mboelhouwer, Author at First Tee

First Tee – Ontario Receives Women and Sport Grant

(April 2023) First Tee – Ontario was one of 90 organizations that qualified for The Next Play Grant from Women and Sport. The Next Play is a new grant program aimed at helping Ontario-based organizations design girl-centered sports programs and initiatives. By supporting sport leaders and organizations through The Next Play, more girls and gender-diverse participants will be able to access the benefits of physical activity. Made possible by funding from the Ontario Government, The Next Play aims to empower Ontario sport leaders with the skills they need to engage more girls in sport and active recreation. 

“We know that girls and gender-diverse people face many barriers to fully participating in sport. We also know we can do something about it.  It’s inspiring to see so many sport organizations across Ontario committing to engage more girls in sport. Through The Next Play, these organizations will work to break down barriers and help ensure equitable access to the benefits of physical activity. We’re excited to witness the impact of their efforts and look forward to seeing how they create positive change for girls in sport.”   Allison Sandmeyer-Graves, CEO of Canadian Women & Sport 

Two First Tee – Ontario coaches will undertake this training and, in turn, will focus on all-girls programming over the summer months.

PGA of Canada Hosts First Tee – Ontario Coach Training

In April, Walter Gretzky Municipal Golf Course and Mike Martz, PGA of Canada facilitator hosted 19 First Tee coaches for their Level 2 coach training.

“Most of these coaches already have a background teaching golf to children, but it was exciting to see how enthusiastic they were to learn how to incorporate the life skills component specific to First Tee,” said First Tee – Ontario Program Manager, Amaya Athill. “The quality of First Tee coaching lies in the combination of the diversity of coaches, quality training, and the buy-in/enthusiasm of the coaches. With this group, we had it all.”

To learn more about the coach education pathway, visit this page.

First Tee – Ontario teams up with ParaGolf Ontario at the 25th Lieutenant Governor Games

On February 24^th 2023, First Tee – Ontario, in collaboration with ParaGolf Ontario, offered First Tee programming at the 35^th Lieutenant Governor Games at Variety Village in Scarborough, Ontario.

Variety Village is a sport, training, and life skills facility for people of all ages and abilities. Their programs service and promote accessible and inclusive healthy active living opportunities and empower people with disabilities to participate and feel seen and included.

This year, 750 youth of all abilities from schools and surrounding community organizations participated in inclusive activities such as tae kwon do, ballet, wheelchair basketball, dance, sitting volleyball, curling, and more. The event welcomed Tom Brown as official emcee, Honourable Elizabeth Dowdeswell, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, Neil Lumsden, Minister of Sport, Karen Stintz, President and CEO, Variety – the Children’s Charity of Ontario, and Henoc Muamba, Toronto Argos Grey Cup Champion.

Variety Village is a First Tee – Ontario community centre location and will be offering First Tee programming starting this year.

First Tee – Canada introduces youth to golf through inclusive and accessible golf environments at golf courses, schools, and community centres while providing life-enhancing development opportunities through sport.

“Variety Village is one of the many locations offering First Tee that share our vision of providing accessible and inclusive pathways to sport. Together, we are providing empowering opportunities through sport to all children, regardless of their age, abilities, or backgrounds,” said Amaya Athill, Manager, First Tee – Ontario. “Through partnerships like this one, we are able to make a greater impact in the community.”

For more information on First Tee – Ontario programming, or how to become a First Tee location, please email [email protected].

Just the Beginning for First Tee – Ontario

The short game for First Tee programming may be rooted in golf, but the long game is much more than that. The main objective of First Tee – Canada youth development programming is for participants to use the life skills learned through golf to navigate their journeys through life and opportunities thought previously inaccessible.

Golf Canada launched its partnership with First Tee in 2020, and First Tee – Canada began in 2021 under the operation of its provincial chapters, delivering programming at golf facilities, schools, and community centres.

With summer programs wrapped up, First Tee – Ontario fall programming is underway at 20 locations across the province with curriculums developed for each environment and modified to different ages and abilities.

The activities use golf as a vehicle to reinforce life skills, focused on the program’s five key commitments: pursuing goals, growing through challenge, collaborating with others, building positive self-identity, and using good judgement. First Tee – Ontario provides instructors with interactive training, equipment, and turnkey lesson plans to deliver safe and inclusive programming.

Golf Canada’s commitment to enhancing diversity and inclusivity in golf is a driving force behind the growth of First Tee – Canada and its provincial chapters. The aim is to break down existing barriers to sport participation, particularly in traditionally marginalized communities, and ultimately diversify golf’s participant pool to more closely reflect the strength of Canada’s multiculturalism.

First Tee – Ontario Program Manager Amaya Athill is responsible for overseeing the implementation of programming across the province and having a hand in providing youth with empowering and life-changing experiences. At this year’s RBC Canadian Open, her team provided an extended experience for First Tee – Ontario community program participants from local Boys and Girls Clubs to show them what life on and off the tee box can look like.

“The messaging that children often see is that a successful career pathway in sports is to rise to the level of a professional competitor. There is so much that goes into running a professional golf tournament and event of that size, so the idea was to expose as many children as possible to a wider world of opportunities and careers within golf and the sports industry. This included behind-the-scenes tours of the agronomy, media, and volunteer services teams,” said Athill. “Access to these experiences and exposure to future opportunities in the sport is a gap we hope to bridge through First Tee.”

As both an accomplished human rights lawyer and golfer since the age of five, Athill’s professional background and personal relationship with the game intersect seamlessly with the First Tee program, as they all value accessibility and opportunity.

“This is just the beginning of First Tee – Ontario’s impact,” said Athill. “We look forward to making more connections with schools, coaches, and community centres, and providing more youth with access to golf, as well as inspiring experiences and opportunities.”

With Ontario’s chapter experiencing rapid short-term growth, Ian Gragtmans – First Tee – Ontario’s Founding Chapter Donor and Trustee – expressed excitement about recent strides and confidence that the Gragtmans Family Foundation’s decision to support this cause was the correct one.

His decision to support the launch of the program was less influenced by the game of golf, but rather by a desire to help support the long-term development journeys of First Tee program participants.

“It’s not just about the golf, it has everything to do with helping those that were underrepresented, and giving younger people a chance,” said Gragtmans. “I want to help those that probably don’t have a chance of coming out of whatever challenging time they’re going through.”

With the help of generous donors like the Gragtmans Family Foundation, Golf Canada has fast-tracked access to these spaces where youth can learn self-sustaining life skills in a program that has over 25 years of international experience.

Gragtmans shared his personal experience engaging people who were direct participants of First Tee in the U.S.

“I have been fortunate enough to spend time in the U.S. – meeting and speaking with some of the participants that have gone through the program, and it’s nothing shy of remarkable to see what the potential is for those that may not otherwise, if not for First Tee, had that opportunity, or exposure,” said Gragtmans.

The Golf Canada Foundation is continuously pursuing gifts, which allow First Tee – Ontario to expand its locations across the province and further impact the lives of Canadian youth. To get involved, please visit www.firstteeontario.ca.

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Second Annual First Tee – Ontario Cup In The Books

It was a special (and chilly) day at the prestigious Goodwood Golf Club, raising $50,000 towards expanding First Tee – Ontario programming at golf facilities, schools, and community centres across the province.

Many thanks are due to all those who participated in the event and to the sponsors who helped make the day such a success. Special thanks to Goodwood Golf Club staff and the Stollery Family for generously hosting and providing First Tee supporters with the chance to exclusively play one of Canada’s top courses.

RBC, TaylorMade, Bennett Jones, Golf Ontario, F1Tech, Full Wedge, Noble Estates, HUB, BDO, OJTBF, and more – thank you for sponsoring this event and supporting First Tee – ON.

Together, we are Building Game Changers.

Congratulations to our winners of the 2022 First Tee – Ontario Cup (Will Edwards, Jim Robinson, Jesse Mighton, Alex Jerome) and to our Closest to the Pin (Nancy Bertrand, Tim Evans) winners.

Interested in getting involved in next year’s First Tee – Ontario Cup? Looking to donate to First Tee – Ontario? Know of a golf facility that would like to come on board at the programming level? Reach out to Jason Hraynyk, [email protected].

Niagara 2022 Canada Summer Games Showcases First Tee – Ontario

28th edition of the Canada Games helps introduce First Tee – Ontario, youth-focused golf and life skill development programming, to the Niagara Region.

NIAGARA, August 2022 – The Niagara 2022 Canada Summer Games are pleased to support and collaborate with Golf Canada and the Ontario chapter of First Tee – Canada to further enrich youth in the Niagara Region.

The 2022 Canada Games take place from August 6th to the 21st, welcoming over 5,000 young athletes and coaches to compete for the podium in Canada’s largest multi-sport event. Niagara 2022’s golf competition will take place at the beautiful and challenging Legends on the Niagara’s
Battlefield Course with practice rounds on August 15th and 16th followed by four competition rounds from August 17th to 20th. Ten provinces and one territory will compete in teams of two boys and two girls for both team and individual medals. Golf Canada will conduct the competition along with a team of 2022 Canada Games staff and volunteers.

On Tuesday (August 16), First Tee – Ontario invited a group of local children to Legends on the Niagara Golf Course to join a day of fun activities. The group participated in a First Tee golf clinic using the driving range and practice green and got the special opportunity to walk alongside an
athlete as their “honourary caddie” for one hole during practice rounds.

The activation provided an opportunity for children and families to learn more about what the game of golf has to offer through First Tee – Ontario, and for youth to witness first-hand the endless opportunities available to them in the world of sport.

The Niagara 2022 Canada Summer Games promote community development, youth advocacy, and sport development. The Niagara 2022 Host Society is excited to support a like-minded program such as First Tee – Ontario.

“We are proud to share our platform with, and spread awareness of, First Tee – Ontario,” said Niagara 2022 Canada Summer Games Sport Lead Tracy Murphy. “This is a program that aligns with our values and provides youth with the opportunity to experience and reap all the benefits sports have to offer. We look forward to a long-term collaboration with First Tee – Ontario and wish the program success and prosperity in the Niagara Region, and beyond.”

First Tee – Ontario is delivered at golf facilities, schools, and community centres with curriculum and coach training specifically designed for each of these environments, providing youth aged five to 18 with affordable access to learn fundamental golf skills, and life skills and values developed through sport.

Programming began in late 2021. To date, there are 11 First Tee – Ontario program locations across the province, two of which are in the Niagara Region. Locations are primarily chosen to engage with equity-deserving groups and under-served communities.

“We are grateful for the support and excitement from Canada Games. The positive impact that First Tee can make within communities would not be possible without our generous and supportive network,” said Golf Canada’s Grow the Game Director, Adam Hunter. “We hope the group had fun, learned something about sports, or themselves, and went home with a smile on their face. That’s what First Tee – Canada is about, providing youth with an inclusive space to feel empowered through sport.”

Golf Canada joined forces with First Tee in 2020, and First Tee – Canada was born. There are currently more than 80 program locations operating under provincial chapters in Ontario, British Columbia, Quebec, and the Atlantic regions. As the program grows, First Tee – Ontario continues to pursue new program locations.

For more information on how to get involved, or become a program location, please visit firstteeontario.ca/ or contact Amaya Athill [email protected].

About the Niagara 2022 Canada Summer Games
At the peak of Niagara’s boldest summer yet, more than 5,000 up-and-coming athletes, their coaches and support staff will gather in the Niagara Region to compete for the podium in Canada’s largest multi-sport event. From August 6 to 21, 2022, Niagara will surge stronger than ever on the national stage. The 2022 Canada Games, made possible thanks to funding and support from the Government of Canada, the Government of Ontario, the Niagara Region, and the Canada Games Council, will give rise to new
legacies of ambition, confidence, and compassion that will inspire generations to come.

For further information, visit us at niagara2022games.ca or follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram (@2022canadagames).

About First Tee – Canada
First Tee – Canada is a non-profit youth development program operated by 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 for youth 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.

For media inquiries, please contact Madelyn Boelhouwer [email protected].

First Tee – Canada: 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.

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

Closing ceremony and trophy presentation/ Bernard Brault

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 find a program location near you and to register, click here.

Author: mboelhouwer