Junior golfers play free this Saturday at New York State Parks courses

Take your junior golfers to the nearest state park for nine or 18 holes this Saturday -- New York State is picking up the green fee.

This Saturday, July 20, is Free Youth Golf Day, a statewide event that Governor Andrew Cuomo announced this spring as New York welcomed the PGA Championship to the crown jewel of NYS Parks golf courses, Bethpage Black.  All players 18 and under are entitled to a free round of golf at all state parks, five of which are on Long Island -- Bethpage, Montauk Downs, Robert Moses, Sag Harbor and Sunken Meadow. 

"We want to encourage and grow the sport of golf in New York.  To help encourage that, the State is going to sponsor an event on July 20 where anyone under the age of 18 years old can golf for free at any of our state facilities," Governor Cuomo said back in May. "It's a nice way to get young people out to experience the game, and I think once they experience it and they understand it, they will be hooked."

Golfers must be New York State residents to participate.  Cart fees, range balls and food/drinks are not included in the promotion.

For a full list of state-park golf courses, see the Free Youth Golf Day info page.