Page 13 - GBC Fall Eng 2016

andY HEdLEY
Vice President of Operations, GolfBC Holdings Inc.
“Anything that exposes golf to a wider audience can only be beneficial for the greater good of the game. It’s unfortunate with this Zika virus that’s popped its head up and caused some of the best players in the game to pull out. It’s going to have a bit of a detrimental effect for putting golf in the Olympics for the first time in over 100 years.
“But, in the end, having the game brought to that wider audience is going to be better for everybody. It’s going to be important for the IOC and the television production companies to make sure they have commentators who will educate the audience about the game, about the scoring, and the rules. It can be quite a complicated game at times.
“As far as the Olympics being broadcast in nations where golf is already part of the culture, like here, in the US or in Australia, there is still a big population base in those countries that still don’t play golf or have access to it so again any coverage we see through these events can only help. It’s going to create interest.
“It’s also important, vital actually, that when people see golf in the Olympics and are intrigued by it and if they do have access, we need to have those programs in place that will encourage those people to have a go at it. That includes everybody of course, but the introductory junior programs is where it can be most critical.
“We’ve worked hard to break down those barriers of exclusivity to make golf a game for everybody. As far as the best possible outcome, certainly having Brooke Henderson, Alena Sharp, Graham DeLaet, or David Hearn standing on the podium would be great. These are the people kids are looking up to and wanting to emulate. That would be the best exposure we could have here in Canada from golf in the Olympics.”
STEvE Mona
Chief Executive Officer, World Golf Foundation
“The main reasons that the leaders of the golf industry were interested in having golf become part of the Olympic program were twofold.
“First, to bring the game to countries where golf is not part of its sports culture, through the introduction of grassroots develop- ment programs and secondly, to inspire and motivate young people to pursue their dream of becoming an Olympic athlete by either taking up the game or increasing their commitment to golf.
“That being said, the two best outcomes for golf being part of the 2016 and 2020 Olympic Games are the accomplishment of these objectives.”
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