy still bears
his name. It is the longest running community fundraising event in the history of Cancer
Care Manitoba. This event has reached $2.65 million dollars in donations in support of
Cancer Care in Manitoba and has no signs of slowing down. An astonishing impact on
the Manitoba community.
Jim was also a pros pro. Underneath is gentlemanly demeanor he was sneaky funny.
He knew when to make levity of a situation and clearly understood how the challenges
of being a club professional created humor opportunities for humor.
As we all know, Jim passed away on September 10th, 2024. I spoke to him two weeks
prior and I believe he had just finished shooting his age…again. I was so glad I bumped
into him that day.
Jim was an outstanding member of the PGA of Manitoba, the PGA of Canada and the
Winnipeg Community. He certainly deserves this recognition. I am pleased to call up
Glenn Collins to accept the PGA of Manitoba Distinguished Service Award for his father,
Mr. Jim Collins.