Amateur Golf

With close to 4.5 million students attending 10,000 elementary and 4,600 high schools, the Canadian school system and the physical education curriculum is the single most concentrated opportunity to introduce children of all backgrounds to golf.

Presented by Callaway, the Golf in Schools elementary program launched in May 2009 and has quickly grown to include more than 1,750 schools – nearly 17% of elementary schools across Canada – and hundreds of thousands of students getting introduced to golf through the school system.

Developed by Physical and Health Education Canada (PHE Canada) in partnership with Golf Canada and the PGA of Canada, the program was designed for teachers to provide students with aspects of physical literacy using golf as the vehicle while also increasing student knowledge and appreciation for the sport. The program consists of a “best in class” learning resource as well as student friendly golf specific equipment.

Golf Canada and the PGA of Canada recently launched the Golf in Schools high school program. Also endorsed by PHE Canada, the program comes with high quality gymnasium safe Callaway equipment as well as a learning resource that helps physical education teachers plan and deliver quality learning experiences through golf.

The Golf in Schools program for grades 9-12 provides teachers the opportunity to enhance their in-school golf lesson plan with off-site activities at local golf facilities.

The lesson plans within the learning resource give teachers the option of teaching lessons indoors or outdoors, but numerous lessons give teachers the option of taking their students off-site to introduce them to the golfing environment. This field-trip component is a perfect way for students to work on their golf-specific skills and be exposed to the appropriate language and behaviours at a golfing facility.

The off-site component is basic in nature and does not necessarily require the use of the golf course directly.

Golf in Schools along with Canada’s National Junior Golf Program – CN Future Links – are programs designed for entry level for junior golf development. Golf Canada’s goal is to have all 14,600 schools across Canada running the Golf in Schools program (10,000 elementary schools and 4,600 high schools) while also having all 1,500 member clubs actively running CN Future Links as their junior program. Ideally, all students participating in the Golf in Schools program will make the transition or be linked to a golf facility in their community running CN Future Links.

Here is how you, as a Golf Canada member club, can get involved:

• Be aware and receptive to any calls from local high schools inquiring about your facility.
• Potentially assign a specific person at the facility to be the ‘Golf in Schools’ go-to person who would liaise with schools and be proactive wherever possible.
• Educate members and public customers of your involvement with the Golf in Schools program.
• Actively run CN Future Links junior golf programming.

Growing the game at the grassroots level is Golf Canada’s primary focus and we cannot do it without the support of the Golf Canada member facilities and PGA of Canada professionals across the country. Introducing golf through the school system and bridging a connection between youth in the classroom and the golf facility is an opportunity to increase the sustainability of our great sport.

To get involved with the National Golf in Schools program and to help connect you with local schools in your area, please contact:

Kelly Woloshyn
Coordinator, Golf In Schools
T 905.849.9700 / 800.263.0009 x475
kwoloshyn@golfcanada.ca

For more information on National Golf in Schools presented by Callaway visit: www.nationalgolfinschools.com

For more information on CN Future Links visit: www.cnfuturelinks.com