In August 2023, the small city of Gladstone, Manitoba joined forces with the newly launched First Tee – Prairies program to create extra accessible pathways to junior golf and make a optimistic influence on youth of their group.
Ivan Milne, the president of Gladstone Golf and Nation Membership, acknowledged the potential of First Tee – Prairies programming and was an enormous a part of bringing this initiative to life.
“I’ve at all times liked golf, and once I noticed First Tee was coming to Canada, I knew it was one thing our group wanted and may gain advantage from,” Milne shared.
The Westlake – Gladstone space has a inhabitants of three,100 and faces distinctive challenges equivalent to restricted entry to organized sports activities, correct tools, and licensed coaches.
That’s the place First Tee – Prairies stepped in.
There are at the moment six faculties, Austin Elementary, Langruth Elementary, Plumas Elementary, Isaac Beaulieu Memorial College, Gladstone Elementary, and William Morton Collegiate, delivering First Tee – Prairies programming to college students by means of their phys. Ed curriculum.
First Tee – Prairies supplies on-line coaching for lecturers, needed tools and turnkey lesson plans to ship programming, all for free of charge to the colleges or members.
Moreover, in Sandy Bay Ojibway First Nation, Leisure Director and First Tee – Prairies coach, Jesse Spence, has witnessed firsthand the optimistic influence First Tee has made on the group.
“Being part of this program is so rewarding,” stated Spence. “With out First Tee, many children wouldn’t be uncovered to golf or consider golf as a sport for them. My purpose is to introduce them to golf right here in school and make it enjoyable and welcoming in order that they wish to attempt it once more.”
Sandy Bay’s Councillor, Jason Starr, and Instructional Director, Rene Roulette have additionally helped develop this system inside Sandy Bay.
Along with Spence, 4 different devoted coaches from the Westlake – Gladstone space together with Darcy Zairwney, Mirv Spence, Morris Pelletier and Jason Lucas attended First Tee coach coaching administered by the PGA of Canada this spring.
“That is totally different than your common junior golf program, it’s larger than golf,” stated coach Zairwney. “Every lesson plan integrates invaluable life classes discovered by means of golf. We talk about the worth of honesty when educating them about scoring, perseverance after you hit a foul shot, self-confidence to imagine you’ll be able to sink that putt, the significance of respect and etiquette on the course, and extra.”
Gladstone Golf and Nation Membership affords registered on-course programming and subject journeys for native faculties and group organizations.
“We hope that many kids can name First Tee – Prairies and Gladstone Golf Membership dwelling,” stated Milne. “We wish to be sure that children from all backgrounds really feel welcome right here and discover a sense of consolation on the course.”
First Tee got here to Canada in 2021 and is Golf Canada’s youth improvement program that gives life-enhancing experiences by means of golf to kids from all backgrounds. First Tee – Prairies is one in every of six chapters working programming in its respective areas throughout the nation.
Though newer to the Prairies, First Tee has engaged over 30,000 youth with free golf programming since final summer season, throughout almost 40 program areas in Manitoba and Saskatchewan.
That is solely the start of a long-lasting influence First Tee – Prairies goals to have on this group.
“Who is aware of, the subsequent Brooke Henderson or Corey Conners could come out of Gladstone,” stated Milne. “If not, hopefully we created a golfer for all times, or on the very least supplied a optimistic influence on a toddler’s improvement by means of the game we love.”
The expansion of First Tee throughout the Prairies is made potential by a community of beneficiant people and companies who champion youth. In case you are considering donating to assist First Tee – Prairies’ mission, please click on right here.
