Youth on Course Aids Junior Golf Surge in 2020
Organization Dedicated to Changing Lives Achieves One Million Rounds Played, 53% Membership Increase, Program Expansion to 37 states
August 10, 2020
(PEBBLE BEACH, Ca.) — Youth on Course — the non-profit organization dedicated to opening doors, supporting dreams and transforming the lives of young people through opportunities on and off the golf course – has experienced a significant rise in members, reaching notable milestones including one million rounds completed by members. Of those, 184,418 have been played in the first two quarters of 2020 alone, a remarkable 77% increase year over year.
The organization offers its members access to play golf at more than 1,400 courses across the U.S. and Canada for $5 or less. Members also benefit from career opportunities through its caddie and internship program and college scholarships.
Committed to making the game more appealing, inclusive and accessible to nurture the next generation of lifelong players and lovers of the game, Youth on Course now helps 95,000 young people across North America succeed. This marks a 53% increase in membership compared to July of 2019. Adding eight new allied golf association partnerships, Youth on Course provides access to youth in 37 states and Canada.
“Whether it’s more patience, problem solving or building relationships, we know the golf course is a safe space for young people to connect and grow,” says Michael Lowe, vice president of programs for Youth on Course. “We’re bridging the gaps for families at every income level by encouraging them to play together and take advantage of the benefits both on and off the course.”
Youth on Course puts their members’ lives on a different trajectory by providing off-course growth and learning experiences including paid internships, a scholarship program and caddying opportunities. In 2020, the organization awarded 19 members with scholarships to support their college dreams. More than 70% of scholarship recipients are minorities and over 42% of scholarships awarded in 2020 were to members set to be the first in their family to attend college. Since the inception of the scholarship program in 2008, 260 Youth on Course members have been awarded with scholarships totaling close to $2 million in financial support. The current scholarship retention rate is ninety-three percent.
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Fueling the golf industry, Youth on Course subsidizes rounds for members and puts money back into the state organizations and courses. The organization’s structure helps golf courses fill typically unused tee times and garner additional revenue with more than 40% of members playing with paying adults. The amount reimbursed back to participating courses has almost doubled in the past year reaching close to $400,000 this year alone and totaling nearly $8 million dating back to 2005.
From Aug. 10-14, Youth on Course will celebrate #YOCWeek to reintroduce the organization through a rebranding launch and to raise awareness for their life-changing efforts. To follow along, visit Youth on Course’s website and social channels throughout the week for updates.
