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 physical education curriculum.
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.