Course History
For almost 40 years, golfers in the Town of Colonie have enjoyed the public course for its beauty and unique blend of wide fairways and challenging doglegs. The initial 18-holes (White and Blue) were carved from 199 wooded acres in 1968 by William Mitchell, a renowned golf architect whose resume included the links at the Saratoga Spa State Park. Mitchell's design provided for an average of 35,000 rounds per-year to be played on the course. From its first day of use in 1969, the course opened to rave reviews. However, the Town Board soon realized that new holes were needed to accommodate golf's, and the course's, growing popularity. The Red Course, designed by world-renowned architect Robert Trent Jones, opened for business in 1981, and increased the course playability to 70,000 rounds per year on 27 holes.
Thousands of golfers spent countless hours honing their chip shots and long drives on the Town's fairways. However, 27 holes did not yet satisfy the residents golfing appetite. In 1998, the Green Course was added to bring the total number of holes at the Town of Colonie Golf course to 36. This enables golfers to play 744 rounds of golf a day, or up to 100,000 rounds of golf annually. The Green Course was designed by one of the country's leading golf architects, Rick Jacobson. Rick was a former assistant designer with Jack Nicklaus Golf Services and designed the Renagade Course at Arizona's Desert Mountain. With the Golf Course now set at 36-holes, Town residents have one of the premiere places in the Capital Region to test their golfing skills as well as enjoy their passion for one of sports greatest games.
Meet Our Staff
Noel Gebauer
Noel Gebauer returned to the Town of Colonie Golf Course in 2007 after thirteen years serving Capital Region golfers at three different area clubs. Noel worked as Assistant Professional at Western Turnpike Golf Club in Guilderland and Schulyer Meadows Club in Loudonville before being named the Head Professional at Normanside Country Club in Delmar in 2004. Noel is a lifelong Capital District resident, growing up in Colonie a few blocks from the course as well as obtaining a B.S. from the School of Business at the University at Albany (Class of '93).
Noel gained Class A membership in the PGA of America in 1996. He has been very active in the Northeastern New York PGA throughout his career, serving on the Board of Directors, including as Section President in 2007-2008. Noel has currently moved into national PGA service following his election to the National PGA of America Board of Directors. He will be a sitting Director from November 2016 to November 2019.
A few honors Noel has received along the way include:
- Northeastern NY PGA Teacher of the Year – 2003
- Northeastern NY PGA Horton Smith Award – 2004 and 2005
- Golf Magazine, America's Top Teachers - 2005
- Northeastern NY PGA Golf Professional of the Year - 2009
- Northeastern NY PGA President's Award - 2010
John Risler
John Risler has been the Town's golf course superintendent since March 1999. Prior to coming to the Town, John was the golf course superintendent at Pine Brook Golf Club in Gloversville for ten years. Before that, he was held several positions, including assistant superintendent (1986-1989), at Wolfert's Roost Country Club in Albany from 1980 to 1989. John grew up in the Village of Colonie, and is a 1979 graduate of South Colonie Central HS. He graduated from Paul Smith's College in 1981 with a degree in Forestry, and attended the Winter School for Turfgrass Managers at UMASS Amherst in 1988.
John is a member of the Northeastern Golf Course Superintendents Association (NEGCSA) where he served as a director, treasurer and president. He is also a 25 year Class A member of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA) achieving their certified status in 2003, and has retained this certification through 2018. John also served as a delegate to GCSAA for eight years representing the NEGCSA. He has been married to Susan for 30 years, and together, they have raised three children; Matthew (27), Patrick (24), and Anne (18).