Athlete Assistance

Description

The Ontario Athlete Assistance Program (OAAP) is administered by the Government of Ontario, through the Ministry of Health Promotion. Given the title, Quest for Gold, this program is designed to provide financial aid to Ontario athletes in their pursuit of athletic excellence at the highest level of national and international competition. Golf as a sport has been a part of this program since 2008. This program mimics the carded athlete system that exists for Olympic athletes. Under the OAAP guidelines financial aid is granted to athletes through the distribution of Ontario cards. The GAO has been allocated a maximum of six Ontario cards to distribute to qualified athletes.

Eligibility

• Athlete must be a Canadian citizen, a resident of Ontario and a member in good standing of the GAO.
  
• Normal age requirement for athletes to apply for funding through the OAAP is under 23 years of age. There will be one card (male) and one card (female) for athletes aged 23 & older under the “Eligible Next Generation Athlete” category.
  
• Due to NCAA guidelines the GAO prohibits any golfer attending NCAA schools or any junior age (18 & under) golfer from applying for funds from the OAAP.

Ideal candidates for the OAAP are golfers who are attending Canadian universities or golfers that are in their final year of school at an NCAA program in the United States.

In order to be considered by the GAO as a candidate for the OAAP an athlete must have accomplished one of the following:

• Advanced to Semi Finals of the GAO Match Play Championship.
• Finished in the Top 10 in the GAO Amateur Championship.
• Ranked in the Top 10 for the GAO Amateur Player Rankings.
• Finished in the Top 15 in the RCGA National Amateur Championship.
• Ranked in the Top 15 for the RCGA Order of Merit.

Applications for the OAAP are made to the GAO in the fall of each year. The selection committee at the GAO will recommend athletes to the OAAP for Ontario Card Designation. The Ontario Card Program runs annually from April 1st to March 31st and all athletes must reapply each year. The dollar value of the Ontario cards is set annually by Sport and Recreation Branch of the Ministry of Health Promotion. 

For more information on the OAAP and to learn how to apply, please click on the following link:

Quest for Gold Athlete Assistance Program 2009-2010

 

OntarioCard Nominated Athletes for 2010

 

Dave Bunker, GAO Public Player

David Byrne, Sutton Creek G&CC

Matt Hoffman, Thornhill G&CC

Lisa Maunu, St. Thomas G&CC

 

OntarioCard Eligible Athletes for 2010

 

David Byrne	Brad Revell
Dave Bunker	Eric Hawerchuck
Garrett Rank	Gail Pimm
Alyssa Kwon	Cam Burke
Natalie Desjardins	Stefani Markovich
Tara McFadden	Matt Hoffman
Alexandra Aversa	Stephanie Sherlock
Matt Hill	Sebastian Szirmak
Lisa Maunu	Brett Cairns
Simon McInnis	Nicole Vandermade
Drew Symons	Christopher Ross
Natalie Gleadall

                                                                            

Past Recipients of OAAP Cards

2009
Graham Hill
Kristy McLaughlin
Christopher Ross

2008
Kristy McLaughlin
Jace Walker