CN and Golf Canada announced that CN is adopting 15 local schools from the Saskatoon Public School Board to deliver the game of golf to local students. Students from two of the schools celebrated with a one-day field trip event on Wednesday Sept. 24th at the Holiday Park Golf Club, receiving lessons in putting, chipping and driving from head PGA of Canada professional, Brian Gabrush. CN and Golf Canada also announced that CN is adopting 15 local schools from the Montreal region to deliver the game of golf to local students with more than 60 students from École Marguerite-Bourgeoys in Pointe-Claire, Qué. celebrating with a one-day field trip event on Wednesday October 8th at Golf Dorval, receiving lessons in putting, chipping and driving from Operations Manager, Jean-Guy Côté. In total, CN has adopted over 100 schools in various markets across the country since 2013.
This marks the third group of schools adopted by CN as part of the CN Future Links Community Tour, which consists of three community festivals each year, intended to share the health and wellness values of golf. Montreal’s tour stop took place earlier this summer during the 2014 RBC Canadian Open at the Royal Montreal Golf Club. Saskatoon and Sarnia received visits earlier in the year. Each Community Tour event engages community youth and festival attendees in various golf activities as well as rail safety tips from CN Police.
“CN is proud to support the future of the game and the health and well-being of our children by introducing the next generation of golfers to the game,” said Claude Mongeau, CN President and Chief Executive Officer. “We believe that Golf Canada’s vision to grow the sport aligns well with our corporate values to promote the health and wellness of children in communities across Canada. “Golf and its inherent values are good for our children and we are pleased to be bringing Canada’s national junior golf program to communities across Canada.” “Saskatoon and Montreal are important parts of CN’s network across Canada. Just as CN plays a vital role transporting products to markets, we also welcome the opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to the youth in Saskatoon by helping Golf Canada and the PGA of Canada grow junior golf through the CN Future Links program,” said Mr. Mongeau.
Current CN Future Links programming includes the ‘Learn to Play’ program as well as mobile clinics, the Junior Skills Challenge, PGA Jr. League, Girls Club and the CN Future Links Championships. As part of its investment in Canadian junior golf, CN is also a proud supporter of Golf in Schools. New programming as part of the investment in youth golf will include CN Future Links School Adoption Program and CN Future Links Field Trip Program.
In 2013, CN Future Links junior golf activities were conducted at 431 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 67,000 youngsters participated in more than 1,800 mobile golf clinics across the country. Since 2006 more than 1 million children have been introduced to golf through the CN Future Links program.
For Golf Canada CEO Scott Simmons, CN’s commitment to junior golf reinforces the shared values of health, wellness and safety to junior enthusiasts across Canada. “I can’t say enough what it means to Canadian golf that CN has aligned their brand and their corporate values with Canada’s national junior golf program,” said Simmons. “Together with CN as well as our partners at the PGA of Canada and the provincial golf associations, the CN Future Links program is introducing children in communities across Canada to a sport they can enjoy for a lifetime.”