About Us

UGC Junior Golf Society/Telus Video

The Program:

The UGC Junior Golf Society, provides inner-city school children with an introduction to the wonderful game of golf. The Society, in conjunction with the University Golf Club, provides the facilities, equipment, instruction and refreshments in a relaxed and supervised environment. We are privileged to continue the long standing relationship with KidSafe in the Summer, and with other elementary schools in the Spring and Fall sessions.

Our program of delivering golf instruction to the inner city kids has continued since 2005. More than 500 kids have participated in the program over this period, with a hiatus during Covid. Happily, we were able to start up the program again in 2022. Some highlights:

  • Worked with KidSafe schools, over the life of the program, to deliver golf lessons to inner city schools they partner with. That involvement currently is only for the Summer session
  • Delivered golf instruction beginning in 2014 to grade 5, 6, and 7 classes of Grandview elementary school for the Fall and Spring sessions and in 2019, Strathcona elementary school also participated
  • regularly volunteered at the KidSafe Golf Tournament
  • donated surplus golf equipment to BC Special Olympics, the First Tee of Greater Vancouver, and to the developing golf program at Brittania.

The Directors and volunteers of the Society are pleased to be able to continue providing these learning and personal growth opportunities to kids as they receive golf lessons from the UGC teaching professionals, supported by our volunteers. Then, after the lessons, to get refreshments prepared and served by the great staff of Westward Ho.

Background and History:

The idea of a "Junior Golf Society" was conceived by long-time golfer Norm Johnson. Norm played golf at University Golf Course for 70 years and because of his love for the game, and how it enriched his own life, Norm decided to "give something back". Some of the key early events:

- Norm contributed the ‘seed money’ in 2003 to get things rolling.

- Art Charpentier, our former president, took over the ‘executive’ and administration tasks, and with tremendous leadership, worked with University Golf Club, sponsors, and volunteers to create a unique opportunity for the kids to experience the game of golf and to acquire skills and disciplines to last a lifetime. In 2005, after the name change from ‘UGC Past Presidents Junior Golf Society’, the UGC Junior Golf Society was incorporated as a charitable organization. Art provided that leadership until his death in 2015.

- Vic Kusaka, the then-principal of Queen Alexandra Elementary School, helped arrange the first outside financial support for the Society from CLICK [Contributing to the Lives of Inner City Kids] and also helped bring KidSafe into the program.

- University Golf Club, with the strong commitment of Past Presidents and members of the Men’s Mid Week Golf Club [MMGC], and members of the Tuesday Ladies Club, has been instrumental in providing support over the almost 20 years the Society has been running. MMGC has provided volunteers, and arranged for fund raising events; Tuesday Ladies continues to provide financial support, and donated the golf equipment needed by the kids in the first year of lessons.

Please see other sections of the website, especially the sponsor and donor pages, which recognize the strong support provided by many generous individuals and organizations to keep the program operational.