What Golf Canada's new figures show
On 29 October 2026, Golf Canada published the annual results of RBC Community Junior Golf, an initiative supporting First Tee – Canada. The federation reported nearly 63,000 programme participations in 2026, facilitated by 264 community partners and 38 golf facilities across the country.
The wording matters. The 38 facilities were involved in delivering activities; the report does not say 38 new golf courses opened in 2026. Equally, nearly 63,000 participations should not automatically be described as 63,000 different children. The published figure measures programme reach, not necessarily unique individuals.
A more accessible first golf lesson
First Tee – Canada introduces young people to golf while encouraging confidence, perseverance, integrity and positive relationships. Sessions are delivered through golf facilities, schools and community centres. The RBC-supported initiative focuses on municipal and publicly accessible facilities, giving families entry points that do not assume private-club membership.
Golf Canada reports that 46% of participants identified as female in 2026. It also says that 79% of community partners serve lower-socioeconomic communities. This latter number describes the organisations and areas they serve, not the household income of 79% of individual participants.
Participation since 2022
Since the initiative launched in 2022, Golf Canada says it has engaged more than 170,000 participations in total. This represents substantial activity, but the release does not establish how many children remained involved in golf after their first lesson, moved into club programmes or began playing competitively.
Nor does it provide a directly comparable count of unique participants in 2025. It would therefore be misleading to claim a record year-on-year rise from these figures alone.
Connecting professional golf with communities
The 2026 RBC Canadian Open featured a 72-foot putt challenge, a reference to Nick Taylor's celebrated winning putt at the 2023 championship. According to Golf Canada, the attraction raised nearly CAD 45,000 during tournament week in support of First Tee – Canada.
This was a fundraising activity for spectators, not a junior championship. Its importance lies in connecting the attention around a major Canadian professional tournament with community-level opportunities to try golf.
The next measure of progress
The tangible 2026 results are 38 facilities, 264 community partners and nearly 63,000 participations. They indicate the scale of the access network, while questions about retention, the growth of regular junior participation and regional differences remain open.
Such follow-up evidence will help show whether first experiences translate into long-term opportunities in the sport.
Source: Golf Canada, 29 October 2026.
