Former GOLFWORKS intern David Hagen (above) shared his story of how being part of the GOLFWORKS program impacted him with attendees at the Day of Golf.
ELMSFORD, N.Y. (June 9, 2025) – The MGA Foundation has had a busy start to the golf season with spring caddie academies, the annual Day of Golf, fundraisers, and auctions.
Spring Caddie Academies a Success
A record 603 juniors attended nine caddie academies held by the MGA Foundation across the Met Area this spring. That marks an increase of nearly 200 participants from 2024 in attendance. Caddie academies are free for the public to learn how to become a caddie at an area course.
Day of Golf
The Day of Golf is the biggest day on the Foundation’s calendar each year. The Ridgewood Country Club in Paramus, N.J., hosted the annual outing. Over 100 attendees supported the Foundation and enjoyed a perfect day on Ridgewood’s Championship Course, which encompasses parts of its three nine-hole layouts. After the round of golf, former GOLFWORKS intern David Hagen spoke to the attendees on the program’s impact on him.
“Without your generosity, I wouldn’t be where I am today. I am incredibly grateful for being part of the GOLFWORKS program,” said David during his remarks. “My jobs through the GOLFWORKS program taught me a lot; from how to communicate effectively, take pride in my work, respect the space around me, work together as a team, and most importantly, have fun.”
In conjunction with the golf outing, the Foundation hosted a Day of Golf online auction, which featured more than 50 golf and other experiences across the country that were available for bidding. After the week-long auction, nearly $200,000 was raised to support the Foundation’s GOLFWORKS student-intern program for the 2025 season.
Birdies Campaign Fundraiser at U.S. Amateur Four-Ball
The Foundation conducted a birdies fundraiser during the U.S. Four-Ball Championship on May 17-21, in support of the local teams at a local venue, for a local cause. Five teams were part of the fundraiser—Barnes Blake and Liam Pasternak, Brad Tilley and Pat Willson, Sam and Will Bernstein, Dan Abbondandolo and Colin Dolph, and Thomas Bennett and Lucas Rizo-Patron. Stroke Play qualifying was held at Echo Lake Country Club and Plainfield Country Club; Plainfield hosted the matchplay portion of the championship. The teams combined for 35 birdies. During Blake’s and Pasternak’s run to the second round of match play, the pair recorded 18 birdies to lead the five participating Met Area teams.
Fundraiser with the Travelers Championship
The MGA Foundation is a participating charity with the Travelers Championship’s Birdies for Charity program. From now until the Travelers Championship on June 19-22 in Cromwell, Conn., each dollar donated through this link. Webster Bank will add a 15% bonus to each donation. By supporting the MGA Foundation through the Birdies for Charity, our youth programming will be one step closer to providing more accessible programs for local youth.
Adaptive Program Continues Momentum
The MGA Foundation’s Adaptive Golf Program’s busy schedule has continued into the 2025 season. The program has hosted clinics with Arc Westchester, YMCA of New Canaan, St. Joseph’s School of the Deaf, New Jersey Institute for Disabilities, Miracle League, Adelphi Bridges Program, New York Institute for Special Education, and the Venture Foundation. In 2025, the Adaptive Program is halfway through its scheduled 54 dates for the 2025 season.
Upcoming Foundation Calendar
Championship season gets underway with junior events for the Foundation. The 108th Met Junior Championship will be held at Southampton Golf Club from July 14 to 16. Two weeks later, on July 29, the 23rd Carter Cup, which features a girls’ championship for the first time, returns to Baltusrol Golf Club after being held at Winged Foot Golf Club last season. Redding Country Club hosts the 57th MGA/Met Life Boys’ Championship on August 12 and 13.
