New York State Golf Association plans three championships in region in 2021.
Expect to see a lot of the New York State Golf Association in the Capital Region next year.
First off, the NYSGA has scheduled three of its 10 championships for 2021 on area courses. There were no championships played here in 2019, and the Women’s Senior scheduled for Pinehaven — along with the entire 2020 championship schedule — fell victim to the COVID -19 pandemic.
The 2021 Men’s Amateur already was locked in for Aug. 10-12 at Schuyler Meadows, and the Men’s Mid-amateur was set for Sept. 24-26 at Shaker Ridge. After this year’s cancellation, the state association will try again next year — Aug. 24-25 to be precise — with the Women’s Senior at Pinehaven.
“We’re going to be spending a lot of time in Albany,” NYSGA assistant executive director Andrew Hickey said.
By the end of the month, we should have word on whether the NYSGA is going to form a district association, as it has done in Buffalo and Syracuse and is exploring to do in many regions of the state, in the Capital Region.
“We’re not there yet,” Hickey said. “In about the next two or three weeks we’re going to be dialed in on everything. We’re getting ready for the board meeting, and after the board meeting we’ll know whether it’s a go or not. We’ll know by the end of October if we’re fully invested for next year.
“The vision is going to be a slow rollout of probably two majors for next year, and then continue to build relationships with the administrators of amateur golf tournaments in the area and providing software packages so players can register online and be allowed to post pairings and display live results — a lot of the things that tournaments in the area don’t currently have — through our online registration and tournament management software, develop those relationships and see if there’s a desire to work more closely and align with the New York State Golf Association and the tournaments we’re bringing to the area.”
Let’s face it, the area is in need of more individual competition. It might partially explain why the Capital Region hasn’t had a Men’s Amateur winner since 1986. The team events are well-established in the area and provide enjoyment for players, but honing individual skills is better in high-level tournaments.
If the NYSGA decides to step in, it won’t hurt the Tri-county Match Play, Troy Invitational and Capital Stroke Play, the region’s main individual events. What the association hopes to do is provide support to those and provide more opportunities for the area’s amateurs.
Hickey and his staff have spent numerous man-hours examining golf in the area and looking for openings in the schedule.
“We want the best players to be able to play in all the majors,” he said. “We need to avoid conflicts so we can meet that desire.”
Area roundup
The final major golf event of the season concludes Wednesday, when the Northeastern New York PGA plays the final round of its Tour Championship/championships Cup at Wyantenuck in Great Barrington, Mass.
Saratoga Spa assistant pro Scott Berliner is looking to wrap up his 10th consecutive Player of the Year title.
Club roundup
Airway Meadows: Club champions are Roger Flynn (men), Deb Kirkpatrick (women) and Carl Leininger (senior men).
Brookhaven: The club has installed fencing behind the driving range to protect golfers from wayward tee shots on No. 10.
Pinehaven: Member Ron Cellupica scored his second career hole-in-one at Audubon Country Club in Naples, Fla., knocking in a 4-hybrid from 158 yards.
Schenectady Municipal: Don Dobbs won the Tournament of Champions with a 5-and-4 victory over Carl Gilbert.
Elsewhere
The 2021 Latin America Amateur Championship, whose winner qualifies for the Masters, has been canceled because of the COVID -19 pandemic.