Big Brothers & Sisters Junior Golf Scholarships

The two most-significant obstacles to kids learning life's lessons through golf and organized, social, fun golf programs are ACCESS and AFFORDABILITY!!! Recently, I visited a club where my daughter was welcome to play by herself (she's nine, by the way) but if I wanted to carry her clubs and ensure she kept moving along, I was told the strict policy is to have any parents also pay the adult green fee - even if they have no intention of playing - no clubs - no shoes - those things are for sale and for rent, as required (sound like sincere intentions to develop junior golf or a few extra bucks - anyway, as you can imagine, my nine-year old was no longer interested in going back for my stuff, so we went somewhere else). Now, I get that courses can't have walkers during busy times or on big, tough courses - they might get hurt and the liability is on the club - so they insist that fees are paid to assume this risk. Fair enough. But if it's 7pm on the par 3 and no one else is on the course, why can't Mom or Dad walk along with their nine-year old? I mean, c'mon...

Anyway, our mandate at the Learning Centre is to promote junior golf. Aggressively! So, walk with your nine-year-old at Black Diamond anytime you choose. If you, as a parent want to play with them, check in and learn that if you choose to play, any child of fourteen or younger will play and ride in your cart for free. Now that is a significant method of developing parent/child golf outings, no?

But further to this, we know that the access piece is even more preventative for the less-fortunate families in our area. We are out of Peterborough by a few klicks - but that won't stop our friend Darlene Evans from coming up with a creative solution. How about a bus partner? Why not take sixteen kids from families who deserve a break to a full-week golf camp at Black Diamond? Perfect. Access granted. But what about the tuition for a full week camp? Fair market value for an excusive eight-hour, five-day golf camp is out of reach for most single-parent families or (gulp) former GM employees trying to scrape by with jobs they never imagined they would ever have to do - pensions gone or reduced significantly - these families in Peterborough and the Kawarthas deserve a break. So? Mr. Stalteri and I came up with a plan. We'll foot the bill for the whole camp - eight boys, eight girls. Darlene will know how to select them - for their contributions and efforts. Kids who deserve this experience - kids with no access or ability to afford a camp like this.

We are proud to work with the great people at Big Brothers and Big Sisters in Peterborough and the surrounding areas. I grew up here. I was a little brother. It may have brought me here, to this place - doing what I love. And so, we give a little back. Time, access, learning and laughs. Sunscreen, bottled water, snacks and learning, through 'osmosis'. Self-esteem is the reward.

On Saturday, May 22nd, on an otherwise grey and dreary day, the partnership between Black Diamond and Big Brothers and Sisters of Peterborough was formed with a humble presentation of gift certificates for sixteen deserving "littles" to come and experience golf - at it's most awesome and memorable level. Our special thanks to Darlene Eveans, Executive Director, who came on a Saturday with no hesitation. Rather than send someone on her behalf, she came in person and accepted our offer, allowing us to take a few pictures as we cut the banner to kick off our season at the Black Diamond Golf Club & Learning Centre. This is an exciting partnership, to be sure.

We may not look like much now, but give us ten years. You might just see a kid from our Big Brothers & Sisters gang go on to compete as an Olympic competitor with a chance to bring gold home for golf in Canada. Stranger things have happened. And we're ready to help anyone realize their biggest and best dreams! Especially, the most-deserving, who otherwise may never have an opportunity to go to golf camp. We will welcome them in a special way and keep you posted.

Visit soon! We are off & running. We'll cure your slice in 15 minutes and change your golfing lives forever. (Or happily, give you your money back...). You have it in writing. FORE!!!!!!!!!!