22-05-2025
Helping athletes prepare for Canada Games is 'one of a kind' experience, golf coach says
More than 4,200 athletes will descend upon St. John's for the Canada Summer Games in August, and one team coach says helping those athletes create memories is a rewarding experience.
Wayne Allen, coach of Team Newfoundland and Labrador's golf team, will coach in his third Games this summer.
"To represent the province and to help some of these young athletes at such a big event is such a big honour — especially now [that] it's in St. John's," Allen told CBC News.
"Doing the event at home is going to be fantastic."
Golf is different from other sports at the Games, in that it has both individual and team events, said Allen, who is also a PGA pro and Golf Newfoundland and Labrador's technical director.
It can also be an isolating and pressure-packed sport, he says, but added coaches play an important role in helping athletes reach their highest goals.
"We have, you know, swing training. We have mental training, we do some work with nutritionists, all the physical aspects that go along with just, you know, swinging the golf club. But there is pressure on the athletes, because the scores are posted online," Allen said.
"You've got family watching, you've got your university coach watching. So there's a lot of pressure to perform, but we train them best we can and put them in a position where they're ready to go at the games."
WATCH | Wayne Allen says he's honoured to help young athletes at the Canada Games:
Team N.L's Canada Games golf coach is helping athletes swing fore! the podium
37 minutes ago
Duration 2:02
The 2025 Canada Summer Games will mark Wayne Allen's third as a coach for Team Newfoundland and Labrador, but he says this one will be special as golfers compete in front of a home crowd in St. John's.
Allen coached at the 2022 Canada Summer Games in Niagara, where his daughter, Paige, represented Team N.L.
While team makeup hasn't yet been decided, both of his daughters are in contention to be the two women representing the province.
Above all, Allen says he values the experience of working with young athletes to help them develop.
"It's neat to see them when they come home and visit, and you see them when they're older," said Allen.
"To share the experience is one of a kind. It's something, you know, you can't kind of repeat in any other walk of life."
