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ACURA PARTNERS WITH GOLF CANADA TO DRIVE CN FUTURE LINKS MOBILE CLINICS

Acura to be the official vehicle sponsor of CN Future Links Mobile Golf Clinics

Close to 70,000 juniors expected to participate in more than 1,800 CN Future Links Mobile Clinics delivered by PGA of Canada professionals and the provincial golf associations

Oakville, Ont. (Golf Canada) – Golf Canada and Acura are pleased to announce a three-year partnership in which Acura will become vehicle sponsor of the CN Future Links Mobile Golf Clinics – an initiative of Canada’s national junior golf program.

A joint initiative developed by Golf Canada, the PGA of Canada and Canada’s provincial golf associations, Canada’s national junior golf program is also supported by the National Golf Course Owners Association. The program offers a full suite of junior golf programs for boys and girls ages 6-18, from beginners to those with a high degree of experience and playing ability. CN Future Links is committed to providing junior golfers and young golf enthusiasts in communities across Canada with affordable and accessible golf programs.

”We are thrilled that Acura has aligned their respected brand with Canada’s national junior golf program,” said Golf Canada CEO Scott Simmons. “Through the efforts of our partners at the PGA of Canada and the provincial golf associations, CN Future Links Mobile Clinics are bringing quality golf activities to communities across Canada and now Acura will be a big part of that success.”

Acura will support the CN Future Links program by providing each of the 10 provincial golf associations with a current model year MDX vehicle. Each vehicle will be decaled in CN Future Links artwork and used as the official vehicle of CN Future Links Mobile Clinics presented by Acura.

Each fully equipped Mobile Clinics Acura MDX vehicle will be staffed with a PGA of Canada professional and will travel to various locations across each province to teach juniors golfers introductory golf lessons. The CN Future Links Mobile Clinics vehicle will travel to almost any location including parks, recreation centres, schools and golf facilities, ensuring golf is brought to where the kids are.

“We are delighted to sponsor CN Future Links Mobile Clinics, as Acura is committed to supporting youth initiatives across Canada and this is a natural partnership of the two brands,” said Dave Gardner, vice president of sales and marketing, Acura Canada. “With luxury comfort, dynamic performance, class-leading fuel economy ratings, advanced safety features, and a versatile passenger and cargo cabin, the MDX fits the needs of the program and will contribute greatly to its overall success.”

In addition to being the official vehicle sponsor, Acura has committed to providing branded range balls, BirdieBalls and the almostGOLF balls to the program. Each CN Future Links Mobile Clinic presented by Acura participant will also receive Acura branded tee packs and a participation certificate.

Under the leadership of PGA of Canada golf professionals, CN Future Links junior programs help young golfers develop the technical skills, appropriate attitude and self-confidence to succeed on the course, while teaching them the positive life lessons to succeed off the course.

“This is an exciting and worthwhile partnership for the CN Future Links Mobile Golf Clinics,” said PGA of Canada CEO Gary Bernard. “Since the program’s inception in 1996 the PGA of Canada and Golf Canada have seen more than 1-million kids go through CN Future Links and I feel this terrific initiative will only enhance the world-class junior golf program."

In 2013, nearly 65,000 juniors took part in more than 1,700 CN Future Links Mobile Clinics across the country. Since launching in 1996, more than 1 million juniors have experienced quality golf activities through the CN Future Links program.

ABOUT ACURA
Acura is the luxury-performance division of Honda Canada Inc. The Acura lineup features six distinctive models including the RLX luxury performance sedan, the TL performance luxury sedan, the TSX sedan, the ILX compact luxury sedan, the RDX luxury crossover SUV and the MDX luxury sport utility vehicle.

ABOUT CN
CN is a true backbone of the economy, transporting approximately C$250 billion worth of goods annually for a wide range of business sectors, ranging from resource products to manufactured products to consumer goods, across a rail network spanning Canada and mid-America, from the Atlantic and Pacific oceans to the Gulf of Mexico. CN – Canadian National Railway Company, along with its operating railway subsidiaries -- serves the ports of Vancouver, Prince Rupert, B.C., Montreal, Halifax, New Orleans, and Mobile, Ala., and the metropolitan areas of Toronto, Chicago, Detroit, Duluth, Minn./Superior, Wis., Green Bay, Wis., Minneapolis/St. Paul, Memphis, and Jackson, Miss., with connections to all points in North America. For more information on CN, visit the company’s website at www.cn.ca. (TSX: CNR) (NYSE: CNI).

CN FUTURE LINKS
CN Future Links is Canada’s national junior golf program conducted by Golf Canada, the PGA of Canada and Canada’s provincial golf associations. The program is designed to forge a link between Canada’s youth and golf to ensure the future of the game in Canada. Since the inception of the program in 1996, more than one million young Canadians have taken part in CN Future Links. A number of new initiatives, including Field Trips and Learn to Play, have succeeded through CN’s sponsorship of the program. For more information, visit www.cnfuturelinks.com.

ABOUT THE PGA OF CANADA—THE LIFEBLOOD OF THE GAME OF GOLF:

Established in 1911, the PGA of Canada is the second oldest and third largest professional golf association in the world. The PGA of Canada is a non-profit Association comprised of 3,800 golf professionals across the country. The Association’s mandate is to develop, promote and support our Members as experts in the game and business of golf and, in so doing, serve both its Members’ needs and those of the golfing public through the Association’s varied programs and events. The Association consists of the National Office located in Acton, Ont., and nine Zone Offices across the country.
www.pgaofcanada.com.

GOLF CANADA – LOVE THE GAME. GROW THE GAME.
Golf Canada is the National Sports Organization and governing body for golf in Canada representing close to 322,000 golfers at nearly 1,500 member clubs across the country. A proud member of the Canadian Olympic Committee, Golf Canada’s mission is to grow participation, excellence and passion in the sport while upholding the integrity and traditions of the game. By investing in the growth of the sport and introducing more participants of all ages to the game, our goal is to be relevant to and respected by all Canadian golf enthusiasts from coast to coast. For more information about what Golf Canada is doing to support golf in your community, visit www.golfcanada.ca.

Media Contacts:
Dan Pino
Director, Corporate Communications
Golf Canada
Office: 1-800-263-00091-800-263-0009 ext. 406
Email: dpino@golfcanada.ca

Laura Heasman
Public Relations
Acura Canada
Office: 905-888-4586905-888-4586
Email: laura_heasman@ch.honda.com

Chris Fry
Manager of Communications
PGA of Canada
Office: 519-853-5450519-853-5450 ext. 234
Email: chris@pgaofcanada.com