It’s a sport for all ages. That’s the philosophy behind a national program teeing off this week where a youth under 16 and accompanied by a paying adult can golf for free at select courses across the country.
Take a Kid to the Course started earlier this week and continues until Sunday, July 15.
Two courses in the area are participating, the Acme Golf Club and Akokiniskway near Rosebud.
“We’ve done it for about four years now. It’s great, you can never have too many kids playing. We’ve always tried to run a youth program here and the Take a Kid to the Course was another way to do that,” said Jason Bates, general manager of the Acme Golf Club.
Akokiniskway has been participating in the program for the past ten years.
Take a Kid to the Course was developed by the National Golf Course Owners Association to encourage families and juniors to take up golf, and improve both golf scores and relationships between parents and their children.
“It’s something you can play with your kids, unlike many other sports and a sport you can do even when you’re older,” said Bates.
“It helps promote golf as a game and get parents and their kids out together,” said Gary Storres, Pro Shop manager of Akokiniskway.
Akokiniskway is taking things ever further for the remainder of the summer. After July 15, until the end of August, youth under 12 will be able to play for free.
“We’ll continue it. After the week is over, youth under 12 will be able to golf for free with a paying adult for the rest of the summer,” said Storres.
For more about the program, visit www.kidsgolffree.ca.