The WA Golf Youth on Course program was recently honored with the 2025 William E. Hammonds Award for Excellence. The prestigious award highlights and celebrates the significant growth of the WA Golf Youth on Course program – new courses added, year-over-year membership increases, and an outstanding number of rounds played and subsidized.
At the IAGA West Regional Conference held in early April in Las Vegas, the WA Golf staff were officially given the 2025 William E. Hammonds Award for Excellence. Left to right are Matt Brown, director of development and donor engagement for the Washington Golf Foundation, which provides support for the WA Golf Youth on Course program; Audrey Orem, WA Golf manager of membership and handicapping; Troy Andrew, WA Golf CEO; and Hugh Smith, Youth on Course senior director of partner success.
The William E. Hammonds Award for Excellence is presented annually by Youth on Course to recognize an outstanding Allied Golf Association (AGA) partner that demonstrates an exceptional commitment to growing and sustaining affordable access to golf for young people.
WA Golf Youth on Course provides youths age 6-18 with access to play for only $5 per round at over 85 participating courses in Washington and Northern Idaho and an opportunity to develop a lifelong love for the game of golf. The program was launched in early 2016. It began signing up youths and subsidizing golf in June 2016, and a little over 300 juniors signed up for the program that year. By the end of the 2023 season, that number had grown to nearly 10,000, and in 2024 the number of youths reached a record high of 10,600, with participating courses increasing to 86. In 2023 alone over 40,000 rounds were played by WA Golf Youth on Course members. The William E. Hammonds Award for Excellence is more than just a recognition, it is a celebration of the people and organizations making golf a more accessible and welcoming sport for the next generation. This achievement is a direct result of the collective effort by WA Golf, and the participating facilities, and is a powerful reminder of the incredible impact the program is making, and this recognition is a testament to the commitment. Named in honor of William E. Hammonds, a past president of Youth on Course, this award celebrates an Allied Golf Association (AGA) that exemplifies leadership, innovation and unwavering support for Youth on Course’s mission. Hammonds played a significant role in shaping Youth on Course into what it is today, helping lay the foundation for growth on a national and international scale in partnership with its AGA partners. Each year, the recipient is selected based on a range of factors, including:
Overall Growth & Impact – Demonstrated expansion of Youth on Course membership, rounds played and program reach.
Engagement & Activity – Proactive collaboration with golf courses partners, members and the broader golf community to enhance program visibility and participation.
Development & Investment – Strategic efforts to strengthen and sustain Youth on Course through staffing, fundraising, and/or innovative program enhancements.
Leadership & Advocacy – A commitment to championing affordable youth golf access, fostering strong partnerships and driving long-term program sustainability.
While many AGAs play a vital role in advancing Youth on Course, this award spotlights a partner that goes above and beyond, setting a standard for excellence and inspiring others in the golf community to follow suit. Past recipients of the William E. Hammonds Award have demonstrated remarkable achievements, such as investing significant resources in its long-term success, hiring dedicated staff to help oversee operations, increasing overall membership, course partners and rounds, and ensuring it remains a key initiative within their overall mission.
