TORONTO, Ont. — What began as a chance to try something new close to home has become a defining part of Jayden Cruz’s life.
When Oakdale Golf and Country Club launched its First Tee – Ontario program in 2022, Cruz and his younger brother Mason were among the first participants to sign up. For the Cruz family, golf was not a sport they had previously considered. Four years later, it has become far more than a game.
Now turning 16, Cruz has grown from one of Oakdale’s pilot First Tee participants, into a mentor for the younger players, reflecting the confidence, resilience and sense of purpose the program has helped foster.
Introduced to golf through First Tee, Cruz quickly developed both his skills and a passion for the sport. What made the program meaningful to him was the welcoming environment created by Oakdale’s coaches, where respect, honesty and perseverance are ingrained in every lesson. It was in that space that Cruz’s confidence began to flourish.
One of the most memorable moments in his journey came in 2023, when Oakdale hosted the RBC Canadian Open. Through First Tee – Canada’s Walk With a Pro experience, Cruz had the opportunity to go inside the ropes alongside one of the world’s greatest, Rory McIlroy — a dream come true, assisted by his younger brother Mason, who gave up his own spot in line so Cruz could meet his golf hero.
Today, Cruz remains deeply connected to the same program that first introduced him to the game. As Oakdale enters its fifth season of First Tee programming, he now works at the club as a range attendant and volunteers as an assistant coach of the program, while Mason continues as an active participant.
“Jayden was a wonderful student in our program and has developed into an excellent role model for the younger participants,” said Bob Beauchemin, Oakdale’s director of instruction. “He is a respectful, courteous and hardworking young man. We’re fortunate to have him working in golf operations and staying involved in our First Tee program.”
At home, his parents have watched the impact of his First Tee lessons extend well beyond the fairways.
“We’re so grateful to have found the First Tee program at Oakdale,” they said. “The positive impact it has had on Jayden is clear in his desire to stay involved and continue to grow both on and off the course.”
Now enrolled in the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program — a two-year, challenging curriculum preparing students for university and adult life — Cruz says the focus and discipline he has developed through golf continue to support him in the classroom and in everyday life.
The support of Oakdale’s membership, covering the cost of program registration so all children could have a chance to play, was integral to Cruz’s golf and life connection. The game has become a way for him to give back.
“I’ve learned a lot through First Tee,” he said. “If I can help younger people, like my brother, enjoy the game and learn those same lessons, that would mean a lot.”
First Tee – Ontario plans to invite Cruz to become a certified coach, giving him the opportunity to pass those lessons on to the next generation.
For a young person who first arrived at Oakdale looking to try something new, Cruz’s journey has come full circle, proving that when access meets opportunity, the impact can last far beyond the course.