Written By: Greg Johnson
FARMINGTON HILLS – Youth on Course, designed to help young golfers with affordable play options, works hand-in-hand with being a caddie.
Luke Deighan, Lillee-Ann Jacobs, Sara Linsdeau and Ryan Winter, four 2024 Evans Scholar caddies among 20 from Michigan announced earlier this year, agree joining Youth on Course through the GAM Foundation has impacted them greatly.
“It’s been vital to my staying in the game of golf,” says Winter.
“We couldn’t afford to play a lot of golf without it,” says Jacobs.
“I would play a lot less often, and know less about golf,” says Deighan.
“I’m a better caddie and I’ve learned to enjoy it so much because I’ve been able to play more,” says Linsdeau.
LUKE DEIGHAN
Deighan, a senior at Birmingham Seaholm High School, started playing golf after watching Jordan Spieth win the 2015 Masters Tournament on television.
“That caught my eye, kind of came out of nowhere,” he says. “I was in a swimming club and some of my buddies played golf and there was a junior golf program at Lincoln Hills (Golf Course).
As he progressed with the game, a friend told him about Youth on Course and the junior tournament schedule the GAM offers.
“I became part of the golf community and played high school golf at Seaholm,” he says. “My Dad caddied at Oakland Hills and then I got into that, too. I’ve caddied there for five years.”
Deighan, headed next to Michigan State University as an Evans Scholar, says Youth on Course helps people who have trouble affording golf get a true start in the game.
“The price of clubs, price of a country club, price of playing public courses, golf just has a daunting price tag and Youth on Course made golf welcoming and affordable for me. I was able to embrace the community of golf and now I play in tournaments and really enjoy the experience.”
LILLEE-ANN JACOBS
Lillee-Ann Jacobs found golf through her family and a special connection with her late grandfather, Kirk Blower.
“I know golf will be in my life like it was for him, it’s fun and I love it,” says the Flint Powers Catholic High School golfer who hit an opening ceremonial tee shot for the PGA Tour Champions’ annual visit for the Ally Championship at Warwick Hills Golf & Country Club last summer.
Jacobs has taken an organizational journey in golf being involved with First Tee, Flint Junior Golf, high school golf and Youth on Course. She caddied, too, at Warwick Hills and that led to her Evans Scholar selection and her next stop, Michigan State University.
“They have all impacted me and Youth on Course, honestly it has impacted me so much because paying just $5 to play has been so important for our family and helped me so much because it has helped me be on the golf course every day that I can,” she says.
“I’ve become a competitive golfer because of Youth on Course, and I’m an Evans Scholar because of being a caddie. It all has worked together for me.”
SARAH LINSDEAU
Sara Linsdeau followed her brother into being a caddie, and soon realized she liked the game and wanted to play.
She joined the high school team at Lakeview St. Clair Shores in her junior year and her and a friend, Avery Gates, decided they wanted to try playing more.
“My brother told me about Youth on Course, that you could play more because it was so much cheaper, so we signed up for it,” she says “All last summer we played at Chandler Park and really enjoyed it. I think it has helped me help my golfers more, too, with reading putts, choosing the next shot. I can be more help if they need it.”
The soon-to-be Michigan State University student caddies at Country Club of Detroit and recommends it has a summer job and joining Youth on Course and playing golf as a summer activity.
“I think it’s a great program,” she says. “Especially for kids my age. Golf is not a cheap sport. When you can play for three and five dollars instead of $40 or more that’s a huge difference. You get way more out of golf by doing it more and now I really feel like I’m going to play golf for a long time.”
RYAN WINTER
Ryan Winter’s cousin told him about Youth on Course and he couldn’t believe you could play for $5 a round.
“I signed up that same night for Youth on Course and have been a member ever since, four years,” he says. “Otherwise I was only playing on Monday’s as a caddie at Country Club of Lansing. This allows me to afford to play golf at other places, and sometimes that’s three or four times a week. That’s big dollars. I mean, you can’t do anything for just $5 anymore.”
A home-schooled senior, Winter says he has three older brothers who are also caddies and also Evans Scholars. He knew he would be a caddie as well, but Youth on Course has made him a golfer, too.
“I love being on the golf course when playing now, too,” says the soon-to-be Michigan State University student as an Evans Scholar. “I played on a (home-school team) and I now embrace golf as a hobby, a passion of mine that I will enjoy for a long time.”
