LIBERTY — Michael McNamara made a name for himself in the Catskills golf world as superintendent of Grossinger’s Golf Course, and after almost a half-century of overseeing operations, he is retiring. 

McNamara got his start in golf course maintenance when he was 15 years old working under his father Ray McNamara at Homowack Lodge in Spring Glen, NY. From his father, Michael said he learned how difficult maintenance work was. “Because I had all the menial jobs, I started at the bottom,” he said. “So I knew how hard [it was], but how rewarding it can be because you see your work, and if you work hard at it, you see your finished product, and it’s usually pretty good.” 

At first, young Michael was overwhelmed, but after two years, he started to feel at home and began considering it as a potential career. 

In college, McNamara studied turf management at SUNY Delhi, from where he graduated with a two-year degree in 1977. He started at Grossinger’s as a spray technician, and worked his way to assistant superintendent. In January 1984, McNamara earned the superintendent’s position.

Grossinger’s Resort hosted many golf tournaments over the years, and McNamara said it was challenging to maintain the standard that was expected. “We did yearly Met-Golf PGA tournaments, so everyone from the Metropolitan PGA, head pros from all the clubs, would come up. We really had a lot of outings and tournaments,” he said. 

McNamara often rubbed elbows with professional golfers, and he shared a story about when golf legend Jack Nicklaus had some suggestions about the golf course: “How about we start 12 holes instead of 18; we’ll have a 12-hole golf course so everything can move faster, people can get in and get out, it won’t take four or five hours. Let’s make it quicker so people will do it more.” McNamara didn’t say anything at the time but thought to himself, “Hey, we have nine holes now, why not just play nine?”

McNamara said the most meaningful award he ever received was for his work allocating funds for turf grass education. “I hosted a fund-raising event for 16 years for the New York State Turfgrass Association, during that time I was on the board of directors, and for that I was the recipient of the Friends of the Green Industry Award—that’s probably the most prestigious recognition I’ve had.” 

McNamara said he’s proud of his work hosting golf tournaments. “In my first year as superintendent we were still hosting the New York State Open, and that was really rewarding being able to be the superintendent and do that,” he remarked. “That was to me, a great accomplishment. We did a lot of local superintendent outings, we did a lot of Metropolitan PGA outings.” 

When he was assistant superintendent, he worked on the Sullivan County Democrat Tournament that developed at Grossinger’s before moving to the Villa Roma Country Club, where it’s still held today. 

In 1986, Grossinger’s Resort sold the hotel, but the golf course continued operating until 2017, when they demolished the buildings. McNamara said, “We couldn’t continue to operate because the [demolition] was right in the roadway coming in. The clubhouse and the whole hotel complex was taken down. We closed then, and we never reopened.” McNamara was planning on retiring when the resort was recently sold to PPG Development, but the new owners asked him to stay on for 90 days to ensure a smooth transfer. “So I have a couple weeks left,” said McNamara. 

After retiring, McNamara is looking forward to his new life in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, where he and his wife Emily are relocating. “Our first vacation together was in Myrtle Beach back in 1983. We liked the area, searched it out this winter, spent some time there, and went back in July and narrowed it down to a few areas and bought a house,” said McNamara.

With a full career behind him, McNamara said he looks forward to, “sleeping in a little, bike riding, and walking.” He said there will be an opportunity at his new home to do some gardening; “I want to get my own little garden going and spend some time there.” He’s also looking forward to enjoying the beach, which is only a short drive from their new home.

As Michael McNamara reflected on his career and life at Grossinger’s Resort and Golf Course, he highlighted his favorite aspect of the vocation: “One of the best parts of being at a golf course is that early in the morning when you go into work, it is the most serene, beautiful setting there is.”