5 reasons to join a Youth on Course 100 Hole Hike

Ultimately, the 100 Hole Hike has a purpose, right? It's for the kids! To date, this year's hike has raised almost $2.2 million for YOC, a non-profit organization which enables junior golfers to play for $5 at member courses around the country. These youngsters are the next generation of players. Golf - and life in general - is a lot more expensive than when you and I were children. Many kids wouldn't be able to learn and compete in this great game without the support of organizations like Youth on Course. Playing 100 holes never felt so good because it means something more than just another day at the golf course.

To join a hike, register at the website 100holehike.org or contact Rachel Miller at rachel@youthoncourse.org.

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An inspirational 100 Hole Hike for Youth On Course at Pebble Beach

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Hiking 100 holes for a good golf cause

Are you tired of being the only golfer in your foursome without a hole in one? I can't guarantee you'll make one on the hike, but your odds will go up exponentially. You'll get 100 swings at it since almost all of the 100 Hole Hikes are held on nice par 3 courses. The Hay sports no holes longer than 110 yards, so hikers had plenty of close calls. The tricky greens are the equalizer, but the ninth hole did have a pin cut in the middle of a bowl. I hit it to inches one time, and John Sawin, the Vice President and Director of Golf at Pebble Beach, sank two aces there (three in total on the day!).

Perhaps the best part of the whole hike is the people you meet. There's a camaraderie and euphoria about participating together for a great cause. I met some really cool people who love golf. We're kindred spirits. A few of them have invited me to rounds at their private clubs - more items off the bucket list! - and I know at least one group that's already committed to playing together again next year: same time, same place. That's a strong bond.

The 100 Hole Hike isn't just a charity outing. It's a weekend golf adventure. The fun starts with a package that shows up at your house with free swag. The pre-game activities kick off with the golf outing and dinner, usually at a really nice private club. The local hotel stay is a nice touch and it's why many hikers brought their spouses along to enjoy the whole experience. While I was playing golf, my daughter and wife went shopping in downtown Carmel and then returned to caddy for me for a couple holes. Seeing them cheering me on and being supportive provided a nice energy boost for the last four hours and 40-plus holes. A full bar, free whiskey tasting, music, good food and great conversations were all plentiful throughout the day.

I've always had playing 100 holes in a single day on my bucket list. It sounded like a fun challenge. But if it's not on your bucket list, that's okay. Signing up for a 100 Hole Hike can still check something else off your bucket list. My hike, for example, included a round at The Preserve, an exclusive private club that's shown up on some top-100 lists over the years. It's a bucket-list course you'd probably never have access to. You have to pass through three gates just to reach the clubhouse.

Or you can treat your hike like a bucket-list trip. I met Dan Ignatuk, who brought his wife from Florida to Pebble Beach for a wonderful trip touring northern California. He called his hike "one of the most memorable and rewarding golf experiences of my life". Other hikes were also held in other bucket-list destinations in 2022 - Sweetens Cove in Tennessee, The Cradle at Pinehurst, The Baths of Blackwolf Run at Kohler, Las Vegas, Palm Springs/Indio and Palm Beach, Fla.