ATLANTIC CANADA — Elmsdale District School in Elmsdale, N.S., and Woodland Primary in Grand Falls-Windsor, N.L., have been named the winners of the 2026 First Tee – Atlantic Mini Putt Challenge.
The annual challenge invites schools across Atlantic Canada to design and build a nine-hole mini-putt course inside their school gymnasium during the academic year. Through the project, students apply lessons from the First Tee curriculum while developing creativity, collaboration and problem-solving skills.
Working alongside their teachers, students planned, designed and constructed playable courses using a variety of materials and original themes. As part of the challenge, each class also created a scorecard listing the par and yardage for every hole. This year’s winning entries were recognized for their creativity, attention to detail and overall course design.
Elmsdale District School: A new adventure at every hole
Teachers Tammy Reeves’ and Jessica Schuringa’s Grade 5 English class at Elmsdale District School created a par-29, 79.75-yard course featuring nine themed holes, each offering a different challenge. From castles and pirate planks to dinosaur islands, outer space and a floating ocean tee box, students transformed each hole into its own adventure, complete with obstacles, doglegs, ramps, tunnels and hole-in-one opportunities.
The course was recognized for its creative design and its strong demonstration of the First Tee Key Commitment of Collaborating with Others. More than 40 students worked together to plan and build the course from concept to completion.
Woodland Primary: Where golf meets math
Inspired by their experience in the First Tee – Atlantic School Program, teacher Danielle LeDrew’s Grade 3 class designed and built a par-35, 39-yard mini-putt course that incorporated teamwork, problem-solving and math concepts such as measurement, yardage and par. After testing and refining each hole, the class opened the course to students from Pre-K to Grade 3.
The course was selected for its thoughtful planning and its demonstration of the First Tee Key Commitments of Pursuing Goals and Collaborating with Others. Students designed the course in the classroom before bringing their ideas to life through teamwork, confident decision-making, creativity and applying life skills.
The First Tee – Atlantic Mini Putt Challenge continues to provide students with an opportunity to bring classroom learning to life through golf. By combining creativity with hands-on design, the initiative encourages participants to work together, think critically and build confidence while creating an experience their entire school community can enjoy.
First Tee – Atlantic thanks all participating schools, teachers and students for making the 2026 challenge a success and congratulates Elmsdale District School and Woodland Primary on their winning entries.
Special thanks to RBC Community Junior Golf for supporting the challenge through prizing and winner recognition.
Learn more about First Tee – Atlantic’s School Program at firstteeatlantic.ca/programs.
Stay tuned for more information on the 2027 First Tee – Atlantic Mini Putt Challenge coming this September.
