The business world has long recognized the powerful parallels between competitive sports and executive leadership.
At Glenlyon Norfolk School (GNS) in Victoria, B.C., Vancouver Island’s only International Baccalaureate (IB) Continuum school, university-focused golfers in grades 9 through 12 can now get world-class athletic training alongside rigorous, inquiry-based learning.
An innovative partnership with The Golf Performance Project offers student-athletes the opportunity to achieve excellence both on the green and in the classroom. Deputy head of school Cole Carlson says GNS’s commitment to nurturing the whole student is at the heart of this initiative.
“The IB curriculum fosters critical thinking, a deeply inquisitive mindset and sophisticated self-management skills,” says Carlson. “Through the addition of the Gryphons Golf Prep Program, a student’s passion for the game won’t just complement their education, it will elevate it. We provide the tailored guidance that empowers students to graduate not just as premier NCAA or U SPORTS recruits, but also as confident, compassionate individuals.” The program instills in students the character traits that are highly sought after by prestigious university admissions boards and corporate recruiters.
On the athletic side, students receive a professional-grade training experience that rivals collegiate programs. Jason Giesbrecht, general manager of The Golf Performance Project, emphasizes that high-performance sport requires an extraordinary will to win.
“What you’re trying to do isn’t ordinary. This is extraordinary. If you want to be in a leadership position in business, in industry, that’s going to be extraordinary,” explains Giesbrecht. “Sport gives you exposure to what a will to win looks like. It gives you the occasional bop on the nose to say that just because you work hard doesn’t mean you deserve it. You’re going to have to have some perseverance. In sport, like in life, it’s sometimes fairly relentless. It’s not always kind, and it’s also not always fair. Golf is probably one of the most equitable and least fair sports that we can play. I think it’s super powerful for a young person to come to terms with that, when a lot of adults don’t.”
The regimen includes regular instruction from CPGA professionals and year-round data analysis using high-tech simulators, dedicated putting labs and advanced launch monitors. Carlson says this technical work is strongly supported in the school environment with dedicated strength, speed and flexibility training, ensuring student-athletes develop safely and effectively during crucial high school growth stages. “Students will also have access to vital social and emotional counselling that GNS offers, as well as on-site physiotherapy and nursing services,” he adds.
For students attending school from beyond Victoria, GNS provides a highly supportive boarding program. Students can live in one of two boutique boarding houses, off campus, or they can take part in the school’s homestay program, living with GNS families or school staff in family-like environments.
For students seeking an environment where athletic ambition meets world-class academic development, the Gryphons Golf Prep Program offers a winning pathway to post-secondary success and professional leadership.
Applications are now being accepted for the 2026/2027 school year. For more, go to www.mygns.ca/golf.
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