The R&A enters three-year agreement to support Future Links, driven by Acura as part of global investment in good for the game initiatives 

OAKVILLE, Ont. (Golf Canada) — Golf Canada is proud to announce that The R&A has become a supporting partner in Future Links, driven by Acura, Canada’s national junior golf program.

The decision to align with Canada’s national junior golf program was led by The R&A’s Golf Development Committee, a group that assesses applications and requests from the 152 worldwide affiliates of The R&A, including Golf Canada, and whose mandate is to support what is good for golf.

For Golf Canada Chief Sport Officer and interim CEO Jeff Thompson, welcoming The R&A as a supporting partner in Canadian junior golf is a natural extension of a strong working relationship that exists between the two organizations. 

“We are tremendously proud to have The R&A as a partner in the Future Links program,” said Thompson.  “We share a common vision to engage more youth in golf and believe the strength of our junior golf curriculum and depth of the overall Future Links program are well aligned with The R&A’s goal for golf development.”

“We thought this was a good program and one that was worthy of our support,” explained Duncan Weir, Executive Director - Golf Development at The R&A, who see a possibility for the model to be replicated in other countries. “Links are strong, dialogue is strong, Golf Canada has a strong track record and I’d like to think we have a decent track record of supporting Golf Canada’s good efforts. So this was really a continuation of that relationship and something that impressed us.”

Future Links, driven by Acura, is a joint grassroots initiative of Golf Canada, the PGA of Canada and the provincial golf associations which offer a full suite of junior golf programs for boys and girls ages 6 to 18—from beginners to those with more experience or greater playing ability. 

Future Links, driven by Acura includes a comprehensive suite of junior golf activities for children of all ages and skill level. The program has been restructured under three core areas of focus—in-school programming, facility programming and community outreach.

Elements under the Future Links junior golf umbrella include Learn to Play, Junior League, Girl’s Club, Mobile Clinics, Junior Skills Competition, and Community Golf Coach, along with six regional Future Links Junior Championships.  

Beginning in 2017, Golf Canada has also integrated the popular Golf in Schools program under the Future Links suite of junior golf activities. With more than 400,000 children currently learning golf at nearly 3,400 schools (elementary, intermediate and high schools) as part of the Canadian Physical Education curriculum, Future Links, driven by Acura is supporting quality junior golf experiences from in-schools to on-course at clubs across Canada.  

Under the leadership of PGA of Canada golf professionals, Future Links, driven by Acuraprograms help young golfers develop the technical skills, appropriate attitude and self-confidence to succeed on the golf course, while instilling positive life lessons to succeed off the course.  

“On behalf of the PGA of Canada and our 3,700 members from around the country, I’d like to welcome and commend The R&A for supporting Canada’s junior golf program—Future Links,” said PGA of Canada CEO Gary Bernard. “With this new partnership, Future Links will only become stronger and continue to be a world-class junior golf program.”

In 2016, 85,000 junior golfers participated in one or more elements of Future Links, including 60,000 juniors who took part in more than 750 Future Links Mobile Clinics across the country. 

Future Links, driven by Acura junior golf programming is fully aligned with the Canadian golf Long-Term Player Development Guide. Developed by Golf Canada in partnership with the PGA of Canada, LTPD provides an age-and stage-based blueprint for golfer development rooted on research, statistics and expert insight.

Since launching in 1996, Canada’s national junior golf program has introduced golf to more than 1.3 million children, providing junior golfers across Canada with affordable and accessible golf activities in their community. More information is available at golfcanada.ca/futurelinks.

FUTURE LINKS, driven by Acura
Future Links, driven by Acura is Canada’s national junior golf program conducted by Golf Canada, the PGA of Canada and Canada’s provincial golf associations. Proudly supported by Acura, Puma, The R&A, NGCOA Canada, ClubLink and Sport Canada, the program is designed to forge a link between Canada’s youth and golf to ensure the future of the game in Canada. The program features three core areas of focus—in-school programming, facility programming and community outreach—including elements such as Golf in Schools, Learn to Play, Junior League, Girl’s Club, Mobile Clinics, Junior Skills Competition and Community Golf Coach, along with six regional Future Links Junior Championships.  Since the inception of the program in 1996, more than 1.3 million young Canadians have taken part in Future Links.  For more information, visit golfcanada.ca/futurelinks 

ABOUT THE R&A
Based in St Andrews, The R&A runs The Open, elite amateur events, international matches and rankings.  Together The R&A and the USGA govern the sport of golf worldwide, operating in separate jurisdictions but sharing a commitment to a single code for the Rules of Golf, Rules of Amateur Status and Equipment Standards.

The R&A, through R&A Rules Ltd, governs the sport worldwide, outside of the United States and Mexico, on behalf of over 36 million golfers in 140 countries and with consent of 152 organizations from amateur and professional golf.  The R&A is committed to working for golf and supports the growth of the sport internationally and development and management of sustainable golf facilities.

For more information, visit www.randa.org

PGA of Canada—THE LIFEBLOOD OF THE GAME OF GOLF:
Established in 1911, the PGA of Canada is the second oldest and third largest professional golf association in the world. The PGA of Canada is a non-profit Association comprised of 3,700 golf professionals across the country. The Association’s mandate is to develop, promote and support our Members as experts in the game and business of golf and, in so doing, serve both its Members’ needs and those of the golfing public through the Association’s varied programs and events. The Association consists of the National Office located in Acton, Ont., and nine Zone Offices across the country. 
www.pgaofcanada.com

GOLF CANADA – LOVE THE GAME. GROW THE GAME.
Golf Canada is the National Sports Federation and governing body for golf in Canada representing 306,650 golfers and more than 1,400 member clubs across the country. A proud member of the Canadian Olympic Committee, Golf Canada’s mission is to grow participation, excellence and passion in the sport while upholding the integrity and traditions of the game. By investing in the growth of the sport and introducing more participants of all ages to the game, our goal is to be relevant to and respected by all Canadian golf enthusiasts from coast to coast. For more information about Team Canada or to make a donation towards the development of Canada’s future golf stars, please visit www.golfcanada.ca.

-30-