The Golf Association of Michigan Foundation has been awarded a $10,000 grant from the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Legacy Funds at the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan. The funds will be used for a pilot program during the 2019 golf season to expand the Foundation’s Youth on Course efforts in Southeast Michigan.
“We’re grateful for the support of our grow-the-game efforts,” says GAM Foundation Executive Director Chris Whitten. “We believe that the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Legacy Funds’ focus on youth sports — especially efforts to encourage more sports sampling — perfectly aligns with our mission to provide youth more access to golf.”
GAM Foundation President John Schulte added: “We believe that it’s important to engage children in regular sport and physical activity — habits that can last a lifetime. Golf is a sport that truly can be played for one’s entire life, but one of the biggest drawbacks is cost.”
That’s where Youth on Course comes in. The premise is simple: offering young golfers an opportunity to play a round of golf for $5 or less encourages them to sample a sport that has inherent life lessons.
Youth on Course originated in northern California. Since the GAM Foundation piloted the Michigan program in 2016, it has grown exponentially. There are currently some 5,000 young participants across the state who are able to play golf for $5 at more than 100 courses.
