Watch above: Golf Canada wants to ensure the future of the sport with school seminars
SASKATOON – Since 2006, Canadian National Railway (CN) has been giving young golfers across the country the opportunity to learn the game and get out on the course.
On Wednesday, CN reached out to 15 Saskatoon schools to adopt its Future Links program. Over 50 Grade 3 and 5 students from Brunskill and Dr. John G. Egnatoff schools were on a field trip Wednesday, hitting the links at Holiday Park.
Soon golf will be part of the curriculum in 15 public schools around Saskatoon.
“It’s taking a sport that is normally played outdoors into the classroom where they can play during golf’s off season,” said Brian Lee, executive director of Golf Saskatchewan.
CN and Golf Canada are committed to growing the game.
“This program is very important because it is bringing together the values of CN and Golf Canada to promote health and safety for kids,” said Gisele Bernier, sponsorship and communications manager for CN.
“Any time we get a chance to do an activity or be apart of an activity like this for our students, it means the world to us and all of our families,” said Bruce Bradshaw, the education superintendent for Saskatoon Public Schools.
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While students were using proper clubs Wednesday, the Future Links program introduces the fundamentals using plastic ones. Holiday Park head professional Brian Gabrush plans to help the teachers and instruct some of the classes.
“Golf is a sport that you can entertain as an activity from this age right through until you can’t golf any more, which I’m not sure what age that is depending on the person but that allows us to know where our future is coming from and investing in it now is going to pay dividends off in the future,” said Gabrush.
Over 50,000 Saskatchewan youth pick up a club and golf at least 18 holes each year. The hope is a program like this will continue to boost interest in a sport that can be played for a lifetime.
CN Future Links has been adopted at over 100 schools across the country. Saskatoon Public Schools hopes the program can one day expand to all of its schools.
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