While the final numbers won’t be tallied for a few more weeks, it’s not too early to declare that Youth on Course Texas enjoyed a significant increase across all metrics over the past 12 months.
Now in its fifth year, Youth on Course Texas is a partnership between the TGA Foundation and 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.
The program, a part of which includes access for kids and teens ages 6-18 to play a round of golf for $5 or less, has been a resounding success from the outset in Texas and continues to move forward at a galloping pace.
In 2024, Youth on Course Texas membership grew to 5,796, which is an increase of 43% over last year’s enrollment, and a staggering leap from the 478 members during the program’s inaugural year in 2020. Youth on Course Texas members played 21,463 rounds so far in 2024, a jump of more than 20% over 2023, with nearly 60,000 total rounds played over the past five years.
“It has been very rewarding to see Youth on Course Texas grow so substantially in just a few short years, and we are grateful to all our course partners who have helped make it possible,” said Kelly Kilgo, Managing Director of TGA Foundation/Outreach. “We are proud to be able to offer this life-changing program to the youth in Texas, and we look forward to many more years of steady growth.”
Nationally, Youth on Course is also growing at an astonishing rate, further demonstrating the tangible impact the program continues to make in expanding the reach of the game of golf and positively influencing the lives of young people. In fact, on the following page you’ll learn how a Youth on Course Texas member from San Antonio had a starring role in the organization’s most recent landmark achievement.
Currently, Youth on Course Texas members have access to 83 course partners across the state where they can play for $5 or less, which is 10 more courses from last year, with more being added all the time. The participating facilities in the Youth on Course community are paid an agreed-upon subsidy for each round played by Youth on Course members. Over the past 12 months, the TGA Foundation and Youth on Course have reimbursed more than $130,000 back to individual golf courses and over $336,000 in total since 2020.
With tens of thousands of rounds played and an enthusiastic membership, Youth on Course Texas is a highlight of the TGA Foundation’s array of grow-the-game initiatives, which also includes the Bill Penn Internship Program and Doris Kallina/’Nez Muhleman Scholarship, to name but a few.
For more on Youth on Course Texas, click here. For more on the TGA Foundation, click here.
