At the Olds golf course, junior golfers (age six to 18) can now play 18 holes for just $5 as part of a pilot program.
The goal is to entice more youth to play golf. The hope is they'll continue playing or maybe return to the game when they're older.
It's part of a program that originated in the U.S. (California specifically) and moved into Alberta this year on a trial basis. The two-year pilot program was launched in Alberta under the umbrella of Canada’s National Junior Golf program, known as Future Links.
The Olds Golf Club is one of 12 golf courses around Alberta participating in the program, in partnership with Youth on Course (YOC) -- based in the U.S., as well as Alberta Golf and Golf Canada.
Olds Golf Club pro and manager Wade Bearchell says Youth On Course subsidizes the round to the tune of the remaining $15.
Golf Canada will evaluate the results in Alberta and if officials there are happy with how it went, the idea is to roll it out in every province by 2021.
In order to participate, youth have to join Alberta Golf (albertagolf.org) for a one-time cost of $49.95.
In return, they'll get a YOC number and card which can be utilized at participating golf courses -- including, of course, the Olds Golf Club.
Those rounds of golf are subsidized via private contributions from individuals, foundations and corporations through YOC.
Youth enrolled in the program can play for $5 at participating courses in the U.S. as well.
"We're getting a little less than our regular rate for a junior. (The) regular rate is $30 for 18 holes. However, it's a way for us to promote junior golf, try to keep kids golfing, and this program has been going in the United States since 2006," Bearchell says.
"It started in the town of Pebble Beach -- not the golf course, but the town -- and it's grown across the United States and I thought, 'you know what? Why not try and support it?' We've got to keep kids golfing. It's one of our mandates here at the club, to promote junior golf."
Bearchell was asked if the number of junior golfers at the Olds Golf Club has been declining.
He didn't answer that directly but said in order to encourage more junior golfers at the course, several years ago, he cut the junior golf membership rate at the course by at least 50 per cent. It's now sitting a little higher, at $64.95.
Bearchell said even after he dropped the rate "we would get about 100, 110 juniors, but it wasn't a significant amount of play."
"A lot of people buy memberships for their kids and the kids might only play two or three times. So that's why I dropped the price, to try to get them out; get rid of that barrier of cost and at least get them some exposure to the game, because once they're finished playing hockey or they're done with school sports, they get to be 19, 20 years old and they're looking for a sport to join," he said.
"Whether golf is a big sport for them or not, they have the basics. And it's sort of like riding a bike; if you have some of the basics, you can pick up the game later in life if it's not a priority as a junior."
"My expectation is that we're not going to see a ton (of junior golfers take advantage of the program at the Olds Golf Course) but that's not why we're doing it. If I can get a few out and maybe the program grows."
