Your Impact

GOLF

FOR ALL

Through initiatives that promote increased golf course access, affordable equipment and specially tailored programs for new golfers, Golf Ontario is facilitating the growth of golf as a unifying and community-building sport.

As such we are thrilled to introduce the GOLF FOR ALL Fund aimed at realizing our vision of bringing this sport to more people in this province than ever before.

By supporting the 1000 Ball Challenge, you are directly investing in the many special initiatives and programs this fund aims to grow.

Through your help, we remain dedicated to growing the game we all love and building a more inclusive and diverse golfing community in Ontario.

Donations of $20 or more are eligible for a Charitable Canadian Tax receipt.

Learn More about our work

Take the Challenge

Behind every Challenge

is a story

MIKEY'S 1000 BALL CHALLENGE

Mikey “Rocco” DiRaddo, a Special Olympian golfer, is making waves by launching Golf Fore All Abilities earlier this year—a vision he’s held for a long time. Golf Fore All Abilities aims to bring golf opportunities to youth in schools across the Niagara region, with plans to continue expanding to more regions in the coming years.  

Mikey set a goal to raise $5,000 to advance adaptive golf throughout Ontario. With support of Golf Ontario, Lookout Point Golf Club, the Niagara Ice Dogs and many of his friends and family chipped to help Mikey’s campaign and he and his team were able to surpass his fundraising goal in just 2 short months!

On Saturday October 12th, Mikey and 3 for his teammates completed the remarkable feat of hitting 1,000 golf balls in just under two hours at Lookout Point Golf Club.

Mikey’s contribution will have a lasting impact, enhancing adaptive golf opportunities across Ontario. This includes improving the Ontario Adaptive Championship experience and supporting the development of more "Try Golf" programs for adaptive athletes—bringing Golf Ontario closer to its vision of Golf For All.

“My idea for this challenge came from my experiences as a Special Olympic golfer in Ontario,”

“Reaching this goal would mean a lot to me and to the nonprofit organization I’ve started… It would help us get the ball rolling for future events and allow us to positively impact others through sport.” - MIKEY ROCCO

OUR WHY

YOUTH GOLF

“Golf Ontario funding allows us to provide youth with fun, empowering environments that foster the continued development of life skills such as confidence, perseverance, and integrity through golf. Our programs offer golf opportunities for targeted groups, including girls, new Canadians, and individuals with disabilities to ensure that the sport reflects the diversity of our community.”

Ryan Starr

Director of Golf, Lakeridge Links GC

WOMEN'S GOLF

“Golf can be an intimidating sport, from knowing where the first tee is to being followed by a group of impatient golfers waiting behind you on every shot. Programs like Golf Ontario’s Women’s Try Golf Series provides women with a fun and easygoing environment to try and love the game of golf. Seeing the smiles and laughs from other women around the course shows how much fun golf can and should be.”

Parisa Ricciardelli

Women’s Try Golf Series participant

ADAPTIVE GOLF

“Golf Ontario’s Ontario Adaptive Championship creates an endorsement that men and women can achieve excellence despite physical, sensory or intellectual variances. Adaptive golf allows showcases that achievement exists beyond any single round or shot. The introduction of the Championship initiated a change in our sport that proves that inclusion and accessibility are more than just words in an annual report, and we see an opportunity to grow the adaptive golf community.”

Ken Mulgrew

President of ParaGolf Ontario
& Ontario Adaptive Championship participant

INDIGENOUS GOLF

“Golf Ontario’s Indigenous Ontario Championship (IOC) is a paradigm shift for Indigenous golf. It has opened the door for opportunity and has created a new outlook for Indigenous golfers. Most golfers in our communities never considered competing in an event like the IOC. The inaugural IOC was an event of pride and unity for the Indigenous golf population. It is growing the game and helping to eliminate the historical stigmas associated with golf. Opportunity is a great gift, and Golf Ontario is helping change the mindset. This will have a huge impact on the next generation of Indigenous golfers.”

Jesse Smith

Head Golf Professional, MontHill GC

WHERE DOES MY SUPPORT GO?

Promoting Women & Girls' Participation

Youth Golf Development Programs

Create More Access to Expand Golf in Underrepresented Groups