A few years ago, at an event in Toledo, Ohio, a group of fans cheering on hometown girl Stacy Lewis came to be called the “Lew Crew.”

It is the only time Dave Henderson can remember another player even sniffing the kind of support his daughter Brooke gets week-in and week-out on the LPGA Tour. And the Lew Crew, not surprisingly, was inspired by the Brooke Brigade marching the rope line that week.

While these days you can’t watch or attend an LPGA Tour event — in Canada, the United States or as far away as Asia — without seeing Canadian flags and Brooke Brigade T-shirts, the origin of the formal following comes from Brooke’s early days on tour when Dave would meet people at various events from all over eastern Ontario: Pembroke, Petawawa, Arnprior, Renfrew, Belleville, Kingston and Ottawa.

They were proud and pulling for Brooke and wanted to be included in her legion. It reminded Dave of another iconic golfer with tremendous support.

“The name Brooke Brigade came about when large crowds were already out following Brooke, and it reminded me of Arnie’s Army when Arnold Palmer would draw large crowds to different tournaments,” Dave said. “There were all kinds of people following. Younger people. Older people. People from all walks of life. The tradition continues all over the world.”

Brought to life with Golf Town in 2017, the Brooke Brigade is much more than giveaways and reserved viewing areas at the CPKC Women’s Open for kids. It’s a movement.

“It’s definitely a joint grow-the-game initiative and to help create an emotional connection to the game of golf through Brooke and Brittany,” said Fred Lecoq, Golf Town’s chief marketing officer. “We’re trying to facilitate the access to golf and the experiences that go beyond T-shirts or bobbleheads.

“It’s about the ultimate experience for young girls and young golfers in Canada.”

To wit, Lecoq’s own daughter was in a golf camp in Calgary when the CPKC Women’s Open was there in 2016 and through that met Henderson. She came home singing the praises of Canada’s golfing wunderkind so much that it was she who suggested that Golf Town make Brooke an ambassador.

“The impact Brooke is having on kids — and the impact she had on my daughter — it was a no-brainer,” Lecoq said.

For Henderson, who loves interacting with kids at the CPKC Women’s Open or during Golf Town meet-and-greets, the support system that the Brooke Brigade has provided since the 2017 Women’s Open at Ottawa Hunt and Golf Club, where she and her sister Brittany are honorary members, is both moving and motivating.

“The Brooke Brigade is awesome, I love it,” she said. “The T-shirts and the cut-outs and just how the kids have their own sections along the course too, I think is pretty fun.”

Although the Brooke Brigade’s mission primarily focuses on youngsters, its members contain golf fans of all ages. Perhaps the most vocal is Mike Miller of Rochester, N.Y. Miller, who is in his 70s, is a Henderson superfan and has driven to nearly 100 events since 2015 to cheer her on. He can often be heard on TV yelling “Go Brooke!” whenever she makes a birdie.

“He probably wears the Brooke Brigade T-shirt more than anyone and has become a bit of a leader behind the charge,” said Dave. “You can always see other Brigade T-shirts throughout the crowd on different days of tournaments.”

The establishment and growth of the Brooke Brigade has been a team effort between the Henderson and Golf Town as they seek to inspire Canada’s next generation of golf stars.

“What a great idea it’s been,” said Dave.