Power of Sport Tour® pulls into Kelowna

KELOWNA, BC - April 14 through 18, the BCGA School Golf Program pulls into Kelowna as part of Sport BC’s spring Power of Sport Tour®.

By bringing specialist staff from a range of provincial sport organizations, Sport BC’s Power of Sport Tour® offers opportunities for everyone in the community to discover or increase the sporting aspect of their lives. It features a number of hands-on workshops, seminars, presentations and demonstrations aimed at coaches, officials, volunteers, students, athletes and potential recreational level athletes.

A first in the region, the BCGA will be teaching a SNAG level I Coach Certification Course on Wednesday, April 16 th at the Capital News Centre. Starting New at Golf (SNAG) is a simplified method of teaching golf to school-age children that works as a bridge from the “playground to the fairway”.

A popular element of the tour is the schools program, which sees presenters taking a positive sport message to local students through hands-on school presentations. The British Columbia Golf Association will be introducing golf to students at Peter Greer Elementary and Anne McClymont Elementary in Kelowna, Kidston Elementary in Vernon and South Rutland Elementary in Rutland.

New this year, the BCGA will be conducting a RCGA Handicap seminar followed by a general Rules of Golf seminar at Kelowna Springs Golf Club on Thursday, April 17 th. Kris Jonasson, executive director of the BCGA will facilitate the Rules seminar introducing the newly updated Rules of Golf. The Rules are updated every four years through the work of the Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews, Scotland and the United States Golf Association.

Jonasson is a renowned Rules official and has worked at events that include the PGA Tour. “I try to make Rules seminars fun,” says Jonasson. “I use video clips and other examples from professional tournaments that show some of the crazy things that can happen during play.”

Adding to the excitement of the tour, Kelowna, home of the 2008 BC Summer Games will host the BC Games Torch Lighting Ceremony on Monday, April 14th at the Rotary Centre for the Arts.