Bethpage Joins Youth on Course
ELMSFORD, N.Y. (July 16, 2019) -- Earlier this season, the MGA and the MGA Foundation announced the launching of the Youth on Course program in the Met Area, offering more affordable golf access to juniors throughout the region. Since its introduction in the Met Area, the number of participating courses has grown to 29, with the newest addition being Bethpage State Park.
Related: Youth on Course Announcement
Bethpage State Park, located on Long Island in Farmingdale, N.Y., has always been a famous golf hub in the Met Area. Bethpage has become synonomous with hosting the biggest events in golf, most recently the 2019 PGA Championship, and the park is home to some of the most iconic public courses in New York.
Youth on Course, started by the Northern California Golf Association, is a nationally recognized organization with over 1,200 participating courses. Juniors ages 6-18 can join the Youth on Course network and play golf for $5 per round (or less) at participating facilities throughout the country.
To date, more than 550 Met Area juniors—including kids from the New York City Parks foundation's junior golf program—have enrolled in Youth on Course. Juniors can sign up online and either join the MGA Youth on Course eClub, or area First Tee participants can register through their local chapter. Upon signing up for membership, juniors are asked to complete the Youth on Course curriculum online. Once completed, an official Youth on Course membership card will be sent and the member can begin enjoying the benefits of affordable golf.
With Bethpage now a recognized Youth on Course facility, juniors in the Met Area have access to all five courses located at the park (while some time restrictions apply). Click here for a full list of participating courses and a description of access. Most facilities ask that juniors call the pro shop for their tee times and availability. Area facilities have been enthusiastic about joining the program and welcoming youth to enjoy the game.
"We are honored and thrilled to announce the addition of Bethpage to the extensive line up of courses available in the New York metropolitan region," says Michael Lowe, Youth on Course VP of Programs. "These bucket list courses will challenge and inspire our junior golfers at a price that is inclusive to all."
Youth on Course members can take advantage of discounted rates at 46 different golf courses included in Golfweek's "Best Courses You Can Play" list, with Bethpage Black being the latest addition.
"We have been thrilled with the initial response to our Youth on Course partnership with junior golfers across the Met Area," says Peter Nicholson, Director of the MGA Foundation. "The addition of Bethpage will provide these members with five additional courses and the opportunity to play at a championship caliber venue."
Support for Youth on Course has driven the organization's growth across the country. The program has subsidized over 750,000 rounds of golf since its inception in 2006 and has more than 60,000 members that can play at more than 1,200 participating courses nationwide. Roughly half of the program's rounds involve an adult, which also drives participating facility revenues.
Click here for more information about the MGA’s partnership with Youth on Course.