By STEVEN MURREY

Managing Editor

smurrey@cherryroad.com

Noah Gascho, Director of Golf at Elwood Golf Links, is working with community business leaders to launch “Links to the Game,” a non-profit organization designed to get young golfers excited about the game.

“There’s a barrier to golf that makes it hard for people to get into the game,” said Gascho, who believes affordability prevents some children from getting involved in the sport. The non-profit hopes to provide golf clubs, lessons, and rounds of golf to Elwood kids who otherwise might not be able to afford them.

While looking for sponsors for the golf course, Gascho got to know Steve Hembree of Hembree Motor Sales.

“He was wanting to help jump-start junior golf in Elwood, and to give back to the community,” said Gascho of Hembree, who made a donation to the non-profit and the golf course.

“Finding a way to help juniors in the area get excited about something, instead of waiting to pick up golf at 18 or 20 years old, is exciting,” said Gascho of the non-profit, which has also received a donation from Ned Dunnichay of Dunnichay Funeral Homes.

“We’re really going to be targeting younger golfers, ages six to twelve,” said Gascho. “We’re excited, and the golf course wants to do everything we can to help everyone play.”

Elwood Golf Links is celebrating 100 years of golf in Elwood in 2024. Gascho said in 2023, more than 15,000 rounds of golf were played at the course. In 2024, he hopes to increase that number to 20,000.

“This year we have a lot of new things going on. We have more tournaments, more outings, the PGA Junior League, new signage, and a new golf cart fleet with GPS.

“It seems like a lot of times, the price factor prevents parents from getting their kids involved,” said Gascho. “To get donations from individuals and businesses in town, I can help cover those costs for kids who want to play.”

Gascho said his plans include using the funds raised to pay for t-times and parents could drop their kids off. As a PGA professional, Gascho is also a pro-instructor, and hopes to hold lessons.

A native of Frankfort, Indiana, Gascho got involved in golf as a child.

“Like a lot of kids, not having the money to play at a golf course, I played most of my golf in the backyard,” said Gascho. “I started at age 9, and the game sold itself to me. Right when I picked up a club, I knew it was something I wanted to do.”

Gascho said a family member got him some golf clubs and he was hooked. He went on to play middle school and high school and professionally, before graduating with a degree in economics from Butler University last year.

Gascho says currently, most of the youth involvement comes from high school and junior high golf teams. Parents who are interested in letting their kids play golf outside of school send their kids to Anderson, he said. Gascho’s goal is to get those local kids to come to Elwood Golf Links, rather than leaving the city limits to play.

To learn more, or to donate, contact Noah Gascho at Elwood Golf Links.