Puglia named new head golf pro at
River Oaks Golf Club

by Robin M. Woolson
Grand Island Dispatch, July 4, 2004

The River Oaks Golf Club has a new head golf professional, Vincent Puglia.

He fills the position that was held by Rob Luthringer.

Before coming to River Oaks, Puglia owned and operated Niagara's Golf Wonderland, an indoor and outdoor practice facility for the last several years.

He is a Class A PGA Professional with vast experience. His accomplishments include Western New York Teacher of the Year for 2001, and earning selection as Golf magazine's top 100 teachers in the United States.

Puglia started in the golf business in 1969 as a caddie at Wanakah Country Club . He then moved into the back room to clean clubs, working his way up in the profession.

"Being in this profession wasn't even an idea I had while growing up," Puglia said. "It was a job to make money as a kid."

A Pro at 17

But Puglia stuck with the job and moved about to a variety of other locations. He became a pro at age 17 and was head pro at Lancaster when he was 22. He has also worked at Bartlett, Brook Lea and Myakka Pines in Florida and locally at what was once known as the Bethlehem Management Club, now the Brierwood Country Club in Hamburg.

While this was not a profession that Puglia thought he would be doing when he was growing up, he said this is how it worked out.

"Everything seemed to just fall into place," he said. "This is all I've done."

As head golf professional, Puglia has a variety of duties, wearing numerous hats.

"I oversee the staff of starters, rangers, club attendants and shop attendants," he said. "I also organize and run club functions, and outside parties."

He has also spent time teaching people when they came to play.

"I love to teach," he said.

Puglia said his job is to service the members.

"You are here to serve the members," he said. "They are here to have fun."

Puglia said the River Oaks Golf Club facility and members are great

Membership Strong

"We also have a strong membership with about 400 people," he said. "And the course is a championship course."

He said that while the economy has been on a downswing, the membership seems to rebounding with the members at the facility.

Puglia said that he is grateful to Frank Grebenc for this opportunity to work at the River Oaks Golf Club facility.

"He is good to work for and very fair," he said. "He's done a lot of good for this course."

There is a special event coming up July 16 at River Oaks.

It will be the first annual Hugeccillo Open, with a noon shotgun start scramble. River Oaks members and three guests can attend as a foursome and play a round of golf. There will be golf, dinner, prizes and surprises as well as there being a hole in 1 on every par 3 for a car. There will also be an opportunity to advance to the National Buick Scramble.

For more information about the Hugeccillo, contact Puglia at 716-773-3337.