homes were built to perpetuate the the dream and vision of Garland..
However, there were a few occasions when his guard was down and those cold and steely eyes that could cut right through you, softened. Those times generally occurred when he was showing off one of his new courses. I remember two such occasions when we jumped into a cart and flew off to see a new course under construction or one that was just about to be launched. He was animated, excited and outwardly happy. Otto was a self taught golf course designer, who learned the
Photo courtesy of Garland Resort
McIntyre also talked of the fishing trips and the family get togethers which created a relationship with Otto that was more than just business. However, at the conclusion of his remarks, he admitted that after all of those years, he still did not know whether Ron Otto really acknowledged him as a friend. He was a puzzle and an enigma for himself and many who had interacted with Otto over the years.
As the stories continued and memories were shared, I thought back upon my own memories of him. While Garland was a long time client of GLSP, I never developed more than a casual relationship with him. Most of the advertising in our Michigan Golfer magazine or funding for one of our Golfing Michigan or Golfing the Great Lakes television shows, was arranged through either Knorr or one of Garland’s employees. Frankly, Otto was not all that enthralled with members of the media, a point he made to me in my presence a number of times.
Garland Resort MICHIGAN GOLFER MAGAZINE
•
SPRING
2012
13