(PEBBLE BEACH, CALIF.) – Youth on Course – the organization renowned for providing affordable golf access – has partnered with LOOPER, the premiere caddies-on-demand service provider, to further expand its flourishing Caddie Academy.
Using the LOOPER app, golfers can reserve caddies for play at 13 participating Youth on Course facilities in the San Francisco Bay area, Fresno and Monterrey Peninsula. Youth on Course pays caddies half the regular caddie fee, making a golfer’s cost comparable to renting a cart. It also deposits $50 into a college scholarship fund for caddies with financial need each time they complete a “loop” (round).
A premium service with no cost to golf course operations, LOOPER supports more than 100 courses nationwide with roughly 2,000 registered caddies. In addition to carrying bags and providing some on course knowledge, LOOPER caddies focus on hustle and having a great attitude. They also take care of time consuming tasks during the round like raking bunkers, tending flagsticks and carrying clubs. Walking alongside a caddie for 18 holes burns more than 2,000 calories, relieves stress and improves cardiovascular health.
“Youth on Course and LOOPER share a mission to remove barriers which prevent entry to golf,” says Adam Heieck, Executive Director of Youth on Course. “LOOPER’s mobile platform allows for efficient connectivity to the communities we serve while stimulating youth engagement with the game.”
“Today, less than five percent of U.S. golf courses have caddie programs,” says David Cavossa, Founder and CEO of LOOPER. “Partnering with Youth on Course allows us to highlight the importance of caddies and encourage the next generation of golfers to experience the game.”
The Caddie Academy started in 2014 at San Jose Country Club, with steady growth throughout Northern California since then. This program helps youth caddies increase their confidence, professionalism, effective communication and relationship-building skills. The organization is aggressively exploring expansion of the Caddie Academy.
The Youth on Course-LOOPER connection aligns with a rise in junior and millennial golf. There are 2.9 million players ages 6-17 who are starting earlier in life. The 18-34 set of six million golfers on-course and three million off-course (driving ranges, golf-entertainment centers and simulators) is golf’s largest segment with latent demand of 15 million “interested” and “somewhat interested” in taking up the game. These demographics are rapidly adopting LOOPER’s Uber-like technology.
About Youth on Course
The core purpose of Youth on Course is to provide juniors with access to life-changing opportunities through golf. Members play hundreds of courses for $5 or less, benefit from employment through the Caddie Academy 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. In 2014, Youth on Course began partnering with west coast state and regional golf associations, and is expanding nationally with the goal of delivering affordable golf in all 50 states by 2020.
For more information: www.youthoncourse.org
About LOOPER
Founded in 2015 and headquartered outside Washington, DC, LOOPER is the nation’s fastest-growing caddies-on-demand service platform. Its mission is to bring youth caddies back to the game of golf and make them widely accessible to all golfers at all golf courses and at an affordable price. There are four LOOPER programs: Junior Loopers for entry-level caddies 14 to 16 years old; Looper for more knowledgeable, but not quite professional caddies; Pro-Looper for seasoned caddies providing expert advice; and Fore-Looper for foursomes with carts seeking faster rounds and enhanced experiences. The company operates in five states with plans to add six more markets in 2018.
For more information: www.looper.golf
Contact:
Dan Shepherd
703.891.3320
dshepard@buffalo.agency
Chris Walling
703.891.1108
cwalling@buffalo.agency
