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Tom Greiner will, among other things, miss the commute to work.

The entrance road at Calgary Golf & Country Club weaves through the picturesque property, with pristine fairways out the windows on either side. You’re treated to a sneak preview of Holes 9 and 18, both dandy downhillers, and a view of a beautiful clubhouse that is backdropped by the Elbow River. 

In four decades on staff at Calgary Golf & Country Club, including 32 years as head professional, Greiner has done this drive thousands and thousands of times.

He announced several months ago that he would be retiring at the conclusion of this current season. Calgary Golf & Country Club, like many courses across Alberta, pulled the pins after the Thanksgiving long weekend.

“My first drive down to the club was with Al Ewen, my predecessor,” Greiner reminisced. “I’m pretty sure it was in January of 1985, or it may have been December of 1984, and the club had an opening for an assistant golf professional and they flew me out for an interview. I was living in Toronto at that time. So, I flew in the night before, stayed at a downtown hotel, and Al picked me up. Driving into the golf club, I remember that day like it was yesterday. It was one of those bluebird days, middle of winter, fresh snow on the ground, and we’re driving in and I’m thinking, ‘Oh boy, this place looks pretty special.’ ”

Think of all that has changed in golf since the mid-1980s — from the equipment, fashion and technology to the heroes that we’re emulating during our range sessions. But through that time, Greiner has remained a constant at Calgary Golf & Country Club. He’s been a familiar (and friendly) face for multiple generations of members and a role model for his peers. He was saluted as the PGA of Alberta’s Club Professional of the Year in 2018. 

Jeff MacGregor, the head pro at Glendale Golf & Country Club in Edmonton, described Greiner as “just a true professional” and somebody who has “set the standard within our business.”

“He’s been a mentor to many and a leader in our industry,” echoed John Wilson, a way-back-when junior member at Calgary Golf & Country Club — that was during Ewen’s tenure — and the head professional at Priddis Greens Golf & Country Club. “To have that tenure at a Club like that, it’s amazing. You’ve heard the story about him driving down that road on the first day and it’s snowing and that he knew that’s exactly where he wanted to be when he drove through those gates. And he stayed there for 40 years. It’s incredible.” 

Greiner was “immensely proud” to host the PGA of Alberta’s 2024 PING Club Professional Championship in late July, one of many dates on his summer schedule that left him feeling a bit nostalgic. “Even with every Club event, it’s like another chapter — ‘This is my last men’s member-guest, this is my last ladies’ member-guest, this is going to be my last club championship.’ You do think about that, and there’s some emotion that goes through you.”

Throughout his final season as a head professional, he’s been reflecting on his start in the sport. He didn’t grow up in a golfing family but vividly remembers an on-a-whim round at age 13, alongside a couple of buddies at a municipal layout in Burlington, Ont.

“From that first time, which really just instilled a love of the game, to end up like this, is pretty surreal,” added Greiner.

He has been asked often about his future plans and always starts with the appeal of squeezing in a few more rounds and experiencing Calgary’s next splendid summer at a different pace.

“I just want to simplify things, enjoy the city, enjoy my home, enjoy my backyard and be able to enjoy a summer not having my days laid out for me because I have this list of things that need to be accomplished at work,” he said.

He will, however, miss his commute. His initial observation, all those years ago, was spot-on — Calgary Golf & Country Club is a pretty special place. 

“One of my lines for many, many years has always been that I have the best head office in Calgary,” Greiner said. “I feel incredibly fortunate to have been able to call this home for so many years. Probably a lot of professionals would aspire to be the head professional at a top-tier private club in the country, and this certainly is one of those. So, for me to be able to be in the position that I’ve been for so many years, you know, I feel so lucky.

“I couldn’t have scripted it any better.”