MI Golf Journal Dec. 2019

DECEMBER 2019

Michigan’s Best Golfer You Likely Don’t Know

Working at PGA Tour

INDOOR GOLF: Games, Data, Fun

MSU Alums Earn LPGA Tour Cards 18 Signature Holes in Michigan Blues, BBQ & Golf

Michigan Golf Journal Michigan Golf Journal

A Lesson for All

This edition has stories about successful young golfers from the State of Michigan – two MSU alums making it fulltime on the LPGA Tour, and a feature story on college golfer Hunter Eichhorn.

In talking to Eichhorn it stood out to me there is a lesson to be leaned for parents of youth golfers who read his story… and that is: young golfers either have the natural talent to make it to the big leagues, or they don’t.

And if they don’t, they should still play this wonderful game of honor and integrity for FUN, for enjoyment of their own level of accomplishment

and to spend time with their friends (or making new ones).

Hunter Eichhorn never played in a single AJGA tournament; he really didn’t know about them. He taught himself how to swing a club and score, never taking a lesson to this day. Yet he had the natural talent and hard work ethic to shock the college golfing world by winning the Big East Conference championship as a talented college freshman fresh out of the deep woods of the U.P.

parent’s dreams. The latter is killing youths’ interest in sports of all kinds. Everyone benefits more for a lifetime if we keep a proper perspective and keep it fun.

Hit ‘em straight.

Tom Lang Publisher/Editor

Golf for youth should NOT be about fulfilling their

What’s Inside: 08

Cover Story: Indoor Golf

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MSU Alums heading to LPGA Tour

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Michiganders at PGA Tour HQ

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20 Years of Michigan Golf Live

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Blues, BBQ and Golf in Mississippi

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Videos of 18 Michigan Signature Holes

Reminder: get more information Michigan Golf Journal is a fully digital publication that’s loaded with safe links to help you expand your information options. We have links in stories; links on photos, advertisements and videos, for you to use to their fullest.

When you open a new page, or move your curser over selected areas, the embedded links will briefly flash as a blue box. If you want more information on that topic, click that area.

It’s that simple.

Michigan Golf Golf Journal College

Hunter Eichhorn Jumps from the U.P. to Big Time College Golf Mystery golfer is no mystery now

By Tom Lang

Hunter Eichhorn could easily be the best golfer from Michigan that almost nobody knows.

Raised in a small town in the U.P. due west of Escanaba, Eichhorn was rarely on any golfing radar in Michigan – despite winning the U.P. golf state championship all four years at tiny CarneyNadeau High School, where he also sits at T3 in Michigan history for making 12 threepoint field goals in one basketball game and T9 for career 3s at 244 made.

Eichhorn never played golf in any AJGA tournaments and came across the Mackinaw Bridge to play in just two GAM tournaments in the Lower Peninsula.

With the lack of exposure, along with his self-taught

homemade swing, he rarely caught the eye of college recruiters – and he seems to have blissfully been happy that way. Only three schools recruited him, and Marquette University in Milwaukee won out.

Once there, his low profile quickly changed.

Eichhorn turned the Big East Conference on its ear by winning the

league championship as a freshman in the spring of 2018. Now halfway through his junior year, Eichhorn is the reigning Wisconsin Amateur champion and winner of four college tournaments (including his team’s home invitational played at Erin Hills this fall), plus another five top 5 finishes.

“He is an impressive young man and one of the

December 2019 www.michigangolfjournal.com

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most fearless players I have ever watched,” said MSU coach Casey Lubahn, who did pursue Eichhorn.

When Eichhorn did play junior golf tournaments, he most often headed west into Wisconsin, where Marquette coach Steve Bailey noticed the young man’s game.

“I always put a big emphasis in recruiting on kids who win,” Bailey said in reference to the smaller fields Eichhorn played in due to his geography.

“A lot of other (coaches) might have shied away from him because a lot of those events might not have been at the highest level, but I think the more and more you can put yourself in those positions and capitalize, to me that says a lot about you. And he did it time and time again; and not only did he win he did it by impressive margins and with scores not too common at the junior level.”

In a recent conversation, Eichhorn admitted he didn’t think he was missing too much by staying close to

home in his youth, nor traveling far and wide to try out finely manicured turf at large resorts. He was simply happy playing a short nine-hole course with his grandfather much of his childhood, working on different types of shots on his own, and making good scores. To this day he’s never had a formal golf lesson and admits people say his swing is a little funky.

“Growing up on some of the courses that I did kind of taught me how to play shots from not perfect lies and not in perfect conditions all the time,” Eichhorn said. “I wouldn’t trade it for the other way around at all.”

Eichhorn said he learned the game mostly at Wild Pines in Hermansville. He liked that it was shorter and he could learn the confidence-building value of making birdies and pars as opposed to longer 18-hole courses, “where at that age you’re just hoping to break 100,” he said.

“At Wild Pines I could score, and rounds became more important to me I guess you could say. A Continues on next page >>

College Golf confidence builder, knowing I could go out on that course at age 11 or 12 and maybe I’ll make two birdies in 9 holes, but I’ll make 3-4 pars and then it comes down to trying to eliminate the bogies. Then I could transition onto longer courses and have the same mentality.”

Bailey said he has no intention of changing his player’s swing, which Eichhorn appreciates.

“I just found my own way to hit the shots,” he said.

“I know the swing I have

is different and whatnot, but the feels I have in it are my own. And at the end of the day, that’s what’s most advantageous for me.”

Eichhorn appears to have transferred well into college life and learning from it all he can for possibly jumping to the pro level after graduating in Corporate Communications, but his roots remain firm in the U.P. too – where he took part in the traditional outdoor activities common in the area before focusing more on golf and basketball.

“I’ll always love the UP and that lifestyle, but I also don’t mind being in the city,” he said. “Milwaukee is full of fun things to do and I like having the balance of being here and the U.P. They are both perfect getaways from one another.”

The 2019 Wisconsin Amateur title is one of Eichhorn’s favorite wins, but he puts the Big East title, the recent win at Erin Hills, and his first college tournament win in Texas the fall of his freshman year as his four equal favorite wins. In five 54-hole college tournaments this fall, he is a combined 16-under par, with no tournaments finishing above par.

“When you look at the list of names that he’s joined, it’s really impressive; to be alongside Steve Stricker and Mark Wilson and Jerry Kelly,” coach Bailey said about the Wisconsin Amateur Championship.

“Pretty nice to be in the company of those guys.”

Hunter Eichhorn with Coach Steve Bailey

The way Eichhorn is trending, he certainly could follow their steps to the PGA Tour as well one day.

Freeways and Fairways

Freeways and Fairways: Pierce Lake, Chelsea

This is part of an occasional series that looks at golf courses found along Michigan freeways – those you drive by frequently, or on that annual vacation, but never seem to have time to stop and explore. Maybe you should.

By Tom Lang

Pierce Lake is a wonderful municipal course west of Ann Arbor that too many I-94 commuters pass by in their busy lives. It’s truly one of the better ‘munis’ in Southeast Michigan, with very reasonable prices for a course filled with challenge, beauty and fun.

Trees line many holes, but on the front nine they are pushed back away from the wide fairways allowing for a much more open-air experience. A good variety of shot shapes are required, and the rolling terrain is a pleasant surprise in the region.

Hole 9 is a really nice closing hole (if you choose not to make the turn), as it goes downhill all the way and gives your drive an extra 20-30 yard kick. If you do make the turn, 18 is also a great closing hole, but is unique in that it’s a long

par 3. Even from the middle tees it’s roughly 200 yards to a huge green complex that’s more than 50 yards deep and is framed by a high-banked hill to the left.

The holes where the freeway is evident are easily No. 2-5, then 1013 on the back nine. And it’s the back nine where the fairways narrow, and accuracy is at more of a premium. Eight of the back 9 holes require going over a marsh, creek or pond either directly in front of the tee, or somewhere along the

approach to the green. Of course, forward tees give a break on some of those tee shots.

What jumped out at me is that many holes are actually more attractive when looking from the green back to the tee, so don’t forget to turn around after picking up your putts and enjoy the land you just traversed – a trip I enjoyed the entire time.

More information: https://www.piercelakegolf. com/

MichiganGolf Golf Journal Indoor Simulators

ACE Indoor Golf for Indoor Golf Fun

By Fred Altvater

For most golfers who take their game seriously – and there are a lot of very passionate people out there who consider golf their religion – the Michigan season is way too short.

Thankfully, indoor golf in the off-season becomes a great option with today’s advanced simulator datarecording technology and gorgeous photography from top courses around the country.

From the time the spring rains stop, to that first snowflake in late fall, life can be heaven to a golfer.

The winter months, when their favorite Ping, Titleist, TaylorMade, or Callaway has to be temporarily banished to the garage, many golfer’s televisions are permanently tuned to the Golf Channel to watch international rounds in Australia, South America, or other sunny climates. Dreaming of walking a green verdant fairway can cause misery for a Golfaholic.

Luckily, Ace Indoor Golf has the solution for a golfless winter – indoor golf simulators. With several locations around Toledo and the company’s Tee Box site in Ann Arbor, they are prepped and ready to serve SE Michigan golfers.

events division, they are also perfect for corporate outings and family gatherings, trade shows, bachelor parties, or even bar/bat mitzvahs. Most important, however, it’s the perfect way to get your winter golf fix.

Indoor golf simulation is great for every golfer wanting to practice, while checking the data on spin rate, launch angle, ball speed, carry and face angle. And with Ace’s

Simulator Expertise at Work: The Founders of Ace Indoor Golf, Tom Dewire and Joe Neumeyer, have more than 25 years in the

December 2019 www.michigangolfjournal.com

golf simulator industry, so it’s fair to say that they have a strong background and can offer great advice in all aspects of owing or renting a golf simulator.

Ace started out as a small, fledgling, company whose primary purpose was to assist people interested in purchasing a golf simulator; and to create the best custom enclosures in the business so that golfers would have a safe and fun place to play, practice or party.

Tom and Joe believed the best way to start their business was to partner with a major golf simulator manufacturer and offer their vast expertise to the industry. Not only did this strategy prove to be a winner, Ace Indoor Golf now has strong business relationships with some of the biggest, most prestigious OEM’s in the simulator industry: Names like TruGolf, Foresight, SkyTrak and Optishot are just a few of the companies working closely with Ace Indoor Golf.

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Not only that, but Ace’s new website www. gimmesimulators.com, is attracting attention as a major retailer for all golf sim accessories, such as screens, pads, baffles, flooring, technology and enclosures.

With success comes expansion, and Ace Indoor Golf is no exception.

The sew shop at Ace has doubled in both size and personnel over the past two years. Screens and other consumables are carefully put together to exact

Continues on next page >>

MichiganGolf Golf Journal Indoor Simulators

three cities to announce a new sports clothing line by offering ‘closest to the pin contests.’ The Chicago Bears rented a football simulator for a season-ticket holder festival. French Lick Resort and the Cleveland Browns have also used Ace Indoor simulators for meetings and events.

No matter, what or where, Ace Indoor Golf brings the fun. specifications. Custom jobs, and especially their new panoramic screen (named the “Eclipse”) are given special treatment.

Is it any wonder, that manufacturers like, TruGolf,, Foresight, Optishot and Skytrak utilize Ace’s custom design department and installation teams for jobs all over the United States and that the PGA Superstore Chain (the largest golf retailer in the country), is increasingly relying on Ace Indoor Golf for replacement parts for the hundreds of simulators in their stores?

There is so much more about Ace that is attractive to anyone who enjoys indoor activities – V1 Technology, Multi-Sport fun, Virtual Reality, hunting and various shooting games. Ace is one-stop shopping for fun under a roof.

Indoor Portability for Any Occasion: Ace also has a strong and thriving events division which rents out golf and shooting simulators across the country for trade shows, corporate parties or sporting events. Recent events included a major department store chain, which installed simulators in

Ace Indoor not only promotes the use of golf simulators, but they also own an indoor golf center in Ann Arbor. With five simulator bays, Tee Box Golf features instruction, practice and league play.

Business has been steadily rising since Tom and Joe took over the venue. This winter promises more leagues and golfers getting their practice in before spring.

Tom and Joe realize that customer service is one of the most important after-the-sale features they can offer their clients and thus, they provide 24hour support. As golfers

December 2019 www.michigangolfjournal.com

themselves, they know that you don’t want anything stopping your game.

They are available to offer advice and assistance at all hours. No, they cannot help cure your wicked slice, but today’s simulator technology provides the data to work on your game and fix it yourself, in a simulator provided by Ace Indoor Golf.

Ace Indoor Golf offers solutions as well as sound advice from its experienced staff, as well as everything else you need to start your own indoor golf business. Don’t forget Ace Indoor Golf can custom design a simulator for your own personal use.

Maximize Your Play Time

When the days get cold and the snow starts to fall, remember that there is something to do other than renew your subscription to Netflix or Amazon Prime.

In fact, due to outstanding technological advances in the simulator industry, swing analysis, beautiful courses and perpetually sunny days are yours to enjoy, thanks to Ace Indoor Golf.

We have 45 holes of golf, including championship courses by legendary designers Pete Dye and Donald Ross. Add in hundreds of ways to win at the casino, casual and fine dining plus other amenities, and the numbers are on your side for an epic golf trip. French Lick Resort brings it all together with golf, food, fun and gaming at one unforgettable destination.

Find out more at: www. gimmesimulators.com, or https://www. aceindoorgolf.com/. To make a tee time at Tee Box Indoor Golf in Ann Arbor visit: http://www.teeboxgolfannarbor.com/ index.html.

For groups of 8 or more, give our golf group sales manager Alex Whiteman a call at 812-936-9300 (ext. 7227) to get the ball rolling.

The best golf destinations cover a lot of ground beyond the 18th green.

French Lick Resort is the golf getaway with more to love.

Must be 21 years or older to enter the casino. Gambling Problem? Call 1.800.9.WITH.IT!

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Michigan Golf Journal MSU Alums on LPGA Tour

Two MSU Alum Earn LPGA Tour Cards

By Tom Lang

MSU alums Liz Nagel (DeWitt) and Sarah Burnham (Minn.) each earned their way to priority status on the 2020 LPGA Tour by finishing in the top 25 of the LPGA Q-Series, which took place at Pinehurst; 8 rounds of golf starting Oct. 23 and concluding Nov. 2.

Nagel – age 27 and the pride of DeWitt, winner of the 2018 Michigan PGA Women’s Open, two Michigan high school state titles and two Miss Golf Awards in Michigan – finished T16 in the Q-Series.

She is also, more impressively, a thyroid cancer survivor after being diagnosed in November of 2012 during her senior year in East Lansing.

Nagel made a handful of LPGA Tour starts a few years ago but has mostly played the Symetra Tour since. This year she lost a

Sarah Burnham and Liz Nagel

grandfather in January, the family dog in May and then her maternal grandmother in June. That’s when Nagel took four weeks off from golf to be with her family in mid-Michigan.

“It’s probably been the hardest year of my life, and

that’s saying a lot because cancer really sucked too,” Nagel said. “So, I came home just to be with my family and at the time I wasn’t playing bad but wasn’t playing good, just wasn’t putting four rounds together … obviously your perspective changes and I Continues on page 14 >>

Michigan Golf Journal MSU Alums on LPGA Tour

“I’m at the point now that I’m really proud to be a cancer survivor and I hope I can inspire people,” she said. “Thyroid cancer has a big group of survivors but doesn’t get the attention like breast cancer does… I’m going to wear it proudly on my sleeve and represent it on the big Tour.

Note: to learn more about Nagel beating cancer, read this story from the May 2019 edition of MGJ: https:// michigangolfjournal.com/2019/May/4/

Liz Nagel wins 2018 Michigan Women’s Open

know all about that with (thyroid) cancer during college but I just felt I was playing a different game I guess. A little more of the life game and a little less of the golf game.”

Nagel was referencing how after the time off this summer, she made every Symetra cut but one, leading into the very successful Q-Series finish this fall.

Other highlights for Nagel: •

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She had eight starts on the LPGA Tour 2015 and 2016, including finishing 63rd at the 2015 U.S. Women’s Open In 2019 on the Symetra Tour, Nagel made 13 cuts in 19 starts with two top15 finishes At MSU she helped lead the Spartans to three Big Ten titles

The topic of surviving cancer does get a lot of attention for Nagel, but she’s come to accept it.

Michigan’s Adopted Daughter Sarah Burnham: Burnham, age 23 of Maple Grove, Minn., set several records at MSU and finished her eligibility in the spring of 2018, then promptly went out and won the Connecticut Open in her first pro event. She played well enough at last year’s Q-School to qualify for 15 LPGA Tour events in 2019.

• •

Her best career finish on the LPGA Tour is T9 at the Cambia Portland Classic At MSU she was a 2-time Big Ten Player of the Year winner, becoming the first Michigan State player in the history of the program to win the award twice; was a 3-time First Team All-Big Ten honoree and 2018 Mary Fossum Award winner for having the lowest stroke average to par in the Big Ten

“My rookie season I was a little bit lost,” Burnham admitted about early 2019. “I’m looking forward to going out there and knowing what to expect this time. I’m definitely getting more comfortable out there.

December 2019 www.michigangolfjournal.com

Sarah Burnham at MSU

“It was such a different world out there (no longer in school) I think I kind of forgot about that I was a Big Ten Player of the Year (twice), and that I do have the capability of playing with these girls. So, looking back at it, last year I should have reminded myself of all the good things I achieved in college.

“But near the end of last season I got my confidence back and I will carry that into 2020 as well.”

It’s too soon to know if the MSU Alums will pair up for the LPGA Dow team tournament in Midland in July. Burnham had a partner last year who has asked to renew, and Nagel said she’s only seen Burnham hit balls on the range. But the pair did discuss the idea briefly at Pinehurst.

Nagel said: “Coach (Stacy Slobidnik-Stoll of MSU) would be over the moon if we did.”

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Michigan Golf Holiday GiftJournal Giving

2019 Holiday Gift Guide Swing Aids: Swing Align Let’s face it. The gift every golfer wants is lower scores. With the Swing Align training aid, a more “connected” swing from a proper set-up position is achievable as is a more stable and powerful move through the ball.

Swing Align was designed to help golfers set up square and hit shots solidly by providing a strong visual indicator they can use to line up square to their intended target. The device uses muscle memory to develop a repeatable golf swing with more power and accuracy by keeping their arms and body synchronized when rotating.

Visit www.swingtrainer.com.

Golf Technology: V1 Game GPS App Novi-based V1 Sports has released new technology, V1 Game, a mobile app that enables golfers to gain insights on the course and in their game. With the V1 Game app, a mobile phone or Apple Watch becomes a golfer’s personal caddie and shot tracker. V1 Game’s GPS data provides accurate yardages to greens, hazards and landing zones. After a round is completed, V1 Game’s performance analysis technology provides statistics that show the user’s

strengths, weaknesses and paths to improvement.

Learn more: https://v1sports.com/blog/ v1-sports-launches-new-v1-game-gps-app/

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Setting Glove It apart from other golf manufacturers is its excitingly coordinated product line with fun prints and styles including solids, florals, geometrics, and animal prints. More info at: www.gloveit.com.

Gift Cards: from Leading Edge

Accessories: Glove It Glove It manufacturers women’s golf, tennis, and active lifestyle accessories.

Their collection includes

quality leather golf gloves, visors, club covers, shoe bags, golf bags, towels, tote bags, wristlets, carry-all bags, tennis backpacks, and tennis totes.

At Leading Edge Golf in Okemos, shoppers can purchase a gift card and receive bonus money.

For every $100 gift card purchased they will get an extra $20 added to the card.

Max gift card is $500. More information at: www. legolfshop.com.

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PGA Tour

Michiganders Working the PGA Tour

By Tom Lang

Chris Richards leads a Fred Couples press conference

Many Michigan golfers have dreams of getting onto the PGA Tour one day.

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The same goes for some who made the dream happen by landing jobs as staff members of the PGA Tour headquarters in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.

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Here is a handful of Michigan natives working on Tour:

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Chris Richards (Holt) – Manager, Communications

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Kirsten Freisen (Northville) – Manager, Media Sales Dugan Murphy (Okemos) – Sales Manager, THE PLAYERS Championship Brian VanAlstine (Saginaw) – Senior Digital Product Manager Zach Conrad (Novi) – Digital Content Analyst

While most positions involve working behind the scenes, Richards is front and center on TV

in press conferences at tournaments on the PGA Tour Champions, including its annual stop in Grand Blanc for the Ally Challenge.

The 34-year-old Holt native is a Media Official for the PGA Tour, acting as a liaison between the Tour, the players and the media who cover various tournaments. He provides information and access for media to do their jobs covering the Tour.

Continues on next page >>

Michigan Golf Journal PGA Tour

“I get to go to so many parts of the country I wouldn’t otherwise be able to,” Richards said. “And I’ve worked the Senior British Open the last three years and in 2018 it was at St. Andrews; the trip of a lifetime with players and staff and everyone involved.

“The PGA Tour has certainly been a dream work destination. I can’t think of anywhere else in golf I’d want to work.”

Richards is an MSU graduate. As a freshman at State he became an intern in the Sports Information Dept. and worked there his last seven semesters at MSU, working closely with hockey, men’s and women’s golf, and wrestling while chipping in with football and other sports as needed.

“I didn’t even consider PR in the sports world as a thing; as an 18-year-old I didn’t even know that existed,” Richards said in reference to entering MSU. At Holt, he wrote for the school newspaper and

played on the golf team.

“In high school my favorite golf memory was at The Emerald in St. Johns,” Richards explained.

“My grandfather, who introduced me to the game, lived in a very small town near St. Johns and hadn’t been able to see me play a high school tournament before. It was the only tournament he’s watched me play and I shot just 1-over par… my best score in high school.”

Kirsten Freisen played varsity golf for 4 years (2005-08) at Northville High School. Her senior year, she led the team to a 3rd place finish while she Kirsten Freisen

finished 17th overall. As an MSU student – where she also took the unique Golf in Business course taught

by LPGA teaching pro Jan Brintnall – Freisen had an internship at a TV station in Lansing, then moved south to do advertising on Hilton Head Island.

The PGA Tour came next, where she is the Manager of Sales Development, supporting advertisers across all the PGA Tour’s digital communications platforms.

Playing golf is not a requirement for landing a job at the PGA Tour, but Freisen said after basically giving up the sport after high school, the job got her to return to the game she loved as a youth.

“There is the sense of golf being so innate by working here, and being able to play TPC Sawgrass, that I got back into it and realized how much I loved and missed it,” Freisen said.

“I don’t play as much as some of my colleagues, but I never take it for granted when I’m up at that clubhouse.”

Michigan Golf Michigan GolfJournal Live Celebrates

Michigan Golf Live After 20 Years on Air Memories from host Bill Hobson

Two decades come and gone. How well do you remember 1999?

We had never heard of a smartphone or social media.

Digital magazines like this one weren’t even a gleam in the publisher’s eye, and the world of golf was still trying to figure out how good the new kid named Tiger was going to be.

Fast forward to 2019 and an “on demand” culture

where the drive thru order needs to be completed in under a minute and we tend to view events and milestones in rather myopic context. Everything takes place in hyper speed and our appreciation for history and key turning points has been watered down under the mindset of “what have you done for me lately?”

So when I sit back and reflect on the justcompleted 20th Anniversary

season of Michigan Golf Live, I’m blown away by the blessings, partnerships, key people, and memories that all worked together to bring us to a place no one saw coming when we first teed up the radio show on Saturday, April 3, 1999.

Beginnings: The original MGL Radio Network consisted of five stations scattered around the state. The combined

December 2019 www.michigangolfjournal.com

reach of those stations was roughly equivalent to yelling out the kitchen window, but it was a blessing to have the support of station managers who believed in what we were trying to do – launch a unique forum for celebrating the game in one of America’s strongest golf regions. The other huge blessing was the partnership with the Buick Open as our original title sponsor. Without them taking a chance on a show that didn’t yet exist, MGL may never have left the clubhouse.

Today, MGL Radio is stronger than ever. Our affiliate network of 12 stations brings the show into every major market in the state, Saturday mornings, May through April.

MGL-TV Time: As a young boy (back when I had hair), my father asked me to “star” in TV commercials for his auto dealerships. Make no mistake, these commercials were NOT good, but they did introduce me to the world of storytelling via visual medium.

In 2005, MGL-TV made its debut on small regional cable outlets.

The groundwork was being laid to travel the world and showcase great destinations. Our original Director of Production, Gregg Hall, has been shooting, editing (heavily!), and producing MGL-TV since day one. Without a doubt, Gregg is the MVP of everything you see on MGLTV, if for no other reason than he has to watch and edit my swing week after week after week.

When we made the leap from tiny cable outlets to the “big leagues” of Fox Sports Detroit, the entire world of MGL changed. The visibility of the show and our featured destination partners has helped open doors to places I once only dreamed of visiting.

Making the Turn: We’re not done yet... not even close. Our new digital outlet – Fore Golfers Network – continues to gain in popularity and has allowed us to take the TV show into neighboring states. The 20-year

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milestone also reminds me that without a gracious family and dedicated audience, MGL wouldn’t have made it past year one. Thank you for being such a vital part of our two decades of fun!

Top 5 MGL Moments the First 20 Years: 5) Walking inside the ropes with Tiger at Warwick Hills as he wins the final Buick Open in 2009 4) Running into Barry Sanders at a fitness center and having him tell me he never misses MGL-TV 3) Covering the 2016 Ryder Cup Matches at Hazeltine with my son 2) “Standing to Honor” fallen hero Brock Bucklin at the 2019 Treetops Patriot Shootout 1) Being invited into Butler Cabin with my son at the 2016 Masters

Michigan Golf Golf Journal Mississippi

Mississippi Blues, BBQ, White Gold – And a Heaping Helping of Golf

By Tom Lang

Have you ever had a bad day on the golf course and started ‘singing the blues’?

Then you’ll fit right in along Highway 61 of the Mississippi Delta – the true Birthplace of the Blues.

Thankfully, it would be hard to have a bad day while enjoying Blues music and its rich history – and the variety of good golf – from Memphis, Tenn. to points south in Mississippi along the trail to New Orleans that most of the original, soulful musicians traversed long ago.

We’ll get to the golf on the next couple pages, but first – major music landmarks to search out include: •

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•

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Blues Archive and Living Blues publication office on the campus of Ole Miss in Oxford (near the preserved home of novelist William Faulkner) Dockery Plantation, birthplace of the Blues, Cleveland (MS) – and while there visit the modern-day Grammy Museum Mississippi, the official museum for the Grammy Awards east of The River City of Clarksdale, a step back in time with juke joints like Red’s Blue Club, or Ground Zero (co-owned by MS native Morgan Freeman – yes, the same Morgan Freeman) Gateway to the Blues Museum in Tunica

Bring your favorite golf clubs – but you can leave your instruments at home and still have a great time experiencing live music or visiting Blues landmarks and museums – all while stuffing your belly with BBQ.

Oh baby, the BBQ: Just south of the Memphis Airport in Horn Lake, MS (neighboring community of

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incredible corn bread and more – and still couldn’t finish half of the food.

The Delta Meat Market inside the brandnew Cotton House Hotel in Cleveland puts such large, thick cuts of meat on your plate you could bust a vein trying to finish it all.

And before leaving town don’t pass up the rugged looking Airport Grocery (yes, despite the name it’s a restaurant bar) for some great country BBQ cooking. modern-day novelist John Grisham) is the Memphis BBQ Company, named best BBQ restaurant in the state by Delish magazine, and where co-owner Melissa Cookston is the only female World Champion BBQ Pitmaster. Our group of 15 ordered two of the huge sample platters overflowing with brisket, chicken, ribs, pulled pork, sausage,

Golfing in the Delta: Playing golf in Mississippi’s northwest corner is a little more spread out than the find-a-golf-course-in-every-town luxury we are accustomed to in Michigan – but several nice green-grass choices are available, dotting the river basin, soil-rich countryside Continues on next page >>

Tunica National Holes 18 and 1

Michigan Golf Golf Journal Mississippi

National is a newer course in the state. What stood out was the subtle design characteristics that create a well-thought-out combination of challenge and aesthetics. Well-placed bunkers in relation to the five sets of tee box choices are key elements for shooting a good score.

River Bends Links

that’s filled with Mississippi ‘white gold’ cotton crops gleaming in the sunlight.

River Bend Links (Tunica Resorts): Built in an area with a man-made levy holding back the mighty Mississippi, River Bend Links is designed with a Scottish, shoreline links feel to its lightly rolling landscape. Accuracy is premium with many narrow fairways and small greens in an area filled with marshland – yet where most of the water actually doesn’t intrude with play.

A great stretch of holes, 16-18, closes out the round. Hole 16 is a unique 90-degree right turn fairway to a very deep but thin green that’s not visible from the tee. A nice par 3 over water follows; its green complex offering four regions for various flag placements. Hole 18 is a solid closing hole that gently turns left as it meanders between water left and right. More info at: www.riverbendlinks.com.

Tunica National (Tunica Resorts): By far the most manicured and wellmaintained course on our tour, Tunica

The closing holes on each 9 were most memorable. Hole 8 is a par 3 to a somewhatelevated green complex with a waste bunker guarding the entire right side of the hole. Hole 9 is a solid par 4 with water guarding the entire length along the right. Hole 18 is visually appealing and a tough finish. Waste bunkers dot the right and water guards the entire left, before all golfers must pop the approach shot over water to the large run-up area and green.

More info at: www.tunicanational.com.

Ole Miss Golf Club (Oxford): My favorite course on the trip, Ole Miss is the home course for the Ole Miss college golf team. The front 9 plays down through a low area of the property with a few water holes, while the back 9 has very dramatic elevation changes that provide both challenge and some beautiful views. Holes 1, 9, 11 and 18 play through a significant valley with elevated tees and greens bookending each hole.

Hole 13 is the only flat hole on the back and plays along the city airport’s one runway, creating an unusually cool hole with a deep crevasse left of the approach to the green.

December 2019 www.michigangolfjournal.com

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Ole Miss Golf Club Hole 18

Any Big Ten fan that might be checking out college golf courses of the SEC would be wise to add this one to the list. More info at: www.theolemissgolfcourse.com.

Cherokee Valley (Olive Branch): Built in the late 1990s, the property is family-owned, and their pride and daily involvement shows. Cherokee Valley has many huge greens and wide-open fairways.

It’s no pushover but is a course anyone can play. Several holes have a stadium design framework to guide your eye and sometimes kick wayward balls back in play.

Bunkers are artfully shaped, and most have fresh new sand. Most bunkers are also positioned away from the green edges to create a depth-of-field illusion. The course was built on a former cattle ranch, evident by the rolling terrain, with seven holes featuring water challenges. The 12th hole is a shorter par 4 with a boomerang 90-degree right turn

around water to a green that some golfers can reach from the tee. Just plain fun: www.olivebranchgolf.com.

North Creek (South Haven): This course has a half-dozen short to mid-length par 4s (six of them 355 yards or shorter from the back tees), giving most golfers an increased chance at putting for some birdies. From the tips, it’s only 6,433 yards overall. The tradeoff is accuracy as water comes into play often, especially the 18th hole with its island green.

Another unique trait is the cart path to the 14th tee tunnels under the over-sized double green that serves as the putting surface for holes 13 and 15. Man-made mounds could be counted in the thousands, and the bunkers are shaped beautifully but need new sand and other updates. More info at: www.wwncgolf.com.

Michigan Golf Journal Michigan News and Notes

Girls High School All-State Awards Miss Golf 2019: Allison Cui, Okemos The sophomore won the Division 1 state championship this fall, played at Forest Askers West. She also tied for first place as a freshman last year in Div. 2 before bowing out in a playoff. Cui reached the finals of Drive, Chip and Putt in 2017 at Augusta National.

2019 All-State Super Team (in alpha order): Bridget Boczar So. Plymouth Jolie Brochu Jr. Flint Powers Catholic Kate Brody Fr. Grand Blanc Ariel Chang Jr. Utica Eisenhower Anci Dy Jr. Traverse City West Lilia Henkel Jr. GR Forest Hills Northern Shannon Kennedy Jr. Birmingham Marian Also, congratulations to Jim Snow (Girls, Powers Catholic) and Erik Fahlen (Boys, Northpointe Christian) on being selected as the 2019 MHSCA Golf Coaches of the Year.

A complete list of Girls Divisional All-State teams can found at: http://www.migca. org/?Awards&view=2019+Girls+All-State

New Golf Cup Design by Michigan Inventor Larry Koning, a Michigan golfer and second-generation tool maker from the city of Holland, has developed a new product that should reduce golf ball cup damage and improve pace of play – but also help golfers who have trouble bending down to retrieve their ball from the cup.

The new Golf Ball Tender is a pliable plastic disk that attaches to the flagstick stem and rests at the bottom of the cup. Golfers can lift the

flagstick to retrieve the ball instead of using a putter to try to pop the ball out or squeezing their hands into the cup with the flagstick still in – as both actions can damage the cup.

“It’s just hard to get your ball out of that cup without impacting the edges,” Koning said in a news release. “The more you talk to superintendents, the more you hear about cups fraying as a result of players

retrieving their ball with the flag still in.”

Golf Ball Tender is currently available at www. golfballtender.com

December 2019 www.michigangolfjournal.com

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Meijer and Dow LPGA Tournaments Increase Purses to Highest on Tour Both the Meijer LPGA Classic and the Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational have increased their purses to $2.3 million, making them the highest paying LPGA Tour events in America that are not majors (nor the season ending Tour Championship). That makes both

Michigan tournaments a priority for the top players in women’s golf deciding what events to put on their 2020 schedule. The Meijer LPGA Classic consistently raises $1 million or more each year for the Simply Give food pantry restocking program, the event’s charitable component.

Five New Members Inducted into 2019 Michigan PGA Hall of Fame Bob Ackerman, a 37-year PGA Member began his career in the Illinois Section, and has been in Michigan for more than 20 years. He is a Master Professional, 7-time PGA Player of the Year in four different PGA Sections, winner of three State Opens, six Match Play titles and three Section PGA Championships; plus a fourtime Big Ten Champion.

Ron Beurmann, a PGA Member for 33 years, has served at Country Club of Jackson for the past 29 years.

He has mentored over 25 Evans Scholars during his career. His accomplishments include 17-time qualifier of the PGA National Professional Championship, Michigan PGA Player of

the Year in 2004 and Michigan PGA Golf Professional of the Year in 2014.

Bernie Friedrich, a 36-year PGA Member, joined the Boyne Resorts team in 1976 when the resort company had three golf courses. He now oversees the company’s 13 courses and semi-private clubs in Maine, Michigan and Montana.

John Lindert, a PGA Member for 36 years, has served on the PGA Board of Directors since 2016 and four national PGA Committees: Governance Task Force Chair—2017, Membership— 2008-to present, Board of Control—2009-13 and Special Awards—2006-07.

He was elected PGA of America Secretary at the 2018 PGA Annual Meeting.

Al Mengert, a 62-year PGA Member, turned professional in 1952 and competed on Tour in 27 major championships, including 8 Masters. He served as an assistant at Winged Foot and worked his way to Director of Golf at 10 famous clubs in America, including Oakland Hills. Early on in his career, he designed clubs for MacGregor and Spalding.

Michigan News and Notes

2019 Award Winners of Michigan Golf Course Association

Bob Koutnik, owner of Fox Run Country Club in Grayling, received the Lyle Leeke Distinguished Service Award, presented to an individual who has displayed distinguished service to the MGCA and the golf industry in the state of Michigan. He’s a catalyst for Patriot Golf Day in Michigan and recipient of the first Patriot Golf Award from the Michigan Section PGA.

Janina Jacobs received the Matthews Lifetime Achievement Award, presented for a lifetime of steadfast leadership, outstanding service and continuous commitment to the Michigan golf industry. Jacobs is a multi-media consultant specializing in golf, business, music, nutrition, fitness, community and women’s issues.

Ferris State University’s Professional Golf Management Program earned the

Award of Merit, reserved for significant, measurable and meaningful work in and for the golf industry and beyond. The Professional Golf Management program at Ferris is iconic in Michigan where it was founded in 1975 as the first of its kind sanctioned by the PGA of America.

The Detroit Golf Club was voted 2019 Golf Course of the Year, which each year honors a member course in good standing that has demonstrated exceptional quality of the golf course, quality of ownership and management, outstanding contribution to its community and significant contributions to the game. Full story found here: https:// michigangolfjournal.com/detroit-golfclub-named-2019-michigan-golf-courseof-the-year/

Rocket Mortgage Classic Wins 3 “Best Of” Awards “Best Tournament Sales.”

The tournament also won the newly introduced “Fair Way Award” for its diversity and inclusion initiatives.

The Rocket Mortgage Classic was honored by the PGA TOUR by earning awards for “Best Special Event,” recognizing the Area 313 Celebrity Challenge, and

The Area 313 Celebrity Challenge, a three-team, three-hole charity fundraiser between Dustin Johnson, Rickie Fowler, Bubba Watson and celebrities Jerome Bettis, Kid Rock and Tom

Izzo, entertained more than 10,000 fans.

“We are particularly proud to have the Rocket Mortgage Classic named as the first recipient of the Fair Way Award,” said Jason Langwell, the Executive Director. “Since Day 1, we have made it a priority to make this event inclusive to all and representative of the demographics of Detroit.”

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MICHIGAN COLLEGES SIGN NEW RECRUITS DŝĐŚŝŐĂŶ ^ƚĂƚĞ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ hŶŝǀĞƌƐŝƚLJ ŽĨ DŝĐŚŝŐĂŶ ŵĞŶ͛Ɛ ĂŶĚ ǁŽŵĞŶ͛Ɛ ŐŽůĨ ƚĞĂŵƐ ʹ ĂůŽŶŐ ǁŝƚŚ tĂLJŶĞ ^ƚĂƚĞ͕ Dh͕ ^ĂŐŝŶĂǁ sĂůůĞLJ͕ KĂŬůĂŶĚ͕ EŽƌƚŚǁŽŽĚ ĂŶĚ ,ŝůůƐĚĂůĞ ŽůůĞŐĞ ʹ ƐŝŐŶĞĚ ŶĞǁ ƌĞĐƌƵŝƚƐ ŝŶ ŵŝĚͲEŽǀĞŵďĞƌ ƚŽ ũŽŝŶ ƚŚĞŝƌ ĐŽůůĞŐĞ ŐŽůĨ ƉƌŽŐƌĂŵƐ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ĨĂůů ŽĨ ϮϬϮϬ͘ EĞǁ Michigan ŐŽůĨ ĐŽĂĐŚ ĂĐŚ ĂƌůŽǁ͕ ǁŚŽ ďĞĐĂŵĞ ŚĞĂĚ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ tŽůǀĞƌŝŶĞ͛Ɛ ƉƌŽŐƌĂŵ ƚŚŝƐ ƐƵŵŵĞƌ ĨƌŽŵ ŝŐ dĞŶ ƌŝǀĂů /ůůŝŶŽŝƐ͕ ƐŝŐŶĞĚ tŝůů ŶĚĞƌƐŽŶ ŽĨ WŽƌƚĂŐĞ ĞŶƚƌĂů ,ŝŐŚ͕ ĞŶ ,ŽĂŐůĂŶĚ ; ǀĂŶƐǀŝůůĞ͕ /ŶĚ͘Ϳ ĂŶĚ :ĂĐŬ K͛ ŽŶŶĞůů ; ŽŚĂƐƐĞƚ͕ DĂƐƐ͘Ϳ͕ ǁŚŽ ǁĂƐ ƚŚĞ DĂƐƐĂĐŚƵƐĞƩƐ ŚŝŐŚ ƐĐŚŽŽů ĐŽͲƐƚĂƚĞ ĐŚĂŵƉŝŽŶ ŝŶ ϮϬϭϳ͘ dŚĞ ǁŽŵĞŶ͛Ɛ ƉƌŽŐƌĂŵ ŝŶ ŶŶ ƌďŽƌ ƌĞĐƌƵŝƚĞĚ ĂŶĚ ƐŝŐŶĞĚ ŽŶĞ ƉůĂLJĞƌ͕ DŽŶĞƚ ŚƵŶ ʹ ŽĨ ZŝĐŚŵŽŶĚ ,ŝůů͕ KŶƚĂƌŝŽ ĂŶĂĚĂ͕ Ă ƚŚƌĞĞͲLJĞĂƌ ŵĞŵďĞƌ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ 'ŽůĨ ĂŶĂĚĂ :ƵŶŝŽƌ EĂƟŽŶĂů dĞĂŵ͘ Michigan State ŵĞŶ͛Ɛ ŐŽůĨ ĐŽĂĐŚ ĂƐĞLJ >ƵďĂŚŶ ĂŶŶŽƵŶĐĞĚ ƚŚĞ ƐŝŐŶŝŶŐ ŽĨ ƚǁŽ DŝĐŚŝŐĂŶ ŶĂƟǀĞƐ͗ dLJůĞƌ ĞĚLJ ;tĞƐƚ ƌĂŶĐŚͿ ĂŶĚ ƵŐƵƐƚ DĞĞŬŚŽĨ ; ŽŽƉĞƌƐǀŝůůĞͿ ǁŝůů ďŽƚŚ ũŽŝŶ ƚŚĞ ^ƉĂƌƚĂŶƐ͘ DĞĞŬŚŽĨ ŝƐ ƚŚĞ EŽ͘ ϭ ƌĂŶŬĞĚ :ƵŶŝŽƌ ƉůĂLJĞƌ ŝŶ DŝĐŚŝŐĂŶ͕ ĨŽůůŽǁĞĚ ďLJ ĞĚLJ Ăƚ EŽ͘ Ϯ͕ ďŽƚŚ ďLJ EĂƟŽŶĂů :ƵŶŝŽƌ 'ŽůĨ ^ĐŽƌĞďŽĂƌĚ͘

^ƚĂĐLJ ^ůŽďŽĚŶŝŬͲ^ƚŽůů ĐŽŶƟŶƵĞĚ Ă ƚƌĞŶĚ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ MSU Women ŽĨ ĂƩƌĂĐƟŶŐ ƚŽƉ ƚĂůĞŶƚ ĨƌŽŵ ŽƵƚƐŝĚĞ ƚŚĞ ƐƚĂƚĞ͕ ƚŚŝƐ LJĞĂƌ ǁŝƚŚ >ĞŝůĂ ZĂŝŶĞƐ ;'ĂůĞŶĂ͕ KŚŝŽͿ ĂŶĚ sĂůĞŶƟŶĂ ZŽƐƐŝ ;ZŽƐĂƌŝŽ͕ ƌŐĞŶƟŶĂͿ ũŽŝŶŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ^ƉĂƌƚĂŶƐ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ ϮϬϮϬͲϮϭ ƐĞĂƐŽŶ͘ ĚĚŝƟŽŶĂů ' D ŵĞŵďĞƌƐ ǁŚŽ ŚĂǀĞ ƐŝŐŶĞĚ ƚŚĞŝƌ EĂƟŽŶĂů >ĞƩĞƌ ŽĨ /ŶƚĞŶƚ ;E>/Ϳ ƚŽ ƉůĂLJ ĐŽůůĞŐĞ ŐŽůĨ ďĞŐŝŶŶŝŶŐ ŶĞdžƚ ĨĂůů ŝŶĐůƵĚĞ͗ Haydon Chapman ;DĂƌƐŚĂůůͿ ʹ tĂLJŶĞ ^ƚĂƚĞ hŶŝǀĞƌƐŝƚLJ x WĂƚƌŝĐŬ ĞĂƌĚŽƌī ; ůĂƌŬƐƚŽŶͿ ʹ ĂƐƚĞƌŶ DŝĐŚŝŐĂŶ hŶŝǀĞƌƐŝƚLJ x Mandy Ehlrich ;'ƌĂŶĚ ZĂƉŝĚƐͿ ʹ ^ĂŐŝŶĂǁ sĂůůĞLJ ^ƚĂƚĞ hŶŝǀĞƌƐŝƚLJ x Savannah Haque ;ZŽĐŚĞƐƚĞƌ ,ŝůůƐͿ ʹ KĂŬůĂŶĚ hŶŝǀĞƌƐŝƚLJ x Evan Johnson ;'ƌŽƐƐĞ /ůĞͿ ʹ EŽƌƚŚǁŽŽĚ hŶǀŝǀĞƌƐŝƚLJ x Max O’Rourke ;tĞƐƚ ůŽŽŵĮĞůĚͿ ʹ tĂLJŶĞ ^ƚĂƚĞ hŶŝǀĞƌƐŝƚLJ x Hailey Tanis ;DŝĚůĂŶĚͿ ʹ hŶŝǀĞƌƐŝƚLJ ŽĨ ĂLJƚŽŶ x Grant Tucker ;&ůƵƐŚŝŶŐͿ ʹ KĂŬůĂŶĚ hŶŝǀĞƌƐŝƚLJ x tŝůů sĞƌĚƵnjĐŽ ;<ĂůĂŵĂnjŽŽͿ ʹ ,ŝůůƐĚĂůĞ ŽůůĞŐĞ x

Michigan Golf Journal Golf Technology

Golf Data Feedback – From Head to Toe

By Tom Lang

When video came onto the scene, golf instruction was revolutionized because teachers could more than just talk about how to improve a golfer’s swing – they could show you.

The same now goes for what your foundation – your feet – are doing before and during the swing.

A recent joint agreement between V1 Golf and BodiTrak to create the V1 Sports Pressure Mat powered

by BodiTrak gives golfers and their instructors new data collection options to ‘paint a picture’ better than ever before.

“When video came out it established and helped golfers see positions of the swing that they weren’t necessarily aware of,” said 2016 Michigan PGA Teacher of the Year Jeff Goble of the Fox Hills Performance Center in Plymouth Township. “Even exceptional players thought they were in one place, but they were not. Video doesn’t lie, and the video tells them something.

“Now with the pressure mat, we get that same type of data but from a different source. How the feet interact with the ground transitions into the other moving parts of the

December 2019 www.michigangolfjournal.com

golf swing. It’s like video from the ground up.”

The professionals at BodiTrak have been testing golfers of all skill levels for years and are widely-know by the pros on the PGA and LPGA Tours. They said that not one pro at address has more pressure on their trailing foot; rather they generally have 55-60% on their lead foot (left foot for righties).

Data measurements as finite as this can now be measured and displayed as part of the V1 software, to improve more golfers’ games. V1 was first devised to help enhance communications and teachable moments between golfers and their instructors. With the V1 app on your cell phone or i-Pad a teacher and student can share videos of the golfer’s swing in between the faceto-face lessons, providing opportunity for the instructor to share analysis and suggestions through voiceover, text, email or even telestrator drawings on the video.

Other advantages of the V1 Sports Pressure Mat include showing golfers if they are putting too much pressure on their heels or toes, which

is an important indicator because on the human body, toes are designed to be ‘brakes’ and heels ‘accelerators.’ Utilizing this information can improve speed in the golf swing.

Jordan Young, a 2013 National Award winner for Player Development, PGA of America, and was Michigan Teacher of the year in 2012, is the lead instructor at the Learning Center, and along with Goble was one of the first instructors in Michigan using the BodiTrak system.

Both say that a stable and balanced foundation is essential. When a golfer is under stress, their hands will make more mistakes than will their feet, so learning to make the latter more consistent helps improve the chances the bad shots won’t end up worse.

“BodiTrak is one of my favorite training aids to use with students of all abilities,” Young said.

“I believe that correct pressure patterns in the feet promote proper motions throughout the rest of the body, like electricity. As the movement patterns become more efficient, so do the students skills. Using V1 and

33

BodiTrak together provide instant bio-feedback, ultimately speeding up development.”

Former Golf Channel teacher Michael Breed has signed on as a special ambassador for the brand.

Breed will be integrating V1 Pro video analysis with his instruction on all of his media platforms, including his A New Breed of Golf online video network, in his Golf Digest All Access digital instruction and at the Michael Breed Golf Academy at Trump Golf Links at Ferry Point (Bronx, NY). He will also be demonstrating the V1 Golf Mobile App’s best practices and explaining how golfers can use the custom app at home or on the range to practice his expert tips and drills.

More info is at www. v1sports.com and www. foxhillslearningcenter.com.

Michigan Golf18 Journal Michigan’s Signature Holes

18 Great Michigan Golf Holes: A Pure Michigan Video Celebration

Greywalls

Boyne’s Bay Harbor

Stoatin Brae

The folks at Pure Michigan created a video highlight reel of 18 signature golf holes across the state as part of its 2019 tourism campaign. We’re sharing it with you here. Whether viewers are from out of state or right here in the greatest of the Great Lakes States, these videos will hopefully get you immersed in anticipation of a big golfing season in 2020.

Some courses featured include Pilgrim’s Run, Crystal Mountain, Arcadia Bluffs, Stoatin Brae at Gull Lake, Eagle Eye, Boyne’s Bay Harbor, Greywalls, Sweetgrass and Shepherd’s Hollow.

For the Pure Michigan 18 signature holes showcase, visit: michigan.org/puremichigan18.

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