The GBC Golf Academy at Olympic View recently added another feather to its already impressive golf cap.
The academy was named one of 20 National Junior Golf Development Centres by Golf Canada, the governing body of amateur golf in this country.
“We were recognized as one of the five facilities (in B.C.) that met the program requirements, which was pretty cool,” says Olympic View general manager Randy Frank. “It aligns very well with our facility and community objectives, including being a welcoming place for players of all ages, backgrounds and abilities.”
The designation is the top recognition by Golf Canada that a facility has everything needed to instruct golfers from the first time they pick up a club right through to becoming elite players – including comprehensive coaching support and top-level education programs.
Golfers as young as four can pick up the sport at Olympic View.
“They’re called Little Bogeys,” Frank says. “It’s pretty cute. Their golf bags are as big as they are.”
He says the club has been working hard the past few years to build the game amongst youth.
Olympic View has sponsored three local elementary schools, and director of instruction Jeff Palmer has supplied them with equipment, instructing their physical education teachers in how to teach golf, and doing anything else required to help ensure there’s some backfill coming through the ranks of the golfing world.
“We’re trying to build the game,” Frank says. “It’s important to keep the younger generations involved, otherwise in 20 years we won’t have anyone playing. And it’s a great sport for them to pick up. It teaches great ethics and etiquette, and work ethic and manners, and how to act respectfully towards others. We recognize that we need to do our part to try to build the game, because it’s important.”
Find out more about the GBC Golf Academy at golfbc.com under “Olympic View.”
