The following is an excerpt from the Down the Fairways column by Bob Weiner which
appeared in the Schenectady Sunday Gazette on August 23, 2026.
Jon “Bear” Briggs has spent roughly 40 years working in various capacities for Cobleskill
Golf & Country Club. As he prepared for his final season as course superintendent, he
helped give the popular facility a much-needed gift this summer.
With Briggs overseeing the project, Cobleskill G&CC made a huge upgrade by having an
automatic irrigation system installed. That system should make competition even better for
its many members and visitors at this scenic layout.
“The course really needed it,” said the 63-year-old Carlisle native. “Ewing Outdoor Supplies
designed it and Landscapes Unlimited did much of the work. We started May 4 and it was
all completed just after July 4. I’ve been trying to convince people to do this ever since we
put the other nine holes in. This time, we got the right board in place, and everything came
together with the board and the membership. Plus, the whole community helped us out
and the local businesses pitched in. It was a big project financially, but now that it’s up and
running, I already notice a big difference in the greens and the tees. Everything is so much
nicer.”
Briggs said he’s extremely grateful that the project was finished before he retired. “I was
totally flabbergasted that we got it done. It’s a big step for our future,” he said. “We are
approaching 100 years old with our anniversary in 2029. We’ve got to keep up with the
Jones’. I can be sitting right now at my house on the patio and fire up any green. I can get our
whole irrigation system going with a push of a button. We’ve got four different programs
hooked up, so if I want to start the water at 4:30 in the morning, it’s ready to go.
“In the long run, we really needed this, because the system we had in the ground was
approaching 40 years old,” Briggs continued. “I honestly thought I would never see an
automated system here.”
“I enjoyed it so much. I really got into the turf-grass part of it and never left. I love being
outside and I love the challenges, even going back to when we first built the new nine holes.
It’s pretty much been my second home,” he said.
Briggs even ran the club’s restaurant for a couple of years and served as the Cobleskill
G&CC GM for a few seasons. “I did miss a couple of seasons in 2006 and 2007, but then I
came back and have stayed ever since,” he noted. “I’ve been involved here for 40 years, and
I have no regrets. I would do it all again.”
“We’ve got a new assistant who started last year, and he’s going to be ready to take over by
next season.
“I’m probably happier than anybody that we were able to finally get the automated
irrigation system. There were a lot of town meetings and getting permits. It was crazy, but in
the end, it was all worth it.”
I’ve played Cobleskill G&CC a few times over the years and it was always an enjoyable –
and challenging – experience. These improvements should make it even better. Bear Briggs
is a major reason why this course always gets a thumbs up.