Reed On The Greens:
Canadian Golf Tees Up New Initiatives
Local Golfers Benefit

by Jeffrey Reed, Editor, LondonOntarioSports.com

The golf industry is not unlike any consumer-driven trade which balances pleasing participants in one hand while planning for the future in the other. Yet the game of golf has a solid track record of leading all sports – at every level – with a proactive approach to accountability.

There is perpetual room for improvement, though, especially during this time in history when diversity and inclusion movements are reaching unprecedented heights. Here in Canada, new initiatives aiming to provide an even playing field are launching at every level of golf.

Junior golfers are the future of the game – a fact well recognized by Youth on Course, a non-profit organization providing young people with access to opportunities through subsidized golf, college scholarships, paid internships and a caddie program.

As a result of a highly-successful pilot program launched in Alberta with support from Golf Canada, the June 2020-announced Youth on Course expansion will introduce Golf Ontario’s junior members to unlimited $5 greens fees at more than 1,400 participating facilities across Canada and the U.S. Junior golfers may sign up at www.youthoncourse.ca.

“The expansion of Youth on Course by Golf Canada and Golf Ontario demonstrates their commitment to inspiring and nurturing a new generation of golfers,” said Michael Lowe, VP of Programs for Youth on Course. “With the highest per-capita golf participation in the world, the introduction of affordable and accessible rounds to Ontario’s youth will benefit the sport’s sustainability in a big way.”

In August 2020, Golf Canada and First Tee announced a new partnership to launch First Tee – Canada, a non-profit youth development organization under the umbrella of PGA Tour Inc. Its mission is to impact the lives of young people by providing educational programs that build character and instill life-enhancing values through the game of golf.

Photo: PGA of Canada

Since its inception in 1997, First Tee has expanded to reach more than 3.6 million young people annually on golf courses, in schools and at youth centres. PGA of Canada will play a leading role in the training of coaches who will serve as mentors to the kids and teens in the program. Coaches will help bring the curriculum to life by introducing youth to fun and active experiences that help them build inner strength, self-confidence, and resilience that can carry to everything they do. Visit www.thefirsttee.org for information.

Also last August, Golf Canada and PGA of Canada launched the Golf Canada Women in Coaching Program, a partnership that works to put the sport on the path to further balance between sexes at a high level, coaching-wise.

“Golf Canada has a vested interest in developing the coaching pool to fill the future pipeline of national team coaches – we want to ensure that in the future we have a coaching staff that better represents our players and the golfing community,” said Emily Phoenix, manager of high performance sport at Golf Canada and a Women in Coaching program leader.

Canadian Women’s National Team head coach Tristan Mullally will co-lead the program along with Phoenix. He said, “There are many great female coaches across Canada but they tend to be a little more isolated, and this was a way to bring expertise together. This will bring together likeminded female coaches to build relationships and learn best practices from our national team program.”

Aiming to increase participation among women and girls, Golf Ontario announced in late January a partnership with the LPGA Foundation. With a focus on enhancing and creating opportunities for females to become involved in and enjoy the game of golf, this initiative will see Golf Ontario continue to welcome females to the game of golf through TRY, LEARN & PLAY programs, events and e-learning opportunities.

“Working together with the LPGA headquarters and the Ontario-based LPGA Amateurs Chapters, we are developing and piloting a Participation Pathway for women to try, learn and play golf,” said Golf Ontario executive director Mike Kelly. He added, “Our affiliation with the LPGA will substantially enhance Golf Ontario’s effort to establish these Participation Pathways.” Visit www.goa.ca for details.

Another notable addition to Canadian golf initiatives is PGA of Canada’s establishment of its Diversity and Inclusion Task Force. In addition to opening a line of communication for people to share their experience and feedback, the association has called upon its members and external applicants to assist in assessing all opportunities for the PGA of Canada to better serve traditionally underrepresented groups in the industry.

Said PGA of Canada president Teejay Alderdice, “This is the first step in an important journey for our association. We have a tremendous opportunity and responsibility to make the game of golf in Canada a more welcoming space for all.”

Golf is a game for a lifetime. With new initiatives like these, it’s headed in a better direction.

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Award-winning journalist Jeffrey Reed has covered the golf scene in Southwestern Ontario since 1980. Contact him at jeff@londonontariosports.com.