A golf course in Central New York, originally built for officers and civilian employees, is set to close at the end of the season. Mohawk Glen Golf Course in Rome, New York, was initially a nine-hole course for those assigned to Griffiss Air Force Base. After the base closed in 1995, a local owner took over the property, but now the course is being permanently closed and the land will be purchased by Oneida County. The decision to close the course comes as the county and Mohawk Valley EDGE work to transform the Triangle Site with a $23 million grant to make it more industry-friendly.
Owner Michael DeSalvio confirmed that Mohawk Glen Golf Course will remain open for the rest of the season, closing once the snow starts falling. However, he emphasized that he will not be selling Delta Knolls Golf Center on Elmer Hill Road. When Griffiss Air Base was still operational, the par-36 course saw heavy play as the base had a self-contained community with its own amenities. After the base closed in 1995, approximately 8,000 jobs and 10,000 people were lost, leading to uncertainty about the future of the area.
State Senate Deputy Minority Leader Joseph Griffo, who served as Rome’s mayor from 1992 to 2003, described Griffiss Air Base as a “city within a city” with all the amenities one would expect in a community. With the closure of the base, the region faced challenges, but the recent growth in commerce has made the land more valuable. DeSalvio had not planned on closing the golf course for a few more years, but the county made an offer that prompted him to reconsider. Despite his initial intentions to keep the course open longer, he acknowledged that it has been a positive experience operating the golf course.
The decision to close Mohawk Glen Golf Course is part of a larger effort to revitalize the Central New York region and make it more attractive for industry. The partnership between the county and Mohawk Valley EDGE, along with the grant for the transformation of the Triangle Site, signals a new chapter for the area. While the closure of the golf course marks the end of an era, it also represents progress in the region’s economic development. As the region continues to evolve, the land that was once home to a golf course will now serve a different purpose.
In conclusion, the impending closure of Mohawk Glen Golf Course in Rome, New York, marks the end of a chapter in the area’s history. The course, originally built for officers and civilian employees of Griffiss Air Force Base, will now be permanently closed as Oneida County purchases the land for future development. Despite the sentimental value attached to the course, the decision to close it is part of a larger effort to transform Central New York and make it more industry-friendly. While the closure may be bittersweet for some, it signifies progress and growth in the region as it looks towards a new future.
