Looking back on Mike Carroll’s journey as the 110th president of Golf Canada
He may be Queen’s Counsel, but that doesn’t mean Mike Carroll can recognize a Prince.
Carroll, a Vancouver lawyer, has a long list of highlights from his recently completed one-year term as Golf Canada president. But he calls meeting Prince Andrew in rather unusual circumstances at last year’s Open Championship at Muirfield Golf Club in Scotland his “most amusing highlight.”
Carroll was representing Golf Canada at the Open Championship and he and his wife Anne were invited to one of the daily lunches the Royal & Ancient Golf Club puts on during the tournament.
The Carrolls were escorted to a table where there were already a few people seated, including a gentleman on Mike Carroll’s right. When Carroll introduced himself as Golf Canada president and a Vancouver resident, that person began to pepper him with questions about James Island, a privately owned island off Victoria where an exclusive Jack Nicklaus-designed course has been built.
“I was embarrassed because I had forgotten that the McCaw family owns the Nicklaus-built golf course on James Island,” Carroll says. “I told this guy that I wasn’t familiar with the course and in his British accent he said, ‘oh, you mean to tell me that you are the president of Golf Canada and you have no idea whether there is a golf course on James Island?. That is quite incredible.’”
Carroll let that rather rude remark slide and fortunately the conversation turned. At one point, Carroll’s seat-mate told him he had to “go back to Balmoral because my mother is having a function.”
Suddenly, it all clicked for Carroll, who chuckles as he recalls the conversation.
“I realized that Balmoral is Balmoral Castle in Scotland, which is the home of the Royal Family. Then it dawned on me. This was Prince Andrew, who by the way was a former captain of the R&A. We had a very nice chat for the next half-hour, Prince Andrew and I.”
The past year has been an exhilarating one for Golf Canada’s 110th president. Slow play may be one of the big issues facing the golf industry, but there has been nothing slow about the past 12 months for Carroll.
“My expectations were that it would be a busy year and my expectations were more than met,” he says. “It was very busy.”
As Golf Canada president, Carroll attended the four majors and watched Brandt Snedeker and Lydia Ko win the Canadian Men’s and Women’s Opens. He also attended a number of amateur championships throughout the country.
Jim Nelford’s induction into the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame at last summer’s RBC Canadian Open at Glen Abbey Golf Club was a particularly memorable night for Carroll.
“That was a personal highlight for me because I have been friendly with Jim and have known him for a long time.”
The presidency was a lot more than glad-handing at tournaments for Carroll, who practises law at the Vancouver firm of Davis & Co. and was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 1996. There was plenty of work to do and Carroll likes to think he helped move the needle in a couple of areas.
Under his guidance, the Golf Canada board continued its transition from an operational body to a policy board. Its job now is to set policy and then let Golf Canada staff follow up on its recommendations.
“In our board meetings this year we have continued to make really good progress, so that we are looking at what I would call the bigger picture items in golf, not the small stuff,” Carroll says. “An example of that would be what can we really do to get more kids playing golf?”
When he assumed the presidency at Golf Canada’s Annual General Meeting last February in Vancouver, Carroll talked about the need to get more children playing the game. He made that goal a priority over the past year.
He stressed the need for Golf Canada, in cooperation with the PGA of Canada and the National Golf Course Owners Association of Canada, to tackle this issue. Carroll strongly believes developing Canadian golf icons — “the next generation of Mike Weirs,” he calls them — is one of the ways to attract more young people to the game.
“The emergence of Graham DeLaet on the PGA TOUR is big and he is a very good ambassador for us and in particular for our young kids. He is really communicating with our national amateur teams. He tweets them and is sort of one of the guys. He takes a very active interest in how our young players are doing which is invaluable for us.”
At the amateur level, Carroll was encouraged by the fact four Canadians advanced to the Round of 32 at last summer’s U.S. Amateur Championship, with Corey Conners of Listowel, Ont., making it all the way to the semi-finals.
On the women’s side, Carroll notes the splendid play of 16-year-old Brooke Henderson of Smith Falls, Ont. Henderson, who has recently won several high-profile amateur events, is now ranked sixth in the world.
As for his own game, Carroll says it has suffered. The combination of his busy schedule and a fairly recent interest — some would say obsession — with cycling, has resulted in Carroll’s Handicap Factor rising to double digits.
He says his friends at Point Grey Golf Club, the Vancouver course where he is a long-time member, will be seeing much more of him this year.
“My golf has suffered as a result of my cycling,” Carroll says. “But I am absolutely determined that I am going to get back to playing more golf now that my stint with Golf Canada is coming to a close. And I have a goal which is basically to get back to a high single-digit handicap. It is a goal that is going to be difficult to accomplish given the current state of my game.”
Woods to skip match play championship in Arizona
JUPITER, Fla. (AP) — Tiger Woods is skipping the Match Play Championship in Arizona in two weeks.
Woods announced on his website Thursday that he wasn’t planning to compete in the first World Golf Championship. He says his plan was to attend the Sochi Olympics in Russia before his girlfriend and champion skier Lindsey Vonn got injured.
Instead, he will stay home and prepare for three tournaments in Florida. He’ll next play the Honda Classic on Feb. 27 followed by title defenses at Doral and Bay Hill.
This was the first time Woods has missed the Match Play Championship when healthy and the tournament was held in America.
This means the Match Play will be without three of the top players in the world -Woods, Phil Mickelson and Adam Scott.
Hughes looks ahead to his rookie season on the Web.com Tour
On Thursday, 2013 PGA TOUR Canada Player of the Year Mackenzie Hughes of Dundas, Ont. joined a conference call with reporters to discuss the upcoming Web.com Tour season and reflect back upon his successful 2013 season on PGA TOUR Canada.
The former Team Canada member posted four top-10 finishes and won the Cape Breton Celtic Classic presented by PC Financial in his first season as a professional. He led the PGA TOUR Canada Order of Merit, and will debut on the Web.com Tour next week at the Pacific Rubliales Colombia Championship presented by Claro.
Below are select quotes from the call with Mackenzie Hughes:
On his preparation for the upcoming Web.com Tour season: “I’ve been taking some time off to get fully prepared for the year. Since the PGA TOUR Canada season ended, I’ve played a few (NEC Series) PGA TOUR Latinoamérica events last fall to stay competitive, but I wanted to make sure I was rested and had a chance to take care of a few things off the course. I’m feeling relaxed and I’ve had a chance to work on my game and get ready for the upcoming year, and I’m really excited heading into next week.”
On reflecting on his PGA TOUR Canada season in 2013: “Even when you say it now, looking back and thinking about four top-10s and a win in my first season, it doesn’t seem real. To have the season that I did in my first year as a professional was a dream come true. I definitely set high goals for myself, but to have the season that I did was huge, especially after getting off to a slow start and missing the first few cuts. Starting off slow was definitely a mental test, but it helped me learn to grind it out and to get the most out of my game.”
On the experience of playing PGA TOUR Canada: “It definitely helped me a lot as a player. In the few PGA TOUR events that I have played, I thought it was really similar in terms of the setup, the fans and having galleries on the weekend, the leaderboards and things like that. It’s almost like a mini PGA TOUR. It was great for me to get out to places I’ve never been to before. I had never been to Victoria, I had never been to a few of the other places we played. That helped me a lot as a professional. And as far as the competition goes, any time you have access to the Web.com Tour, you’re going to get guys to come up and play. With the American guys coming up and some of the international players, the competition is really, really strong.”
On playing in his first major at the 2013 U.S. Open: “From the moment I qualified, it felt like the doors were opening. It seemed like something good was about to happen. Everything about the whole week I would do over and over again. I got to play some practice rounds with Lee Westwood and Brandt Snedeker, and later with Mike Weir, Adam Hadwin and David Hearn, and just picking up a few things from those guys helped a lot.”
On the announcement of the Nova Scotia Open on the Web.com Tour: “I think it’s great for us as players to see the game growing in Canada. I think it all goes back to Mike (Weir) winning the Masters in 2003, and now to see Graham (DeLaet), David (Hearn) and Brad (Fritsch) playing well on the PGA TOUR and guys like myself, Albin (Choi), Nick Taylor and Matt Hill coming up, I think the future’s very bright for the game here. The more opportunities we have to play here in Canada the better.”
Sandra Craig named Golf Canada’s Volunteer of the Year
Sandra Craig has devoted much of her adult life to the game of golf.
As the current president of Alberta Golf, Craig has been tirelessly volunteering across her home province for over a decade.
Known as ‘Sandy’ to many, Craig has been a vital component in Alberta Golf’s Sport Development and Championship portfolios. She has chaired both committees as well as many individual team events and tournaments.
Craig began her journey with the Alberta Golf family in 2001 and has been working diligently ever since. Over the last two years as president of the association, she has worked in transitioning Alberta Golf from an operational to a policy governance board. The new structure required full-time commitment and Craig was instrumental in making this happen.
Notably, Craig has chaired both the Sport Development and Championship committees, as well as many individual team events and tournaments.
She will be fondly remember at Alberta Golf for her continued leadership of the Alberta Open and for her role in raising over $100,000 for the Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation through that process.
This year marks the conclusion of her presidency but her legacy will be remembered for one of hard work, commitment, determination and more importantly for bestowing to the golf industry a modernized version of Alberta Golf that is ready to meet the future’s oncoming challenges.
The Volunteer of Year Award will be presented Saturday, February 8 at the closing dinner of Golf Canada’s Annual General meeting in London, Ont. This is the eighth year for the initiative which recognizes individuals in the golf community whose tireless efforts and dedication help to grow the game in Canada.
Here’s a look at Craig’s dedication to golf in Alberta over the past decade:
Alberta Golf Achievements
2001
Junior Zone 2&3 Captain and Board Member
E. Lynne Cox Memorial Jr. Golf Camp Chair
2002
Junior Zone 2&3 Captain and Board Member
Alberta Junior Ladies Championship Chairman
E. Lynne Cox Memorial Jr. Golf Camp Chair
Zones 2&3 Level 3 Future Links Development Camp
2003
Junior Ladies Committee Chair & Board Member
Senior Men’s Championship Chairman
Senior Ladies’ Championship Chairman
E. Lynne Cox Memorial Jr. Golf Camp Chair
Zones 2&3 Level 3 Future Links Development Camp
2004
Junior Ladies Committee Chair & Board Member
Junior Girls Championship and Team Trials Chairman
Zones 2&3 Level 3 Future Links Development Camp
2005
Zone 2 Member Services Captain & Board Member
Mid-Amateur Championship Chairman
Senior Ladies’ Championship Chairman
2006
Zone 2 Member Services Captain & Board Member
Ladies Amateur and Mid-Amateur Championship Chairman
Calgary and South Zone 4 Ball Championship Chairman
Bantam Championship Chairman
2007
Calgary Zone Director and Board Member
Senior Ladies` Championship Chairman
Jr Boys Qualifying Chairman
Bantam Championship Chairman
2008
Tournament Director and Board Member
Alberta Open Championship Chairman
Men`s Amateur Championship Chairman
Ladies` Amateur Championship Chairman
2009
Tournament Director and Board Member
Alberta Open Championship Chairman
Men`s Amateur Championship Chairman
Calgary and South Zone 4 Ball Championship Chairman
Junior Girls Championship and Team Trials Chairman
2010
Calgary Zone Director and Board Member
Alberta Open Championship Chairman
2011
Vice President of the Board
Led the transition from an operational to policy governance Board approach
Alberta Open Championship Chairman
Amateur Qualifying Chairman
Mid-Amateur Championship Chairman
Senior Ladies` Championship Chairman
2012
President and Chairman of the Board
Implemented the transition from an operational to policy governance Board approach
Alberta Open Championship Chairman
Standing Committee Member: Nominating Committee
2013
President and Chairman of the Board
Fine-tuned the transition from an operational to policy governance Board approach
Standing Committee Member: Human Resources and Compensation, Nominating Committees
Graeme McDowell makes a special return to Pebble Beach, this time with his father
PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. — Graeme McDowell twisted his back and swung a club to loosen his joints in the morning chill of February at Pebble Beach, a course that looked nothing like he remembered it.
“I was a little more warmed up the last time I played here,” he said.
The first fairway, once lined with thousands of fans, was empty on this day. The putting surfaces were emerald green. McDowell recalls them being closer to brown. That was the U.S. Open, his first major. This is the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-am.
For three years, McDowell had little incentive to return to the scene of his greatest individual feat.
“It’s not going to get any better than how it felt last time I was here,” McDowell said. “It was pretty tough to top the experience that weekend — the emotions, my dad, winning my first major championship. Doesn’t get any better than that. So I really wasn’t in a rush to come back.”
He found two good reasons to return, starting with the silver-haired man who joined him on the tee with a smile bigger than Stillwater Cove.
Kenny McDowell walked at least 108 holes the week of the 2010 U.S. Open, which included two practice rounds. McDowell’s father was on the 18th green after the final shot, embracing him as he said “You’re something, kid.”
They are partners this week, a treat for both of them.
“Being here brings it all back,” the father said. “Being able to play in the tournament, it’s a dream come true. I don’t think I’ll be able to do it justice, but I’ll be trying.”
Kenny McDowell has a handicap index of 12. He was never a great golfer, just a great father for an aspiring golfer. McDowell recalls his father organizing tournaments for the kids at Portrush, driving them across Ireland for competitions. He was involved in golf without knowing enough about the swing to meddle.
He talked about the long summer days when his son would sneak onto Portrush and play into the darkness.
“We used to have to go looking for him,” Kenny McDowell said. “My wife would say, ‘He could be playing golf at night.’ I said, ‘I’ll tell you exactly where they are.’ I would drive out to the car park. There’s a big bush at the back of 17 green and the next thing you’d hear is, ‘I’m coming out.”’
They played together in the Dunhill Links Championship, a European Tour event in Scotland modeled after Pebble Beach. It doesn’t attract the kind of crowds expected for Saturday for all the celebrities. The McDowells are playing with Jason Bohn and actor Chris O’Donnell. Right behind them will be two-time Pebble winner Dustin Johnson with Wayne Gretzky (his future father-in-law), and John Daly with Kid Rock. In front of them will be actor Lucas Black and Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith.
Peyton Manning was a late entry into the field, just a few days after a Super Bowl loss to Seattle. He played a practice round Wednesday with New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick, who will be playing with his own quarterback (Tom Brady) when the tournament starts Thursday.
Pebble Beach is serious business on Sunday, all about the celebrities on Saturday and plenty of fun leading up to that point.
For the McDowells, the week already got off to an ideal start.
They played San Francisco Golf Club, Cypress Point and Monterey Peninsula even before getting to Pebble Beach. There were memories on every hole, such as the shot into 8 feet on the par-3 fifth for his lone birdie of a brutal final round. Kenny McDowell couldn’t help but think of Dustin Johnson’s triple bogey as he walked up the second fairway.
“If that had been Graeme, I’d have been back in the bar,” he said.
The 18th was special, without being over the top. McDowell called it a “poignant moment,” though he didn’t want to get too wrapped up in the memory that he is defined by it.
“Emotionally, I don’t think that moment will be beaten in my career,” McDowell said. “But I’m not going to put Pebble up there on a pedestal and say, ‘That is the highlight of my career,’ because I want more. I want more Pebbles, I want more major championships, I want more things.
“So there’s a fine balance between getting too obsessed by it emotionally,” he said. “It’s fun to be out there and just reconnect a little bit with my thoughts and feelings that day.”
More than the ultimate Father-Son golf trip, McDowell has a big season ahead of him in a Ryder Cup year. He hasn’t played since the World Challenge two months ago. He typically starts his year at Riviera, a tough place to shake off the rust. Along with playing Pebble with his father, McDowell said it would be a good week to play without putting too much emphasis on results before heading into the meat of his season.
“At least by the end of the week, I’ll know where I’m at,” McDowell said.
Until then, he’ll have no trouble remembering where he is at Pebble Beach.
Registration open for Golf Canada’s 2014 championship season
Registration opens today for Golf Canada’s Amateur Championships, CN Future Links and Canadian Women’s Tour events.
Competitors looking to play in one of Golf Canada’s eight national amateur championships, six CN Future Links stops or three Canadian Women’s Tour events can view the championship schedule and register online by clicking here.
Canadian Women’s Tour returns for its 13th season
Golf Canada is pleased to announce the schedule for the 2014 Canadian Women’s Tour – Canada’s only women’s professional golf tour.
This season’s scheduled stops include May 12-14 at Morningstar Golf Club in Parksville, B.C., June 23-25 at Legends on the Niagara in Niagara Falls, Ont. and the Tour’s final stop set for early July in Alberta to be announced in the coming days.
New for 2014, the top five (previously the top 3) players on the Canadian Women’s Tour season-ending Order of Merit will be awarded direct entry into LPGA Stage 2 Qualifying.
In addition, the champion of each Canadian Women’s Tour stop will receive an exemption into the 2014 Canadian Pacific Women’s Open. As well, following the conclusion of play at the final Canadian Women’s Tour event, two (2) additional exemptions will be awarded to the top competitors, not otherwise exempt, on the 2014 Canadian Women’s Tour Order of Merit.
Groove Specifications for 2014 Golf Canada Championships
Golf Canada has determined our plans to implement the new groove specifications for our championships starting in 2014. The Rules Committee recently approved the following:
- Introduce the groove condition of competition for the 2014 Canadian Men’s Amateur and the 2014 Canadian Women’s Amateur. Note: this does not automatically include the qualifying events for these championships. Please refer to the conditions of competitions at your respective provincial amateur championships.
- Introduce the groove condition of competition at all other championships (national amateur championships, CN Future Links, and Canadian Women’s Tour events) beginning in 2016.
For more information on the groove specification: Groove FAQ for Golf Canada Championships
Corey Conners and Taylor Pendrith named to Ben Hogan Award Watch List
Thirty golfers have been named to the Ben Hogan Award Watch List including Canadians Corey Conners of Listowel, Ont. and Taylor Pendrith of Richmond Hill, Ont.
The Ben Hogan Award is the most prestigious award in men’s college golf and is presented annually to the top men’s NCAA Division I, II, III, NAIA or NJCAA college golfer taking into account all college and amateur competitions during a one-year period.
Both in their senior year at Kent State University, Conners and Pendrith have excelled on the collegiate and national level. Conners is currently the highest ranked Canadian amateur in the world at No. 22, while Pendrith sits at No. 28.
As the reigning Jones Cup champion, Conners was also semi-finalist at the U.S. Men’s Amateur championship and runner-up at the Canadian Men’s Amateur championship this summer. In NCAA action, he became the first back-to-back champion of the Gopher Invitational in 2013.
Pendrith, 22, captured the prestigious 2013 Porter Cup and also finished tied for second at the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship. This fall at Kent State, he finished runner-up at the Jack Nicklaus Invitational.
A list of 10 semifinalists, which could include individuals not on the current list, will be unveiled on Wednesday, April 16, 2014. On Wednesday, May 7, that group will be pared down to three finalists. The winner will be crowned at a black-tie banquet at Colonial Country Club on Sunday, May 18, prior to the start of the PGA TOUR’s Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial.
Notable past champions of the Ben Hogan Award include PGA TOUR stars, Hunter Mahan (2003), Bill Haas (2004), Ryan Moore (2005), Rickie Fowler (2008), Kyle Stanley (2009). The lone Canadian to win the award was the Web.com TOUR’s Nick Taylor (2004).
For the complete listing of the 30 players named to the Ben Hogan Award Watch List click here.
One-on-one with the 2014 Jones Cup Champion
Conners is no stranger to the big stage – he finished as a semi-finalist at last year’s U.S. Men’s Amateur, for one. Although that accomplishment alone is impressive, the 21-year-old was still yearning for that big win.
The National Team member calmly displays a strong amount of confidence both on and off the golf course. It’s not often you see him give a tiger-esque fist pump or the popular club twirl. It’s more likely the Kent State senior masks his emotions until the round is complete. Having that skillset is very valuable in high-pressure situations, which Conners found himself in when he relinquished a lead on Sunday to enter a playoff in one of the most prestigious amateur events in the world
GC: Tell us what was going through your head in the hours after the big win?
CC: Obviously it’s a pretty awesome feeling. It’s a very prestigious event and I am very excited to get the win and also looking forward to the rest of the season here at school. I have a lot of confidence moving forward.
GC: Would you say this is the biggest win of your career?
CC: I’ve had some pretty special moments on the golf course but to be able to win a big tournament like the Jones Cup is a really great feeling. It’s definitely at the top for me.
GC: Do you feel like you’ve been chasing this win for a while?
CC: You know what (he hesitates).. I’ve been very proud of how I have played in big events, going back to the U.S. Men’s Am in the summer. It’s never fun to lose in a spot like that but it never really bothered me too much.
GC: What happened on the 18th hole?
The 18th hole is so difficult – it’s a long par-5 into the wind on the final day. I played some great golf throughout the week so I tried to keep my composure and just stick to my game plan. I actually thought I had a two-shot lead so that tells you I wasn’t paying too much attention to the leaderboard.
GC: Was anyone caddying for you?
CC: No. I carried my own bag – I’m used to caddying for myself in collegiate events so it’s not a big deal for me. Also, I didn’t have anyone like Garrett (Rank) available (he said with a laugh). Rank, also a National Team member, caddied for Conners at the 2013 U.S. Men’s Amateur.
GC: What was your game plan for this course?
CC: Ocean Forest is so difficult, you can really make yourself look silly by putting yourself in the wrong position. I played the course last year so I already had some great notes in my yardage book. Walking the course with DI (Derek Ingram) was awesome, just really talked about the best places to leave the ball around the green. Basically put a lot of focus on putting the ball in the fairway off the tee and then making smart decisions from there.
GC: Who was the first person you called after the win?
First person I called was Derek – he was unable to stay the full day. After that, I called my girlfriend. My cell phone wasn’t actually working right after the tournament so I had a bunch of texts come in later on.
GC: What’s next for you?
I’m back at school now. We’ve just started our practices and basically going at it every day. Our first college event is the start of March so I’ve got a little bit of time to let it sink in and keep working hard to keep my game in top shape.
Men’s National Team Head Coach Derek Ingram weighs in on the big win
Men’s National Team Head Coach, Derek Ingram, was in Georgia assisting Conners at the event. He couldn’t be more excited for his student and the very bright future that is ahead of him.
“I’m so thrilled for him it’s one of the biggest amateur events in the world and this is one of the best wins we have ever had with the program” he said enthusiastically. “We got into a really nice routine where we would assess the round and study the greens – he’s very smart, you know. He has such a great golf IQ”.
He also went on to describe Conners’ mental game and how that helped in his win.
“He really managed his emotions and adrenaline level which also made a really big difference for him. It couldn’t have happened to a better guy”.
Crunching numbers: Final week to qualify for Accenture Match Play Championship
PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. – Even without the math associated with the Official World Golf Ranking, it might not be easy to determine which players get into the 64-man field for the Match Play Championship in Arizona at the end of the month.
The first World Golf Championship of the year is for the top 64 in the world ranking.
Phil Mickelson and Adam Scott already have confirmed they won’t be playing — Scott because of his poor record (especially at Dove Mountain), Mickelson because his children are on spring break that week. Tiger Woods also is unlikely to play, which would be the first time he missed Match Play when healthy and it was played in America.
There was talk that Justin Rose might miss that week, though that was before he injured his shoulder. Rose now is scheduled to make his 2014 debut next week at Riviera, and depending on how it goes, he is likely to play in Arizona to make up for lost time.
So the absentee list could include three or four players, meaning the magic number is either No. 67 or No. 68 — or deeper if anyone else withdraws. Scott Piercy, for example, has been dealing with an elbow injury. He’s at No. 65 in the world.
This is the final week to qualify for the Match Play, though players have until next Friday (Feb. 14) to officially commit.
So who’s on the bubble?
The only players competing this week are Richard Sterne (No. 64) in the Joburg Open, Kiradech Aphibarnrat (No. 66) at the Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, Bo Van Pelt (No. 73) at Pebble and D.A. Points (No. 75) at Pebble.
Brooks Koepka finished third in Dubai last week and moved to No. 68, one spot of Florida roommate Peter Uihlein. Neither is playing this week. Uihlein, a former U.S. Amateur champion, missed the cut in Dubai by one shot after his 3-wood to the par-5 18th in the second round caromed off the grandstands and back across the green into the water. That missed cut could end up costing him a spot in a WGC.
Four players worked their way into the top 64 by winning this year — Patrick Reed (Humana Challenge), Scott Stallings (Torrey Pines), Pablo Larrazabal (Abu Dhabi), Stephen Gallacher (Dubai) and Kevin Stadler (Phoenix). Mikko Ilonen also secured a spot by finishing second in Qatar and fifth in Dubai.
College juniors introduce Golf in Schools to elementary students
Students in their third year of Niagara College’s Business Administration-Professional Golf Management (Co-op) class recently welcomed Scott Simmons, Golf Canada’s Executive Director and CEO.
The students presented Simmons with a donation of $1,500 to Golf Canada in support of the National Golf in Schools program. The funds will be used to sponsor three schools in the Niagara region – Princess Margaret Elementary (Niagara Falls), St Francis Xavier (Stoney Creek) and Greendale Public School (Niagara Falls).
“On behalf of Golf Canada, I’m proud of the continued fundraising efforts of Niagara College students who understand the important link that Golf in Schools creates between the education and golf communities,” said Simmons. “The students and administrators with the Golf Management program understand the important of investing in grassroots golf – introducing the game to young golf enthusiasts who we hope will develop an interest and passion for our sport.”
Professor of the PGM program Grant Fraser continues to see the benefits of this initiative for both the community and his students.
“I believe that it is important for the golf community to support the Golf in Schools program. Our golf management students at Niagara College are part of that community,” said Fraser. “One of the key topics we discuss in our Event Management class is the importance of giving back and doing what we can to help grow the game of golf in the Niagara region. Supporting Golf Canada’s Golf in Schools program helps us do this.”
This was the third year that his students have supported the Golf in Schools program. In the past, they have adopted Fitch Street Public School, Fort Erie Secondary and Glen Ridge PS. The students have increased their fundraising total in each of the three years and hope to continue the streak in the future.
This year’s funds were raised through the students’ third-annual PGM Invitation Charity Golf Tournament which was held at Beechwood Golf and Country Club in Niagara Falls. Students sold raffle and 50/50 tickets and also held a silent auction to raise funds. Fundraising efforts will continue in 2014 when third-year students host the second annual industry showcase at the College’s Niagara-on-the-Lake Campus.
Golf in Schools introduces the game of golf to thousands of students in the country by integrating golf into school physical education programs. With 4.5 million students enrolled at 10,000 elementary and 4,500 high schools, the Canadian school physical education system is the single most concentrated opportunity to introduce children of all backgrounds to the sport of golf, according to Golf Canada.
To find out more about the Golf in Schools program click here.