When Yashvi Patel first signed up for Youth on Course through Bank of America's Golf with Us initiative, she wasn't thinking about scholarships or the opportunities that would follow. Like many young golfers, she simply wanted more opportunities to play.
One of her teammates had shared information about the $5 rounds before the high school season, and the team quickly signed up.
"At first, we were just excited about being able to play more often without spending a lot of money," Yashvi said.
As a high school golfer, affordable access made a significant difference. The additional rounds gave her more time to practice, improve her game, and build confidence outside of scheduled team practices.
"The $5 rounds were definitely the biggest reason we signed up," Yashvi shared. "Being able to afford more rounds meant I could spend much more time on the course than I otherwise would have."
But what began as an opportunity to play more golf soon became much more.
Golf had already helped shape Yashvi into a leader. During her first two years of high school, there wasn't a girls golf team at her school, so she competed on the boys team to stay involved in the game. Seeing the lack of opportunities for other young women, she decided to create change.
She recruited classmates, found support from a coach, and helped establish a girls golf program at her school. What started with a small group of beginners eventually grew into both varsity and junior varsity teams, increasing participation from zero girls to fourteen. She also mentored younger golfers and helped create a welcoming environment for future players.
"The experience showed me that golf isn't just about individual performance. It's about building confidence in others and creating space where people feel they belong."
Youth on Course also helped strengthen the bonds between Yashvi and her teammates. Some of her favorite memories came from playing summer rounds together, practicing outside of the school season, laughing through bad shots, and celebrating each other's progress along the way.
Around a year after becoming a Youth on Course member, Yashvi received an automated text message about scholarship opportunities.
She clicked the link. Looking back, she is incredibly grateful that she did.
"Receiving the scholarship has helped support my education and is something that truly changed my life," she said.
For Yashvi, affordable access to golf became something much larger. It became access to community, leadership opportunities, and support for her future education.
Today, Yashvi plans to attend the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where she hopes to continue growing personally and professionally while pursuing a career that allows her to help families facing financial challenges similar to those her own family experienced.
Her advice to other young people considering joining Youth on Course is simple:
"You never know where one membership or one opportunity might lead. It certainly made a huge difference in my life."
Yashvi's journey is a powerful reminder that access creates opportunity.
A $5 round became extra practice. Extra practice became confidence. Confidence became leadership. Leadership opened the door to a scholarship and new possibilities for the future.
Through Golf with Us, Bank of America and Youth on Course have introduced nearly 185,000 young people to the game since 2025. Behind every membership is a story, and for Yashvi, that story is still just beginning.
What could one opportunity lead to for you?
Become a Youth on Course member and gain access to rounds for $5 or less, scholarships, internships, member experiences, and a community that believes in the power of golf to change lives.