Wanna read how the Albany Open got its' start?
Here's how it came to be - as told by Mr. Bill Huff at the banquet
of the 25th Anniversary tournament.
Back in 1972 on the way back from the Hollander Home
tournament in Rochester NY, the founders of the Albany Open
made a stop at the Diplomat Bar in Utica, NY. It was there
that they decided they could run a tournament in Albany. (Typical
handball players - had to stop for beer on the way back
from a tournament.)
The first year of the Albany Open was 1973 and it was held at the
downtown YMCA in Albany on 4 courts with just one division. There
were 55 players in attendance that first year, which grew to 56 in the
second, and to 80 players in the third year. The original directors
of the tournament were some of Albany's finest players and legends:
Bill Huff
Dick Van Patten
Sal Pirri
George Bruda
Pat Riley
Joe Early
George Wheeler
This group ran it from its inception in 1973 until 1986. Following that
were a succession of Directors:
George Degonzague : 1987
Ed Miller : 1988 - 1991
Ed Miller / Jim Giner : 1992 - 1994
Jim Giner / John Dziark : 1995 - 2004
In 1979, the Y hosted 108 players, still in one division, and STILL
playing on only 4 courts.
In 1982 the tournament finally outgrew the old YMCA and moved to East Greenbush
to be hosted by Club East with its larger facilities.
In 1983 the Open made its debut at the Colonie Court Club and hosted a
Pro stop that year. It is still hosted there, over 20 years later.
For a view of the past winners of the Albany Open see the link on the
home page of the website.
If you have any notes or contributions to the above info, feel free to
email me with whatever you have.