Golf Canada is pleased to honour Elmwood Golf and Country Club with the Future Links, driven by Acura Facility of the Year award for the 2016 season.
Elmwood, located in the Southern Saskatchewan town of Swift Current, earned the award for its outstanding success in delivering Future Links, driven by Acura—Canada’s junior golf program. Under the direction of head PGA of Canada professional Jeff Chambers, Elmwood excelled in delivering fundamental junior golf curriculum and values of golf through Future Links.
“We are very proud to acknowledge Elmwood Golf and Country Club for their dedication to junior golf and the youth of the Swift Current community,” stated Jeff Thompson, Golf Canada’s Chief Sport Officer. “The leading effort put forward by the facility staff is an accomplishment worth celebrating, and we are happy to honour their success in delivering junior golf in their community.”
Chambers’ Future Links program has seen numbers at Elmwood grow from 60 kids to a remarkable 340 participants per year in the last nine years through activities such as Junior Skills Challenge, Girls Club, Learn to Play, and Learn to Compete.
“I was ecstatic to hear the news that we were selected to receive Facility of the Year award,” said Chambers, who also won the PGA of Canada’s Junior Leader of the Year in 2010. “It’s because of Elmwood and its drive to provide junior golf opportunities that I was able to make a big impact in the sport. I’m so happy that Golf Canada recognizes golf clubs out there that are dedicated to youth programming.”
Chambers implemented several Get Linked initiatives to enhance the junior experience while expanding the facility’s connection to students in the community. He conducted a Future Links, driven by Acura Field Trip event, which connect local students to nearby golf clubs for introductory lessons. In addition, Chambers conducted 10 professional visitations to sites registered in the Future Links, driven by Acura Golf in Schools program, reaching over 1,080 additional juniors.
“Teaching the Golf in Schools program has been one of the most rewarding experiences for me as a golf professional,” said Chambers. “Our facility has also been a great supporter of outreach efforts by inviting every student to the club for additional learning experiences.”
Elmwood Golf and Country Club is the fourth Canadian golf club to receive the Future Links, driven by Acura Facility of the Year Award, which was introduced in 2013.
“On behalf of the PGA of Canada and its 3,700 members, I’d like to congratulate Jeff Chambers and his staff on the Future Links, driven by Acura Facility of the Year award,” said PGA of Canada CEO Gary Bernard. “It’s important for PGA of Canada members and Candidates for Membership like Jeff to be recognized for all their hard work in growing the game of golf in Canada through the Future Links program.”
Last year alone, Future Links junior golf activities were conducted at 536 golf facilities with more than 7,200 juniors registered in the Learn to Play program. In addition, 170 golf facilities took part in the Junior Skills Challenge while more than 64,000 youngsters participated in more than 1,200 Mobile golf clinics presented by Acura across the country. Since 2006, more than 1.3 million children have been introduced to golf through the Future Link, driven by Acura program.