ORLANDO, Fla. (May 20, 2021) – GolfNow and GolfPass joined Youth on Course today to announce two sponsored scholarship awards, further bolstering the companies’ recently formed partnership with YOC to help grow the game of golf. The two award recipients join a cohort of 18 other 2021 Youth on Course annual scholarship winners from a competitive pool of member applicants.
The GolfNow and GolfPass Scholars each will receive a $20,000 award, which will be administered as $5,000 payments for every year they are enrolled at their intended university.
GolfNow Scholar
Michelle Kashia Yang (Woodbury, Minn.), University of Wisconsin-Madison Intended Major: Marketing and Finance
Woodbury, Minn.-native Michelle Kang has earned recognition as the 2021 Youth on Course GolfNow Scholar. Her outstanding high school achievements include being named an AP Scholar with Distinction, four years of service as Student Council President, serving as Concertmaster on her school orchestra, and honored as Player of the Year and Top All Conference for the Woodbury High School Girls Golf Team. Kang will continue her studies and golf career at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
GolfPass Scholar
Viveka Kurup (Redwood Shores, Calif.), Bucknell University Intended Major: Computer Science
2021 Youth on Course GolfPass Scholar Viveka Kurup of Redwood Shores, Calif., will join the women’s golf team at Bucknell University this fall. As a decorated high school player, Kurup served as Captain of the Carlmont High School Girls Golf Team for four years and won the school’s Hall of Fame award during her sophomore and junior years. She recorded wins across several Northern California Junior Tours and served as a staff writer for her school newspaper, receiving a Best of SNO Journalism award for her work.
“We are more than honored to provide financial support to these two outstanding high school students, so they can continue their education and help achieve their future goals,” said Jerramy Hainline, GolfNow senior vice president and general manager. “Providing our services to help ease the financial burden for the next generation of golfers is extremely important and something our organization prides itself on.”
"College students graduate with an average debt of nearly $30,000 and we believe cost should not be a barrier to pursuing higher education, just like it shouldn’t be a barrier to playing golf." says Michael Lowe, vice president of programs for Youth on Course. “We are so proud of Viveka and Michelle for their accomplishments in the classroom, on the golf course, and in their communities and thanks to the generous support of our partners at GolfNow and GolfPass, these outstanding students can continue their education in college and are on a path to graduate without the financial burden so many struggle with.”
The continued support from GolfNow and GolfPass contributes to Youth on Course’s mission to provide youth with access to life-changing opportunities on and off the course. GolfNow and GolfPass are committed to providing added resources that facilitate accessibility to golf for young people through initiatives, such as the GolfNow “Round Up” campaign, launched in December 2020, which helps raise funds to support subsidies for rounds of golf; complimentary GolfPass video subscriptions for YOC members; and, now, through the scholarship expansion. This collaboration continues to take major steps toward ensuring the vitality of golf as a recreational alternative for kids, as well as using technology to create more affordable and equal access to the sport for youth in all socio-economic circumstances.
About GolfNow
GolfNow is an innovative technology company that creates seamless ways for golfers and golf courses to better connect. GolfNow operates the largest online tee-time marketplace in the world, offering 3.5 million registered golfers a variety of ways to stay connected to their favorite courses and the ability to easily book tee times online and via mobile devices any time of day. GolfPass members receive special playing perks through GolfNow, including tee time credit and rewards. GolfNow, part of the NBC Sports Group with offices in Orlando, Fla., and Belfast, Northern Ireland, also provides technology, support and marketing services to more than 9,000 golf courses in 24 countries around the world.
About GolfPass
GolfPass is designed for today’s golfer and is the only digital golf membership that delivers exclusive content and comprehensive benefits designed to help every type of golfer – from beginner to expert – play more and better golf. Developed in partnership between global golf superstar Rory McIlroy and NBC Sports Group, GolfPass is a first-of-its-kind, direct-to-consumer subscription program, which offers opportunities to play more golf, comprehensive tools to improve any golfer’s game and high-quality video content. Series included in the vast library of video content available exclusively as part of a GolfPass membership, are originals like Golf Road Trippin’, The Conor Moore Show, Breaking into the Game: Juniors with Michael Bannon, My Daily Routine, My Roots, and more. A GolfPass membership is available in North America at GolfPass.com, in the U.K. and Republic of Ireland at GolfPass.co.uk, and in Australia at www.GolfPass.com.au. The GolfPass membership also is available via connected TV, iOS and Android apps.
About Youth on Course
The core purpose of Youth on Course is to help young people grow and succeed both on and off the course by providing opportunities to play, learn, grow, and build relationships through affordable, inclusive access to play. More than 100,000 members play more than 1,400 golf courses for $5 or less, benefit from career opportunities through the caddie and internship program and receive college scholarships. Headquartered in Pebble Beach, Youth on Course is a 501(c)3 organization that began as the charitable arm of the Northern California Golf Association. Since 2006, more than one million subsidized rounds have been played by Youth on Course members and more than $2 million has been awarded in college scholarships. Across North America, Youth on Course serves all of the United States of America and parts of Canada.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Dan Higgins
NBC Sports Group
dan.higgins@nbcuni.com
407-496-8107