Oakville, Ont. (Golf Canada) – CN and Golf Canada announced that CN is adopting 15 local schools from the Lambton Kent District and St Clair Catholic School Boards to deliver the game of golf to local students. Students from the schools took part in a one-day golf clinic on Friday June 6th at the Saw Mill Creek Golf Club, receiving lessons in putting, chipping and driving from a PGA of Canada golf professional. Today, the program is being officially launched at the annual Sarnia Kids Fun Fest.
Families participating in the Kids Fun Fest will be invited to participate in the CN Future Links skills competition and experience the game of golf through different activities. CN Police will also be on-site throughout the day to promote rail safety.
“CN is proud to support the future of the game and the well-being and safety of our children by introducing the next generation of golfers to the game,” said Claude Mongeau, CN president and chief executive officer. “We believe that Golf Canada’s vision to grow the sport aligns well with our corporate values to impact the health, wellness and safety of children in communities across Canada. “Golf and its inherent values are good for our children and we look forward to bringing Canada’s national junior golf program to communities across Canada.”
Today’s announcement is also the inauguration of the CN Future Links Community Tour. The program will consist of three community festivals each year, intended to share the health, wellness and safety values of golf. Each Tour stop will engage community youth and festival attendees in various golf activities including driving, chipping and putting as well as a CN Safety Zone to educate children on rail safety tips.
Each Tour stop will also feature CN Future Links junior golf instruction from PGA of Canada professionals as well as prize packs given away to participants. The Community Tour will travel in a converted shipping container that has been retro-fitted to transform into on-site golf activation.
The CN Future Links Community Tour kicked off Saturday, June 7th at the Kids Funfest Festival in Sarnia, Ont. The Community Tour will also visit Montreal as part of the 2014 RBC Canadian Open, July 21-26 at The Royal Montreal Golf Club and Saskatoon, Sask., from August 5-10 during the Saskatoon Exhibition.
CN has been a driving force in Canadian junior golf since becoming title sponsor CN Future Links in 2006.
“Youth golf has provided us a valuable platform to make a significant impact in the communities in which we operate. We are pleased to take an active role in helping Golf Canada and the PGA of Canada grow junior golf across the country,” said Mr. Mongeau.
Current CN Future Links programming includes the ‘Learn to Play’ program as well as mobile clinics, the Junior Skills Challenge, Junior Leagues, Girls Club and the CN Future Links Championships. As part of its investment in Canadian junior golf, CN is also a proud supporter of Golf in Schools. New programming as part of the investment in youth golf will include CN Future Links School Adoption Program and CN Future Links Field Trip Program. A full listing of programs and information for junior golfers, parents, instructors and facilities is available at www.cnfuturelinks.com.
In 2013, CN Future Links junior golf activities were conducted at 431 golf facilities with more than 7,000 juniors registered in the Learn to Play program. In addition, 160 golf facilities took part in the Junior Skills Challenge while more than 67,000 youngsters participated in more than 1,800 mobile golf clinics across the country.
Since 2006 more than 1 million children have been introduced to golf through the CN Future Links program.
For Golf Canada CEO Scott Simmons, The CN Future Links Community Tour reinforces CN’s commitment to share the health, wellness and safety values of golf to junior enthusiasts across Canada.
“I can’t say enough what it means to Canadian golf that CN has aligned their brand and their corporate values with Canada’s national junior golf program,” said Simmons. “Together with CN as well as our partners at the PGA of Canada and the provincial golf associations, the CN Future Links program is introducing children in communities across Canada to a sport they can enjoy for a lifetime.”