MGA Foundation Establishes Jay Mottola Scholarship


Harrison, N.Y. (December 5, 2018) – During the Annual Meeting of The Metropolitan Golf Association, the MGAF announced the creation of the Jay Mottola Scholarship, in honor of Mottola’s achievements in the game of golf, which were recognized during the presentation of the 2018 Distinguished Service Award.

“The MGA foundation is proud to announce the creation of the Jay Mottola Scholarship to celebrate the longtime MGA executive director as well as his contributions and support of the game on all levels,” said President Tod Pike.

About Jay Mottola

Jay Mottola has always been an advocate for caddieing, and under his guidance, supporting youth caddie initiatives has been a main focus of the MGA Foundation since its inception. Mottola was first introduced to the game as a young teenager, working as a caddie and on the grounds crew at The Tuxedo Club, near where he grew up in Tuxedo, N.Y. In addition to his basketball success at Lafayette College, Jay was also a member of the golf team and made it to the NCAA Tournament twice as an individual – an impressive feat for a Lafayette golfer. His love for golf led him to the MGA in 1977, when he joined the field team staff for the summer. From there, Mottola joined the full-time staff a few years later and by 1982 was named executive director, a role he held until 2016.

Jay guided the MGA throughout perhaps its most prolific period in history. He has a long list of accomplishments both here in the Met Area and on a national level; highlights during his tenure include the expansion of the Association’s service programs, the launch of The Met Golfer, the construction of “Golf Central” as a home for the MGA and other area golf organizations, and the creation of the MGA Foundation. As just one of its programs, the MGA Foundation conducts a number of Caddie Academies each year, a concept that Mottola and former tournament director Gene Westmoreland created in the late 1980s. Jay is an active board member of the Westchester Caddie Scholarship Fund, and remains involved with all of the MGA Foundation’s programming.

The Jay Mottola Scholarship (JMS) is a significant scholarship, available for four years of undergraduate study, awarded to a deserving candidate for the 2020-21 academic year. In collaboration with the local CSFs, the MGAF and JMS Committee will identify and invite top candidates to submit an essay; finalists will then be interviewed and the award recipient selected.  The MGA Foundation and area Caddie Scholarship Funds are thrilled to work together to honor and continue Jay’s lasting impact on caddies and the game we all love.

Information for Applicants

The Jay Mottola Scholarship is a significant financial grant awarded to an outstanding caddie or young person who works in service to golf in the Met Area. This need-based award is available to exceptional graduating high school seniors from Long Island, New Jersey, and Westchester who are eligible under their local Caddie Scholarship Fund’s criteria.

Students must have caddied (or worked in service to golf in Westchester and LI) for a minimum of two seasons and come with a high recommendation from the club.

Students must qualify for financial need and be in good academic standing. Children of members at private clubs are not eligible to apply.

To be considered for the Jay Mottola Scholarship for the 2020-21 academic school year, the applicant must successfully submit all required documents to their local Caddie Scholarship Fund by November 15, 2019.  Local applications will be available online beginning August 1, 2019. (There is no separate application for the JMS.)

For applicants from New Jersey, visit click here to apply for the NJSGA CSF.

For applicants from Westchester and other surrounding counties including parts of Connecticut, click here.

For applicants from Long Island, click here to apply for the LICSF.

The Jay Mottola Scholarship Committee will review all applicants with the local CSFs. The Committee will identify and invite top candidates to submit an essay. Finalists will then be interviewed in person and the award recipient selected no later than March 1.

For more information on the application process, please contact Johanna Gavin at 914-347-2340.

For more information on the scholarship, including ways to support this special initiative, please visit: mgagolf.org/foundation/JMS.