Mary Novickas,
General Manager & Director of Golf
A Class "A" Member of the Ladies Professional Golf Association, Mary, in 1979, became the Owner and General Manager of Hillendale after purchasing the course. Her experience in the golf industry aided her in making many changes in the golf operation and her education in agronomy assisted her to make many improvements in the golf course.
Mary dreamed of expanding to an 18-hole layout but had her work cut out for her on the old nine, where she oversaw many years of physical changes as well as aesthetic ones. Hillendale completely turned around under her management, and grew from a 9-hole "not so nice" golf course to the #1 ranked 18-hole golf course in Tompkins County.
In 1989, Mary was finally ready to be the construction contractor for the back nine expansion project. The course was opened to rave reviews in 1991 and continues to be honored by the Ithaca Journal reader's poll each year as the "best golf course in Tompkins County".
The LPGA honored Mary for her hard work and dedication with electing her the 1993 Northeast Section "Professional of the Year". Since 1994, Golf for Woman® magazine has voted Hillendale one the "Top Women Friendly" course in the U.S. In 2001, she was honored with the title of "Mover and Shaker" in the golf industry by Golf for Women® magazine, as one who is "changing the face of golf for the better."
Her 2002 honor really shows the depth of talent this hard working professional has when she was again honored by Golf for Women® magazine as one of the "Top 50 Teachers" in the U.S.
Mary continues to make improvements in the course, clubhouse, and restaurant as well as the entire golf operation.
