News

JAMESVILLE, N.Y. – As 2024 gets underway and the NYSGA looks towards the upcoming golf season in New York State, our new president, Jamie Miller of Crag Burn Golf Club, expressed his thoughts in the following message to association members:

Dear NYSGA Community,

I am excited and honored to step into this leadership role as the 47th president of the New York State Golf Association. I have been involved in the game of golf my entire life. My parents both played on the PGA Tour and LPGA Tour and I was fortunate enough to play college golf at Augusta State and later the PGA Tour Canada. When my playing career ended after an accident, I was anxious to get involved in the game that had given me so much.

Initially, I became more involved with the NYSGA after winning the 2014 NYS Men’s Mid-Amateur at Teugega. I became a board member at my local association, the Buffalo District Golf Association in 2016, serving as board President from 2021-2023.  I was elected to become a member of the Executive Committee in 2018. Since then, I’ve served as a board member for both the NYSGA and Buffalo District Golf Association (BDGA), working closely with many golf leaders across our state and gaining a much stronger familiarity of New York’s golf landscape. I recently finished my term as BDGA president and believe that experience has prepared me to take on this larger effort at the state level.

I’d like to recognize Hank Fust of Onondaga Golf & Country Club, our outgoing president, for his incredible service to the association over the last two years. Hank was an efficient and productive leader, overseeing our Centennial Celebration in 2023, the addition of several new NYSGA championships, and enhancing support for regional golf associations in our territory. Hank has agreed to serve out the remainder of his board commitment and we couldn’t be happier to have him stay involved. 

I also want to thank Iris Stanek of Lancaster Country Club, who has completed her term as Secretary after serving many years on the Executive Committee. I’ve known Iris since I was a little kid and she has been an invaluable member of the Executive Committee.

We welcomed two new NYSGA Officers, 2nd Vice President Rich Weber of Brookfield Country Club and Secretary Ryan Gabel of Southern Dutchess Country Club. Tom Owen of Corning Country Club is a new member of the Executive Committee, having served for years as a Senior Rules Official and now as the NYSGA’s Tournament Chairman. Joining him are two other new members; Karen Fedman of Columbia Golf & Country Club, who recently captured the 2023 NYS Women's Super Senior title, and Brian Kumiega of Country Club of Buffalo.

I’ve been fortunate enough to compete in many local, state and national competitions. My biggest goal is to continue to provide premier tournament opportunities for all NYSGA members. We continue to make strides on that front, adding new championships in 2023: the NYS Men’s Super Senior Four-Ball Championship (65+), NYS Men’s Senior Legends Championship (70+), and the NYS Girls’ 14U Amateur Championship.

In 2024, the winners of the NYS Men’s, Women’s, Boys’ 18U, and Girls’ 18U Championships will earn an exemption to compete in their corresponding USGA Championships. This required a lot of effort on the part of NYSGA staff and leadership as well as our host clubs, and we are excited to be a part of this new exemption category adopted by the USGA.

The NYSGA now has three employees dedicated to support of regional golf associations. This includes a new push to organize and create new tournament opportunities for golfers in Albany under the Capital District Golf Association. We’ve further strengthened our partnership with the Triple Cities Golf Association, modeling a support-based relationship that has been working extremely well in Buffalo and Syracuse. This season, we spread our roots to become more involved with the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) Boys’ & Girls’ Golf Championships, and other regional tournaments such as the Watertown City Championship, Western Southern Tier Amateur Championship and the National Links Trust Championship regional qualifier.

Looking toward the 2024 golf season, we will continue to improve the tournament opportunities offered to the state’s golfers and our impact on the local golf communities through fostering growth within these district associations.

Beyond tournaments, we are focused on educating the public on the Rules of Golf and preparing our members for the upcoming changes to the World Handicap System. More golfers are using the World Handicap System than ever before, with year-over-year growth in GHIN membership and score posting statistics. We’re doing everything we can to continue that trend for years to come.

I’m extremely proud of the work we have done to serve the New York State Golf community. It is not a responsibility any of us take lightly and we will continue to work diligently on behalf of all golfers in the state. I, along with the rest of the Executive Committee and staff, am excited for a great 2024 serving all of YOU! Thank you for the opportunity and hope to see you on the course soon. 

Best regards,

Jamie Miller,
President, NYSGA

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Click here to view the 2024 Officers & Executive Committee Slate announcement.

Click here to view a full list of NYSGA Committees and their membership. 

Click here to view a list of past NYSGA Presidents.