During the PGA of Canada night at the PGA Merchandising Show in Orlando Florida, Michael Scurman was inducted into the Professional Golfers Association of Canada Hall of Fame. “It was breathtaking,” Schurman, said. “The whole thing has been absolutely overwhelming.”
The 73-year-old described the moment he received a phone call, finding out that the nominating committee reviewed his nomination and approved it, as, “it knocked me completely over.”
Schurman was nominated to be inducted into the hall of fame by long-time friend, Sam Young, a golf professional and owner of Shelburne Golf and Country Club. The two have known one another for at least 50 years.
Schurman became a Canadian Tour player in 1970, was the head professional at Sleepy Hollow Golf Course in Stouffville, between 1971-76, and at Credit Valley Golf Course in Mississauga, from 1976-88. Following his stint in Mississauga, Schurman spent time as the golf director at Board of Trade C.C. Golf Course in Woodbridge.
He founded the Ontario Blind Golfers and taught it for 20 years, and organized the first Blind Golfers ProAm in Canada; he created a golf oriented motivational speaking tour, speaking to more than 80 men’s service clubs; he mentored 26 assistant professionals to become head professionals of the PGA of Canada; he served on the founding committee of the first Professional Golf Management college education program; he authored more than 500 published golf industry articles; created the Reunion Match Play League for PGA of Ontario Members +60
years old; created the Reunion Fall Field day; he’s the creator and editor of the PGA of Ontario Reunion Review e-newsletter and is currently building the PGA of Ontario Hall of Fame.
Schurman has an ability to teach and get through to his students. Over the years, Schurman was able to attract, he estimates, more than 5,000 new golfers into the game through various teaching programs, including more than 3,000 juniors.
“Bringing people into the game ended up being what my strength was,” Schurman said.
Nowadays, Schurman either plays golf or practices every day during the summer. He has an indoor putting green for the winter, his own full-sized driving range on his property, where he practices, and he’s building a short length par 27 course as well.
Michael is also a columnist in each issue of Pro Shop Magazine and the golfindustrynetwork.ca web site sharing his thoughts and opinions on golf and the business of golf.
