Utah Golf Foundation 2018 Report

In its third season, the Utah Golf Foundation’s 2018 Veterans on Course season consisted of 10 events throughout Utah, nine throughout Northern Utah and one in Southern Utah. VOC was started by the UGF in 2016 to thank military personnel of active or veteran status for their service and to expand their opportunity and access to golf. On average, each event costs $2,200 and includes an hour of lessons with PGA Professionals, a nine-hole scramble tournament, and a social with dinner and a guest speaker.

Additionally, The First Tee of Utah supports the Utah Golf Foundation by serving as the Vets Club Depot, a receipt and distribution location for donated golf equipment for veterans new to golf. Since 2016, the Vets Club Depot has provided more than 80 sets of golf clubs and countless pieces of equipment to military in need. The First Tee of Utah is located at Golf The Round, 680 West 3300 South in Salt Lake City. Vets Club Depot equipment is available at every Veterans on Course event.

The 2018 season touched 600 Utah veterans and active military, a 100-participant increase from the 2017 season. Each VOC event consists of a 60-player field (40-player field at Fore Lakes GC). The Utah Golf Foundation hosted 10 Veterans on Course events in 2018.

The Utah Golf Foundation 2019 Veterans on Course schedule includes 13 events throughout Utah, 12 events throughout Northern Utah and one event in Southern Utah at Entrada at Snow Canyon Country Club. Additionally, the UGF is communicating with the Veterans Business Resource Center of Utah regarding organizing a women’s Veterans on Course event in the fall.

Youth on Course is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit currently operating in 26 states, 1,000 participating courses, and impacting over 45,000 members. YOC provides juniors ages 6-18 access to rounds of golf for $5 or less by subsidizing participating courses.

In 2018, the Utah Golf Foundation subsidized $124,561 to its 31 participating courses, and more than 3,500 Utah Youth on Course members played 20,060 rounds of golf.

Once again, the 2019 season will include 31 Utah golf courses, including River Oaks Golf Course in Sandy City and Toad's Fun Zone in Ogden. An estimated 4,500 Utah YOC members will play 30,000 rounds of golf in 2019, and at an average subsidy of $6.20 per round, the UGF expects to reimburse participating Utah facilities upwards of $180,000.

The Utah Golf Foundation looks forward to the 2019 season. Thank you for supporting our Veterans on Course and Utah Youth on Course programs. Please contact Utah Golf Foundation Program Director Megan Huntsman at megan@uga.org for more information about UGF initiatives.