JUNIOR GOLF
In conjunction with the selection of Royal Montreal Golf Club as the host of the 2024 Presidents Cup, Golf Canada and First Tee announced a partnership to create First Tee – Canada. Together with Golf Canada Foundation, the partnership will bring First Tee’s youth development emphasis to strengthen Golf Canada’s junior golf activities – previously conducted under the Future Links brand – that reach kids in schools, community centres and at golf facilities. The innovative First Tee curriculum will focus on empowering young people to build their strength of character, in an inclusive manner through the game of golf. Golf Canada will serve as the national headquarters of First Tee – Canada.
The Foundation is embarking on a new journey to attract golf enthusiasts who want to support our effort in reducing barriers of entry into the sport and engaging children from all demographics. Support ranges from just a few dollars to joining the esteemed International Trustee program, where individuals are invited to play world renowned courses such as Augusta National, Pebble Beach, and TPC Sawgrass alongside First Tee chairman George W. Bush and PGA TOUR’s Jay Monahan.
First Tee Programs
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FIRST TEE SCHOOL PROGRAM
Many students tee it up for the first time through the First Tee School Program. First Tee works to train educators on a curriculum that introduces students to golf and its core values during physical education classes. Teachers are provided all necessary training, lesson plans and equipment in order to teach elementary school students the basic skills of golf with safe and fun activities.
For more information, visit the First Tee – Canada website.
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FIRST TEE FACILITY PROGRAMS
At each age group (7-9, 10-11, 12-13, 14+) participants engage with the 5 Key Commitments: Pursuing Goals, Growing through Challenge, Collaborating with Others, Building Positive Self-Identity, and Using Good Judgement, while focusing on mastering golf fundamentals and building upon a golf skill foundation as they advance within the program.
For more information, visit the First Tee – Canada website.
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FIRST TEE COMMUNITY PROGRAM
At each age group (7-9, 10-11, 12-13, 14+) participants engage with the 5 Key Commitments: Pursuing Goals, Growing through Challenge, Collaborating with Others, Building Positive Self-Identity, and Using Good Judgement, while focusing on mastering golf fundamentals and building upon a golf skill foundation as they advance within the program.
For more information, visit the First Tee – Canada website
Junior Skills Challenge is an online and interactive program that focuses on developing the key golf skills of putting, chipping and driving. An online leaderboard allows site coordinators to upload players’ scores so they can track their improvement. Using the data, players are ranked nationally by age group, and by scores on the National Leaderboard. Top competitors nationally are invited to compete in the annual Junior Skills Challenge National Event.
Youth on Course is a golf program that believes in the power of play by eliminating barriers of entry into the sport by subsidizing junior rounds for golfers aged 6 to 18 and providing $5 or less green fees at participating facilities.
Following the successful pilot of Youth on Course in Alberta in 2019, the program was expanded to Ontario in 2020. Golf Canada Foundation, Golf Canada, and Youth on Course US, in partnership with Alberta Golf and Golf Ontario, provided every Golf Canada junior member in Alberta and Ontario access to subsidized rounds at participating facilities. The program was a huge success, with a substantial increase in both membership and rounds played. Golf Canada Foundation is excited to continue raising funds for this initiative, with plans to explore new markets for program expansion.
The Gary Cowan Heritage Fund (GCHF) was established with the Golf Canada Foundation (GCF) in conjunction with The Canadian Seniors’ Golf Association (CSGA) to provide needed support to financially restricted junior golfers that will enable them to pursue their golfing aspirations. The GCHF will supply funding through existing Golf Canada programs and will work to fund future programming to support junior golfers.
A Steering Committee will support the GCHF by:
- Suggesting to GCF the use of funds from the GCHF to be used in support of existing Golf Canada financial support programs
- Providing financial support for Golf Canada pilot programs to support junior golfers outside of existing Golf Canada programs
- Supporting the fundraising initiatives of the Gary Cowan Heritage Foundation
Click here for more information on Junior Golf Programs.