Niagara College’s Business Administration – Professional Golf Management (Co-op) program recently donated more than $1,400 to the National Golf in Schools program that will bring the program to the three elementary schools in St. Catharines this year: Memorial Public School, E.I. McCulley Public School and Burleigh Hill Public School.
Funds were raised at the fourth annual PGM Invitational Charity Golf Tournament held at the Beechwood Golf Club in October with students, faculty and alumni in attendance – more than 80 in total.
“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 Golf Canada CEO Scott Simmons. “The students and administrators with the Golf Management program understand the importance of investing in grassroots golf – introducing the game to young golf enthusiasts who we hope will develop an interest and passion for our sport.”
Over the past four years, students in Niagara College’s PGM program have raised more than $7,500 for the Golf in Schools program, which has resulted in Golf in Schools being introduced to nine schools in the Niagara region.
“I believe it is important for the golf community to support junior golf development and specifically the Golf in Schools program. Our golf management students are part of that community,” said Grant Fraser, program coordinator of the PGM program. “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 allows us to do this.”
“The opportunity to raise awareness and financial support for such a worthy cause as the Golf in Schools charity was humbling, and of great value not only to myself as our event chairperson, but for classmates and the Niagara PGM program as a whole,” said Kevin Kirkpatrick, third-year student of the College’s PGM program and chair of the Golf in Schools event. “We are honoured to follow in the footsteps of our predecessors, and continue this tradition and mutually beneficial relationship with Golf Canada and the local golf community as a whole, to support the continuity of the sport we all love at its very base – the junior level.”
The National Golf in Schools program, developed by Physical and Health Education Canada (PHE Canada) in partnership with Golf Canada and the PGA of Canada – 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.
NC’s Business Administration-Professional Golf Management (Co-op) is a three-year advanced diploma program that combines the excitement of golf with the challenge of business, preparing students for careers in all aspects of the industry.
Niagara College offers more than 100 diploma, bachelor degree and advanced level programs at campuses in Welland, Niagara-on-the-Lake, and Niagara Falls; as well as more than 600 credit, vocational and general interest Continuing Education courses. Areas of specialization include food and wine sciences, advanced technology, media, applied health and community safety, supported by unique learning enterprises in food, wine, beer, horticulture and esthetics. For more information visit www.niagaracollege.ca