VICTORIA — Nearly 300 youth were introduced to golf through interactive activities hosted by First Tee – British Columbia at the Pacific Institute for Sport Education (PISE) Family Sport & Recreation Festival on May 2.
The event, held in Victoria, invited families to explore various sports and recreational activities. First Tee – British Columbia’s activation featured three golf stations designed to introduce participants to the game and its inherent core values, through putting, chipping and full-swing activities led by certified coaches.
Ahead of the festival, Regional Coordinator Max Kleban appeared on CHEK News’ “The Upside” alongside participants from Cordova Bay Golf Course’s First Tee program to discuss the organization’s work in providing life skills-based golf opportunities for young people across the province.
“After three years of participating in PISE’s Family Sport & Recreation Festival, it continues to be a highlight event for First Tee – British Columbia,” said Scott Stefani, program manager for First Tee – British Columbia. “The festival aligns closely with our continued focus on creating safe, inclusive spaces where youth from all backgrounds can experience sport in a positive way.”
Families attending the festival were also invited to register for a no-cost First Tee Try Golf session at Highland Pacific Golf on May 5. The session was supported by RBC Community Junior Golf, an initiative launched by RBC in partnership with Golf Canada, that accelerates the growth of First Tee – Canada by covering programming costs at select municipal and publicly accessible golf courses.
Led by Kleban and First Tee coach Cooper Alexander, three young participants later attended the on-course session, learning the fundamentals of golf and the life skills that exist within the game such as collaboration, perseverance and respect.
“I’m grateful for the opportunity to work with First Tee – British Columbia and help increase opportunities for youth to develop life skills and grow their love for the game,” Alexander said. “As a First Tee coach, it’s incredibly rewarding to spark lifelong interest in youth, especially those who wouldn’t otherwise think to play golf.”
Since becoming a First Tee community partner in 2023, PISE has helped introduce golf to more than 1,000 children from surrounding communities through First Tee – British Columbia programming.
Watch the chapter’s April 30 feature on CHEK News: The Upside.
To learn more about PISE, visit pise.ca.
To learn more about First Tee – British Columbia, visit firstteebc.ca.