Golf has quickly become one of the most popular sports played among kids in the United States. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, more people have been learning to play golf than ever before. According to the National Golf Foundation, there was a 36% increase in youth golfers from 2019 to 2022.
Fortunately for Mamaroneck High School students, Westchester County is filled with golf courses. Four of the top 100 ranked golf courses in the United States (Winged Foot Country Club’s East and West Course, Quaker Ridge Country Club, and Wykagyl Country Club) are within a 10 minute drive from Mamaroneck. Unfortunately, these courses are private which leads to one of the biggest problems that youth face when trying to pick up the game: the price.
Even if you do not belong to a private club, the combined costs of clubs, attire, and expensive tee times as a result of high demand can mount to thousands of dollars. Thankfully, organizations such as First Tee are trying to increase access to the sport.
First Tee, a national organization based out of Ponte Verde, Florida dedicates itself to increasing youth access to the sport, offering lessons at $10 per eight-week session. They have affiliates across the country, and they also attempt to set up First Tee clients with connections to help these kids get jobs in the real world. Executive Director of First Tee Matt Rawitzer said that the organization strives to allow kids from all backgrounds to enjoy the game of golf.
“We want to make it known that this [First Tee] is something available for [underprivileged kids] and we can provide the resources to make that happen,” Rawitzer said. “That’s the essence of First Tee. We want kids in particular and their families to get all the good things that golf can offer…just because there is a stereotype [about golf] doesn’t mean it’s accurate.”
Although First Tee places a greater emphasis on learning golf, other issues surround the expensive aspects for all golfers, especially for the youth in the game. Tee times, or the appointment one must make to play golf, are extremely expensive. This can be an issue for many Mamaroneck golfers who want to play but don’t have the money to pay for a tee time, as Saxon Woods Golf Club charges $75 per person to play.
Enter Youth on Course, an organization dedicated to making tee times more affordable for kids across the country. Anyone who signs up for Youth On Course can get tee times at select public courses at certain times for $5 or less, with some famed courses such as Bethpage Black available to be played.
Michael Lowe, the director of programs for Youth on Course spoke on how the cheap tee times offered by the organization are crucial to growing the game.
“Everyone has a limited amount of money and a limited amount of time,” Lowe said. “A young person who joins Youth on Course will benefit whether they play one round of golf a year or if they’re playing hundreds.”
Youth on Course has played a large role in growing golf at MHS. There are eight public golf courses within a 10-mile radius of the 10538 zip code that partner with Youth on Course to deliver cheap rates for tee times. Student Theo Norkin (’25) is one who takes advantage of these rates. A user since the summer of 2022, Norkin emphasized how Youth on Course allowed him to vastly increase his time on the course.
“It (Youth on Course) makes golf cheap and easy,” Norkin said. “ You don’t have to be a member of any private club to play, and my friends and I have played so much more because of it.”
Along with the expenses of the sport, there is a large emphasis on etiquette during a round of golf, such as quietness or knowing when it is your turn to hit your ball that kids are beginning to learn. Golf is filled with unwritten rules, making it difficult for kids to feel comfortable on a course if they aren’t well versed in these “rules.” Casey Bannon, an assistant editor at Golfer’s Journal, said that the standard of golf etiquette is slowly changing, leading to a more kid-friendly game.
“It’s not traditionally an environment that seems super welcoming to kids who just want to go out there and smack it around,” Bannon said. “I do think that’s changing. There’s lots of alternative types of golf courses and styles of golf now, you know, they can go to the range, there are short courses, and public courses that are a bit more relaxed.”
Slowly but surely, the game of golf is evolving from an elite gentleman’s game to one that can be enjoyed by all. Students who may have felt like they were originally priced out of golf can now more easily pick up the game. Whether it is lessons through First Tee or taking advantage of Youth on Course at nearby courses such as Saxon Woods Golf Club or Maple Moor Golf Club, Mamaroneck High School students can get involved in the game that is rapidly evolving to include everyone.
