Everything is going back to where it started for Doug Roxburgh.
As the four-time Canadian Amateur champion prepares to step down as director of high performance for Golf Canada at the end of the year, he does so with an eye on getting out and swinging the clubs more often.
“I think I only played 18 games or something this year,” Roxburgh said Friday from Vancouver. “I’m looking forward to just being able to practise a little more and work out and get myself back in a little better condition.
“Who knows where it will take me?”
Golf has already taken him to every corner of the globe – first as a player and more recently in his position as a top administrator with Golf Canada.
Roxburgh oversaw the creation of the country’s successful high-performance program for leading amateur players. It was essentially comprised of a couple golf camps when he took over in 1999 and has developed into a full-time player support system that assists with training, coaching, nutrition, physiotherapy and mental performance.
The 59-year-old feels good about the program he’s leaving behind. A key moment for him came when the Royal Canadian Golf Association and Canadian Ladies Golf Association merged in 2005, which not only brought female players into the high-performance program but also qualified it for funding from Sport Canada.
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“I think our program has really improved and taken off since then,” said Roxburgh. “I firmly believe that we’re one of the leading golf nations in the world with the planning and the programming and the coaching programs that we’ve done. I’ve always preached patience.
“It takes time to develop programs, but I think we’re on the right track.”
For evidence of success, he need look no further than the PGA Tour and LPGA Tour qualifying schools that start next week. Nine Canadian men and 12 Canadian women will be competing for full-time jobs on the top professional circuits in the world during those events.
“Pretty well all of them have either been through the system or played for Canada on an international team,” noted Roxburgh.
Ultimately, Roxburgh felt that it might be time for some new energy to be breathed into the program. With golf becoming an Olympic sport starting in 2016, there will be new demands placed on the player development system.
However, his shoes will be extremely difficult to fill.
“Doug Roxburgh has been an outstanding ambassador for Canada and a driving force behind high-performance golf in this country,” said Golf Canada executive director Scott Simmons. “His contributions to the game and leadership in the areas of long-term player development, junior competition and high performance have been simply outstanding.”
Roxburgh is already a member of the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame, British Columbia Sports Hall of Fame, British Columbia Golf Hall of Fame and Pacific Northwest Golf Association Hall of Fame.
In addition to the four Canadian Amateur titles, his playing resume includes 13 B.C. Amateur Championships and seven appearances at the world amateur team championship. He also won the national junior title in 1970.
Even though he hasn’t been able to play as many rounds as he would like in recent years, the longtime member of Vancouver’s Marine Drive Golf Club is still an excellent golfer.
“I’m a zero or one (handicap) on paper,” said Roxburgh. “Certainly it’s a different game. When I play with the young guys these days, I mean they just pound the ball so far. It’s crazy.
“I can still get around a reasonable length golf course in around par. I’ve shot under par a few times.”
Don’t be surprised if he’s doing it more often after getting a chance to focus on playing the sport again.
Roxburgh will relinquish his position with Golf Canada on Dec. 31 and become a consultant to the high-performance program. He also remains open to assisting in other areas as needed.
“It’s not as if I can shut the doors and walk away,” said Roxburgh. “Golf has been good to me. I’ve been around it a long time.”
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