Golf Industry Leader builds on its commitment to the game through support of Canada’s National Sport Organization
The Royal Canadian Golf Association recently announced that it has entered into a comprehensive 10-year partnership agreement with ClubLink Corporation that will see Canada’s largest owner and operator of golf courses support a number of the RCGA’s golf programs and services.
ClubLink will invest close to $4 million including in-kind services into several of the RCGA’s initiatives over the course of the agreement including the National Golf in Schools Program, Team Canada, CN Future Links, the RCGA Foundation, the Canadian University Colleges Championship and the RBC Canadian Open.
“We are thrilled to welcome ClubLink as a proud partner helping the RCGA support the growth of the game of golf in Canada,” said Scott Simmons, RCGA Executive Director and CEO. “ClubLink has long been at the forefront of course operations and customer service and having them invest in so many touch points of our business truly reinforces their commitment to the game on so many levels. From our grassroots programs and national championships to elite player development and our philanthropic efforts, I want to thank ClubLink for their continued support of Canadian golf.”
For ClubLink President and CEO Rai Sahi, supporting excellence in Canadian golf, especially at the grassroots level through the CN Future Links junior golf program and National Golf in Schools, was a driving force behind ClubLink’s decision.
“This partnership is a natural progression of our longstanding relationship with the RCGA and, like them, ClubLink and our 18,500 members are vitally interested in helping to grow the game of golf,” said Sahi. “ClubLink has always taken a long-term view and it is obvious from our commitment of almost $4 million over the next 10 years that we wholeheartedly support the RCGA’s goals of broadening the interest and participation in golf in the country. We hope that our investment, financial and otherwise, will raise the profile of the RCGA’s golf initiatives and encourage others to do likewise.”
The relationship between the RCGA and ClubLink dates back to the RCGA’s sale of the renowned Glen Abbey Golf Club to ClubLink in 1999. Glen Abbey and the RBC Canadian Open share a long and storied history as the Nicklaus-designed Oakville layout has played host to Canada’s national Open championship 25 times including both 2008 and 2009.
Through their involvement with the National Golf in Schools Program, ClubLink will be sponsoring a minimum of 11 schools per year as part of the program’s ‘Adopt a School’ initiative. To date, the program – launched in May and fully endorsed by Physical Health and Education Canada (PHE Canada) – has been integrated into the physical education curriculum of more than 400 elementary schools across Canada.
In addition to their grassroots involvement with the Golf in Schools program, the corporation will continue its involvement with CN Future Links, Canada’s national junior golf program. ClubLink has been a proud partner of the CN Future Links program since its inception in 1996.
ClubLink’s investment will also benefit the RCGA’s National Amateur Team Program and its High Performance initiatives with ClubLink becoming an Official Partner Club of Team Canada.
Through its support of the RCGA Foundation, the ‘ClubLink Scholarship of Excellence’ program will grant two $5,000 scholarships per year to students attending a Canadian University. ClubLink will also become presenting sponsor of the RCGA’s University College Golf Championship.
The corporation will also continue to contribute to the RBC Canadian Open’s philanthropic efforts in support of the Mike Weir Foundation, the event’s national charity partner.
ClubLink is the largest owner and operator of courses in Canada with 33 clubs and approximately 18,500 members. Sahi hopes that ClubLink’s commitment will encourage more golf courses, individuals and potential sponsors to support the RCGA’s mission to grow participation and passion for the sport.
ABOUT CLUBLINK CORPORATION
For moreClubLink is Canada’s largest owner and operator of golf courses, with 33 outstanding clubs in Ontario and Quebec. ClubLink’s slogan, “One Membership, More Golf,” refers to its unique concept that provides members with reciprocal access to every course in the ClubLink family, including Canada’s most famous course, Glen Abbey, which has played host to a record 25 RBC Canadian Opens. ClubLink courses represent some of the finest work by renowned course architects and design consultants including Jack Nicklaus, Hurdzan-Fry, Greg Norman, Doug Carrick, Curtis Strange, Graham Cooke, Fred Couples, Thomas McBroom, Willie Park Jr., Ken Venturi, Fred Couples and Mark O’Meara. ClubLink members also have access to many other benefits including resort destinations in Muskoka and Mont-Tremblant and around the world through our affiliation with ClubCorp.
ABOUT THE ROYAL CANADIAN GOLF ASSOCIATION
The Royal Canadian Golf Association (RCGA) is the governing body of golf in Canada, representing 377,000 members at 1,600 clubs across the country. Recognized by Sport Canada as the National Sports Organization (NSO) for golf in this country, the RCGA’s mission is to grow participation in and passion for the sport while upholding the integrity and traditions of the game. The RCGA conducts programs and services to help shape the future of golf in Canada. High performance athlete development, Rules of Golf and amateur status, handicapping and course rating, turfgrass and environmental research, the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame and Museum and CN Future Links, Canada’s national junior golf program, are only some of the initiatives the association leads for golf in Canada. In addition, the RCGA conducts Canada’s most prestigious golf championships. The RBC Canadian Open and CN Canadian Women’s Open attract the best professional golfers in the world, while regional junior and national amateur championships showcase the best in Canadian golf.
