This article originally appeared in the February issue of NCGA Golf Magazine
By Bryan Rodriguez
The NCGA Reach Grant Program was established to help support pilot programs and/or enhance existing programs at courses, facilities and organizations that can show sustainable participation in the game over time.
In 2025, to help ensure that the future of golf is vibrant and inclusive, the NCGA awarded grants totaling $99,900 to golf facilities and programs in Northern California. We recently checked in with the 2025 grant recipients, and they were excited to update us on their progress:
● Mountain Area Youth Organization - MY Club Sports Golf Program
This new program was developed to introduce and engage young people in the sport, providing them with access to equipment, instruction and opportunities to develop skills both on and off the course. The program includes structured lessons with certified golf instructors, practice sessions at a local golf course, mentorship from experienced golfers, and life skills workshops that emphasize discipline, patience and sportsmanship. Their goal is to create a supportive and inclusive environment where youth can learn the fundamentals of golf while building confidence, leadership, and teamwork skills.
● Nevada County Country Club - Girls Junior Golf Development Program
The REACH Grant was used to improve practice facilities and create a year-round player development program focused on increasing opportunities for young women golfers. With proximity to the high school, the facility is ideally positioned to support both high school athletes and junior players across the region, but critical upgrades and foundational programming were needed to meet growing demand. This will include the installation of a simulator to use for their year-round weekly group coaching sessions.
“For the Fall Girls JV high school golf season, Nevada County Country Club (NCCC) utilized NCGA Grant funds to directly support the growth of Nevada Union High School JV Girls student-athletes and the overall program. Our club professional delivered dozens of instructional lessons, significantly enhancing players’ skill development and on-course confidence; eight of the 20 girls on the team participated in weekly skill-development sessions at Nevada County Country Club from September through November.
NCCC upgraded its golf simulator room with new programs, practice tools and computer equipment, allowing the team to practice consistently throughout the winter months. Currently, six players are participating in after-school training sessions in the clubhouse simulator during the winter season. Looking ahead to spring, funds will be used to upgrade and add outdoor practice cages to support warm-weather practice sessions and instructional lessons.”
● First Tee Oakland - Oakland Strokes Summer Camps for Disadvantaged Girls
“First Tee – Oakland and Oakland Strokes partnered to expose middle school girls in Oakland to the sports of rowing and golf, which are traditionally underrepresented. The result of this partnership was the creation of multiple week-long summer day camps, serving 20 -30 girls weekly. Led by Rebecca Martinez, Program Director at First Tee-Oakland, and Carla Jourdan, Head of Community Programs at Oakland Strokes, the
program goal was to build confidence, leadership, and a sense of belonging for the campers.
The campers began their day at Oakland Strokes’ Tidewater Boathouse, learning basic rowing skills and the importance of teamwork. After a healthy lunch, the campers
were transported to Metropolitan Golf Links, where they were taught golf skills through the First Tee Life Skills Curriculum. Empowerment Wednesdays treated the campers to a panel
discussion with local women leaders in sports and government. Topics included mentoring, career opportunities in sports and the college application process. Following a successful 2025 season, strong interest continues for 2026, reinforcing a scalable model for expanding access and opportunity for girls in Oakland.”
● First Tee Monterey County (FTMC) - Golf Simulator and STEM Learning Initiative
FTMC is excited to launch a mobile golf simulator pilot, bringing the game of golf—and the science behind it—directly into local schools and community centers. Using cutting-edge golf simulators, such as launch monitors, impact screens, and iPads, students will swing real clubs and instantly see their shots simulated on famous courses or driving ranges.
“At First Tee – Monterey County, our mission is to build game changers by using golf as a platform to teach life skills, confidence, and character. The NCGA Reach Grant is helping us deliver on that mission at a scale and level of quality that would not be possible otherwise.
Through NCGA’s support, First Tee – Monterey County is advancing a Mobile STEAM Center that brings modern golf instruction and educational enrichment directly into schools and communities.
This matters because the youth we serve face real barriers to opportunity. By investing in mobile programming and modern instructional tools, NCGA is helping ensure that a young person’s zip code does not determine their access to high-quality instruction, mentorship, or learning experiences. The simulator helps us maintain consistency and credibility as we expand, while keeping the focus on personal growth, not just performance.
Within the Mobile STEAM Center, golf becomes more than a sport. It becomes a vehicle for learning, problem-solving and self-discovery. Coaches connect on-course experiences to science, technology, engineering, and math concepts, reinforcing classroom learning and showing youth how effort, focus, and curiosity translate into real-world success.
Through the Reach Grant, NCGA is not only supporting a program. It is helping shape confident, capable young people and demonstrating what is possible when the game is used intentionally to change lives.”
● Cameron Champ Foundation - Golf & Wellness Lounge
The Cameron Champ Foundation Golf & Wellness Lounge is a dedicated indoor space designed to introduce youth—particularly those from underserved communities—to the game of golf while promoting healthy living, confidence, and educational growth. The facility supports skill development and STEM-based learning while offering dedicated areas for mentorship and mindfulness, reinforcing golf’s role in education, leadership, and personal development.
“For NCGA alumnus and three-time PGA Tour winner Cameron Champ, the game of golf has long served as a platform for opportunity and growth. That philosophy is reflected in the launch of the Cameron Champ Foundation Golf & Wellness Lounge at Foothill Ranch Middle School in the Twin Rivers Unified School District. The opening also marks the start of the Foundation’s after-school program, designed to support student development both on and off the course.
Together, the NCGA and the Cameron Champ Foundation demonstrate how collaborative efforts can grow the game while creating lasting impact for youth and communities.”
With the recent hiring of the new NCGA Foundation Manager, Susan Merfeld, the NCGA is very excited to see how the NCGA Reach program can be expanded in 2026 and beyond! To learn more about the NCGA Reach Program, please go to ncga.org/about/reach.
“Giving is not an act of virtue so much as an act of understanding, when you see that you are not separate, sharing becomes as effortless as breathing.”
-Unknown Author