Author: aathill

On November 4th 2023, Golf Canada’s First Tee program was awarded the Innovation in Adaptive Sport award for advancing accessible environments through leadership and innovation at the Variety Village Active Living Conference.

Variety Village supports children with disabilities through sports, skill development, and other inclusive and accessible programming in community facilities across Ontario. First Tee – Ontario partnered with Variety Village (Scarborough), in September 2022 to incorporate golf in their programming offerings for children.

First Tee Coaches Kevin and Brock Potter have been running the program since Fall 2023. This award is a testament to the positive impact they have made in the community.

Kevin and Brock in addition to First Tee – Ontario team members Katherine Hale (Manager, Women’s Participation), Amaya Athill (Manager, First Tee – Ontario), and Brandon Costa (Coordinator, First Tee – Ontario) were present to accept the award.

The First Tee – Ontario team and First Tee coaches are grateful to the team at Variety Village, especially Archie Allison, Director, Access and Awareness, for this kind recognition.

First Tee provides inclusive access to golf for children from all backgrounds at community centers, schools, and golf courses across the province. To learn more about programming near you, please email [email protected].

Monday, September 25th marked Golf Canada and Golf Canada Foundation’s third annual First Tee – Ontario Cup held at Goodwood Golf Club in Cedar Valley, ON.

Thanks to our partners, sponsors, and community, the event raised $50,000 in support of First Tee – Ontario. This will allow us to sustain and expand programming across the province.

We are so grateful to all who came out to support and congratulations to the winning foursome – Jason Fenn, Steve Podborski, Stephen Lister, Rob McLay!

Golf Canada, in partnership with Golf Ontario, hosted the 2023 World Junior Girls Championship, presented by Sargent Farms at Brampton Golf Club in Brampton, ON. The tournament ran from Monday October 2^nd – Saturday, October 7^th.  This championship featured the top junior-aged golfers from more than 22 countries around the world.  Past participants have included Brooke Henderson, and current CPKC Women’s Open champion, Megan Khang. Capping off one of the most successful seasons in Canadian Golf history, Team Canada was able to secure its first-ever team title at the World Junior Girls Golf Championship.   
 
In conjunction with Golf Canada’s goal to grow the game and encourage female participation in the sport, First Tee – Ontario also had a strong presence at the tournament. On Monday October 2^nd, First Tee hosted a walk with an athlete activation for one of the local schools in the Brampton area. Twenty-four girls from Stanley Mills Public School had the opportunity to meet with the athletes and play a hole with them during their Monday afternoon practice round. The girls were able to take some photos and interact with the athletes on the holes and many of the teams even let the girls take a few puts on the green! 
 
Later in the week, on Wednesday October 4^th, First Tee – Ontario also hosted a World Junior Girls clinic with a group from Big Brothers Big Sisters of Peel. Ten girls alongside their mentors from the Big Sisters program took part in an introductory golf clinic run by PGA of Canada coach Kerri Slaughter. The athletes from Team Canada also were present at the clinic to meet the with the girls and lead them through some of the chipping and putting activities. With the strong contingent of female representation present at this all-girls event, it was the perfect way to kick off girl-centred programming in the region that will surely carry on into the spring and summer sessions.