PEBBLE BEACH, California — Youth on Course extended to a pair of major golf markets by partnering with the Chicago District Golf Association Foundation and Southern Nevada Golf Association.
As part of the agreement, youth in these Chicago and Las Vegas will be able to join the Youth on Course network and access unlimited golf for $5 or less per round at hundreds of courses in nine regions.
Born out of the Northern California Golf Association, Youth on Course has grown to include nearly 15,000 members ages 5-18. Through the subsidizing of greens fees, 380,000 rounds to date, courses lose little to no revenue and a major financial barrier is removed for young golfers.
“One of the key pillars of our Chicago District Golf Association (CDGA) Foundation is to support a strong junior golf presence throughout the District,” says CDGA Executive Director Robert Markionni. “Youth on Course does a great job of providing affordable access to golf in a way that is also beneficial to the courses.”
Industry support for Youth on Course is a momentum driver for the organization as it spreads nationwide. Many view the initiative as a bridge between youth instruction and consistent play throughout adulthood, as well as an opportunity for junior golfers to interact outside of a competition setting. Youth on Course will soon announce participating courses in these new regions and will provide links for youth to sign up within the next few months.
“Introducing the ‘$5 or less’ program in Chicago and Las Vegas is a huge leap forward in making golf readily available for every kid in the U.S.,” says Youth on Course Board President Bill Hammonds. “There’s an enormous opportunity to grow the game of golf in such major metropolitan areas and we could not be more thrilled to welcome two new groups of golfers into the Youth on Course family.”
For information and a list of Youth on Course partners, visit www.youthoncourse.org, or call 831.625.4653.
About Youth on Course
Headquartered in Pebble Beach, Youth on Course is a non-profit organization serving as the charitable arm of the Northern California Golf Association. Its core purpose is to provide youth with access to life changing opportunities through golf. This is achieved through initiatives that include subsidized rounds at partner courses, mentorship opportunities through caddie programs and paid internships, and scholarship grants for qualifying members. Since 2006, over 380,000 rounds have been played by Youth on Course participants and close to one million dollars have been awarded in college scholarships. Currently, Youth on Course serves California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Chicago, and Kansas City, with plans to expand nationwide.