February 7, 2016
Youth on Course Now in Kentucky and Georgia
Youth on Course now officially stretches from coast to coast.
Recently, Youth on Course officials announced a partnership with the Georgia State Golf Association and Golf House of Kentucky.
As part of the agreement, junior golfers in these territories will be able to join the Youth on Course network and access unlimited golf for $5 or less per round. Courses offering the program this season will be announced soon.
“Introducing ‘$5 or less’ green fees in Georgia and Kentucky is a huge leap forward in making golf readily available for youth throughout the country,” said Youth on Course Executive Director Adam Heieck. “There’s an enormous opportunity to grow the game in such important areas and we could not be more thrilled to welcome these associations and a new group of junior golfers into the Youth on Course family.”
In Kentucky, funds raised by the Kentucky Golf Foundation will go toward round subsidies as facilities across the state begin to adopt the program. In the future, the KGF is considering expanding into college scholarship awards and paid caddie positions that operate through Youth on Course. Golf House of Kentucky – a family of golf associations that includes the Kentucky Golf Association, Kentucky PGA and Kentucky Golf Foundation – will oversee the program.
“We were looking for a way to engage our junior golfers beyond a competitive setting,” said Golf House of Kentucky Executive Director Steve McMilen. “This game teaches so many valuable lessons and opens so many doors, that we want to remove any obstacles to regular play.”
Georgia, home to Bobby Jones, The Masters and some of golf’s richest history, embraces growing the game through providing youth with opportunities.
“A key part of our mission is to make golf accessible to all ages, and Youth on Course is a wonderful organization which allows us to help provide access for juniors and ultimately create golfers for life,” said GSGA Executive Director Matt Vanderpool. “By making the game affordable we will cultivate and grow the next generation of golfers which will in turn benefit our member facilities, creating a win-win scenario.”
Funds raised by the Georgia State Golf Association will go toward round subsidies as facilities across the state begin to adopt the program. The first available courses to offer the Youth on Course rate will likely be announced this spring.
Youth on Course subsidizes greens fees to remove cost as a barrier to entry for potential lifelong golfers. Nearly 20,000 kids age six to 18, across 14 states, are active members of YOC and play at hundreds of partner courses each year.
Nearly 500,000 subsidized rounds have been provided by Youth on Course to date and the organization has awarded $912,000 in college scholarships to deserving members. Alumni of their internship and caddie programs have also gone on to be collegiate golfers and productive members of the industry.
Support for Youth on Course drives the organization’s growth across America. This year, the organization has been recognized by The Golf Channel and Golf Digest as an essential bridge between youth instruction and consistent play throughout adulthood.
For information and a list of Youth on Course partners, visit youthoncourse.org, or call 831.625.4653.
-NCGA Staff
