Alan Howie

Head Professional

Fredericton Golf and Country Club

Fredericton, New Brunswick

A Pro’s Pro

All roads lead back home for New Brunswick native Alan Howie. In golfing vernacular, he’s what’s referred to as “a pro’s pro – a well respected member of the Canadian PGA since 1978. The head professional at Fredericton Golf Club for the past six years, Howie oversees the wants and needs of over 550 members and a staff of 18 (front and back shop employees).

Like most CPGA members, it’s been a circuitous route back to his home province. After taking an assistant’s job right out of high school at his hometown course, Moncton Golf Club, he quickly hopscotched around the country – working as an assistant at Royal Ottawa for five years, and then another five years at Point Grey Golf Club in Vancouver.

His career was further enhanced by learning the business under the tutelage of two CPGA legends – Tommy Mann at Royal Ottawa, and Wayne Vollmer at Point Grey. Both men were named president of the CPGA during Howie’s tenure with them, and he gained invaluable insights into how to become a first-class pro. “Both men were passionate about the game,” he says, “and they brought that passion to work. It set the tone at each club. They always said, ‘if you’re a pro, act like a pro.’”

That’s been Howie’s mantra ever since. Unlike many of the modern-day pros, Howie still owns his own pro shop. That means he’s a throwback to a bygone era when pros were also small businessmen.

Fredericton is a large club with over 33,000 rounds played per year. It has a large and active ladies’ membership, and, unlike other clubs in Canada, it has seen a recent surge in younger members. This is partly due to the fact that Fredericton is home to two universities, and many of the recent grads have joined the business world. While Howie has helped along the careers of many young pros, he has also, in a small way, helped the career of another former assistant, Brian Stewart. Stewart is the Atlantic region rep for TaylorMade adidas, the same company Howie has been a loyal staffer with since 1983.

In fact, Howie may be the longest serving staffer on the TaylorMade team. He began using the equipment when it made its TaylorMade Pittsburgh Persimmon driver. Today, he’s a big advocate of the new R9 driver, and loves the ability to adjust the club to fit it perfectly for members.

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