MI Golf Journal Nov '21

NOVEMBER 2021

THE GOLF ISLAND:

Hilton Head Page 10

Mich 11-year-old Heading to DCP at Augusta National Michigan Golf Course of the Year Fall Golf in Pinehurst is Glorious Holiday Gift Giving Ideas

Michigan Golf Journal

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Michigan Golf Course of the Year

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Cover story: Hilton Head Island

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PGA Tour Extends Rocket Mortgage Classic

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High School Finals Results

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Freeways and Fairways: Pine Hollow

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GAM Tournament wrap ups

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Four Days in Pinehurst

Drive, Chip and Putt

Michigan’s Bentley Coon Headed to Augusta National for Drive, Chip and Putt Finals

By Tom Lang Sometimes parents will say their child began playing golf as soon as they learned how to walk.

Bentley Coon did that too, but his first time on a golf course actually did come when he was only three days old, when mom and dad placed his car seat in the basket on the back of the power golf cart and headed out for a round.

From that day to now, age 11, Bentley Coon of Horton, outside of Jackson, has essentially been obsessed with the game. That love of the sport translated to winning the 10-11 age division of the Drive, Chip and Putt Regional held at Oakland Hills Country Club in late October – which sends Bentley to the national finals at Augusta National Golf Club in April.

He won in overall scoring and won the Drive category as well for his age group.

“I’ve been around golf since I could walk,” his father Brian said. “And my dad (Rusty) has been obsessed with the game, and that obsession has gone down to Bentley. He is by far obsessed.”

Bentley has already picked his grandfather, who used to play pro golf on mini tours, to be at his side as caddy at the event.

Continues on next page>>

Michigan Golf and Journal Drive, Chip Putt

It wasn’t for another five days after Bentley won the Oakland Hills Regional that any of his friends at school found out. Bentley was not flaunting it, despite being on local TV in Jackson.

“They finally looked my name up (on the Internet) and saw I was going to The Masters,” he said.

“He’s very humble when it comes to this stuff but it’s funny because when we do or play stuff, he is pretty trash talkie, so it’s nice to see the humble side of it,” Brian Coon said.

“It’s very good.

“I tell him he’s a very good golfer for 11, but you’re still 11. Five years from now these kids can be beating you, you never know, so be humble and respect the game.”

Bentley said he hopes to meet lots of pro golfers at Augusta and that his favorite Masters winner is Dustin Johnson, “because he can hit it far.”

These were all the winners at Oakland Hills who advanced:

Bentley knocked his longest drive at Oakland Hills 253 yards. He said it was the first time he got all three drives inside the grid; normally one goes out. He reached the same Regional level at Oakland Hills in 2019 at age 9, but didn’t win. Then in 2020 there was no competition due to Covid.

Boys 14-15: William Redden, Evansville IN

Tens of thousands of kids seized the opportunity to participate in Drive, Chip and Putt this year, which began with local qualifying at hundreds of courses throughout the country over the summer, including more than a dozen sites in Michigan. These qualifiers are open each year to young golfers of all skill and experience levels. The top finishers from each local qualifier in 2021 advanced to sub-regionals in August and then regional competitions in September and October, concluding with the regional qualifier at Oakland Hills Country Club. MGJ

Girls 12-13: Athena Singh, Morehead KY

Girls 14-15: Mia Hammond, Crooksville OH Boys 12-13: Jacob Thompson, Louisville KY

Boys 10-11: Bentley Coon, Horton MI Girls 10-11: Maya Keuling, Carmel IN Boys 7-9: Matthew White, Lexington KY Girls 7-9: Calista Han, Lewis Center OH

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Michiganof Golf Journal Course the Year

Sweetgrass Golf Course Named 2021 Michigan Golf Course of the Year

By Tom Lang Island Resort & Casino’s Sweetgrass Golf Course has been selected as the 2021 Michigan Golf Course of the Year by the Michigan Golf Course Association (MGCA).

The honor automatically qualifies Sweetgrass for consideration of National Course of the Year in 2022.

Michigan courses have a great national track record recently as that same honor was bestowed upon the Gull Lake View’s Stoatin Brae in early 2021 – and

Boyne Highlands’ Heather course in 2019.

The Upper Peninsula resort is 13 miles west of Escanaba, in Harris. It opened Sweetgrass in 2008 to great reviews and in 2011 became the annual host course for the LPGA Symetra Tour’s Island Resort Championship.

of operating Sweetgrass at an extremely high level since its opening, as well as our community who has supported us with the Symetra Tour and allowed us to give back and support them. This is a community wide recognition,” Tony Mancilla, general manager at Island Resort & Casino said in a statement.

“To be recognized by our peers and this wonderful organization is a testament to our staff who have done an exceptional job

The MGCA Course of the Year Award honors a member course that meets four criteria: unique characteristics of

November 2021 www.michigangolfjournal.com

the course; exceptional quality of ownership and management; outstanding contribution to its community; and significant contribution to the game.

Jada Paisley, executive director of the MGCA, said Sweetgrass hits the mark.

“The MGCA is thrilled that Sweetgrass is the course of the year,” she said. “It’s just the second time an Upper Peninsula course has been chosen, and it fits all the criteria and more for this award. Island Resort & Casino provides a wonderful golf experience to its guests and with the Hannahville Indian

Community has made an incredible impact.”

Island Resort & Casino is owned and operated by the Hannahville Indian Community, a federally recognized Potawatomi Indian Tribe. They added Sage Run Golf Course to the resort’s portfolio in 2018 and it has received similar praises as Sweetgrass.

Designed by Michigan resident Paul Albanese and ranked among the top 20 public courses in Michigan, Sweetgrass features masterfully crafted rockwork with a prairie links style. The course challenges with an island green on number 15

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and a pair of spectacular waterfalls that greet golfers as they play up the twin par five 9th and 18th holes to an enormous, shared green.

Classic green complexes like a Biarritz and a Redan along with historic wood and iron bridges rescued from other areas in the state are compelling design components and part of the story of the course – along with links to its Native American roots.

Sweetgrass has been ranked by Golfweek, GOLF Magazine and Golf Digest in various best-courses lists.

As previously stated, Island Resort and Casino Continues on next page>>

Course of the Year is owned and operated by the proud people of the Hannahville Indian Community. It’s no surprise that utilizing and caring for the land is their top priority – making a good match for Albanese, who incorporated legends and tales about the Potawatomi Tribe into every hole.

“It’s my own philosophy and the Native American philosophy that we always try to make the design fit the land, and truly allow it to reflect the principles of Native Americans’ respect for the land,” said Albanese, a Michigan transplant from east

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“This also worked as inspiration for stories to share throughout the course. We put some wooden posts in the side of a hill (along the fairway) that are representative of (the remains of) a fort, from the 1650’s,” Albanese said about one of the design elements at Sweetgrass. “And the green complex itself worked out very nicely to be a redan style green. And a redan is the French word for fortress.”

The growing popularity of golf, gaming and concert

entertainment at Island Resort has driven the demand for a $30 million expansion with more than 100 new hotel rooms bringing the location’s total to 454. They have added a high-end dining venue and convention space and a pool with water park features. Multiple restaurants are onsite, and on the casino floor, guests can enjoy over 1,200 slots, a poker room, craps, blackjack, Spanish 21, three-card poker, let-it-ride, roulette and bingo.

For more information visit islandresortandcasino. com. MGJ

Hickory Sticks Golf

BELVEDERE GOLF CLUB WILL HOST 2023 HICKORY GRAIL MATCHES Belvedere Golf Club announced that the club has been selected to host one of the premier hickory club events in the world, The Hickory Grail in 2023. The Hickory Grail matches are a Ryder Cup style event where 13 of the most passionate hickory players from the United States and Great Britain/Europe compete in the oldest international hickory match in golf.

“With Belvedere’s history and the passion that our club members have for hickory club play, it was a natural fit for us to be selected to host The Grail Cup”, said head pro Marty Joy. “To have been able to participate in this prestigious event at St. Andrews, the home of golf, and now to play host is a dream come true for all of us at the club.”

The Hickory Grail was founded in 2000 by American’s Ralph Livingston III and Tom Stewart, both hickory pioneers and experts, along with Scotland’s David Hamilton, one of today’s premier golf historians. The biennial event is conducted under the auspices of The British

Golf Collectors Society, with current membership of 700+ members in Great Britain, America and around the world. The tournament is noted for selecting many of the world’s most prestigious historical courses for its venues. Among them are St. Andrews; Baltustrol; Kilspindie, Scotland and Falsterbo GK, Sweden. Visit https://thehickorygrail.com.

Belvedere is the only club in the U.S. to have as many as 44 antique hickory club players and hosts Hickory tournaments annually including the Belvedere Hickory Open since 2006, and in 2019 hosted the national U.S. Hickory Open. Competitors dress in

period appropriate apparel, including knickers, ties, and jackets. Conservative estimates of the total number of hickory players in the world now total about 3,000 and growing.

Belvedere, named 2016 Michigan Course of the Year by the Michigan Golf Course Owners Association, has been a respected tournament venue for nearly a century, having hosted the Michigan Amateur 40 times. Beginning in 1963, Belvedere hosted the event for 26 consecutive years. The 41st hosting of the Michigan Amateur at Belvedere will come in 2025, the club’s centennial year. MGJ

MichiganHead Golf Journal Hilton Island

Hilton Head Golf Island’s Perfect 4-Day Itinerary

Palmetto Dunes Jones Course

Golfers offered choices of 26 Courses, Spacious Lodging and World-Class Dining Getting from the Great Lakes State to Hilton Head “Golf Island” is easier than ever for have-clubs-will travel Michigan golfers. Delta offers direct seasonal service from Detroit Metropolitan Airport to Savanah Hilton Head International Airport (SAV).

And year-round, one-stop flights are offered on a variety of airlines into both SAV and the very convenient Hilton Head Island Airport (HHH).

With 26 courses spread over Beaufort, Bluffton and Jasper

counties, Michigan golfers have plenty of championship caliber layouts to choose from. The mid to late fall is the perfect time to visit the Lowcountry, with highs in the 70s in November and 60s in December. Winter brings highs in the 50s and 60s with plenty of sunshine.

Here’s a sample itinerary including iconic on-island venues, like The Sea Pines Resort, and upstart off-island options, like Old South Golf Links.

Where to Play – Day One Opened in 1982, Oyster Reef Golf Club is the scenic Rees Jones-designed layout recognized by Golf Digest as one of the best new courses in the U.S. Tipping out at 7,000 yards with a 139-slope rating, Oyster Reef continues to beguile experienced players while also appealing to average and novice golfers with its spectacular setting.

If you missed a meal in transit, grab a much-needed bite to eat and a cold beer at

November 2021 www.michigangolfjournal.com

the new LagerHead Tavern, which showcases Southern comfort food with a twist.

Local favorites include slowsmoked Smithfield ham and grilled oysters plucked from the nearby May River.

Day Two Atlantic Dunes by Davis Love III is the newest course at The Sea Pines Resort, having opened in 2016. It was forged from what was once the oldest course on Hilton Head Island, the resort’s Ocean Course. Love Golf Design, led by Scot Sherman and Mark Love, restored the property’s coastal aesthetic, restoring natural dune lines and adding coquina shells and native seaside grasses.

Stick around Sea Pines in the afternoon for a round on Heron Point by Pete Dye, formerly the Sea Marsh Course. Dye returned in 2014 to oversee a series of enhancements, including softening green surrounds and contours, enlarging several putting surfaces and adding new ornamental landscape.

Day Three No Sea Pines experience is complete without a round at famed Harbour Town Golf Links, home of the PGA Tour’s RBC Heritage. This Dye/Nicklaus collaboration epitomizes Lowcountry course design replete with live oak-lined corridors,

diminutive greens and Dye’s trademark bulkheads lining languid lagoons.

Walking off the 16th green and toward the tee box on the par-3 17th, the Calibogue Sound comes into view with yachts and sailboats passing leisurely by. Harbour Town culminates with one of America’s most famous finishing holes, the par-4 18th playing into the iconic Harbour Town Lighthouse.

Post-round, settle in for a signature cocktail at Links, an American Grill, in the stunning new Harbour Town Clubhouse. If it is remotely close to dinner (or not), Continues on next page>>

Oyster Reef

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Hilton Head Island Extended Stay and Play For a northern golfer extended stay, the Bluffton area just off the island is a veritable golf destination unto itself. Start with Old South Golf Links, one of the region’s best kept secrets when it comes to pure Lowcountry golf. Designed by local golf course architect Clyde Johnston, Old South is the only area public course playing along the Intracoastal Waterway.

Atlantic Dunes by Davis Love III

order up one of Links’ signature filet, strip or porterhouse steaks.

spent considerable time reworking every tee box and green.

Day Four The Robert Trent Jones Course at Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort is widely considered the island’s No. 2 pitcher, drawing upon a baseball analogy. Having opened in 1967 just two years before Harbour Town, the two courses’ histories are inexorably linked.

Before heading out for an afternoon round on Palmetto Dunes’ George Fazio Course, make time for lunch at Big Jim’s BBQ, Burgers & Pizza at the Robert Trent Jones Course clubhouse. Big Jim’s is open seven days a week serving three meals a day, making it easy for golfers to grab a bite around their tee times.

The George Fazio Course is Hilton Head Island’s only par-70, and with a slope of 144 from the 6,873-yard back tees, it’s considered by many to be the most difficult resort course on the island. With just two par 5s and a series of meaty par 4s, proper tee selection is paramount.

Jones’ former protégé Roger Rulewich updated the course in 2002, elevating the fairway on the signature par-5 10th hole for even better views of the Atlantic Ocean.

Credited with designing the majority of the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail in Alabama, Rulewich

The front and back nine views, with MacKay Creek and the Calibogue Sound in the distance, are among the best in the region and are a great way to welcome your golf group to the Lowcountry.

The variety of indigenous terrain is also worth noting – oak forest, pastures and tidal marshes are all on display, and in play. The finishing stretch, holes 16 through 18, is vintage Lowcountry with target fairways and greens requiring carries over marshland.

Hilton Head National, a neighbor of Old South, has long been considered one of the region’s best public venues. The design is a Gary Player, Bobby Weed collaboration, with PGA Tour design consultant Continues on page 14 >>

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MichiganHead Golf Journal Hilton Island

Weed crafting the front nine and Player the back.

Similar to Old South, Hilton Head National is a “core” golf experience devoid of residential development.

The par-4 sixth is widely considered the course’s signature hole. Just 300 yards from the back tees, the largest lake on property runs along the entire right side and behind the green complex.

Sea Pines

Where to Stay For sheer convenience on the island, it’s hard to top a rental home or villa at The Sea Pines Resort or Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort.

These vacation residences have all the amenities of home, including flat screen TVs, washers and dryers, wireless internet and fullyequipped kitchens.

Off island, Old South Golf Links and Hilton Head

National offer golf packages with the Hilton Garden Inn, located under a mile away from both courses. Two-, three- and four-night stayand-plays are available with special features.

For a more authentic Lowcountry Flavor, head to the Old Town Bluffton Inn, situated in the heart of downtown within walking distance to bars and restaurants aplenty. Myriad

November 2021 www.michigangolfjournal.com

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Palmetto Dunes Fazio Course

privately-owned vacation rentals are also available for larger groups, or those in search of more indoor and outdoor space.

Dining and Nightlife There are more than 250 restaurants on Hilton Head Island covering the spectrum from local watering holes to fine dining establishments.

For a true taste of Lowcountry waterfront dining, check out Skull Creek Boathouse or Skull Creek Dockside.

Hit the Main Street area for Italian at Frankie Bones or a dry aged steak from WiseGuys. And whether it’s breakfast, lunch or dinner, do not miss the chance to visit Java Burrito for the region’s best “Fresh Mex” and espresso.

Off island, Old Town Bluffton is the place to be. Situated on the shores on the May River, this quaint burg is ideal for grabbing a warm meal, a cold drink and relaxing with friends. Old

Town delights northern visitors with its Antebellum homes, historic churches, and unique shops, all connected by Spanish mosscovered streets.

Get the night started with a flight of hand-crafted ales at the Saltmarsh Brewing. Then, head to Captain Woody’s for a plate of Lowcountry seafood while taking in the views from the rooftop deck.

Open until 2 a.m., Old Town Dispensary is a good spot to grab a night cap. MGJ

Expert golf vacation planners are available to help you design your Hilton Head Golf Island golf trip. Click here to complete a brief form and to receive a custom quote.

Michigan Golf PGA Tour inJournal Detroit

Rocket Mortgage Classic Extended Through 2027

By Tom Lang When media were called to a press event at the Detroit Golf Club in late September to meet with PGA and LPGA Tour pros Bryson DeChambeau, Lexi Thompson and Rickie Fowler, of course there had to be something brewing in southeast Michigan related to Rocket Mortgage, as those three players are all golf ambassadors of the home mortgage brand.

The main message of the day: Rocket Mortgage had extended its contact with the PGA Tour to the year 2027. The date for 2022, however, has been changed on the calendar from July 4th weekend, to July 28-31.

The extension is not a huge surprise. Dan Gilbert, the founder of Rocket Mortgage, has been instrumental in supporting the city of Detroit on many levels, and through this golf tournament the focus is inclusion, diversity and financial support for closing the digital divide Detroiters are caught in compared to the suburbs that have easier Internet access.

Rickie Fowler

Charitable proceeds raised from the 2020 Rocket Mortgage

November 2021 www.michigangolfjournal.com

Classic totaled more than $2.7 million, well surpassing the $1.2 million that was raised from the 2019 Rocket Mortgage Classic.

Yet to keep numbers like that rolling in, the tournament needs to attract the best golfers in the world, and tournament director Jason Langwell thinks that will continue to happen with the new date – which is now two weeks after the British Open, and two weeks before the first round of the FedEx Championship.

“Players have to plot out their path between the majors…and we love the position that we’re in,” Langwell told me recently.

“If you’re a player squarely in the top 30 (FedEx Cup points) or even in the top 70, I think you are still thinking you’re going to leave the Open Championship and want to play (at least) one more time before the FedEx Cup, and that makes us well-positioned to be that choice. Players need to stay tuned up. We think that bodes well for us.”

The FedEx Cup home is in Atlanta, at East Lake, which has a similar look

and feel as the traditional Donald Ross design of the Detroit Golf Club. This adds to the attraction of top players coming to Detroit to prepare for the seasonending championship.

“For the fan experience and the time of year we think it’s a good window and opens up some opportunities for additional fans to come experience us,” Langwell added. “It fits well into the Detroit social calendar. The PGA Tour wants to be in Detroit, they love it here,” Langwell added. “They are bought into the same vision as we are, that Dan Gilbert has, to put a spotlight on the city for the world.

That includes our efforts of diversity, equity and inclusion, our efforts to end the digital divide. The Tour is supportive of all these and it’s what drove them to make this expansion happen with Rocket Mortgage.”

Exemptions: Langwell admitted that the committee who chooses which new, younger players get the coveted tournament exemptions is one of the toughest jobs of the summer, with so many

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qualified candidates found locally and nationally.

It seems logical that Canton native and MSU golfer James Piot would have to be at the top of that list, as the reigning U.S. Amateur Champion. Yet Langwell can of course not tip his cap with any early announcements like that, but he did admit he loves Piot.

“Our approach (of the exemptions committee, which includes TV sports personality Mike Tirico) has been that the future stars are here, at the Rocket Mortgage Classic,” Langwell said. “James certainly fits that category and I’d think he’ll be in the consideration set for sure. I wish we had 15 exemptions to give, there are so many great individuals.

“He certainly caught the attention of everyone, not only here but across the nation for what he did at Oakmont; it’s special.”

More information on the tournament can be found here: https://www.pgatour. com/tournaments/rocketmortgage-classic.html MGJ

Michigan Golf Journal High School Finals

Northville Claims Fourth High School State Championship in a Row Plymouth twin sisters finish 1-2

By Tom Lang The Division 1 girls golf state finals in mid-October provided incredible storylines as the Mustangs of Northville captured their fourth consecutive Division 1 Lower Peninsula state title, while twin sisters Bridget and Grace Boczar of Plymouth finished first and second in the individual race.

Bridget shot 3-under par in the second round at Grand Valley State to edge out her sister by one stroke overall.

Their family journey will continue after high school as they both plan to play golf at Oakland University.

The Mustangs became just the second program ever in the Lower Peninsula to win four straight state

championships, and the first to do so in Division 1. Six other schools from the U.P. have won four straight. At the Regionals earlier, Plymouth defeated Northville, a motivation point well taken by the Mustangs.

Northville senior Megha Vallabhaneni, led the Mustangs at 75-71 to place third overall.

“It’s obviously an awesome feeling, but there was a lot of pressure going into it with already winning three (in a row),” Vallabhaneni told MHSAA Second Half reporter Dean Holzwarth. “Losing to Plymouth did affect us, but we knew we were going to do well, and we played one

stroke at a time and one hole at a time.”

Taking four consecutive state titles in Div. 1 is a huge testament considering all the various players that come in and out during a short high school career.

“Obviously to be in that elite company is amazing, and it’s not something we talk about a lot, but we also understand that there are those opportunities in front of us to take advantage of,” said Northville coach Chris Cronin. “Winning state titles and adding our name to the record books with winning four in a row is an incredible feeling, and it has been an incredible journey for me and for this team.” MGJ

Division 2: Winner: Dearborn Divine Child Medalist: Gabriella Tapp, South Lyon Division 3: Winner: Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood Medalist: Lauren Timpf, Macomb Lutheran North Division 4: Winner: Montague, second straight Medalist: Mia Melendez, Ann Arbor Greenhills Credit: MHSAA/High School Sports Scene

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Michigan Golf Journal Freeways and Fairways

Freeways and Fairways:

Pine Hollow

A cozy little out of the way 18-hole golf course that’s not so out of the way as it lines I-94 westbound near the Sargent Road exit east of Jackson: Pine Hollow Golf Club.

than $30 for a cart and round of golf, it can be a nice place for newcomers to try golf and old timers to hang out with their buddies as all come to play the game they love.

not tricky or filled with undulations – all good things for beginners and intermediate players trying to improve their games. But when there is no sand or other hazards missing, it’s a guarantee every course will throw some other challenge at golfers. In this case it’s trees, and some with large over-hanging limbs.

It’s not going to host a national or state tournament, but for less

There is not a sand bunker to be found on the course and the greens are

A few holes are wide open off the tee, but very few. The 18th is the most

This review 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. Here is my assessment:

By Tom Lang

November 2021 www.michigangolfjournal.com

spacious, so if you’ve been waiting all day to let it rip, that’s the hole to do so – a par 5 and you’re all warmed up by then. A good improvement to the enjoyment of playing at Pine Hollow would be an aggressive tree trimming program by ownership soon; not necessarily tree cutting, but serious tree trimming.

In online surveys the course gets a 4.1 out of 5 rating.

I agree with the reviewers that it’s fun and attractive with its rolling landscape, and it’s not overly crowded.

But I also agree with one reviewer that said the fairways need to be mowed more often – yet, in a weird way they still seemed to roll out pretty well under the early autumn conditions.

The back 9 has more character than the front (which borders the

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freeway) in its routing and land features. No. 15 is a beautiful long downhill par 4 lined with pines, and 17 is a drivable par 4 downhill if you keep the ball way to the right and let the steep slope take your ball toward the large green. And remember, when you get to 18 tee, let it rip. MGJ

Michigan Golf Journal Tee it Forward

Tee it Forward Now 10 Years Old

Note: significant comments and research below provided by Joseph F Beditz, Ph.D. of the National Golf Foundation (NGF), and Janina Jacobs, Governor of the GAM. Edited by Tom Lang

Ten years ago, the PGA of America and the USGA announced a joint initiative encouraging golfers to play from tee boxes that best suited their golf game.

I for one fully support the measure in leisure golf.

Tee It Forward was inspired

by Barney Adams, founder of Adams Golf, who believed many golfers were playing from tees that were too long

given how far they hit their drives. The concept and the campaign were well received.

Golf editorial support was widespread and a television PSA featuring Jack Nicklaus spoke to golfers.

Recent survey’s by the NGF found that 73% could recall Tee It Forward, but only 30% had actually moved up in the past 5-10 years – and most of them were over the age of 50. Certainly not everyone

November 2021 www.michigangolfjournal.com

needed to make a leap forward, but the ones who did and followed the Tee it Forward campaign’s advice, have almost unanimously enjoyed the benefits. More than 80% say they’ve had more fun.

Also at 80% is the number of golfers who answered that golfers playing from the wrong tee for their game is a “big problem.”

So, why don’t more golfers move up? Most would say it’s because human behavioral changes in consumers and operators require a lot of time, effort and intervention.

National advertising helps create needed awareness, but is insufficient to overcome the inertia of ego, convenience and conformity, which golfers – virtually all of them – willingly admit stand in the way. Perhaps so does the effects of a club in one hand and a beer in the other while razzing your buddies.

“I’m just a 90’s shooter now….” said former collegiate golfer Anthony P., who shot mid-70’s during his competitive days. “I can’t reach greens

but my playing buddies object if I move forward.”

Rotator cuff surgery further curbed Anthony’s mobility, and distance faded significantly.

Still fit at age 67, with a 14-handicap, he continues to play his home club at the ‘regular men’s’ yardage of 6500, about 900 yards too long for his 185-yard drives. Again, the only skill lacking is distance.

If he used tees equal to his driving ability, single digit handicaps would probably return.

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Still, it should be noted that some golf course operators are having success in getting their customers to play the correct tees.

Bernie Friedrich, Senior Vice President Golf Operations and Resort Sales at Boyne Resorts addressed these issues years ago. “We started with four tees and now have six tee options at all our courses as of 2018. We encourage our guests to play from yardages they are used to and not the perceived Continues on next page>>

Tee it Forward colors that have been associated with both genders.

the chance to feel good about their game and not become discouraged.”

“Having six tees gives our guests the ability to play that ‘combo’ tee option and have fun,” he added.

“Four of our courses are between 4,100 and 4,500 yards from the Silver tees.

And, we decreased our course watering by 50% in fairways so that the grass is firmer, which results in a golf ball going further.

It’s a lot more fun to hit an 8-iron than a 4-iron and this gives players

For avid women seniors who wish to post legal scores, options are scarce.

They can play from the shortest forward tees to greens they cannot reach, and watch scores rise. Or they can play from junior or family tees, unrated for them, and not post those scores.

Washtenaw Golf Club in Ypsilanti had better ideas: After playing with his

many students, Operating Partner and Michigan Golf Hall of Fame member Dave Kendall took action.

“It became evident the most forward tees were too long to provide a pleasant experience for my players,” he said.

“Moving them to the beginning of the fairway helps make the game more welcoming to all.

As golf course operators, we should do everything we can to broaden the appeal of golf to as many as possible.” MGJ

Michigan Amateurs

Michigan Amateur 2022 News

By Tom Lang The dates and location for both the men’s and women’s prestigious Michigan Amateurs in 2022 have been announced.

Great Oaks Country Club will host the Michigan Women’s Amateur for the second time, on June 1317, 2022. In 2009, Britney Hamilton of Lake Orion, then a Western Michigan University golfer, made a dramatic 20-foot birdie putt on No. 18 to beat Natalie Brehm of Mount Pleasant and Michigan State University 1-up in the championship match. Brehm came back the following year to win her own Am title, at St. Clair CC. “It’s a perfect course for this championship because it’s designed with the right yardages for players of all levels, so we have a good selection of tees to use,” said Ken Hartmann, senior

director of competitions for the administering Golf Association of Michigan.

“The bunkers are wellplaced, and the hills and elevation changes make it important to hit the ball to the right spots,” Hartmann said. “The winner will have to play a complete game.”

Hawk Hollow Golf Course near Lansing will host the men’s tournament, which dates back to 1906. The defending champion is Patrick Sullivan of Grosse Pointe and the Univ. of Michigan.

Not often does a public course host the Michigan Amateur, but the last time it did was at Hawk Hollow’s sister course Eagle Eye. Hartmann said the golfers will find a challenge that is different from playing Eagle Eye in 2016.

“You can swing it some at Hawk Hollow, but

there are things to think about with trees, bunkers and penalty areas,” he said. “Like Eagle Eye, it’s always in great shape, and holes 15 through 18 are great finishing holes.

You really have to play well on those holes to finish a round, and that will add some excitement to match play, too.”

The Michigan Amateur will be contested June 27 – July 1 on the first 18 holes of the Hawk Hollow course (27 available). The course has hosted a U.S. Senior Open qualifier in recent years, as well as a GAM Women’s Mid-Amateur and the Atlas Trophy Matches.

Both Amateur tournaments require two rounds of stroke play to determine who moves on to match play, making it one of the most grueling formats to determine a champion. MGJ

Michigan Golf Journal GAM Scramble

Winning Teams Crowned at 10th GAM Scramble State Championship

By Greg Johnson The GAM Scramble is one of those newer events, now at 10 years old in the GAM rotation of championships, that is aimed at people who love to play golf but are not on the upper tier of the state’s best. In other words, the common golfer who gets the opportunity to play in an official state championship but do so

with their friends or family in a scramble format.

The format rekindled interest 10 years ago based on the past events sponsored by Oldsmobile where the state winners would all meet in Orlando Florida to play a national version of the same.

GAM brought it back 10

years ago as a low stress high fun opportunity for Michiganders.

The 2021 version was a two-day event played at Tullymore Golf Resort and St. Ives in late September.

Teams of four could not have a handicap index totaled of less than 30, and no two members with

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a handicap lower than 10 each. In other words, the common player.

Tullymore after a 63 the day before on St. Ives for 121.

This fall, Gerald Dekker of Shelby Township made a five-foot par-saving putt on the first hole of a suddendeath playoff to secure the win for his team in the 10th GAM Scramble State Championship. Dekker, Ted Gabriel of Ortonville, Jim Osebold of Auburn Hills and Michael Peltz of Grosse Pointe won the gross scoring title with the par on No. 18 on the Tullymore course.

The net scoring title went to the team of Charles Chalker of Ray, Brent Pifer of Lake Orion, Patrick Chalker of Troy and Derek Harper of Howell. They shot a net 59 on the Tullymore course to go with a net 57 at St. Ives for a 28-under 116 total.

“It was a nerve-wracking putt and I’m glad I didn’t have to hit it,” said Osebold, the team spokesperson. “Gerry hit it and it was beautiful.”

The winners shot a round of 9-under 63 on the St. Ives course in round two to go with a 14-under 58 on the Tullymore course from the day prior, which included a hole-in-one by Osebold, for their 23-under 121 total. Osebold hit a 9-iron shot 127 yards for the ace on No. 7. It was the second of the 72-year-old golfer’s life, and 52 years after the first.

“The hole-in-one helped and it was fun, but I just love our team,” Osebold said.

“We came in second in this last year and this year we said we’re coming back and we’re going to change it. And we did.

We won it.”

Falling in the playoff after missing a similar par putt of about six-feet and earning runner-up trophies in gross scoring was the team of Michael Fierk of New Hudson, Gary Fierk of Stanwood, David Ratz of South Lyon and Michael Sylvester of Canadian Lakes. They shot a closing 59 in the final round on

They won by four strokes over Ryan Hansen of Berkley, Robert Meshew of Allen Park, Joseph Strauel of Troy and Michael Chodzko of Livonia, who shot a final net 57 at Tullymore for a 24-under 120 total.

A total of 24 teams competed in the championship that was played in a special step-aside format. Teams were made up of four GAM members – men, women, senior men, and or senior women. MGJ

Michigan Golf Journal Results GAM Tournament

David LeVan, Terry Delcamp Win Senior Tournament of Champions Titles David LeVan of Ann Arbor and Terry Delcamp of Grand Blanc were crowned champions among champions in closing out the season with wins in the GAM Senior Tournament of Champions at Country Club of Jackson.

LeVan topped the men with a 7-under 65, his low round of the summer. It gave the Barton Hills Country Club member bookend wins for the GAM season. He also won the first senior tournament of the summer, the GAM Senior Match Play Championship.

Delcamp, meanwhile, repeated in the women’s division as champion shooting an evenpar 72. It was also the Flint Golf Club member’s second win of the summer. She won the GAM Women’s Senior Championship at the end of August.

Mike Zoerhoff of Caledonia shot 67 to finish second by two shots to LeVan. Julie Massa of Holt shot 73 to take second among the women, one shot behind Delcamp.

Chester VandenBerg, Chelsea Collura Win GAM Tournament of Champions Titles Chester VandenBerg of Portage and Chelsea Collura of Riverview closed out the Golf Association of Michigan tournament season with wins in the GAM Tournament of Champions at Travis Pointe Country Club.

VandenBerg, a 32-year-old sales representative for Corteva Agriscience, shot a 5-under 67 to win the men’s title by three shots, and Collura, 28 and the owner of Nuggett Leasing in Plymouth, shot an even-par 72 to take the women’s title.

A field of 60 golfers, each eligible for having won a GAM member club championship or a GAM title during the 2021 golf season, played a final 18-hole stroke play round to determine winners.

George Cornwell of Ira shot 70 and finished second to VandenBerg. In the women’s competition, Natalie Samdal of Caledonia shot 73, one shot off Collura’s (Lakes of Taylor) lead.

November 2021 www.michigangolfjournal.com

Singles Matches Rally Lifts GAM Team to Victory in 49th Fuller Cup Matches The Golf Association of Michigan (GAM) Team trailed the Michigan Section PGA Team 4-2 after morning fourball matches but rallied in singles matches to win the 49th Fuller Cup Matches at Prestwick Village Golf Club in mid-October.

Seven singles wins and a tie out of the 12 afternoon matches proved to be just enough for the GAM to win 9.5 to 8.5. It was the fourth consecutive win for GAM and eighth in the last 12 years. The PGA leads the alltime series 34-13-2.

The matches featuring top amateur golfers representing the GAM and top PGA professionals representing the Michigan Section have squared off since 1971. The current format is six four-ball matches and 12 singles matches.

Dan Ellis of East Lansing, the associate head men’s golf coach at MSU, was a last-minute substitute for U.S. Amateur winner James Piot of Canton on the GAM team. Piot had to take a test in one of his classes and withdrew. He did show up later in the day with his U.S. Amateur trophy to take part in post-match festivities. MGJ

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49th Fuller Cup Matches Four-Ball

Afternoon Singles

GAM players on left, PGA on right

PGA Wins 1-up Bradley Smithson vs. John Seltzer

TIED James Piot, Bradley Smithson vs.

Chad Kurmel, John Seltzer

PGA Wins 4 and 3 Ryan Johnson vs. Tim Pearce

PGA Wins 4 and 3 Ryan Johnson, John Quigley vs. Tim Pearce, Scott Brotebeck PGA Wins 3 and 2 Tyler Copp, Charlie DeLong vs. Scott Hebert, Gary Lewandowski

TIED Dan Ellis vs. Chad Kurmel

GAM Wins 3 and 1 John Quigley vs. Scott Brotebeck GAM Wins 2 and 1 Tyler Copp vs. Scott Hebert GAM Wins 1-up Charlie DeLong vs. Gary Lewandowski GAM Wins 1-up Anthony Sorentino vs. Josh Fryer

PGA Wins 2 and 1 Anthony Sorentino, Brad Bastion vs. Josh Fryer, Matt Zavadil

GAM Wins 3 and 1 Brad Bastion vs. Matt Zavadil

TIED Mike Anderson, Jimmy Chestnut vs.

Brian Cairns, Josh Proben

GAM Wins 6 and 5 Jimmy Chestnut vs. Josh Proben

GAM Wins 5 and 4 Tyler Rayman, August Meekhof vs.

Jeff Roth, Scott Cook

PGA Wins 3 and 2 Mike Anderson vs. Brian Cairns

PGA Wins 2-up Tyler Rayman vs. Jeff Roth GAM Wins 4 and 3 August Meekhof vs.

Scott Cook

All content provided by Greg Johnson

Michigan Journal 4 Days inGolf Pinehurst

Pinehurst Sandhills Region Shines in Early Fall

By Tom Lang A late October trip to Pinehurst Resort and the surrounding region was a wonderful step back in historical time wrapped up in modern features that added up to four great days enjoying mildly warm fall weather in North Carolina.

My experience is shared in order of the four courses played: Southern Pines, Talamore’s New Course, Pinehurst No. 2 and Tobacco

Road on the final day on the way back north toward Raleigh-Durham Airport, and easy non-stop round-trip flight out of Detroit on Delta Air Lines.

Southern Pines: This more-than-a-centuryold course designed originally by Donald Ross has the look and feel of what it must have been like to play golf in North

Carolina more than 100 years ago. Recently updated greens were transformed from bent grass to hybrid to make for very nice putting surfaces in more seasons – but the remainder of the course has a raw, roughand-tumble feel and look with natural land features that are not sculpted by a bulldozer.

The entire experience is like that of a truly virgin

November 2021 www.michigangolfjournal.com

landscape with a handful of modern agronomy improvements via interesting green complexes and a wide variety of shot angles. Waste bunkers with pockets of naturally eroded sand in the elevation change areas, and scrub brush throughout, define the course’s main obstacles, but they still allow for hittable recovery shots.

The layout is walkable from every green to the next tee, not surprising with Ross, but the hills make it a decent workout if taken on by foot. The recent renovation also included lengthening the routing by about 300 total yards.

“It’s just beautiful here; I don’t think there’s a bad hole or a bad view,” said cart partner Greg Warfel of Richmond VA, who works at GolfTech as an instructor. “There’s good width in the fairways without being boring about it. This course gives you a lot of interesting visuals that tighten up the hole but then you get up on the fairway and think, ‘there’s more space than I thought.’”

Talamore: A totally different look and feel from Southern Pines is Talamore Golf Resort, about 10 minutes away. It is a wellmanicured course with no waste sand areas but rather well-defined bunkers and only one lake to cross, off the 18th tee. Several sand bunkers are deep with tall grass faces, like links courses found in Great Britain, to challenge even the best sand players.

Most fairways are wide but play roomier in that any golf balls that leave the fairway typically find all other vegetation cleared out from under the thousands of stately pine trees, and

covered with the Sandhills region obligatory pinestraw, making recovery shots fairly easy.

“This is a fabulously maintain course,” said playing partner Jason O’Brien, a pilot for United Airlines living in the region, and former pilot for Kalitta Air freight at Willow Run Airport. “You cannot beat the conditions year-round.

What I really like about it though is it truly challenges you to hit every club in your bag. It’s not driver, wedge.

And there’s holes you might hit driver, but you should have hit 5-iron.”

Continues on next page>>

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Michigan Journal 4 Days inGolf Pinehurst

Pinehurst No. 2: When checking a place like Pinehurst off your golfing bucket list, it’s easy to feel a little uneasy heading into your day. But rarely have I felt so comfortable in an iconic location for golf.

The staff and the overall ambiance felt very relaxing for a place steeped in so much potentially intimidating history.

The best thing I heard all day came at the first tee when our caddy said, “you’ll only need to carry three golf balls today”... His way of saying there are so few places on No. 2 to lose your prized white circular possessions.

My stretch of three favorite holes on the front nine were 3-5, and on the back nine 15-17. The third hole is a par 4 with the green set right of the fairway with an elevated green surrounded by bunkers front left and sand waste front right. Donald Ross’ former home is to the left.

No.4 starts at the mostelevated tee box on the course to start a very long downhill par four hole (474 yards from the tips). Then hole 5 is a medium length par five that turns left for

the final approach shot to a somewhat crowned green that’s hard to hold.

On the back, No. 15 is a par 3 with a classic Donald Ross depression running across the front of the green complex. But what jumps out is seeing the long par five No. 16 in the background as if it’s a continuation of the hole, both of course framed by stately tall pines. No. 16 is the most picturesque hole on the layout with a pond to clear off the tee before the fairway gently turns left. The green complex is very harrowing with a

combined massive bunker and sand waste area guarding the right side – and of course a severe Donald Ross false front. No. 17 is another stunning par 3 with challenging sand bunkering and waste areas to avoid left and right – but for photo purposes is very pleasing to the eye.

Note: The Cradle Short Course (all par 3s) at Pinehurst Resort was a ton of fun and loaded with golfers of all ages, including many women. It equally rivals the Bootlegger at Forest Dunes, which plays a little longer on most holes.

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Tobacco Road: A course built on and in a former quarry that mined sand and other minerals is without a doubt a very unique property. The biggest concern shared by other golfers who learned that it was my last stop on the trip was about the large number of blind shots. I found there were plenty, seemingly caused by huge hills of mining leftovers, combined with even bigger gouged out patches of earth used as hazards of sand waste area. We’ll give it a few extra

points for being designed by an MSU Turf grad, the late Mike Strantz.

they were going out in the afternoon for another round.

The elevated views were spectacular with the green grass/tan sand features contrast, in which one look announced, ‘you are not getting around this course today on the ground.’ The modern-course features set up well for target golf for golfers who like that style. My wife talked with a foursome that said they have so much fun there

The 4-night stay was very comfortable at Hilton Garden Inn in Aberdeen, a wonderful new hotel catering to visitors in the region. Excellent in-house, fair-priced restaurant and bar with great sleeping rooms and amenities like an outdoor pool and small putting green outside the front lobby says you’re at the Home of Golf. MGJ

Gift Giving Ideas

Holiday Gift Giving

By Tom Lang With all the national news talking about supply chain issues and getting Christmas gifts early this year, here is a look at a few options for the golfer in your life.

and rubberized waterproof zippers.

Galway Bay’s All-Weather Pants are available in standard fit, as well as a tailored waist and inseam fit with a tapered leg.

Designed to look like and be worn as golf slacks – eliminating the need to dress in layers. Visit www. galwaybaygolf.com.

Thermal WaterResistant Sleeves from Galway Bay

Galway Bay Rainwear Galway Bay’s newest AllWeather rainwear line claims improvements to its lightweight, breathable, fully waterproof HydroFlex 32 fabric. The awardwinning collection of jackets, pants and pullovers, block wind and rain and allow golfers to stretch and move freely while staying warm and dry. Designed by expert tailors and using 100-percent waterproof/ breathable materials, Galway Bay’s outerwear feature a softer, quieter fabric than typical rain gear

The combination of three aiming lines (the center alignment rod and the heel and toe posts) will maximize the golfer’s ability to easily see when multiple line segments become even the slightest bit misaligned. $29.95 at www. swingtrainer.com.

Swing Align Goal Post

The Swing Align Goal Post attaches easily to most putter heads to supply instant feedback on the quality of each stroke as you develop consistent aim, alignment, path and a square face at impact. If the putter face is open or closed, the ball contacts the posts on the takeaway or return stroke and veers offline, providing immediate and correctable feedback.

Sometimes on the course you may just want minimal coverage on your arms for a little added warmth and water resistance. The new Galway Bay Thermal Sleeves provide full arm protection – in the form of stain and water repellant Teflon-treated fabric – in a matter of seconds. Enjoy easy-towear warmth and water protection in a comfortable, soft and quiet garment.

Order for $29 at www. galwaybaygolf.com. MGJ

PGA Hall of Fame

Michigan’s Al Watrous (Posthumous) Leads 2021 Class of 6 PGA of America Hall of Fame Inductees Albert “Al” Watrous, one of the earliest members of the PGA of America, a member of the first two United States Ryder Cup teams and a three-time Senior PGA Champion, will be inducted posthumously into the PGA of America Hall of Fame, along with PGA Professionals Kyle Heyen, Ed Ibarguen, PGA Past President Paul K. Levy, Martin “Marty” Lyons and Gary Reynolds, during the 105th PGA Annual Meeting on Nov. 3, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Watrous was one of the most decorated golfers in the Michigan PGA Section’s history.

A three-time Senior PGA Champion, Watrous was named the Michigan Section’s Golf Professional of the Year

in 1958 and 1967. He won the Michigan PGA Championship nine times and the Senior Michigan PGA Championship five times. He also won eight PGA Tour events and was a member of the first two U.S. Ryder Cup teams in 1927 and 1929, as well as competing in the 1926 challenge matches (precursor to the Ryder Cup).

He finished runner-up to Bobby Jones in the 1926 Open Championship and twice made the PGA Championship semifinals when it was a match-play event. Watrous had a 37year career as the PGA Professional at Oakland Hills Country Club and was inducted into the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame in 1962, the Polish

American Hall of Fame in 1979, the Michigan Golf Hall of Fame in 1982, and the Michigan PGA Hall of Fame in 2011.

He served as Michigan Section President from 1936-1937. In addition, Watrous penned a regular column designed to reach new golfers in the Detroit Times called “How to Play Golf.”

“These six new inductees into the PGA of America Hall of Fame are a source of great inspiration, mentorship and pride for their peers and to future generations of PGA Members. Their countless contributions to the game of golf will be honored forever as an indelible part of our Association’s storied history,” said PGA President Jim Richerson. MGJ

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