First Tee

First Tee – British Columbia Partners with Community Groups to Serve Equity-Deserving Youth Across the Province

BC Impact

For many children, golf is often seen as a sport that is unattainable to them. Whether it’s cost, finding a way to get to a course, or even the perception of the sport not being inclusive. First Tee – British Columbia (First Tee – BC) aims to break down those barriers and make golf more accessible for children of all backgrounds.

Since launching in 2021, First Tee programming has been delivered to over 33,000 youth across the province at nearly 70 locations including golf courses, schools and community centres, with a coaching
staff of over 55 coaches.

The goal is to introduce as many children as possible to golf, particularly those who might not otherwise have the chance, and to offer them empowering and positive experiences through sport.

A key contributor of the program’s reach and success is establishing meaningful partnerships with community and youth organizations.

First Tee – BC has partnered with nearly 20 community centres across the province. Additionally, youth organizations including Big Brothers BC, KidsPlay Foundation, the Central Vancouver Island Multicultural Society (CVIMS), and Extreme Outreach Society have come onboard.

Through these valuable community partnerships, First Tee – BC has already introduced over 4,000 children to golf through affordable programming offered in-house or through field trips and events at
nearby partnered golf courses.

The connections being built in these communities are bigger than golf.

First Tee blends fundamental golf skills with life lessons. While children learn how to swing the club and about distance control, they also continue to develop skills like goal setting, perseverance, and self-
confidence.

First Tee 2

Perry Monych, First Tee – BC coach, encapsulates the personal impact this program can make.

“The most rewarding part is seeing kids, who might not have initially been interested in golf, return week after week with enthusiasm and willingness to take on more challenges,” said Monych. “The life skills they continue to develop through the program are invaluable and often more impactful than the golf skills themselves.”

One impactful way First Tee – BC strives to expose more youth to the sport is through try golf events.

These events are offered at no cost to community partners and participants and provide all the necessary equipment. It is an opportunity to introduce golf to children in a no-pressure, fun an inclusive environment.

In August, First Tee program location Highland Pacific Golf in Victoria, BC, hosted a try golf event for over 20 youth from the Extreme Outreach Society, an organization striving to break the cycle of
addiction, poverty and homelessness.

Scott Stefani, program manager, First Tee – BC speaks to the importance of connections with community organizations.

“Community partnership is such a valuable resource, helping us to provide disadvantaged children and youth with opportunities they may not otherwise have,” said Stefani. “We are so grateful for community
partners like the Extreme Outreach Society.”

The goal is for children to associate a positive experience with golf. Hopefully they make new friends, have fun with their coaches, learn more about the sport and discover more about themselves.

The next step would be to offer registered programming opportunities at a nearby golf course to children who are eager to stay connected to the game.

Through a supportive network of generous donors, First Tee – BC can provide no-cost events and programming and offer financial assistance opportunities to families in need.

To contribute and help First Tee – BC continue to make a meaningful impact, please visit https://firstteebc.ca/giving/.

CPKC Women's Open

2024 CPKC Women’s Open wins Best Volunteer Appreciation at LPGA 2024 Gold Driver Awards

2025_BestVolunteerAppreciationAward

Daytona Beach, Fla. – The 2024 CPKC Women’s Open was named as the Gold Driver Award recipient for Best Volunteer Appreciation at the LPGA 2024 Gold Driver Awards on Tuesday in Daytona Beach, Fla.

Volunteerism was a critical part of the success of the 2024 CPKC Women’s Open at Earl Grey Golf Club in Calgary, Alta. The tournament was conducted for the first time at Earl Grey and saw 1,300 dedicated volunteers, whose positions were filled ahead of schedule, help to deliver an exceptional experience in Calgary. This year’s tournament also set a new record with 73,290 fans attending as Lauren Coughlin won for the first time on the LPGA Tour.

To help recognize the work of its volunteers, the tournament hosted a Volunteer Appreciation Day. The day included a complimentary breakfast, happy hour and gifts that were given to all volunteers to celebrate the 50th playing of Canada’s National Women’s Open.

In addition to winning the Gold Driver Award for Best Volunteer Appreciation this year, the CPKC Women’s Open has earned Tournament of the Year honours in the previous two years (2022 and 2023). Golf Canada and CPKC also received Gold Driver Awards for Best Volunteer Engagement in 2023, Best Sponsor Activation in 2019, 2022, and 2023 as well as Best Community and Charity Engagement in three of the last five full season campaigns.

The 2025 CPKC Women’s Open will be contested at the historic Mississaugua Golf and Country Club in Mississauga, Ont. from August 20-24, 2025. Volunteer registration is now open, for more information or to apply, click here.

DP World Tour RBC Canadian Open

Two-time RBC Canadian Open Champion, Rory McIlroy claims third DP World Tour Championship title

Rory

Rory McIlroy finished the 2024 DP World Tour season in style by winning his sixth Race to Dubai crown following victory at the DP World Tour Championship.

Rory McIlroy-2185220425

After a third placed finish at last week’s Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, only South Africa’s Thriston Lawrence could deny McIlroy from claiming his sixth Race to Dubai Rankings in Partnership with Rolex of his career.

Lawrence needed to win and for the World Number Three to finish in 12th or worse for him to overturn McIlroy’s huge advantage, but his challenge never materialised as he carded a one-under-par total at Jumeirah Golf Estates.

The Northern Irishman shared the lead after the first and third rounds, and looked in total control when he burst three shots clear thanks to a run of four straight birdies from the second.

Rasmus Højgaard remained in touch and capitalised on bogeys at the ninth and 13th from McIlroy to sit alongside him at the summit at 13 under.

However, birdies at the 16th and 18th paid dividends for McIlroy as he secured his third triumph on the Earth course by two shots to complete a season-finale double.

Antoine Rozner, who shared the third-round lead with McIlroy and Højgaard, birdied the opening hole to take the outright lead at 13 under, which turned into a two-shot advantage after the final group bogeyed the same hole.

The Frenchman slid a putt by at the second which would have improved his score and McIlroy and Højgaard responded by birdieing the same hole to return to 12 under.

McIlroy gained momentum and put his approach inside four feet at the third, which he rolled in to rejoin Rozner at the summit.

The birdie trail continued for the World Number Three at the fourth to become the first player to reach 14 under and when he followed suit at the fifth, he was two clear.

Before McIlroy teed off at the sixth, Rozner bogeyed the same hole to inflate the Northern Irishman’s advantage to three.

Rory McIlroy joins Seve Ballesteros with six Race to Dubai titles:

Rory McIlroy & Seve Ballesteros

Rozner and Højgaard replied with a birdie at the next, however, McIlroy continued to keep his nose out in front despite a bogey to close his front nine.

It became a two-way tussle with Højgaard following his birdie at the seventh, while Rozner slipped back after a double bogey at the ninth.

McIlroy narrowly missed chances to extend his lead at the start of his back nine and when he bogeyed the 13th, there were two at the top.

The 35-year-old showed his quality at the 16th by landing his approach inside a foot for his first birdie in 11 holes, which Højgaard could not match.

DP World Tour

Aaron Cockerill shines with hole-in-one from 2024 Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship

Aaron Cockerill Ace

Aaron Cockerill stole the early moments of first round action from the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.

The Canadian had turned in a 33, but was in danger of letting a strong start slip when he made a double-bogey at the tenth and dropped another shot on the 12th.

But an ace on the 159-yard next saw him return to three under for the day as his nine-iron from the tee landed slightly right of the pin before feeding down to the cup.

Cockerill’s ace meant he had a scorecard containing every number from one to six in his first 13 holes.

Coming into the week lying 47th on the Race to Dubai Rankings in, with the top 50 progressing to next week’s season-ending DP World Tour Championship, the 32-year-old finished with five consecutive pars to complete an opening 69 in the opening event of the DP World Tour postseason.

Cockerill is the 31st different player to have made a hole-in-one on the DP World Tour on the 2024 Race to Dubai.

Amateur

Canadians play 100 holes of golf to help subsidize green fees for junior golfers

100 Hole

This summer, nearly 50 golfers raised over $80,000 to provide 10,000 subsidized golf rounds to youth across the country.

The 100 Hole Hike is a challenging opportunity where participants play 100 holes of golf on foot in one day, raising funds for Youth on Course, a program that offers green fees of five dollars or less to Canadians 18 and under.

Golf Canada partnered with Youth on Course in 2019 and has since offered nearly 70,000 subsidized rounds to junior golfers.

Youth On Course 100 Hole Hike

Golf Canada members 18 and under receive complimentary Youth on Course memberships to play affordable rounds of golf at participating golf courses across Canada.

“The 100 Hole Hikes are instrumental fundraising events for us,” said Golf Canada’s Manager, Grow the Game, Justin McKenzie. “The support we received was amazing. Through people’s willingness to take on the 100-hole challenge and help fundraise, we can provide more affordable access to the game for juniors across the country.”

Out east, the Atlantic’s 100 Hole Hike had a special participant. Canadian U15 Boys Champion, Carter Lavigne, of Moncton, New Brunswick, helped fundraise and led the group of hikers alongside his father. Lavigne has been an active Youth on Course participant since the program expanded to the Atlantic provinces in 2023.

Carter LaVigne

“It was cool to give back to a program and the game that has done so much for me,” said Lavigne. “I was fortunate to grow up playing golf, so to help give more kids the chance to play and contribute to the growth of the sport across Canada is awesome. I look forward to helping Youth on Course make a positive impact in 2025.”

Golf Canada and Youth on Course also hosted the first Canadian Premier 100 Hole Hike, where individuals who raised a minimum of $10,000 experienced an all-inclusive stay and play at the world-renowned Cabot Cape Breton. The hikers tackled 100 holes on the Nest par-3 course and played a bonus round at the top-ranked Cabot Cliffs 18-hole course.

There are over 100 participating golf courses offering Youth on Course in Canada and plans to grow that number next year with the expansion into Quebec, making the program operational in every province.

“Together, we are helping break down financial barriers to accessing the sport,” said McKenzie. “Thanks to the individuals and communities who support this great cause, Youth on Course will provide deserving youth with opportunities to learn more about golf and build their confidence in the sport. We are excited for the exponential growth of Youth on Course across the country in 2025.”

To learn more about Youth on Course in Canada, how to participate in a 100 Hole Hike, or how to donate, please visit https://www.golfcanada.ca/youthoncourse/ or email yoc@golfcanada.ca.

Team Canada

Clara Ding beats Michelle Xing in playoff to win the Elite Invitational

Clara Ding

Five members of Team Canada NextGen Girls team finish in the top four; Jager Pain finishes T3 in Boys competition

Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. – Clara Ding defeated Michelle Xing on the second playoff hole to win the 2024 Elite Invitational at Marsh Landing Country Club in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. on Sunday.

Ding, 13, of White Rock, B.C. fired rounds of 67-72-71-210 to sit at 6-under for the tournament and jumped into a playoff with her Team Canada NextGen teammate Xing of Richmond Hill, Ont. who posted rounds of 69-72-69-210. After trading pars on the opening playoff hole, Ding tapped in for par on the second playoff hole to earn her third victory on the year having won the Lake Charles AJGA Jr. and RLX Ralph Lauren Jr. titles this year.

Xing who finished as runner-up was in search of her fifth title of the year. Aphrodite Deng of Calgary, Alta. finished in third at 3-under following rounds of 71-70-72-213. Nobelle Park of Oakville, Ont. and Anna Huang of Vancouver, B.C. finished tied for fourth at 2-under.

In addition, Team Canada NextGen members Clairey Lin of Langley, B.C. finished T7 at 1-under. Shauna Liu of Maple, Ont. finished 15th at 4-over, Swetha Sathish of Oakville, Ont. finished T18 at 6-over, Eileen Park of Red Deer, Alta. finished 23rd at 9-over and Ruihan Kendria Wang of Vancouver finished T30 at 14-over.

In the Boys competition, Jager Pain of Woodbridge, Ont. and Austin Krahn of Christina Lake were the lone Team Canada NextGen Boys team members competing. Pain finished the tournament at 3-under to finish T3 following rounds of 70-68-69-207, finishing four back of the winner, while Krahn finished T42 at 11-over.

For the final leaderboards, click here for the Girls Leaderboard and click here for the Boys Leaderboard.

First Tee

First Tee – Ontario partners with Indigenous communities across Ontario to positively impact youth

First Tee Chapter

Golf Canada is committed to ensuring that golf reflects the strengths of Canada’s diversity. First Tee – Ontario continues to strengthen its allyship and existing bonds with Indigenous communities across the province to collaboratively provide meaningful experiences to Indigenous youth through golf.

To date, First Tee – Ontario has partnered with seven Indigenous schools and community centres across the province, including Akwasasne Mohawk School, Can-Am Indian Friendship Centre, Six Nations of the Grand River Community (Dajoh Facility), Hamilton Regional Indian Centre, Anishnabeg Outreach Centre, Fort Erie Native Friendship Centre, and Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte.

In addition, four partnered golf courses, including Roseland Golf Club, MontHill Golf and Country Club, Archies Family Golf Centre, and Briar Fox Golf Club are serving Indigenous youth through on-course programming.

“Having the First Tee program at MontHill Golf and Country Club provides youth on Six Nations of the Grand River with opportunities to learn the game of golf,” said First Tee – Ontario Coach, Melanie Burgess. “Being Indigenous owned, we take pride in reducing the barriers to participation in this sport.”

First Tee – Ontario builds out community “hubs” made up of partnered community centres or organizations, schools and nearby golf courses.

The intention is to first introduce children to golf through no-cost events or programming at partnered community centres and schools, then transition them to affordable on-course programming at nearby golf courses.

Thanks to the support of RBC and corporate donors, more than half of the First Tee – Ontario golf course locations serving Indigenous communities offer programming at no cost.

“Parents don’t need to worry about the financial commitment of typical junior golf programs or purchasing equipment,” said Program Coordinator, First Tee – Ontario, Kyarra Hasmatali. “The kids can show up as they are, with no experience, and have fun. Whether they have never held a golf club or are familiar with the sport, First Tee welcomes everyone.”

First Tee – Ontario has also received generous support from Indigenous Sport and Wellness Ontario (IWSO) through hosting Try Golf events and advocating for First Tee within their network. The ISWO’s efforts have helped build awareness and connections, onboard more program locations, and reach more Indigenous youth.

First Tee – Ontario programming primarily serves youth ages seven to 13 – a key stage in development, and programming is unique in the way it incorporates a curriculum that helps progress both golf skills and life skills simultaneously.

While participants learn how to swing a golf club and practice distance control, they are also learning about goal setting and how to be the most confident version of themselves.

“Improving golf skills is just one aspect of our program. The real goal is to build confidence and connections,” said First Tee – Ontario Coach, Steve Pronger. “As kids develop their golf skills on the course, they also gain self-assurance, learn to connect with others, and grow more comfortable with who they are each week.”

Looking ahead, First Tee – Ontario is excited to strengthen existing relationships and create new connections with Indigenous communities across the province.

First Tee – Ontario aims to expand programming in 2025 to include ages 14 to 16, providing additional opportunities for adolescents to discover and develop through the game of golf.

The reach of First Tee – Ontario across the province, and within Indigenous communities, is made possible by a generous network of supporters who believe and share the mission of championing youth and growing the game of golf.

To get involved in your community, or to donate to First Tee – Ontario visit https://firstteeontario.ca/giving/.

First Tee

Small town makes big impact

First Tee- Manitoba chapter.

In August 2023, the small town of Gladstone, Manitoba joined forces with the newly launched First Tee – Prairies program to create more accessible pathways to junior golf and make a positive impact on youth in their community.

Ivan Milne, the president of Gladstone Golf and Country Club, recognized the potential of First Tee – Prairies programming and was a huge part of bringing this initiative to life.

“I’ve always loved golf, and when I saw First Tee was coming to Canada, I knew it was something our community needed and could benefit from,” Milne shared.

The Westlake – Gladstone area has a population of 3,100 and faces unique challenges such as limited access to organized sports, proper equipment, and certified coaches.

That is where First Tee – Prairies stepped in.

There are currently six schools, Austin Elementary, Langruth Elementary, Plumas Elementary, Isaac Beaulieu Memorial School, Gladstone Elementary, and William Morton Collegiate, delivering First Tee – Prairies programming to students through their phys. Ed curriculum.

First Tee - Manitoba chapter representatives.

First Tee – Prairies provides online training for teachers, necessary equipment and turnkey lesson plans to deliver programming, all at no cost to the schools or participants.

Additionally, in Sandy Bay Ojibway First Nation, Recreational Director and First Tee – Prairies coach, Jesse Spence, has witnessed firsthand the positive impact First Tee has made on the community.

“Being a part of this program is so rewarding,” said Spence. “Without First Tee, many kids would not be exposed to golf or think of golf as a sport for them. My goal is to introduce them to golf here at school and make it fun and inviting so that they want to try it again.”

Sandy Bay’s Councillor, Jason Starr, and Educational Director, Rene Roulette have also helped grow the program within Sandy Bay.

In addition to Spence, four other dedicated coaches from the Westlake – Gladstone area including Darcy Zairwney, Mirv Spence, Morris Pelletier and Jason Lucas attended First Tee coach training administered by the PGA of Canada this spring.

“This is different than your regular junior golf program, it’s bigger than golf,” said coach Zairwney. “Each lesson plan integrates valuable life lessons learned through golf. We discuss the value of honesty when teaching them about scoring, perseverance after you hit a bad shot, self-confidence to believe you can sink that putt, the importance of respect and etiquette on the course, and more.”

Gladstone Golf and Country Club offers registered on-course programming and field trips for local schools and community organizations.

“We hope that many children can call First Tee – Prairies and Gladstone Golf Club home,” said Milne. “We want to ensure that kids from all backgrounds feel welcome here and find a sense of comfort on the course.”

First Tee came to Canada in 2021 and is Golf Canada’s youth development program that provides life-enhancing experiences through golf to children from all backgrounds. First Tee – Prairies is one of six chapters operating programming in its respective regions across the country.

Although newer to the Prairies, First Tee has engaged over 30,000 youth with free golf programming since last summer, across nearly 40 program locations in Manitoba and Saskatchewan.

This is only the beginning of a lasting impact First Tee – Prairies aims to have on this community.

“Who knows, the next Brooke Henderson or Corey Conners may come out of Gladstone,” said Milne. “If not, hopefully we created a golfer for life, or at the very least provided a positive impact on a child’s development through the sport we love.”

The growth of First Tee across the Prairies is made possible by a network of generous individuals and corporations who champion youth. If you are interested in donating to help First Tee – Prairies’ mission, please click here.

She Plays Golf

She Plays Golf Season in Review – 2024

Test

2024 was a year of evolution and growth for Golf Canada’s She Plays Golf festival and the related Championship Series.

Fuelled by a successful pilot across the city of Calgary in June of 2023, She Plays Golf expanded to two further sites – BC and Ontario – in 2024. June and July saw a total of 23 events at 18 golf facilities across the cities of Calgary, Vancouver and Toronto.

When all was said and done, She Plays Golf reached over 800 Women and Girls from coast to coast. This included:

585 direct participants in festival programming, of which 152 were junior girls. 61 volunteers and 28 coaches had the opportunity to make their mark as well, introducing women and girls to the sport and supporting all facets of the operation.

A further 170 female players partook in the She Plays Golf Championship Series, with six being granted exemption into the CPKC Women’s Open at Earl Grey Golf Club.

SPG Selfie
(Photo: Dave Holland/Golf Canada).

Festival programming was carefully designed to deliver a safe, welcoming and judgment-free environment for female players right from first picking up a club, and the championship series was intended to address gaps in the high-performance area of the participation pathway.

I was very impressed with the quality of the event – from how well organized it was, to the quality of instruction, to the extent of the volunteers and how friendly and supportive they were” – Tanya Kensington, Vancouver.

While much of the core tenants remained intact from the original 2023 festival, there were a handful of notable additions for 2024.  

The She Plays Golf Championship series was a compelling introduction in 2024. Like with the Glencoe Invitational in the 2023 pilot, each festival was anchored by a 54-hole women’s golf championship, with a field of 60 professionals and elite amateurs. They included the GOLFBC Group BC Women’s Open at Pitt Meadows Golf Club and the Ororo Women’s Championship of Canada at TPC Toronto. These two championships, along with the 2024 Glencoe Invitational, formed the inaugural She Plays Golf Championship series and constituted the high-performance portion of the festival. She Plays Golf festival participants at each site were extended invitations to the final round of their local tournament, allowing them to witness the skill level of the women competing.

Champ Series

The top two finishers at each of the series stops received an exemption into the 2024 CPKC Women’s Open. All six were Team Canada members– Lauren Kim (A) and Anna Huang (A) at the Calgary event, Ellie Szeryk and Brooke Rivers in Vancouver and Michelle Xing (A) and Katie Cranston (A) in Toronto.

Also new for 2024 was the introduction of the RBC Women’s Leadership Networking Series. Each event was held at an indoor golf facility within the three festival regions, providing participants with an opportunity to gain insight from fellow female leaders via panel discussions and to build connections through golf in an enjoyable, low-pressure environment. The overarching theme was networking through the sport and instilling confidence to participate in future corporate golf events. 250 female leaders participated across the three sites, along with an impressive selection of moderators and panelists throughout the Canadian sport industry. 

Leadership Networking

After a successful scramble event during the 2023 pilot, the Learn to Scramble events were also implemented in 2024 at all three festival sites. The initiative was designed to allow female golfers to transition from the Try Golf stage to the golf course in a low-pressure, 9-hole team scramble. Each Learn to Scramble session took place on a Par-3 Course with volunteers on each hole to support participants with rules and course etiquette, and encourage skill and confidence building alongside peers at a similar golf level.

“This event was absolutely First Class. I’m so happy I got the opportunity to attend, and wouldn’t hesitate to attend a future event. Loved it” – Julie Ingram, Vancouver.

For the second consecutive year, the Calgary festival hosted a Women in Golf Leadership Luncheon, bringing together industry leaders for an afternoon of networking, brainstorming and community-building.

Following the lead of the pilot festival in 2023, each 2024 site featured 2-3 Jr. Girls Tee it Up and Women’s Try Golf clinics. Each beginner golf clinic. included programming tailored to junior girls and adult women respectively, introducing the fundamental skills of putting, chipping and full swing in a fun and social setting. Community partners such as Girls in Sport and Fast and Female were brought into Jr. Girls Tee it Up sessions to focus on the importance of participation in sport as a means of building confidence and self esteem.

“This was a very fun experience for my daughter and great for her to play golf with other girls!” – Jennifer Klinger, Calgary.

The first multi-festival season brought forth an influx of positive feedback and takeaways. Post event survey results indicated that clinics were successful in terms of creating a welcoming, judgment free environment where participants were able to give the sport a try and connect with other women. 98% of participants polled stated that they felt comfortable and welcome at She Plays Golf events.

Women Try Golf

In addition to providing a positive experience, the festival was also successful in terms of securing future interest in the sport. 76% of respondents indicated that they would be very likely to participate in golf post-event, while 77% would be very likely to attend a future She Plays Golf festival. A further 60% of participants felt they connected with other participants during or after the event they attended, speaking to the effectiveness of the community building element of She Plays Golf.

“This was truly a special event. Golf has been so insular and exclusionary for so long that seeing events like this to change the narrative and expand the game is so important in developing the growth of the game and the world in general. So I thank you so much for putting this together, I can see how much this means to these women,” Jamaal Edwards, Ontario.

Looking ahead to 2025, the program rollout in 2024 opens the door to continued growth, including opportunities to add festival sites, engage provincial golf associations and member clubs, introduce merchandise and continuing to build a community of female golfers and industry leaders in Canada.

Be sure to follow Golf Canada socials to remain up to date on exciting announcements for 2025.

First Tee

Golf Saint – Prime sur le Lac and First Tee – Premier départ Québec team up to make an impact on youth

First Tee Canada golfers from First Tee Quebec chapter.

Located on the shores of Lac St-Jean, Golf Saint-Prime sur le Lac has been a proud First Tee – Premier départ Québec location for three consecutive years.

Golf Saint-Prime sur le Lac partnered with First Tee – Premier départ Québec in 2021 to provide accessible pathways to golf and make a positive impact on youth in their community. Since launching, Golf Saint-Prime sur le Lac has engaged over 140 First Tee participants.

First Tee – Premier départ Québec strives to break down typical barriers of participation such as affordability, transportation and perception or unfamiliarity of golf. By partnering with golf courses, schools, community centres in underrepresented areas across the province, First Tee – Premier départ Québec reaches a diverse range of golfers and provides a welcoming and empowering golf experience.

Junior golfer swinging club.

Special to this location, all participants can put skills they have learned to the test and experience two rounds of golf at a nearby par 3, 9-hole course, for no extra cost. Thanks to the generous support of Canadian Tire Jump Start, First Tee – Premier départ Québec provides transportation from Golf Saint-Prime sur le Lac to the par 3 golf course for all participants.

The impact of First Tee would not be possible without the dedication of coaches striving to make a difference in children’s lives. Golf Saint-Prime sur le Lac has four First Tee Level II trained coaches who serve as incredible role models.

“I’m passionate about the values First Tee – Premier départ Québec teaches children,” said First Tee – Premier départ Québec Coach, Lucas Dupérré Vanden Hecke, who has been a part of the program for over three years. “They learn how to handle challenges and setbacks, which are valuable lessons both on and off the golf course. I’ve seen kids grow in so many ways — physically, emotionally, and socially.”

First Tee – Premier départ Québec has close to 100 program locations at golf courses, schools and community centres across the province, with a dedicated staff of over 45 coaches and volunteers.

“Our focus is to create an environment where kids can discover the joys of golf, build lasting friendships, and continue to develop valuable life skills that extend far beyond the golf course,” said First Tee – Premier départ Québec Program Coordinator, Giana Veneziano. “It’s about encouraging their excitement for golf while equipping them with the tools they need to thrive in all aspects of life.”

Looking ahead, First Tee – Premier départ Québec and Golf Saint-Prime sur le Lac aim to provide local schools with field trips to the course and host no-cost events to introduce more children to the sport.

The reach of First Tee – Premier départ Québec across the province, and the community of Lac St-Jean, is made possible by a generous network of supporters who believe and share the mission of championing youth and growing the game of golf.

To get involved in your community, or to donate to First Tee – Premier départ Québec, please visit https://firstteequebec.ca/en/giving/.