What a glorious time of year where golfing weather becomes more stable than April, and the beauty of our state ‘waking up’ from a long winter’s nap reaches full bloom.
Crystal Mountain was first a ski resort but is our cover story because of the great golf courses they offer now accessible because the snow is gone.
Speaking of snow and cold, a generational ice storm hit northern Michigan on March 30. The devastation is actually immeasurable it’s so severe. But the golf courses came through well, and they are ready for golfers.
We also share the glorious history of the 100-year-old Indianwood Country Club, a metro Detroit beauty that’s hosted several national events in Oakland County.
This month you can also find:
Spring updates on college golf in MI
A high school golf tournament of patriot significance
An adaptive golfer thankful for a new lease on life And so much more !
Thank you as always for joining us on our golfing adventures.
TomLang
What's Inside:
BOYNE Golf and The Highlands Awarded BOYNE Golf and Highlands Awarded
USA Today Newspaper’s 10BEST USA Today Newspaper’s 10BEST
Boyne Golf is one of North America's largest golf resort destinations and was recently recognized by USA Today readers as No. 1 among the 10BEST Golf Destinations in the U.S. for a golf getaway. In addition, The Highlands was ranked No. 2 in the 10BEST Golf Resort category.
3rdHole,BayHarborGolfClubLinks
boutique hotel reminiscent of an English country estate with Scottish Highlands charm.
After almost 60 years, Boyne now encompasses 11 courses and three resort properties. Guests can also be treated to premier lodging, the Inn at Bay Harbor, located along the scenic shores of Lake Michigan; beautifully-updated Mountain Grand Lodge and Chalet Edelweiss at Boyne Mountain, and the Main Lodge at The Highlands, which has been transformed into a high-end hardwoods. Nearby Crooked Tree Golf Club is carved through stands of centuries-old hardwoods perched on bluffs overlooking Little Traverse Bay.
Everett Kircher, who founded Boyne Resorts in 1947 by acquiring 40 acres of land with a modest ski hill for $1, has since become North America's largest family-owned golf and ski company. A former Michigan state senator said as he accepted $1 from Kircher for the land … “Anybody damn fool enough to want to build a ski hill, well … I’ll give you this property.”
The Bay Harbor Golf Club, designed by Arthur Hills, offers 27 holes with the award-winning Links/Quarry and Preserve courses. It features a unique combination of open links along the Lake Michigan bluffs, holes flowing in and out of a rock quarry, and through the area ' s
Doon Brae is the brand new this summer 9-hole short course at The Highlands. Other courses there north of Petoskey include The Heather course, Arthur Hills course, The Moor, and the Donald Ross Memorial, which is also undergoing course renovations.
The original courses at Boyne Mountain are the Alpine and the Monument. At the same property is the mighty new SkyBridge Michigan, the world’s longest timber-towered suspension bridge ‘floating’ 118 feet above Boyne Valley, popular with non-golfers too, especially for fall color viewing for miles.
100 Years: Indianwood Country Club 100 Years: Indianwood Country Club
ByTomLang ByTomLang
Settled into the rolling hills of Oakland County stands a testament of time – 100 years serving golf lovers in Lake Orion.
Indianwood’s famed Old Course celebrates one century in June, and the party will include a past national champion as the guest of honor. British pro Roger Chapman, the 2012 U.S. Senior Open Champion from when that event was contested at Indianwood, plans to participate.
“The milestone is huge to us. For any company to be around 100 years is a big achievement… quite an accomplishment… whether it’s a big
building downtown… We’re pretty proud of that,” said Kevin Aldridge, president of the club and son of the local business legend Stan Aldridge who bought the club in 1981 but who passed away in recent years. “My mom and my dad were pretty deep into history, so being a big part of a 100-year-old (club) means a lot to our family.
Aldridge explained to me that his father was not a golfer, but bought the golf course anyway and the family was very surprised. “We asked him if he fell down and bumped his head,” he said with a chuckle. “Then as he got into it and we got into it as a family we realized how special the old course is, and how special the club is, and its history.”
Indianwood
What might explain that the elder Aldridge did not bump his head is the fact his uncles, during his childhood, were members there. There is a family photo of Stan at age 9 in front of the club. Kevin surmised that his dad’s childhood memories were a draw, not so much the sport itself.
“That was his attraction to the club and its history,” Kevin said. “And it was the first golf course I had ever been to, and I remember walking around behind the 18 green and looking out over the golf course and just thought to myself how really cool it looked.” th
Kevin eventually became a golf course builder, in one case taking the designs of Ray Hearn and constructing the Strategic Fox par 3 course at Fox Hills in Plymouth.
At Indianwood, he says the top attributes are the green complexes.
“In general, I think the green complexes are pretty special… as well as how Wilfred Reid put the golf course onto the property,” he said. “Back in the day you were limited to horse and plow. And as a golf course (building) contractor, I can really appreciate the things that happened out here back in the 1920s. Guys like Donald Ross and Harry S. Colt, they really had to put golf courses on to the land (mostly as is), and that’s not an easy task (like it is today with machinery).
“The whole layout of the course, the topography, is really spectacular,” Aldridge added. “It’s really incredible out here. Everyone from Pete Dye to PJ Boatwright (of USGA fame), all these big shots in the golf industry, when they come out here, they are wowed.”
PGA Tour pro Tom Gillis of Lake Orion, who retired from the Champions Tour last year, began his golf career at age 14 as a caddy at Indianwood. He was a long-time fixture at Indianwood honing
his skills for the PGA Tour.
“My favorite time to play Indianwood was late in the afternoon,” Gillis told me.
“The setting sun over the course makes the goldenbrown heather pop. Just majestic.” Continueson
CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION
Part of Indianwood’s history includes hosting at least a half dozen pro tour events. There was the Western Open in 1930 won by Gene Sarazen, and then back to back Michigan PGA Championships in 1948 (Horton Smith) and ’49 (Chick Harbert).
The USGA came to town when selecting Indianwood as host to the 1989 and 1994 U.S. Women’s Opens, followed by the 2012 U.S. Senior Open. Chapman won by two shots ahead of Fred Funk, Tom Lehman, Corey Pavin and Bernhard Langer.
In a course review found on top100courses.com, a writer had this to say about Indianwood:
Michigan’s U.P. resort has lived up to the reputation of hosting the EPSON Tour so well on several levels, its involvement helped earn its anchor golf course – Sweetgrass – 2022 National Golf Course of the Year – an award that factors in topics like community support and growing the game for picking the top properties each year.
Since the tournament’s inception in 2011, the Island Resort Championship has truly been a melting pot for competitors from around the world. Following its first four years, which were dominated by Americans, the Championship has produced numerous winners from outside the U.S. These were followed by Michigan native Daniela Iacobelli in 2019, who won the tournament at 11-under par.
The defending champ this June 20-22 is Soo Bin Joo, who won her first event at Island Resort and Casino.
“We like what it’s about, and the opportunities it provides people… and we’re really proud to be part of it because it creates a lot of opportunity for women golfers,” GM Tony Mancilla said about the EPSON Tour.
“There’s only 200 courses in America that host a professional event, and we’re one of them. We never get negative feedback. I feel like we run a good event. I think it showcases Michigan golf, but also showcases U.P. golf. We’re showcasing the U.P. and what the U.P. has.”
The EPSON Tour is growing in Michigan by having three consecutive events in a row. On June 6-8, the Firekeepers Championship will take place at Battle Creek Country Club, followed by a new event at Boyne Highlands, the Great Lakes Championship the week prior to the final leg at Island Resort.
“I’m really excited about the Boyne people coming on,” Mancilla added. “Boyne will do it first class. No matter what happens there, the ladies are going to say, northern Michigan is pretty cool. Battle Creek has a lot too, so I think the three (locations) will be great. But our role is to highlight the U.P.”
Saying that the Escanaba region has welcomed the professional women golfers and the tournament with open arms seems cliché, but the tournament is double- and triple-circled on residents’ summer calendars due to its massive popularity for kids and families, and all for a good cause.
Fairways and Fun: Crystal Mountain’s a Fairways and Fun: Crystal Mountain’s a Great Golf Getaway for All Great Golf Getaway for All
ByTomLang ByTomLang
If kids and parents are the judge, Crystal Mountain in Northwest Michigan will often times win the award for a fun and active place families can gather, bond, recreate, rejuvenate, relax – and play tremendous golf every spring, summer and fall.
The Benzie County region is well known for its long list of outdoor activities. Then, when you add in golf – whether playing for fun or some competition, or practicing and taking lessons –Crystal Mountain makes a great location for the next vacation or business gathering.
“There’s a lot going on, especially for families,” said new director of golf, Mark Fenech. “You can never be bored here. Crystal has so many things to do that once you’re on the property, you’re good to go. It’s a great base to go out to Sleeping Bear Dunes and touch Lake Michigan, there’s swimming, or just hanging out in this beautiful area. There’s great canoeing and kayaking, fishing. This is a perfect home base for all those things.”
The Mountain Ridge course is rated a top 100 layout in Michigan. This June will be the 23 consecutive year hosting the Michigan Women’s Open, which draws the top amateurs, plus pros from all across the U.S. working on their game to try reaching the LPGA Tour. Others already made that Tour. Over the years many up-and-coming tour pros, plus a couple of Michigan’s best amateurs, have won the title.
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“The Crystal Mountain team consistently goes above and beyond to make the week special for the players, pro-am participants, volunteers and our staff,” said Kevin Helm, executive director of the Michigan PGA Section. “In addition to players from Michigan, we have players from across the country who come back year after year because they are treated so well. The resort is a huge part of that, but many players also enjoy the opportunity to experience the beauty and everything that Northern Michigan has to offer while competing in the Michigan Women's Open.”
Translation:what Crystal Mountain does for
them, they will do for you. At least that is what my family experienced for over 10 consecutive years, making it our annual spot. In a recent conversation with my nowadult daughter, she reiterated that Crystal Mountain holds many of her favorite family memories.
Mountain Ridge has always been a treat to play. It starts out below the mountain, winding its way through woods and water features the first 15 holes. Then a trek up the mountain is in order. On the long, winding journey from 15 green to the 16 tee near the top, make sure to stop for a couple minutes at the scenic overlook along the cart path, or again at the 17 tee. Both locations feature nothing but tens of thousands of trees as far as you can see toward Lake Michigan about 15 miles away – trees that paint a very colorful tapestry during their fall peak of early to mid-October. Hole 17 is a severelydownhill par 3 that test all players, before the par five 18 drifts and twists downhill for one of the best finishing holes you’ll find anywhere.
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Betsie Valley is the original course at Crystal Mountain. It’s gone through some wonderful renovations the past several years with tree removal, expanded irrigation and other design feature adjustments to make it a great course where beginners and advanced players alike can enjoy a great round of golf.
Fenech really enjoys the way the changes have enhanced the entire golf experience.
“The layout of the land is ideal,” Fenech said as a venue for the Women’s Open. “It’s not over the top. Getting strong courses like this in the rotation where the ladies can show their talents (is needed more). We have a course here that excites them to play it.”
“When we can better control (water on) all the different zones and those things, it takes all the course aesthetics through the roof,” he said. “We’ve done some thinning out (of trees) and getting the sand back in play at Mountain Ridge has brought a new feel to the property – almost Pinehursty. The property has gone through some nice modernization stages.”
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COVER
When it’s time to improve your golf game, Crystal Mountain’s 10-acre Learning Center should exceed your needs. There’s a multitiered chipping area with bunkers, large putting green, and plenty of stalls to swing away on the driving range. Private and group instruction is provided by several of the most experienced Class-A PGA teaching pros in America. New things on the docket for 2025 include clinics on Sunday Morning plus new ideas being developed for Junior Golf Camps.
OnsiteFamilyFunwithGreat Accommodations:
It’s easy to stay at Crystal Mountain for several days, as there are a wide variety of lodging options to fit any family or group needs. Whether you’re looking for a hotel suite for two, a 2-3-bedroom cottage, or a Mountain Top townhome that sleeps up to 10 people, the
accommodations feel better than home away from home. I have observed that Crystal continues to keep the lodging units up-to-date and outfitted with modern amenities. Most recently, the Hamlet Hotel rooms have received a fresh look with new furniture, flooring and accessories.
While you don’t have to stay overnight at Crystal to play at Crystal, there are plenty of Stay & Play package options. One example is 36 holes of championship golf on Betsie Valley and Mountain Ridge, with a savings up to 30 percent off tee times when booking select dates. Plus, Juniors golfing at Crystal Mountain save up to half off on tee times – and they golf for free at Twilight with a paid adult.
Then there is the Players Pass offering unlimited golf on the Betsie Valley course anytime Monday through Thursday, at twilight
Friday through Saturday, and after 1:00 pm on Sunday. Play anytime as well during the early and late seasons. Other notable special offers include active military, veteran and senior discounts. Plus, there are ‘Hot Lodging Dates’ throughout the year offering up to 25 percent off select lodging and dates.
My favorite summer activity at Crystal, besides golf, is the new (2024) Crystal Coaster Alpine Slide – the only dual alpine slide in Michigan. It’s like a luge track but without the ice and snow, complete with high bank turns, tunnels, and dips. Riders sit up straight on the sled outfitted with wheels and riders utilize a hand brake to adjust their speed. Riders must take the Loki chairlift up
the mountain to the start line where they’ll take in wonderful views before flying down one of two tracks. Two parallel runs twist down 1,600 feet to the bottom of the ski hill.
Another newer feature near the Loki Quad Chairlift and Mountain Adventure Zone, is the Crystal Bungee Trampoline. Four jumpers are strapped in individually and are free to bounce 20 feet into the air off the trampoline. Late in the day, there are chair lift rides to the top of the mountain to watch magnificent sunsets to the west, followed by evening bonfires in the heart of the village in Barr Park. Sometimes you’ll even catch the remnants of live music coming from the Level 4 Lounge as you sit around the fire or play a yard game.
Crystal’s outdoor pool and water playground at the Park at Water’s Edge is designed with a wading area for the littlest tikes, water sports for the older kids, and a large area for peaceful lap swimming in the morning. The new poolside private cabana rentals are a nice touch, too, offering shade, table and chairs and other deck furniture. Many times, this outdoor water oasis becomes an all-day affair.
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The previously mentioned Sleeping Bear Dunes is a huge, worldwide attraction and wonderful half-day trip not far at all from Crystal Mountain. And of course, there is the natural Northern Michigan wonders to be explored up close via canoeing, kayaking, hiking and fishing.
Regarding the latter and its inspired name from fishing, Michigan’s first farm-to-table distillery is called Iron Fish Distillery. Much of what they do was developed by their location near the Betsie River and the steelhead fish that run through it. The company of family members who reclaimed the decades unused farmland are stewards of their land and solid neighbors of Crystal Mountain that many ski and golf enthusiasts enjoy during their visit to Crystal.
More than 100,000 visitors stop in each year. Iron Fish also sources bourbon for finishing in barrels from around the world. To date, its inventory of barrel-aged spirits exceeds 2,400 barrels, consisting of carefully sourced farm-barrel finished whiskies and estate whiskies distilled from grain grown on the farm and from nearby farms.
To see a short video on Crystal Mountain, go here: https://www.migolfjournal.com/ videos
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Golf Q&A: Golf Q&A: MSU Hockey’s MSU Hockey’s
Adam Nightingale Adam Nightingale
MSU Hockey Head Coach Adam Nightingale is a Cheboygan native, former MSU player and has in the last few years led the Michigan State hockey program from mediocre back to the top echelon in the country. He has led the Spartans to back-to-back Big Ten Championships.
One of his loves outside of the ice rink is the green grass of golf courses. He has no measured handicap but believes it’s in the 15-18 range.
MSU Men’s Golf Coach Casey Lubahn said of Nightingale: “He’s a nice player and is getting a lot better. More than that, he’s about the most fun guy to play with.”
Answer:“My dad wasn’t a golfer, but my two brothers and I would hit balls around in the backyard. But in one of my first jobs I was a manager of a driving range/ batting cage in Cheboygan. I used to drive the cart around and pick up balls in the open field. But if there was some down time, I could pound some balls because there wasn’t much else to do.”
A:“Oh yes. Managing frustration is one. Hockey is such a fast sport, and if you get frustrated, it can get away from you pretty quick. And that’s similar in golf. Not that the sport is as fast, but you really have to focus. We talk about that with the hockey team – the next shift mentality. I think it’s the same in golf, in that it’s your next
shot. And it’s not always going to go your way. So, managing those frustrations; I think that’s a big piece of it. And then there’s the hand-eye coordination. That’s important in both sports. But it’s as much the mental side of the two sports in general.”
Q:Whatattributesofgolfdrawyouintothe game?
A:“I love being outside, especially when growing up in northern Michigan. The courses up there are beautiful. It’s quiet, I like that side of the game. You can get away from things, but it’s the being outside that I really enjoy.”
A: “I’m lucky with my job in that we do multiple donor trips. All of them are great. We just got back from Sage Valley. It was an awesome course and great group of guys. And I love going up to northern Michigan. One donor owns Hidden River (Golf and Casting Club) and he lives about
don’t have to travel far in Michigan to find a really nice course.
“And if I ever could, I’d say somewhere over in Ireland is where I’d like to try (a new experience). I think that’d be cool.”
Q:Doyouhaveagolfcoursebucketlist?
A: “Well, I think everybody’s is Augusta. And any of the famous courses over in Ireland and Great Britain. They’d all be awesome. When you think of all the great moments in golf, and some of the golfers who have played those courses, it’s pretty cool knowing that some of these guys have hit great shots in the same place you could hit shots.”
Q:Whatmightbeyourgolfpetpeeves?
A: “Actually our assistant coach Jared DeMichiel is one of them. When he loses a ball,he will look for hours to try finding it. I
Continuesonnextpg.>> five miles from my parents. So, we go up there, and eat at his restaurant there, Trovato. A great place.
“We’ve played Belvedere and Boyne. I love all that, just getting back home and playing up there. There’s so many nice courses and you
just say ‘take a drop here, we’re not going to find this thing. And if you do you won’t be able to play it.’ Yup, that would be it.”
A: “I think our topography is great. I just love this state. It’s a beautiful state. We’ve got a ton of water – we’re so lucky to be surrounded by
the Great Lakes, and all the inland lakes and rivers. And it’s so easy to appreciate it more coming out of winter. Everything is starting to pop green. We don’t get that all year round to take it for granted.
Q:Doyouhaveanygolfsuperstitions?
A:“None. I’m anti-superstitious with our guys, our team. I mean if something doesn’t happen to fall in line you can’t let it throw you off. So, I try to do the opposite.”
Michigan’s (GAM) top tournaments – the Michigan Amateur and the GAM Championship. Being only the 11 person in GAM’s century-plus history to win both state majors in the same season led to being named the 2024 Player of the Year. th
Many years before, life was going extremely well for Bryan Biagioli. He had just moved to Michigan from Texas, was newly married, and had landed a great job at Detroit-based Rock Financial.
Triumph
Over Adversity: Triumph Over Adversity:
Bryan Biagioli Is Thankful
Bryan Biagioli Is Thankful for Second Chances for Second Chances
The Biagioli household has a lot to celebrate around the game of golf.
Bryan (dad) and McCoy (son) both excel in the game for very different reasons.
Bryan feels the joy of simply being able to play the game after a tragic car accident altered his life. McCoy shines in the game at the highest amateur level in Michigan.
McCoy heads into the 2025 competition season as defending champ of the Golf Association of
“I was on cloud nine… and in the blink of an eye, I rolled my truck and I’m on a helicopter to the hospital to save my life,” he said. “The incredible flight crew and doctors kept me alive and after several days and surgeries we decided to amputate my leg due to the severity of the break and infection.”
Amputations are life-changing for anyone, but as an athlete, they’re especially shocking. For Biagioli, who did return to work at Dan Gilbert’s company for 23 years but is now Executive Director of the Michigan Amputee Golfers as well as an Orthotics and Prosthetics Account Manager with Wright & Filippis, the injury only temporarily stalled him.
He grew up playing all sorts of sports, including baseball at Sam Houston State University.
BryanBiagioli-PhotoCreditSteveSweitzer
“The thought of not being able to play sports or possibly walk again was devastating,” Biagioli. “Being an athlete and growing up in Texas allowed me to overcome and adapt. My positive mindset and determination took over.”
The senior Biagioli looks back 26 years later and is thankful for his recovery, success, and career, crediting a higher power: “God works in mysterious ways. He gave me a second chance and that motivated me to work harder and smarter. I could’ve been gone… every day truly is a gift. I hunt, fish, work out, ride bikes, work in the yard and at our property up north, coach my kids’ sports, and play golf.”
After the accident, Biagioli eventually dedicated his efforts toward golf and has never played better. This led to winning the Michigan Adaptive Golf Championship three times, first in 2006, then in 2021 and 2023. The event, created in 1955, is the oldest regional adaptive tournament in the U.S.
There’s increased focus in the golf world on adaptive golf, especially toward veterans and military with lingering injuries and PTSD stemming from service to our country. Biagioli never served in the U.S. military, but people often assume that. In Florida, an
his leg and covered the family’s dinner, a frequent ‘thank-you’ by a well-meaning public.
“It was a generous gesture and opened my eyes, to pay it forward,” Biagioli said. “I volunteer locally with Adaptive Golf Clinics, which spreads awareness and gets participants off the couch and on the course. Golf is addicting so the more we expose people to it the better off they will be.”
McCoy certainly seems to have embraced his father’s work ethic and positivity. Like Dad, he excelled at multiple sports but eventually chose golf, participating in GAM junior competitions. As a freshman golf team member in the fall of 2023 at Ferris State University, he played in every
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event. He was a solid player at Lakeland High in White Lake but didn’t make huge waves on that level. McCoy finished 7 in the Division 1 regionals, before putting together two solid rounds to place T5 at the 2023 MHSAA State Finals his senior year. th
He saw huge improvements to his game his freshman season at Ferris, which led to winning the Michigan Amateur and the GAM Championship right afterward.
“I set little goals, then once I’ve accomplished them, I find ways to get to bigger goals like Player of the Year,” McCoy said. “Starting the college season (in fall 2023 as a freshman) I could tell my game was improving, but consistency was something I was always looking for. I would shoot 68 then 78, but through the (school) year I started putting good rounds together.
“I had never made match play, and I didn’t know what to expect but I always knew I
on it, gave myself chances and pulled off big shots.”
McCoy, now nearing the end of his sophomore season at Ferris, said he plans to defend both major titles in 2025, and wants to build on his fantastic summer of 2024. He can look to his dad’s fight over the odds as inspiration.
Bryan Biagioli wants those who are having a hard time to know that the camaraderie of the adaptive community is like no other.
“You are not alone. I’ve met some incredible people who have dealt with real adversity and tragedy and come out stronger. For me, preparing for a day of golf is nothing out of the ordinary: pop the leg on - it’s like slipping on a shoe - hit the range, and off to the tee. As the old saying goes, no matter how bad you think you have it, someone else out there is dealing with something worse.”
Note:FormoreinformationabouttheMichigan AmputeeGolfAssociation,aregistered501(c)(3), visit:www.maga.golforcall(586)201-5764. could win matches,” he said. “My dad told me before I left that week for the tournament to bring home that (Staghorn Trophy). I thought it was possible. I knew I could win. I didn’t play that great in stroke play, but I made it to match play and won a match that wasn’t pretty. But I built
HIGH SCHOOLS
Houtteman told participants he has been accepted into the U.S. Naval Academy – whose men’s golf team plays at American Dunes each fall in the Folds of Honor Collegiate event which airs annually on The Golf Channel.
Three players tied for third place shooting 73: Will Pollack (Forest Hills Northern), Cruz Beckstrom (Mona Shores) and Winslow Robinson (TC West).
The Corporal B. High School Invitational
The Corporal B. High School Invitational
Novi Detroit Catholic Central won the Corporal B. Invitational in late April, finishing with a 4-player team score of 300, ahead of Traverse City West at 307, Brighton at 309, Grand Rapids Christian scoring 310, with a T5 finish for Forest Hills Northern and Traverse City St. Francis at 312.
Traditionally, most of the top programs and individuals, regardless of division, are invited. All four defending state champions were in the field: DCC (Div. 1), Orchard Lake St. Mary (D2), St. Francis (D3) and Clarkston Everest (D4). Three more state runners up played too.
DCC junior Jack Whitmore earned medalist honors with a 71. Runner up Michael Houtteman of Glen Lake score a 72.
“The Corporal B only invites the top players and teams from the previous year in Michigan,” said DCC coach Michael Fras. “Our team considers this a "major" of the season. Jack Whitmore has been one of our top 3 players the past two seasons. He is capable of going low any round.”
American Dunes Golf Club hosted the annual The Corporal B. Invitational, one of Michigan's most sought-after boys’ high school golf tournament invitations. The event is named in memory of U.S. Corporal Brock Bucklin, who gave his life in Balad, Iraq on May 31, 2006.
Corporal Bucklin was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 68th Armor Regiment, 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colorado.
The Corporal B. Invitational hopes to showcase outstanding high school golf talent, but also serves a greater purpose: to educate, honor, and support the families of American heroes by its
MichaelHoutteman andJackWhitmore
28 HIGH SCHOOLS
recognition of the Folds of Honor organization’s goals and mission – to support families of fallen military with education scholarships. Each team plays in honor of a past military hero. DCC picked Sgt. Wilfred E. Racine, U. S. Army. Wilfred graduated from Catholic Central High School in 1933 and enlisted on March 19, 1942. He was awarded a Silver Star Medal for gallantry in action.
Alena Li of Okemos Alena Li of Okemos Repeats at GAM Girls’ Repeats at GAM Girls’ Championship Championship
ByGregJohnson ByGregJohnson
Alena Li of Okemos adjusted to the green speeds at Washtenaw Golf Club after struggling in the first round and rallied to repeat as overall champion in the Second GAM Girls Championship.
“I had a lot of three-putts (first round) because I wasn’t very confident with the speed of the greens, but that was something I improved on today by making a lot of the short par putts,” she said after carding a final-round 2-over 74 for 153. “It’s so cool and really an honor to be able to win this tournament again. It’s one I enjoy a lot, and I also love this course.”
Li is a 17-year-old senior at Okemos High School. She won by three shots over Lillian O’Grady of Grand Rapids, who led after the first round with a 74 but struggled the second day with an 82 for a final 156 total. Chaille Payne of Spring Lake (161), Copelin Okrangley of Alto (162), and Isabella Michetti of Ann Arbor (166), rounded out the top five.
Cameron Baker of Novi shot a closing 73 for 147 and won the 15and-under division by nine shots for her first ever GAM tournament win.
College Golf News: Women College Golf News: Women
MichiganState’swomen’sgolfteamshot a 5over par 293 in the final round to place second among 18 teams at the Big Ten Championship, held at Bulle Rock Golf Course (par 72, 6,325 yards) in Havre de Grace, Md.
The Spartans had fired a tournament-best 7under par 281 in Saturday’s second round to take a three-shot lead heading into the final round, but No. 5-ranked Oregon carded a sizzling 12-under par 276 in round three to pull away for the team title.
Illinois finished third, Ohio State was fourth and Northwestern rounded out the top-five. Michigan placed 8 this year. th
Senior BrookeBiermann led the Spartans, finishing T4 at 3-under par 213 (72-69-72).
Junior TaylorKehoe tied for 10th place at evenpar 216 (72-71-73). Kehoe had seven birdies in the
final round, including five on the back nine.
Three days later, MichiganStatewas selectedforNCAA Women’sGolfRegional in Norman,Oklahoma, as the No. 4 seed. It’s the 9 consecutive NCAA regional invitation for MSU, and the 25 in the last 26 years, all under the th th direction of head coach Stacy Slobodnik-Stoll. The ongoing consistency of the MSU Women’s program, especially for a
northern tier program, is astounding.
The 12 teams competing in the Norman Regional include, in order of seed, Stanford, Northwestern, North Carolina, Michigan State, Duke, Oklahoma, Baylor, Oregon State, Tulsa, Denver, Furman and Southern Mississippi.
In 2023, Michigan State won the NCAA Palm Beach Regional, the first time the program had won an NCAA Regional title. The Spartans finished the tournament three strokes ahead of second-place Duke. Spartan Brooke Biermann also won medalist honors.
“Every year, we have our work cut out for us, but I feel very good about the teams that are there and very good about our team,” Slobodnik-Stoll said about playing in Oklahoma.
Michigan State has qualified for the NCAA Championship finals 13 times since 2000.
COLLEGE CORNER
MACAll-ConferenceTeams:
Eastern Michigan University landed two players on the all-conference lists as SavannahdeBock was selected All-MAC First Team and Mariana Vegaselected All-MAC Second Team. More importantly, de Bock was selected to go to the NCAA Regional as an individual, to be played at Ohio State. She also became the first EMU player ever to be granted an NCAA Regional invitation.
de Bock has put together one of the best seasons in EMU history as the sophomore rewrote the record books throughout the year with six of the top eight 54-hole scores recorded by an Eagle, including a school-record 204 (70-65-69) to win the Golfweek Red Sky Classic (Sept. 23-25). She has been a top-10 finisher in six tournaments this season.
de Bock carries an average of 72.9, which stands as the school record, bettering the 74.7 average posted by Kelsey Murphy in the 2015-16 season. In individual round history, she has carded seven of the program's 23 rounds of 69 or lower, including a school-record 65 at the Golfweek event, breaking the record of 66 set by Murphy in 2015.
GrandValleyStateWins GLIACTitle:
Currently ranked No. 129 in the World Amateur Golf Rankings, de Bock is the No. 3 seed among individuals in the NCAA Columbus Regional.
EMU placed third in the conference tournament championship. CentralMichigan was T7 and WesternMichigan closed out in 10 . th
The MAC All-Conference team was dominated by Kent State, with its five selections. However, freshman EllaZanatta at Central Michigan also made the second team.
Senior OliviaStoll led wire-to-wire, earning individual medalist honors by shooting a title-clinching 7-under for 36 holes (137). Ferris State junior LizzieAnderson finished second, while Stoll’s teammates Megan MironandPaulaBadino tied for third, posting a 3-over par for the opening 36 hole stroke play.
Transitioning to match play, Grand Valley State secured the top seed, then defeated Ferris State, 3.5-1.5, at Gull Lake View’s Stonehedge North Golf Course in a thrilling, down-to-the-wire medal match play final, securing the Lakers the conference title.
SavannahdeBock
College Golf News: Men College Golf News: Men
U-M senior HunterThomson has had a phenomenal final season with the Wolverines. The Calgary, Alberta native is on pace to set the U-M single-season record with his career-best 70.19 scoring average and is likely to break his own record of 70.56 from last season. In one example, he won the Canadian Collegiate Invitational with back-to-back rounds of 66. That win at 14-under par gave him an exemption to play in the 2025 RBC Canadian Open (June 3-5) at the TPC of Toronto on the PGA Tour.
Thomson, who was the reigning Big Ten Golfer of the Week at the time, also won the seasonending Purdue Invitational in April, where he played 42 consecutive holes of bogey-free golf to earn his 3 career title. CalebBond of Michigan State shot 67-68-69-204 to finish one stroke behind Thomson. rd
A week later, Thomson finished T32 at the Big Ten Championship while his team placed 15th.
MichiganState had a wonderful rally in the final round of the BigTenChampionship. The
Spartans jumped from 8 place on the final day to finish 3 overall, finishing behind winner UCLA and runner up Illinois. th rd
“I can’t even begin to describe how proud I am of this team,” MSU Head Coach Casey Lubahn said.
“To do what these guys have done all semester
and to grind and find a way to get to where we are today is a testament to the hard work, dedication and determination that they all have. We didn’t win, but we showed we can compete with the best and it’s one of the most rewarding Big Ten tournaments during my career.”
Birmingham Brother Rice graduate and MSU sophomore LorenzoPinilicompleted a strong weekend of play, where he tied for 5 place at 1under par 209 (70-68-71) and was one of just six golfers in the field of 93 to finish under par. Pinili earned his way onto the Big Ten Championship All-Tournament Team, and made all Big Ten. th
HunterThomson
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Notes:
Eastern Michigan’sRory McDonald-O'Brien finished 5-under par to place runner up at the Mid-American Conference Men’s Championships. The team placed 3 overall after leading in early rounds of the tournament. All-told, McDonald-O'Brien recorded his third-best collegiate score.
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The team’s finish marked the 14th top three showing in program history and EMU's first since 2019.
No. 78-ranked Kent State University took the title at 10-under 854 (288-276-290) and Ball State, the 2024 championships, capturing second place at 6-over 870 (293284-293), two shots ahead of the Eagles.
CentralMichigan took 9 place in its first year of men’s golf in the last three-plus decades. KeithHunter jumped 17 spots the final day to finish 16 overall. th th
TimChanofEastern tied for 13th at 4over 220 (75-67-78) to tie for the third-best score at the MAC event by an EMU player.
The week of April 24, Eastern Michigan University seniorBavakeSihotaearned a share of the MAC Golfer of the Week honor following his play at the Robert Kepler Intercollegiate.
SaginawValleyState junior SheaHarmeson vaulted from ninth place to first, claiming individual medalist honors by shooting a 6-under, 66 round in the second and final round of the league’s medalist competition. Harmeson won with a score of 8-under for 36 holes (136). Grand Valley State junior ManualCue placed second, just one shot off Harmeson's pace.
Transitioning to medal match play, based off the results of the two rounds of stroke play, WayneState defeated Saginaw Valley State, 4-1, at Bedford Valley Golf Course in the match play finals to capture the conference title. The teams beat Grand Valley and No. 1-seed Ferris State, respectively, in the semifinals.
MaxLeppelmeier,IanSmith,LuckWarnockand TylerHurtubise won their head-to-head matches to secure the crown for the Warriors, the program's first in 21 years.
Lansing’s John Lindert to Captain Lansing’s John Lindert to Captain the 2026 PGA Cup Team the 2026 PGA Cup Team
The PGA of America announced PGA of America Honorary President John Lindert, the director of golf at Country Club of Lansing, as Captain of the 2026 United States PGA Cup Team. He will lead the U.S. roster of 10 PGA of America Golf Professionals when they compete in the 32nd PGA Cup, to be hosted by the Professional Golfers’ Association of Great Britain & Ireland.
After two-year terms each as PGA of America Secretary, Vice President and then President (201824), Lindert now serves as the association’s Honorary President.
“I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to serve as Captain of the 2026 PGA Cup Team,” said Lindert. “The PGA Cup provides the unique opportunity for PGA of America Golf Professionals to proudly represent not only our Association and 30,000 Members, but our country, as well.”
First played in 1973, the PGA Cup is a biennial contest between PGA Professionals from the PGA of Great Britain & Ireland and the PGA of America. The PGA Cup format is identical to that of the Ryder Cup.
Treetops Named Michigan’s Treetops Named Michigan’s Resort of the Year Resort of the Year
Treetops has been recognized by guests and the Michigan Restaurant & Lodging Association with top honors in the Resort Category during the Michigan Governor’s Conference on Tourism.
The annual MRLA Stars of the Industry Awards recognizes outstanding members of all roles within Michigan's hospitality industry who have demonstrated professionalism and creativity while going above and beyond their role to contribute to the positive image of the industry.
The ResortoftheYear award is presented to a resort that demonstrates exceptional quality, service, and overall experience. The recipient of this award provides guests with a memorable vacation, complete with top-notch accommodations, outstanding amenities, and exceptional customer service. The Resort of the Year award recognizes a resort that goes above and beyond to create a truly unforgettable getaway experience for all its visitors.
“We don’t take this top honor lightly. We take this honor very seriously, particularly as we learned that the nomination was made by a guest that enjoyed their experience at Treetops. Then even more powerful news came when we learned that this award is based on a ‘public vote’,” said Barry Owens, partner and General Manager.
Northen Michigan
Major Ice Damage to Major Ice Damage to Northen Michigan
Most golf courses are Most golf courses are recovering well, some escaped recovering well, some escaped completely from damage completely from damage
ByTomLang ByTomLang
Every now and then, Mother Nature throws a curve ball at the men and women who are caretakers of our beloved golf courses – and most often, those crews and superintendents knock the ball right out of the park.
A devastating ice storm rocked northern Michigan in late March, causing the loss of power for hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses. Three and four weeks later there were still pockets of no power.
Tree damage is still being assessed. Most roads are now clear but there’s still work to be done, according to a report from WOOD-TV out of Grand Rapids, which said: “More than 1,500 miles of road have been cleared in Northern Michigan after a major ice storm, the Michigan National Guard said in a recent social media post. More than 870 soldiers and airman were deployed as part of recovery operations and worked alongside first responders and agencies.”
Josh Richter, Boyne’s Sr. VP of Golf Operations
told me: “It’s been really great to see the community rally as a whole. Places like ACE Hardware having equipment ready and figuring out ways to run on generator power and get things people needed like tools and chainsaws. Getting a generator running at the market the first couple of days in order to have food and water. Gas stations figuring it out. I was extremely impressed how the community as a whole supported one another.”
Reports from various golf properties like Boyne, the Gaylord Golf Mecca, Belvedere, Walloon Lake and Shanty Creek in late April are very positive, especially under the circumstances.
At Treetops, power was lost for six days and Internet for 10.
“We were fortunate that no buildings were damaged,” said Treetops GM Barry Owens. “However, we did experience a sizeable amount of tree damage, which amounted to the loss of tree limbs throughout the property. The golf courses were not damaged, and turf conditions are excellent. Various tree debris has been moved out of play and is being removed as we speak. That will be an ongoing task throughout the summer.
“We have determined that Mother Nature is a golfer who struggles getting off the tee, so she brought some limbs down for better recovery shots,” he quipped. “As you can imagine, she also likes good views so with her help, the views are even more spectacular at Treetops.”
Treetops is a member of the Gaylord Golf Mecca. Sports writer Tony Paul of the DetroitNews reported on April 18 that “all of the 17 golf courses that make up the Gaylord Golf Mecca were impacted by the March 29 storm, some of them much harder than others, but golf officials in the area expect most of the courses to open pretty close to on time, in the first week of May… The storm impacted millions of trees across the multi-county area, and tens of thousands of trees at the golf courses, just across Gaylord.”
Gaylord Country Club (public) may have seen the worst of it. The same Detroit News piece reported comments from the head pro there:
"I've been there for 17 years, grew up in Gaylord, and never have seen a storm anything like this widespread," said JT Aude, head golf professional at Gaylord Golf Club. "I was in town for the straight-line winds in 1998. I was at Treetops then, and it lost a lot of trees. But (that storm) was a path. It wasn't the whole county, or counties. There are so many counties that are affected (by the ice) and so many people affected. It's just crazy. Pretty much all the trees on the golf course have some sort of damage. We're hoping to save as many as we can. "
Christy Walcott of the Gaylord Golf Mecca marketing team said: “Spring cleanup will require more people, machinery and effort than usual this year, but courses are still opening on or near their normal dates. The woods may look a little different, but the tee boxes, fairways and greens are going to be as welcoming as ever.”
Tim Matty, director of recreation maintenance at Treetops told me in an email: “For perspective, storm cleanup and power company crews are comparing the damage sustained in Gaylord, Petoskey, and Harbor Springs specifically, to that of a (large) tornado. Except it is all encompassing. The landscape and wooded areas are forever changed, exactly how, we don’t know yet.”
Boyne’s three locations are in the Petoskey area. The Boyne Mountain location never lost power, whereas The Highlands did, but only for a few days. But The Highlands had serious tree damage. A friend of mine who lives near there said at first tree damage looked like what you would see on TV after a hurricane.
“Our focus as we emerged on the other side of the ice storm was taking care of our team, and understanding that real life stuff was happening – first and foremost people needing access to power and water,” Richter told me. “After taking care of our team, we continued to march.”
Richter said course work at Boyne began in the middle of fairways and worked out to the outer edge.
“Getting our short grass – the tees, fairways and greens cleaned off so we could start the (spring) agronomic practices,” he indicated as one step. “The second half of April we were mowing and spraying, the normal spring preparations.
“The next steps are making sure the golf courses are safe. With our teams and support from our sister resorts, as well as third-party contractors, we’re marching along and making really good progress. We expect to be on schedule opening the golf courses as planned on May 2.”
He also said contractors were brought in with
bucket trucks to remove broken and hanging branches caught high in trees, so they don’t eventually fall on people.
Shanty Creek on the other hand was sparred. Lindsey Southwell, director of marketing said: “The ice storm, we call it Ice-Magadan, thankfully missed our resort. There was damage about five miles away, but we were unscathed. We were one of the only resorts that went untouched. A lot of our counterparts had a lot of damage, but thankfully we were able to host over 300 linemen. And I cannot speak highly enough for the hours and energy that those folks put out, because it was amazing.”
Southwell gave some credit to Lake Bellaire as
keeping their resort ice free this time because the water may have helped keep the air temperatures slightly higher than other areas.
“It was just a matter of a few degrees that was either a make it or break it,” she said. “I’m not a meteorologist but I have to imagine (the lake) helped us. But it was an unprecedented weather event for northern Michigan in general, and really a long lasting one. Many were without power for 7-10 days, and that was like the norm. Tens of thousands of people.”
News outlets reported that people in no less than 12 counties were affected, indicating how wide-spread the catastrophe reached. One friend mentioned that so many trees were snapping and breaking that it sounded like gunfire in the forests.
Michigan’s Department of Natural Resources (DNR) shared a photo with MLive that showed a huge area of pine trees with the tops snapped off. It said that “ice-covered red pine trees snapped off leaving stick-like forest in the Pigeon River Country State Forest northeast of Gaylord. Approximately 919,550 acres of state forest land are impacted by the ice storm.”
Walcott added: “The Gaylord Golf Mecca has an amazing partnership and most of our members were able to come together right after the ice storm to share ideas for cleanup, communicating with golfers… Overall, there was a lot of optimism in the room that we’re heading into another successful golf season.”
TypicalTreeDamage
James D. Standish Award Winners: James D. Standish Award Winners: Jacob Melvin, Alexander Karhunen Jacob Melvin, Alexander Karhunen
ByGregJohnson ByGregJohnson
Evans Scholars Jacob Melvin of Saint Clair Shores and Michigan State University, and Alexander Karhunen of Jenison and the University of Michigan are the 2025 winners of the James D. Standish Award.
The award is presented each year to an outstanding Evans Scholar at the Michigan State and Michigan chapters. James D. Standish is a former champion golfer, and a GAM and USGA president who helped Chick Evans of the Western Golf Association start the renowned caddie scholarship program.
Melvin caddies at the Lochmoor Club in Grosse Pointe Woods, and Karhunen has attended Camp Sankaty and caddied during each of the last five summers at Sankaty Head Golf Club in Massachusetts. The Standish Award winners are
having demonstrated scholarship and leadership in their Evans Scholar chapter’s affairs.
Melvin, age 22, will start his professional career in retirement and wealth management consulting with Hub International after graduation. He said winning the Standish Award is the result of the programs and people who have helped shape him.
“Being a caddie and an Evans Scholar has given me such a unique and wonderful experience, a community, a support system, a chance to work with inspiring individuals and
this award reflects on all the people who helped me along the way,” he said. “I don’t think college would have happened without the Evans Scholarship and that wouldn’t have happened without Lochmoor.”
Karhunen, 22, is planning a business career and has a passion for data analysis. He called the Standish Award a great honor.
“I look at the people I know who received this honor before and I’m honored and humbled to be among them,” he said. “I’ve been humbled so much just to be at Michigan with the other Evans Scholars and I’m so proud to have served the chapter and even be considered in this way.”
Karhunen started in golf with the First Tee program of West Michigan, and it was there he was introduced to being a caddie and the Evans Scholarship program.
