Program Overview

The Callaway Golf for Kids program has been developed by the Golf Association of Ontario as a true grassroots initiative. Designed with fun and safety as fundamentals, it gives children an opportunity to experience and learn a game that helps build character and promotes life long activity.  The Callaway Golf for Kids program's components supplement the National Golf in Schools program facilitated by the Royal Canadian Golf Association (RCGA) as well as offer programming for municipalities to include in their recreation guides and summer programs.

The Callaway Golf for Kids program offers four unique elements which introduce kids to the game of golf. These elements are Mr. Knickers & Friends, Learn to Swing, Transition opportunities and Community Recreation. 

Mr. Knickers & Friends is a unique interactive presentation focused on primary grades as a first exposure to golf. It uses child-friendly equipment (oversized plastic clubs and tennis balls) that students can use to learn the fun side of golf with emphasis on safety and sportsmanship. 

Learn to Swing allows students to get a real life feel for the game as teachers introduce the fundamentals of stance, posture, alignment and grip along with safety awareness and golf specific exercises.  Students then put into practice what they have learned with the use of real golf clubs in a driving range-like school yard set up.

Transition programs 'help kids get on course'. In order to facilitate this process, the GAO will provide teachers & parents with information on transitioning from the school yard to the golf course. This information includes local "Kid Friendly" golf courses, the programs they offer and the golf professionals that are available to guide both teachers and parents in the right direction. This will provide many opportunities to encourage participation in the sport of golf.

The Community Recreation program encourages and facilitates the introduction to golf in non-traditional environments including municipal programs, summer camps and community events.  Kids participating in the Callaway Golf for Kids Community Recreation programs will be introduced to golf in a similarly fun and interactive way as they are in schools but in a setting unlike their traditional phys-ed class.

The ultimate goal of the Callaway Golf for Kids program is to help foster strong communities through the inherent values and life skills which form the core of golf. The Callaway Golf for Kids initiative wants children to live a life well lived.