'Give a child golf': Charity helps juniors tee off

Tiffany Chaissonfirmlybelieves that every childshould be given an opportunity to playgolfif they want to.

TheSydney, Australia nativesaid she's now determined to help as many junior golfers in P.E.I. and around the world do just that.

Chaisson,who moved to the Island three yearsago,isan avid golfer herselfhavingplayed almost 100 courses in 10 countries, over the past two years.

Last year, while on a trip to Ireland, sheheard about juniorgolfers in that country who loved the game, but couldn't afford to keep playing it.

'Pick up a club and get out and golf'

Sheand a friend she'd met through social mediacame up with theidea toset up Fairways,anot-for-profit organization thathelps as many kids get out on the links as it can.

Fairways identifies kids who love golf, but whose families are in difficult financial situations, then it takes care oftheir membership, lessons, and range access for a year.

"I want golf to be inclusive, and I want any child regardless of their parents' financial background to be able to pick up a club and get out and golf, and if it's something they want to do, then I'm going to help them do it," explained Chaisson.

Come from different circumstances

Fairways currently helps support20 juniorsin Canada, Nepal and India, 7 in P.E.I alone.

Children are recommended bygolf professionals at clubs across the province.

Membership and lesson packages can range between $200-$250 annually for each child.

As part of their fundraising efforts, Fairways recently launched a global event in which 8 courses around the world helpedraise funds that sawgolfers play as many holes as they couldin one day on the longest day of the year.

Chaissonsaid different circumstances such as family bereavements, medical expenses and poverty, may haveput children'sfamilies in financial trouble.

While they may come from diverse backgrounds, they dohave one thing in common they absolutely love playing golf and need no encouragement to hit the links.

'If you're not having fun, then why are you here?'

"I just took to the game," Sam Shaw of Avondale said. "It was nice that I liked it, and it was a game that I could go out and relax and do."

"It's really fun and it gives me a challenge to do," added his brother Nate. "If you're not having fun, then why are you here?"

Lessons take place at Avondale Golf Course once a week with teaching professional Dave Bowlan.

And the juniorsdon't have to bethe next golfing superstar to qualify. If they have a passion for the game, Fairways will help them.

"You've got to have fun with it. If you don't have fun, you're not going to keep playing it," said Connor Lea, General Manager atAvondaleGolf Course.

Fairways currently has a couple of ways it's raising funds.

People can sponsor $5, $10 or more a month online and it also recentlylaunched an online auction called Awesome 4somes.

Green fees for groups of four, at 30 courses around the worldare being auctioned off, starting at 50 per cent of their value.

Participating courses are in Australia, Canada, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Indonesia and the U.S., and all proceeds are going to Fairways.

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