NEWSLETTER – July 4, 2011

Hall of Fame Induction

The Canadian Golf Hall of Fame and Museum are inviting all "Regular" members of the Golf Journalists Association of Canada to attend Richard Zokol's Hall of Fame induction ceremony.
For any regular member who is planning on taking in our GJAC awards luncheon and golf day on the Tuesday of Canadian Open week at Marine Drive in Vancouver this is a great opportunity because Zokol's induction is that evening also at Marine Drive.
It is important, however, that you contact Meggan Gardner before July 8.
The information is all in the attachment.

Garry McKay, President
garrymckay1@shaw.ca

Update on GJAC Awards at Marine Drive

We're trying to get final numbers for those attending the GJAC luncheon and golf tournament at Marine Drive on Tuesday, July 19. While last year's awards gala was golf followed by dinner, this year it is a lunch starting at noon, followed by golf at Marine Drive, famous for being the course that fostered such players as Richard Zokol, Stan Leonard and Doug Roxburgh. We have limited space, but lunch and the golf tournament is free for GJAC members and need to get a sense of those expecting to attend. Once again the GJAC Awards and tournament is brought to you by the generosity of our sponsors, namely Acushnet, Royal Bank, Quagmire, and others.

As for the writing awards, I'm told our submissions were up this year over last. Once again first-place prizes are $300, while those receiving second-place will be given a pair of Footjoy Icons courtesy of Acushnet.

We're expecting that those attending the tournament will be shuttled from Shaughnessy G&CC to Marine Drive, which is nearby, but those details are pending. Anyone interested in attending can RSVP Robert Thompson at robertthompson8@sympatico.ca or Hal Quinn at halquinn@shaw.ca by June 30.

GJAC Secretary-Treasurers Report as of June 1, 2011

To date, we have 62 members – down by 4 from the 66 we finished 2010 with. Also, as of June 1, 2011, GJAC has $5,862.96 in its bank account.

Regards, Grant Fraser

Letters of Thanks

Hi Mr. Young,

I just wanted to thank you for the cheque I received from the Golf Journalists Association. I really appreciate it. It will help me cover some of my expenses out on tour this year. Please pass on my thank you to the individuals involved with the award.

Stephanie Sherlock

Dear Rick,

I wanted to send a thank you to the Golf Journalist Association of Canada for the Bursary I've been awarded. I've recently been overseas playing which is the reason this email has not come sooner. As you well know trying to make it to the highest level of professional golf can be costly. This annual scholarship is a great initiative to help some of the best players in Canada make it on the PGA or LPGA tours. I am truly honored to accept this and will use it to forward my future in professional golf.

Best Regards,

Richard Scott

Canadian Media Golf Championships

CLICK HERE to download an invitation to the Canadian Media Golf Championships on Tuesday, July 26 at Wyndance Golf Club.

GJAC adopts seven schools through National Golf in Schools Program
By Chris Fry

At some point in his nearly 30-year career, Rick Young was asked a rather simple question: what exactly do golf journalists write about? The answer seems obvious, right? Golf journalists write about golf; but as Young points out, golf journalists write more specifically about golf courses, golf equipment, golf instruction, golf tournaments and the subject that without a doubt garners the most ink he says, golfers.

The fact that there are more stories, blogs and videos about people who play golf shouldn't come as a surprise — without golfers there would be no need for golf courses, golf equipment, golf instruction and golf tournaments.

It's this reality that led Young and the Golf Journalists Association of Canada (GJAC) to become involved with the National Golf in Schools (NGIS) Adopt-a-School program. "We wanted to be involved in something that grew the game in Canada at the grassroots level," explains Young, the former GJAC president. "We write about a game played by people, so we want to make sure as the generations go by we still have people to write about."

Launched in May 2009, the NGIS program is now in more than 1,100 elementary schools across Canada. Nearly one quarter of all NGIS programs have been implemented via adoptions, like the seven schools GJAC adopted in 2010. Since there were seven members on the GJAC board of directors in 2010, Young says the math was simple — adopt seven schools.

"What we did was each of the people on the board of directors got an opportunity to pick a school of their choice and we'd go ahead and sponsor it," says the longtime Golf Canada magazine contributor. The Woodstock, Ont., native chose to adopt the school his two daughters once attended — St. Patrick's Catholic School.

Young says he recently received a letter from the principal at St. Patrick's stating how grateful everyone at the school — teachers, parents, administration and most importantly, students — was for the NGIS program. "It's a nice response to get back," Young admits. "It seems already that from his vantage point that the program is very beneficial for them."

Developed by Physical and Health Education Canada, in partnership with Golf Canada and the Canadian PGA, the NGIS program has been designed to enable elementary school teachers — regardless of their golf knowledge, skill or background — to deliver essential physical education through the sport of golf. Once adopted, each school is outfitted with teaching resource materials as well as hard plastic golf equipment that are child-friendly, safe and easy to store.

Young believes the entire NGIS program is a win-win scenario for everyone involved — especially the game of golf in Canada — and that he and the members of GJAC are excited to see an entirely new generations of kids enjoying the game.

The cost for individuals or corporations to contribute to the National Golf in Schools Adopt-a-School program is $475 per school. A tax receipt is issued (if requested) upon payment. For more information, visit www.nationalgolfinschools.com