July 29, 2024
Richmond, BC (PGA of BC) - With Canucks Junior Golf Week wrapped up for the 2024 season, the PGA of BC is thrilled to see consistent growth in the program across the province with over 800 BC youth taking part this year.
Canucks Junior Golf Week took place in dozens of communities throughout BC, where children effectively learn the game of golf through certified PGA of BC-instructed, single-day camps. The skills developed through golf complement those of other sports, including hockey, while participating in golf also imparts important life skills such as honesty, sportsmanship, responsibility, integrity and respect. Participants learn the benefits of staying active while exploring the game of golf, all the while meeting new friends and having fun. Canucks Junior Golf Week camps are practical for young golfers of all experience levels, including those who have previously never picked up a club. The initiative has introduced over 6,000 British Columbia youth to the sport since launching in 2014.
PGA of BC professionals are the engines that drive Canucks Junior Golf Week, taking time out of their busy schedules to host camps and introduce aspiring juniors to the sport. The Association extends our gratitude and appreciation to every professional and facility that hosted camps this year.
The Harvest Golf Club has participated in the initiative the last three years including in 2024. Teaching Professional Jeff Overholt expressed his and the club’s excitement in introducing youth to the game.
“Canucks Junior Golf Week is a great way to get new kids into the game. We want to expose them to inherent joys of the game that encourage them to come back. We want to create a fun learning environment for them, provide them with an introduction to core skills, and provide an experience that will get them excited about the game. It’s certainly one of the highlights on our schedule and the coaches love doing it,” said Overholt.
“I think it’s awesome tying in a sport like hockey that already has such great participation within Canada and BC, and tying that to another sport that’s super popular and growing. There are so many complementary skills that transcend golf and hockey.”
Predator Ridge Golf Resort Professional Kyla Inaba also hosted a camp this year, and emphasized the potential impacts that a program like Canucks Junior Golf Week can have on the future of the sport.
“Growing the game of golf and seeing the shared joy that golf can bring to kids, whether they’re experienced or brand new, is something that inspires me. Giving back to the game, which has given me and other pros so much, is a cool thing. Can one of these kids become the next Kyla Inaba or [Predator Ridge professionals] Sean Burke or Ward Pateman?” said Inaba.
“Our number one goal is to always make golf fun and make them want to keep coming back. When they keep coming back, they get better, and when they get better, maybe golf becomes a game that they play for life. One positive experience can turn into lots of different positive options down the road.”
This important initiative would not be possible without the incredible support from our partner, the Vancouver Canucks. Canucks mascot Fin joined a camp at Mayfair Lakes Golf & Country Club where he showed off his swing and interacted with the participants. The Association thanks the Canucks for their partnership and commitment to junior golf in BC.
"The Vancouver Canucks believe that kids should participate in all kinds of different sports, and Canucks Junior Golf Week is a great opportunity for kids to get outside, learn a new skill and make some new friends," said Rod Brathwaite, Vancouver Canucks Manager of Minor Hockey. "We believe that the values that come from sport, be it as an individual or on a team, are fundamental to the development of kids and youth. These introductory programs at such a low cost provide an opportunity for kids to experience new challenges and hopefully fall in love with the game!"
For more information, please reach out to Business Development Manager Dan Czerwenka at dan@pgabc.org.
