By Carrie Byrne Putelo
Golf in the Mohawk Valley has never felt like it’s just about the game itself. Around here, it’s woven into everyday life. It’s early mornings on the course before work, quick nine holes on a summer evening, weekday leagues that become yearly traditions, and friendships that have been built over decades at courses across the region.
After moving to the Mohawk Valley nine years ago, one of the things that stood out to us almost immediately was how accessible golf is here. Compared to where we lived in New Jersey, the number of courses, the affordability, and simply the ability to play regularly is really incredible. From public courses and driving ranges to private clubs and destination golf, the game feels much more connected to the rhythm of life here.
My husband has been golfing since he was seven years old and introduced me to the game shortly after we were married. In those early years, I was still learning the difference between clubs while trying to keep up beside someone who had already spent most of his life on a course. Then life happened – my career, commuting into the city, and raising children quickly pulled me away from the game. But after putting this feature together, I think this may be the year I dust off my clubs and get back out there.
And in many ways, that renewed interest in the game reflects what has been happening across the Mohawk Valley as a whole. Over the last several years, golf has become more social, more family-oriented, and more accessible to players of all ages and skill levels. For this special feature, PGA Professional and Multiple CNY PGA Award winner Dustin Jones shares his perspective on the local golf scene and the courses that continue to shape the game across the region, while PGA Professional and CNY PGA Hall of Famer Ruth Weydig reflects on youth development, accessibility, and the future of the game in Central New York.
Together, their perspectives offer a look at not only where the Mohawk Valley plays, but why the game continues to grow here year after year.
