Golf Special Edition: good-father, good-commissioner role is what got Mike Whan worrying
Unlike most of the LPGA commissioners, if Mike Whan was interviewed last year many would be surprised to know that Whan wasn’t all that eager to accept his job.
According to Mike Whan, when he was called for the position of LPGA commissioner, he told the recruiter that the job was probably not the type of career path he would walk on. This declaration was bought into focus at the Grand Cypress Golf Club, when the
Media Day activities were decreasing in its intensity. The Media Day was held for the promotion of the new LPGA Tour Championship, which is due to be held at the Cypress Golf Club from the 2nd of December to the 5th of December.
Mike Whan accepted that he shouldn’t have cast his doubts too soon, but instant concerns regarding the job came into his mind when Jed Hughes first contacted him. This took place a year ago in South California, when Whan was working as a consultant. Prior
to his job as a consultant, he was the Owner of Itech Hockey, a small hockey equipment firm later acquired by a larger organization. The Executive Search Firm and Hughes on behalf of the LPGA contacted Whan for the post of LPGA Commissioner.
His post was confirmed by the Board of Directors of the LPGA on the 28th of October, last year.
After he approved for the position, Mike Whan tells that he prepared himself to handle the job as a challenge and like all challenges begin, Whan was on the job in a few moments with full enthusiasm. His job officially began on the 1st of January
2010.
Whan recalls that he had told the board that he didn’t think he would be able to meet the job requirements because of two things. One, he had promised his wife that they won’t be moving and travelling for quite some time and two, he was worried he won’t
be able to be fit in his role as a father after undertaking the commissioner’s job.
However, when Whan took the job in his hands, he focused on following the walk-the-talk approach for his children. The LPGA Commissioner believes that by him undertaking the position, he can act as a source of inspiration for his three sons. He believes
that in order to handle teenagers, the right thing to do is to give less talk and more tangible proof to watch. He wants his children to follow his passion, and this was a good opportunity to show his children what he means by that.
Since then he has been doing just that; his recent goal is marketing the LPGA Tour Championship as a homecoming event for LPGA staff, his family and of course the players. His staff will be experiencing his strong presence in the Orlando office since the
LPGA will be played here. Whan says that the current game feels much like a home game to him as Orlando is recently catering to 50 LPGA players.
Whan was only worried about juggling his time between his professional and personal life, but soon he learnt the tricks of the trade. He smoothly carried out his work obligations and in days of economic crisis such as these the LPGA is still managing to
add one or two tournaments for next 2011 to level or outdo the current year’s schedule. Whan’s commitment and passion speak for itself, and there aren’t many golfers that would doubt him in any way. Despite being the father he wanted to be, he is shining in
his place as an honoured LPGA Commissioner as well.
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