CN Future Links Eclipses 748,000 Mark for Junior Golf Participation

CN FUTURE LINKS ECLIPSES 748,000 MARK FOR JUNIOR GOLF PARTICIPATION

- Canada’s junior golf program welcomes 112,527 participants in 2008 -

Canada’s junior program once again welcomed record numbers in 2008 as CN Future Links celebrated its 12th anniversary by eclipsing the 748,000 mark for junior golf participation.

Since the inception of Future Links in 1996, 748,104 Canadian boys and girls have taken part in some aspect of the national, provincial and community-based grassroots golf participation program.

The program – proudly sponsored by CN – enjoyed a banner year in 2008 with a record 112,527 junior participants taking part in more than 3,600 events at 805 sites across Canada.

"CN cares deeply about the communities through which our trains travel, which is why we are proud to support CN Future Links,” said Mark Wallace, CN's Assistant Vice-President, Public Affairs. “CN is committed to helping build stronger communities. We believe young people in these communities should have the opportunity to participate in a sport that can lead to a lifelong passion and that introduces values that will travel with them through to adulthood."

CN Future Links is Canada’s national junior golf development program designed to help more kids enjoy a lifetime involvement in the game of golf. The program is a joint initiative of the Royal Canadian Golf Association (RCGA), the Canadian Professional Golfers’ Association (CPGA) and Canada’s provincial golf associations. The program also receives support from official supplier ClubLink.

A driving force behind the program is the CN Future Links grants distributed annually to each of the 10 provincial golf associations. These $15,000 grants help offset the cost to run junior golf programming such as instructional clinics, in-school programs, player camps, skills competitions and a CN Future Links branded vehicle used to deliver a mobile junior golf program. The grants also help fund junior golf supplies such as signage, golf balls, tees, equipment and CN Future Links branded clothing.

“2008 was another banner year for Canadian junior golf participation through the CN Future Links program,” said Ian Giles, CN Future Links Advisory Committee Chairman. “With the generous support of CN and the partnership between the RCGA, CPGA and the provincial golf associations, we proudly celebrate our 12th year knowing that close to 750,000 young boys and girls having been introduced to a game they can enjoy for life.”

2008 CN Future Links Highlights:

- More than 22,000 kids participated in Instructional Clinics hosted by CPGA professionals.
- The 10 provincial golf associations ran successful Mobile Clinic outreach programs for more than 57,000 children at various sites including schools, youth groups, day camps, golf courses, etc.
- A network of 65 Kids Club Connection Depots provided golf equipment to 4,450 kids.
- More than 4,600 children participated in Golf Buddy events at 100 sites nation-wide.
- 279 schools ran CN Future Links programs for more than 36,000 children.
- More than 10,000 children tested their abilities at 170 Junior Skills Competitions.
- Six high-profile CN Future Links Junior Championships gave almost 600 young golfers the opportunity to play competitive golf at an elite level.
- Free junior golf clinics and 'Walk with the Pro' events were conducted at the CN Canadian Women’s Open and the RBC Canadian Open, giving youngsters the chance to meet and learn from some of the PGA Tour and LPGA Tour’s brightest stars.

Total CN Future Links participation (1996 – 2008)

1996 – 3,507
1997 – 7,595
1998 – 19,736
1999 – 21,412
2000 – 32,635
2001 – 39,282
2002 – 55,766
2003 – 66,731
2004 – 78,078
2005 – 95,315
2006 – 104,404
2007 – 111,116
2008 – 112,527
Grand Total since 1996 – 748,104

CN FUTURE LINKS
CN Future Links is Canada’s national junior golf program conducted by the Royal Canadian Golf Association (RCGA), the Canadian Professional Golfers’ Association (CPGA) and Canada’s provincial golf associations. The program is designed to forge a link between Canada’s youth and golf to ensure the future of the game in Canada. Since its inception in 1996, more than 748,000 young Canadians have taken part in Future Links. Additionally the CN Future Links Championships provide Canada’s best junior golfers a chance to hone their competitive skills in multiple day championships in two age divisions: Junior (boys and girls aged 14-18 years) and Bantam (boys and girls aged 11-13 years). Almost 5,000 top juniors have competed in these premier championships since their inception in 2000. For more information about CN Future Links, please visit www.future-links.org.