The following Policy is courtesy of the PGA of Canada, and applies to all members of the British Columbia Zone. For more information regarding the PGA of Canada Code of Professional Practice & Social Media Policy, please click here.

Online social networking and media sites are powerful tools that can benefit the PGA of Canada and its Members greatly, and without limiting our Members’ ability to utilize these valuable tools, online activities must be governed with a degree of care. The PGA of Canada encourages the use of social media including Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and other similar outlets as a way to interact and raise your profile.

As part of our Association’s Code of Professional Practice, it is essential to extend rules governing Member behaviour to these online social media networks, as by participating in and contributing to these sites as individuals, Members still bear the responsibility of appropriately representing the PGA of Canada as a membership organization and its values. It is essential that Members understand that utilizing social media to communicate with family, friends, fans and the general public leaves them open to scrutiny by the public and the media and may reflect on the PGA of Canada and the game of golf.

Purpose

The PGA of Canada has developed this Social Media Policy for the protection of its Members. Where possible the PGA of Canada has condensed this policy to provide a basic outline of guiding principles that you as a PGA of Canada Member should keep in mind and adhere to at all times when participating in social media activities.

Scope

This Social Media Policy attempts to cover all forms of social media including but not limited to;

• maintaining a profile page on one of the social or business networking sites (like LinkedIn and Facebook, etc.);
• actively engaging in live feed social media communication such as Twitter;
• producing online video content on YouTube or similar mass media sites;
• creating a blog or commenting on other people’s blogs for personal or business reasons;
• leaving product or service reviews on retailer sites, or customer review sites;
• taking part in online votes and polls; or
• participating in conversations on public and private web forums (message boards).

Most of these activities can be grouped together under the heading social media.

Anything you do online where you share information that might affect fellow PGA of Canada Members, work colleagues, clients, industry partners, sponsors, competitors, golf club members, Pro-Am partners and industry participants will hereafter be referred to as ‘the Scope’.

Guiding Principles

The web is not anonymous. Assume that everything you write can and will be traced back to the PGA of Canada as an Association, if not you personally.

1. There is no longer a clear boundary between your personal life and your work life
2. Do not lie, deliberately deceive or withhold the truth
3. The web contains a permanent record of our mistakes. We cannot try to change things retrospectively
4. Be honest, straightforward and respectful, and you will enjoy everything you do on the web.

Social Media Policy All Media

This policy is to be read in conjunction with other clauses in the PGA of Canada Code of Professional Practice. For the sake of clarity, whatever you do as a PGA of Canada Member online must:

• not interfere with your work commitments or the place you work. In the absence of a specific policy within the workplace of a PGA of Canada Member, this policy may apply as a complementary policy;
• not mention or link to libelous, defamatory or harassing content, even by way of example or illustration;
• not publish information that is confidential or proprietary to the PGA of Canada  or your workplace, affiliates, or clients;
• refrain from using offensive language; and
• do nothing to bring the PGA of Canada into disrepute.Furthermore, you may not represent that the PGA of Canada brand endorses or promotes any product or service, opinion, cause or position; and it must be abundantly clear to readers that all opinions are yours, and do not represent the views of the PGA of Canada .

PGA of Canada Member Blogs

• Posts must not contain or link to pornographic or indecent content
• Posts must not be defamatory in any way to either a fellow PGA of Canada Member (or any other person or company).
• The PGA of Canada has the right to request and ask for removal any such content that maybe deemed as contravening this policy
• All materials published or used must respect the copyright of third parties Personal Blogs, Social Networks, Forums, Micro blogs, Social Mews, etc.
• Anonymous or Pseudonymous—The PGA of Canada takes the position that a Member will write as though everyone knows who they are.  The PGA of Canada does not endorse a Member hiding behind anonymous or pseudonymous postings. A PGA of Canada Member shall not maintain anonymous accounts on social media sites for the purpose of accessing or commenting on other people or products relating to the PGA of Canada. Named Your profile when commenting on PGA of Canada related matters (as per the Scope) should include an explicit statement that you are a Member of the PGA of Canada , including the following minimum information: “I am a PGA of Canada Member”
• Friends & Connections—Use your own best judgment in deciding whether and how deeply to connect to fellow Members, clients, peers, supervisors, vendors and journalists on social networks. Connections to certain individuals or profiles that are represented may unwittingly cause harm to yourself and the PGA of Canada if not managed wisely.

Comments on Blogs, Forums, etc. by PGA of Canada Members

Anonymous—You must never post anonymous comments particularly as they relate to matters involving your status as a PGA of Canada Member and The Scope.

Pseudonymous—For various reasons, sometimes you may want to comment using a nickname. It is advised that any PGA of Canada Member should write as though the audience would still know who they were.

Named—Include an explicit statement that you are a PGA of Canada Member, as appropriate and when relevant. Consider carefully when something may be relevant. A comment on a friend’s blog or wall is still a comment in a public space. Be guided by the content of your comment, not the context.

A rule of thumb is “Don’t say something your mother wouldn’t approve of.”

The PGA of Canada Member and Live Feeds of Member Social Media Pages

The PGA of Canada utilizes a number of online communication tools in order to raise the profile of its Members, promote Members’ vocational and tournament activities, and assist them to engage with a number of stakeholders including the media, potential sponsors and the public.

Disciplinary Procedures

This Social Media Policy forms part of the PGA of Canada’s Code of Professional Practice.