JUNIORS ON COURSE FOR FUN: Rochester area junior golfers – like these seen in Northern California – will be able to participate in the national Youth On Course program when the RDGA begins offering the service as part of its Junior Membership program early in 2019. (Photo: Northern California Golf Association)The Rochester District Golf Association announced earlier this week that it has signed an agreement with California-based Youth On Course to bring its groundbreaking junior golf program to Rochester-area golfers in 2019. The new service comes as part of an expanded RDGA Junior Membership Program that is set to launch just after the New Year.
Based in Pebble Beach, Youth on Course is a national non-profit organization providing junior golfers with access to life-changing opportunities through golf. Members play hundreds of courses across the country for $5 or less, with participating courses receiving matching funds from Youth On Course.
Locally, junior golfers ages 6 to 18 will be able to join Youth On Course through an annual Junior Membership program to be offered by the RDGA for $20 per year. Once a member, local juniors will be able to play several participating golf courses in the area for $5 per round – as well as 700 participating Youth On Course facilities across 23 states.
“The RDGA has always prioritized growing golf through financial accessibility,” says Adam Heieck, Youth on Course Executive Director. “We’re thrilled to help them build upon that mantra and develop relationships with young people who might not have otherwise entered the sport.”
Having already partnered with other regional golf associations in 2018, including the Colorado Golf Association, Greater Cincinnati Golf Association, Iowa Golf Association and the Metropolitan Golf Association, Youth on Course continues to gain momentum. Operating in every U.S. region, Youth on Course has upwards of 30,000 active members; since 2006, YOC juniors have completed 650,000 rounds.
The RDGA has already pioneered access to local golf courses for juniors through its ForeSight program, which began in 2016. In 2019, the RDGA will add to that mission by introducing its Junior Membership Program, which will include Youth On Course membership, as well as other value-added features that will be announced early in the year.
“Youth on Course is an ideal partner for our association, as they align perfectly with our mission to preserve, protect and promote the game of golf,” says Tim Vangellow, RDGA Executive Director. “With this additional offering, the RDGA now has a proven model of providing junior golfers with affordable access to area courses. This program will help allow junior golf participation to rapidly expand throughout the Rochester area.”
CLICK HERE for more information
about Youth On Course
Comments are closed.