▶ Remembering NENYPGA director Doug Evans, who died suddenly Friday at the age of 53.
As often happens, you don’t fully appreciate the impression someone made on you until he or she is gone.
The Capital Region golf community is still hurting over the sudden passing Friday of Doug Evans, who had served the Northeastern New York PGA as tournament director and assistant executive director since 2003.
He was just 53, far too soon to be taken from us.
We worked together numerous times each year as I covered the golf beat for the Times Union. I’d make a joke about his beloved Green Bay Packers, of whom he was a stockholder. He would always laugh, no matter how lame my attempt at humor was.
Doug was the one who sent tournament results to the media and updated the local pros’ point standings that run on our weekly golf page, but his role encompassed so much more.
He knew the rule book as thoroughly as the Packers’ schedule. Doug always greeted everyone warmly, from the club professionals that the section serves to the hundreds of golfers who went through the Junior Golf Tour.
As the pros Tuesday reluctantly began their Match Play Championship, many turned to Facebook to convey their feeling about their loss.
Battenkill head pro Dal Daily wrote “I miss D.E.” on his pin sheet. Normanside assistant Justin Hearley marked his golf ball “You Got It,” a phrase heard often from Evans.
I was at Schenectady Municipal, unaware that Doug was there running a tournament. Head pro Matt Daley told me as I finished my round that Doug had suffered a massive heart attack.
Like most of those who knew him, I never got to say goodbye.
High school golf
About a month later than normal, the high school golf season begins this week, but there will be no Section II tournament at the end of the fall.
Section II boys’ golf coordinator Tom Gladd, citing that the Adirondack and Wasaren League have chosen to delay their seasons until early spring, said, “We can’t have two different sets of circumstances.”
The leagues that are playing — Suburban Council, Colonial Council, Foothills Council and Western Athletic Conference — haven’t determined whether they’re having season-ending tournament among their members.
Gladd said “there’s no appetite for spring sectionals,” although the state tournament in June at Elmira is still on the calendar. He hopes to map out a plan to determine nine golfers to send to states when the time comes.
area roundup
Jim Gifford of Mohawk carded back-to-back rounds of 76 to hold off Travis Koch of Saratoga National and win the Saratoga County Amateur at Eagle Crest and Edison. Eagle Crest owner Bill Paulsen won his ninth straight senior title by three strokes over David Smith of Van Schaick . ... Sam Spitalny of Colonie and Steve Quillinan Jr. of Troy won the Fall Foliage Invitational Tournament at Mount Anthony (Vt.), beating Troy members Ben Rublee and Trevor Fielder in the all-capital Region final.
The Northeastern Golf Course Superintendents Association is accepting applications for its scholarship program. Candidates must be in at least the third year of a recognized four-year turfgrass management school (or second year of a two-year school) and must be a NEGCSA member, in the immediate family of a member, or employed by a member. More information can be obtained by emailing neasterngcsa@gmail.com.
Club roundup
■ Saratoga Lake: The Saratoga Cash Scramble, which allows one pro per team, is set for 11 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 4.
■ Wolferts Roost: Justin Brock produced the most impressive holein-one of the season. He hit a driver on the 389-yard, par-4 seventh hole. The ball landed on the green, took one hop, rolled between the legs of a member who was putting and dropped into the hole. It was Brock’s first career ace.
Elsewhere
Mike Davis, CEO of the U.S. Golf Association since 2011 and on staff since 1990, will leave at the end of 2021. He plans to team with course designer Tom Fazio II in a new business venture, which will be called Fazio & Davis Golf Design. The USGA hopes to have his successor in place in time for the 2021 U.S. Open in June.