Milestone round played in Maryland highlights accelerated expansion and local impact
MONTEREY, California – Youth on Course – the nonprofit organization providing youth with access to life-changing opportunities through golf – is proud to announce a milestone achievement of five million rounds played by its members.
“This is a monumental milestone for Youth on Course and a testament to the generosity of our partners, the commitment of our partner courses, and the passion of our incredible young members,” said Adam Heieck, CEO of Youth on Course. “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.”
The five millionth round was recorded in just eight months; the shortest time span yet to reach a million-round benchmark. This accomplishment comes during a record-setting year of growth, with new members and course partners joining at the fastest pace since the organization’s founding.
Malaya Johnson, a Maryland native, played the five millionth round at Bowie Golf Club. Introduced to golf by her grandfather at just four years old, Johnson quickly fell in love with the sport and began competing in tournaments by the age of seven. Golf has become a central part of her life, providing opportunities for connection and competition.
One of her favorite parts of the game has been sharing it with her sister, also a Youth on Course member, who has since gone on to play Division I college golf. For Malaya, the milestone is both a personal and collective celebration.
“I enjoy making new connections through golf. I love making new friends on the golf course because it makes golf enjoyable,” said Johnson. “Youth on Course has been a game-changer because it makes golf affordable. I like to practice but I love to play, and only having to pay $5 to play has really improved my game.”
Bowie Golf Club has been an active and valued course partner since 2022, hosting nearly 1,000 rounds for Youth on Course members to date. The Maryland State Golf Association (MSGA) partnered with Youth on Course in 2018. MSGA now boasts more than 25 course partners and 6,500 active Youth on Course members across the state, up 35% from last year. Collectively, those members have played more than 13,000 rounds in 2025, demonstrating the accelerating demand for affordable access and opportunities for junior golfers in Maryland.
“Five million rounds played is more than a number – it’s proof of the life-changing opportunities Youth on Course provides for the next generation,” said Kelly Newland, MSGA Executive Director. “To know that an MSGA member, Malaya Johnson, marked this milestone at Bowie Golf Club makes it even more meaningful! We’re honored to be part of a movement that is shaping the future of the game while making golf more accessible and inspiring for young players.”
Youth on Course’s path to five million rounds has been built on years of momentum and expansion. The nonprofit reached its first million rounds in 2020, fourteen years after its founding in Monterey, California. Since then, the pace has quickened dramatically, with two million reached in 2022, three million in January 2024, four million in December 2024, and now, five million rounds in September 2025.
As the organization grows, so does the impact of its members. Youth on Course members and alumni are excelling at every level of the sport. They are competing on the AJGA and Underrated Tours, representing the USGA U.S. National Development Team, earning college scholarships and playing for collegiate programs nationwide.
Youth on Course members make up a significant portion of the pipeline for competitive golf, accounting for often the majority of participants in premier junior and amateur events such as Drive, Chip & Putt, AJGA tournaments, and the U.S. Amateur.
What began with access to just six golf courses in Northern California in 2006 has grown into a widespread organization with nearly 400,000 members playing rounds of golf for $5 or less at more than 2,300 courses across the U.S., Canada, and Australia. Beyond making golf affordable, Youth on Course invests in the future of its members through career pathway programs and college scholarships to ensure the impact of each round extends well beyond the course.
For more information about Youth on Course, visit youthoncourse.org.