When seven-year-old Peyton Powers first watched the Masters, she didn’t just see golf—she saw possibility. “I saw Rory shoot this massive three par,” she said. “I was like, I wanna do that. I wanna become a golfer.”
That simple moment of inspiration set off a chain of events that would change her family’s weekends—and their relationship with the game—for good. Not long after that broadcast, her dad, Michael, spotted the Bank of America Golf with Us offer for a free Youth on Course membership. The ad promised affordable access to golf courses across the country, and for Peyton, it sounded like an open door to a dream.
Before that day, Peyton’s experience with golf consisted mostly of mini golf and a handful of visits to Topgolf. But when Michael saw the offer, he realized it was an opportunity to introduce his daughter to something that had come to mean a lot to him later in life. “I always thought golf was a grown-up and expensive game,” he said. “I didn’t start golfing until I was about 28. Now that I’m around the game, I see how important it is to learn it young—it can open so many doors, from business to social life to education.”
That Easter, the Bunny brought a set of clubs and a golf bag for Peyton, and the Powers family officially joined Youth on Course. By summer, they had already made the game a shared routine. Michael would sometimes sign Peyton out of camp early for a surprise afternoon round, calling her his “favorite golf buddy.” Since April, they’ve played more than 15 rounds together, mixed in with lessons, simulator sessions, and the occasional Topgolf outing.
Their local course, Cream Ridge Golf Course in New Jersey, has become something of a second home. “We call hole three the social hole,” Michael said. “Peyton meets new friends there every time we play. The staff all know her and love checking in on her golf journey.” One recent round brought a milestone moment—Peyton finally hit her shot over the water, something she’d been chasing for months. “She was so pumped,” Michael said. “I even got her first official bogey on video. She hit from the white tees!”
But the impact of her Youth on Course membership extends beyond the fairways. Peyton says golf has taught her confidence, patience, and the importance of trying new things. “Even if you’ve never played a sport before, you can do it,” she said. “You can do anything you put your mind to.”
It’s a lesson that’s rubbed off on her dad, too. “The other day I hit a bad shot and Peyton reminded me that Rory did the same thing and still had a great round,” Michael said. “That’s such a healthy way of seeing the game—and life.”
For both of them, golf has become more than a sport. It’s a shared language, a way to unwind, talk, and laugh. “We hang out, putt around the house, and have so many inside jokes,” Michael said. “She gets jealous when I golf without her.”
And for Peyton, it’s just pure fun. “I love eating hot dogs on the golf course—it just hits different,” she said. “Golf is fun. Everyone should try it.”
Through the Bank of America Golf with Us offer, the Powers family found more than just affordable golf—they found a way to grow closer, one round at a time. For them, and for countless others, Youth on Course isn’t only making golf accessible—it’s making it meaningful.