From Timmins to Punta Mita … a Canadian Golf Success Story
I had the opportunity recently to travel to Punta Mita, Mexico a new resort and golf haven about 45 minutes north of Puerta Vallarta.
Upon arrival, I was greeted by a group of resort staff, including a golf professional named Phillip Ferrari. With a name like Ferrari and a well tanned look, Phil could easily have been of Mexican descent — but then he began to speak, perfect English.
So my first question was, “Phil, your command of English is exceptional, where are you from? ”
He replied, with a large grin, “Norm, I’m Canadian and I’m from Timmins.”
So here I was in this paradise-like corner of Mexico and I’m standing face to face with the golf professional and he’s from Timmins, of all places.
Phil was born in 1972 which makes him a ‘young 37’, but he has years of experience and golf tales to tell.
“I guess I can say that I’ve golfed most of my life,” Ferrari says. “My dad was a golf professional in Timmins so it was easy for me to get involved in the game.”
Timmins has two golf courses, Spruce Needles and the Hollinger Golf Club. Both courses began as nine hole facilities and eventually evolved to 18 hole courses. Ferrari worked at both of them during his early days.
With an interest in geology, Ferrari headed off to Laurentian University in Sudbury where he graduated in 1995 with a degree in Science.
“I had my Science degree but I really had the itch to get into the golf business,” he says. “At the time the only program I was aware of was at Humber College in Etobicoke so I registered into theProfessional Golf Management program and moved to the Toronto area.”
It was at Humber that Phil met the well-known Canadian golf icon, Ben Kern. Kern was teaching at Humber and Ferrari says, “Kern had a tremendous influence on my golf life. Following my stint at Humber I worked with Ben at Devil’s Pulpit Golf Course, where Kern was the Head Professional, for 9 years. Three of those nine years, I was the Head Golf Professional.”
In October of 2005 Ferrari was approached by a friend about an opportunity to work within the Four Seasons Resort business and ended up accepting a position with Four Seasons, Exuma. Two years ago Ferrari, wife Deborah and dog Oliver transferred to the Four Seasons Punta Mita where he has settled into the perfect climate and the Mexican lifestyle at one of the world’s most prestigious golf destinations.
Phil shares a golden moment with Jack during the recent opening of the second 18
Ferrari is obviously very content with his Mexican surroundings, the weather, two great Nicklaus golf courses and a lifestyle that makes me envious.
“The Four Seasons is a great organization to work for,” he says. “They really care about people.”
“Do you have any aspirations to move back to Timmins,” I asked.
He just smiled and said, “I do visit my family when I can and I have them down here on occasion, but I don’t miss the cold and snow.”
To read more about Punta Mita and the infamous ‘Tale of the Whale’ visit destinationgolfmag.com and read the 2009 eZine.
Norm has been in the golf business for over a decade now and is the owner of GolfScene Media. Currently, he is the publisher of GolfScene Magazine and its sister travel publication destinationGOLF magazine.
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