Every child deserves the opportunity to discover the game of golf.
That’s the vision behind a new Community Impact Partnership between Golf Ontario and the Durham Family Advisory Board (DFAB), which will launch Golf Fore All this summer—a program designed to introduce children facing financial, social and developmental barriers to the game in a fun, welcoming and supportive environment.
Beginning this summer, the eight-week program will provide 20 children between the ages of 8 and 13—including three children with autism—with weekly professional instruction, driving range sessions, on-course golf experiences and access to loaned equipment. More importantly, it will provide an opportunity to build confidence, develop new skills and discover a lifelong connection to the game.
For Golf Ontario, the partnership represents another step toward making the game more accessible and creating opportunities for more Ontarians to experience everything golf has to offer.
“At Golf Ontario, our mission is shaping lives through golf,” said Kyle McFarlane, Chief Executive Officer of Golf Ontario. “We believe this game has the power to build character, foster community and create opportunities that extend far beyond the fairways. That’s what drives our vision for a more inclusive, accessible and welcoming future for everyone who wants to be part of the game: Golf For All.”
DFAB’s Golf Fore All has been designed as more than a one-summer introduction to the game. Participants will begin with lessons, practice, on-course experiences and starter-kit equipment before progressing toward greater independence, with the long-term goal of transitioning into junior golf opportunities and sustained participation in the sport.
While DFAB will lead program delivery throughout Durham Region, Golf Ontario will provide fundraising infrastructure, charitable tax receipting through the Golf Canada Foundation, marketing and storytelling support, regional golf industry connections and strategic guidance to help the program grow sustainably.
“One of the ways we bring that vision to life is by partnering with community-led organizations to help turn their ideas into sustainable, high-impact programs,” McFarlane said.
For DFAB founder Paul Vorstadt, the partnership is about using golf as a platform to create lasting opportunities for children and families throughout Durham Region.
“We couldn’t ask for a better partner than Golf Ontario,” said Vorstadt. “From day one, they’ve shared our belief that every child deserves the opportunity to experience the game of golf, regardless of their financial circumstances. Their support, leadership and commitment have helped turn an idea into a program that will create opportunities for children and families across our community.”
Vorstadt believes the impact of Golf Fore All will extend well beyond the golf course.
“At DFAB, we don’t see golf as simply introducing children to another sport—we see it as opening doors,” he said. “Golf develops character, creates confidence and teaches life skills that will benefit kids long after their final round. Our goal is to give every child the opportunity not just to learn the game, but to grow through it.”
The partnership is the first under Golf Ontario’s Community Impact Partnership model, which brings together local organizations and the provincial association to create meaningful golf opportunities in communities across Ontario. By combining local leadership with provincial support, the initiative helps remove barriers, strengthen grassroots programming and create more pathways into the game.
As Golf Ontario continues to expand its Golf For All vision across the province, partnerships like this demonstrate what’s possible when organizations come together around a shared purpose: creating more opportunities for children to discover the game, build confidence and experience the lifelong benefits golf can provide.
Check out DFAB’s Golf Fore All Fundraising Page\
