Anyone who’s seen my sawed-off, shoulder-dipping swing knows better than to consult me for instruction advice. But there is another bit of game-improvement wisdom that I dispense as frequently and fervently as I can: If your kids play public golf, even occasionally, stop what you’re doing and enroll them in Youth on Course.    

Of my four kids, only one — my 13-year-old — is a golfer. He’s been playing regularly for four or five years, and borderline obsessively for at least the last two summers, in part thanks to the ease of access to the game that Youth on Course has provided him.

If you’re unfamiliar with the organization, Youth on Course is a privately funded non-profit that was founded in 2006 with the stated mission of providing young people with “access to life-changing opportunities through golf.” One of the program’s key tenets is subsidizing green fees so its age-18-and-under members never pay more than $5 for a round at 2,300-plus participating courses in the U.S., Canada and Australia.

The annual membership fee varies by region from $5 to $65 (my cost, in central New Jersey, is $60/year), but even if you’re at the high end of that scale, the price likely will pay for itself in just two or three rounds. And that’s it: no catches or hidden costs or fine print — all the $5 golf you can play for a year for roughly the cost of a box of Pro V1s.

The participating courses vary by region and include not only munis and daily-fees but also some private and resort courses. Within five miles of my house, there are four participating courses: three munis and one daily fee, one of which — Plainfield West 9 — is a 4-minute drive from my house. That’s where my son plays most of his golf. Many of his friends have also taken up the game in the last couple of the years — and, yes, most of them also are Youth on Course members, joining the more than 400,000 other kids who make up the program’s member roll.

When Youth on Course cracked its 5 millionth subsidized round (all-time) last fall, its CEO, Adam Heieck, said in a statement: “Reaching five million rounds shows how powerful affordable access can be. It means five million opportunities for our youth to enjoy the sport, build relationships, and feel a true sense of belonging in the golf community.”

Hyperbole? Not at all! At least not in my son’s experience. His low-cost fees mean that whenever he’s itching to play, we don’t think twice about zipping him over to the course, even if he has time to sneak in only a few holes. There were stretches last summer where he played three or four days in row for what one round would have cost him without a YOC membership.

Same goes for his friends. Their scores? Who cares?! The real payoff is device-free time outdoors, hanging with pals. They’ve spent so much time at PW9 that the pro-shop workers have gotten to know them, and occasionally, on a hot summer’s evening, gifted them a bottle of water or can of soda. Enjoying the sport? Check. Building relationships? Check. Feeling a sense of belonging in the golf community? Check again.

The program’s benefits extend far beyond discounted fees. In some areas, members of Youth on Course’s “Drive Club” have access to free TaylorMade rental equipment and mentorship support. Youth on Course also has doled out millions in college scholarships.

Members also enjoy smaller perks, like access to GolfPass videos and even low-fee simulator rentals at participating Dick’s Sporting Goods, a boon for young golfers in chillier climes. How better to while away an hour on a winter’s afternoon than banging balls on a high-tech sim?

The cost? Yep, 5 bucks.  

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