Eleven-year-old Callen Cronin has been playing golf for his whole life and joined Youth on Course (YOC) to be able to play more affordable golf at different courses. He proceeded to play the most rounds of any Mass Golf YOC Member in 2022, and went on to qualify for the Drive, Chip & Putt National Finals in April! We caught up with Callen and his father, Devin Cronin, to talk about YOC and how Callen has been able to create opportunities and lifetime memories through golf.
Callen started playing golf at the age of two and has been hooked from day one. Callen and Devin typically play at their home course of Bradford Country Club, which is a Mass Golf YOC participating course. Devin said of Bradford Country Club, “I can’t say enough about what they’ve done for Callen and really all the kids around here, they’re so good for the youth.” Both father and son credit Bradford with helping Callen to be able to play golf.
They also frequently visit Crystal Lake Golf Club, another YOC participating course. Callen says of being able to play at different courses, “I don’t really go out and just chip and putt, I usually just play the real courses instead and that helps out.”
Thanks to all his practice on the course, Callen was able to qualify for the 2024 Drive, Chip & Putt National Finals at Augusta National Golf Club on the Sunday before the Masters, with his final qualifier for the event taking place at TPC Boston in Norton, MA.
Callen described the experience as “So much fun, not something you get to do every day.” Devin raved as well, saying “The way they treated the families was first class, amazing. I can’t even explain how cool it was.” Callen was one of four Massachusetts golfers playing and came in fourth place in the Boys 10-11 Division. You can read more on Callen and the other Massachusetts Drive, Chip & Putt participants here.
Looking forward, Callen plans on playing in the Drive, Chip & Putt in upcoming years, as well as Mass Golf’s Young Golfers’ Amateur and plenty of other events.
As for why they would recommend Youth on Course for other young golfers, “Obviously, Youth on Course is an amazing opportunity for kids to have access to play…we’re very thankful for that,” Devin said, also noting that it felt cool to have a YOC member representing the program at Augusta National.
Young golfers and their families all over the country are seizing the opportunity – just as Callen and Devin have done – with their Youth on Course memberships. There are few better ways to grow the game than giving kids affordable access to golf, and Callen is a shining example of the value that YOC can provide!
For more information, contact Kyle Sherman, Manager of Member Events & Services, at 774-430-9014 or via e-mail at ksherman@massgolf.org
