Youth on Course

In honor of Women’s History Month, female Youth on Course members and supporters gathered at Golden Gate Golf Course for our first Connections on Course event of 2026. The event brought together an inspiring group of leaders in golf, including LPGA Tour Pro Riley Smyth and a 2x All-American, former LPGA player Kay Cockerill, creating a meaningful space for connection, mentorship, and shared experiences. Members, alumni, donors, and community leaders spent the day building relationships on the course, highlighting the impact of access, representation, and support in the game. Experiences like these reflect Youth on Course’s commitment to creating opportunities that extend far beyond the fairways, fostering life-changing connections and relationships that last well beyond a single day on the course.

In 2025, the support of our partners, golf facilities, and community helped expand access to golf for over 400,000 members. Explore the milestones, stories, and collective impact made possible through this incredible community last year. 🔗 Read the full blog here: https://lnkd.in/gPkAiJvh

I LOVE being part of the team promoting the TeeMates program to youth across the country. Our membership is going from strength to strength. Access to $5 rounds across a growing number of Youth on Course member clubs is increasing and TeeMates members can now access digital scoring via the Golf Australia App for their handicap. Memberships start at just $49 annually. Find out more and become a member ➡️ https:/golf.com.au/teemates p.s. Keep your eyes open for an awesome TeeMates x Adidas campaign during Girls Month in April ⛳👚🧢 🩳 👟

Access at scale doesn’t happen by accident, it happens through committed partners. In 2025, McInnis Park Golf Center ranked among our Top 10 Most Active Courses, providing more than 8,600 subsidized rounds to Youth on Course members. At a $5 rate, with consistent weekday availability and dedicated weekend access, McInnis Park has demonstrated what intentional partnership looks like: removing financial barriers while strengthening the junior pipeline in their community. When facilities prioritize access, participation follows. When participation grows, so does the long-term health of the game. We are deeply grateful for partners like McInnis Park Golf Course who understand that investing in youth access today builds a stronger, more inclusive golf community for tomorrow.

Youth on Course has maintained a long-standing partnership with Pebble Beach Resorts, built on a shared commitment to expanding access and opportunity through golf. In 2024, that partnership reached a new milestone becoming the official home of Careers on Course, an immersive internship program at one of the world’s most prestigious resorts and golf facilities. Selected from a competitive national applicant pool, eight Youth on Course members spent six weeks living and working on the Monterey Peninsula at Pebble Beach Company properties. Interns gained hands-on experience across multiple departments, developed professional skills, and built connections that introduce them to a wide range of career pathways in the golf industry. Strategic partnerships like this cultivate the next generation of golf industry talent while creating life-changing opportunities, showing that access to the game can extend far beyond the course.

What began as a bold access initiative has evolved into increased youth participation and development, delivering measurable gains across borders. 🇨🇦🇦🇺 Since launching in 2019 with Golf Canada, more than 11,200 young Canadians now have affordable access to play, learn, and develop through golf, strengthening the junior pipeline and expanding the game’s long-term reach nationwide. In 2023, in partnership with Golf Australia, the model was introduced through TeeMates. Today, 2,000+ Australian youth are engaged in structured, subsidized participation within the national system, building skills, relationships, and community along the way. The result: • Broader access to play and development • Stronger national pathways • Increased participation and community impact This is what international investment in access looks like: ensuring opportunities to play, learn, and grow, while building a global golf community.

A simple question sparked a movement: Why can’t kids afford to play golf? In 2003, Bruce Baker sought to find an answer to that question. Having learned of a foundation recently established by his good friend Paul Morton, to honor his late father Tom Morton, Bruce scheduled a lunch meeting and the two friends got to work. But a bold mission needed a bold leader. A 21-year-old intern, Adam Heieck, went all in, driving to courses, pitching pro shops, and helping turn an idea into $5 rounds for juniors. What started as a small pilot program with just a handful of kids and three courses in Northern California has grown into Youth on Course, now the largest youth golf organization in the world, serving more than 400,000 members across the United States, Canada, and Australia. For over 20 years, alongside dedicated partners, courses, and supporters, Youth on Course has helped shape the next generation of golfers, making the game more accessible, affordable, and inclusive for youth everywhere.

Three journeys. Three stories. One shared truth: access and representation matter. This Black History Month, we’re celebrating Youth on Course alumni Marcus Leonard and members Ashley Shaw and Makayla Harris, young athletes whose success reflects the power of equitable access. They exemplify the outcomes of this access: collegiate competition, LPGA and amateur achievements, academic excellence, and leadership both on and off the course. Their journeys highlight the role of representation, mentorship, and opportunity in shaping the next generation of golfers. Youth on Course provides affordable, high-quality golf experiences that develop not just athletes, but confident, resilient leaders. Read their full stories and learn more about the impact of Youth on Course in our Black History Month blog here: https://lnkd.in/ghRNtGcg

Access can change everything. Through our partnership with Atlanta Drive GC, Youth on Course members are gaining access to TGL matches and experiences that bring professional golf closer than ever. For member Jordan, one night turned unforgettable when he caught the only ball tossed into the crowd by PGA TOUR professional, Chris Gotterup. These moments go beyond the game, building confidence, connection, and a sense of belonging. Explore the partnership and read more about Jordan's journey: bit.ly/ATLDCxJordan