OAKVILLE, Ont. – The PGA of Canada, in partnership with Golf Canada and the Coaching Association of Canada, are pleased to introduce the Community Golf Coach supported by CN Future Links program, a community stream context within the National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP) designed strictly for junior golf volunteers.
The initiative is backed by extensive research into Canada’s volunteer training curriculums for sport across the country. Industry experts implemented the program to address the gap between PGA of Canada professionals and available volunteer support from family and friends.
In most sports, trained volunteers are core leaders in youth sport development and play key roles in running successful junior programming. PGA of Canada’s Technical Director, Glenn Cundari, is excited for the roll-out of the new content and how it can support the efforts of PGA of Canada professionals in communities from coast to coast.
“There are ideal candidates for this program right across the country,” said Cundari. “The fact of the matter is that there just aren’t enough PGA of Canada professionals to successfully engage all the kids who want to play golf, so that’s where the Community Golf Coach comes in. Our plan is to provide these volunteers with proper training and let them facilitate that first step into a lifetime of golf.”
Community Golf Coaches fall into the Community Stream of NCCP, geared towards instruction of juniors in the early development stages of golf’s recently released Long-Term Player Development Guide (LTPD).
“Volunteer support at the junior level is more often than not linked with successful, engaging junior programs,” said Jeff Thompson, Golf Canada’s Chief Sport Officer. “Our goal for this program is to strengthen support for PGA of Canada professionals in maintaining the focus towards creating a fun, welcoming atmosphere for youth—a key principle in long-term player development.”
Coaches will participate in a two-day workshop before gaining trained status within the NCCP. Each workshop encompasses everything from safety to basic instruction, including both in-class and outdoor components. Once training is complete, Community Golf Coaches will be equipped with the skills to deliver the full CN Future Links suite of junior golf programs.
“Supporting our employees’ volunteer work is a keystone of CN’s community outreach initiatives and thus this Community Golf Coach program is fully aligned with our core values of civic engagement and volunteerism,” said Claude Mongeau, CN President and Chief Executive Officer.
Workshops are open to junior coordinators, teachers, parents and anyone golf enthusiasts with a passion for the sport. Registration cost is $300, which includes lunch both days.
Workshops
- Jun 6–7, Nova Scotia, Oakfield Country Club
- Jun 6–7, Alberta, Golf Canada Calgary Centre
- Jun 13–14, Newfoundland, Clovelly Golf Club
- Jul 5–6, Québec, Le Boise
Click here to register.
Last year alone, CN Future Links junior golf activities were conducted at 455 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 56,000 youngsters participated in more than 1,200 mobile golf clinics across the country. Since 1996, more than 1 million children have been introduced to golf through the CN Future Links program.