Brooke Henderson’s first golf memories, as recounted to Town&Country, trace back to her toddler days at just three years old. Hailing from Smiths Falls, she recalls chasing after her dad and older sister to the golf course. She wanted in on the fun, too. “I enjoyed going with them to take a few swings myself,” said Henderson in the exclusive.

Those stints at the golf course did wonders. They sharpened her skills that now make her a powerhouse among Canada’s top golfers. Plus, “golf was a great way to spend time together as a family.” Undoubtedly, Brooke Henderson’s parents’ involvement in the sport definitely fueled her passion. And that’s just one of the many intriguing facts about Henderson and her family.

Who are Brooke Henderson’s parents?

Brooke Henderson’s roots are firmly planted in a golf-loving family. Her parents, Dave and Darlene Henderson, nurtured her passion for the game from a tender age at Rideau Lakes Golf and Country Club. Dave, a retired teacher with the Upper Canada District School Board, and Darlene, both avid golfers, passed on their love for the sport to Brooke.

Another huge influence in Brooke’s golf journey is her sister, Brittany Henderson, six and a half years her senior. Brittany played on the Symetra Tour and has been Brooke’s trusted caddie since 2015. The Hendersons have a cozy cottage about 40 minutes from their hometown of Westport, Ontario, and it was at Rideau Lakes Golf and Country Club, where both Brooke and Brittany cut their golfing teeth.

Brooke Henderson’s Father: Dave Henderson

Dave Henderson devoted 31 years to teaching with the Upper Canada District School Board, splitting his time between Lombardy Public School for 15 years and Caldwell Street Public School in Carleton Place for 16 years.

In his younger days, Dave was a solid golfer but ditched it for hockey. After getting their cottage, he picked golf back up, playing a quick eight-hole loop behind the house in the afternoons. Brooke started playing both hockey and golf at age 8 with Dad as her coach – like her, he was a goalie at the University of Toronto. And Dave’s a master at communicating.

Brooke described her dad as a guy with a “great sense of humour.” In 2020, she said, “He has a great sense of humour. To be able to coach both your daughters is incredible.” And that makes sense, after all, throughout Brooke’s amateur and pro career, he’s been her coach.

Brooke Henderson’s Mother: Darlene Henderson

Darlene Henderson, Brooke’s mom, keeps a relatively low profile, with reports indicating she’s a devoted homemaker. Alongside husband Dave, Darlene coached Brooke in her early days of golf, and by age ten, Brooke’s golf exploits were making headlines in Eastern Ontario. Darlene was involved with Lanark County Support Services.

Brooke’s quick to give props to her mom’s huge role in her success. “She didn’t really pursue any sports growing up,” Brooke said in 2020. Although Darlene “doesn’t play golf at all,” she does love to come to the events and support her daughter during the most important days. And so, every praise towards her makes sense.

And so does Brooke’s comment that her mother is “really kind, maybe the most positive person I’ve ever met. If you’re having a hard day or going through something, she’s really easy to talk to, she’ll help you feel a lot better.”

Family’s Role in Brooke Henderson’s Golf Career

Brittany, Brooke’s big sister, was a standout golfer who initially paved the way for Brooke. After Brooke turned pro, Brittany shifted gears from competing to caddying for her sister, becoming a vital part of Brooke’s on-course team. In fact, she was present for Brooke’s historic win at the 2016 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship.

Dad Dave encouraged both girls to swing golf clubs from a young age. At their home course, Smiths Falls Golf and Country Club, Brittany and Dave would play alongside little Brooke, age four, who thought the goal was to get the ball in the hole fastest. Brooke recalled in 2020, “I always wondered why they were taking so long,” and that, “I’d be on the green and they’d still be back in the fairway.”

At the family cottage near Rideau Lakes Golf Club, Dave had the girls hit dandelions on the lawn with each shot, paying them a nickel for each hit – with thousands of dandelions to go around. “(My dad) wanted me to practise my swing,” Brooke said. “I was making money and working on my swing so all was good.” In fact, Brooke always credits her family for playing a huge role in her success – with 13 pro wins and 83 Top 10 finishes.

Brooke Henderson gave the best Father’s Day gift to Dave Henderson

In 2017, Brooke Henderson was only 19 years old and was on the rise to become one of the best Canadian golfers. She already won her first major on the LPGA Tour and was aiming to card her fourth victory. The Meijer LPGA Classic in 2017 became a family affair for Henderson as after a long time, all of her family was with her.

Her sister, Brittany Henderson, was on the bag, and her coach and father made it to the greens with her mother, Darlene Henderson. To make the day more auspicious, Henderson won her fourth title as she preceded Lexi Thompson. Dave Henderson celebrated the win while pouring down champagne on his daughter, and in an interview, exclaimed how it was a better gift on Father’s Day.

“I’m very proud of her and to win on Father’s Day is icing on the cake, for both Brittany and Brooke they put in some hard work the last couple of weeks,” Dave Henderson said as he showered his daughters with praise. Mama Henderson was also beaming with pride seeing her family celebrate all together, and though she didn’t speak to the media, her contagious smile was proof of how content she was.