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For the Good of the Game

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Growth industry

A recent initiative by the Southern California Golf Association Foundation makes the game more affordable and accessible for Youth.

BY CHRISTI WHITTEMOREPublished: June, 2009

Youth on Course provides affordable access to the game for junior golfers (Photo: Courtesy SCGA)
If golf is going to expand, it will require a youthful growth spurt. That’s what the Southern California Golf Association Foundation is all about, and the group’s recent initiative to keep the ball rolling is called Youth on Course, which “has taken our program to the next level,” said Todd Smith, director of golf at Pro Kids Academy in San Diego.

Through Youth on Course, junior golfers can purchase range balls or play rounds of golf for $2 or less at participating courses during off-peak hours. The program, designed by the Northern California Golf Association and now a statewide initiative, is open to young golfers who become certified by such organizations as The First Tee or the Tiger Woods Learning Center. Following this rollout phase, procedures will be implemented for certifying any California youngster who wants to participate.

“Now our kids can go hit balls at a full-flight range,” Smith said. “They can play a larger course and test out their woods and drivers.”

Smith said making the jump from Pro Kids’ 18 par 3s to a regulation course is a reality check for youngsters’ games — and a test of the skills and golf etiquette they learn at the Academy.

“Kids in the certification program learn to shake hands, make eye contact, smile and speak clearly,” he said. “In real life, that’s super important.”

In its first 10 months, Youth on Course registered 630 participants, booked more than 1,300 rounds and dispensed more than 2,600 buckets of balls. More than 60 golf courses are participating, a decision that enables them to fill unused tee times and receive subsidies from the SCGA Foundation to help cover expenses.

Kevin Gigax, executive director of the SCGA Foundation, said the foundation anticipates paying out more than $120,000 in green fees this year.

“The program’s growth is fantastic,” he said. “We couldn’t be more pleased.”

With the added participation of the Callaway Golf Foundation, the Southern California PGA, the USGA and individual donors, the foundation’s goals for 2009 show more growth potential.

For more information, visit scgafoundation.org.

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