PARENT RESOURCES & OTHER OFFERINGS
PARENT RESOURCES
For parents, the junior golf journey of where to start and learning the nuances of competitive play can be overwhelming. Junior golf can be a very robust network of junior programs and competitive play tournaments from our local PGA Section, other local opportunities including High School Golf and into state organizations. The Northeastern New York PGA (NENY PGA) serves as the primary hub for development along with our local PGA Professionals and junior instruction at local golf facilities to get started. These include offering everything from Kids Play Golf for young age kids to get introduced to the team-based PGA Junior League to the structured NENY PGA Junior Futures Tour for experiencing on course simulated tournament feels & NENY Junior Tour Series for competitive play.
To make the game more accessible, families should utilize the New York State Golf Association (NYSGA), which is part of the USGA that is the governing body of the rules of golf & handicaps and they provide juniors with free USGA Handicap through GHIN.
As players mature, the tournament landscape scales to match their skill level, providing clear pathways to elite competition. Juniors can progress from local 3 hole, 5 hole, 7 hole, 9-hole events to 18 & 36 hole prestigious events that often utilize Junior Golf Scoreboard ranking and into premier NENY PGA Junior Tour Series & NYS Golf Association Junior Championships and national qualifiers.
THE CHARACTER BUILDING AND FUNDAMENTALS, ENSURING THAT GOLF REMAINS A “GAME FOR A LIFETIME.” WHETHER YOUR CHILD AIMS TO PLAY FOR THEIR HIGH SCHOOL TEAM OR SIMPLY ENJOY A WEEKEND ROUND, NEW YORK’S INTEGRATED SYSTEM OF ASSOCIATIONS PROVIDES THE RESOURCES, FINANCIAL AID, AND COACHING NECESSARY TO SUCCEED.
GRANT FUNDING/FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
The NENY PGA Section Foundation aims to help provide access to the game of golf to offset costs for families who otherwise might not be able afford participation and help to reduce barriers to entry and retention in the game. Considerable grant funding is available to subsidize juniors’ golf-related expenses across three categories: learning (instruction), playing (membership), and competing (tournament fees).
• Applications require a simple application and questionnaire to assess financial need without overly burdensome documentation.
• Grant subsidies will target local and affiliated golf programs to focus on keeping funding within the community and maximize benefit for families in our local community and programming must be an “approved” NENY PGA Grant program.
• If you have any inquiries about approved NENY PGA Grant Programs - please inquire with our NENY PGA Section Staff via the “Contact Us” Form.
JUNIOR COLLEGIATE SCHOLARSHIP
OPPORTUNITIES
In an effort to recognize NENY PGA Junior Tour members and to assist them with their higher academic goals, the PGA Reach NENY has established three (3) annual scholarships of $2,500 each to high school graduating seniors in the memory of Doug Evans.
Doug Evans passed away in the fall of 2020 and served as the NENY PGA Section’s longtime Tournament Director & Assistant Executive Director. He was incredibly well respected among the NENY PGA Member Professionals, the local Capital Region Amateur golf community and from all NENY families and juniors having served the section and local golf body for just under two decades. He worked tirelessly on behalf of his fellow professionals and one of his passions was serving and conducting the Section’s Junior Golf Tour for our local families and junior competitors. He had an incredible way about him to share his knowledge, prowess for the rules of golf and always encouraging messages to each junior.
Since the inception of the Doug Evans Junior Tour Memorial Scholarship, the Northeastern New York PGA REACH Foundation has awarded a total of $19,500 in academic scholarships to support junior golfers.
REACH NENY FOUNDATION ACTIVITES
The Northeastern New York PGA REACH Foundation, Inc. is the 501(c)(3) charitable arm of the NENY PGA Section, dedicated to improving lives through the game of golf across three core pillars: Youth, Military, and Diversity & Inclusion. Established to ensure the game is accessible to all, the Foundation fuels the “Junior Golf Life Cycle” by providing grants & funding to local juniors and parents, collegiate scholarship offerings, equipment donation programs, and affordable opportunities for our local area families and juniors.
Beyond the next generation, it serves the local veteran community through PGA HOPE (Helping Our Patriots Everywhere), utilizing golf as a therapeutic tool for physical and mental rehabilitation. This program is up to 10 geographic program locations in the section, and offers a completely free 6-week golf program taught be PGA Professionals in a safe, comfortable environment.
Our final pillar of Inclusion ensures open opportunities to provide a welcoming setting for individuals of all backgrounds and abilities. Our goal is to incorporate the intentional effort that golf is a game for everyone and move beyond just an invitation.
Our real mission is using the game to change lives right here in our community. We focus on three things: providing Youth with scholarships and equipment so every child can play, supporting our Military through PGA HOPE—which uses golf as a therapeutic tool for Veterans—and driving Inclusion by breaking down barriers for underserved populations.
Whether it’s a one-time donation, playing or pleading in our annual “Birdie Challenge” flagship fundraiser, or a corporate sponsorship, 100% of your support stays local.
FIND A PGA COACH
The PGA’s searchable coach site, provides golfers with a marketplace to find and connect with a coach for instruction, and on the flip side offers our PGA Golf Coaches a comprehensive suite of tools and industry-leading training to help streamline their business and elevate their coaching journey with resources from the PGA like Modern Coaching training, ADM certification and age-appropriate activity plans.
The site also supports the unique needs of PGA of America Programs like
PGA Jr. League, PGA HOPE and PGA Coaching Center.
Get started on your journey with a coach who specializes in your experience and needs. You’ll discover it’s more than just a golf lesson and the database is searchable with numerous filters, from youth, beginners, improvement, groups, 1on1 lessons, location and more!