**GOLF ONTARIO & NORTHERN GOLF ASSOCIATION NEWS RELEASE**

Golf Ontario (GO) and the Northern Golf Association (NGA) are extremely excited to announce a partnership that will focus on growing the game of golf in Northern Ontario. Both organizations have long been leaders of the game of golf and bringing the 2 organizations together will ensure stronger collaboration in communicating and promoting the sport of golf in Northern Ontario.

The focus of this partnership will be on 3 areas:
Membership –all NGA members will now also be Golf Ontario members and receive all of the benefits of Gold Membership
Grow Golf – both organizations will continue to invest in initiatives (such as Golf in Schools) that are intended to grow the game of golf in Northern Ontario
Golf Services – stronger collaboration on areas such as course rating, handicapping and competitions.

Currently, the NGA has 27 member clubs (8 of which are currently also members with Golf Ontario). As part of this agreement moving forward, all NGA clubs and members will be able to become members of both organizations with access to all of the great benefits that both organizations offer.

Mike Kelly, Executive Director of Golf Ontario, believes that this new arrangement will benefit both Golf Ontario and all of the members of the NGA. “We are excited to be partnering with the NGA to collaboratively promote and grow the game of golf in Northern Ontario. Golf Ontario membership provides many great benefits such as handicapping, incident coverage, and access to Golf Ontario championships, and having these available to the members of the NGA will help support the development of golf in Northern Ontario” said Kelly.

Owen Rigg, Director of Northern Golf Association, added his very similar message. “It has been an absolute pleasure to work with Golf Ontario on the mutually beneficial agreement. Over the next few years we look forward in working with our NGA member Clubs in implementing so many of the wonderful programs that Golf Ontario and Golf Canada have to offer. Northern Golf is back!” Exclaimed Rigg.

About Golf Ontario
Golf Ontario is Ontario’s Provincial Sport Organization focused on enhancing participation, elevating performance and supporting the passion of golfers in Ontario. With over 95,000 individual members and 400 member clubs, Golf Ontario is one of the largest golf associations in the world. From rating courses and keeping the integral rules of the game intact, to growing the game at the grassroots level and hosting the best amateur tournaments in Canada, Golf Ontario is a passionate group dedicated to shaping lives through Golf.

Follow Golf Ontario @TheGolfOntario on Twitter and Instagram, and Like on Facebook

About the Northern Golf Association
The Northern Golf Association (NGA) is a non-profit organization with member golf courses located as far south as Katrine on Highway 11, Parry Sound on Highway 69, west on Highway 17 to Sault Ste Marie and north to Wawa, east to Mattawa and north along Highway 11 to Hearst.

The mission of the NGA is to promote the growth of golf in Northern Ontario, and to govern the scheduling, allocation and execution of NGA Championships for Men, Ladies and Juniors within the jurisdiction. The Northern Ontario Amateur Championship has been held every year since 1926 with the exception of 3 years during WWII.

Follow the Northern Golf Association @golf_nga on Twitter and Like us on Facebook

Filed under: Local News