Category: Blog

How to make your golf course more inclusive

At First Tee – Canada, we value inclusivity and acceptance. There are many impactful ways you can make your golf course a more inclusive environment to everyone that visits.  

Offer diverse programming 

Provide a variety of programs or events for different ages, skill levels, and backgrounds. This includes golf programming for youth from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, specific tee times throughout the week for beginners, and encouraging women’s participation through women’s leagues or tournaments.  

Get involved with your community 

Build connections with local schools, community groups and organizations nearby to promote golf. This helps introduce golf and encourages participation among a range of individuals – from youth to retired folks who may have not thought of golf as a sport for them.  

Provide accessible facilities  

To ensure that everyone feels welcomed and accommodated at your course, restrooms, parking and walkways should be accessible to individuals of all abilities. Many courses also have gender neutral washrooms available.  

Educate your staff 

Provide education on diversity and inclusion to ensure that everyone feels respected and valued when they visit your course. At First Tee – Canada, we require all staff, coaches and volunteers to complete the Respect Group training program, as well as upholding Safe Sport Policies.  

Provide affordable options 

Financial barriers should never stand in the way of enjoying the game. Offering equipment rentals, affordable lessons, and special membership packages such as family rates or student rates are all options that can contribute to a more inclusive course.  

Promote diversity  

Highlight a diverse range of golfers, coaches, and staff at your course and through your online channels. In addition, think of ways your course can celebrate or acknowledge days of diversity such as pride month. 

Get involved with First Tee – Canada  

Become a Program Location  

First Tee is offered at golf courses across the country. If you’re interested in becoming a program location, click here (https://firstteecanada.ca/chapters/).  

Green Fees Grow the Game

In a few simple steps, you can support your community by adding a $1 donation to each green fee. Learn more about how to get started: https://firstteecanada.ca/greenfees/

What to expect at a First Tee – Canada session

Trying new things is a great way to build self-confidence. However, it can also be intimidating. While First Tee – Canada aims to create welcoming environments, knowing more about what to expect may help your family feel more comfortable heading into your first session.

Here’s what you can expect:

A warm welcome

From the moment you arrive, expect to be greeted by a friendly First Tee coach and/or volunteer. Coaches are dedicated to creating a welcoming and inclusive atmosphere where every participant feels valued and supported.

As part of First Tee – Canada’s commitment to safety, all First Tee – Canada coaches and volunteers receive background checks and must complete Safe Sport and Respect in Sport training. In addition, First Tee – Canada coaches are trained and certified by the joint efforts of First Tee and the PGA of Canada.  

Golf equipment and attire are not necessary

Come as you are! We provide appropriate junior golf equipment and encourage kids to wear whatever they feel most confident in. We recommend wearing comfortable closed-toe shoes.

Our coaches modify the equipment and activities based on age level and skill. Some participants or sessions start with plastic clubs and tennis balls to ensure a safe environment, then work their way up to feeling comfortable with golf irons and balls.

Intro to basic golf skills

Participants will learn the fundamental skills of golf in a fun and interactive setting. From gripping the club to mastering the swing, our coaches are there every step of the way to provide guidance and encouragement.

The First Tee program incorporates many other sports and games into sessions. For example, using unique versions of bowling or tic-tac-toe to teach chipping, putting speed, and distance control.

Life skills integration

First Tee – Canada is more than a golf program. We aim to provide kids with tools for success both on and off the course. By seamlessly integrating the game of golf with a life skills curriculum, we create active learning experiences that continue to foster life skills like inner strength, self-confidence, resilience, honesty, and respect.

To achieve this, we incorporate a life lesson or skill into every session. For instance, if the life skill or theme of the month is honesty, the coach will discuss the importance of honest scoring and have teams keep track of their score during a game or competition. Participants will discuss amongst the group why honesty is so important in the game of golf and at school and home.

Empowering environment

Coaches and volunteers are there to offer guidance, support, and plenty of high fives. Here at First Tee – Canada, we celebrate every milestone no matter how small.

Even though you’ll find participants of all varying levels at First Tee, many kids can feel nervous during their first session. We like to remind them that every golfer was once a beginner! We all start somewhere.

What’s next? 

How do you stay connected after your child loved their experience with First Tee – Canada? Sign up for our newsletter for updates and visit your chapter’s registration page to find spring, summer, and fall programming near you. 

If your child is ready for a round of golf, check out Youth on Course to learn more about courses near you that offer $5 subsidized rounds for children under 18.  

Renewed Relationships: National Indigenous History Month and National Indigenous Peoples Day  

The world just turned its attention to Toronto for the PGA TOUR’s RBC Canadian Open. Meanwhile, First Tee – Canada is also taking a moment to reflect in honour of National Indigenous History Month and National Indigenous Peoples Day.  

This month serves as a reminder to acknowledge that we live, work, and play on the unceded traditional homelands of Indigenous communities, stand with those who are impacted by residential school systems and ongoing colonial structures and policies, and celebrate Indigenous cultures, traditions, and heritage together.  

Canada recognizes three groups of Indigenous peoples: First Nations, Inuit, and Métis, each with unique histories, languages, cultural practices, and spiritual beliefs. Nearly two million Canadians identify as Indigenous.

First Tee – Canada is made up of five chapters: First Tee – British Columbia, First Tee – Premier départ Quebec, First Tee – Atlantic, First Tee – Ontario, and First Tee – Prairies, with First Tee – Alberta launching later this year.  

Each chapter has unique and dynamic relationships with local Indigenous communities. 

BC has the greatest diversity of Indigenous cultures in Canada. First Tee – British Columbia opened its first program location, The Musqueam Golf and Learning Academy, on traditional Musqueam First Nation territory in 2021.  

Since then, it has expanded to over 53 program spaces and sold out every session this year. This summer, CPCK Women’s Open will be held at Shaughnessy Golf and Country Club, which is also located on Musqueam traditional territory. During tournament week, First Tee – British Columbia will host youth clinics at Musqueam Golf and Learning Academy, offer behind-the-scenes tours of the event grounds for local community groups, and provide children with positive experiences through golf.

Being home to more than 200 First Nations, First Tee – British Columbia hopes to continue to strengthen its existing relationships with Indigenous communities, but also strives to expand its network and collaborate with additional Indigenous communities across the province. 

In Quebec, there are over 40 Indigenous communities across the province. First Tee – Premier départ Quebec currently collaborates with the Mohawk community of Kahnawake, the Cree community of Waskaganish, and the First Nation of Mashteuiatsh through First Tee golf course, school, and community programming.  

The Quebec team also works closely with the Club 24 Athletics Foundation, a nonprofit organization supporting young Indigenous leaders through sport and education.  

Last year, First Tee – Premier départ Quebec hosted programming for 18 Indigenous participants. The team hopes to more than double that number this year. 

In the Kahnawake First Nations reserve, there are seven golf courses in under 50 km. The community’s volunteer coaches are introducing as many children as possible to golf through First Tee, developing multisport athletes to open more doors in their futures.

First Tee – Premier départ Quebec has been able to provide most programming at no cost to participants, with an entirely Indigenous coaching staff.

Ontario is home to over 23 percent of all Indigenous peoples in Canada.

First Tee – Ontario currently works with Anishnabeg Outreach Kitchener and Fort Erie Native Friendship Centre to offer First Tee community programming at their locations throughout the summer and will provide an on-course fun day at nearby golf courses this summer, too. Ahkwesahsne Mohawk Board has also come on board and will offer First Tee school programming this fall.

Additionally, last week, First Tee – Ontario coaches supported Golf Ontario’s Indigenous Try Golf Day event held at Sandusk Golf Club and led First Tee programming for children who attended the event.

First Tee – Prairies and First Tee – Atlantic are in the beginning stages of building relationships with Indigenous communities within their provinces, but hope to launch programming soon, some even this summer.  

The continued focus for First Tee – Canada is to build out community hubs of accessible pathways for golf participation through community centres, schools, and golf courses, ensuring the sport of golf reflects the strengths of Canada’s diversity.

Each chapter is dedicated to building trusting and authentic relationships with community organizations, stakeholders, and volunteers in their provinces to provide support for equity-deserving groups, including Indigenous communities.  

Click here for learning resources about First Nations, Inuit, and Metis across Canada. Visit firstteecanada.ca to learn more about program efforts across the country. 

First Tee – Québec facility named Program Location of the Year

Golf Canada recently announced its Junior Golf National Facility Awards, and a First Tee – Québec golf location has been proudly named First Tee – Canada’s Program Location of the Year.

The criteria for the award included a program location that demonstrated high participation enrollment in First Tee programming, engaged coaching staff, and made a significant effort to grow junior golf in their community.

The winning facility, Club de Golf Municipal Dallaire (Rouyn-Noranda, Québec) hosted 66 youth participants for First Tee sessions during the inaugural season of First Tee – Québec in 2022. 

The dedicated staff, Claude Murray, Eric Villeneuve, Maeva Therrien and Emeric Janhevich, were the difference makers for this program location.

“We are so happy to be the recipients of this award. I wasn’t expecting a club from a small town like us to win,” said Coach Emeric Janhevich. “Our coaching staff puts a lot of time and energy into the children. Seeing them develop skills and have fun is rewarding enough, so to be nationally recognized for our commitment to growing the game, it’s amazing.”

Dallaire offered First Tee – Québec sessions to children aged five to 13 up to four days a week for four weeks last season. Clearly, it was well received. Dallaire also facilitated two field trips for nearby schools that were operating First Tee in their physical education classes.

“Before First Tee, we had junior camps and programs, but First Tee has brought our junior programming to another level,” said Janhevich. “We attended the First Tee coach training and learned so many new activities, ways to engage with the children, and how to integrate life skill development into our sessions. We ensured our focus for junior programming was to have fun and spread positivity.”

Golf Canada partnered with First Tee in 2020 to launch First Tee – Canada and provide youth with affordable and inclusive access to golf along with life-enhancing experiences through the game. First Tee – Québec fosters the continued development of life skills such as confidence, integrity, and perseverance through golf at golf courses, schools, and community centres across the province.

Thanks to RBC Community Junior Golf, a funding initiative accelerating the launch of First Tee – Canada in equity-deserving communities across the country, children were able to participate in First Tee programming and on-course fun day events at no cost. 

“It’s important to us to involve the next generation of golfers and motivate them to see every aspect of what golf can be,” said Janhevich. “We look forward to offering First Tee and meeting new children again this season.”

Dallaire will offer First Tee – Québec again this year, with spring registration open and spots almost filled up. To find First Tee – Québec programming near you, click here.

If you are a golf facility, school, or community centre interested in becoming a program location, email [email protected] for more information on how to get started.

Green Fees Grow the Game

In 2022, nearly $25,000 was raised in support of First Tee – Ontario through one simple idea: adding a dollar to each green fee.

Taboo Muskoka and Lora Bay Golf Club implemented this idea last summer through the leadership of Nigel Hollidge, Chief Executive Officer, Great Gulf Course Management and Golf Canada Foundation Board Member.

“The easiest idea we had to support First Tee was to add an extra dollar onto each green fee and explain to the golfers where that money was going and how it would directly support communities in our province,” said Hollidge. “Not a single golfer complained, in fact, they were excited to be a part of this initiative.”

On-boarding is painless, and courses can benefit from their philanthropic commitment.  

“It was as simple as a journal entry at the end of every day where we allocated a dollar for every round played that day,” said Hollidge. “As a result of raising the green fee price a dollar, and given the fact we received a tax receipt, we actually improved our bottom line while giving back to the game.”

First Tee is a youth development program that provides children with life-enhancing experiences through golf. First Tee – Canada offers accessible and inclusive programming at golf courses, schools, and community centres, striving to ensure that golf reflects the diversity of Canadians.

“It was clear that First Tee helps people understand that golf isn’t just a sport, it’s a springboard into areas of life that you never thought were possible,” said Hollidge. “We’re proud to support a program that is opening doors for children through golf.”

Golf Canada partnered with First Tee to bring the program to Canada in 2020. With a recently launched chapter in the Prairies, First Tee – Canada now has five regional chapters in place including British Columbia, Ontario, Québec, and the Atlantic region.

First Tee – Canada’s nationwide success and growth since inception can be attributed to a generous network of like-minded individuals who believe in the power of sport and its ability to positively impact the lives of youth, especially those who otherwise may have not had the opportunity to play golf.

“What started out as a small idea or token of support has since turned into a community-led major fundraising opportunity,” said Sean Reczulski, Director Development, First Tee – Canada. “We are grateful to Taboo Muskoka and Lora Bay Golf Club for spearheading this initiative. We hope their commitment to giving back to their communities, especially through the game we love, inspires other courses across the country to do the same.”

Taboo Muskoka and Lora Bay Golf Club, plus the soon-to-come additional participating courses will be proudly displayed on the First Tee – Canada website in return for their support.

Click below for a simple how-to guide on how to implement this initiative.

Learn More

Click below to donate to First Tee – Canada or one of its regional chapters.

Donate

Golf Canada receives funding from Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities in support of First Tee – Canada

Generous contribution by Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities will help provide accessible golf opportunities for equity-deserving youth across Canada.

TORONTO, August 2022 – Golf Canada is proud to receive funding from Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities (Jumpstart) in support of First Tee – Canada.

The generous contribution from Jumpstart will support the national rollout of First Tee – Canada, with a focus on engaging underserved communities. Since launching in 2021, there are more than 80 First Tee program locations across Ontario, British Columbia, Quebec, and the Atlantic provinces.

First Tee – Canada provides youth aged five to 18 with affordable access to learn the fundamental skills of golf while reinforcing the life skills and values learned through sport. First Tee programming is delivered at schools, community centres, and golf facilities with curriculums and coach training specifically designed for each of these environments.

Jumpstart’s contribution will support First Tee – Canada program locations in equity-deserving communities across the country. Funds will be directed towards providing equipment, training, signage, and other materials to support the progression of participating youth from community centre programming to their local golf course.

Since 2005, Jumpstart has helped youth across Canada overcome financial and accessibility barriers to sport and recreation.

Jumpstart is proud to be a part of First Tee – Canada’s growth and its positive influence within communities across the country.

“Jumpstart is proud to support Golf Canada in building greater equity and diversity in golf,” said Scott Fraser, President of Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities. “Jumpstart believes every child deserves access to sport. By supporting the national rollout of First Tee – Canada, children from equity-deserving communities will have the opportunity to build their skills, self-confidence, and social connections through the game.”

Together, First Tee – Canada and Jumpstart will put more clubs into the hands of Canadian youth and empower them to reap the benefits of sport.

“We are fortunate to share with Jumpstart the common goal of advocating for youth and enriching their lives through sport,” said Adam Hunter, Director of Grow the Game for Golf Canada. “Jumpstart’s funding will accelerate the growth of our youth development program towards the goal of evolving golf participation demographics to more closely reflect Canada’s multiculturalism.”

As a not-for-profit program, First Tee – Canada and its positive impact on communities would not be possible without the generous support of organizations like Jumpstart.

“Jumpstart is a national leader in advocating for youth and championing the value of sport. We are extremely grateful to them for providing meaningful support and sharing our vision of Building Game Changers across Canada,” said Martin Barnard, CEO of the Golf Canada Foundation. “The pace of growth and philanthropic commitment behind First Tee – Canada since launching has been incredible. It is an exciting time for junior golf in Canada and we cannot wait to see what the future holds.”

Golf Canada Foundation is the funding partner for First Tee – Canada, drawing on an extensive national donor network to fund programming and major gift Trustees to launch chapters across the country.

With over 25 years of operation, First Tee has grown into an international network that has positively impacted more than 15 million young people, comprising over 150 chapters and more than 1,200 program locations across the United States, as well as six international chapters. Golf Canada joined forces with First Tee in 2020, and First Tee – Canada was born.

Golf Canada and the Golf Canada Foundation are continuously pursuing corporate partners and gifts which allow for more chapters and program locations to launch in Canada. For more information on how to get involved, or to donate to First Tee – Canada, visit www.firstteecanada.ca.

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About First Tee – Canada

First Tee – Canada is a non-profit youth development program operating under Golf Canada since 2020. In partnership with First Tee, Golf Canada launched First Tee – Canada to provide educational programs that build character and instill life-enhancing values through the game of golf. First Tee – Canada continues to expand programming and engage youth at golf courses, schools, and community centres in deserving regions across the country.

For more information and to learn how to support First Tee – Canada, visit firstteecanada.ca.

About Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities

Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities is a national charity committed to ensuring kids in need have equal access to sport and recreation. With an extensive, national network of more than 1,000 grantees and 289 local chapters, Jumpstart helps eligible families cover the costs of registration, transportation, and equipment, and provides funding to selected organizations for recreational infrastructure and programming. Supported by Canadian Tire Corporation, Jumpstart has provided more than 2.7 million opportunities for Canadian kids to get in the game since 2005. For more information, visit jumpstart.canadiantire.ca.

Follow Jumpstart on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook to learn how the Charity is giving kids across Canada a sporting chance.

About Golf Canada Foundation

The Golf Canada Foundation is the leading source of golf philanthropy in Canada, granting more than $12 million to golf programs since 2012, and $13.4 million invested in the sport since the Foundation’s inception in 1979. The foundation’s mission is to support and promote programs that increase participation in golf by engaging players of all ages and abilities across Canada. For more information about what the Golf Canada Foundation is doing to support golf in communities across the country, visit www.golfcanadafoundation.com. 

About Golf Canada

Golf Canada is the National Sports Federation and governing body for golf in Canada, representing more than 304,000 golfers and 1,435 member clubs across the country. A proud member of the Canadian Olympic Committee, Golf Canada’s vision is to be a world leader in golf and to achieve the mission to increase Canadian participation and excellence. For more information about what Golf Canada is doing to support golf in your community, visit www.golfcanada.ca.

Media Contact:

Madelyn Boelhouwer | Senior Coordinator, Marketing and Communications, First Tee – Canada | Golf Canada | 905-467-6086 | [email protected]

Make twice the impact on the next generation this holiday

Last year, Golf Canada introduced First Tee – Canada, an accessible and affordable youth development program that teaches life skills through the game of golf. Your donation will directly support First Tee – Canada’s growth across the country and will provide children with empowering opportunities through golf.

From now until the end of the year your gift has double the impact as it will be matched through the Charles Schwab Challenge Grant.

In 2022, First Tee – Canada operated across four provincial chapters in British Columbia, Ontario, Québec, and the Atlantic region with over 130 locations delivering programming at golf facilities, schools, and community centres to nearly 23,000 youth. The goal is to launch First Tee chapters in every region of the country by the end of 2023 and to enroll 100,000 First Tee – Canada participants by 2024.

DONATE NOW

Through our generous network of supporters, we will reach more deserving youth across Canada, provide training, equipment, and activity guides to instructors, and provide financial assistance opportunities for participants. Together, we are Building Game Changers.

All donations over $20 will receive a tax receipt.

For Every Flower That Blooms: First Tee – BC and Musqueam Golf and Learning Academy

Pathways to success often depend on access to experiences and opportunities. Unfortunately, across Canada, many children all too often lack the resources or access to empowering extracurricular activities, such as sports or organized recreation.

Knowing the positive impact that sport can have on a child’s life, Golf Canada’s junior programming through First Tee strives to break down barriers to accessing the game of golf. First Tee – Canada provides inclusive youth development activities to participants as young as five years old, using golf as a vehicle to support the personal growth and confidence of children.  

First Tee – Canada programming is offered at golf courses, schools, and community centres in regions across the country with specifically designed curriculum and instructor training for each of these impactful learning environments.

On traditional Musqueam First Nation territory alongside the Fraser River lies The Musqueam Golf and Learning Academy. This tree-lined golf course and driving range [in/near Vancouver, B.C.] is home to First Tee – British Columbia.

The delivery of First Tee – BC programming at Musqueam Golf and Learning Academy began in the fall of 2021 and despite the program’s infancy, there has been an outpouring of positive feedback from the community.

“These kids have been using golf as an outlet, (and) feel a sense of inclusion and safety at the golf course,” says Musqueam Golf and Learning Academy General Manager Kumi Kimura. “They never knew how much fun golf was and that it [can] help as a healthy escape from [a sometimes] not so healthy world.”

Registration for 12 participant spots fills up quickly. The hour-long sessions are grouped by age, varying from seven to 12, and coached by PGA of Canada professional Kelvin Ko and First-Tee Certified Coach Jody Kinsman. Along with learning the fundamental skills of golf, children experience the opportunity to develop or further reinforce many of the life skills and values learned through sport.

Kimura shared a personal story of the opportunity First Tee – BC presented to siblings participating in the program—children who were dealing with familial troubles at home and seeking a positive outlet.

“(To) get out of the house, and still be together as siblings, they found refuge here. They fell for the game… I knew this was not something the kids could afford, however, through First Tee activities, we are beginning to support their development and provide for them as a community.”

For some children, sport can the mean the world; a positive escape where individuals learn about themselves, build confidence, understand commitment, and develop healthy habits—all values worth carrying for life. Together with the support and generosity of donors, First Tee – BC and Musqueam Golf and Learning Academy have introduced the sport of golf to children who might not have otherwise experienced the game.

@musqueamgolf Instagram

Golf has often battled a perception that the game is exclusive to the affluent. By creating “hubs” consisting of schools, community centres, and accessible golf courses within a small radius, First Tee – Canada is working to debunk that perception, one community at a time. And with a strong philanthropic community of donors supporting First Tee – Canada, many program locations provide equipment and offer registration at no cost.

In striving to be a world leader in the sport, Golf Canada is committed to changing the face of golf to better reflect the multicultural strength of the Canadian population. First Tee – Canada is providing opportunities, relationships, and experiences for children that are laying the foundation for a more diverse game.

“I believe these are stories that need to be told,” says Kimura. “Golf is no longer an elitist game, but a game for all people, in the good time and the bad.”

The relationship that First Tee – BC has created with the Musqueam community, and the positive impact on participants is a testament to the power of sport, and better yet, the future legacy of First Tee – Canada. 

Colby Johannson

The program’s impact on youth is reflective of the facility’s impact in its community. The name Musqueam relates back to the flowering plant, məθkʷəy̓, which grows in the Fraser River estuary. Like flowers, children grow and develop in different ways, in a healthy, safe, enriching environment.

By virtue of the land, the collaborative efforts of First Tee – BC, Musqueam Golf and Learning Academy, and the game of golf, for every flower that blooms this summer, a child will too.

For more information on how to donate to First Tee – British Columbia please visit firstteebc.ca/ or contact Development Officer Ben Neumer at [email protected].

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Building Game Changers at the RBC Canadian Open

First Tee – Canada spent RBC Canadian Open tournament week providing experiences of a lifetime and putting smiles on children’s faces. Youth spectators did more than have fun – they also learned valuable life lessons through golf.

Walk With a Pro

During Wednesday’s Championship Pro-Am round, over 50 local Youth on Course members and junior golfers walked alongside PGA TOUR professionals as they played hole no. 16 “The Rink” – some even took the pros’ first putts.

Mackenzie Hughes and Andrew, Walk with a Pro/ Bernard Brault

PGA Tour Goal-in-one

Kooper had the extraordinary opportunity to be inside the ropes on Wednesday’s Championship Pro-Am round. He acted as the pros’ caddy, advising them which club to hit to secure a goal-in-one on a hockey net 260 yards away. This meant meeting some of his idols including Rory McIlroy and Justin Thomas. He even talked his way into hitting a few shots of his own with the pros’ clubs – what an experience!

Youth Group Tours

Wednesday and Thursday evening of tournament week were busy with visits from BGC Peel and BGC Albion Club (Boys and Girls Clubs). Both groups experienced a behind-the-scenes tour of the RBC Canadian Open grounds and met some of the folks who make the tournament the successful event it is, including the media centre, volunteer centre, and agronomy, environmental and sustainability teams. This tour opens kids’ eyes to the various opportunities that exist in the world of sport.  

On Wednesday, youth from BGC Peel were treated to a surprise. With the support of RBC Community Junior Golf, the First Tee Game Changers Pavilion had a drop-in from special guest Team RBC Ambassador and PGA Tour professional Harold Varner III.

HV3 chatted with the group and cracked some “dad jokes”. Most importantly, Varner III drove home the message to the children that golf has made him a better person. From the manners he has learned, the relationships he has formed, and the understanding of commitment he has gained, golf provides valuable life skills.

Boys and Girls Club Peel, RBC Community Junior Golf Harold Varner III/ PGA Tour

“Because of partnerships like this, our youth are presented with opportunities that they normally would not be exposed to.” Said BGC Peel Executive Director, Michael Gyovai. “Moments like these make memories that can last a lifetime. They also provide motivation to our youth, tomorrow’s leaders, to strive to be the best they can be, and to face obstacles and barriers head-on.”

The youth group tours are a glimpse into what First Tee – Canada programming is looking to do. Introduce children to the game, and better yet, introduce them to inspiring and empowering experiences.

First Tee Game Changers Pavilion

Throughout the week, hundreds of families stopped by the Game Changers Pavilion situated at the first tee at St. George’s Golf and Country Club. Kids signed up for lessons on the Foresight simulator with a First Tee coach, tested their skills on the putting green, and made their marks on the colouring wall.

Game Changers Pavilion colouring wall/ Bernard Brault

It didn’t stop there. Next to the Game Changers Pavilion was the First Tee – Canada children-only autograph zone at the championship putting green. Youth had the chance to get up close to their favourite pros and have them sign their First Tee – Canada autograph cards.

Closing Ceremony with the Champion

To wrap up an unforgettable week,  First Tee – Canada selected four lucky children from the crowd to participate in the RBC Canadian Open closing ceremonies alongside back-to-back champion, Rory McIlroy.

Closing ceremony and trophy presentation/ Bernard Brault

Charlie, Islay, Anjun and Adamo were also lucky enough to meet Rivermead Cup winner, Corey Conners, and snag a few autographs.

It was great to welcome back the RBC Canadian Open after two long years and to debut First Tee – Canada on Canadian soil. First Tee – Canada looks forward to expanding its roots across the country and positively impacting the lives of thousands of Canadian youth.

To learn more about First Tee – Canada and to find a program location near you, click here.