Anyone who has seen my hackneyed shoulder swing knows better than to consult me for instructional advice. But there’s one more piece of game-improving wisdom that I dish out as often and fervently as possible: If your kids play public golf, even occasionally, stop what you’re doing and sign them up for Youth on Course.
Of my four children, only one – my 13-year-old – is a golfer. He’s been playing regularly for four or five years, and has been borderline obsessive for the last two summers, thanks in part to the easy access to the game that Youth on Course has afforded him.
If you don’t know the organization, Youth on track is a privately funded nonprofit organization founded in 2006 with the mission of providing youth “access to life-changing opportunities through golf.” One of the program’s key tenets is to subsidize green fees so that members 18 and under never pay more than $5 for a round at more than 2,300 participating courses in the US, Canada and Australia.
The annual membership fee varies by region from $5 to $65 (my cost, in central New Jersey, is $60 per year), but even if you’re on the high end of that scale, the price will probably pay for itself in just two or three rounds. And that’s it: no catches, no hidden fees or fine print: all the $5 golf you can play for a year for about the price of a box of Pro V1s.
Participating courses vary by region and include not only munis and daily rates, but also some private and resort courses. Within five miles of my home there are four participating courses: three munis and one day rate, one of which – Plainfield West 9 – is a four-minute drive from my home. That’s where my son plays most of his golf. Many of his friends have also taken up the game in recent years – and yes, most of them are also members of Youth on Course, joining the more than 400,000 other kids who make up the program’s membership roster.
Youth on track
When Youth on Course reached its 5 millionth subsidized round (of all time) last fall, CEO Adam Heieck said in a statement: “Reaching five million rounds shows how powerful affordable access can be. It means five million opportunities for our youth to enjoy the sport, build relationships and feel a true sense of belonging in the golf community.”
Hyperbole? Not at all! At least not in my son’s experience. His low cost means that when he feels like playing, we don’t think twice about zipping him to the course, even if he only has time to sneak in a few holes. There were periods last summer where he played three or four days in a row for what a round would have cost him without a YOC membership.
The same goes for his friends. Their scores? Who cares?! The real reward is device-free time outdoors with friends. They spent so much time with PW9 that the pro shop staff got to know them, and occasionally, on a warm summer evening, gifted them a bottle of water or a can of soda. Enjoy the sport? Bill. Building relationships? Bill. Do you feel at home in the golf community? Check again.
The benefits of the program extend far beyond the cost reduction. In some areas, Youth on Course “Drive Club” members have access to free TaylorMade rental equipment and mentorship support. Youth on Course has also distributed millions in scholarships.
Members also enjoy smaller benefits like access to GolfPass videos and even cheap simulator rentals at participating Dick’s Sporting Goods, a boon for young golfers in colder climates. What better way to while away an hour on a winter afternoon than hitting balls on a high-tech sim?
The costs? Yes, 5 dollars.
#green #fees #young #golfers #enjoy #games #deals