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Michigan Golf Journal

A Vote of Thanks!

This incredibly grateful editor/publisher of the Michigan Golf Journal heard some very encouraging news recently and I have all our faithful readers to thank for it. Michigan Golf Journal received the most votes of ALL golf media outlets across the state in a golf consumer survey conducted by the West Michigan Golf Show. A question on its survey included: “What Golfing Media do you enjoy?” Survey respondents could pick multiple choices.

The Michigan Golf Journal earned the most votes of all golf media outlets in Michigan – going up against Michigan’s other golf publications, plus golf TV and radio shows, a golf podcast and write-in votes. The votes this year for MGJ were double the percentage this magazine received in the

same survey in 2019, which means there is solid growth. The overall top votes went to Golf Digest, The Golf Channel and Golf Magazine – but Michigan Golf Journal led all Michigan golf media outlets, and also received more than double the number of votes cast for GolfWeek. It sounds like too little to simply say ‘thank you everyone’ but it’s what I have to give – and even more incentive now to keep providing the best golf news and variety we can. Sincerely, Tom Lang Publisher/Editor

What’s Inside: 09

And Baby Makes 3

Women and Diversity in Action

Cover story: Saving the Local Golf Course

A Fan-Less Rocket Mortgage Classic

Revisiting Boyne Highlands

Michigan Tournament Results

Arcadis Bluffs: A Woman’s Perspective

The Truth About Green Speed

Michigan Golf PGA Tour inJournal Reach

A Change in Plans

Donnie Trosper’s Success Leads to New Adventures on the PGA Tour By Tom Lang

It’s funny how success can alter even the best laid-out plans. That happened to Canton resident Donnie Trosper in the fall of 2019. His college golf eligibility was used up after one season (2018-19) on the golf team at Michigan State after playing three years at University of Central Florida (UCF). Yet he was still taking classes at MSU and on track to graduate this spring of 2020. He decided to try the Korn Ferry Tour Q-School in November, with All-Big Ten awards and the MSU all-time season scoring record of 71.37 stuffed comfortably in his back pocket. He played well, scoring under par in every round in every stage to earn his KF Tour card with limited status, all while trying to keep up with the few remaining college classes and playing in Monday qualifiers of the PGA Tour’s Florida Swing in the winter. Long story short, golf shut down due to Covid-19. So,

when pro golf returned to action in June, he made the best of it. The former Canton High player Monday qualified for two consecutive PGA Tour events – first for the Rocket Mortgage Classic at Detroit Golf Club, then for the

Workday Charity Open, the first of the two PGA Tour events staged at Jack Nicklaus’ Muirfield Village. After missing the cut in Detroit, he didn’t pout. Instead, he fired back to win the second consecutive

August 2020 www.michigangolfjournal.com

Monday qualifier with a sizzling 62, his career best competition score. He then had a practice round with Ryder Cup player and Masters champion Patrick Reed. “A lot of media can of make him out as a bad guy, but actually he was one of the nicest guys out there,” Trosper said.

Double Down on Bucket-List Golf

Unfortunately, a couple days later at Muirfield Village, Trosper missed the cut again. Fortunately, he knows exactly why, and he vows to make the right changes. “Definitely an up and down rollercoaster,” he said in reference to feeling the high of Monday qualifying for the greatest golf Tour on the planet, to the lows of missing both cuts just a few days later. “But the main thing I realized was that the Monday qualifiers, I’m fresh and ready to go for the week, so I get off to a good start on Mondays, but then I get there and go through practice rounds and I learned that it really wears your body down. So, the next step that I’m taking is I’m getting a trainer to improve my endurance out there. That’s really what cost me a lot, especially at Detroit. I was a little run down out there.” Trosper humbly admitted that he hasn’t paid enough attention to physical workouts since leaving college golf, and it showed up in the summer heat while trying to ‘get to the weekend’ as they say on the Pro Tours. He got some workout advice from his Detroit playing partner, PGA Tour winner Cameron Champ, who like many regulars on Tour have publicly talked about using the Covid-19 break to exercise more. Trosper isn’t talking about a Bryson DeChambeau-type body remodeling, just simply improving his physical endurance.

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Michigan Golf PGA Tour inJournal Reach

good indoor facilities in the north make it just as good or better than playing in the south, with more nighttime practice and other options and features to make it fun. “If coach (Casey Lubahn) would let me just live at the facility right now, I would say yes. It’s PGA Tour quality.” Trosper is assured he will finish his degree at MSU; he’s only a few classes short. But in the short term he wants to see how many more Monday qualifiers and Korn Ferry Tour events he can get into yet this year. He’s Got the Credentials: Trosper has been traversing upward his entire career. As a standout at Canton High School, where he was voted all-state Division 1 all four years, his Junior career hit a huge milestone in 2014. He won four American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) events that season, tying for second alltime in wins in a single season, with Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson no less. In 2015 he finished high school state finals runner up to current MSU player Andrew Walker, then headed off to UCF for

college, admittedly because he thought playing in a southern state would be an advantage. But disagreements with his coach there led to a return to Michigan for one last season of eligibility. “I wanted to prove my coach at UCF wrong, first off, because he said I wasn’t going to be a Tour player basically, that I had to fix my swing, but my swing was fine. A reason I came back and went to Michigan State was the awesome golf facility,” Trosper said. Other northern golfers he respects told him

“I know there’s going to be ups and downs,” he said about his first half a year as a pro golfer. “I wasn’t expecting any PGA Tour starts this year. To get that experience is great. “I definitely was feeling it though (missing the cut again), coming home from Ohio – it was for sure one of my lowest points that I’ve been at, and I’ve learned from that. I’ve been at a way lower place before and I know all it takes is just get up and get going and move on. “And I’m excited for what’s to come.” MGJ

Baby Comes First

4:00 a.m. Text Message Interrupts Team Match Play in Lansing By Mark Meyer

Nate and Craig Davis

Brothers Craig and Nate Davis had just won their quarterfinal match in the Greater Lansing Amateur Golf Association’s annual two-man, 32-team event at Hawk Hollow on July 11, and already were looking forward to the next day’s semifinal rematch at Eagle Eye against defending champions Andrew Tindall and Justin Welton. A year ago, with dusk fast approaching, Tindall and Welton defeated the Davises on the 23rd hole of their championship match at Eagle Eye. “A great match, back and forth the whole way,” Craig Davis recently said. “We were excited about having a chance to play them again.” Early Saturday evening the Davis brothers left the course, got something to eat

Winners Justin Welton (left) and Andrew Tindall

and then headed for their respective homes. Craig was awakened at 4 a.m. Sunday by a brief, but eye-opening text from Nate: “Hey, buddy, you’re on your own today. My wife went into labor.” Not exactly the way Craig had planned to start his Sunday morning, but the show had to go on, and this was an event that had produced memorable moments for him over the past three summers. In 2018, Craig and Nate were runners-up to brothers Nate and Nick Gunthorpe of Ovid; and in last year’s semifinals, Craig aced the par-3, 17th island hole at Eagle Eye to highlight a come-frombehind victory. His semifinal solo mission on July 12 went well for about 12

holes until a wayward drive caught the water on No. 13, opening the door for Tindall and Welton to secure a 3 and 2 victory. “I had only conceded one hole and had nearly evened the match at 12, but then things got away from me,” Craig said. Meanwhile, back at the hospital, young William Davis entered the world happy and healthy – 10 days earlier than expected. “Nate had been staying close to home (during the last few weeks of his wife’s pregnancy) and the doctors had said things were right on schedule,” Craig said. “I guess his son had other plans.” MGJ

MichiganOceana Golf Journal Saving Golf Club

Native Son Returns to Rescue Local Golf Course Oceana Golf Club Now a Shining Star in West Michigan By Tom Lang

Jason Wenk simply couldn’t stand by and watch another small-town Michigan golf course succumb to economic struggles. Especially a place in the hometown where he grew up, laughing and playing with friends and – more importantly – learning the same virtues from the game of golf that have led him to great rewards in life.

Local golf courses mean so much to thousands of people across the state – a gathering place in open green spaces, recreation for good health and well-being, charitable and economic support in the community, socializing with friends, and making new ones. All of the above and more are why small-town golf courses are critical to communities.

Wenk agrees. So, he simply wanted to take part of his personal, financial success and put it back into saving the Oceana Golf Club in Shelby, north of Muskegon. At the end of last year, Wenk purchased the course’s debt from the local bank because everything was about to fold in on itself, and the course – built by hand by the local townspeople of

August 2020 www.michigangolfjournal.com

Covid-19 pause in golf. New items or updates in 2020 alone include:

Shelby and Hart almost 60 years ago – was dangerously close to becoming a statistic for closed courses. “As a kid, the biggest love of my life growing up was golf,” Wenk said recently. “The best things in my life that happened, happened around golf courses. Even as a kid, to learn the ability to communicate with an adult – and learning to become a gentleman is something you can do on a golf course. The old guys would put you in your place if you were helicoptering a golf club into a tree or cussing or something. You learn little things. Courtesy. Replacing divots. Fixing ball marks. These are all small

• All new maintenance equipment and updated golf carts • New water irrigation lines on six holes with the remainder to come within the year; all automated to be controlled by a cell phone app things, but they are so important.” An Investment Well Made: Oceana Golf Club (which is 10% member owned but is open to the public) has gone through a huge transition since before, and during, the

• New drainage on the 1st and 9th holes, which had those holes closed for construction all this season until re-opening mid-July • Spruced up clubhouse with fresh paint, new carpet and furniture, and improved bathrooms

MichiganOceana Golf Journal Saving Golf Club

“We used to have cattails growing in the middle of the 9th fairway because it was so wet, and we couldn’t mow it,” GM and head golf pro Marc Inglis said about why the course suffered in recent years and why new investment was needed. Fixing the drainage issues early this year was just a start. “We had to take a few steps back in order to take steps forward,” Wenk said about the infrastructure changes to the land. He added that something as simple as the irrigation cell phone app allows head superintendent

Corey Parmalee, a former high school golf teammate to Wenk, be with his family in the evenings instead of running back to the course to manually operate the pumps. “Jason came along and gave us the tools to improve,” Inglis said. “The morale here with the staff is through the roof. Honestly, if Jason did nothing else from here on out, we’d be very satisfied. The morale is up, our staff size is up so the responsibilities are more spread out, to where we can get things done now.

“Everyone (who visits) sees the difference for sure, whether they are a member or just come here once. The response has been ‘we love what we see. Congratulations on all the changes.’ But it’s the members that need the congratulations, the people who have put in all the sweat equity for 60 years, and made it survive this long.” Playing Oceana: I recently played the course and was impressed. It still needs some improvements but that will come in time. Wenk not only paid off the

August 2020 www.michigangolfjournal.com

Hole 10

bank debt last year, he put at least $200,000 into the course this year with another $200,000 pledged for 2021. First and foremost, the greens are in excellent condition. None of them are too flashy and they range from small to medium compared to other courses, but the slight breaks can give even the most experienced golfer some fits. The par 5 No. 5 (cover photo) is my vote for signature hole. From all ground level tee boxes it turns left to right, straightens, then turns right

again at 150 yards out. But take the long ride up the hill about 90-100 feet in elevation and the back tees are only 30 yards longer than the white tees; yet being so high in the air and to the left, the first turn in the fairway is taken out. Your ball will fly longer, and you’ll LOVE the view of the hole and surrounding countryside. Several holes have blind shots due to the rolling hillsides, and are especially noticeable from the tee boxes at the No.7 drivable par 4, and the par five 10th hole, which traverses up and

over two huge ridges and through two deep valleys to an elevated green. Holes 13 and 15 also have perched greens on the same ridge that holds up No. 10 green, with a forest as the backdrop on all three. Very few sand traps and little water in play makes for a nice routing for all members of the family or group, no matter what the skill level. A look Back: One cattle farmer’s bad luck turned good luck for golfers in the remote region in the 1960s – when area golf Continues on next page >>

MichiganOceana Golf Journal Saving Golf Club

enthusiasts united to create their own local, 9-hole golf course.

nine was designed by local residents Herbert Shinn and Earl Danville.

The community group formed, designed and built the Oceana Golf Club to become the first golf course in Oceana County, north of Muskegon. In 1961 the organizers bought 75 acres located between the two towns. Most of the land was Ollie Satterlee’s cattle pasture.

“They never had a real plan or anything,” Wyns once told member Fred Inglis. “They just strolled through the property and Shinn would outline hole by hole on a small scratch paper. He had a knack for seeing something that wasn’t there and draw up fairways and greens.”

“I think my dad was glad to sell it,” said Doug Satterlee. “We didn’t have much luck with that farm. One time we had four cows hit by lightning.”

Local farmers, excavation, trucking, and landscaping companies donated time and equipment. Men and women volunteers put in hundreds of hours of sweat equity.

The late Gordie Wyns was another charter member of OGC. He once said the front

In 1964 OGC became the first 18-hole course within a 30mile radius of Shelby.

The Here and Now: The 39-year-old Wenk lives in Venice, California and has made a fortune as developer of several successful financial investment corporations. He is now busy as founder and CEO of the recently launched Altruist Corporation in the Los Angeles area, with no intention of operating the day to day duties of his hometown golf course. Wenk played golf at Shelby High in the late 1990’s and said the program was top10 in that era for quite a while. He truly hopes the rejuvenated Oceana Golf Club can once again be a magnet to draw in today’s youth and families.

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August 2020 www.michigangolfjournal.com

18th green: JBowmanPhotography

“For us kids back then our golf course was our sanctuary,” Wenk said. “It kept us out of trouble, and it was a special place. I tell people I owe my life’s work to the fact that I played a game when I was young and what I learned from that game. It gave me the tools to be successful in other things.

you go away doesn’t mean you can’t come back and do something meaningful in your hometown.”

do you guys want to do it, when do you want to do it, what’s the most important to you?’

Head pro Marc Inglis summed up 2020 so far, this way:

“I hope the kids in Shelby schools today will look at this and realize that just because you come from a small town doesn’t mean you can’t do big things. And just because

“He’s got a vision and ideas and a plan for things to get done…. Today we went around and put together a 5-year plan with him for projects. He just asked, ‘how

“Just talking about it, the hairs on my arm come up,” Inglis explained. “I get emotional about it; I get all choked up. It’s a weird feeling I haven’t had before. It’s so easy to talk to and work with Jason. He’s not arrogant, he wants to do the best for his community, and he has.

“Jason’s most often used answer when we have a question is: ‘I’ll differ that to your guys.’

“People are seeing it, and we’re just in the early stages.” MGJ

Editor’s Note: OGC member and Shelby High golf coach Fred Inglis (a former California TV sports reporter) contributed to this story and wrote the first two pieces in this series dating back to February.

MichiganHighlands Golf Journal Boyne

Boyne Highlands Resort Revisited By Tom Lang

As the only golf media in Michigan that covered all three days of match play at the 109th Michigan Amateur at The Heather Golf Course at Boyne Highlands Resort, I was given plenty of opportunity to be reminded of why Boyne is such a great place for not just golf, but all sorts of activities for families, couples and friends. Whether it be golf and more golf, or biking trails, riding Segways, lawn games near the Main Lodge, swimming, horseback riding or ziplines

and more, Boyne Highlands is a great retreat. What really caught my eye that week was the number

of bicycles – both for causal riders and those onsite to experience more extreme trails going down and around the mountain side. The bikes

August 2020 www.michigangolfjournal.com

almost outnumbered golf bags in late June. My wife and I took the chairlift ride to the top of the mountain, as did others, but with their bikes attached. We found cool trails where the beautiful vistas started. She is a former BMX rider as a teenager, but at our current ages we just admired the wonderful views. While snow skiing was the initial draw to Boyne Highlands many decades ago, golf has been strong and solid since The Heather was opened in 1966 and started the Up North golf phenomenon that has drawn national attention for our state. Ever since, Boyne has added lots of cool activities for everyone in the family to enjoy. My first trip to Boyne Highlands in was in 2006, then again in 2011 (for the 100th playing), both times to cover the Michigan Amateur. Those adventures and a few others since have allowed me to try out all 10 of Boyne Golf’s courses, except for The Moor. This year, I played it and found it very refreshing. The Moor has a reputation from ‘bombers’ as being too short, but just because some golfers might leave their

driver in the bag (I didn’t because I’m not a ‘bomber’) doesn’t mean they won’t have a great time. I did. I liked holes 5-7 the most on the front nine. Hole 5 goes over a small ridge off the tee, then turns left a little downhill to a large green. Hole 6 is a slightly uphill par 3 to a green that’s guarded by a sand bunker that’s as large as the green. Hole 7 is a par 4 that starts by aiming your tee shot between two large trees that resemble football goalposts, before a hard-right turn to the green. The Heather (2019 National Golf Course of the Year), along with The Hills (my personal favorite), the Donald Ross Memorial and The Moor make up a quad of courses that can be squeezed into a weekend if needed,

or can fill an entire week of never-boring replays. This year, Boyne Highlands added the latest TrackMan 4 technology for club fitting and lessons at the BOYNE Golf Academy. Through three years of research and engineering, the TrackMan 4 became the most powerful and accurate golf launch monitor ever designed. It gives the Boyne staff the latest tools in pinpointing every aspect of a golfer’s set up and swing to exercise the greatest potential for meaningful game improvement. Like many national awards Boyne has received from numerous media sources, the Boyne Highlands was named in 2015 by Golf.com readers as the best U.S. Golf Resort for Value. Check it out at: www. boynegolf.com. MGJ

Michigan Golf Journal A Woman’s Perspective

The Best Round of My Life A woman’s perspective on Arcadia Bluffs Guest Column by Jennifer Hammond Fox 2 TV Sports Reporter

I was dabbing the sweat carefully away from my brow well before my foot even hit the pedal to pull up to the first tee, and it wasn’t just the piercing sunshine of another beautiful Northern Michigan summer day. Granted it was more than 90 degrees during my most recent trip to the picturesque Bluffs course at Arcadia, but the thrill of playing one of the most intimidating and intriguing courses in the Midwest had my adrenaline pumping. The description alone of the par-five, 355 yard (from the forward tees) opening hole evokes nervous energy for

even the most experienced golfer, which I considered myself as I embarked on my third trip around the rolling fairways of the course that flirts along the shoreline of Lake Michigan. Playing with a foursome of ladies raised the bar for all of us to rip our best shot off the first tee - with the starter watching on curiously. Great

success; we all put our first ball into the gently bending fairway and we were on our way. There is plenty about this course that intimidates to be sure, however, if you are able to look past the threat of the cavernous bunkers staring you down on numerous occasions, it’s a course that ushers in confidence Continues on page 20 >>

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Michigan Golf Journal A Woman’s Perspective

with large greens that are welcoming for strong iron play if you can keep your ball straight. For two of the four women in our group this was their first time playing at Arcadia Bluffs and you can bet there were some nerves to begin with - especially for Diane, who as an experienced golfer managed to find the bunker on three of the first five holes. Undeterred, she maintained the smile on her face throughout the round and was equally blown away by the vistas and challenge that this one of kind pure Michigan course provided. On this particular day, I had it all working with some wellplaced and deep drives from start to finish that found neither sand nor heather – a rarity for me with a handicap of 25.1, down three points since May. My shot of the day came on the beautiful par three 17th where I clubbed up and ripped a 150-yard tee shot with my driver to land just 12 feet below the hole. While I was disappointed not to sink the birdie putt, it was rewarding enough to escaped with a par on this unforgiving, uphill two-tiered

green that is surrounded by heather. By the time we completed our round, Jamie and I had both posted career best rounds of 94 (with no mulligans) and 95 respectively, while Diane and Pam vowed that we would return so they could break 100 the next time around. From the undulating fairways and blind tee shots to the slippery elevated greens, the Bluffs course is intimidating to be certain. Yet what saved all of us on this steamy, but calm Thursday was a positive demeanor and plenty of support for one another and yes, a few John Daly’s – thanks to David the starter for bringing four fresh ones out

to us on 13 after the beverage cart had been put away for the day. This is a course that provides more than 700 yards advantage on the front nine for women playing from the forward tees without diminishing the challenge and reward of playing smart. Grab your clubs and put together your favorite foursome and make the trek to scenic Arcadia where you’ll experience one of the most breathtaking and strategic rounds of golf in the state. It is an amazing place to visit and to spend a weekend away with the girls. Cheers from the 19th hole! MGJ

Women and Diversity in Action

Blazing a Trail for Female – and Diverse – Golfers By Renee T. Walker

A special group of AfricanAmerican female golfers from metro Detroit started the Tee-Set Golf Club in 1979 to share their passion for golf, introduce young people to the game and challenge the status quo. Tee-Set continues to thrive today, poised to reach even greater achievements. The founders grew the organization by inviting friends to become charter members. The group then drew on its influence to improve playing conditions and access to public golf courses for women and people of color. From protesting to supporting the creation of women-focused golf organizations such as the Michigan Women’s Golf Association, Tee-Set members have continued their legacy of growing the game and providing educational opportunities via scholarships to deserving

Photos – by David Dalton

high school and college students. In 1980, they established a junior golf program to introduce students to the sport and provide instruction and course etiquette training. Going beyond the game, Tee-Set programs often instill important life skills. The club’s program model is frequently cited

as a standard for similar programs. Founding member Arlena Franklin, now in her 90s, is proud of Tee-Set’s longevity and the 40-plus year legacy she and her friends spurred. “When we began the club, we never thought or imagined our efforts would continue to inspire women golfers and encourage young

Michigan and Golf Diversity Journal in Action Women

to commemorate that pioneering history, reaffirm the club’s mission and inspire the next generation of women golfers. It also provided an opportunity for Franklin to experience firsthand the legacy she helped create. “An important part of our legacy is the highly professional, extremely talented and diverse club membership who are extraordinary leaders in their respective fields,” says Juanita Reid, 2019 Tee-Set president. “We are dedicated to fulfilling the club’s mission and to supporting young people in their educational and golf pursuits.”

people to golf 40 years later,” she says.

at notable golf courses around the area.

Staying the Course

Ultimately, they were driven — as members remain today — to challenge myths and misconceptions about golf being a male sport and not for women, especially those of color.

Their endeavor was not without obstacles. Tee-Set founders constantly faced difficulty securing tee times at public courses and had to prove themselves. Over time, they changed the perception of women, and African-American female golfers were invited to play

A celebration event for the club’s 40th anniversary last year provided a unique opportunity

Several key characteristics shared by Franklin and many current Tee-Set members are an affinity for the game, a desire to engage both young people and women, and a steadfast commitment to learn and play by the rules of golf and host competitive events for women. “Going forward, we will recommit ourselves to maintaining the Tee-Set Golf Club as a continuing force in golf for women in general and minority women in particular throughout

August 2020 www.michigangolfjournal.com

As the next chapter unfolds, the Tee-Set Golf Club’s trailblazing legacy will be continuing to inspire future generations of golfers, expanding its community of women golfers, erasing the stereotypical view of female and diverse golfers that is still prevalent today, and continuing to challenge the status quo. southeastern Michigan,” says Inez Bridges, 2020 Tee-Set President and Sponsorship Coordinator for the Golf Association of Michigan. “While upholding our founding

creed and ideology, we are dedicated to growing our membership, continuing to host competitive golf events and providing a welcoming environment for likeminded women golfers.”

For more information or to inquire about membership, send an email to Membership Chair Gloria Walker Larkins at: gwalkerlarkins@gmail.com or President Inez Bridges at: imbridges@aol.com. MGJ

Michigan Golf Journal A Look Back at the Rocket

Observations of a Fan-Less Rocket Mortgage Classic By Tom Lang

Most PGA Tour players just called it ‘different.’ Others said they truly missed the fans and the cheers (but likely not the jeers), while still other pros might have actually played better without all the background noise and distractions outside the ropes. To this media person, it just didn’t feel right – but that didn’t make it wrong. Keeping with the promise to shield PGA Tour players from Covid-19 via a ‘bubble’, the PGA Tour and staff of the 2nd annual Rocket Mortgage Classic did their job very well. If Governor Whitmer or any of her self-anointed public watch dogs were looking for slip ups, there were none to be found. Based on the two most important factors, fans watching on TV were generous with their call-in donations for charity – and

they were entertained with a golf ball-bullying winner, Bryson DeChambeau, crushing his Titleist golf balls into submission all week. The 26-year-old pro won by coming from three strokes back in the final round – with long bombs that missed most fairways and gouged out wedges onto many greens – to capture the title at 23-under par. He edged out Matthew Wolff,

the third-round leader, who finished at 20-under. Tournament play was just as entertaining live on site to the select few of us media – only about two dozen of us, not counting the CBS TV crews – who were allowed on the grounds of the Detroit Golf Club to bring you the results. The Detroit tournament of course took a change in

August 2020 www.michigangolfjournal.com

direction when Covid-19 hit back in March. Not only was the tournament pushed back on the calendar form May to July, but the pandemic shined a very bright light on a number of underlying issues in the City of Detroit – Internet accessibility being one of the most severe. Too many residents are caught in a ‘digital divide’ that excludes them from education and employment opportunities, among other things. Detroit currently ranks as the least Internet connected city in America (of those with more than 100,000 households),

including devices for which to connect on. Example: • 20 percent of Detroit families have only a cell phone for Internet access • 30 percent do not have access to the Internet in their homes So, Rocket Mortgage launched ‘Changing the Course’ with a commitment to correct this problem within 5 years. In the absence of live fans at Detroit Golf Club, viewers donated $1.4 million to the cause while they watched players like Bubba, Rickie,

Webb and Bryson on TV. The tournament will keep focused on ‘Changing the Course’ in the coming years. With all positives noted, an eerie quietness over the landscape is no way to play a professional sporting event, even the sport of golf and its tone-it-down rules of etiquette. Let’s all pray a fan-less tournament won’t happen again in Detroit. MGJ

Michigan Journal A Great Golf Staycation

Inn at St. Johns:

A Great Metro Detroit Staycation By Tom Lang

Golfers are re-examining their options for resort golf experiences due to the weird world we find ourselves in this year of Covid-adjusted 2020. Thankfully for the majority of golfers living in the metro Detroit and Ann Arbor region there is a lesser known, but no lesser quality high-end resort golf opportunity right here in town. The Inn at St. Johns in Plymouth is great for a staycation getaway without the longer drive up north.

Seeing this beautiful property, it seems fitting that it used to be a fulltime Catholic Seminary and chapel dating back to the 1940s – after all, one could literally call the landscape God’s Country. The beautiful, rolling land surrounding the seminaryturned-high-end hotel and conference center is the current-day setting for the 27 holes of the Inn at St. Johns Golf Course. Picturesque,

tree-lined, and filled with wildlife might not be your expectation in such a densely populated area very close to I-275 and I-96/M-14 – truly an in-town resort. The Inn at St. Johns offers a fun golf and a staycation option in one of the Inn’s 118 comfortable and recently renovated guest rooms, plus a meal at the 5ive Steakhouse off the main lobby. Also newly renovated, the steakhouse offers indoor

August 2020 www.michigangolfjournal.com

and outdoor terrace seating and the right ambiance to compliment the excellent food and wine selections. Recent social media restaurant reviews said: • “My husband and I go to a lot of steakhouses, but this is definitely top 5.” Zena from Dearborn Heights • “The 5ive grilled cheese at lunchtime is amazing!! So good. It comes with a small cup of tomato soup to dip it in. Amazingly thought out dish.” Tracy from Riverview • “One of my favorite things is when a restaurant is true to itself and isn’t trying to be something it’s not. That’s what 5ive is. It is a solid steakhouse with an excellent menu, a good enough menu that it was hard to decide what to order!” Dolly from Manhattan Beach, CA

The Inn at St. Johns is a AAA 4-diamond rated property that has won numerous awards, including for cleanliness and service. Staycation guests will enjoy the property’s well-kept grounds and close location to the downtown shopping of both Northville and Plymouth.

shot to an elevated green that is one of the more undulating putting surfaces. Hole 21 rolls and dips through two valleys that slope hard left to right, before reaching a green even more elevated than the previous par 4.

What I like about The Inn at St. Johns Golf Course’s three nines is that they each have their own personality but are also similar in shotmaking requirements due to the type of land and water features. Luke and Mark have a few more open areas, with Matthew having a few tighter fairways. Trees are a main feature throughout, no doubt.

Then the signature hole is the par 3 No. 22. It’s a picturesque downhill shot over a pond to a spacious green with tons of pin options.

My favorite stretch of holes on the Matthew course is 20-22. Hole 20 is a solid par 4 dogleg right. The fairway landing area is open and flat, with a valley to navigate on the second

To book your golf staycation, check out the Inn’s STAY & PLAY package. Special 2020 summer rates start at $110 per person and include a luxury room overnight, a boxed breakfast for two, and 18 holes with cart. Call 734-414-0600 ext. 1 or visit: https://www.theinnatstjohns. com/golf.htm MGJ

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Sweetgrass in the U.P.

The Many Stories of Sweetgrass

The U.P. marvel has a story behind the design of each hole By Tom Lang

Sweetgrass Golf Club in the U.P. just outside Escanaba was designed by awardwinner Paul Albanese with legends and tales about the Potawatomi Tribe infused into every hole. None of the stories about the holes are literal; rather they are more abstract representations built into the various holes of Sweetgrass to give it that much more character and

meaning than your average golf course. Here is the background on three of the holes found at the Island Resort and Casino property in the U.P.: Hole 4: The Wyandotte and the Ottawa tribes needed allies to survive when they fled from their Iroquois enemies in New York. They joined with the Potawatomi band to build

a joint fort for protection, a fortified village called Michigami, in the 1650s. “We decided to use that for inspiration, so we put some wooden posts in the side of a hill (along the fairway) that are representative of (the remains of) a fort,” Albanese said. “And the green complex itself worked out very nicely to be a redan style green. And a redan is the French word for ‘fortress.’” Continues on next page >>

Michigan Golf Journal Sweetgrass in the U.P.

Hole 8:

Hole 14:

A more modern-day story, Zoie Brozowski was a metro Detroit resident for decades before moving to the U.P. and befriending the local Potawatomi tribe. She sold some real estate and gave the tribe the money, for which they used to help develop the Sweetgrass golf course.

Called legend of the snowbirds, the story says there were two young Indians who traveled to give gifts to their grandmother, but they got caught in a snowstorm and slept into the afterlife. The Creator has since sent two birds to warn others of approaching snow.

One of the greenside bunkers on the front right side has a ‘Z’ shape included as a nod to Zoie and her generosity.

“We placed four bunkers on the hole,” Albanese said about the design process. “Two bunkers in the fairway are

representative of the two birds the creator sent, and the two pot bunkers near the green are representative of the two young Indians who traveled to see their grandmother. “It was really a way to decide how many bunkers do we want on this hole. Instead of just being a random number we took the stories and let them inform us on how we might want to create the strategy of playing the golf hole.” MGJ

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Michigan Golf Journal Tournament Wrap Ups

Michigan Amateur Champion: Tyler Copp by a match play margin of 2-and-1, to win Michigan’s most prestigious and historic amateur golf tournament: the Michigan Amateur, on The Heather Golf Course at Boyne Highlands.

Ann Arbor’s Tyler Copp grew up on the ice rink and didn’t take up competition golf until his junior year of high school – and he hasn’t looked back. Copp turned back a tournament favorite – MSU golfer James Piot of Canton

Piot was co-medalist of the first two rounds of stroke play with Andrew Walker, also an MSU teammate. Copp beat Walker in match play by the same score in the round of 16. Growing up in junior hockey was what you did in the Copp family. His older brother, Andrew Copp,

went on to play hockey at Michigan and is currently playing in the NHL with the Winnipeg Jets. “I’m from a big hockey family, Coop said. “I would find myself hitting at the Miles of Golf range in the middle of winter at 9:00 at night and 20 degrees outside ... good hockey weather. But then summer comes around and it’s 80 degrees and you don’t want to be carrying a hockey bag into the rink. So, I was like, ‘I want to be golfing.’ And it just picked up from there.” MGJ

Michigan Women’s Amateur: Anna Kramer medalist, then culminated the five rounds of match play by beating 2018 champion Kerri Parks of Flushing and Marshall University, 5 and 4 for the title.

Spring Lake’s Anna Kramer led from start to finish to win the 104th Michigan Women’s Amateur Championship, July 22 at MSU’s Forest Akers West Golf Course. The University of Indianapolis golfer was stroke play

“I’ve wanted to win this one for a while, and I do love this tournament,” Kramer said. “It’s one of my favorites to play in and I’ve tried a few times. It’s a sigh of relief really. It was a long week, but I took it one day at a time, got through stroke play and played it one shot

and one match at a time and tried not to think about what could happen. This is really so special.” Parks had just won the West Virginia Women’s Amateur, literally, and was on the waiting list for the Michigan Women’s Am and didn’t know until 10:00 a.m. the day before stroke play started that she made in the field after another player dropped out, so she hustled back to Michigan without time to get in a practice round. MGJ

August 2020 www.michigangolfjournal.com

Mich Girls Junior Amateur: Ariel Chang Ariel Chang fashioned the perfect ending to a long and eventful week in winning the 42nd Michigan Girls Junior State Amateur Championship. The 17-yearold Macomb Township golfer held off Audrey Becker of Grosse Pointe Farms 2 and 1 in the championship match at Michigan State University’s Forest Akers East golf course. She set a tournament and junior girls course scoring record with a 9-under 62 to win stroke play medalist

honors, and then battled to win her second major GAM title of the summer. She was also the GAM Kickoff Champion in June. Chang is the third consecutive stroke play medalist to go on and win the championship. She has a year remaining at Utica Eisenhower High School and has verbally committed to the University of Detroit Mercy golf program. Lauren Timpf of Macomb made it a Macomb area

sweep when she won the 15-and-under division for the second consecutive year. The 13-year-old Timpf, who also won the 15-andunder title in the GAM Junior Kickoff, turned back Grace Wang of Rochester Hills 5 and 4 in the final. MGJ

GAM 14 & Under Match Play

Will Preston of Grand Rapids won his first GAM tournament while Lauren Timpf of Macomb won her fourth consecutive GAM junior golf title over the last two seasons. They topped the field of 32 boys and 16 girls who played in the 4th GAM 14 & Under Match Play Championship at Woodside Golf Club in Lansing. Preston, who will be a freshman at Grand Rapids Catholic Central in the fall,

turned back Vibhav Alokam of Ypsilanti 2 and 1 in the ninehole boys championship flight final match. Timpf, age 13 of Macomb, topped Mia Melendez of Ann Arbor 2 and 1 in the girls’ championship flight final match. Timpf later went on to reach the quarterfinals of the Michigan Women’s Amateur and took eventual champion and college golfer Anna Kramer all the way to the final hole.

Champions were also crowned in three other flights for boys and one other for the girls. Complete results can be found here: PAIRINGS, RESULTS MGJ

Michigan Golf Journal Tournament Wrap Ups

Mich PGA Women’s Open: Sarah Burnham Sarah Burnham could have put her golf game on cruise control early in the final round July 1 and still turned out just fine. She put her foot on the gas instead. The LPGA Tour pro, MSU grad, two-time Big Ten Player of the Year and Minnesota native won the 27th Michigan PGA Women’s Open and a firstplace prize of $6,500 with a dominating 18-under par (65-70-63-198) total – to win by 10 shots over three players tied for runner up at 8-under par.

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Burnham’s 63 in the final round was just one stroke off tying the Mountain Ridge course record – yet her 198 total is the new tournament record. Burnham had a 5-shot lead after just the first three holes, Wednesday, thanks to a birdie on Hole 2 and an eagle on the par 4, 3rd hole – which soon grew to a 6-shot lead after 6 holes – at Crystal Mountain Resort, home to the event the last 18 years.

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During the LPGA Tour’s downtime due to Covid-19, Burnham kept playing anywhere she could. She won two mini-tour events on the Cactus Tour in Arizona and added an Eggland’s Best mini-tour win in Florida – before earning the Michigan PGA Women’s Open title. The low amateur in the pro-amateur mixed field was Sarah Shipley of Hastings, who plays at Univ. of Kentucky. She finished T6 at 6-under par. MGJ

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Michigan PGA Section Awards

Michigan Section PGA 2020 Awards Dick Stewart, PGA Life Member and former Head Professional at Kalamazoo Country Club, has captured the 2020 Michigan Section PGA Golf Professional of the Year award. This prestigious honor is awarded to the professional that has demonstrated outstanding qualities of leadership and strong moral character. Stewart was chosen by his peers for the award based on his overall performance as a Golf Professional, service to the Section and the Association, leadership ability, image and ability to inspire others and his promotion and growth of the game.

Teacher of the Year: Mike Fay, Director of Instruction at Walnut Creek Country Club (formerly at Boyne Golf during the award period). Assistant Golf Professional of the Year: Jimmy Wisinski, Director of Instruction at Kent Country Club. Bill Strausbaugh Award: Mark Wilson, Interim Program Director for the PGA Golf Management Program at Ferris State University (for outstanding integrity, character, and leadership

Professional at The Jewel at the Grand Hotel, has been named the Merchandiser of the Year for Resort Golf Facilities.

Richard M. Stewart

through a commitment to mentoring and making significant impacts on the careers of PGA Professionals). Professional Development Award (formerly Horton Smith Award): Jason Guss, Director of Instruction at Jason Guss Golf Academy, at Eagle Eye/Hawk Hollow (for outstanding contributions to professional education). Dan Urban, Head Golf Professional at Gull Lake Country Club, has been named the Merchandiser of the Year for Private Golf Facilities; Mark Bayer, Head Golf Professional at Sugar Springs Country Club, won Merchandiser of the Year for Public Golf Facilities, and Jason Horricks, Head Golf

Patriot Award: Doug Bell, General Manager at American Dunes Golf Club – for personifying patriotism through the game of golf and demonstrating unwavering commitment and dedication to the men and women who have valiantly served. Player Development Award: Chelsea Guoynes, Player Development Coordinator and Foundation Activities Director at the Michigan Section PGA. Youth Player Development Award: Rolla Frisinger, PGA Professional and Owner at Foundation Golf Center near Coldwater. Distinguished Service Award: Glenn Pulice, General Manager of the Royal Oak Golf Center and Director of Golf for the Midnight Golf Program (outstanding individuals who display leadership and humanitarian qualities, including integrity, sportsmanship and enthusiasm for the game of golf.) MGJ

Michigan Golf Journal Michigan News and Notes

American Dunes Pushes Opening Date Back to 2021

American Dunes – the spectacular Jack Nicklaus re-design of the former Grand Haven Golf Club – was hoping to open nine holes for play this summer. But with Covid-19 limiting the construction crew in the spring and early summer, the decision was made to not rush a good thing and open all 18 holes at the same time next year.

Afterall, nobody gets a second chance to make a first impression, so they say.

Yet in this case, there is very little chance that the new American Dunes would make anything but a GREAT first impression. It’s going to draw national attention once it opens. The final seeding on one hole finished in late June. GM Doug Bell said that 15 of the holes are being mowed all the way from tee to green and the remainder are growing in well in the summer heat.

“American Dunes unwavering goal is to provide an exceptional golf experience rooted in the values of God, Country, and giving back to the Folds of Honor,” said founder Lt Col Dan Rooney, PGA. “We will begin taking reservations for tee-times on December 15. We look forward to sharing this amazing Jack Nicklaus Signature design and golf’s most heroic round in 2021.” MGJ

Forest Dunes Short Course Open

Forest Dunes’ new 10-hole short course, designed by Keith Rhebb and Riley Johns, opened for play on Saturday, August 1. It features holes ranging between 50 and 150 yards laid out over 15 acres of rolling terrain. “When people talk about what is wrong with golf these days, they talk about how

much time it takes to play, how much it costs and how difficult it can be to play,” said Forest Dunes director of operations Don Helinski. “The intention of this new amenity is to provide an opportunity for a group of players to go out and enjoy themselves with only a few clubs and a couple beverages,” and take maybe an hour to finish. Relaxing and fun are key words. Golfers may play together in groups up to eight and it won’t be uncommon for players to be barefoot or have music playing. “Who says a course needs to be 18 or 9 holes,” Helinski said. “We gave the architects a defined area of land to work with and they said we can fit 10 good holes there. So that’s what we built.” MGJ

August 2020 www.michigangolfjournal.com

Meijer Donated $1.1 Million to Simply Give After Golf was Canceled Despite the Covid-19 cancellation of the 2020 Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give, Meijer gave $1.1 million to its Simply Give hunger relief program on behalf of the LPGA golf tournament. As many golfers realize, the cancelation of so many pro Tour events hurts not just the fans and the local economies, but the charities associated with such events can be devastated by the loss of donations.

“Although this year’s tournament has been cancelled, we didn’t want our food pantry

partners to feel that loss, especially given the increased need they’ve seen these past few months,” said Cathy Cooper, Executive Director of the Meijer LPGA Classic. Traditionally, proceeds from the tournament benefit the Meijer Simply Give program that stocks the shelves of food pantries across the Midwest. The latest Meijer donation matches the 2019 tournament proceeds, bringing the tournaments’ total contribution to $6.3 million over seven years. The recent

Bucks Run Golf Club at 20 years

The Bucks Run Golf Club just outside Mt. Pleasant celebrated its 20th Anniversary the entire first week of July. The Jerry Matthews design got its start on the site of an old gravel mining operation. It is owned by the familyowned group of construction

companies known as the Fisher Companies – and in addition to an outstanding 18-hole design, has a real grass putt-putt course on an island in the lake next to the clubhouse. The design has won numerous golf awards and runs along the Chippewa

$1.1 million donation will be divided equally among more than 435 food pantry partners across the Midwest. The 2021 Meijer LPGA Classic will be held June 7-13 at Blythefield Country Club. Brooke Henderson won last year for her second victory in Grand Rapids. MGJ

River, natural wetlands, through wooded areas and photo-ready lakes. Golfers can gather for food and pro shop facilities inside the 18,000 square-foot clubhouse – the site of many weddings and banquets. Learn more at: https://www. bucksrun.com/ MGJ

High School Girls Golf Starting in August

The MHSAA announced in mid-July that fall sports will be played in the fall, and not switch any seasons – which means the girls will play this fall or not at all. The stipulation for playing will be if it can be done within boundaries of ongoing and current-at-the-time Covid-19 regulations. MGJ

Michigan Golf Journal Truth About Green Speeds

The Truth About Green Speed By George Waters, USGA Green Section

The most important thing to know about green speed is that faster does not mean better. (USGA/John Mummert)

The following content was first published in the monthly digital edition of Golf Journal. To receive access to the USGA’s Members-only Golf Journal quarterly print and monthly digital publication – along with the many other benefits of USGA Membership – visit support.usga.org.

Green speed is one of the most sensitive and misunderstood topics in golf. Golfers see lightning-fast greens on television or hear claims about green speeds at a course they admire and think that’s an ideal that other courses should aspire to. What they may not realize is that those conditions require significant resources to deliver, may last for only a short period of time, and are not appropriate for the vast majority of golf courses or golfers. There is also a lot of misinformation about green

speeds, so golfers shouldn’t believe everything they hear from their playing partners or television broadcasters. Here are five things every golfer should know about green speed: Faster does not mean better The appropriate green speed for a particular course depends on the putting green contours, grass type, maintenance budget and skill level of the golfers playing – along with numerous other considerations. Trying to make greens faster than they should be leads to higher

August 2020 www.michigangolfjournal.com

maintenance costs, turf damage, lost hole locations, and rounds of golf that are slower and less enjoyable. Sacrificing other aspects of putting green quality in the pursuit of speed just doesn’t make sense. Green speeds fluctuate Putting greens are comprised of living plants that change and perform differently from season to season and even day to day. Temperature, humidity, rainfall and routine maintenance practices all influence daily green speed. Maintaining the same green speed throughout the year is impossible and letting a target number dictate management practices is a recipe for damaged greens and undesirable playing conditions. Green speeds don’t travel One of the most important things to know about green speed measurements is that they should not be used to compare one golf course with another. A green speed that is perfect for one course could be way too fast for a course down the road that has steeper green contours or golfers with different skill levels. There are simply too many variables involved to make reasonable comparisons.

Speed costs money While golfers hear a lot of discussion about courses with fast greens, they don’t hear as much about all that goes into providing those conditions. Lower mowing heights, regular topdressing, verticutting and hand watering are just some of the practices involved in maintaining faster greens. In addition, courses that maintain faster greens typically invest heavily in improving putting green growing environments by removing trees and enhancing drainage. The investments required on a daily and yearly basis to deliver faster green speeds are substantial, and beyond the budget of most golf courses. Speed can kill Periods of high heat, humidity and other environmental stresses can push putting green health close to the edge. Trying

to maintain a particular green speed during difficult weather carries a serious risk of causing lasting damage that could negatively impact smoothness and speed for weeks to come. To protect putting green turf, golf course superintendents may raise mowing heights or reduce the frequency of mowing and rolling during stressful weather. These adjustments mean temporarily slower green speeds, but they will help preserve good playing conditions for the weeks and months ahead. It’s easy to understand how golfers can place too much emphasis on green speed. Numbers invite comparisons and faster can easily be mistaken for better. However, if we can keep the big picture in mind and remember that speed is just one of many factors in putting green quality, we’ll save ourselves and superintendents a lot of headaches. MGJ

Contours: The appropriate green speed for a course depends on putting green design, grass type, golfer ability and many other factors. (USGA/Kirk H. Owens)

Michigan Golf Journal Revisiting Interlochen

Interlochen Golf Course Continues to Grow By Tom Lang

Brad Dean – a former three-time Michigan PGA Teacher of the Year – made the career-defining jump to owning his own golf course a little less than four years ago. And it’s clear that the quaint, northern Michigan, Interlochen Golf Course is all the better for it. In a late June visit I found a brand new outdoor patio with a retractable roof to

accommodate even more seats for dining, beyond the wonderful complete remodeling that took place two years earlier of the bar and indoor eating space of the original clubhouse. It was then, and is even more so now, one of the finer places to eat along US-31 west of Traverse City. It is aptly named Bradley’s Pub and Grille.

Ongoing course conditions have also improved with the help of Superintendent Jim Harris, despite the fact the course gets more play than ever. During my visit I joined former Chicago Cub baseball player Dan Rohn from Alpena in a Sunday morning skins game with more than 2 dozen golfers.

August 2020 www.michigangolfjournal.com

“Number one the course is in great shape, plus Brad and the staff here make it fun to come out here and play. My wife loves it too,” said Rohn, who has played at some of the highest ranked golf courses across Michigan and the Midwest. “It’s also a very challenging course; you don’t always know what you’re going to get from one day to the next. But it’s always fun and the atmosphere is outstanding. It’s a family friendly course, the way they have it set up. You can play it as hard as you want or as easy as you want.” Interlochen Golf Course opened in 1965 and was once a stomping ground of Hall-of-Famer Walter Hagen in his later years of life as a

resident on nearby South Long Lake. Dean honed his list of experience as a golf instructor, golf academy founder, pro shop merchandiser, golf operations manager, snow removal, and a little bit of food and beverage management – for 23 years at Crystal Mountain Resort in nearby Thompsonville. He even competed in the 90th PGA Championship at Oakland Hills, but now-a-days only plays competitively in Interlochen’s Wednesday night league and the Sunday skins. The property was never open during the snow months, until Dean took over. The restaurant now stays open seven days a week, serving

lunch and dinner. He added a fire pit and welcomed in snow-shoers, cross-country skiers and snowmobilers. Northern Michigan resorts pull in travelers by the thousands, but Interlochen Golf Club’s market is the local summer lake home/ cabin owners and those who work in the area. My favorite stretch of holes are Nos. 7-9; all are par 4s. No. 7 is a drivable par 4 downhill – but clearing the creek in front and avoiding going long into more water behind the green makes layup off the tee a very attractive decision. No. 8 has the tee box on an island (used to be island green for 7) heading to a gently-right turning fairway, which ends with a belowthe-fairway two-tiered green (one of the few redesigns from the original). Hole 9 is tight off the tee but opens up for the second shot, which requires clearing a stoutly sloped false front that makes balls run away from and off the green if hit too short on the left side. All-in-all a wonderful, 18hole, very walkable layout that everyone can afford. Try it soon. www.interlochengolf. com. MGJ

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