PGA Manitoba gets young golfers on course

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 08/06/2018 (2717 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

It began with an internal question from the Professional Golfers Association of Manitoba — what could they do to help grow the game on a local scale, particularly among the next generation of potential players?

And it led to a stark realization there are likely many whose biggest hazard isn’t a sand trap or body of water, but rather a lack of funds needed to pursue the sport.

And so the Future Pros Program was born, starting last year with eight Manitoba boys and girls who were given everything they need to get going — clubs, a bag, balls, clothing, shoes and a full junior membership at the nearest local course. Now it’s expanded to a dozen players this year, with a vision to become something much bigger in the near future.

“I was overjoyed. Tears were rolling down my eyes. You cannot imagine the joy that I had,” Vijay Nair told the Free Press on Friday about getting the phone call that his 15-year-old son, Kaveesh, had qualified.

The Grade 9 student at Acadia Junior High School is now teeing it up at Southwood Golf & Country Club, something that likely wouldn’t have been possible given the family dynamics.

“It’s a great help, a great help. If I were to take him out… there’s no way I could do it,” Nair said, noting they have five children to care for on a limited budget.

Kaveesh said he loves being outdoors while working to improve his skills.

“It’s really fun. I find it relieves my stress, from like exams and stuff,” he said.

And that is exactly what the program is aiming to do.

“We recognize that junior golf is so important for the community and the kids out there, and important for the game to grow. And we want to keep encouraging that to happen” said Dana Todd, executive director of Golf Professionals of Manitoba Foundation Inc., which oversees the program that works with junior-aged kids who would otherwise not be able to participate because of financial reasons.

The approximate cost is $2,500 per player, per year.

“We’ve seen them really flourish. They’re out there all the time. There’s nothing better than seeing junior golfers on a golf course. It really does make my day,” Todd said. “In a perfect world seeing 100 kids go through the program (every year) would be fantastic.”

They’ll look to take a big step towards that goal next month when one of the biggest names in golf comes to Winnipeg as part of a much-anticipated event. Brooke Henderson will host a junior clinic and member pro-am on July 17 at St. Charles Country Club to help raise both exposure and funds for the Future Pros Program.

“It really is a bit of a dream come true,” said head pro Cory Kartusch, who played a key role in arranging the visit through his long-standing relationship with Ping Golf. “All of our program kids will be there, and a few might get the opportunity to play with Brooke.”

Although the day won’t be open to the general public, approximately 100 young golfers from across the province will be invited free of charge to participate, while members can bring guests to view Henderson in action. The 20-year-old from Ontario has already won six times on the LPGA Tour and is one of the true rising stars in the game.

Kartusch has three kids in the program teeing it up at St. Charles this year and says they’ve quickly embraced the opportunity.

“They’re golfing around the club just like they should, like a member. They’re participating in programs, taking their lessons. It’s full integration in the programs just as we wanted, and we’re super happy with the results so far,” he said.

“We want to support kids that otherwise would not have had the opportunity to get involved in golf. I think if it were any sport they would struggle to get involved with it because of their financial means. If we can grow this program and keep making golf an option to those types of families, we’re happy to be there for them.”

Todd said there are numerous benefits to getting a child involved in golf, with the hope that it becomes a lifelong passion.

“Golf brings so much more than just the game,” she said. “It also provides you with access to building relationships that you might not have otherwise been able to do. So much gets done on the golf course. As you grow older, it’s such a great life skill to have. It teaches you so much, too. It teaches you etiquette and respect, discipline, following all the rules. It’s a good all-around sport that you really can play your entire life.”

Several sponsors have already signed on to help off-set some of the costs, including Callaway Golf Company, by donating clubs.

Todd said they’re currently looking for more financial backing as they try to grow. More information can be found online at futurepros.ca.

“We really feel it is such a great program and we hope the corporate community recognizes that as well,” she said. “I think for any sport it’s always good to make sure that you’re getting that next generation out. But overall I think it’s more about just being able to provide access to kids that would really benefit from the game. That’s what the program really is about.”

Whether you’re a parent or a golf pro (or both), Kartusch said it’s easy to see first-hand how rewarding a relationship with sport can become. And money, he said, shouldn’t be an obstacle.

“I think anyone who’s been involved with the game or grew up playing the game can look back and realize how fortunate they were to develop the relationship they developed, and a lot of us, how influential those relationships were in impacting the path of our lives,” Kartusch said.

“If one of our kids became a great player would we be proud? Yes. Is that our intent? No. The intent is to expose them to a community that can help foster the path of their future, wherever that may lead them.”

mike.mcintyre@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @mikemcintyrewpg