Bank of America is bringing back its Golf with Us program for 2026, offering $5 tee times to kids ages 6-18 nationwide. The Bank of America youth golf initiative, run in partnership with nonprofit Youth on Course, aims to enroll 150,000 new participants by June 15, 2026. Its first year drew nearly 100,000 young golfers from all 50 states.
Key Takeaways
- 100,000 youth enrolled and logged 100,000+ rounds in Golf with Us’s first year across all 50 states
- Rory McIlroy donated $500,000 to Youth on Course to fund 70,000 additional rounds of golf
- More than 22,000 girls participated in year one, many as first-time golfers
- The program added 100+ municipal courses to Youth on Course’s existing 2,000+ partner network
- New 2026 perks include $5 simulator rentals and free PGA Pro lessons at Golf Galaxy and Dick’s House of Sport
Year One by the Numbers
The inaugural season delivered strong results. Nearly 100,000 kids signed up for free Youth on Course memberships, then collectively played more than 100,000 rounds at subsidized rates of $5 or less. The program reached all 50 states, Washington D.C., and Puerto Rico across Bank of America’s 97 markets.
Gender diversity stood out: more than 22,000 participants were girls, with many picking up a club for the first time. In-person clinics held across 25 markets drew over 1,500 kids in 2025.
Brian Moynihan, Bank of America’s Chair and CEO, highlighted the program’s impact: “In its first year, Golf with Us has helped nearly 100,000 kids learn invaluable life skills, and we look forward to building on this momentum with Rory’s terrific support and partners like Youth on Course.”
McIlroy’s $500K Backs 70,000 Rounds
Reigning Masters Champion Rory McIlroy is putting direct money behind the program’s expansion. His $500,000 donation to Youth on Course will fund 70,000 rounds of golf for young players.
McIlroy spoke to why access matters: “Golf teaches powerful life lessons, how to compete, stay patient, and handle setbacks, and those lessons shape who you become. Opening access to the game is key to giving more kids that opportunity.”
The donation arrives as Youth on Course celebrates its 20th anniversary. Since its founding in 2006, the nonprofit has facilitated more than 5 million subsidized rounds across a network that now spans the U.S., Canada, and Australia.
Bank of America Youth Golf Adds Retail and Facility Partners
The 2026 version introduces retail integrations that extend the program beyond the course. Enrolled members can now book $5 golf simulator rentals at Golf Galaxy and Dick’s House of Sport locations. Free PGA Pro lessons at those same retailers are also part of the new benefits package.
For facility operators, the partnership’s infrastructure footprint matters. The Bank of America deal prompted Youth on Course to add over 100 municipal course locations to its network, giving local courses access to a pipeline of subsidized young players.
Adam Heieck, CEO of Youth on Course, called the partnership “a gamechanger,” noting it has “expanded our network by adding over 100 municipal course locations and counting, ensuring that kids have safe, affordable places to play in their communities.”
Returning participants can renew their memberships at a 20% discount, a retention incentive designed to keep year-one enrollees active.
Bank of America Youth for Youth Sports Operators
The Bank of America and Youth on Course model demonstrates a scalable blueprint for youth sports access. A national corporate sponsor subsidizes participation costs at $5 or less. A nonprofit with an established network of 2,000+ courses handles distribution across 97 markets. Retail partners at Golf Galaxy and Dick’s House of Sport extend engagement beyond the primary venue. Club directors, facility investors, and administrators should examine how this three-part structure, corporate funding paired with nonprofit infrastructure and retail integration, can be replicated to reduce cost barriers and grow participation in their own markets. With 150,000 new enrollees targeted and a June 15 deadline, the 2026 program builds on first-year momentum that already reached nearly 100,000 participants nationwide.
Source: Newsroom Bankofamerica
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