Canadian PGA Member Ben Kern Inducted To Canadian Golf Hall Of Fame
- The Late Ben Kern Becomes Canadian Golf Hall of Fame’s 65th Honoured Member -
Oakville, Ont. (Golf Canada) – The Canadian Golf Hall of Fame welcomed its newest member Thursday as Ben Kern was officially inducted during a ceremony in Oakville, Ont. With his induction as a golf administrator, Kern posthumously becomes the 65th honoured member of the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame.
Kern will long be remembered for his dedication to Canadian junior golf. He organized the first International Teaching and Coaching Symposium, bringing world-renowned instructors to Canada in 1990. He also served on the board of the Canadian PGA and coordinated completion of its teaching manual.
A former touring professional, Kern played on the PGA TOUR for six years and was one of Canada's leading golf instructors. He has mentored and taught some of Canada’s stars and teaching professionals, including Mike Weir and Lorie Kane. Kern gave his time and energy at every level of the game in Canada with a goal of helping to foster the development of Canada’s elite golfers, both amateurs and professional. He also thrived on introducing more children to the sport of golf.
In the mid 1990’s, Kern partnered with Golf Canada – then the Royal Canadian Golf Association - to design the curriculum for what is now the CN Future Links junior development program. Until that time, there were no formally organized junior programs teaching golf to children in Canada.
The CN Future Links program was launched in 1996 and continues to serve as a junior golf program run by Canadian PGA professionals across the country in partnership with Canada’s provincial golf associations and Golf Canada. The Future Links teaching manual has been adopted and translated into various languages around the world, and more than 845,000 kids have taken part in CN Future Links programming since 1996.
With help from Devil’s Pulpit Superintendent Ken Wright, Kern also invented the Accuform bunker rake which has became the industry standard at most golf courses and PGA TOUR stops across North America.
Kern was previously inducted into the Mississauga Sports Hall of Fame as well as the Ontario Golf Hall of Fame.
Upcoming Canadian Golf Hall of Fame induction ceremonies scheduled for 2010 include Graham Cooke on June 28 at Summerlea Golf and Country Club in Vaudreuil-Dorion, Que. and Brent Franklin on July 18 at Shaughnessy Golf and Country Club in Vancouver. Both ceremonies will take place from 7:00-9:00 pm. Tickets are available by contacting Meggan Gardner with at mgardner@golfcanada.ca or 1.800.263.0009 ext. 412.
ABOUT THE CANADIAN GOLF HALL OF FAME & MUSEUM
The Canadian Golf Hall of Fame celebrates the outstanding individuals of Canadian golf from players, both amateur and professional, to the builders, architects and others who have been fundamental to the evolution of the game in this country. Operated by Golf Canada, the Hall of Fame, museum and library are open to visitors to discover more about the game and the inductees. For more information please visit www.cghf.org.
GOLF CANADA – YOU BELONG
Golf Canada is a member-based organization governed by the Royal Canadian Golf Association (RCGA). Recognized by Sport Canada as the National Sport Organization (NSO) for golf in this country and representing more than 350,000 members and 1,600 golf clubs, Golf Canada is responsible for promoting participation in and a passion for the game of golf in Canada.
Golf Canada actively conducts championships, programs and services to help shape the present and future of golf in Canada. Canada’s National Amateur Golf Team program, National Golf in Schools, Golf Fore the Cure, the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame and Museum and CN Future Links, Canada’s national junior golf program, are only some of the initiatives the association leads for golf in Canada. As the authority for the game of golf in Canada, the association also administers the Rules of Golf and Amateur Status as well as Handicapping and Course Rating under the esteemed RCGA brand.
In addition, Golf Canada conducts Canada’s most prestigious golf championships. The RBC Canadian Open and CN Canadian Women’s Open attract the best professional golfers in the world, while regional junior and national amateur championships provide world class competitive opportunities for Canada’s top golfers to showcase their talents.
For more information about what Golf Canada is doing to support golf in your community, visit us online at www.golfcanada.ca.
-30-
Media Contact:
Terry Lenyk
Coordinator, Media and Public Relations
Golf Canada
Office: 1-800-263-0009 ext. 335
Mobile: (416) 407-3893
Email: tlenyk@golfcanada.ca
Oakville, Ont. (Golf Canada) – The Canadian Golf Hall of Fame welcomed its newest member Thursday as Ben Kern was officially inducted during a ceremony in Oakville, Ont. With his induction as a golf administrator, Kern posthumously becomes the 65th honoured member of the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame.
Kern will long be remembered for his dedication to Canadian junior golf. He organized the first International Teaching and Coaching Symposium, bringing world-renowned instructors to Canada in 1990. He also served on the board of the Canadian PGA and coordinated completion of its teaching manual.
A former touring professional, Kern played on the PGA TOUR for six years and was one of Canada's leading golf instructors. He has mentored and taught some of Canada’s stars and teaching professionals, including Mike Weir and Lorie Kane. Kern gave his time and energy at every level of the game in Canada with a goal of helping to foster the development of Canada’s elite golfers, both amateurs and professional. He also thrived on introducing more children to the sport of golf.
In the mid 1990’s, Kern partnered with Golf Canada – then the Royal Canadian Golf Association - to design the curriculum for what is now the CN Future Links junior development program. Until that time, there were no formally organized junior programs teaching golf to children in Canada.
The CN Future Links program was launched in 1996 and continues to serve as a junior golf program run by Canadian PGA professionals across the country in partnership with Canada’s provincial golf associations and Golf Canada. The Future Links teaching manual has been adopted and translated into various languages around the world, and more than 845,000 kids have taken part in CN Future Links programming since 1996.
With help from Devil’s Pulpit Superintendent Ken Wright, Kern also invented the Accuform bunker rake which has became the industry standard at most golf courses and PGA TOUR stops across North America.
Kern was previously inducted into the Mississauga Sports Hall of Fame as well as the Ontario Golf Hall of Fame.
Upcoming Canadian Golf Hall of Fame induction ceremonies scheduled for 2010 include Graham Cooke on June 28 at Summerlea Golf and Country Club in Vaudreuil-Dorion, Que. and Brent Franklin on July 18 at Shaughnessy Golf and Country Club in Vancouver. Both ceremonies will take place from 7:00-9:00 pm. Tickets are available by contacting Meggan Gardner with at mgardner@golfcanada.ca or 1.800.263.0009 ext. 412.
ABOUT THE CANADIAN GOLF HALL OF FAME & MUSEUM
The Canadian Golf Hall of Fame celebrates the outstanding individuals of Canadian golf from players, both amateur and professional, to the builders, architects and others who have been fundamental to the evolution of the game in this country. Operated by Golf Canada, the Hall of Fame, museum and library are open to visitors to discover more about the game and the inductees. For more information please visit www.cghf.org.
GOLF CANADA – YOU BELONG
Golf Canada is a member-based organization governed by the Royal Canadian Golf Association (RCGA). Recognized by Sport Canada as the National Sport Organization (NSO) for golf in this country and representing more than 350,000 members and 1,600 golf clubs, Golf Canada is responsible for promoting participation in and a passion for the game of golf in Canada.
Golf Canada actively conducts championships, programs and services to help shape the present and future of golf in Canada. Canada’s National Amateur Golf Team program, National Golf in Schools, Golf Fore the Cure, the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame and Museum and CN Future Links, Canada’s national junior golf program, are only some of the initiatives the association leads for golf in Canada. As the authority for the game of golf in Canada, the association also administers the Rules of Golf and Amateur Status as well as Handicapping and Course Rating under the esteemed RCGA brand.
In addition, Golf Canada conducts Canada’s most prestigious golf championships. The RBC Canadian Open and CN Canadian Women’s Open attract the best professional golfers in the world, while regional junior and national amateur championships provide world class competitive opportunities for Canada’s top golfers to showcase their talents.
For more information about what Golf Canada is doing to support golf in your community, visit us online at www.golfcanada.ca.
-30-
Media Contact:
Terry Lenyk
Coordinator, Media and Public Relations
Golf Canada
Office: 1-800-263-0009 ext. 335
Mobile: (416) 407-3893
Email: tlenyk@golfcanada.ca