Youth Golf Thrives on Long Island
Long Island is experiencing a surge in youth golf enthusiasm.
Coaches attribute this growth to the recent Ryder Cup held at Bethpage Black, which has inspired a new wave of young players to hit the greens.
“We have around 120 alumni and an impressive 42 students tried out this year,” shared Cold Spring Harbor’s varsity coach, Jamie Lawler, during practice at Huntington Country Club. “The last time we saw participation like this was during the 2002 U.S. Open at Bethpage… and other schools are echoing similar stories,” he added.
During the height of the Ryder Cup excitement, Lawler noted that kids from various sports were drawn to golf, with even some football players swapping helmets for clubs this fall.
“Everybody at school talks about the Ryder Cup. You can see so many students wearing golf apparel,” he remarked.
The situation was also aided by Long Island high school teams, including the Cold Spring Harbor Seahawks, practicing at different Bethpage courses while major black construction was underway last spring.
10th grader Hunter Arcati, who recently made the varsity team, felt the infectious energy coming from Nassau County. “I practiced every day all summer. I just love the game,” said Arcati, who attended the Ryder Cup practice rounds.
But he wasn’t just a spectator; he actively analyzed how his game measured up against the professionals. “I watched their swings, trying to see how mine compared and working on things like slices,” he noted.
Lawler encourages students to look up to their favorite PGA golfers—Arcati, for example, admires Justin Thomas—and to identify swings that resonate with them as they develop their skills.
“I’ve increased my distance recently, so I’ve been watching swing videos to get better,” Arcati shared.
Similarly, Jonah Benson, an 11th grader returning to the competitive team, connected more deeply with golf and his peers through the Ryder Cup. “It was amazing to watch the players come together as a team, and we’re trying to create that dynamic here,” he said, wearing a Ryder Cup shirt he picked up for practice.
Once the stands come down and Bethpage Black reopens, Arcati and Benson are eager to tackle the iconic course, even if it requires some camping out for a tee time.
“I expect it to be quite a challenge,” Benson said.
Lawler remains hopeful that the players’ passion and dedication will enhance their skills and foster greater interest by the spring of 2026.
Benson, for his part, aspires to compete at the state level with his teammates by his senior year, inspired by Team USA’s impressive comeback during the Ryder Cup. “They taught me to never give up,” he reflected.
