Anne Rogerson is not only a PRO, she's also a dedicated golfer. Years away from home, an NCAA career and championships later, she shares her vision of the sport and several significant archival photographs.
We asked you to delve into your archives ;) Tell us about your life in golf.
When I was young, I was a junior member at Club de Golf Lachute. The pro’s two daughters were in the junior program, so we encouraged each other. There were five or six of us neighbourhood kids who’d often play 36 holes a day. I spent my summers on the golf course. I started competing in the district of Montréal and later at the provincial level. I was good enough to get a scholarship to study in the US. I spent five years at Florida International University in Miami playing on the NCAA circuit.
Then I went to Europe for a summer, and I loved it so much that I stayed in Germany and only came back 11 years later! I played on the Ladies European Tour (LET), which was the Women Professional Golfers’ European Tour back then.
In 1993, a young Swedish player burst onto the scene. I remember being on a practice green just watching her and seeing how good she was. She won six tournaments that year, and today she’s in the hall of fame. It was Annika Sörenstam, of course. Very quickly, I realized I needed a plan B! That’s when teaching became my passion.
In the LPGA, there’s the Tour you see on TV and there’s the LPGA Professionals, formerly the Teaching and Club Professionals (T&CP), membership. I started T&CP as an Apprentice and then moved up to the next level. There was a lot of training, so I traveled to Texas, Florida and California until I became a Class A member. I also joined the German PGA.
In December 2000, I decided to come back to Canada, and that’s when I joined the PGA of Canada. I worked at Summerlea Golf & Country Club for nine years, at Mirage Golf Club for six years and then at Club de Golf Le Blainvillier and Hillsdale Golf Club. I’ve been at Golf Le Champêtre for a year now. I’m also a member of the training and awards committees of the board of directors of PGA du Québec. Golf has taken me to so many different places, and my involvement has led me to so many incredible moments.
Tell us about being a woman in golf.
Of the 400 members in Québec, there are only about 20 women, but we’re working to change that. Promoting women’s golf at the professional and amateur levels and making it more accessible and more enjoyable is something I feel very strongly about. It’s not about the scorecard—it’s about fun!
Tell us about your most memorable round.
My father introduced me to golf, and we’d play together. One of my happiest moments was on an Easter Sunday. We were playing at Pinehurst No.2. with caddies. I’ll never forget it. He was my number one fan. He often joined me in Europe when I needed encouragement...or a caddie!
What does the power of golf and mentorship mean to you?
I’m fascinated by how players learn, and I like to ask people questions about what motivates them to play. Golf is an individual sport, but it also brings people together. You play the course with other people, and it’s intergenerational. It’s so interesting: every day is different, the conditions change. Even on the same green, every game is different. The landscapes, the environment… I've always had mentors. Before I turned pro in 1989, I met Joanne Hewson-Rees when I was working at Kanawaki Golf Shop one summer. She was an alpine skier who competed in the 1952 Oslo Olympics. She was a member at Kanawaki, and I’d play with her. She challenged me and wrote me letters full of advice—all of which I’ve kept! She had such an impact on my career.
Golf Le Champêtre is truly about redefining tradition. It’s an entirely different approach to golf. The new facilities, Monsieur L'Oiseau restaurant and terrace lounge—they bring people together and make you want to spend time there. I also love the team I’ve joined. The club is owned and run by women. Not many clubs can say that, and I really appreciate their drive to do things differently. I can’t wait for the new season!
