Services

History of the Glencoe Pro Shop

by Tamara Wilton

What is a Pro Shop? When you look it up, its earliest use appears to have been in 1932, and it’s defined as “a shop… operated in connection with a golf or tennis club, resort, etc., (with) sports equipment and often recreational clothing for sale or rent…usually supervised by a resident professional coach or instructor.”

We know the Glencoe Pro Shop is so much more! I’ve been a member of the Pro Shop team for almost two years now. I recently set out to learn its history and as a result, had the pleasure of interviewing Jean Waring Folinsbee, Rick Simonton, Jim Powell, Jill Fuller Gibson, Jamie Paulson, Laurie Pow and Evelyn Wigham.

The first question I was hoping they could answer was “When did the Pro Shop open?” I was almost done writing the article when I found a puzzle piece for at least part of that question. Tamara Wilton Pro Shop Associate

58 glencoe.org I didn’t find a specific date, but I discovered it existed before the fire in 1962.

Thanks to Jean and Rick, I also found out that the Pro Shop was located by the original bowling alley across from the Junior Locker Rooms (in the Club today, that location would be in the west end of the current Badminton Lounge).

The Pro Shop was very small, basically a room with a counter. They sold badminton and tennis racquets. They also carried feather birds, tennis balls, white tops and bottoms. And they restrung racquets in the small space. “The popular badminton racquet to purchase at that time was the Slazenger Queen’s Racquet,” Jean said.

David Folinsbee, the Glencoe Tennis and Badminton Pro, owned the Pro Shop. He was also Editor of The Glencoe News. Jamie Paulson told me “David Folinsbee was the Badminton Pro before and after the fire. Immediately after the fire, he ran the Pro Shop in his house across the street. He would sell racquets, clothing and other supplies and would also string the members’ racquets there.”

Jamie Paulson and Jim Powell said the Pro Shop then moved into what is the current Badminton Office until the new location was built.

The earliest Pro Shop picture in the Glencoe archives is the opening of the new location in June 1963. The Sports Office was right beside the Pro Shop. David Folinsbee was named Sports Director in 1963 and Jim Powell joined the staff as the Assistant Badminton Professional.

There was a time when the Pro Shop stored members’ racquets, as there was a shortage of lockers. They must have had quite the organizing system to keep track of them, especially as everything was on paper!

Pro Shop staff were responsible for calculating bowling and curling scores and averages and they continued to produce the monthly Glencoe News. They sold squash, badminton and tennis racquets, tennis balls and whites. They also carried Slazenger feather birds. These shuttlecocks were lighter and made for Calgary’s altitude.

Jim Powell laughs as he recalls a lady saying the tennis balls were too expensive. She decided to have them purchased elsewhere and shipped to the Club. I can imagine the look on Jim’s face when she told him that.

Jim became the Badminton Professional in November 1964 and David Folinsbee became the Acting Manager, then the Secretary Manager in November 1965. The Pro Shop was now owned by The Glencoe Club and Jim was managing it, working on the Glencoe News

and coaching. Jim then became the Secretary Manager in 1973. I’m not sure who was managing The Pro Shop after Jim. Andy McWalter is mentioned in the history book as managing The Pro Shop, but the dates are unknown.

The Pro Shop really began to change when Jill Fuller Gibson was hired by Ray Brett, the Sports Director, in September 1980. She was the Assistant Tennis Pro at the time. She ran the Pro Shop and continued to teach junior and private lessons for a few more years. She hired Dale, who had already worked at the Club for five years, before moving on to become a sales rep. I believe she put much of her heart and soul into the Pro Shop. It was open from 9 am to 10 pm weekdays and 9 am to 7 pm weekends.

“We were stringing racquets in the shop, so there was always something to do,” said Jill. “The Pro Shop evolved over the years. With the member’s support and great staff, we (built) a store that catered to the sports activities in the Club and also (tried) clothing lines for men, women and children. Sales continually improved and we expanded lines. Jewelry was a terrific seller and occupied very little space. Beanie Babies were also a hit for a few years. Running was huge in the ‘80s and ‘90s and we sold an incredible number of shoes. Nike, Adidas and New Balance were big brands in the shop. Members supported the various fashion lines that we brought in: Mondi, Tommy Bahama, Susan Bristol and Descente, among many other brands.”

“We built relationships with the members. Often, they would just come in to say hello. I believe we were honest with opinions (about) how a member looked in an outfit…and we had a try-it-on-at-home policy. Members could bring back items anytime,” Jill said. “Prices were less than (at) other retail stores, which members appreciated. We special ordered clothing, shoes and racquets whenever the item was available from the manufacturer. Daniella, in Housekeeping did alterations for us, which was a bonus. We had great sales several times a year to thank the members for supporting us. Our goal was to offer exceptional personalized service to the members. Often, The Pro Shop was the only retail store they shopped in (women’s, men’s and children’s clothing were all available). We carried toys and gifts; it really was one-stop shopping! We had lots of fun and a great team who understood member service and who treated the members exceptionally.”

Around 2003, Jill felt buying and managing was too much, so she hired a buyer. They held a big sale one January in the squash courts. She said many of the members bought fashions at this sale to give to less fortunate people in Mexico. Jill was a big believer in donating and helping the local charities with fashions that the store couldn’t sell. She left the Pro Shop around 2008. I didn’t get a chance to interview the next managers after Jill. I would have loved to hear how they changed the Pro Shop. I'm not sure when the Pro Shop stopped stringing racquets, but 1982

1982

2001

they’re now strung at Racquet Central. They do a great job and their service is exceptional. The Pro Shop currently rents whites for men, women and children as well as racquets, but the date the rental program started is unknown.

When I began in the Pro Shop, we were in the middle of a new renovation, thanks to Barbie Jean, the current Pro Shop Manager. Everything was temporarily moved into the Skating Lounge. I remember feeling extremely overwhelmed at the time, trying to learn the till while helping members. My own life was chaotic, but something was causing me to stay and think of these days as an exciting challenge. The Glencoe staff, especially the Childcare staff, made me feel very welcome.

The newly-renovated Pro Shop opened on September 4, 2015. The Grand Opening was September 21. I was put in charge of decorating and was very excited for this day. I loved being in the Pro Shop at that time and I’m truly grateful for how you, the members, treated me.

The Pro Shop may have changed over the years and will likely continue to change, as new technology is launched and members’ needs evolve. We have a new team lead, Steve Dalgleish, as Michael McEachern has moved over to the Golf Shop. Barb, Alina, Sam and I make up the rest of our team.

The Pro Shop believes in exceptional service and we’re always open to suggestions regarding brands that you, the members, want to see. The Pro Shop and its people already have a special place in my heart and that’s why I created the Fashion & Style Blog on our website, so I could share all the knowledge I have. It’ll keep you informed on new products and give you an easy way to interact with the Pro Shop!

60 glencoe.org The current Pro Shop

The faces of our Pro Shop people might change but their values and commitment to exceptional service will remain the same.

I’d like to thank everyone who has made a difference at the Pro Shop: Jim Powell, David Folinsbee, Andy McWalter, Jill Fuller Gibson, Michael, Steve, Barbie, Barb, Alina, Sam, Sheila, Katie, Andrea, Annette, Karen, Maygen, Lila, Amber, Khadeeja, Karli, Mallory, Emma, Magdalena, Andrey, Mark-David, Elisa, Mackenzie, Anna, Amanda, Karen, Mckinley, Erin, Judy, Sydney, Lucie, Basmina, Mona, Ema, Lisa, Maureen, Rhonda, Margarethe and any past people that my research missed. A

STAY UP ON STYLE! Tamara's bi-weekly blog, Fashion & Style, is now live at glencoe.org, covering the latest fashions and Pro Shop offerings.

Relax this summer in comfort and style... with a new lineup of products, available for a limited time only, at the Pro Shop!

BEACH HOUSE SPORT SWIMWEAR

Show off your effortless style this summer with new Beach House swimwear, available for a limited time, at the Glencoe Pro Shop.

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The Glencoe Club Preschool Activities

After enjoying the Christmas holidays with our families, it was time to get the children active and learning again. Looking back to January and forward to June, here are some highlights of our program!

by Barbara Consul, Childcare & Preschool Director

Literacy and learning It’s the focus of the preschool program, both physically and cognitively. Literacy and learning assists children in developing early literacy skills. The Calgary Public Library visited the preschool program on January 18 and 26, 2017. Stories, books and learning experiences were shared.

How to ride a zamboni On January 24 and 25, 2017, the children in the preschool program got a close-up look at The Glencoe Club’s zamboni, demonstrated and operated by world-renowned ice specialist, Mark Jaworski. Mark toured the zamboni with the children, teaching them the amazing work it can do. Each child was given the opportunity to sit behind the steering wheel. Check out the smiles! Thank you, Mark, for sharing your expertise with the children.

Squash lessons The three and four-year-old preschool groups joined Club Professionals, David Duncalf and Susie King, for squash lessons in February and March, 2017. Each lesson, the children were divided into small groups and given a racquet. They soon became adept at keeping balloons in the air with their racquets and then the fun began! The children learned how to hit one, then two, then three balloons in the air, balance balls on their racquets, follow directions, take turns and cheer on each other’s efforts and accomplishments. A great time was had by all! Thank you, Susie and David, for teaching our children squash!

Bowling time After the squash lessons, the children enjoyed two mornings of bowling on Wednesday and Thursday, March 21 and 22. It was a unique learning experience with many gutter balls, even though the rails were up! The children loved it and we truly thank the volunteers who joined us each morning to help out.

And then some… In April, May and June, we continued our quest for knowledge and skills with interesting, educational experiences from: • Climbing Centre • Aquatics Department Swim Safety • Mad Science • Badminton • Mother’s Day Tea • Petland Pets • Spring Concert

On June 15 and 16, 2017, the inaugural year of The Glencoe Club Registered Preschool Program comes to an end. The success of the program was due to members’ confidence, support and participation. Parents committed to a 10-month program without even being able to see it first. Miss Mary-Ellen and Miss Anouk devoted themselves and their energy to making the program enjoyable and educational for the children enrolled with great success! For the 2017-18 Preschool term, both morning programs are full, with 24 children enrolled in each class. Space is available in the afternoon classes. If your children are active and eager to learn and play, they are welcome to join us in our preschool programs. A

Join The Glencoe Club Preschool Program for the 2017-18 preschool term.

Especially designed to facilitate the growth and development of children three to six years old.

Through participating in structured and unstructured activities in the playroom and throughout the sport and recreation areas of the Club, children will be exposed to school readiness concepts such as cutting, shape and colour recognition, social experiences with peers, swimming lessons and daily physical activities. Several off-site trips, special events and great experiences are planned for the year. To participate children must be three years old, fully toilet trained and have a completed registration form on file. Register in GameTime. A $100 non-refundable deposit is taken at the time of registration then credited to September Preschool fees. One month written notice is required to withdraw from the program.

For more information contact: Barbara Consul, Childcare & Preschool Director 403-287-4109 or e-mail childcare@glencoe.org

MORNING PRESCHOOL Programs are full. Waitlists are available.

AFTERNOON PRESCHOOL 3 & 4 Year Old - Tuesday & Thursdays, September 5, 2017 to June 14, 2018 1 - 3:15 pm, $170/month 4-6 Year Old Monday, Wednesday & Friday September 6 to June 14, 2018 1 -3:15 pm, $225/month

Preschool class of 2016/17 with teachers Mary-Ellen Bradley and Kirstin Lemahn.