Mark Ahrens: The pro’s pro

He has decided to retire from the KGC after 25 years

You’re likely familiar with the kind of comments that come from postgame news conferences or interviews on the red carpet, “He’s a quarterback’s quarterback” or “She’s an actor’s actor.”

I remember when former Saturday Night Live performer Norm Macdonald, who was revered by his fellow standup comics, passed away. They called him “the comedian’s comedian.” It’s the highest form of compliment about a profession. Because it is inferring that those who know the game, or the profession best, know what it takes to do it well, and they admire how you do it. They know how tough it is, and admire how effortless you make it seem.

Mark Ahrens is retiring as head professional at Kawartha Golf Club after 25 years. Mark is often described by insiders as “a pro’s pro.” When I first heard my friend, a golf industry veteran, call Mark that a few years ago I never forgot it. What a perfect way of describing not just the person he is, but how well he has done his job day in and day out, and why he is so admired within the PGA of Ontario. His colleagues, mentees and mentors know how good he is at all aspects of his profession. In every sense of the word, he’s a pro’s pro.

A pro’s pro never forgets the single most important thing he can do for a member or guest is make them feel special. My club and Mark’s club have a (mostly) healthy rivalry that spans 90-plus years. But one thing I would never want to deny members of KGC is the opportunity to have a head pro of Mark’s pedigree. Mark makes golf not only better on Clonsilla Avenue, he has made the game better and stronger in the entire region since he, Betty Anne and their boys first arrived here in the late 1990s.

I love watching Mark in action; he knows how special that first tee area is. The pro’s pro always treated it as his living room, making a point of welcoming people before they set out on their four-hour walk. He often hangs around and watches you hit your opening drive. That’s such a classy, considerate thing to do.

I can only imagine how many KGC competitive golfers have benefited from Mark’s practice of sending you a text on the morning of an important competition. A pro’s pro is keenly aware of where his members are playing, what tournaments they are at and what’s at stake. So you’re playing in a provincial championship in southwestern Ontario and you’re 16 years old and you get a text from your pro while you’re trying to keep your breakfast down. Or you’re in northern B.C. at a seniors tournament and Mark knows what you shot and makes you feel like making the cut is still in your wheelhouse.

KGC has always had a big, formidable group of great players, and it’s no wonder they deliver in the heat of battle when their pro’s pro is finding ways of connecting with them no matter where they are.

Let’s not forget that a pro’s pro can play. And play well. They are often sneaky good, and have a way of posting a low score no matter what the rest of their day at the office has been like.

This pro’s pro is a phenomenal putter, and someone you can never count out of a hole. From a lower handicap member’s perspective, there’s nothing more important than having a pro who loves to play, loves to compete and relishes the opportunity to take your money. Especially in North Carolina.

When we set out in our careers, we all hope and dream we will be really good at what we do, that we will be an inspiration to others in our chosen field and that we will truly make a lasting impact on those we’ve touched.

This pro’s ro had done all that and more. Well played Mark.

This pro’s pro is a phenomenal putter, and someone you can never count out of a hole