It’s officially Youth on Course Month, and we’re ready to celebrate a couple of mid-season milestones during it.
| GAP Youth on Course Information | Join YOC |
As of today, the GAP Youth on Course membership has surpassed 1,300 members. In addition, those junior golfers have amassed over 1,700 rounds played to date.
The price of a round of golf shouldn’t be a barrier for a young person who wants to play golf – and that’s where GAP Youth on Course comes in.
“We’re very excited to see the growth and interest in the Youth on Course program here in the GAP region. Not only are our junior golfers playing more rounds, but they’re playing more rounds at more golf courses due to the expanding Member Clubs now labeled as YOC Clubs,” said Jason Funderburg, GAP’s Director of Member Outreach. “We hope every junior golfer has the chance to take advantage of this program as we continue to grow its reach.”
“The feedback has been great across the board. Everyone is really appreciative of the program.”
Andrew braun, Downingtown
Over at Downingtown Country Club, Youth on Course rounds are played regularly. You’ll find a number of YOC foursomes traversing the course throughout the week.
“It’s been incredible to watch the dynamics going on with our YOC rounds. We’ll have a ton of high schoolers come out, friend groups coming out to play, and even parents and grandparents coming out to play with the kids,” said Andrew Braun, Downingtown’s Director of Golf. “We’re looking at about five-to-seven foursomes each afternoon, which we’re really proud of. The feedback has been great across the board. Everyone is really appreciative of the program.”
Downingtown and its members have fully embraced the program as a whole. While younger players are spending more time on the course, parents are spending more time at the club, too. It’s a program that benefits everyone involved.
“The word has gotten out, and it’s mostly from parent-to-parent by spreading word how great [the value of a YOC membership] is. Once the players are on the course, we’ll have parents having dinner at the club and just enjoying their time here,” said Braun, 28, of Downingtown. “We’re really proud of being able to offer this affordable golf to juniors and how well it’s been received in our community.”
The YOC program offers affordable golf to players ages 6 to 18. Junior golfers can join GAP Youth on Course ($20 annual fee) to get access to facilities throughout the GAP region while also enjoying all the benefits of a GAP membership (tournament access, magazine subscriptions, etc.). Players have access to participating facilities for the cost of $5 or less for a round at specified times.
For more information, contact Jason Funderburg, Director of Member Outreach, at jfunderburg@gapgolf.org.
Current GAP Youth on Course Clubs:
GAP
Celebrating Amateur Golf since 1897, GAP, also known as the Golf Association of Philadelphia, is the oldest regional or state golf association in the United States. It serves as the principal ruling body of amateur golf in its region. The Association’s 330 Member Clubs and 90,000 individual members are spread across Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey and Maryland. The GAP’s mission is to promote, preserve and protect the game of golf.
