The Hollinger Golf Club is excited to share that it has been nominated for both the Junior Golf Opportunity Award as well as the Grassroots Junior Program of the Year award for Golf Canada’s Inaugural National Facility Awards for Junior Golf.
The Junior Golf Opportunity Award is awarded to a facility that provides exceptional access and membership opportunities for junior golfers. As well as facilities with strong non-family sponsored junior programs and facilities with fundraising programs to help athletes compete at provincial , national, and international competition.
The Grassroots Junior Program of the Year award is awarded to a facility or academy program that is excelling at creating new junior golfers through local programming.
Nominations were submitted through members of the golf community who believed the Hollinger fulfilled the requirements for both awards, a recognition that the Hollinger is certainly proud of.
“This is a great accomplishment for all of us at the Hollinger and speaks volume to our Hollinger family. We have put a strong focus on our junior programs these past couple of years and it’s certainly rewarding to see the hard work and planning of many pay off. The future of Hollinger golf is in a good place.”
– Taylor Dupuis, GM of Golf Operations.
In August, during Hollinger’s member appreciation brunch in celebration of the club’s 100th anniversary, Dupuis mentioned just how far junior golf has come at the Hollinger stating that the club has gone from 3 junior memberships to well over 60+ in a span of 3 or so years.
In 2021, the Hollinger hosted Golf Canada’s NextGen Fall Series East Championship which welcomed some of the best junior golfers of the country to the north, the first nationally sanctioned golf tournament to be hosted in Timmins.
This past season, Hollinger juniors Henry Klooster and Ryan Koski both competed in their respective Golf Ontario Championships in southern Ontario where they proudly represented the Hollinger Golf Club.
Such awards and recognitions would not be possible without the time and commitment of so many, more notably the club’s junior leaders; Owen Rigg, Jean Belliveau and Dave Thomas who sacrifice numerous hours throughout the summer to provide a fun, learning environment that is inclusive to all.
“Running successful junior programs requires the help of so many. A big thank you to our volunteers, staff and of course our membership who allow us to implement these programs.” added Dupuis.
Currently, the Hollinger offers two 4-day junior camps where juniors are introduced to the game of golf through various activities where they learn FUNdamentals and basic golf etiquette.
In addition, Hollinger’s Junior Super Camp was introduced in 2021 where it has grown significantly and focuses on more advanced skill development and on-course play, introducing juniors to the competitive aspect of the game. This past season, members of the Junior Super Camp got the opportunity to participate in three Northern Ontario junior tournaments, highlighted by a coach bus trip to the New Liskeard Golf Club.
The Hollinger welcomed 80+ different juniors this past season through its junior programming.
The Hollinger looks forward to building on these established programs and looks forward to creating further development opportunities for our local junior golfers.
