Chris Gardner
About
CAREER BACKGROUND
Class A Associate & Teaching Professional at Whitewater Golf Club (2015-2024)
Assistant Professional at The Fairmont Banff Springs (2013-2014)
Apprentice Professional at Fort William Country Club (2010-2012)
Born and Raised in Dryden, Ontario
The First Tee - Ontario, Head Coach at Whitewater Golf Club (2021-2024)
- Awarded Head Coach position in its inaugural year 2021
- Under RBC Community Junior Golf
- Partnerships with Thunder Bay Community Organizations such as The Underground Gym Indigenous Youth Centre, Healthy Kids Thunder Bay, Thunder Bay Multicultural Association, Lakehead District School Board Elementary Schools, Thunder Bay Christian School, and many more
The First Tee Ontario - Northern Ontario Zone
- Newly appointed position for 2025 from Golf Canada
- Northern Ontario Representative & Head Coach
- Mission & Goal to install First Tee locations across Northeastern & Northwestern Ontario
- Instrumental in installing & bringing The First Tee to Timmins, Ontario at Hollinger Golf Club in 2023
2024 Golf Canada NextGen Prairie Championship hosted at Whitewater Golf Club
- Tournament Host Chairman
- Raised over $5,000 in local sponsorship for championship
- Hosted 80 junior players from across Canada
- Recruited 50+ volunteers & provided lunch daily to volunteer team
- Strictly a Volunteer Role
Thunder Bay District Golf Association (TBDGA )Junior Leader & Director
- 2019 to 2024
- Strictly a Volunteer Role
- Tournament Director for TBDGA Pizza Hut Ontario Junior Qualifier and TBDGA Fountain Tire District Junior Championship
- Creator of the Junior Kam Cup Matches
- Attend monthly board meetings
- Creator of TBDGA Junior Player Rankings & Player of the Year Race
- Provide to players & parents Golf Manitoba, Golf Ontario, and Golf Canada junior information & online announcements, tournament schedules, and any necessary details that need to go out
- Assist in College Recruitment Process with Competitive Players
Northwestern (NWO) Junior Golf Academy
- Director of Instruction: Dustin Wilson
- Head Coach: Chris Gardner
- Learn to Play Junior Academy
- Half Day Junior Camps throughout the summer
- Full Day Junior Camps throughout the summer
- Skills Challenges
- Rules and Etiquette
- Classroom Sessions
2023 & 2024 SSSAA High School Boys & Girls Championships
- Tournament Director
- SSSAA (local) and NWOSSA (regional)
- Introduced Golf Genius to SSSAA Championship
- Assigned & in charge of groupings & teetimes, announcing on 1st tee, rules officiating, and scoring
College Talks Live Series
- Gathered former local college players from Thunder Bay such as Walter Keating Jr., Jeremy Kirk, Jeff Hunter, and many more to talk about recruitment process & their experiences while playing and being at school whether in the United States or in Canada
- ZOOM Podcast during Covid available for TBDGA Junior Players
- Players such as Jack Moro, Nathan Lepore, Dallas Burgess, Jordan Walford, Nathan Hoogsteen, Matthew Lysak, Nic Pavletic, and more attended
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS & ACHIEVEMENTS
TBDGA x CJGA Partnership in 2022-2023
Golf Canada Junior Golf Opportunity Award Finalist in 2022 (Whitewater GC)
U.S. Kids Honorable Mention in 2022
Nominated 2019 & 2020 PGA of Manitoba Junior Leader of the Year
Nominated 2021 PGA of Manitoba Class A Professional of the Year & Coach of the Year
Winner of the 2024 PGA of Manitoba Junior Leader of the Year Award
Partner with Ronald McDonald Charity Golf Classic in Thunder Bay, Ontario
COMPETITIVE PLAYING BACKGROUND
5th place at Manitoba Junior Boys Championship in 2005
Competed at the RCGA Canadian Junior Boys Championship in 2005
Niagara College Professional Golf Management & Golf Team 2010-2012
Competed at the Ontario Men's Amateur Championship in 2011 at Brampton
Competed at the Golf Canada Men's Amateur Championship in 2011 in Winnipeg
Competed at the 2017 PGA Tour Canada MacKenzie Tour - Staal Foundation Open at Whitewater
2018 Mallons Pro-Am Champions (TBDGA Event)
2019 Keg Open Champion (TBDGA Men's Open)
PGA of Manitoba Competitive Player
" Chris was one of the first coaches in Ontario to support what was then a very
new First Tee program. Chris, being passionate about the development of Junior
Golf, jumped right in to getting trained to the level of lead coach and helping us
connecting with local communities in Thunder Bay, Ontario. Chris is always ready
and willing to conduct and outreach to underrepresented communities of youth
and has been at the front line of hosting clinics for organizations like the Thunder
Bay Multicultural Association and local schools on behalf of the First Tee program.
As one of the lead coaches of the First Tee program at Whitewater GC, Chris leads
with fun and always finds creative ways to blend life skills into his programming.
Chris is a valued member of the First Tee team and a true leader in the junior golf
space. We appreciate his ongoing dedication and passion for ensuring that
children have the best possible experience with golf "
- The First Tee Canada/Golf Canada
" Special recognition also to Whitewater Golf Club in Thunder Bay, Ontario. A club
that is lead by a very passionate Junior Leader in Chris Gardner, who's trying to
make golf as accessible as possible to all junior members of the community and
make the game available to everyone that wants to try it. Whitewater has been
great in offering programs to all ages and skill levels including Free Saturday
Junior Clinics in May, an After School Program, a Future Stars program, a Girls
Only Camp, a Community Junior Program, and an U18 Competitive Program.
Whitewater is also a location for the First Tee Ontario Chapter"
- Kevin Blue, Chief Sport Officer of Golf Canada
Golf Canada Junior Golf Opportunity Award Finalist