When his ball supposedly moved in the long grass aside the 11th green of Massachusetts’ Worcester Country Club at the 1925 U.S. Open, well beyond the vision of everyone but the man standing over it, Bobby Jones called a one-stroke penalty on himself. Commended for his honesty, he famously retorted, “You might as well praise me for not breaking into banks. There is only one way to play this game.”

You don’t hear a lot of that in, say, football, soccer or hockey, or a myriad of other sports rife with cheating, abuse of officials and the unobstructed pursuit of winning—where bending the rules is considered more of an art than a breach of etiquette.

Golf is different. Its core values of honesty and integrity are — to the vast majority of its competitors — as natural a law as gravity; that’s one of the things that makes Golf in Schools a unique learning tool. Beyond the athletic elements incorporated in the program, Golf Canada is about to ingrain the morality and virtues of the game into a curriculum that reaches an estimated 306,000 students at 2,700 elementary and secondary schools nationwide.

“We partnered with the University of Ottawa to develop a life-skills, core-values component that will be integrated into Golf in Schools program this coming fall,” explains Jeff Thompson, Chief Sport Officer with Golf Canada. “I think that addition to the program will be a game-changer for us—something that goes beyond learning the simple skills of the sport. One of the umbrella pieces is sportsmanship—the ideas of honesty, integrity and perseverance. The learning experts are saying, ‘It’s not a case of sitting the kids in a circle and talking about honesty; it’s how you build it into the activity.’ That’s how you get kids to actually learn about it.”

Dr. Tanya Forneris is an associate professor in the School of Human Kinetics at the University of Ottawa, and one of the architects of the Golf in Schools enhancement.

“We don’t really look at athlete performance, it’s more about how we can make sport a context that really facilitates or enhances the development of youth, as opposed to being a negative experience that leads to dropout and burnout,” she explains.

“The point was also how to best design the program to enable coaches to help their athletes strive,” adds Forneris, whose expertise is in positive youth development and community programming through sports. “By integrating the skills of focus and perseverance into the Golf in Schools program and by intentionally having certain activities to practice these attributes—having teachers talk about them and show how they can be transferred to school or home—the student can employ these life skills not only to improve their results on a school assignment or test, but in all areas of life. Students come away from the program not just having developed some good golf skills, but also having the life skills to succeed in other domains.”

Dallas Desjardins, Regional Director with the National Golf Course Owners Association, has always stressed golf’s virtuous side—both at the Golf in Schools and club levels.

“It’s a logical direction for Golf in Schools because it follows from their CN Future Links Learn to Play program, which we run at the golf club,” says Desjardins. “Parents are amazed at the results of that program. They really appreciate the fact that current golf programming through Golf Canada teaches so much more than just golf skill. Participants learn relaxation and visualization skills, goal setting and etiquette, which is really proper behaviour in groups, and, of course, honesty and integrity.

“I am finding that after people get an introduction to golf and the parents hear about the programming, they really enter their kids (into the Learn to Golf program) more for the social development aspect than the golf development,” he adds. “I also hear every year what a blessing it has been and how much their child has opened up since entering in the program.”

Desjardins says that a lot of their discussions and topics are about the values that golf instills, and that’s actually how he markets the junior program.

“I don’t market it as come play golf, I market it as get your kid involved in golf so that they’re building relationships and are exposed in a social network so that they’re not stuck at a computer,” he explains.

South of the border, The First Tee, a youth development program founded and funded by multiple U.S. golf organizations, has been introducing golf and all its merits to elementary school phys-ed students through its National School Program since 2004. Its mission: “to impact the lives of young people by providing educational programs that build character, instill life-enhancing values and promote healthy choices through the game of golf.”

There are signs that the mission is working. According to The First Tee Impact Report, released in 2010, 73 per cent of participants reported high confidence in their ability to do well academically. Further, 82 per cent felt more confident in their social skills with peers, while 57 per cent credited The First Tee for their meeting and greeting skills.

There has also been an added administrative spinoff , with a full two-thirds of physical educators noting they have used the Nine Core Values (see sidebar) in other sports and activities they taught beyond the National School Program.

Alberta Golf Association Youth Development Manager Tyler McConachy is among those in the trenches looking forward to the added dimension of the curriculum.

“Golf is a unique game that allows you to put trust in other competitors and vice versa, and to create sportsmanship, honesty and integrity,” he says. “Growing up, you appreciate that the only person you’re cheating is yourself. This (addition to the curriculum) will give us a great opportunity to go back to the schools we’ve previously visited and go over things with them, including the rules of golf—what you should and shouldn’t do—similar to those elements already being employed in the CN Future Links Learn to Play program, where the pros spend time with each kid and show them the importance of keeping the correct score, being honest and helping fellow players if you see them struggling.

“These are the sorts of virtues that transcend all through life,” McConachy concludes. “It’s one of our objectives as instructors—not just to turn out good golfers, but good people.”

Uxbridge, Ontario – The Golf Association of Ontario (GAO) Board of Directors have appointed Mike Kelly as its next Executive Director, following a four month interim role.

“I am very pleased to announce Mike Kelly’s appointment as Executive Director of the GAO. Mike has been an integral part of the GAO for the last decade and has demonstrated a clear ability to lead this organization towards a prosperous future. His enthusiasm, work ethic, knowledge and creativity will enable the GAO to pursue our strategic plan that will serve golf in Ontario. I am very excited at the prospect of continuing to work with Michael,” stated GAO President Christian Osborne.

“It is a true honor and privilege to continue to serve the GAO as its next Executive Director, an opportunity which is very exciting for myself and my family,” said Kelly.

Kelly joined the GAO in 2006 after nine years with ClubLink Corporation and has served in a variety of roles, most recently as the Managing Director of Sport. During his tenure, he helped pioneer many initiatives across the province, including Golf in Schools, Team Ontario, National Junior Golf Development Centres and the World Junior Girls Golf Championship.

After receiving a golf scholarship to Union College in Kentucky, Kelly graduated from the Professional Golf Management program at Georgian College, where he received the Board of Governors Distinguished Alumni Award. A Class ‘A’ member of the PGA of Canada, Kelly is a two-time Zone and National Award winner.

“I’m very lucky to be surrounded by an incredible team at the GAO and look forward to meeting our many opportunities and challenges head on as we collectively work to build golf in every corner of the Province,” added Kelly.

For more information on the Golf Association of Ontario, visit www.gao.ca.

OAKVILLE, Ont. – Golf Canada is pleased to announce the athletes who have been selected to represent Team Canada as part of the 2016 National Amateur Squad and Development Squad.

In all, ten athletes comprise Team Canada’s National Amateur Squad including five players on the men’s team and five on the women’s. The National Development Squad, primarily a U19 program, will also feature 10 players (five men and five women).

Returning to the men’s Amateur Squad is 2015 Gary Cowan Award (low amateur at the RBC Canadian Open) winner Blair Hamilton, 22, of Burlington, Ont. Hamilton enters his senior year at the University of Houston on the heels of a strong junior year that included two collegiate victories and six other top-20 finishes. He finished T17 at the 2015 Canadian Men’s Amateur and currently boasts Canada’s top-amateur ranking at No. 104 in the World Amateur Golf Rankings (WAGR). This will be his second year on the Amateur Squad and his third in total with Team Canada (Development Squad in 2012).

Joining the team for his first official season is reining B.C. Amateur champion Jared du Toit of Kimberley, B.C. The 20-year-old currently sits as the team’s second-ranked amateur at No. 122 in the WAGR. He played his first two seasons at the University of Idaho before transferring to Arizona State this year for his junior season. During his time at Idaho, du Toit recorded eight top-10 finishes including a win at the Wyoming University Southern to go along with winning Freshman of the Year honours for the Western Athletic Conference.

After a two-year hiatus, Eric Banks of Truro, N.S., makes his return to Team Canada following a summer that featured top-25 finishes at the Northeast Amateur, Canadian Amateur and Monroe Invitational. Banks is also a former Nova Scotia Men’s Amateur champion (2011) and two-time Nova Scotia Junior Boys champion. He enters his fourth year with Team Canada after graduating from the University of Florida where he won the David Toms award—given to the collegiate golfer who most overcomes adversity. Banks, 22, recovered from successful open-heart surgery in June of 2012 that repaired a hole in his heart.

Also returning to Team Canada after a hiatus is Mont-Saint-Hilaire, Que., native Hugo Bernard. The 20-year-old was runner-up at the 2015 Canadian Amateur and also earned top-five finishes provincially at the Alexander of Tunis, Duke of Kent and the Quebec Men’s Amateur. He captured the Quebec Men’s Amateur title in 2013 as well as the 2012 Quebec Junior Boys championship.

Rounding out the men’s team is Purdue University senior and Vancouver native Stuart Macdonald. The 20-year-old finished runner-up at the 2015 B.C. Amateur, tallied two top-10 finishes in his junior season and finished tied for 13^th at the 2015 Canadian Amateur.

On the women’s side, the Amateur Squad is headlined by returning member and dual-citizen Maddie Szeryk who’s 2015 season includes a victory at the Ontario Women’s Amateur and T6 finish at the Canadian Women’s Amateur. In her freshman season at Texas A&M, Szeryk was named to the All-South Eastern Conference team in addition to winning Freshman of the Year honours for the conference thanks to nine top-10 finishes in 12 tournaments played. The 19-year old currently sits as Canada’s top-ranked female on the WAGR at No. 38.

Joining Team Canada is rookie Josée Doyon of St-Georges-de-Beauce, Que. Doyon is coming off a remarkable season that featured a win at the Quebec Women’s Amateur in addition to three collegiate victories for the Kent State Golden Flashes. The 22-year-old’s junior season earned her Mid-American Conference Golfer of the Year honours. Now in her senior year, Doyon currently sits at No. 61 on the WAGR.

Rounding out the women’s team are a trio of graduates from last season’s Development Squad including 18-year-old Naomi Ko of Victoria, B.C., who enters her fourth year with Team Canada and first as a member of the N.C. State Wolfpack. In 2015 she finished fifth at the B.C. Women’s Amateur, tied for second at the Ontario Women’s Amateur, third at the Canadian Junior Girls and tied for 24^th at the Canadian Women’s Amateur.

Calgary’s Jaclyn Lee, 18, heads into her third year with Team Canada and her freshman season at Ohio State. The 18-year old finished tied for seventh at the B.C. Women’s Amateur, third at the Alberta Ladies Amateur and 16^th at the Canadian Women’s Amateur. In 2014, Lee captured both the Alberta Ladies Amateur and Junior Girls titles.

Michelle Kim, an 18-year-old Surrey, B.C., native, moves up to the Amateur Squad after one season the Development Squad. Currently in her freshman year with University of Idaho, Kim won both the 2015 B.C. Women’s Amateur and Junior Girls, while adding a victory at the Canadian Junior Girls and a tie for 38^th at the Canadian Women’s Amateur.

“This is always an exciting time of year as we welcome the next group of young men and women selected as members of Team Canada,” said Jeff Thompson, Golf Canada’s Chief Sport Officer. “Supporting, developing and nurturing Canada’s future stars remains to be at the core of our primary objectives. We are committed to investing in high performance talent through elite coaching, training, sport science and preparation.”

The following athletes have been selected to Team Canada’s 2016 Amateur Squad:

WOMEN’S NATIONAL AMATEUR SQUAD

• Maddie Szeryk, Allen, Texas (19)
• Josée Doyon, St-Georges-de-Beauce, Que. (22)
• Michelle Kim, Surrey, B.C. (18)
• Naomi Ko, Victoria, B.C. (18)
• Jaclyn Lee, Calgary, Alta. (18)

MEN’S NATIONAL AMATEUR SQUAD

• Blair Hamilton, Burlington, Ont. (22)
• Jared du Toit, Kimberley, B.C. (20)
• Eric Banks, Truro, N.S. (22)
• Stuart Macdonald, Vancouver, B.C. (20)
• Hugo Bernard, Mont-Saint-Hilaire, Que. (20)

Complete National Amateur Squad bios can be found here.

As part of the National Amateur Team Program, Golf Canada also named the 19-and-under Development Squad that includes five female and five male athletes. The Development Squad is designed to help facilitate the continued development of Canada’s top young talents.

The following athletes have been selected to Team Canada’s 2016 Development Squad:

WOMEN’S DEVELOPMENT SQUAD

• Grace St-Germain, Ottawa, Ont. (17)
• Hannah Lee, Surrey, B.C. (15)
• Tiffany Kong, Vancouver, B.C. (14)
• Kathrine Chan, Richmond, B.C. (15)
• Chloe Currie, Mississauga, Ont. (15)

MEN’S DEVELOPMENT SQUAD

• Tony Gil, Vaughan, Ont. (17)
• A.J. Ewart, Coquitlam, B.C. (16)
• Thomas ‘Jack’ Simpson, Aurora, Ont. (17)
• Alexander Smith, Calgary, Alta. (17)
• Charles-Éric Bélanger, Québec, Que. (16)

Complete Development Squad player bios can be found here.

Golf Canada also announced the 2016 Team Canada coaching staff with Derek Ingram returning as Men’s Squad Head Coach, supported by Robert Ratcliffe who will also head up the Development Squad. On the women’s side, Tristan Mullally returns as Women’s Squad Head Coach and will receive support from Ann Carroll, who will oversee the Women’s Development Squad specifically. All coaches are all class “A” professionals with the PGA of Canada.

The athletes named to the 2016 National Amateur and Development Squads are a product of a circle of support that includes personal coaches, parents and high performance activities conducted by the respective provincial golf associations.

The 2016 Young Pro Squad team selection is expected mid-November.

What exactly does a Community Golf Coach look like—Parent? Teacher? Coach? Volunteer? Golfer?

How about all of the above.

“Community Golf Coach is really great for people who are volunteers at a golf club, teachers and folks who are really just into helping out junior golf in Canada,” said Amanda Minchin, head professional at Estevan Woodland Golf Club in Saskatchewan.

Re-launched earlier this year, Community Golf Coach is 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.

The end goal for Community Golf Coach is simple: 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.

“We were very excited about involving new Community Golf Coaches into our junior camps,” said Whistler Golf Club’s head professional Duncan Savage. “The more bodies we have on site, the better I’ll feel about all the kids being in a safe environment and getting instruction that is credible.”

About 50 Community Golf Coaches from around the country have been trained since the context launched this past spring.

A high school teacher in B.C., Tim Frechette was one of the first people trained as a Community Golf Coach back in April. For nearly 20 years Frechette has been coordinating the golf program at his high school (which includes instruction by two PGA of Canada professionals) and says the skills he’s picked up as a trained Community Golf Coach will help out this program.

“Our program has kids of varying abilities from raw beginners to single digit players,” Frechette said. “Being able to create different tasks for different kids and learning how to give different feedback to those kids has helped us in our program.”

Becoming a Community Golf Coach incorporates the following: Self Reflection as a Community Golf Coach; CN Future Link Programming; Growth and Development; Teaching and Learning; Safety and Risk Management; Golf Equipment; Technical; Values; Rules and Etiquette; Ethical Coaching; Activity Design; Session Planning Activity; and Session Implementation.

South Muskoka Curling and Golf Club has been utilizing a Community Golf Coach to great success for much of the season. The club’s head golf professional Bruce Rogerson says he believes it has worked so well at his club for a number of reasons.

“I really can’t stress it enough—having a Community Golf Coach here all year has been such a positive for our program,” Rogerson said. “Our Community Golf Coach has been very active with our junior league, as a liaison between the pro staff and the members, and ultimately has freed up time for our assistant professionals to do more instruction.”

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Click here to register for Community Golf Coach workshops conducted by the PGA of Canada.

The Camosun Chargers men’s team and the Humber Hawks women’s squad have been crowned champions of Canadian collegiate golf.

The Chargers and the Hawks emerged victorious following Friday’s third and final round at the PING CCAA Golf National Championships, hosted by the University of the Fraser Valley Cascades at Chilliwack Golf Club.

The Chargers overhauled the Niagara Knights in the final round to earn the men’s team championship for the first time since 2000, when they won the inaugural CCAA tourney. The Knights took a three-stroke lead into the day, but top-ranked Camosun made a charge on the back nine to win by eight.

The Chargers – comprised of Brady Stead, Jeff Riches, Mac Keats, Grant Maskiewich and Matt Matheson – totalled 860 strokes as a team over three rounds. Niagara took silver with a cumulative score of 868.

The best team score of the day was posted by the host UFV Cascades, who combined for a two-under 286 to rally for the bronze medal. They began the day in seventh place, but ended up edging the Georgian Grizzlies by a stroke, 873 to 874.

Humber earned the program’s fourth CCAA women’s title, moving into a tie for most all-time with Champlain St. Lawrence. The team of Sonia Nagindas, Michaela DiMarcantonio and Sheila McKeen amassed 473 cumulative strokes, good for an eight-stroke margin over the runner-up UBC Okanagan Heat (481). The Georgian Grizzlies (491) took bronze.

In the men’s individual event, Étienne Papineau of the Champlain St. Lawrence Lions clawed his way to the top of a crowded leaderboard on the back nine. The Team Canada development squad member came into the day two strokes back of second-round leader Stephen Brown of the Lambton Lions, and he trailed Matt Lemay of the Georgian Grizzlies by two strokes with three holes to play.

But Lemay double-bogeyed both 16 and 17, leaving the door open for Papineau, who birdied 16 to get to -10 for the tournament. Brown (-8) won silver, while Lemay (-7) took bronze.

The women’s individual race was less dramatic – Carolyn Lee of UBC Okanagan took a five-stroke lead into the final round, and she pulled away from the field on Friday to win by eight. The All-Canadian finished at +13 for the tournament. Katie Griffiths (+21) of the Red Deer Queens earned silver, while Humber’s Nagindas (+22) took bronze.

This week marked the first time UFV had hosted the PING CCAA Golf National Championships. Next year’s tournament will be held at Holland College in Charlottetown, PEI.

• Tournament website
• Photos
• Results

TRINITY, Tex. – The United States carded a final-round 131 on Wednesday to edge out Mexico by one stroke and win the Spirit International title at the Whispering Pines Golf Club.

Collectively, the Americans posted a combined 394 (-38) through 54 holes while the Mexicans came in just shy at 395 (-37).

On the men’s side, the Americans were led by Philip Barbaree of Shreveport, La., who tallied 18 birdies to enter a playoff and go on to win the gold medal and an exemption into the PGA TOUR’s Crowne Plaza Invitational. His teammate, Will Zalatoris of Plano, Tex., was no slouch either. The sophomore at Wake Forest posted nine birdies and two eagles to boost the Americans to a first place finish in the men’s division.

On the women’s side, the American duo of Mariel Galdiano and Hannah O’Sullivan combined to post a 202 though three rounds—good for a tie for seventh. The Mexicans took home the women’s division, shooting 21-under for a four-stroke victory. They were led by Maria Fassi, who posted 17 birdies and one eagle to earn the gold medal and an exemption into the LPGA Tour’s Volunteers of America North Texas Shootout.

The Canadian foursome of Hugo Bernard (Mont-St-Hilaire, Que.), Eric Banks (Truro, N.S.), Maddie Szeryk (dual-citizen) and Grace St-Germain (Ottawa) turned their fortunes around on Wednesday, carding a team-best 13-under to total 411 (-21) and climb the leaderboard to tie for thirteenth.

Individually, Maddie Szeryk notched 10 birdies, St-Germain two, Eric Banks nine (plus an eagle) and Bernard with nine (also with an eagle).

Click here for full scoring.

OTTAWA ― NGCOA Canada, in partnership with Integram Marketing Services Inc., is pleased to announce the launch of golfsocial. Many golf course owners struggle to build their own online community. Developing meaningful content that will engage their customers and potential customers is a challenge. Most golf course owners and operators do not have time to develop highly timely, relevant, and entertaining content for their own social media marketing campaigns. golfsocial is designed to enhance a golf course operations social media marketing.

“A strong social media presence can mean creating a bigger online community and a more loyal and engaged customer base. The frequency and quality of these posts is essential for our member facilities to stay connected to their customers when they are away from the course. Executing an effective social media marketing program will help our members grow their business. NGCOA Canada members know that social media is important, but, like many small businesses, do not have the resources to source dynamic content on a daily basis. golfsocial solves the resource problem,” says, Jeff Calderwood, CEO, NGCOA Canada.

The proprietary technology allows NGCOA Canada’s partner, Integram Marketing to aggregate meaningful golf content from a wide range of sources that it is timely, relevant, and highly dynamic, and push that content out through each NGCOA Canada member’s individual Facebook page. Each member’s business Facebook page will become the source for consumers to find dynamic golf content. The result will be greater customer engagement, resulting in greater customer loyalty, and greater passion for our great game.

Golf Canada is pleased to support this exciting new initiative by becoming a content partner for golfsocial. Golf Canada will provide golfsocial with highly relevant and dynamic golf content to assist members of the NGCOA Canada, and Golf Canada partner clubs to build bigger and more loyal online communities for each facility. This initiative is FREE for NGCOA Canada member facilities, and Golf Canada member facilities.

To register your course for golfsocial, contact Integram Marketing Services Inc:

Allison Kelly: 519-221-3635 | Akelly@integram.net

Don Mackay: 705-644-2017 | dmackay@muskokahighlands.com

TRINITY, Tex. – Mexico and the United States separated from the pack for a share of the lead at 25-under par following Tuesday’s second round of four-ball at the Spirit International at Whispering Pines Golf Club.

Both the Mexicans and Americans broke 130 on Tuesday to lead the way and set the tone for Wednesday’s final round. France trails the leaders by four strokes at 21-under par to sit alone in third place.

Collectively, the Canadian foursome of Hugo Bernard (Mont-St-Hilaire, Que.), Eric Banks (Truro, N.S.), Maddie Szeryk (dual-citizen) and Grace St-Germain (Ottawa) continued to struggle on Tuesday, carding a 5-under 139 but falling further behind the pace in the process, trailing the leaders by 17 strokes.

Together, Banks and Bernard posted a 4-under 68 to sit T16 amongst the men. On the women’s side, Szeryk and St-Germain carded a 1-under 70, leaving them in a tie for fifteenth.

The Spirit International Amateur Golf Championship is a 54-hole four-ball stroke-play competition with three concurrent competition categories: International Team, Men’s Team and Women’s Team. Unofficial individual competitions are also conducted through a format that only counts birdies and eagles towards final scores. PGA TOUR and LPGA TOUR exemptions will be awarded to the men’s and women’s gold medalists. The men will compete for a spot in the Crowne Plaza Invitational, while the women will compete for a spot to play in the Volunteers of America North Texas Shootout.

The event features world-class amateurs from over 20 countries across six continents. Conducted at the Whispering Pines Golf Club since its inception in 2001, the Spirit is a biennial event alternating years with the World Amateur Team Championship. The Spirit is hosted by the World Health & Golf Association, a charitable organization dedicated to promoting amateur golf for the benefit of health related reasons.

Click here for live scoring.

Bill Penny of the University of Alberta – Augustana Vikings has been named the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association Golf Coach of the Year.

Penny received the award this evening at the 2015 PING CCAA Golf National Championship banquet in Abbotsford, BC.

Penny led the Vikings men’s golf team to gold at the ACAC Championships in only their third year of existence.

“As a coach, he has taken the program at University of Alberta – Augustana from start up to conference championship in three short years,” said CCAA Golf Convenor Albert Roche. “This result is a testament to his coaching ability and his commitment to achieving long term goals.”

Braxton Fox and Michael Harrison of the Vikings won individual gold and silver, respectively, at this year’s Conference Championships.

In the program’s first season, two players went to the ACAC Championships. In Year 2, five made it to provincials and this season, all nine players qualified for the Conference Championships.

Through his continuing education, Penny earned the status of Master Professional in 2003, an accomplishment very few in the CPGA have achieved. Basing his Thesis on his experiences throughout a great career, “Building and Managing a World Class Golf Facility” is truly an interesting read for many aspiring professionals and everyday golfers alike.

Penny has positioned himself as a true leader in the industry, well versed and knowledgeable in all aspects of the game and business of golf.

“Bill has devoted a career towards the development of golf in Canada and beyond,” said Roche.

Other nominees:

Gert Van Niekerk – Douglas Royals

• Van Niekerk guided an inexperienced Douglas Royals men’s team to a fourth place finish in the PACWEST. Despite having a roster featuring four first-year golfers, the Royals competed extremely well against strong opposition on the West Coast. As the founder of the Sport Science Faculty and Athletics at Douglas College, Van Niekerk has fostered life-long relationships with thousands of student-athletes over the last 45 years.

Kevin Corriveau – St. Clair Saints

• Corriveau led the St. Clair Saints women’s team to a third-place finish at the OCAA Championships and a berth to Nationals. Under his guidance, the women’s team has won team medals the last four consecutive years. Corriveau, a PGA of Canada Class A Member, has coached at St. Clair for 14 years. The Saints men’s team placed fourth at the Niagara Invitational.

Benoit Lemieux – Boomerang d’AL

• Lemieux guided Cégep André-Laurendeau, a team with four rookies, to the overall RSEQ Championship. First-year player Brendan Smith finished second in the Order of Merit. Former student-athletes Hugo Bernard (St-Leo University) and Etienne Brault (Chattanooga Tennessee University) have recently graduated from the program.

Daniel Cudmore – Holland Hurricanes

• Cudmore led the Holland Hurricanes to ACAA Championships in men’s and women’s golf. He has rebuilt Holland’s men’s team, which lost three members from last year’s CCAA National Champion squad. Cudmore has also been successful in getting a women’s team back into competition.

Weyburn, SK. – Golf Canada is pleased to announce that Canadian PGA TOUR star Graham DeLaet has adopted 37 Saskatchewan schools into the Golf in Schools program through funds raised by the 2013 Graham DeLaet Charity Golf Classic in support of junior golf—an event conducted in conjunction with Golf Saskatchewan.

“My wife Ruby and I created our Foundation with the goal of supporting golf at the junior grassroots level and giving back to the community from which I came. So we are very proud to help grow the game in my home province by bringing it to so many students,” said DeLaet, a graduate of Team Canada’s National Squad. “We are excited to help teach the values of golf to youth in Saskatchewan and look forward to seeing some future stars born through the program.”

DeLaet became an ambassador of the Golf in Schools program earlier this year in June. The funds raised from the 2013 event have gone toward covering the cost of 20 secondary, two intermediate and 15 elementary schools, including four in DeLaet’s hometown of Weyburn, SK.

“Growing our junior golf programs and providing more opportunities for youth to get involved with the sport is a major priority,” said Brian Lee, Executive Director of Golf Saskatchewan. “As an association we have been proactive in adopting and developing new junior programs for schools and golf clubs to endorse throughout the province and we are grateful for Graham and Ruby’s continued support.”

With the additional adoptions from the support of the Graham and Ruby DeLaet Foundation, the Golf in Schools program is now in over 70% of schools in Saskatchewan, which Golf Canada’s Chief Sport Officer Jeff Thompson recognizes as significant growth for junior golf and the future of the sport.

“Along with our national and provincial partners, we are very pleased to see the continued growth of junior golf through the Golf in Schools program across Canada,” said Thompson. “We also recognize that there are still a number of schools without the program, which we intend to reach through the help of our great supporters, including Graham and Ruby.”

Currently offered in more than 2,400 elementary and close to 300 high schools across Canada, Golf in Schools provides children with a basic introduction to golf through the Canadian school physical education curriculum. The program features three curriculum levels: grades 1– 5 and high school level along with the newly launched intermediate level for students in grades 6–8.

Launched in 2009, the Golf in Schools program—which is endorsed by Physical Health and Education Canada (PHE Canada)—is conducted by Golf Canada in partnership with the PGA of Canada and the provincial golf associations. The Golf in Schools program consists of safety-approved golf equipment, along with a relevant teaching resource for teachers to deliver lesson plans to students.

New in 2015, Golf Canada partnered with the University of Ottawa to include a Life Skills component throughout all three levels of the program. The Life Skills element incorporates fundamental skills and values such as respect, perseverance, and honesty—all of which are fully integrated into the teacher-friendly learning resources.

The DeLaet’s support of the Golf in Schools program dates to back to September 2014, when along with his wife Ruby, donated $1 per twitter follower (@Fore_Kids) to Golf in Schools upon launching the Graham and Ruby DeLaet Foundation.

The Graham and Ruby DeLaet Foundation is focused on improving the health and wellness of children and supporting the development of junior golfers at all stages. More information on Graham and the Graham and Ruby DeLaet Foundation is available at www.grahamdelaet.com

More information about the Golf in Schools program including the school adoption program is available at www.golfinschools.ca