https://www.timesunion.com/sports/article/Another-way-to-introduce-golf-to-the-young-masses-12917533.php
Another way to introduce golf to the young masses
Published 8:39 pm, Tuesday, May 15, 2018
A grass-roots effort to inject more youth into golf is taking place in the southern part of the Capital Region.
Lucas Cohen, owner/operator of New York Golf Park in Hudson, has created the Playground Golf Foundation, which, in cooperation with participating schools, introduces the sport in physical-education classes.
Using SNAG (Starting New At Golf) and ShortGolf products, Cohen, with help of fellow PGA members, sets up equipment allowing students — many for the first time — to swing a club.
"We use Velcro balls that stick to Velcro targets," Cohen said. "You can utilize it in the gymnasiums. It's lightweight, and kids love it."
Cohen, who received Northeastern New York PGA recognition in 2015 for player development, has been in Catskill, Germantown and Hudson city schools the past three weeks.
"For a majority of them," he said, "it's the first time ever touching a golf club and having any experience with golf. The hairs stand up on my arms, I feel like I'm doing something good."
What started as an effort to create participation at New York Golf Park has grown into something much larger, Cohen said. With golf rounds sagging nationwide, getting more youth involved seems to be a path to develop more players.
"It's the only way," Cohen said. "If you think about it, there's decline in all the sports. Golf is not even thought of as an option. When you put the club in their hands and they start swinging, it's amazing when they hit a good shot and they hit the target, they get instant feedback and they're thrilled. The goal is to grow the game to introduce the game to kids, and what better way than in a gym class."
Cohen currently is involved in fundraising efforts — the equipment is "ridiculously expensive," he said — to broaden the program. Information can be found at the foundation website http://playgroundgolffoundation.org.
U.S. Open qualifying tales
U.S. Open local qualifying began April 30 and runs through Thursday, when a few Capital Region players will play at Turning Stone's Kalahyut course. To be eligible, a player must have a handicap index not exceeding 1.4, or be a professional.
A player who entered the qualifier Monday at Stockbridge, Mass., was neither — we'll withhold his name to avoid further embarrassment — and was exposed early. He was 17 over par through seven holes, and Massachusetts Golf Association officials escorted him off the course.
Then there was a situation at the Orlando, Fla., qualifier, where a berth in sectionals was determined by a coin flip. Two college seniors, Luis Gagne of LSU and Cristian DeMarco (son of one-time Masters runner-up Chris DeMarco) of South Florida, tied for the final berth, but neither stayed around for a playoff. How could they not stay around? That's a hard lesson not learned in a classroom.
Area roundup
Three-time Section II individual champion Austin Fox of Delmar won the New York State PGA Junior Championship at Leatherstocking, shooting a even-par 144 to beat Benjamin Ropiak of Cos Cob, Conn., by two shots. In the girls' division, Isabella Diaz of Ballston Spa and Laura Rentz of East Greenbush were second and third, respectively, behind Alexsandra Lapple of Ridgefield, Conn. ... Diaz tied for third, tops among local players, at the recent American Junior Golf Association tournament at Waubeeka (Mass.). In the boys' division, Nolan Crowley of Saratoga Springs tied for sixth.
Dan Russo and David Hayes, both of Schuyler Meadows, are among the entrants in the 109th Travis Invitational which begins Friday in Garden City. Russo made it to the quarterfinals last year. ... The New York State Golf Association begins its 2018 championship schedule Sunday and Monday with the Men's Amateur Four-Ball at Leatherstocking.
Club roundup
Stadium: The club will hold a Titleist Demo Day from 3 to 6 p.m. June 6.
pdougherty@timesunion.com • 518-454-5416 • @Pete_Dougherty
