Page 10 - GreenMaster Fall 2024

u COVER STORY u GREENMASTER EDITORIAL TEAM
National Golf
A Celebration
L - R - Kevin Thistle, CEO PGA of Canada, Elizabeth May, MP from Saanich-Gulf Islands (British Columbia), Laurence Applebaum, CEO Golf Canada, and John McLinden, AGS, President CGSA.
L - R - Jeff Calderwood, CEO NGCOA Canada and NAGA Chair, Laurence Applebaum CEO Golf Canada, Kevin Thistle, CEO PGA of Canada, and James Maloney, MP from Etobicoke-Lakeshore (Greater Toronto Area).
Following a four-year hiatus due to COVID-19, the National Allied
Golf Association (NAGA) returned to Parliament Hill for National Golf Day. This important event took place on May 22–23, 2024. National Golf Day celebrates golf’s physical and mental health benefits, its safe sport attributes, social merits, environmental stewardship, diversity, life skills for youth, and economic value to the business community.
Key stakeholders, including NAGA, were invited to Parliament Hill and were provided an opportunity to create relationships with legislative decision makers on the federal and provincial levels. Each of the associations within NAGA (CGSA, Golf Canada, NGCOA Canada, CMAC, and the PGA of Canada) represents a unique sector of the golf industry. NAGA brings these 5 associations together as a single voice about critical issues that affect golfers and golf businesses.
“I was privileged to attend National Golf Day on Parliament Hill in Ottawa in May. Over the two-day period, we were able to meet a multitude of MP’s and their staff from all political affiliations. Although it was officially called a Lobby Day, it was more of a promotion and education of the game of golf and all the benefits that the game provides. Items discussed ranged from the health benefits of golf, the increased participation of golfers (over six million in Canada), the increase of women and minorities taking up the game, the economic impact of the sport and the environmental benefits and
10 • CGSA • GreenMaster