MONTREAL, QUE. (August 6, 2024) – The Presidents Cup, Golf Canada and Golf Canada Foundation are proud to announce First Tee – Canada has been named as one of the 2024 charitable beneficiaries of the upcoming Presidents Cup and will receive a $250,000 donation from the event, returning to The Royal Montreal Golf Club Sept. 24-29.
In conjunction with being named a beneficiary of the Presidents Cup, philanthropists Paul Desmarais Jr., Jean C. Monty and Rémi Racine have each made $1 million USD gifts to support the continued growth of First Tee in Quebec and across Canada.
Today, at the Presidents Cup media day, two lucky First Tee – Québec participants had the opportunity to caddie for Montreal Canadiens players Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield. Suzuki and Caulfield put their golf skills to the test as they went head-to-head in a three-hole match play competition, followed by a cheque presentation to Golf Canada Foundation’s Chief Executive Officer, Martin Barnard.
“Gifts of this nature are pivotal for our program,” said Barnard. “They allow us to implement more programming across all six Canadian chapters, introduce more children to golf and make a bigger impact in local communities. The pace of growth for First Tee in Canada has been incredible and that’s owed to likeminded individuals who share the vision of championing youth.”
First Tee – Canada is Golf Canada’s youth development program that provides accessible and inclusive life-enhancing experiences through golf for children who may have otherwise not had the opportunity.
The launch of First Tee in Canada was announced in 2020 by PGA TOUR Commissioner Jay Monahan at a global press conference which revealed the 2024 Presidents Cup would be returning to Montreal.
“It feels like a full circle moment as we celebrate the new announcements today in collaboration with the Presidents Cup and reflect on the growth of First Tee in Canada over the last few years,” said Laurence Applebaum, Chief Executive Officer, Golf Canada. “We are now proudly operational in every province and earlier this year, surpassed 100,000 participants. First Tee – Canada’s success would not be possible without a generous network of supporters like Paul Desmarais, Jr., Jean C. Monty, Rémi Racine and the PGA TOUR.”
The program is delivered at golf courses, schools and community centres and provides accessible pathways of participation for children from all backgrounds. First Tee – Canada combats typical barriers of entry including affordability, transportation and perception or unfamiliarity to the sport. First Tee – Canada proudly offers over 70 per cent of programming at no cost to participants and over 50 per cent of participants identify as equity-deserving.
By seamlessly integrating the game of golf with a life skills curriculum, First Tee creates active learning experiences that continue to foster life skills like inner strength, self-confidence, resilience, honesty, and respect.
“The impact First Tee has on the future of our sport is crucial,” said Ryan Hart, Executive Director, Presidents Cup. “The Presidents Cup is a proud supporter of First Tee and is pleased to showcase First Tee – Canada on our international stage. First Tee – Canada’s focus on making golf courses accessible, inclusive and empowering spaces for children and families is so important. As the Presidents Cup moves on to new stages in 2026 and beyond, we are grateful to have played a role in the greater development of the First Tee – Canada through this year’s event in Montreal and will be proud to see this chapter continue to flourish for years to come.”
The Presidents Cup will be taking place September 24-29 at The Royal Montreal Golf Club. Following the event, on Monday, September 30th, Laval-sur-le-Lac will play host to the third annual First Tee – Québec Cup, an exclusive fundraising event to help meet the growing demand for programming across the province. More information about the fundraising event can be found at the First Tee – Québec Cup website.
Golf Canada and Golf Canada Foundation are continuously pursuing gifts to deliver programming to more children across Canada. To date, First Tee – Canada has received nearly $16 million in donations to support the launch and growth of six chapters and the onboarding of over 80 golf facilities, 80 community centres, and 200 schools.
“We are excited the Presidents Cup is coming back to Canada at Royal Montreal Golf Club,” said Paul Desmarais Jr. “As a proud supporter of the event and First Tee I am thrilled that the tournament is giving back to benefit youth in Quebec and across Canada.”
To learn how to support First Tee – Canada, please email Adam Hunter. To find a chapter near you, visit firstteecanada.ca.