Minnesota Golfer - Spring 2020 - 20

Donations to Youth on Course make golf accessible for the next generation.
* BY W.P. RYAN *
One Million Rounds of Golf
and Counting
Y
outh on Course is a junior golf program that was
launched in Northern California in 2006 and
adopted by the Minnesota Golf Association in
2017. Over the years, it has subsidized more than
1 million rounds of golf in the U.S.-for $15, a youth golfer
(age 6 to 18) can join the program at mngolf.org and play golf
for $5 or less at more than 1,200 participating courses around
the country, and 80-plus participating public golf courses in
Minnesota. A number of notable high-profi le facilities are on
the list, including Bethpage, Chambers Bay, Pinehurst Resort,
Poppy Hills and Spanish Bay.
We asked a few questions to Joel Comstock, MGA's Youth on
Course program director:
Q. Why is Youth on Course so popular?
A. It's all about access: kids can play golf for $5 or less, so it
removes one key barrier from youth playing golf; and it's unique
in that it complements other junior golf programs by encouraging
kids to play more golf beyond the scope of traditional league
or lesson programs.
Q. With more than 18,000 YOC rounds posted in Minnesota
last year, how does MGA sustain the subsidies?
A. That's a key challenge. Revenues from National YOC and the
Minnesota Golf License Plate were important in establishing
YOC here. We have staged two " 100 Hole Hikes " over the last
two years, which have raised more than $30,000 in donations.
20
MINNESOTAGOLFER Spring 2020
At the recent Minnesota Golf Show, the MGA sponsored a $5
Chipping Challenge, which raised $8,000 for YOC (Tito's, a golf
show sponsor, matched $3,000 raised during the chipping challenge).
Now
sustainability is the watchword. The plan is to have participating
courses help raise funds on their own. In addition,
we'll monitor subsidies to keep them as low as possible.
Q. How can individual MGA members help YOC succeed?
A. MGA members can make donations through our website
(mngolf.org/youthoncourse), and they can help raise awareness
of the program by getting their kids or grandkids to join
YOC. Of course, I encourage adults to play with a YOC youth.
Members of private golf clubs can donate foursomes to the
National YOC Online auction. The online auction goes live in
early November (send Joel an email if you're interested in supporting
YOC, joel@mngolf.org). MG
COLLEGE DOUGH
Did you know that Youth on Course offers $250,000 in college
scholarships annually? To qualify, the student must be
a full-time senior in high school, have a minimum GPA of
3.0, be accepted to a four-year college or university and be a
Youth on Course member. All applicants must prove fi nancial
need and merit. Applications are accepted November
through February; visit youthoncourse.org.
mngolf.org
http://www.mngolf.org http://www.mngolf.org/youthoncourse http://www.youthoncourse.org http://www.mngolf.org
Minnesota Golfer - Spring 2020

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