Q&A with Team New York Coaches

Head Coach Anders Mattson and Assistant Coach Nick Novak will guide Team New York.

In early January, 24-players (12 boys/12 girls) were announced as part of the inaugural roster for Team New York – a state junior team that’s part of the USGA’s U.S. National Development Program. Two coaches were also appointed: Anders Mattson, owner and founder of AndersMattsonGolf based out of Saratoga Springs, as head coach and Nick Novak, director of instruction at The Apawamis Club in Rye, as assistant coach.

Mattson and Novak both shared their outlook on the first year of Team New York during a recent Q&A:

What interested you in the opportunity to coach Team New York?

Anders Mattson: I first engaged with the USGA when they announced the National Development program a few years ago. The information I was receiving immediately piqued my interest, as I have a passion for junior golf and this seemed like an avenue I wanted to pursue. I then reached out to Andrew Hickey at the NYSGA and they already had a timeline in place, so we communicated fairly regularly, which helped place my name in the hat for the head coach job.

What the USGA was delivering with the National Team and the prospects of carrying that onto the state level was fairly seamless to what I do at my Academy every day. We take a holistic approach to the game and all our students, and now we are able to pass that along to these 24 players. Representing NYS is a huge honor - one that I will not take lightly and will be sure to pass that importance along to our players as well.

Nick Novak: I’ve always felt a responsibility to pay forward what this game has given me. Golf has opened doors in my life because of the people who invested in me, believed in me, and gave me opportunities when I needed them most. Volunteering and helping young players chase their goals is something I genuinely love doing.

When this opportunity came along, it felt aligned with everything I care about: working with motivated juniors, giving back to the game, and being part of something that could influence the future of player development. The idea of contributing to a USGA-backed program that’s trying to rethink and improve the junior development model was compelling. It felt like a natural extension of the work I’m already deeply invested in.

What are you looking forward to in your role with the team?

AM: Since this is only a couple months old, I have yet to meet many of the players on the team. I have a few that are local to my area and academy, and have been following many of their names across the junior tournament landscape, but have yet to meet in person. So, what I am most excited for is meeting them, getting to know them and finding out how I can help them pursue their goals. New York isn’t the biggest state, but we do have players from Buffalo to the eastern end of Long Island – a fairly large geographic reach and an enormous population base, which will be exciting to mesh together as one unified team.

I know that Nick and I are really amped up to get together and start working with these players and offer them what they need on the golf course, but also to help them network with one another. This group, especially, will always be able to say they were part of the first Team New York!

NN: More than anything, I’m looking forward to coaching the kids. Being on the course with them. Watching them compete. Taking notes. Seeing how they respond under pressure. Getting to know who they are beyond the scorecard. I’m a teacher and coach at heart, and building relationships with athletes is the foundation of everything I do.

I’m also excited about the “gap support” aspect of this role, identifying what each athlete needs and helping fill that space. For some it may be course management, for others mindset, structure, or simply another set of experienced eyes. Long-term player development is complex, and I’m energized by being part of a collaborative effort to shape what that can look like when done intentionally.

Do you have any specific goals for the team this year?

AM: We currently have a two-day camp at Turning Stone as well as a two-day match against Massachusetts scheduled at Hudson National. These are our only in-person opportunities, so obviously really earmarking those on the calendar. Leading up to that, we are doing some work to help our communication platforms, stat analysis and scheduling. It is our first year, so as we iron out some of the logistics, I think we will all learn how to best operate this team. It will be a little challenging as much of what we do will be remote in nature, but as we start flowing, we are keen on having the players get together at their tournaments for practice rounds, meals, and other opportunities to gather cooperatively. There will be a strong message from Nick and I that we are often playing this game individually, but we are ultimately all on the same team. The motto: “If I don’t win, I hope it’s you” will be a main point that we relay to our players.

NN: Year one is about building the foundation. If we can provide meaningful resources, structure, and accountability for these athletes, and refine how we serve them along the way, that’s a win. I’d love for each player to finish the year feeling more supported, more self-aware, and more confident in their development plan than when they started.

This first season is about learning, listening, and sharpening how we can best be of service. If we do that well, performance outcomes will follow.

There was a welcome call after the team’s announcement in January — what was the excitement like on that call?

AM: That call was great - very well received and participation was nearly full. It was my first opportunity to fully communicate with the team, so it was great to see the faces on the call and start the explanation process of what it means to be a part of Team New York. There are obviously still some question marks as the program is so new, but we are very confident that we have a quality group of players and it will be amazing to get some clubs in their hands and start interacting with one another. So, as far as zoom calls go, I would say it was a resounding success.

NN: There was a real sense of pride in the room, even through Zoom. For many of these juniors, this was the first time they’ve been selected to something bigger than themselves. In golf, earning an invitation or making a team is a big deal. Being connected to a state team that ties into the USGA pipeline makes that even more meaningful.

There was nervous energy, excitement, and a shared understanding that this was earned. We wanted to reinforce that, that they’ve worked hard, that they deserve to be there, and that we’re here to help them continue moving forward. It felt like the beginning of a journey, together.

What have you enjoyed most about working with juniors during your career?

AM: Junior golfers are a population that I have organized my whole business model around. We like to say we are a Kids First facility. The times we offer for the junior programs are often more desirable times for adults, so we have basically flipped the model and only allow kids after school and on weekend mornings. I am very proud of this, and hope that it can be a pilot for other facilities.

I fear that the junior population often isn’t on the forefront of many decisions in the golf world, so I do my best to represent them when I can. And the reason being, they are fun! They are willing to listen and learn and are always willing to play games and compete. The juniors bring energy to our studio every day, and we understand the importance of educating them the right way in the best interest of the future of the game.

One of our latest initiatives is to make sure all our players prioritize sportsmanship over gamesmanship. Golf can be a wonderful avenue to teach life lessons, and we feel the junior population is our best chance at moving the game forward in the right direction.

NN: Watching them grow as people. The golf is great. The wins are fun. The scholarships are special. But what fulfills me most is seeing them develop resilience, discipline, and a growth mindset.

I love watching a junior commit to a process, push through adversity, and start to believe in themselves in ways they didn’t before. Seeing them “blossom,” whether that’s on the course, in the classroom, or in life, is incredibly rewarding. If I can play even a small role in helping them spread their wings, that means everything to me.

What type of impact do you think such a program/team can have on a junior?

AM: I am huge fan of team golf. Humans, especially kids, desire to belong to something, and it is tricky to satiate that in an individual sport such as golf. Many junior golfers will not experience team golf until they get to college, and this program will accelerate that learning curve, so they are more prepared for that transition. I am also confident that having an opportunity to play your way onto this team will motivate players to commit to junior golf in New York.

I am extremely optimistic that this program will evolve over time in an incredibly positive way. The blueprint is there to give the best possible benefits to this team, and our hope is that we continue to receive generous offers from facilities such as Turning Stone and Hudson National to provide access. Junior golf and the game of golf are headed in the right direction with this program, and I couldn’t be more excited to help foster it along.

NN: I think the impact can be profound. When you combine structure, access, coaching, accountability, and support around an athlete who is already committed and driven, the ceiling becomes very high. Many talented juniors plateau not because they lack ability, but because they lack proper resources.

If we approach this with the proper mission: putting the junior first, understanding their goals, and genuinely asking, “How can we help you reach your dreams?”, then the long-term implications are powerful. If we do this right, we won’t just develop better golfers. We’ll help develop stronger, more prepared young adults.

Anders Mattson, owner and founder of AndersMattsonGolf based out of Saratoga Springs, will serve as head coach, focusing on mentorship, competitive preparation, and culture-building for the program. Mattson is a three-time Northeastern NY PGA Teacher of the Year and served as director of instruction at Saratoga National Golf Club prior to launching his own academy in 2019. He also serves as an assistant coach for Skidmore College’s golf program.

Nick Novak, the director of instruction at The Apawamis Club in Rye, will be an assistant coach for the program, aiding in player engagement and program delivery. Novak was included on Golf Digest’s Best Young Teachers list for 2025-26 and in 2022 earned the Player Development Award from the Met PGA.

Team New York Contact Information

Inquiries about Team New York, including Points List submissions and eligibility questions, can be directed to:

• Contact: Jack Corcoran, Team New York Administrative Lead
• Email: teamny@nysga.org
• Phone: 315-471-6979