Patriot Golf Day Canada

The Professional Golfers’ Association (PGA) of Canada, in collaboration with Golf Canada, is proud to announce the launch of Patriot Golf Day Canada.

[ACTON, ONT.]—The grassroots golf initiative supporting and honouring military members and their families is coming to Canada this Labour Day weekend.

The Professional Golfers’ Association (PGA) of Canada, in collaboration with Golf Canada, is proud to announce the launch of Patriot Golf Day Canada.

The national initiative will raise funds for the True Patriot Love Foundation.

“On behalf of all the 3,800 PGA of Canada professionals, we are sincerely proud that this Labour Day weekend golfers and golf courses all across the country will celebrate Patriot Golf Day,” says PGA of Canada CEO, Gary Bernard. “This wonderful initiative allows everyone in the golf community across the country to raise funds and honour our great Canadian military personnel and their families.”

Scott Simmons, Golf Canada’s Executive Director and CEO agrees, saying he would love to see Golf Canada’s more than 340,000 members show their support of Patriot Golf Day this Sept. 1-3.

“I would strongly encourage golf enthusiasts from across the country to get out to the golf course this Labour Day weekend and participate in Patriot Golf Day,” Simmons says. “We all have a great opportunity to come together through golf and show our support for the brave men and women of the Canadian military who proudly serve our country.”

Money raised from Patriot Golf Day will go to the True Patriot Love Foundation, which supports and honours members of the Canadian military and their families. The foundation was founded by a group of citizens dedicated to building bridges between Canadian civilians and their military, in order to better understand and appreciate the sacrifices of soldiers and their families.

“The True Patriot Love Foundation is truly honoured to be the beneficiary of this national initiative, Patriot Golf Day Canada,” says True Patriot Love Chairman, Shaun Francis. “The money raised and the awareness gained among Canadian golfers will certainly go a long way for our foundation and Canada’s military families.”

In less than three years, the True Patriot Love Foundation has raised millions of dollars for members of the Canadian military and their families and disbursed over $3 million to a variety of military programs, charities and causes, when and where it was needed most. This included providing support for military families, severely injured veterans, mental health, public education, and transition support to civilian life, to name a few.

Golfers who play on Labour Day weekend at participating Patriot Golf Day courses across the country can donate any dollar amount to the initiative. Holding events at golf courses is another way of raising money towards the initiative.

In 2007, the PGA of America, the USGA and the Folds of Honor Foundation launched Patriot Golf Day in the United States and over the past five years; the initiative has been wildly successful, raising $12.8 million (USD).

“In the United States, we’ve seen Patriot Golf Day grow year over year,” says Folds of Honor, Patriot Golf Day Director, Tony Biata, PGA. “It’s been very successful in helping raise awareness and funds for our military personnel and their families, so there’s ever opportunity for that to happen in Canada as well.”

Bernard agrees, saying the collaboration between the PGA of Canada, the PGA of America and the Folds of Honor Foundation will only help the success of Patriot Golf Day Canada.

“We’re working very closely with the PGA of America and the Folds of Honor Foundation,” Bernard says. “What they’ve done in five years is just amazing, so we’re learning and using a lot of their successful ideas.”

Golf courses and golfers interested in participating in Patriot Golf Day Canada should visit, www.pgaofcanada.com/patriotgolfdaycanada

Chris Fry
Communications & Social Media Specialist
PGA of Canada
Office: 1-800.782.5764 EXT. 234
Mobile: 416.543.2724
chris@pgaofcanada.com

Alison Ouellet
Director, Corporate Affairs
True Patriot Love Foundation
Office: 416-848-0396
aouellet@truepatriotlove.com

About the PGA of Canada:
Established in 1911, the PGA of Canada is the second oldest and third largest professional golf association in the world.

The PGA of Canada is a non-profit Association comprised of 3,800 golf professionals across the country. The Association’s mandate is to develop, promote and support our Members as experts in the game and business of golf and, in so doing, serve both its Members’ needs and those of the golfing public through the Association’s varied programs and events.

The Association consists of the National Office located in Acton, Ont., and nine Zone Offices across the country.

For more information, please visit www.pgaofcanada.com 

About True Patriot Love Foundation – Even Heroes Need Heroes :
The True Patriot Love Foundation is a national foundation that supports and honours members of the Canadian military and their families.

It was founded by a group of citizens dedicated to building bridges between Canadian civilians and their military, in order to better understand and appreciate the sacrifices of soldiers and their families. In celebrating the patriotism of our military families, our foundation also strives to inspire Canadians to serve their country, whether it’s in or out of uniform.

Since its inaugural Tribute Dinner in 2009, the True Patriot Love Foundation has raised almost $10MM in support of Canadian military families.

For more information, visit http://www.truepatriotlove.com

ABOUT GOLF CANADA – LOVE THE GAME. GROW THE GAME.
Golf Canada is the governing body of golf in Canada, representing more than 340,000 members at close to 1,500 clubs across the country. Recognized by Sport Canada as the National Sport Organization (NSO) for golf in this country, Golf Canada’s mission is to grow participation, excellence and passion in the sport while upholding the integrity and traditions of the game.

A proud member of the Canadian Olympic Committee, Golf Canada conducts championships, programs and services to help shape the present and future of golf in Canada. High performance athlete development, Golf in Schools presented by Callaway, Golf Fore the Cure presented by Subaru, the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame and Museum, CN Canadian Women’s Tour and CN Future Links – Canada’s national junior golf program – are only some of the initiatives the association leads for golf in Canada. As the authority for golf in Canada, the association also administers the Rules of Golf, amateur status and handicapping and course rating.