summer when they were younger but Friendship , access , and fun didn ’ t really have a chance to play often are cornerstones of the Youth enough to improve until we discovered on Course program .
YOC ,” Salapka said . Youth on Course gave both her sons that step up to improve their skills and become better golfers .
“ They ’ ve been involved with YOC for three years now and have probably golfed over 200 times using it at various courses in the area . Both boys have improved their scores by over 20 strokes and have developed a passion for the game that will surely never go away ,” Salapka said .
One of the program ’ s more frequented courses is Belmont Golf Course in Henrico .
Brandon Howard , Belmont ’ s head golf professional , noted that the course has regular Youth on Course members coming in at least once a week . He added that the course logs rounds from 5-10 junior golfers on any given day , sometimes as many as 20 players in one day .
Not only are the course conditions and layout favorable for junior golfers , but Belmont ’ s location plays a part in being popular with the Youth on Course membership . Belmont is located close to many surrounding areas making it possible for youth all over the Richmond area to play at this central location . The course is just a short 15-minute drive from larger areas such as downtown Richmond , Mechanicsville , Ashland , and Short Pump .
However , Belmont has a remarkable role in the Youth on Course program being not only a YOC partner , but a First Tee operated course , making Belmont heavily centered on young golfers . Howard stated that just getting “ kids out here playing 12 to 18 holes is part of our purpose and mission as a First Tee course and YOC partner .”
The team at Belmont is all about paying it forward to help junior golfers fall in love with the game by creating foundational skills and building a passion for the sport . The purpose of Youth on Course is to help develop the sport in younger age groups , guaranteeing the love of the sport will last for years to come .
“ If that was available when I was a kid , I would have played 10 times more golf than I did ,” Howard said .
Hiking for a Cause
Support does not just come from courses and larger associations like the VSGA . It also comes from those who simply want to pay it forward because of their love for the sport . One prime example of this is Youth on Course ’ s 100-Hole Hike initiative .
Youth on Course has been such an important part of both my boys ’ teen years . They had enjoyed some golf camps every summer when they were younger but didn ’ t really have a chance to play often enough to improve until we discovered YOC .”
— Laura Salapka
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