First-time Canadian author’s innovative
approach to showing kids how to learn about life through sport, without having
to win
- PGA player
Stephen Ames endorses O’Shea’s book
TORONTO,
ONT. (July 22)—Conor O’Shea – a professional golf instructor at Piper’s Heath
Golf Club in Milton – today launched the first in a series of fully-illustrated,
annual stories aimed to get kids five to 12 more interested in the game of golf.
“The
stories follow the tale of Marcus,” explains author O’Shea. “Marcus is a young
boy who is hooked on golf, but is learning to cope with the frustrations of the
game by thinking and approaching the game differently.”
O’Shea’s
sponsors believe he’s found exactly the right approach that is missing in
growing the game among youth. His planned series of books introduces kids to
golf in a way that speaks directly to them as they learn the game. The book can
be purchased at
www.marcusgolfingadventures.com/store for $14.95; O’Shea will also be on
hand at the Canadian Open at Glen Abbey this week, promoting the book. The 2009
series of scripts, which have already been written, will feature Michelle as the
heroine to introduce these same concepts to young, aspiring girl golfers.
PGA Tour
player Stephen Ames believes O’Shea has the right message and right approach.
“The Marcus
Golfing Adventures message is a great roadmap for parents of junior golfers and
kids in general,” says Ames. “It delivers the right message about a lifelong
game - a game that has certainly been very good to me in all aspects of my life,
personally, socially and professionally.”
The Canadian
Orthopaedic Foundation (www.canorth.org)
also endorses the project. Michael Cloutier,
a prominent Canadian businessman with more than 26 years of experience in
healthcare, who oversees the “Because you Can” program
for the Canadian Orthopaedic Foundation, found his project a natural complement
to the themes O’Shea is trying to get across in the Marcus story.
“Marcus
speaks to kids who may be less able to compete, but who can still try to get
started properly and learn life’s lessons in a comfortable way,” O’Shea says. “I
realized kids were being put into competitive sport without the skills to handle
the pressure that is commonly associated with our game. I believe there is a
better way to teach them and that’s how this all got started.
“Since there
are few resources for kids to access that are not primarily instruction focused,
I felt a great opportunity existed to create a sustainable resource that speaks
to kids’ psyche as they learn the game of golf.”
The books
are illustrated by Brentton Barkman
(www.brentton-barkman.blogspot.com),
whose animation O’Shea says has now inspired him to consider a whole series of
Marcus books in different sports. This planned series of children’s sports books
will focus on inspiring youth and their parents to:
develop
a sound approach and philosophy on how sports will influence their lives
provide
“positive growth without results bias” a sustainable and wholesome way for
parents and kids to learn about their roles in the games they love to play
together; and
create
the belief that kids who have a “champion’s” approach in life are more
likely to be “champions” in sport – without the feeling they must win in
every game.
As part of his commitment and passion to
golf and as a thank you for the chances he was given to learn and play
competitively as a junior and collegiate player, O’Shea is donating a portion of
the proceeds from the sale of the Marcus series of books to the Canadian Junior
Golf Association and the Junior Golf Academy of Canada.
For more information on
O’Shea’s book or for editor’s seeking editorial information, downloadable images
and to discuss obtaining a review copy visit:
www.marcusgolfingadventures.com.
