Golf instills in children a set of standards and a code of ethics that they can carry both on and off the golf course. By learning golf etiquette and the spirit of the game, children take responsibility for their actions and learn to make independent decisions. By playing golf and learning the rules, junior golfers discover from the very beginning that honesty and integrity matter. The NCGA is excited about its commitment to develop a comprehensive junior golf program.

The NCGA Foundation’s Youth on Course initiative was established several years ago and has grown tremendously since its inception. The NCGA’s vision for junior golf is centered on life skills and instilling the spirit of the game in youth. The Youth on Course program embodies that vision as it requires juniors to participate in a certified life skills program or to pass an online life skills, rules and etiquette curriculum. Once they receive a certificate of completion, they are then eligible for a significantly discounted price that averages about $2 at participating driving ranges and golf courses. More than 75 courses participate in Youth on Course, and juniors who have benefited from this program number in the thousands.

As part of its long standing philosophy that golf can play a role in the development of young men and women, the NCGA Foundation has established an initiative to award grants and scholarships to junior golfers. Through the game, we find commonality by achieving a greater sense of personal responsibility and citizenship. These grants are awarded with this philosophy in mind so that young men and women have an opportunity to not only better themselves, but affect change in those around them as well.

Through golf, we intend to build opportunities for scholarships, jobs and mentors in order to broaden life’s experiences. One of the most important aspects of a child’s life is finding a mentor, someone from whom to learn about life. We are working with Northern California PGA professionals to support this initiative. We will pair local PGA professionals and other mentors with junior golfers so the juniors learn from experienced individuals. Through this experience, junior golfers will discover that the game can offer far more than just four hours of fun with their friends.  They will be free to ask advice on anything from swing tips, to scholarships and college golf to careers in the game.

Additionally, the NCGA, in conjunction with the California Interscholastic Federation, created a new initiative to support high school golf programs. Free NCGA memberships are provided to all members of high school golf teams and one coach. Not only will high school golfers be able to enjoy all the benefits of NCGA membership, but they will also be able to take advantage of the Youth on Course program and play on participating courses for as little as $1 after becoming certified through the online skills curriculum. The NCGA and the NCPGA will offer the high school golf coach the opportunity to have an assistant golf professional become a voluntary assistant coach where additional instruction in the game is desired.

In order to offer more opportunities to improve their golf skills, the NCGA is thrilled to have established the Junior Tour this year. The Junior Tour will enable juniors from the ages of 12-18 to sharpen their golf skills in a competitive setting. The NCGA is committed to identifying and developing the top junior golfers in Northern California, and the Junior Tour is a large part of its vision.

The Junior Tour will conduct 7-8 events in the spring and fall of 2008. The spring events will be held at Poppy Hills Golf Course in Pebble Beach on March 8-9; Stevinson Ranch Golf Course in Stevinson on March 15-16; and at Poplar Creek Golf Course in San Mateo on April 5-6. The fall events will be held at Haggin Oaks Golf Course in Sacramento on September 20-21; Foxtail Golf Course in Rohnert Park on September 27-28; Poppy Ridge Golf Course in Livermore on October 11-12; and at Hunter Ranch Golf Course in Paso Robles on October 25-26.

The NCGA is an organization that believes in providing competitive opportunities for its members. The Junior Tour will take a different approach to junior golf than similar tours around the country. Starting in the fall of 2008 the Junior Tour will group players by their handicap rather than age level to allow players not at the top level to compete with their peers. The Junior Tour enables players to move up as their skills improve rather than waiting for their next birthday.

With the continuing financial costs that junior golf can place on families, the NCGA wants to keep the Junior Tour affordable. Events are 36-hole tournaments that take place on Saturday and Sunday. Each event will cost $60, and includes golf and lunch on both days.

Public response for the Junior Tour has been extremely positive. Parents appreciate the NCGA’s steadfast support of junior golf, and appreciate the affordability. Parents remark that the NCGA is a first class organization; they are excited the junior tournaments will be conducted the same way.  The first two events (Poppy Hills and Stevinson Ranch) filled up within two weeks after applications became available (January 14), and the third event (Poplar Creek) had a full field one week later.

The overwhelming response of the Junior Tour certainly indicates that the Tour has a bright future. Next year, the NCGA plans on conducting even more events, while also adding events for younger juniors, ages 9-11. These events will be staged on shorter, nine-hole courses. By giving younger juniors a chance to play competitively, they can benefit from the game at an even earlier age, and improve at a rapid pace.

With our commitment to junior golf, we intend to develop both productive citizens with strong values as well as top golfers. The NCGA’s junior golf continuum fills a void in the industry. Through the Youth on Course program, grants, scholarships and the Junior Tour, young golfers will develop character and important life skills, preparing them today to succeed and capitalize on future opportunities.

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