For many people, golf is a game played on fairways and greens. For 7 Generations Golf Association, it is something much bigger: an opportunity to create access, build confidence, celebrate culture and bring Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities together.
Based in Alberta, 7 Generations Golf Association is working to open the world of golf to First Nations youth by providing affordable golf clinics, tournaments, quality equipment, expert instruction and culturally relevant mentorship. The organization was created by Andrew Fox and his son Mitchell, to create a path to get started in golf for First Nations youth and their parents.
“We were inspired to start 7 Generations Golf Association because we were aware of many of the barriers that First Nations youth and their families face when trying to access the game,” says the organization’s founder. “We saw an opportunity to create a pathway for First Nations kids to experience golf, develop their skills and become part of the golf community.”
At its heart, the organization has a simple goal: to create opportunities where they may not have existed before. That pathway is already making an impact.
Over the past few years, 7 Generations Golf has introduced more than 500 First Nations children to the game Fox tell us.
For some, it is their first experience holding a golf club. For others, it becomes the beginning of a longer journey in the sport. Regardless of where they start, participants are learning lessons that extend well beyond the golf course.
Golf demands patience, discipline, perseverance and the ability to handle both success and adversity. Those lessons can help young people develop confidence and self-esteem—qualities that can carry into their families, schools, communities and future careers.
Andrew and Mitchell also recognize that participation in sport is not always as simple as showing up at a golf course.
“Within First Nation communities we face so many barriers like transportation, family support, quality equipment. So, using 7 Generations connections within the golf community, it is our mandate to provide affordable clinics, golf tournaments, and creating opportunities for First Nation youth to experience the game.”
The growth of golf within First Nations communities demonstrates the potential for these opportunities. The increasing participation of young Indigenous golfers in events such as the Junior First Nations Cup has provided a visible indication of the interest and enthusiasm for the sport.
But the impact of 7 Generations Golf extends beyond developing young golfers. The organization sees the sport as a vehicle for connection.
“The game of golf can play a very productive role in connecting Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities through golf tournaments” explains Fox. “Within this arena both Indigenous and non-Indigenous can share so many stories and make connections that no other sport can do”.
Players share a round, stories and experiences. Conversations that might not otherwise happen can begin on the first tee and extend beyond the 18th hole.
In that sense, golf becomes more than a competition. It becomes a meeting place.
By creating opportunities for Indigenous youth to learn the game, 7 Generations Golf is helping facilitate the development of relationships outside of the sport.
Looking ahead, Fox explains that the organization hopes to expand its professional staff so it can offer more clinics and tournaments in and around First Nations communities.
“We are currently building meaningful relationships and partnerships with other associations so we can achieve our goal to become not only recognizable in Alberta but across Canada.”
For the young people that participate, the ultimate goal is not to create the next generation of professional golfers necessarily, however the organization wouldn’t be upset if one of their participants followed in Andrew or Mitchell’s footsteps.
Instead, Fox explains that their hope is for kids to come through their programs and leave with a better understanding of the possibilities for their future that can come from the game of golf.
Golf can provide opportunities in competition, education, employment, mentorship and relationships. Perhaps just as importantly, it can give young people a place to belong and a reason to believe in what they can accomplish.
That is the vision behind 7 Generations Golf: creating a pathway for First Nations youth to discover the possibilities of the game while carrying the confidence and lessons they learn into every other part of their lives.
In the process, the organization is demonstrating that golf can be much more than a game. It can be a bridge—connecting generations, communities and cultures, one round at a time.
For more information on 7 Generations Golf Association, click here