Above: Members of the Montgomery County Sheriff’s office are ready to deploy in a rescue boat during annual prepareedness training at Great Sacandaga Lake, in cooperation with the Hudson River-Black River Regulating District on Wednesday. Right: Members of the Fulton County Sheriff’s office and surrounding emergency service stations look at a computer screen sharing the information from an overhead drone locating two divers treading water.

Practice makes perfect

PETER R. BARBER PGA Professional Scott Warren, left, talks to golfers on the new driving range at Amsterdam Municipal Golf Course Wednesday, June 4, 2025.

Dave LeBlanc of Waterford hits golf balls on Amsterdam Muni’s new driving range June 4.

Golfers tee off at Amsterdam Muni with the new club house in the background at left June 4.

James Diaz has admittedly improved his golf game while participating in a free program for veterans at the Amsterdam Municipal Golf Course, but that’s a secondary benefit of the experience.

“It’s a great program. Getting to meet other veterans, it’s just phenomenal,” Diaz said.

Diaz, of Lake Luzerne, was encouraged to join the PGA Helping Our Patriots Everywhere program by a friend. He isn’t aware of any courses offering the program closer to where he lives and he enjoys playing at Muni anyway.

“It’s a fabulous place. The conditions are first rate, and the people, they’re really special,” Diaz said.

Both Diaz and his brother, Joseph, are veterans of the U.S. Army. Diaz served during peace time, while his brother served in conflicts in Iraq and Iran. Joseph now suffers from PTSD.

It’s a goal for Diaz to bring his sergeant first class brother to join the group of veterans at Muni for a session of the weekly HOPE program the next time he visits from Florida.

“I was just talking to him before I got here, and he’s so happy that there’s programs like this for veterans,” Diaz said. “He’s my hero. I mean, what he went through and what he saw, there’s a reason why we have a free country.”

Officials sought to provide veterans opportunities to engage in physical activity and socialization while deepening their connection with the community with the creation of a new driving range at the Amsterdam Municipal Golf Course.

Funding for the project was administered by the Montgomery County Public Health Department through the state Office of Mental Health and the PFC Joseph P. Dwyer Peer Support Program.

“This new project at the golf course is about more than just golf — it’s about community, healing and appreciation. By creating a welcoming environment tailored to disabled veterans, we are taking meaningful steps to ensure that no one is left on the sidelines. We are deeply grateful for their sacrifices, and this is one way we can give back with purpose,” said Sara Boerenko, director of public and mental health for Montgomery County.

Operations of the driving range are in full swing this season following its late opening last fall. Golfers can buy tokens for buckets of 30 balls at the pro shop. Veterans and active-duty service members receive free tokens by presenting their military identification.

“This has been something that our course has not had, and it’s going to be such a valuable addition to it, to be able to come out here and warm up, but the veterans part of it is the best part,” Mayor Michael Cinquanti said. “It’s a fantastic resource for our course, for our city, but most importantly, for the veterans.”

The designated range provides structure and enhances safety in an area of the course golfers previously used as an informal practice area, hitting their own balls and then walking through to collect them. Range balls are now collected, washed and returned to the dispenser by course staff each night.

It also provides a space for scheduled lessons and a practice area for the PGA Junior League Team introducing local kids to golf skills, etiquette and course play.

The PGA HOPE program has been using the range this season for the six-week program led at Muni by PGA Professional Scott Warren, who is a consultant at the course. Veterans taking part in the free program can build their golf skills or even learn the game from scratch.

“But most importantly, what I’ve learned is that it is a tremendous opportunity for them to meet golf friends and share camaraderie, and that’s really important to them,” said Warren, who also provides an 11-week session of the program indoors in the winter at his local business, SimGolf.

Ernie Langford, of Mechanicville, is another participant in the HOPE program at Muni. He served in the U.S. Air Force from 1981-85.

“It’s a nice........

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