Page 16 - GBC Fall Eng 2016

BRad FRiTSCH
Web.com Tour Champion
“In my opinion, the best outcome for golf in the Olympics would be Kiradech Aphibarnrat vs. Anirban Lahiri for the gold. Because those two countries are non-traditional golf countries, that’s how you’re going to grow the game.
“I don’t think you grow the game in the US, Canada, or England based on the Olympics and a gold medal. The game is already close to as popular as it will ever be. A casual sports fan already knows who Bubba Watson or Rickie Fowler are, but do young Thai people or young Indian people, know who those athletes are? Probably not.
“Kiradech or Anirban winning would be more impactful for the game on a global scale than anything an American or Canadian can do. Internally, if Brooke Henderson won a gold medal or David Hearn or Graham DeLaet, you might see a boost similar to when Mike Weir won the Masters and it would certainly have a big impact emotionally.
“From a participation stand- point? I don’t know about that. Smaller countries, poorer countries, countries where golf has never been part of the culture is where golf could have the biggest impact in the Olympics. In those countries, just getting clubs in the hands of young kids I don’t think is difficult. It’s a willingness to do that. Exposure in the Olympics might provide that willingness.”
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Golf Business Canada
MiLES MoRTEnSEn
General Manager, The Links at Brunello, Halifax, Nova Scotia
“Just the general awareness of the Olympics Games is going to be exceptional. The course design in Rio is leading edge in terms of where golf is going to go in the future with brown being the new green, so the Games will be a showcase for where golf should go and where it needs to go from a design and conditioning perspective.
“I think what this event will also do is heighten awareness of our own Golf Canada programs across the country, which are already getting great results from many people who are involved, so this is going to be another catalyst for the next generation of young Canadian golfers.
“We’ve got our arms wrapped around amateur golf and the mission is the same. You’re trying to create golfers and make them lifelong golfers whether it’s through initiatives with the NGCOA Canada, Golf Canada, or the provincial golf associations.
“You have to be invested emotionally into the return on the investment on those programs to create new golfers and new consumers of the sport. At the end of the day, there is going to be two Olympic champions who were at one point junior golfers. No matter what country they’re from, no matter what background. That’s where golf operators can wrap their own arms around this.
“The Olympics is one of the prime opportunities we’ve ever had to showcase our sport.”