More Than a Game: How First Tee – BC Is Changing Lives Through Golf ⛳💚
Step into the heart of an unforgettable day where golf becomes more than just a game. This is the story of First Tee – British Columbia, a program that opens doors for kids who might never have had the chance to step onto a course.
From empowering impact stories to the electric energy of the tournament, this video captures it all — the joy, the community, and the purpose. Watch how sponsors, golfers, and ambassadors come together to support youth, creating a powerful ripple effect far beyond the fairway.
🎥 Whether you’re a golfer, a supporter, or someone who believes in equal opportunities for all kids, this is a celebration you won’t want to miss.
This segment is brought to you by FirstTe British Columbia. We’re building game changers by opening the world of golf to every child, one lesson at a time. Well, I’m standing here with Max. Max, you have to tell me your title because it’s pretty phenomenal. Yeah, of course. Uh, well, with First T, I’m a coordinator for British Columbia. I uh work as the one overseeing V uh Vancouver Island as well as the north and the interior for the program. Uh but on the golf side, I am a three-time junior club champion at my local club. So, you know, I know a little bit about junior golf. Um and just happy to be able to give back in this way. And you’re here at the first te of the first te tournament. Um what’s your job here today? Yeah, so I’m here to give everyone the the rundown on what we do at first te, how we’re helping kids get into the game of golf. Uh but as well I’m also providing an option if people are feeling you know a little queasy on that first tee that we can give them uh a not a pro uh but we’ve got our junior ambassador out there hitting some shots as well as myself. [Music] Castanza you have been on the show before and you were wonderful but now we are at the big tournament. What are they hiring you to do? What are they what are they making you do? Well hitting shots for the players here right now. That’s incredible. And we just watched you actually hit one. Um, and you I think you I think you did better than all the guys out there. I did. Wonderful. Wonderful. Well, we’re so excited. Lastly, what does First T mean to you and tell tell it to our audience. Um, First T is a great program. Um, it helps you make confidence, friends. Yeah, it’s a lot for me. It means a lot for me. I’ve been doing this program since I was 4 years old and I really like it. It has motivated me to like become a better player, have more confidence in myself. Uh it means a lot. Yeah. [Music] Well, we’re here on the 10th T and I have the big shot himself, uh the head guy for First T. Sean, um tell us a little bit about Canadawide operations. Yeah, First T Canada, we started in 2021. The program had been running for years down the US. We started off in BC and Ontario and Quebec in 2021. We’re now in all 10 provinces across the country. We’ve had over 200,000 kids partake in the program and we’re growing every year. Wow. So, what do you see for First T? I mean, moving forward. Yeah. First TE is really just about breaking down barriers, making sure we have access to this great game that we are all out here today celebrating and raising funds for. And we provide 70% of our programming at no cost to the kids and the families. And for most parents, uh, they know how much young kids sports cost. And First T is really trying to work its best to make sure that we are an accessible game, that we are a growing game and one that represents the fabric of Canada. What an great organization. I mean, um, we’ve we’ve been with you for a little while now this year and at some of your events, and we’re super super excited to be partnered with you as well. Um, what uh what is your favorite part about this organization? I think my favorite part is the team that we’ve built really believes in the mission and the cause. We really drive every day to make sure that we’re trying to enhance the life of kids. You know, First T’s tagline is we’re building game changers. And that’s what we’re trying to do. It’s not just about golf. It’s about life skills and making sure we’re building better citizens, better members of our community, and making sure that it’s a game you can play for life with your friends, your family, and your loved ones. Uh I really enjoy spending time with my friends. I haven’t seen them for a while and I really enjoy the weather in the fall of the whole Vancouver. This is amazing to enjoy the weather over here. Yeah. How’d you play today? We’re playing really well. [Music] I was a junior golfer about 20 25 years ago and uh I think what first TE is doing is truly amazing and helping junior golfers to pick up the game and um I think um uh one of the things that junior golfers really needs a lot of support. Um so I think it’s it’s great that uh we see so many um supporters of the program and um I’m really happy that we’re all trying together to help the golf community. [Music] Hey, my name is Clark Ducen. My real name is Richard Clark Ducen and I’m part of the special needs community and I just uh won a uh bronze medal in provincials uh almost a month ago and I’m happy to hear I’m happy to be here about um supporting the kids. I was a junior a long time ago and uh I just love helping out with things. Welcome everybody. Who’s ready for a great day on the course today? First D. Great tournament. First team, baby. First Well, taking a little break with a familiar face. She’s been on the show a couple times this year. We’re at the tournament. Kelly, this has been a great day. I mean, the weather really cooperated for late September. This is pretty spectacular. We ordered it. Yeah, they pay a little extra. You can do that actually. Uh let’s talk about what a great day this has been. People have been watching the show this year. They we’ve talked about first teback in the spring with Castanzo who’s been on the show today, but you’re wrapping things up here today. Uh what a great day. Such a great day. So many wonderful people. Such a pleasure. I just I can’t say enough. We’ve had so many great supporters come out. so many, you know, wonderful people helping to actually put on the event and people I didn’t even know that were going to come and have come and dug deep and helped us out. So, yeah. Yeah. We talked we talked to your colleague Sean earlier and what we want you to do is talk about tonight uh a big event, part of the great day here. Yeah. So, tonight is, you know, the wrap-up party and, you know, everyone’s going to celebrate everything about First Tea. We have our junior ambassador that we’ve met before, Castanza, who’s going to come and speak about her experience coming from Mexico and coming into Canada and still continuing her journey with First Tea and where she’s taken that. Yeah, we are also having a surprise performance. Oh, okay. Excellent. Excellent. All right. The one and only Can I say it? Of course you can. Of course I can. Uh Jojo Mason. Uh-huh. So I’m out there playing today, actually. Actually, excellent. Good friends with his brother, too. Yes. Um, can’t you cannot be not friends with the wine guy. So, no. Yeah, we really don’t like him that much, but he’s a wine guy, right? Exactly. You know what you mentioned to me? We were out a few weeks ago when we were talking about that that the golf season’s well pretty much going to wrap up soon. Uh, but but this is an all year thing for you guys. It is. Absolutely. So, we on the off season when we’re not having fun on the golf course, we are digging deep um asking people to help us out to fund our program. So, we have expenses. So, we want to make sure that this program is accessible and barrierfree for every single child in the province. So, really, we’re looking at people donating their time, donating their money, um their products, whatever the case might be. So, if you’re interested in helping out First TE and helping us give more children the opportunity to play this wonderful sport, just give us a call. Uh look at our website. It’s firstteb.ca. Excellent. And uh we’d love to hear from you. Yeah. What a great day. Uh, look it up, folks. What a I mean, as you said, it’s it’s all for the kids, and that’s when you get something like that, it always makes a great day. So, right there. There she is, Kelly Baker. And we’ll get back to what’s happening here at the golf course. Thanks, Jim. This segment was brought to you by FirstTe British Columbia, empowering children and teens through the game of golf. For more information, go to firstteb.ca. [Music]
