About Us
Friends of Sag Harbor Golf Club
& Barcelona Neck
Golf and the east end of Long Island have always been associated. There are some of the most recognized courses in the country if not the world out here along the Atlantic coast. The most prestigious of these maintain exclusive memberships and command high prices to be a member. We have started The Friends of Sag Harbor Golf Club and Barcelona Neck organization to help perpetuate a small course and the park land that surrounds it. No excluscivity here.
The land is owned by the State of New York, but managed by the Board of the Sag Harbor Golf Club. The State bought the Barcelona Neck property in 1997 which includes the course. The park land is public and open to all, year round, as is the golf course. The club has a rather unique agreement with the state wherein the state gives the club no funding but works as a partner in the budgeting process to add guidance in expense spending.
There are many expenses associated with any golf course. Labor to maintain the actual course. Labor to run the day-to-day operations of scheduling and club house transactions. Machinery to maintain the course as well as the costs of maintaining the club house. We formed this not-for-profit organization in an attempt to augment the shoestring budget of the club and help perpetuate and preserve these valuable assets in the community.
The course dates back to the 1880 when it was basically hand cleared and hand dug by members of the Sag Harbor community. They brought to life a six-hole course. Not until the 30’s were the other three holes added. The oil and sand "greens" remained until the State assumed ownership.
Our efforts will be focused primarily on the course but as the park land surrounding the course is an integral part of the ambiance, we will be making efforts to improve and sustain the wood lands of Barcelona Neck. We are already pursuing solutions to our irrigation system which is only partially completed. We also feel the park attendees should have a better solution to their available parking. Up grades to the club house are being discussed with the state and board members.
Our Mission
By soliciting tax deductable donations from the community we want to help preserve and improve the facilities and lands of the Barcelona Neck State Park in a partnership with the State and the Board of the Sag Harbor Golf Club. We urge all people who love the east end to join in and become a part of this effort.
Board Members
Chris Whitney
I’m a cabinetmaker by trade. I own, along with my son Pat, a small custom cabinet shop in Amagansett where we’ve been for thirty years. I live in the Springs and both my sons attended Springs school and Pat graduated from the East Hampton High School. I’ve been a member of the Springs Fire Department for 30 plus years and still serve on committees there as well as the heavy rescue truck 944. I’ve been a member of the board of the Sag Harbor Golf Club for five years where, along with five other volunteers, try to do our best for the club and its members.
Peter Siris
Peter Siris lived in East Hampton as a baby, while his father was an underwater demolitions expert based in Montauk during WWII.
Peter received a B.A. with Honors from Brandeis University and an MBA with Distinction from Harvard Business School. He continued his doctoral studies at Harvard, where he was a Research Associate at the Harvard University Program on Technology and established HBS’ first inner city economic development program. He also founded a venture capital and investment banking company to finance businesses for disadvantaged minorities.
Peter was a senior executive at several public companies and represented the U.S. government on trade delegations to China. He subsequently worked on Wall Street as a securities analyst and the manager of investment funds.
Peter is the author of books, including a best-selling novel, an investment book that reached #2 on Amazon, and a book in Chinese that was also a best seller. He was a columnist for the N.Y. Daily News for 13 years.
Peter is a founder and Director of Research for “Reform Elections Now,” a nonpartisan organization working to change the political system in the U.S. He has given more than 40 presentations across the U.S.
Peter was recognized in 2109 as “Volunteer of the Year” by the Harvard Business School Club of N.Y. and in 2021 as “One of the 100 Most Responsible Corporate Executives in New York” by City & State.
Peter loves the Sag Harbor Golf Course and Barcelona Neck, believing they are great resources for everyone, not just for the ultra-wealthy.