Tom Coyne, a bestselling author and editor of The Golfer’s Journal, enjoys a dream job that allows him to play on some of the world’s most prestigious golf courses. Despite his experiences at renowned locations like Augusta National and St. Andrews, Coyne found himself intrigued by the humble Sullivan County Golf Club in Upstate New York. This rural 9-hole course, established in 1925, has a rich history, including a notable event in 1931 when a local pilot used the 8th fairway for a transatlantic flight. Over the years, as tourists shifted to more luxurious courses, Sullivan County was left to the locals, like Dan Yaun, whose family has deep roots in the area. By 2023, the course was struggling, with more deer than golfers, and was put up for sale. Shaun Smith, the last greenskeeper, reached out to Coyne, who visited and found a course devoid of modern golf’s usual luxuries but rich in character and history.
QUESTION: How might preserving local historical sites like the Sullivan County Golf Club impact community identity and pride?
Tom Coyne on becoming an “accidental” golf course owner
