An Interview with New York State Supreme Court Justice Gerry Neri
I first met Gerry Neri at the 2017 Penn Masters Golf Championship in Ocean City, Maryland. We had just completed a bitter cold, blustery and difficult round of golf. While most of the field were licking their wounds and complaining, Gerry was all smiles and said he loved the experience. It was inspiring to see Gerry’s positivity in action, and I remember feeling uplifted by his enthusiasm. I knew right then and there he was a special kind of guy. Most of our Table-Hopping readers are aware that he is currently serving as the New York State Supreme Court judge. But we wanted to spend some time with Gerry talking about golf and life away from the courtroom. Enjoy.
DB: Tell us about your younger years in this great game of golf?
GN: So, I played every sport, Basketball, Football and Baseball. But I didn’t golf until I was older, around 40, and I never thought of golf as a sport. I always thought of it as a game. I said if you want to play a sport, then line up across from me on the football field. But golf became my passion once I started playing because I realized this is a hard game and you’re playing against yourself all the time.
DB: When did you first start having success on the course?
GN: Well, I still haven’t had any success in this game (laughs), but I love golf. I think it’s such a good challenge for yourself. Somebody said to me “jeez those are good shots” and I said I don’t really have any good shots, I just try to get to the green. I think the whole game is around putting and chipping.
DB: What makes you so joyful in all different kinds of conditions?
GN: It’s a challenge for yourself, right? So, it was in the Ocean City Penn Masters I remember a lot of guys that were way better than I was, and we were in the final eight. I remember a particular par-3, the winds blowing, the rains coming down, it was blowing at us hard. It was about 200 yards to get to the green and the first two guys are hitting 3-woods and 5-woods and ended up in the water which was right in front. I was the last guy to go up to the tee, which was probably a benefit, and I hit my 7-iron about 140 yards and then I hit another 7-iron and one putted. They go “a 7-iron?” I said well yeah, I wanted to score (laughs)
DB: Tell us about your favorite golf course in Central New York and why?
GN: I do a lot of golfing in Central New York and I belong to Camillus. I love Camillus because I never hit the same shot twice there. It’s hilly so when you hit the ball, you don’t know where it’s going to land, you don’t know where it’s going to be. It’s like playing a different course every time. There are certainly great courses here; Onondaga is a beautiful course, Cavalry Club, Bellevue, Timber Banks. We are so lucky; I was telling somebody the other day that within forty minutes, we have thirty golf courses in Central New York, for a four-to-five-month period of time. We’re so lucky; we’re very lucky.
DB: If you had the chance to play Augusta National, who would be in your foursome?
GN: I’d love to play with Tiger Woods. I wouldn’t have to give him any strokes now that he’s injured (laughs). I want to play with Scheffler, and my favorite person would have been Arnold Palmer, but he’s not here anymore, but I would love to have Jack Nicklaus as our fourth.
DB: Tell us about the greatest round of golf you ever played, where was it and what did you shoot?
GN: Well, I liked winning the Penn Masters that year in Ocean City with my handicap; that was great. I played exceptionally but I didn’t think I really played great. I just thought everybody played bad because the weather was so bad and I grinded it out. My best round of golf was when I shot a 77 over at Green Lakes. It was a lot of fun to be able to get in the 70’s. I get in there every so often, but I’m an 80-85 kind of guy and I like to play at that level, but it’s fun when you can ‘break 80.’
DB: I know you’re very busy with all that you have on your plate, but what else do you like to do with your free time?
GN: Well, this is going to be my forty-fourth year refereeing high school basketball, and it’s a passion. I love reffing. The kids are great, the parents get a little out of hand sometimes, but when you’re on the court talking to the kids, you ask them, “is that your parent that’s yelling right now?” they go “yeah, just ignore them.” It’s the greatest part about it because you get to different schools every night, you get to get on the court. It’s exciting, I mean I like to play sports and stuff, but as you get older you can’t always do what you did in the past, but being a basketball referee is one of my favorite things to do.
DB: What are some of your hobbies and interests outside of golf?
GN: My grand kids are the best hobby that I’ve got. I have six wonderful grand kids. I get to go to their baseball games, football games, equine horse riding and it’s just a pleasure to have them. That’s why one of the things as you get older in life, you must decide what you’re going to do. So, I still haven’t retired, even though people say that you have been in the system for forty-nine years, “why don’t you retire?” But I’ve got my grandkids here, I don’t want to miss anything for them. They are really my hobbies.
DB: How do you want to be remembered?
GN: I was in the police department for a lot of years, I was in the fire department; I want people to remember that I’ve always been fair, impartial and I’ll definitely tell you what I think.
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