Tag: Wayne Allen

First Tee – Atlantic participants represent Canada at Ernie Els International Golf Tournament

Four skilled competitors represented First Tee – Atlantic and Canada at the third annual Ernie Els #GameON Autism® International Golf Tournament.

The global tournament is for individuals with autism to benefit from competition, physical activity, and social connection. Participants as young as five and up to 18 compete alongside their teammates in a six-hole match at their Official Program Provider (OPP) in their respective countries, and scores are submitted.

This year, the Canadian squad was made up of four First Tee – Atlantic participants from Newfoundland.

Joseph Tobin, eight years old, Gabe Spence, nine years old, and Theo Jenkins, nine years old, from Corner Brook, NL and Jackson Pink, 11 years old, of Pasadena, NL faced off against the United States, United Kingdom, South Africa, and Ghana.

Pink shot the lowest team score, with a 43, and Tobin was not far behind, with a 49. The team was supported throughout the day by head coach Wayne Allen as well as his two daughters, assistant coaches Rosie and Paige Allen.

The players competed at First Tee – Atlantic program location, Humber Valley Resort, where Coach Wayne ran registered First Tee programming out of this year.

The partnership between First Tee – Atlantic, Els for Autism Foundation and Humber Valley is exemplary of First Tee’s mission to provide more inclusive pathways to golf for children from all backgrounds. By collaborating with the Els Foundation, First Tee – Atlantic provided a life-enhancing opportunity for its participants and helped children with autism feel more included in the culture of sports and recreation.

First Tee – Atlantic’s Program Manager, Colin Gillis, and dedicated First Tee coach, Wayne Allen, completed additional training through the Els Foundation to provide an ideal learning environment for participants with autism.

The #GameOn Autism Golf Program is infused with evidence-based practices for teaching golf to people with autism. Coaches take a deeper dive into helping participants learn golf skills while practicing specific autism learning concepts, including communication, emotional regulation, motor, and social skills.

First Tee – Atlantic and Coach Wayne have also been working with the Autism Network of Newfoundland since 2023.

“This is what First Tee is all about,” said Gillis. “When locations like Humber Valley Resort open their doors so any child can participate in golf, we break down those barriers of entry to our sport and ensure that all children feel included, welcomed and celebrated. We believe every child deserves the opportunity to play golf and reap the benefits the sport has to offer on and off the course.”

First Tee – Atlantic launched across the Atlantic provinces in 2022 and now offers programming at over 17 locations through partnerships with golf courses, schools, and community organizations.

“We will continue to provide a safe and empowering environment for children with autism at First Tee – Atlantic,” said Gillis. “We look forward to competing again next year at the Ernie Els International tournament and hope to bring home the championship title!”

To learn more about the Els Autism Foundation, click here. To get involved with First Tee – Atlantic, click here.

PGA of Canada Hosts First Tee – Atlantic Coach Training

The picturesque golf courses of Amherst Golf Club and Glen Arbour Golf Club recently played host to a remarkable event: the First Tee Coach training. This training, organized by First Tee – Atlantic and delivered by the PGA of Canada, aimed to equip coaches with the skills necessary to inspire and mentor young golfers. Led by Wayne Allen, the 2023 Junior Leader of the Year and a PGA of Canada member, the training left an indelible mark on all participants.

The initial two days unfolded at Amherst Golf Club. Here, coaches delved into the intricacies of the Community Golf Coach workshop. Wayne, with his wealth of experience, guided them through practical techniques, effective communication and language, safety procedures, and the art of creating an inclusive environment for young golfers. Coaches honed their teaching skills, learning how to engage with students of varying abilities and backgrounds. The focus was not just on golf swings but also on character development and life skills.

The latter half of the training, First Tee Level 2, took place at Glen Arbour Golf Club. This segment was specifically designed for coaches aspiring to lead programs at green-grass facilities. Wayne Allen continued to inspire, emphasizing advanced coaching methodologies, program management, and leadership skills. Coaches explored ways to foster resilience, instill core values, and create a positive impact on their students’ lives.

The training sessions brought together a diverse group of 20 individuals—coaches from across Atlantic Canada, with unique backgrounds and experiences. Their shared passion for making golf accessible to all youth transcended any differences. Coaches left the training with newfound confidence. Coaches are better equipped to guide young golfers toward success, both on and off the course.

Beyond skill enhancement, the training fostered a sense of community. Coaches exchanged ideas, formed professional networks, and discovered shared goals. As they return to their local communities, they carry with them not only technical knowledge but also a support system of like-minded peers.

Ultimately, the impact extends beyond the coaches themselves. By enhancing their skills, coaches empower the next generation of golfers. First Tee’s mission—to instill life skills and core values through golf—now rests in the capable hands of these dedicated individuals. The First Tee Coach training was more than a professional development opportunity; it was a catalyst for building gamechangers.

If you would like to get involved with First Tee – Atlantic, visit our Get Involved page to learn more.

In The News: Blomidon Golf Club wins Golf Canada’s 2023 grassroots junior program of the year

[Stephen Roberts] CORNER BROOK, N.L., April 2023 – To grow the game of golf, Wayne Allen wants every child to have the opportunity to play.

Allen, a PGA professional since the age of 20, is the head pro at the Blomidon Golf Club in Corner Brook.

He leads the club’s junior golfer program, which is now seeing national recognition. Earlier this month, the Blomidon Golf Club received Golf Canada’s 2023 Grassroots Junior Program of the Year. The award is presented to a facility or academy program that is excelling at creating new junior golfers through local programming.

Per Golf NL, the club “offered a multitude of programs in 2022 for junior golfers ranging in age from five to 18 – including a girls club that features weekly instruction from women coaches. In addition to reserving tee times each day for juniors, Blomidon also executed a unique ‘close the course for a day’ event that catered to junior golfers and their families.”

“It’s a massive honour,” Allen tells West Coast Wire. “The membership has always been a big supporter of junior golf and I think it’s second-to-none amongst golf clubs in the country in what the membership provides to our juniors members and the opportunities they provide.”

He cites something as simple as providing two hours of tee times every morning to junior members as making a big difference. Their junior program includes a five- to nine-year-old program that allows them to practice on the putting green, the chipping green, the small driving range and the bunkers. When they turn 10, they get to play on the golf course.

There are nine coaches, many who have been through the junior program themselves.

“So, it works kind of like a mentoring system,” Allen comments.

As they pass through the program, older youth will help teach the younger students. Allen says they want to provide the students a safe and fun environment for them to enjoy their summer holidays. He adds golf also imparts life lessons.

“They’re learning things like honesty and integrity and behaviours and I think that’s critical to anybody as they learn the various life lessons that golf can provide,” he explains.

And then if they want to play competitive it provides an avenue for them to continue that trajectory.

The program commences in late June and runs seven to eight weeks.

First Tee program

In addition to the junior program, the club started offering outreach through the First Tee program last fall.

Club instructors go into local elementary schools, as part of their physical education program, with a lesson plan and go through a full curriculum of six different lessons.

“It’s phenomenal,” says Allen. “Within a city like Corner Brook, I can get a golf club in every kid’s hand. We can get every child in K to 6 to try the game of golf.”

This allows students an otherwise unavailable opportunity to determine whether they’re interested in the game of golf.

“If they enjoy it, then we can provide an outlet for them to join in our spring or summer programs,” says Allen.

According to Allen, the First Tee program focuses on providing opportunity for youth who may not have previously had the resources to join. For him, it was an eye-opening experience, as he watched children of immigrant families from places such as Ukraine, Syria, Africa and Southeast Asia try the sport.

“To see the look on their faces and their enjoyment is just so rewarding,” says Allen.

They are currently continuing the First Tee program during the school spring session.

Enjoying the game

Allen, originally from England, has played golf since the age of 10.

He moved to Newfoundland 20 years ago and has been at the Blomidon Golf Club for 18 years.

He notes one of the virtues of golf is that anybody can play it at any age: you can have three or four generations of a family all playing golf together.

“There’s not many sports where you can do that,” he says. “You can play with your children and grandparents in the same group.”

Allen says funding from RBC and Golf Canada has been critical in introducing the sport to young people, enabling them to join and participate in events at the club in the summertime.

For Allen, it’s a pleasure to see these youth get the opportunity to take up the sport he loves.

“I love what I do,” he proclaims. “I’m quite fortunate. It’s a very rewarding role that I have. And you can see it on the kids’ faces in schools and summer program when they get the opportunity to play golf. It’s a lot of fun.”

To learn more about the Blomidon Golf Club visit blomidongolf.com or the Blomidon Golf Facebook page.

This article originally appeared here: https://www.saltwire.com/atlantic-canada/sports/blomidon-golf-club-wins-golf-canadas-2023-grassroots-junior-program-of-the-year-100841482/