The History of The Silicon Alley Golf Invitational

The first SAGI get together was back in 2004 at a small golf gathering at a local Westchester County golf club.  Four entrepreneurs got together and played 18 holes, drank cool draught beer, and chatted about the industry and life.  It was fun and we decided to do it again.

In 2005, each participant vouched for and invited an additional entrepreneur and this quietly started The Silicon Golf Invitational, or SAGI as it's been affectionately shortened.

Roughly 150 invites go out each year for participation and we get anywhere from 60-100 participants.  Foursomes are selected by Darren Herman based on golf skills, networking, and some super secret algorithm.

Over the years, we have been fortunate to play at prestigious private golf clubs such as St. Andrews, Manhattan Woods, Ardsley Country Club, Centennial, Hampshire, and more.

SAGI Awards are given for best team, worst team, longest drive, closest to the pin, and best dressed.

A few fun facts from SAGI:

  • The "attend" but not golf ticket is called The Steinberg, affectionately named after Jon Steinberg who was the first to ask for this

  • In all of the years of SAGI, it truly only rained in 2014 - while other years gave us teases, 2014 poured.  And we still played

  • AJ Kitner is a force to be reckon with.  If you are lucky enough to be on his team, you have a decent chance of winning

  • Corduroy pants were worn on the course in 90+ degree weather by Nikhil Sethi

  • It is rumored that two digital/ad-tech acquisitions have occurred because of SAGI

  • Most attendees fib about their handicap :)

  • Hot pink pants have been worn on the course and #sagi14 has been written onto golf cleats by Lorne Brown

  • The #sagi15 winning team had two first-year SAGI participants Phil Ardizzone and Sapan Vyas

Past Winners Include:

  • 2010: Kenneth Herman, Alan Laifer, AJ Kintner, Lorne Brown

  • 2011: Kenneth Herman, AJ Kintner, Nikhil Sethi

  • 2012: Matt Minoff, David Doft, Jason Ostheimer, Jason Kelly

  • 2013: AJ Kintner, Steve Farella, Eric Danetz, Rory Maher

  • 2014: Patrick Callinan, Jeff Barrish, Scott Rosenblatt

  • 2015: Phil Ardizzone, Sapan Vyas, Calvin Wong, Chris Hogan

  • 2016: Eoin Townsend, Matthew apprendi, Adam Pauska, Christopher O'Hara

  • 2017: Stuart Coleman, Chris Cunningham, Steven Woolway, AJ Kintner

  • 2018: Phil Ardizzone, Matt Chesler, Richy Classberg, Keith Gooberman

  • 2019: Pete Deutschman, Dan Baker, Matt Tepper, Brian Mitchell

  • 2020: Suspended Due to Covid

  • 2021: Suspended Due to Covid

  • 2022: Suspended Due to Covid

  • 2023: Tom Zombeck, Chuck Gorra, Chris Hogan, and Maikel O’Hanlon