The Catch the Spirit program began in 1991 as an effort to attract more youth and families to the game of golf and USGA championships. The goal of the program is to provide exposure to the game - its rich history, heroes and lessons - to a new generation of golfers. Several unique components of the program allow juniors to learn about the game of golf and enjoy its traditions through special events and educational opportunities at USGA Championships. The program strives to make these experiences educational, interactive, and fun in order to ensure the game’s traditions and spirit are passed on to each junior spectator.

As part of the Catch the Spirit program during the U.S. Women’s Open and U.S. Senior Open, juniors ages 17 and under receive complimentary admission to the Championship when accompanied by a ticketed adult. A junior-friendly tent is open for the duration of the Championship where kids receive USGA publications, a complimentary lunch voucher, a Catch the Spirit cap, a golf course scavenger hunt, guided course tours, and the opportunity to practice on a putting green set up just for juniors. At the U.S. Open, participants and chaperones from USGA-supported programs and other social service agencies are invited to attend an exhibition that includes the Dennis Walters Golf Show and the Golf Channel’s Drive, Chip, and Putt. They also receive lunch and complimentary admission to a practice round at the U.S. Open.

Fellows assisted in the planning of Junior Days in conjunction with host clubs at four amateur championships in 2007: The U.S. Girls’ Junior, U.S. Women’s Amateur, U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links, and the U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur. Activities during these Junior Days included the Dennis Walters Golf show, course tours, presentations from past and current qualifiers, Ryder-Cup format matches, and/or clinics given by local PGA and LPGA professionals.

For the past decade, the program has invited local youth social service agencies and USGA-supported programs to attend. The Catch the Spirit initiative, supported by the Regional Affairs Committee, the Regional Directors, and the Grants and Fellowship Office, is responsible for the attendance of more than 5,000 youths annually. In addition, more than 30,000 youths have participated in the Catch the Spirit program throughout the last 10 years.