diff --git a/template/go/Dockerfile b/template/go/Dockerfile
index fe69c770..37078ac4 100644
--- a/template/go/Dockerfile
+++ b/template/go/Dockerfile
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 FROM --platform=${TARGETPLATFORM:-linux/amd64} ghcr.io/openfaas/classic-watchdog:0.2.0 as watchdog
-FROM --platform=${BUILDPLATFORM:-linux/amd64} golang:1.15-alpine3.13 as builder
+FROM --platform=${BUILDPLATFORM:-linux/amd64} golang:1.17-alpine3.15 as builder
 
 ARG TARGETPLATFORM
 ARG BUILDPLATFORM
diff --git a/template/go/go.mod b/template/go/go.mod
index f8c3c1c6..64342319 100644
--- a/template/go/go.mod
+++ b/template/go/go.mod
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 module handler
 
-go 1.15
+go 1.16
 
 replace handler/function => ./function
diff --git a/template/go/template.yml b/template/go/template.yml
index 9b498f89..b4b9f253 100644
--- a/template/go/template.yml
+++ b/template/go/template.yml
@@ -17,12 +17,10 @@ build_options:
       - mysql-client
       - mysql-dev
 welcome_message: |
-  You have created a new function which uses Go 1.15 and the Classic
+  You have created a new function which uses Go 1.17 and the Classic
   OpenFaaS template.
 
-  To include third-party dependencies, use Go modules and use
-  "--build-arg GO111MODULE=on" with faas-cli build or configure this  
-  via your stack.yml file.
+  Go modules is enabled by default.
 
   See more: https://docs.openfaas.com/cli/templates/