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Ally Challenge

Nicklaus, Kid Rock, Dierks Bentley, ĞƩĞƌďĞƌŐ dƌĞĂƚ &ĂŶƐ ƚŽ Ă dŽŶ ŽĨ &ƵŶ Ăƚ ůůǇ ĞůĞďƌŝƚǇ ^ŚŽŽƚŽƵƚ By Tom Lang

Jack Nicklaus drains a 55-foot chip in on 18 to win, with Kid Rock and Dierks Bentley looking on.

GRAND BLANC – Jack simply did what Jack does – calmly drain a 55-foot chip shot at the 18th ŐƌĞĞŶ ƚŽ ǁŝŶ Ă ĐŚŝƉͲŽī Ăƚ ǁŚĂƚ was easily the best golf charity event in Michigan this summer. tŚĂƚ ǁĂƐ ŝŶƚĞŶĚĞĚ ĂƐ Ă ĨƵŶ ƐŝĚĞ ĂīĂŝƌ ʹ the Ally Celebrity Shootout featuring Jack EŝĐŬůĂƵƐ͕ ĨŽƌŵĞƌ ZĞĚ tŝŶŐ ,ĞŶƌŝŬ ĞƩĞƌďĞƌŐ͕ Kid Rock and country music star Dierks Bentley – turned into a madhouse of fan fun at Warwick Hills Country Club, Saturday , Sept. 14 as an extension of the ‘real’ event taking place; the PGA Tour Champions Ally Challenge presented by McLaren.

No disrespect to the touring pros who ǁĞŶƚ ĂŌĞƌ ƚŚĞ ΨϮ ŵŝůůŝŽŶ ƉƵƌƐĞ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ůůǇ Challenge, but the Charity Shootout literally stole several thousands of fans away from ƚŚĞ ͚ƌĞĂů͛ ĂĐƟŽŶ ĚƵƌŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ƐĞĐŽŶĚ ƌŽƵŶĚ ĂƐ ƚŚĞ ĐĞůĞďƌŝƚǇ ĨŽƵƌƐŽŵĞ ƚĞĞĚ Žī ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ϭϬth ŚŽůĞ ĂŌĞƌ ƚŚĞ ĮŶĂů dŽƵƌ ƚŚƌĞĞƐŽŵĞƐ ĐĂŵĞ through. Ǉ ƚŚĞ ƟŵĞ ƚŚĞ ĐĞůĞďƌŝƟĞƐ ŐŽƚ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ 16th hole, virtually every last body on the grounds had found the Shootout or were saving their cherished spot up ahead to get a glimpse at the foursome as they closed ŽƵƚ ƚŚĞ ĮŶĂů ĨĞǁ ŚŽůĞƐ͘ ŚĂŶƚƐ ŽĨ ͚:ĂĐŬ͕ :ĂĐŬ͕ ŽŶƟŶƵĞƐ ŽŶ ŶĞǆƚ ƉĂŐĞ хх

Michigan Golf Journal Ally Challenge

:ĂĐŬ͛ ǁĞƌĞ ůŽƵĚ ĂŶĚ ŽŌĞŶ͘ ĞƩĞƌďĞƌŐ ƐĂŝĚ there were more golf fans than he’s seen people at Red Wings games. ͞ ůĞĐƚƌŝĐ͕͟ ǁĂƐ ĞƩĞƌďĞƌŐ͛Ɛ ŽŶĞͲǁŽƌĚ answer to the amped-up atmosphere. “In a place like this you’re out of your ĞůĞŵĞŶƚ͕͟ ĞƩĞƌďĞƌŐ ĂĚĚĞĚ͘ ͞/͛ǀĞ ƉůĂǇĞĚ ŝŶ ĨƌŽŶƚ ŽĨ ϮϬ͕ϬϬϬ ƉĞŽƉůĞ ĨŽƌ ϭϲ ǇĞĂƌƐ͕ ďƵƚ ƚŚŝƐ ǁĂƐ Ă ĚŝīĞƌĞŶƚ ďĂůů ŐĂŵĞ͘ zŽƵ ŐĞƚ ƐŽ nervous standing in front of that ball, but :ĂĐŬ ǁĂƐ ŐƌĞĂƚ͘ ,Ğ ĐĂůŵĞĚ ƵƐ ĚŽǁŶ Ă ůŝƩůĞ bit, and he said to just enjoy the day, and we certainly did.” The total charity pot up for grabs was ΨϮϱ͕ϬϬϬ͘ EŝĐŬůĂƵƐ͛ ĐŚŝƉ ŝŶ ǁĂƐ ǁŽƌƚŚ Ψϭϱ͕ϬϬϬ ĚƵĞ ƚŽ Ă Ψϱ͕ϬϬϬ ĐĂƌƌǇ ŽǀĞƌ ĨƌŽŵ the 17th ŚŽůĞ ĂŶĚ ΨϭϬ͕ϬϬϬ ĨŽƌ ǁŝŶŶŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ last hole in the scramble event that paired Kid Rock with Jack, and Bentley paired with ĞƩĞƌďĞƌŐ͘ ĞŶƚůĞǇ ʹ ǁŚŽ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĞĚ ƚŚĞ evening’s community concert on the driving ƌĂŶŐĞ ʹ ĚƌĂŝŶĞĚ Ă ďŝƌĚŝĞ ƉƵƩ ĨƌŽŵ ƚŚĞ ďĂĐŬ of the 16th ŐƌĞĞŶ ƚŽ ĞĂƌŶ ƚŚĞŝƌ ƚĞĂŵ Ψϱ͕ϱϬϬ ĂŌĞƌ ĐĂƌƌǇͲŽǀĞƌƐ ĨƌŽŵ ƚŚĞ ƉƌĞǀŝŽƵƐ ƚŚƌĞĞ holes. The shootout’s proceeds went to

the United Way and Habitat for Humanity, and Ally did a great thing by giving an ĂĚĚŝƟŽŶĂů ΨϮϱ͕ϬϬϬ ĞĂĐŚ ƚŽ Ăůů ĨŽƵƌ ŐŽůĨĞƌƐ͛ ĨŽƵŶĚĂƟŽŶƐ͘ The fan turnout was incredible. The noise level, the excitement, the respect for both teams. Kid Rock randomly gave away two signed guitars to fans following along. Nicklaus likewise signed his driver and picked out a kid to receive it while walking Žī ƚŚĞ ϭϳth tee. Understandably the dad was out of his mind excited, as the young boy stood dumbfounded. The celebs appeared to have a great ƟŵĞ ŝŶƚĞƌĂĐƟŶŐ ǁŝƚŚ ĞĂĐŚ ŽƚŚĞƌ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ fans. Autographs were asked for and given, ƐĞůĮĞƐ ƚŽŽ͕ ĂůŽŶŐ ƚŚĞ ƌŽƉĞƐ͘ &ĂŶ ƐŚŽƵƚ ŽƵƚƐ were constant and consistent. “Way, way more nerve-racking (than a ƉƌŽ ŚŽĐŬĞǇ ŐĂŵĞͿ͕͟ ĞƩĞƌďĞƌŐ ƐĂŝĚ͘ ͞zŽƵ can’t even compare it. Playing golf in front of other people; I don’t know how to do it. And we were just playing for fun. I don’t know how (the pros) do it.” Nicklaus hadn’t been at Warwick Hills ƐŝŶĐĞ ŚŝƫŶŐ ŚŝƐ ϳϮnd hole tee shot out of bounds to lose the 1965 Buick Open. “They’re really good at what they do, and ƚŚĞǇ͛ƌĞ ƉƌĞƩǇ ŐŽŽĚ Ăƚ ŐŽůĨ ƚŽŽ͕͟ EŝĐŬůĂƵƐ said of the two entertainers and hockey great. “I’ll tell you one thing, Henrik plays really well, and Dierks isn’t any slouch ĞŝƚŚĞƌ͘ ŶĚ ŵǇ ƉĂƌƚŶĞƌ ;<ŝĚ ZŽĐŬͿ ǁĂƐ ƉƌĞƩǇ good. He hit some good shots.

,ĞŶƌŝŬ ĞƩĞƌďĞƌŐ ƚĞĞƐ Žī ǁŝƚŚ <ŝĚ ZŽĐŬ ĂŶĚ :ĂĐŬ Nicklaus watching.

“Nice guys, great fun, and great to be back here in the state up north.”

October 2019 ǁǁǁ͘ŵŝĐŚŝŐĂŶŐŽůłŽƵƌŶĂů͘ĐŽŵ

Jerry Kelly Wins Ally Challenge; Michigander dŽŵ 'ŝůůŝƐ WůĂĐĞĚ dϳ Tour veteran Jerry Kelly pulled away ^ƵŶĚĂǇ ǁŝƚŚ Ă ĮŶĂů ƌŽƵŶĚ ϰͲƵŶĚĞƌ ƚŽ ǁŝŶ at 16-under for 54 holes. It was his second victory this season and 4th overall on the PGA Tour Champions, to go with runner ƵƉ ĮŶŝƐŚĞƐ Ăƚ ƚŚĞ h͘^͘ ^ĞŶŝŽƌ KƉĞŶ ĂŶĚ DŝƚƐƵďŝƐŚŝ ůĞĐƚƌŝĐ ůĂƐƐŝĐ͘ tŽŽĚǇ ƵƐƟŶ was two strokes back for second. Tom Gillis, a life-long resident of Lake KƌŝŽŶ͕ ƐĂŝĚ ƚŚĞ ǁĞĞŬ ǁĂƐ Ă ƚƌƵůǇ ĞŵŽƟŽŶĂů one – because he no longer lives in Lake Orion, where his family has called home ĨŽƌ ŵƵůƟƉůĞ ŐĞŶĞƌĂƟŽŶƐ͘ 'ŝůůŝƐ ĂŶĚ ŚŝƐ ǁŝĨĞ and two children moved in early summer ƚŽ &ůŽƌŝĚĂ͕ ƚŽ ƉƵƚ ĨŽƌƚŚ ŚŝƐ ďĞƐƚ ĞīŽƌƚ Ăƚ making a good career out of the PGA Tour Champions. So, coming home was ĞŵŽƟŽŶĂůůǇ ĚŝĸĐƵůƚ͘ “I think it’s hard to play at home when you have friends and family that are pulling for you and they want to see you ĚŽ ǁĞůů͕͟ ƐĂŝĚ 'ŝůůŝƐ͕ ǁŚŽ ƐŚŽƚ ϭϬͲƵŶĚĞƌ ƉĂƌ ƚŽ ƟĞ ĨŽƌ ϳth place. “I’ve got to be honest; I was ready for it to end. Because you don’t want to let them down even though they just want you to be happy. But you ĨĞĞů ƚŚĂƚ ůŝƩůĞ ĂĚĚĞĚ ďŝƚ ŽĨ pressure. So, every 3-footer feels like it’s a 6-footer. And by the end my nerves were ƉƌĞƩǇ ĨƌĂǇĞĚ͘ Ƶƚ ŝƚ ǁĂƐ Ă good week.”

Tom Gillis of Lake Orion

KĸĐŝĂůƐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ůůǇ ŚĂůůĞŶŐĞ ƉƌĞƐĞŶƚĞĚ by McLaren ĂŶŶŽƵŶĐĞĚ Ă ĮǀĞͲǇĞĂƌ extension ǁŝƚŚ ƟƚůĞ ƐƉŽŶƐŽƌ ůůǇ &ŝŶĂŶĐŝĂů͕ ƉƌĞƐĞŶƟŶŐ ƐƉŽŶƐŽƌ DĐ>ĂƌĞŶ ,ĞĂůƚŚ Care, host venue Warwick Hills and the tournament’s agreement with the PGA TOUR. The extensions run ƚŚƌŽƵŐŚ ϮϬϮϱ͘ dŚĞ ĚĂƚĞ ŚĂƐ ĐŚĂŶŐĞĚ ĨŽƌ ŶĞǆƚ ǇĞĂƌ ƚŽ :ƵůǇ ϮϳͲ ƵŐƵƐƚ 2, 2020.

Michigan Golf Journal

ĚŝƚŽƌ͛Ɛ >ĞƩĞƌ

Maximize Your Play Time

The best golf destinations cover a lot of ground beyond the 18th green. French Lick Resort is the golf getaway with more to love. We have 45 holes of golf, including championship courses by legendary designers Pete Dye and Donald Ross. Add in hundreds of ways to win at the casino, casual and fine dining plus other amenities, and the numbers are on your side for an epic golf trip. French Lick Resort brings it all together with golf, food, fun and gaming at one unforgettable destination. For groups of 8 or more, give our golf group sales manager Alex Whiteman a call at 812-936-9300 (ext. 7227) to get the ball rolling.

The pro tour schedule in Michigan has come to a close, and it went out with a huge BANG! – as witnessed by the Ally Charity Shootout posted on the previous pages. Michiganders, and the ĐŚĂƌŝƟĞƐ ƚŚĂƚ ďĞŶĞĮƩĞĚ͕ ǁĞƌĞ ďůĞƐƐĞĚ ƚŽ ŚĂǀĞ had the PGA Tour, the Champions, two LPGA Tour events and two Symertra Tour tournaments ŚŽƐƚĞĚ ŚĞƌĞ ŝŶ ϮϬϭϵ ʹ ĂŶĚ Ăůů ǁŝůů ďĞ ďĂĐŬ ŶĞǆƚ ǇĞĂƌ ǁŝƚŚ ƚŚĞ ĂĚĚŝƟŽŶ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ <ŝƚĐŚĞŶ ŝĚ ^ĞŶŝŽƌ W' Championship in Benton Harbor. As our amateur playing season starts to wind ĚŽǁŶ ůĞƚ͛Ɛ ŶŽƚ ǁĂŝƚ ƵŶƟů dŚĂŶŬƐŐŝǀŝŶŐ ƚŽ ŐŝǀĞ thanks for all the great things we cherish from the game of golf: fun with friends, charity dollars ƌĂŝƐĞĚ ĨƌŽŵ ƚŚŽƵƐĂŶĚƐ ŽĨ ŽƵƟŶŐƐ͕ ŚŽŶŽƌĂďůĞ ĐŽŵƉĞƟƟŽŶƐ͕ ĂŶĚ ƚŽƉͲƟĞƌ ĞŶƚĞƌƚĂŝŶŵĞŶƚ ĨƌŽŵ ƚŚĞ ǀŝƐŝƟŶŐ ƉƌŽƐ͕ ũƵƐƚ ƚŽ ŶĂŵĞ Ă ĨĞǁ͘ Thanks for reading! Tom Lang Publisher/Editor

What’s Inside: 08

Rocket Man Nate Lashley Visits Detroit Again

Jack Nicklaus Redesign at Reynolds Opens

Q&A: Tour Pro ^ƚĞǀĞ &ůĞƐĐŚ

ĞƚƌŽŝƚ ŶĂƟǀĞ ^ŚŝƌůĞǇ ^ƉŽƌŬ ,ĞĂĚĞĚ ƚŽ ,Ž&

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MichiganMan Golf Journal Rocket

Rocket Man:

Nate Lashley Makes Return Visit to Detroit By Tom Lang

Nate Lashley, the unheralded winner of the inaugural Rocket Mortgage Classic, said the thoughts ĮƌƐƚ ĐƌĞƉƚ ŝŶƚŽ ŚŝƐ ŵŝŶĚ ǁŝƚŚ ĂďŽƵƚ ƚǁŽ ŚŽůĞƐ ůĞŌ to play in June – thoughts that as long as his 5-shot lead held up, he’d be going ƚŚĞ ƵŐƵƐƚĂ EĂƟŽŶĂů ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ ϮϬϮϬ DĂƐƚĞƌƐ͘ That lead more than ŚĞůĚ ƵƉ ĂƐ >ĂƐŚůĞǇ ĮŶŝƐŚĞĚ ϮϱͲƵŶĚĞƌ ƉĂƌ ʹ Ɛŝǆ ƐƚƌŽŬĞƐ ahead of runner up Doc Redman – and eight strokes ahead of Michigan’s Brian Stuard, Brandt Snedeker and Patrick Reed. “Probably on 17 or 18, ǁŚĞŶ / ŚĂĚ Ă ĮǀĞͲƐŚŽƚ ůĞĂĚ it kind of started to sink in Ă ůŝƩůĞ ďŝƚ ƚŚĞƌĞ͕ ďĂƌŝŶŐ Ă collapse I would be going to Augusta,” Lashley told MGJ in late September on a return visit to Detroit Golf

Club. “I’m really looking forward to it. It’s going to be an honor and I’m thrilled and I’m really going to cherish that week. And hopefully I’ll have many more Masters’ weeks and

keep this rolling. “If I had the chance to win one major, it would be the Masters, without a doubt. The U.S. Open is right there, especially for

October 2019 ǁǁǁ͘ŵŝĐŚŝŐĂŶŐŽůłŽƵƌŶĂů͘ĐŽŵ

American-born players, but the Masters, I think it’s the pinnacle.” Lashley also told me that Detroit will, understandably, always hold a special place ĨŽƌ Śŝŵ ĂŌĞƌ ƐĞĂůŝŶŐ ŚŝƐ ĮƌƐƚ W' dŽƵƌ ǀŝĐƚŽƌǇ ŝŶ the city. It’s also helped ĐŚĂŶŐĞ ŚŝƐ ŐŽůĮŶŐ ůŝĨĞ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ tournaments since then. ͞dŚĞƌĞ͛Ɛ ĚĞĮŶŝƚĞůǇ Ă ĚŝīĞƌĞŶƚ ŵĞŶƚĂů ĨĞĞůŝŶŐ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ŐŽůĨ ĐŽƵƌƐĞ ĂŌĞƌ ƚŚĞ ǁŝŶ͘ zŽƵ ĚĞĮŶŝƚĞůǇ ĨĞĞů more relaxed, “Lashley ƐĂŝĚ͘ ͞zŽƵ ŬŶŽǁ ǇŽƵ ŚĂǀĞ Ă ƚǁŽͲǇĞĂƌ ĞǆĞŵƉƟŽŶ͕ ĂŶĚ ǇŽƵ ĨĞĞů Ă ůŝƩůĞ ŵŽƌĞ comfortable on the course. “It gave me that sense of feeling more like I belong ŽƵƚ ƚŚĞƌĞ͕ ŐĞƫŶŐ ƚŽ ƉůĂǇ with winners each week in

that winner’s category. So, it ŐŝǀĞƐ ǇŽƵ ƐŽŵĞ ĐŽŶĮĚĞŶĐĞ but also gives you the sense ŽĨ ƌĞůĂǆĂƟŽŶ Ă ůŝƩůĞ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ course – which isn’t always the best thing but it’s nice to be able to go out and play relaxed golf, which isn’t easy to do in PGA Tour events.” What made Lashley’s ĮƌƐƚ W' dŽƵƌ ǁŝŶ ĞǀĞŶ more powerful was the fact he got into the Rocket DŽƌƚŐĂŐĞ ĮĞůĚ ĂƐ ƚŚĞ ĮŶĂů alternate. He took the lead ŝŵŵĞĚŝĂƚĞůǇ͕ ƐŚŽŽƟŶŐ Ă ϵͲƵŶĚĞƌ ϲϯ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ĮƌƐƚ round, then following it up with a 67, another 63 and ƚŚĞŶ Ă ƐŵŽŽƚŚ ϳϬ ƚŽ ǁŝŶ wire-to-wire and blitzed the ĮĞůĚ͘ By now, with his highƉƌŽĮůĞ ǁŝŶ ŝŶ ĞƚƌŽŝƚ͕

virtually every golf fan that closely follows the sport has heard the tragic story of Lashley losing both his parents and his then girlfriend in a private plane crash on their way home from watching him play in an NCAA regional when he was a college student at Arizona. It was of course ĚĞǀĂƐƚĂƟŶŐ ĂŶĚ ŝƐ Ă ŵĂŝŶ reason he had been in and out of golf for the many years that followed. But with the Detroit win and the renewed ĐŽŶĮĚĞŶĐĞ ŝŶ ŚŝƐ ŐĂŵĞ͕ Lashley will be around a lot more – and the game of golf ŝƐ ďĞƩĞƌ Žī ĨŽƌ ŝƚ͘

Michigan Golf Journal Southern Travel

Reynolds Lake Oconee Reopens the Great Waters Course After Nicklaus Renovation By Fred Altvater and Tom Lang

Golfers looking for an upscale and first-class resort experience can find that and more at Reynolds Lake Oconee in Georgia. The region is simply gorgeous, serene, picturesque and peaceful – and from personal experience we can say the golf is incredible with six courses, a top-notch teaching and training facility and the comforts of The

Ritz-Carlton Reynolds, Lake Oconee on the water’s edge. Perhaps the most dramatic layout at Reynolds Lake Oconee is the Great Waters Course, designed by Jack Nicklaus. It first opened for play in 1992 to widespread accolades and has hosted many highprofile events. One of the leading collegiate golf

tournaments, the Linger Longer Invitational, is held at Great Waters annually and U-M has competed there a few times. After some redesign changes by Nicklaus, the course is now reopening in October, after its most recent renovation by the Golden Bear. The lake affects play on several holes and makes the Great

October 2019 ǁǁǁ͘ŵŝĐŚŝŐĂŶŐŽůłŽƵƌŶĂů͘ĐŽŵ

halfway between Atlanta and Augusta, for more than ϭϬϬ ǇĞĂƌƐ ĂŶĚ ŵĂŶǇ ŵĂĚĞ ŝƚ a family retreat. In 1979 the Oconee River was dammed, ĐƌĞĂƟŶŐ ǁŚĂƚ ŝƐ ŶŽǁ >ĂŬĞ KĐŽŶĞĞ ǁŝƚŚ ŵŽƌĞ ƚŚĂŶ ϯϱϬ miles of shoreline that twists and turns into numerous inlets and small bays in the region. The area supports ĨŽƵƌ ďŽĂƟŶŐ ŵĂƌŝŶĂƐ ĂƐ well. Waters Course one of the ŵŽƐƚ ĚƌĂŵĂƟĐ ůĂǇŽƵƚƐ ŝŶ the Southeast. It has been consistently ranked among ƚŚĞ dŽƉ ϭϬϬ ĐŽƵƌƐĞƐ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ŶĂƟŽŶ͘ “Although the golf course ůŽŽŬĞĚ ƉƌĞƩǇ ŐŽŽĚ͕ ŝƚ ǁĂƐ Ă ůŝƩůĞ ƟƌĞĚ͕͟ EŝĐŬůĂƵƐ ƐĂŝĚ͘ ͞ ŌĞƌ ƐŽ ŵĂŶǇ ǇĞĂƌƐ͕ all golf courses need sprucing up and some improvements.” Nicklaus wanted the overall look and feel of the course to be retained, but revamp it ƐŽ ƚŚĂƚ ŝƚ͛Ɛ Ă ůŝƩůĞ ŵŽƌĞ ƵƐĞƌ ĨƌŝĞŶĚůǇ ǁŝƚŚ ĂĚĚŝƟŽŶĂů ďĂŝůͲ out areas added for comfort Žī ƚŚĞ ƚĞĞƐ͘ “We did something to every hole on the golf ĐŽƵƌƐĞ͕͟ EŝĐŬůĂƵƐ ƐĂŝĚ͘ ͞&Žƌ

example, the 9th ŚŽůĞ ƐƟůů plays downhill and over the water, but it’s got a ůŝƩůĞ ŵŽƌĞ ƌŽŽŵ ŶŽǁ ĨŽƌ the average golfer. The par-3, 8th hole was totally redone and the new hole ŝƐ ŵƵĐŚ ďĞƩĞƌ͘ dŚĞ ůĂŬĞ Ăƚ the 11th now comes into play and we took a bunker ŽƵƚ ŽŶ ϭϮ͕ ƐŽ ŐŽůĨĞƌƐ ǁŝůů have a more generous fairway. At 13, we took the green back to the water, rather than leaving it away from the water.

dŚĞ >ĂŶĚŝŶŐ was the ĮƌƐƚ ĐůƵď ƚŽ ďĞ ďƵŝůƚ ŽŶ Lake Oconee. It was designed by Bob Cupp and opened for play in 1986. The course winds through natural woods and over rolling terrain with three holes wrapping along the lake shoreline. It is a challenging course known for fast greens and demanding shots.

“It’s one of the really great pieces of property that I’ve ever had the opportunity to work with,” EŝĐŬůĂƵƐ ĮƌƐƚ ƐĂŝĚ ƐĞǀĞƌĂů years ago. Travelers have visited the Reynolds region, about ŽŶƟŶƵĞƐ ŽŶ ƉĂŐĞ ϭϯ хх

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October 2019 ǁǁǁ͘ŵŝĐŚŝŐĂŶŐŽůłŽƵƌŶĂů͘ĐŽŵ

The WƌĞƐĞƌǀĞ ŽƵƌƐĞ was created in 1988 by Cupp, ĂůŽŶŐ ǁŝƚŚ &ƵǌǌǇ ŽĞůůĞƌ ĂŶĚ ,ƵďĞƌƚ 'ƌĞĞŶ. The course never touches Lake Oconee but plays along numerous smaller water hazards and is heavily ǁŽŽĚĞĚ ǁŝƚŚ ƚŚĞ ŶĂƟǀĞ tall pines. The fairways are wide and forgiving, but also the rolling topography produces many uneven ůŝĞƐ͘ /Ŷ ϮϬϭϲ ƚŚĞ ĐŽƵƌƐĞ ŚĂĚ some upgrades completed by Cupp, including a new ƌŽƵƟŶŐ ĐĂůůĞĚ ƚŚĞ ‘Quick

^ŝǆ͕͛ Ă ůŽŽƉ ŽĨ Ɛŝǆ ƐŚŽƌƚ ŚŽůĞƐ ƚŚĂƚ ĐĂŶ ďĞ ƉůĂǇĞĚ ŝŶ ĂďŽƵƚ ŽŶĞ ŚŽƵƌ͘ Rees Jones built a ƚƌĂĚŝƟŽŶĂů ĂŶĚ ĐůĂƐƐŝĐĂůůǇ structured course, the Oconee, which opened for ƉůĂǇ ŝŶ ϮϬϬϮ͘ dŚĞ KĐŽŶĞĞ ŽƵƌƐĞ ŝƐ ŽŶĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ĮŶĞƐƚ public courses in Georgia ĂŶĚ ŚĂƐ ƌĞĐĞŝǀĞĚ ŶĂƟŽŶĂů accolades from GOLF magazine, Golfweek and Golf for Women. Each hole is a unique experience, but ŚŽůĞƐ ƐŚĂƌĞ ƚŚĞ ƐŝŵŝůĂƌŝƟĞƐ of rolling terrain framed

by tall Georgia pines with ůĂƌŐĞ ƌĞĐĞƉƟǀĞ ŐƌĞĞŶƐ ʹ all intermixed with Lake Oconee shoreline, ponds and creeks that require ŶĂǀŝŐĂƟŶŐ ĂƌŽƵŶĚ ďƵƚ ĂƌĞ gorgeous to view. &ĂŝƌǁĂǇƐ ĂƌĞ ǁŝĚĞ ĂŶĚ although tree-lined, the areas under tree canopies are cleaned out so a lost ball is rare. A personal favorite stretch is holes 15-18. The 15th is a slightly downhill par 3 to a large green on a peninsula formed by two smaller ŽŶƟŶƵĞƐ ŽŶ ŶĞǆƚ ƉĂŐĞ хх

Michigan Golf Journal ^ŽƵƚŚĞƌŶ dƌĂǀĞů

ŝŶůĞƚƐ ŽĨ ǁĂƚĞƌ Žī >ĂŬĞ Oconee. Very tranquil.

outdoors from tees more forward.

It’s followed by the par 4 16th hole going back in-land with a creek running the ĞŶƟƌĞ ůĞŶŐƚŚ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ĨĂŝƌǁĂǇ ĂŶĚ ƐƉůŝƫŶŐ ŚŝƫŶŐ ǌŽŶĞƐ ;ƚŚĞ ϭϮth hole is similar and stunning). The 18th hole is ŽŶĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ĮŶĞƐƚ ĮŶŝƐŚŝŶŐ holes in golf – a par 4 with some teeth and a fairway that runs all along the shoreline with wonderful ǀŝĞǁƐ ŽĨ Ă ŵĂƐƐŝǀĞ ƉŽƌƟŽŶ of the lake. The course ŽǀĞƌĂůů ŽīĞƌƐ ĮǀĞ ƐĞƚƐ ŽĨ tees that avail to a huge ĐŚĂůůĞŶŐĞ ĨƌŽŵ ƚŚĞ ƟƉƐ͕ but a gorgeous day spent

dŚĞ EĂƟŽŶĂů has three nine-hole layouts that can be mixed and matched to create an unparalleled 18-hole round, or play all

Reynolds Kingdom of Golf

three for a full day of fun. Renowned golf architect, dŽŵ &ĂǌŝŽ designed the ĮƌƐƚ ƚǁŽ ŶŝŶĞͲŚŽůĞ ĐŽƵƌƐĞƐ͕ ƚŚĞ ZŝĚŐĞ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ ůƵī Ăƚ ƚŚĞ EĂƟŽŶĂů ĐůƵď ŝŶ ϭϵϵϳ͘ Ŷ ĂĚĚŝƟŽŶĂů ŶŝŶĞ ŚŽůĞƐ͕

October 2019 ǁǁǁ͘ŵŝĐŚŝŐĂŶŐŽůłŽƵƌŶĂů͘ĐŽŵ

the Cove, opened for play ŝŶ ϮϬϬϬ͘ Natural pine forests, rolling landscape, and the ĚƌĂŵĂƟĐ ůĂŬĞĨƌŽŶƚ Ăůů ĂĚĚ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ EĂƟŽŶĂů͛Ɛ ďĞĂƵƚǇ͘ >ƵƐŚ ǌĂůĞĂƐ ĂŶĚ ŇŽǁĞƌŝŶŐ Dogwoods are reminiscent of nearby Augusta EĂƟŽŶĂů͘ dŚĞ ƌĞĞŬ ůƵď is the only private track at Reynolds, and was designed by :ŝŵ Engh, who put together Michigan’s Tullymore Resort course – and there is some resemblance in ĞǆĐĞƉƟŽŶĂů ŵĂŶͲŵĂĚĞ shaping used to accentuate great natural terrain. The ƌĞĞŬ ůƵď ŽƉĞŶĞĚ ŝŶ ϮϬϬϳ and Engh was charged to create something with a ĚŝīĞƌĞŶƚ ĨĞĞů ƚŚĂŶ ƚŚĞ ĮƌƐƚ ĮǀĞ ĐŽƵƌƐĞƐ Ăƚ ZĞǇŶŽůĚƐ͘ ,Ğ did it. What stands out as most unique is the 18th hole. Engh couldn’t decide ďĞƚǁĞĞŶ ƚŚƌĞĞ ĚŝīĞƌĞŶƚ ŐƌĞĞŶ ůŽĐĂƟŽŶƐ Ăƚ ƚŚĞ ĞŶĚ of the valley, so they built all three and management rotates which one closes out your round that day. tĞ ƉůĂǇĞĚ ƚŚĞ ĮƌƐƚ ŐƌĞĞŶ

that was tucked around a corner of trees to the right. If playing the third green golfers have an elevated ĮŶŝƐŚŝŶŐ ƐŚŽƚ͘ Any visit to Reynolds Lake Oconee (formerly referred to as Reynolds WůĂŶƚĂƟŽŶͿ ƐŚŽƵůĚ ŝŶĐůƵĚĞ a stop at the <ŝŶŐĚŽŵ ŽĨ 'ŽůĨ ƉƌĞƐĞŶƚĞĚ ďǇ dĂǇůŽƌDĂĚĞ. It’s one of ŽŶůǇ ƚǁŽ ƐƵĐŚ ĂŵĞŶŝƟĞƐ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ĐŽƵŶƚƌǇ ĂŶĚ ŽīĞƌƐ ƚŽƉͲŶŽƚĐŚ ŐŽůĨ ŝŶƐƚƌƵĐƟŽŶ ĂŶĚ ĐůƵď ĮƫŶŐ ǁŝƚŚ ƚŚĞ latest technologies and a personal touch. Behind the indoor/outdoor training building that hits out onto the driving range ƐŝƚƐ ĂŶ ĞŶŽƌŵŽƵƐ ƉƌĂĐƟĐĞ

ĂƌĞĂ ƐĞƩůĞĚ ŝŶ Ă ƐŵĂůů valley with three large greens, chipping areas and approach shot-making ŽƉƉŽƌƚƵŶŝƟĞƐ ƚŽ ƚƵŶĞ ƵƉ anyone’s game. Other than golf, Reynolds ŚĂƐ ŵĂŶǇ ŽƉƉŽƌƚƵŶŝƟĞƐ ĨŽƌ ǁĂƚĞƌ ƐƉŽƌƚƐ͕ ďŽĂƟŶŐ͕ ƐǁŝŵŵŝŶŐ͕ ĮƐŚŝŶŐ͕ ĐůĂǇ ƐŚŽŽƟŶŐ͕ ǁĂůŬŝŶŐ ƚƌĂŝůƐ ĂŶĚ ŵŽƌĞ ʹ ĞǀĞƌǇŽŶĞ ǁŝůů ĮŶĚ ĨƵŶ ĂĐƟǀŝƟĞƐ Ăƚ ZĞǇŶŽůĚƐ Lake Oconee. Whether a northern ŶĂƟǀĞ ŝƐ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ĨŽƌ Ă winter home in the south, Žƌ Ă ůƵǆƵƌŝŽƵƐ ǀĂĐĂƟŽŶ spot to visit, Reynolds Lake Oconee should be on the shopping list.

Michigan News & Notes

&KZD Z D/ ,/' E D , DW t/E^ &/Z^d WZK s Ed like the McKenzie Tour. “There were many guys in the Toledo Open that play on the McKenzie Tour, at the level I want to play at,” Breault said. “So that gives ŵĞ Ă ůŝƩůĞ ǀĂůŝĚĂƟŽŶ ĂŶĚ makes me feel I can compete with the level (of golfer) that I want to be playing against.”

Beau Breault

Hartland High School and Eastern Michigan grad Beau Breault made quick work of turning professional by winning just the second pro tournament he entered – the Toledo Open on Sept. 16-17. dŚĞ ϮϬϭϴ DŝĐŚŝŐĂŶ ŵĂƚĞƵƌ winner – who was also the ƌƵŶŶĞƌ ƵƉ ŝŶ ϮϬϭϳ ĂŶĚ ƌĞĂĐŚĞĚ ƚŚĞ ĮŶĂů ϰ ƚŚŝƐ ǇĞĂƌ ʹ ƚƵƌŶĞĚ pro recently to see if he can parlay a great amateur career into a new payday career. Also, in the 89th Toledo KƉĞŶ ĮĞůĚ ƚŚĂƚ ƌĞĂƵůƚ bested were several DŝĐŚŝŐĂŶĚĞƌƐ͕ ŝŶĐůƵĚŝŶŐ ϮϬϭϴ Michigan PGA Champion Ben Cook, and two Michigan Open winners: Jake Kneen

;ϮϬϭϴͿ ŽĨ tŚŝƚĞ >ĂŬĞ ǁŚŽ also has four mini tour wins to his credit, and Eric Lilleboe ;ϮϬϭϵͿ ŽĨ KŬĞŵŽƐ͘ ƌĞĂƵůƚ ŵĂĚĞ Ă ϭϮͲĨŽŽƚ birdie on the 18th hole to force a playoff with Ashton Van Horne of Georgetown, <z͕ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞŶ ǁŽŶ ŽŶ the first hole with a par. Breault’s opening round included six birdies on the back 9. He finished with 6668-134. He said the Stone Oak Country Club played so tight he only hit driver nine times in 36 holes. His short-term plans ŝŶĐůƵĚĞ ŚĞĂĚŝŶŐ ƚŽ &ůŽƌŝĚĂ to play mini tour events and eventually advance to others

&ŽƵƌ DŝĐŚŝŐĂŶ 'ŽůĨĞƌƐ ZĞĂĐŚĞĚ DĂƚĐŚ WůĂǇ Ăƚ h^' DŝĚͲ ŵĂƚĞƵƌ Dan Ellis, the assistant golf coach at MSU where he also played his collegiate career, made it to the Sweet 16 of the 39th U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship in Parker, Colorado, before being knocked out by Australian Lukas Michel, 4-and-3. &ůŝŶƚ ŶĂƟǀĞ ĂŶĚ ĨŽƌŵĞƌ MSU golfer Jimmy Chestnut, ǁŚŽ ǁŽŶ ƚŚĞ ϮϬϬϴ DŝĐŚŝŐĂŶ Amateur, reached the second round of match play before going down to Joseph Deraney of Tupelo, Miss. ^ĐŽƩ ^ƚƌŝĐŬůĂŶĚ ŽĨ ůŽŽŵĮĞůĚ Hills, and Nick Gunthorpe of East Lansing, also made it into match play before their run ĞŶĚĞĚ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ĮƌƐƚ ŵĂƚĐŚ͘

ŵĂƚĞƵƌ ŚĂŵƉŝŽŶƐŚŝƉƐ

GAM Women’s Senior Championship: Joan Garety

GAM Senior Championship: Steve Maddalena

White Lake’s Michael Coriasso to GAM Mid-Amateur Victory

HARBOR SPRINGS – Ada’s Joan Garety, age 63, won her ĮŌŚ ' D tŽŵĞŶ͛Ɛ ^ĞŶŝŽƌ Championship by one shot over ϮͲƟŵĞ ĐŚĂŵƉŝŽŶ dĞƌƌǇ ĞůĐĂŵƉ of Grand Blanc, at Harbor Point Golf Club. Maureen Whitehead ŽĨ ŚĂƌůĞǀŽŝǆ͕ ĂŶŽƚŚĞƌ ϮͲƟŵĞ ǁŝŶŶĞƌ͕ ĮŶŝƐŚĞĚ ƚŚŝƌĚ ǁŝƚŚ ϭϲϭ in the 36-hole event.

LANSING – Steve Maddalena ŽĨ :ĂĐŬƐŽŶ ďŝƌĚŝĞĚ ƚŚĞ ĮƌƐƚ ŚŽůĞ ŽĨ Ă ƐƵĚĚĞŶͲĚĞĂƚŚ ƉůĂǇŽī ǁŝƚŚ LaRay Anderson of Novi to add a GAM Senior Championship to ŚŝƐ DŝĐŚŝŐĂŶ 'ŽůĨ ,Ăůů ŽĨ &ĂŵĞ resume, at Country Club of Lansing.

HARBOR SPRINGS – Michael Coriasso of White Lake ĮŶŝƐŚĞĚ ďŝƌĚŝĞͲĞĂŐůĞͲďŝƌĚŝĞ ƚŽ win the two-day 37th GAM Mid-Amateur Championship at Boyne Highlands Resort.

Garety, 63, and a Michigan 'ŽůĨ ,Ăůů ŽĨ &ĂŵĞƌ͕ ƐŚŽƚ Ă closing 76 for 158, slipping past Delcamp, who shot 159. The ƚǁŽ ĂƌĞ ĐůŽƐĞ ĨƌŝĞŶĚƐ ĂŶĚ ŽŌĞŶ partners in team tournaments. “Of course, I want to beat her, and she wants to beat me,” Garety said. “We play to win.” ĮĞůĚ ŽĨ ϲϱ ƐĞŶŝŽƌ ǁŽŵĞŶ ĂŐĞ ϱϬͲƉůƵƐ ƉůĂǇĞĚ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ĐŚĂŵƉŝŽŶƐŚŝƉ͘ dŚƌĞĞ ĂĚĚŝƟŽŶĂů ŇŝŐŚƚƐ ǁĞƌĞ ĚĞƚĞƌŵŝŶĞĚ ŽǀĞƌ two days of stroke play – with gross and net prizes awarded. <ĂƌŝŶ &ůŽŽĚ ŽĨ Dƚ͘ ůĞŵĞŶƐ ǁĂƐ the ^ƵƉĞƌ ^ĞŶŝŽƌ ǁŝŶŶĞƌ among golfers over age 65.

“It feels nice to win,” he said ĂŌĞƌ ŚŝƫŶŐ ĂŶ ϴͲŝƌŽŶ ƐŚŽƚ ƚŽ ĨŽƵƌͲ ĨĞĞƚ ĂŶĚ ŵĂŬŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ƉƵƩ ŽŶ EŽ͘ ϭϴ͕ ƚŚĞ ĮƌƐƚ ƉůĂǇŽī ŚŽůĞ͘ ͞/ ǁĂŶƚĞĚ to win this one. I kind of had this one on my radar.” DĂĚĚĂůĞŶĂ͕ ĂŐĞ ϱϵ͕ Ă ϯͲƟŵĞ Michigan Amateur champion ;ϭϵϴϬ͕ ͛ϵϬ ĂŶĚ ͛ϵϱͿ Ă ƉĂƐƚ ' D champion (1989), GAM Senior DĂƚĐŚ WůĂǇ ǁŝŶŶĞƌ ;ϮϬϭϲͿ ĂŶĚ recently won the senior division in the GAM Mid-Amateur, shot 5-under 139. Ray Emsley of Davisburg shot 74-67-141 for third place. Mark Ochsankehl of Caledonia topped Terry Westbrook of Grand Rapids in the Super Senior division.

Coriasso, originally from 'ƌĂŶĚ ůĂŶĐ͕ ĮŶŝƐŚĞĚ ŚŝƐ ƌĞŐƵůĂƟŽŶ ƌŽƵŶĚ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ Moor Course with a birdie on the par 4 17th, then eagled ƚŚĞ ƉĂƌ ϱ ϭϴƚŚ ƚŽ ĨŽƌĐĞ Ă ƟĞ ǁŝƚŚ ƌĂĚ ĂƐƟŽŶ ŽĨ ^ŚĞůďǇ Township, who also shot a 5-under 139 total. ŽƌŝĂƐƐŽ͕ Ϯϵ ĂŶĚ Ă ůŽĂŶ ŽĸĐĞƌ ĨŽƌ YƵŝĐŬĞŶ >ŽĂŶƐ͕ ƚŚĞŶ ďŝƌĚŝĞĚ ƚŚĞ ĮƌƐƚ ŚŽůĞ of sudden-death, the par ϰ ϭϬƚŚ͕ ǁŝƚŚ Ă ϭϱͲĨŽŽƚ ďŝƌĚŝĞ ƉƵƩ ĨŽƌ ŚŝƐ ĮƌƐƚ ' D tournament victory and what he called his biggest win ever. Steve Nichols, who shot ϭϰϬ͕ ƚŽŽŬ ƚŚŝƌĚ ƉůĂĐĞ ŽǀĞƌĂůů͕ ďƵƚ ǁĂƐ ĂůƐŽ ŝĚĞŶƟĮĞĚ ĂƐ ƚŚĞ DŝĚͲ^ĞŶŝŽƌƐ ŝǀŝƐŝŽŶ ǁŝŶŶĞƌ as the low scorer over age 45 in the tournament. All content by Greg Johnson

Junior Golf

,/',> E ͛^ ^KW,/ ^d s E^͕ > < KZ/KE͛^ :h^d/E ^h/ t/E ' D :hE/KZ /Es/d d/KE > d/d> ^ By Greg Johnson

EAST LANSING – Sophie Stevens of ,ŝŐŚůĂŶĚ͕ ĂŐĞ ϭϯ͕ ĂŶĚ :ƵƐƟŶ ^Ƶŝ ŽĨ Lake Orion, 14, could have played in the 15-and-under age group, but tested themselves against the older and best golfers in the 7th GAM :ƵŶŝŽƌ /ŶǀŝƚĂƟŽŶĂů͘ They passed the test – winning the ŽǀĞƌĂůů ƟƚůĞƐ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ƐĞĂƐŽŶͲĞŶĚŝŶŐ 36-hole championship hosted by &ŽƌĞƐƚ ŬĞƌƐ tĞƐƚ 'ŽůĨ ŽƵƌƐĞ Ăƚ MSU. ^Ƶŝ͕ ǁŚŽ ĂůƐŽ ǁŽŶ ƚŚĞ ϮϬϭϵ D,^ ŝǀ͘ ϭ ƐƚĂƚĞ ƟƚůĞ ŝŶ Ă ƉůĂǇŽī against Coalter Smith of Grosse Pointe South in June, shot a closing ϯͲƵŶĚĞƌ ϲϵ ĨŽƌ ϭϰϭ ƚŽ ƚĂŬĞ ďŽǇƐ͛ ƟƚůĞ by one shot over Tyler Eedy of West ƌĂŶĐŚ ;ϭϰϮͿ͘ Stevens was the 15-and-under girls’ winner a year ago and ĐŽŵƉĞƚĞĚ Ăƚ ƵŐƵƐƚĂ EĂƟŽŶĂů ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ƌŝǀĞ͕ ŚŝƉ ĂŶĚ WƵƩ͘ ,Ğƌ ϭϰϳ ǁĂƐ one shot over runner up Shannon Kennedy of Beverly Hills. x

15-and-under age boys’ winner: Ryan O’Rourke of tĞƐƚ ůŽŽŵĮĞůĚ ;ǁŚŽ ĂůƐŽ won the Michigan Junior State Amateur.)

15-and-under girls’ winner: Lauren Timpf of Macomb

Michigan Golf Journal dŽƵƌ WƌŽ YΘ

Q&A: dŽƵƌ WƌŽ ^ƚĞǀĞ &ůĞƐĐŚ With Tom Lang

ŵŽƌĞ ĐŚŽŝĐĞƐ͕ ďƵƚ ǇŽƵ ƉƌŽďĂďůǇ ŚĂĚ ǀĞƌǇ ĨĞǁ ďĂĐŬ in that era?

PGA Tour Champions ƉůĂǇĞƌ ^ƚĞǀĞ &ůĞƐĐŚ ǁŽŶ ĨŽƵƌ ƟŵĞƐ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ W' dŽƵƌ͕ and grabbed a Champions win last year before coming close to another at the Ally Challenge presented by McLaren in Grand Blanc. &ůĞƐĐŚ ŵĂĚĞ ĮǀĞ ďŝƌĚŝĞƐ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ĮŶĂů ƐĞǀĞŶ ŚŽůĞƐ ƚŽ ĮŶŝƐŚ dϯ Ăƚ ϭϮͲƵŶĚĞƌ ƉĂƌ͘ ,Ğ ŵŝƐƐĞĚ ƚŚĞ ϮϬϭϴ ůůǇ Challenge due to neck surgery the week prior. His ůĂƐƚ ƟŵĞ Ăƚ tĂƌǁŝĐŬ ǁĂƐ ƚŚĞ ĮŶĂů ƵŝĐŬ KƉĞŶ ŝŶ ϮϬϬϵ͘ &ůĞƐĐŚ ŝƐ ǁĞůů ĂǁĂƌĞ ŚĞ ƐƚĂŶĚƐ ŽƵƚ ŵŽƌĞ ĂƐ Ă ůĞŌǇ golfer but is very comfortable and plays at ease. He is an KŚŝŽ ŶĂƟǀĞ ǁŚŽ ƉůĂǇĞĚ ŐŽůĨ at the University of Kentucky. ,Ğ ƚƵƌŶĞĚ ƉƌŽ ŝŶ ϭϵϵϬ͘

Q Ž ǇŽƵ ƌĞŵĞŵďĞƌ when it happened that you ƌĞĂůŝǌĞĚ ǇŽƵ ǁĞƌĞ Ă ůĞŌǇ͕ like at a young age?

“I started playing rightŚĂŶĚĞĚ ƚŚĞ ĮƌƐƚ ƚǁŽ ǇĞĂƌƐ͕ ůŝŬĞ ǁŚĞŶ / ǁĂƐ ŶŝŶĞ Žƌ ϭϬ͕

^ƚĞǀĞ &ůĞƐŚ ƚĞĞƐ Žī ǁŝƚŚ ŚƌŝƐ DiMarco looking on.

because my dad was a righty. /Ŷ >ŝƩůĞ >ĞĂŐƵĞ ďĂƐĞďĂůů / Śŝƚ ůĞŌǇ ĂŶĚ ƚŚƌĞǁ ůĞŌǇ͕ ĂŶĚ / realized it might be easier ƚŽ ƐǁŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ŐŽůĨ ĐůƵď ůĞŌͲ handed when I played one day with my dad and my ƵŶĐůĞ͕ ǁŚŽ ǁĂƐ ůĞŌͲŚĂŶĚĞĚ͘ / ŚĂĚ ŶĞǀĞƌ ƐĞĞŶ Ă ůĞŌͲŚĂŶĚĞĚ club before, so I hit his club and it felt way more natural. / ĨĞůƚ ŵŽƌĞ ĂƚŚůĞƟĐ ĨƌŽŵ ƚŚĞ ůĞŌͲŚĂŶĚ ƐŝĚĞ͘͟

Of course, today’s ĞƋƵŝƉŵĞŶƚ ŐŝǀĞƐ ůĞŌŝĞƐ

“No, there certainly weren’t many choices, ĂŶĚ ĂĐƚƵĂůůǇ͕ ƵŶƟů / ŐŽƚ on Tour, not even most major manufacturers made their top-of-the-line clubs ůĞŌͲŚĂŶĚĞĚ͘ dŚĞǇ ĂůǁĂǇƐ made more of a middle of the road, more gameimprovement type clubs. Even today there’s a lot ŽĨ ƉƵƩĞƌ ůŝŶĞƐ͕ ůŝŬĞ ^ĐŽƩǇ Cameron for one, that they don’t make every one of ƚŚĞŝƌ ƉƵƩĞƌƐ ůĞŌͲŚĂŶĚĞĚ͘ Maybe one out of every ĮǀĞ͘ ŶĚ / ŐĞƚ ŝƚ͕ ƚŚĞƌĞ͛Ɛ ŶŽƚ a (big) market for it. It is a challenge. There are very few companies that make Ăůů ƚŚĞŝƌ ĞƋƵŝƉŵĞŶƚ ŝŶ ůĞŌͲ handed. That’s why a lot of clubs in my bag aren’t ĐƵƌƌĞŶƚ ŵŽĚĞůƐ͘ / ũƵƐƚ ĮŶĚ ƐŽŵĞƚŚŝŶŐ / ůŝŬĞ ĂŶĚ ƐƟĐŬ ƚŽ it.

Are any favorite courses you’ve played that

October 2019 ǁǁǁ͘ŵŝĐŚŝŐĂŶŐŽůłŽƵƌŶĂů͘ĐŽŵ

Ϯϯ

Nov. 5. What’s your ƉƌĞĚŝĐƟŽŶ͍

“I’m a big Tom Izzo fan, he’s such a great coach. It won’t be easy, but naturally I’ve got to say Kentucky is going to come out on top, by ŵĂǇďĞ ĨŽƵƌ Žƌ ĮǀĞ ;ƉŽŝŶƚƐͿ͘͟

You’ve played a lot ŽĨ WƌŽͲ ŵƐ͖ ŝƐ ƚŚĞƌĞ ĂŶǇ ďĞƐƚ ĂĚǀŝĐĞ ǇŽƵ ůŝŬĞ ƚŽ ŐŝǀĞ ĂŵĂƚĞƵƌ ŐŽůĨĞƌƐ͍

^ƚĞǀĞ &ůĞƐĐŚ Ăƚ ƚŚĞ ůůǇ ŚĂůůĞŶŐĞ

ŵŝŐŚƚ͕ ůĞƚ͛Ɛ ƐĂǇ͕ ĨĂǀŽƌ ůĞŌ ŚĂŶĚĞƌƐ Žƌ Įƚ ǇŽƵƌ ĞǇĞ ĂŶĚ ƐǁŝŶŐ ďĞƩĞƌ͍

A ͞ ƵŐƵƐƚĂ EĂƟŽŶĂů͘ I think that is one of the ƌĞĂƐŽŶƐ ůĞŌŝĞƐ ŚĂǀĞ ĨĂŝƌĞĚ well there. A lot of the key ƚĞĞ ƐŚŽƚƐ ĂŶĚ ŵŽƐƚ ĚŝĸĐƵůƚ ƚĞĞ ƐŚŽƚƐ ŐŽ ƌŝŐŚƚ ƚŽ ůĞŌ͘ zŽƵ͛ǀĞ ŐŽƚ ϵ͕ ϭϬ͕ ϭϯ͕ ϭϰ͕ ϭϳ Ă ůŝƩůĞ ďŝƚ͘ dŚŽƐĞ ĂƌĞ ƚŽƵŐŚĞƌ tee shots out there but they ŐŽ ƌŝŐŚƚ ƚŽ ůĞŌ ĂŶĚ ĨŽƌ Ă ůĞŌǇ it’s just easier to control a fade, and with the modern

technology since the ball doesn’t spin much you can chase that ball out there far enough where even though you’re playing a fade you ĐĂŶ ƐƟůů ƚĂŬĞ ĂĚǀĂŶƚĂŐĞ ŽĨ the hole. Augusta is the only one where I know when I just showed up there many ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ƚĞĞ ƐŚŽƚƐ Įƚ ŵǇ ĞǇĞ ďĞƩĞƌ ƚŚĂŶ ŽƚŚĞƌ ƉůĂĐĞƐ͘͟

You’re a Kentucky guy, they open the college ďĂƐŬĞƚďĂůů ƐĞĂƐŽŶ ǁŝƚŚ DŝĐŚŝŐĂŶ ^ƚĂƚĞ ƚŚŝƐ ǇĞĂƌ͕

“Usually, for the amateurs, the fundamentals are lacking. To me, you’ve got to have your grip and your alignment, your stance and all that. That’s a given. To me, that’s the free part of golf. If you can nail your set up and your fundamentals, ǇŽƵƌ ƐǁŝŶŐ ŚĂƐ Ă ďĞƩĞƌ ĐŚĂŶĐĞ Ăƚ ƌĞƉĞĂƟŶŐ͘ tŚĞŶ playing Pro-Ams rarely do I ĞǀĞƌ ƐĞĞ Ă ƌŽƵƟŶĞ ƚŚĂƚ͛Ɛ ƚŚĞ ƐĂŵĞ͖ ƚŚĞ ďĂůů ƉŽƐŝƟŽŶ ŝƐ ŶĞǀĞƌ ƚŚĞ ƐĂŵĞ͘ ^Ž ŐĞƫŶŐ the fundamentals gets you ahead in the game quicker than most amateurs. The fundamentals give you a leg up to start.”

Michigan Golf Journal ^ĞŶŝŽƌ >W'

&Z E , >/ < dK ,K^d 3RD ^ E/KZ >W' , DW/KE^,/W By Tom Lang

It has not reached the men’s senior tour level yet, but professional women’s ŽƉƉŽƌƚƵŶŝƟĞƐ ĨŽƌ ƐĞŶŝŽƌ golf are growing – thanks ŝŶ ŵƵĐŚ ƉĂƌƚ ƚŽ &ƌĞŶĐŚ >ŝĐŬ Resort in southern Indiana – a historical supporter of women’s golf. The resort created and ŚŽƐƚƐ ƚŚĞ ĮƌƐƚͲĞǀĞƌ ǁŽŵĞŶ͛Ɛ senior major – the Senior LPGA Championship ƉƌĞƐĞŶƚĞĚ ďǇ KůĚ EĂƟŽŶĂů ĂŶŬ ƚŽ ďĞŶĞĮƚ ZŝůĞǇ͛Ɛ Children’s Hospital – which will play its third installment Oct. 14-16. Trish Johnson won the inaugural tournament wire-to-wire in ϮϬϭϳ͕ ĂŶĚ >ĂƵƌŝĞ ĂǀŝĞƐ ŝƐ the defending champ from ϮϬϭϴ͘ No less than three Michigan women are ĞŶƚĞƌĞĚ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ĮĞůĚ ĂŐĂŝŶ ƚŚŝƐ ƟŵĞ ĂƌŽƵŶĚ ʹ :ĂĐŬƐŽŶ͛Ɛ Elaine Crosby, Escanaba ŶĂƟǀĞ ĞĐŬǇ /ǀĞƌƐŽŶ ;ŶŽǁ living in Wisc.) and Mt. WůĞĂƐĂŶƚ ŶĂƟǀĞ ŝŶĚǇ &ŝŐŐͲ Currier (now in Texas).

Elaine Crosby

The purse for the 54-hole ƚŽƵƌŶĂŵĞŶƚ ŝƐ ΨϲϱϬ͕ϬϬϬ ĂŶĚ is for players age 45 and over. Last year the USGA added the U.S. Senior Women’s KƉĞŶ ;ϳϮ ŚŽůĞƐ͕ ĂŐĞƐ ϱϬ ĂŶĚ above) for a second major for the senior women. Davies won that inaugural ƟƚůĞ ŝŶ ϮϬϭϴ ďĞĨŽƌĞ ǁŝŶŶŝŶŐ Ăƚ &ƌĞŶĐŚ >ŝĐŬ Ă ĐŽƵƉůĞ months later; and in May this year, Helen Alfredsson won the U.S. Senior Women’s Open, where Ann Arbor’s Suzy Green-Roebuck ƉůĂĐĞĚ dϭϮ͘

“Having these senior majors is obviously something we have always dreamed of,” Australian Jan ^ƚĞƉŚĞŶƐŽŶ͕ Ă ƚŚƌĞĞͲƟŵĞ major champion who was the LPGA Tour’s Rookie of ƚŚĞ zĞĂƌ ŝŶ ϭϵϳϰ͕ ƚŽůĚ >W' ͘ com. “We tried to get the ƐĞŶŝŽƌƐ ƚŽƵƌ ƐƚĂƌƚĞĚ ϭϱͲϮϬ years ago but we just kind ŽĨ ĮǌǌůĞĚ ŽƵƚ͕ ƐŽ ƚŽ ĮŶĂůůǇ see all this happening is wonderful. “Even Juli Inkster was saying to me, ‘I wish it had happened several years ago ďƵƚ ƐƟůů͕ ŝƚ͛Ɛ ďĞƩĞƌ ůĂƚĞ ƚŚĂŶ

October 2019 ǁǁǁ͘ŵŝĐŚŝŐĂŶŐŽůłŽƵƌŶĂů͘ĐŽŵ

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hotels in America sit just down the street from each other within walking distance in the community – the West Baden Inn, and ƚŚĞ &ƌĞŶĐŚ >ŝĐŬ ^ƉƌŝŶŐƐ Hotel. Both are incredible wonders of historical architecture as well as extremely comfortable places to rest each night. Laura Davies

never.’ Obviously, Laura, Trish and Juli, they all love ŝƚ ďĞĐĂƵƐĞ ƚŚĞǇ ĂƌĞ ƐƟůů playing a lot on the regular LPGA Tour and that gives them a huge advantage in these senior major championships.

ϮϬϭϯ͘ ƌŽƐďǇ ŝƐ ĂŶ ŝŶĚƵĐƚĞĞ to the Hall. The Legends dŽƵƌ ďĞŐĂŶ ŝŶ ϮϬϬϬ ĂŶĚ serves professional women with golf tournaments for ages 45 and up. Crosby has hosted an event every year in Jackson.

“But even as old as I am, it gives us something to look forward to,” Stevenson ĐŽŶƟŶƵĞĚ͘ ͞dŚĞ ƚĂůŬ ŽĨ Annika (Sorenstam) coming back or Lorena (Ochoa) ǁĂŶƟŶŐ ƚŽ ĐŽŵĞ ďĂĐŬ and play and Karrie Webb saying, ‘I am going to stay ŽƵƚ ƚŚĞƌĞ ƵŶƟů ƚŚĞ >ĞŐĞŶĚƐ Tour to play in those tournaments.’”

KƚŚĞƌ ŵĞŶŝƟĞƐ Ăƚ &ƌĞŶĐŚ >ŝĐŬ͗

&ƌĞŶĐŚ >ŝĐŬ ZĞƐŽƌƚ ŝƐ ŚŽŵĞ to the LPGA Legends Hall ŽĨ &ĂŵĞ͕ ǁŚŝĐŚ ŽƉĞŶĞĚ ŝŶ

&Žƌ ĨĂŶƐ ǁŚŽ ŵŝŐŚƚ ƚƌĂǀĞů ƚŽ &ƌĞŶĐŚ >ŝĐŬ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ ^ĞŶŝŽƌ LPGA Championship, there ŝƐ ŶŽ ůĂĐŬ ŽĨ ĂĚĚŝƟŽŶĂů ǁĂǇƐ ƚŽ ďĞ ĞŶƚĞƌƚĂŝŶĞĚ͘ &ŝƌƐƚ ĂŶĚ ĨŽƌĞŵŽƐƚ ŝƐ ŶĂƟŽŶĂůůǇͲ ranked golf, and southern Indiana’s milder climate allows for a later fall golf season than in Michigan. Two of the most engaging and incredible historic

A new feature for ŐĂŵďůĞƌƐ Ăƚ ƚŚĞ &ƌĞŶĐŚ Lick Resort and Casino is the opening of the new ƐƉŽƌƚƐďŽŽŬ ĂƌĞĂ͘ &ƌĞŶĐŚ Lick has also given the casino lounge and bar ĂƌĞĂ Ă ĨĂĐĞůŝŌ͕ ĨĞĂƚƵƌŝŶŐ 18 televisions, plus a pair of 16-foot LED walls, with picture-in-picture displays so you won’t miss a single play. The visual display will ƉƌŽǀŝĚĞ ϭϴϬ ĚĞŐƌĞĞƐ ŽĨ sports viewing for any fan. &ƌĞŶĐŚ >ŝĐŬ͛Ɛ ŶĞǁ sportsbook area is one of ƚŚĞ ĮƌƐƚ ƚŽ ŽƉĞŶ ŽƵƚƐŝĚĞ of Las Vegas. More info: ŚƩƉƐ://www.frenchlick. com/gaming/ƐƉŽƌƚƐďĞƫŶŐ

Michigan Golf Journal tŽŵĞŶ /Ŷ 'ŽůĨ

D/ ,/' E E d/s ^,/Z> z ^WKZ< , dK W' , >> K& & D By Tom Lang

Shirley Spork may not be a household ŶĂŵĞ͕ ďƵƚ ŚĞƌ ŝŶŇƵĞŶĐĞ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ŐĂŵĞ ĐĂŶ ďĞ ĨĞůƚ ŝŶ ŵĂŶǇ ŐŽůĮŶŐ ŚŽƵƐĞŚŽůĚƐ͘ ^ƉŽƌŬ ŐƌĞǁ ƵƉ ŝŶ ĞƚƌŽŝƚ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ϭϵϯϬƐ ĂŶĚ ĞĂƌůǇ ϰϬƐ͕ ƚŚĞŶ ĂƩĞŶĚĞĚ ĂƐƚĞƌŶ DŝĐŚŝŐĂŶ University, where she won the 1947 Women’s Collegiate Golf championship. She eventually became a touring pro and was runner up in the 1961 LPGA Championship – but that ǁĂƐ ŽŶůǇ ĂŌĞƌ ƐŚĞ ĂŶĚ Ă ĚŽǌĞŶ ŽƚŚĞƌ ǁŽŵĞŶ ĨŽƵŶĚĞĚ ƚŚĞ >W' ŝŶ ϭϵϱϬ͘ ^ƉŽƌŬ͕ ŶŽǁ ĂŐĞ ϵϮ ĂŶĚ ůŝǀŝŶŐ ŝŶ ĂůŝĨŽƌŶŝĂ͕ will gain yet another on a long list of honors by being inducted into the W' ŽĨ ŵĞƌŝĐĂ ,Ăůů ŽĨ &ĂŵĞ͕ EŽǀ͘ ϱ͕ Ăƚ ƚŚĞ W' ͛Ɛ ϭϬϯƚŚ ĂŶŶƵĂů ŵĞĞƟŶŐ͘ dŚĞ ŽƚŚĞƌƐ ǁŝůů ďĞ ŶŶŝŬĂ ^ŽƌĞŶƐƚĂŵ͕ ĂǀĞ DĂƌƌ //͕ ĨŽƌŵĞƌ W' WƌĞƐŝĚĞŶƚ ĞƌĞŬ ^ƉƌĂƵŐĞ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ ůĂƚĞ ĐůƵď ĚĞƐŝŐŶĞƌ <ĂƌƐƚĞŶ ^ŽůŚĞŝŵ͘ “These honorees followed individual accomplishments by becoming ambassadors to grow the game,” said PGA President Suzy tŚĂůĞǇ͘ ͞dŚĞŝƌ ĐŽŶƚƌŝďƵƟŽŶƐ ŚĂǀĞ ĨŽƌĞǀĞƌ ŝŵƉĂĐƚĞĚ ƚŚĞ ŶĞǆƚ ŐĞŶĞƌĂƟŽŶ ŽĨ ƉůĂǇĞƌƐ ŝŶ our sport. We proudly inscribe their names on an honor roll of those who have made golf the greatest game.” With both Spork and Sorenstam entering ƚŚĞ W' ,Ăůů ŽĨ &ĂŵĞ͕ ƚŚĂƚ ďƌŝŶŐƐ ƚŚĞ ƚŽƚĂů

Shirley Spork, photo credit LPGA

ǁŽŵĞŶ ƚŽ ŽŶůǇ Ɛŝǆ ƐŝŶĐĞ ƚŚĞ ,Ž& ǁĂƐ ĐƌĞĂƚĞĚ ŝŶ ϭϵϰϬ͘ dŚĞ ƉƌŝŽƌ ǁŽŵĞŶ ǁĞƌĞ ĂďĞ ŝĚƌŝŬƐŽŶ ĂŚĂƌŝĂƐ͕ WĂƩǇ ĞƌŐ͕ ZĞŶĞĞ WŽǁĞůů and Mickey Wright. ͞ ĂďĞ͕ WĂƩǇ͕ ZĞŶĞĞ ĂŶĚ DŝĐŬĞǇ ǁĞƌĞ honored for playing and giving clinics, for playing the game,” Spork told LPGA.com. “And I am honored for giving back to the development of the game, developing players. So, for me, this is a pinnacle of an award for a professional golfer who has

October 2019 ǁǁǁ͘ŵŝĐŚŝŐĂŶŐŽůłŽƵƌŶĂů͘ĐŽŵ

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“Shirley is a true pioneer as a founder of the LPGA Game development, ĂŶĚ ĂŶ ŝŶƐƉŝƌĂƟŽŶ ƚŽ Ăůů the business of golf and who know her,” said Sara teaching is where Spork Wold, past president of shown the brightest, ƚŚĞ 'ŽůĨ ƐƐŽĐŝĂƟŽŶ ŽĨ proudly putting her Michigan. “With her EMU college education to dĞĂĐŚĞƌ͛Ɛ ĞƌƟĮĐĂƚĞ ŝŶ use. Not only is she hand, she had the tools one of the original 13 and realized the value of women to form the teaching golf and founded >W' ŝŶ ϭϵϱϬ͕ ƐŚĞ ǁĂƐ the LPGA Teaching Division, extremely instrumental in which has given hundreds establishing (and creating ŽĨ ĐŽŵƉĞƟƟǀĞ ŐŽůĨĞƌƐ Ă training programs for) the ďŽŶĂĮĚĞ ůŝĨĞůŽŶŐ ĐĂƌĞĞƌ Shirley Spork, LPGA’s Teaching Division ĂŌĞƌ ƚŚĞŝƌ ĐŽŵƉĞƟƟǀĞ photo credit LPGA in 1959 – an organization career is over. Shirley has that remains highly active ƌĂŝƐĞĚ ŽǀĞƌ ΨϭϬϬ͕ϬϬϬ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ Dh tŽŵĞŶ͛Ɛ today in developing more golfers, especially 'ŽůĨ dĞĂŵ͘ ŶĚ Ăƚ ƚŚĞ ĂŐĞ ŽĨ ϵϮ ŚĞƌ ĞŶĞƌŐǇ͕ through the more recent LPGA-USGA Girls enthusiasm, genuine friendliness and Golf Initiative. The latter organization has enthralling endless stories inspire other been the driving force behind a huge surge women to follow her example and support in girls age 18 and under giving golf a try the growth of women’s golf.” ƐŝŶĐĞ ϮϬϭϬ͘ serviced the industry.”

ĂƌďĂƌĂ EŝĐŬůĂƵƐ ƚŽ ZĞĐĞŝǀĞ ϮϬϭϵ W' ŝƐƟŶŐƵŝƐŚĞĚ ^ĞƌǀŝĐĞ ǁĂƌĚ ĂƌďĂƌĂ EŝĐŬůĂƵƐ ŚĂƐ ďĞĞŶ ŶĂŵĞĚ ƌĞĐŝƉŝĞŶƚ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ϮϬϭϵ W' ŝƐƟŶŐƵŝƐŚĞĚ ^ĞƌǀŝĐĞ ǁĂƌĚ͕ also to be awarded on Nov. 5. It honors outstanding individuals who display leadership and ŚƵŵĂŶŝƚĂƌŝĂŶ ƋƵĂůŝƟĞƐ͕ ŝŶĐůƵĚŝŶŐ ŝŶƚĞŐƌŝƚǇ͕ ƐƉŽƌƚƐŵĂŶƐŚŝƉ ĂŶĚ ĞŶƚŚƵƐŝĂƐŵ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ ŐĂŵĞ ŽĨ ŐŽůĨ͘ ^ŚĞ ŝƐ ƚŚĞ ĐŚĂŝƌ ĂŶĚ ĐŽͲĨŽƵŶĚĞƌ ŽĨ EŝĐŬůĂƵƐ ŚŝůĚƌĞŶ͛Ɛ ,ĞĂůƚŚ ĂƌĞ &ŽƵŶĚĂƟŽŶ͕ ǁŚŝĐŚ ƐƵƉƉŽƌƚƐ ŶƵŵĞƌŽƵƐ ƉĞĚŝĂƚƌŝĐ ŚĞĂůƚŚĐĂƌĞ ƐĞƌǀŝĐĞƐ ŝŶ ^ŽƵƚŚ &ůŽƌŝĚĂ ĂŶĚ ĂĐƌŽƐƐ ƚŚĞ hŶŝƚĞĚ ^ƚĂƚĞƐ͘ ĂƌďĂƌĂ ŚĂƐ ďĞĞŶ ƚŚĞ ĐĂƚĂůǇƐƚ ƚŽ ƌĂŝƐŝŶŐ ŵŽƌĞ ƚŚĂŶ ΨϭϬϬ ŵŝůůŝŽŶ ŝŶ ŶĞĂƌůǇ ϭϱ ǇĞĂƌƐ͘ “When I took a minute to think about the award, I realized that I have a huge passion for Ă ƐŚŽƌƚ ĨŽƵƌͲůĞƩĞƌ ǁŽƌĚ ʹ 'K>& ʹ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĂƚ ŐŽůĨ ŚĂƐ ďĞĞŶ Ă ǀĞƌǇ ŝŵƉŽƌƚĂŶƚ ƉĂƌƚ ŽĨ ŵǇ ůŝĨĞ ĨŽƌ ĂůŵŽƐƚ ϲϬ ǇĞĂƌƐ͕͟ ĂƌďĂƌĂ EŝĐŬůĂƵƐ ƐĂŝĚ͘ ͞/ƚ ŚĂƐ ŽƉĞŶĞĚ ƐŽ ŵĂŶǇ ĚŽŽƌƐ ƚŽ ĂůůŽǁ ŵĞ ƚŽ ĂƩĞŵƉƚ to ‘give back’ to the game that Jack loved when I met him and to the game that I now love, ĐŚĞƌŝƐŚ ĂŶĚ ƐƵƉƉŽƌƚ ƵŶĐŽŶĚŝƟŽŶĂůůǇ͘͟

Michigan Golf Journal 'ƵĞƐƚ ŽůƵŵŶ

'h ^d K>hDE͗

d, s >h K& 'K>& KhZ^ ^ ^ hZ E 'Z E^W By Adam Ikamas, CGCS Dŝ' ^ ǆĞĐƵƟǀĞ ŝƌĞĐƚŽƌ

I have been in the golf business for more than ϮϬ ǇĞĂƌƐ͕ ĞǀĞŶ ŵŽƌĞ ŝĨ ǁĞ go back to my days as a ĐĂĚĚǇ͘ ƵƌŝŶŐ ƚŚŝƐ ƟŵĞ͕ / ŚĂǀĞ ŽŌĞŶ ŚĂĚ ƌĞǀĞůĂƚŽƌǇ ĐŽŶǀĞƌƐĂƟŽŶƐ ǁŝƚŚ golfers, legislators and the general public when they ĮŶĚ ŽƵƚ ǁŚĂƚ / ĚŽ͘

As a former superintendent who ŝƐ ŶŽǁ ŝŶ Ă ƉŽƐŝƟŽŶ ƚŽ directly interact with the public on behalf of our ŵŽƌĞ ƚŚĂŶ ϳϬϬ ŵĞŵďĞƌƐ of the Michigan Golf Course Superintendents ƐƐŽĐŝĂƟŽŶ ;www. migcsa.org) I have found

&ƌŽŵ ƚŚĞ Ăŝƌ ŝƚ ŝƐ ĞĂƐǇ to see how valuable golf course green space is. Detroit Golf ůƵď ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ůĞŌ ƚŽƉ͕ Chandler Park along I-94 and the Country Club of Detroit on the top right stand out in the urban sprawl of Southeast Michigan.

October 2019 ǁǁǁ͘ŵŝĐŚŝŐĂŶŐŽůłŽƵƌŶĂů͘ĐŽŵ

that golf is somewhat misunderstood as a ŶĞŐĂƟǀĞ ŝŵƉĂĐƚŽƌ ŽŶ ŽƵƌ environment. One of my many talking points about golf is the value of golf courses as urban greenspace. Along with the professionally trained and educated golf course superintendent who is managing the ƉƌŽƉĞƌƟĞƐ͕ ŐŽůĨ ĐŽƵƌƐĞƐ are one of the most environmentally valuable spaces you can have, especially in urban areas. KŌĞŶ ǁŚĂƚ ŝƐ ůŽŽŬĞĚ Ăƚ by the general public as an environmental problem would be another parking lot, strip mall or housing development if it were not a golf course. Many urban courses have also been in the community for more ƚŚĂŶ ϭϬϬ ǇĞĂƌƐ ƉƌŽǀŝĚŝŶŐ this open greenspace. Any inputs into these spaces are minimal and highly calibrated and applied by a professional

with the health of the property considered as the highest priority by the superintendent. This provides an ideal habitat for wildlife and golfers alike. According to the World ,ĞĂůƚŚ KƌŐĂŶŝǌĂƟŽŶ͕ green spaces such as ƉĂƌŬƐ ĂŶĚ ƐƉŽƌƚƐ ĮĞůĚƐ ĂƐ well as woods and natural meadows, wetlands or other ecosystems, represent a fundamental component of any urban ecosystem. Green urban areas facilitate physical ĂĐƟǀŝƚǇ ĂŶĚ ƌĞůĂǆĂƟŽŶ and form a refuge from noise. Trees produce ŽǆǇŐĞŶ͕ ĂŶĚ ŚĞůƉ ĮůƚĞƌ ŽƵƚ ŚĂƌŵĨƵů Ăŝƌ ƉŽůůƵƟŽŶ͕ including airborne ƉĂƌƟĐƵůĂƚĞ ŵĂƩĞƌ͘ tĂƚĞƌ spots, from lakes to rivers and fountains, moderate temperatures. Green spaces also are important to mental health. Having access to green spaces can reduce ŚĞĂůƚŚ ŝŶĞƋƵĂůŝƟĞƐ͕

Ϯϵ

improve well-being, and aid in treatment of mental illness. Some analysis suggests that physical ĂĐƟǀŝƚǇ ŝŶ Ă ŶĂƚƵƌĂů environment can help remedy mild depression and reduce physiological stress indicators. If you are a golfer who ŝƐ ƐŽŵĞƟŵĞ ŵĂůŝŐŶĞĚ ĨŽƌ ǇŽƵƌ ĐŚŽŝĐĞ ŽĨ ĂĐƟǀŝƚǇ͕ or someone new or not familiar with golf; try to think about what that space would be if it were not a golf course. Also, if it was not a space for a century-old business employing and serving the community and the environment. Golf is not a waste of land and resources, but one of the highest forms of professionally managed ƵƌďĂŶ ĐŽŶƐĞƌǀĂƟŽŶ possible.

Michigan Golf Journal 'ŽůĨ dŝƉƐ

'K>& d/W͗

KhZ^ D E ' D Ed

'ŽůĨ dŝƉƐ ƉƌŽǀŝĚĞĚ ďǇ ĂǀĞ <ĞŶĚĂůů ĐĂĚĞŵǇ ŝŶ zƉƐŝůĂŶƟ dŚĞ ŐŽůĨ ůĞŐĞŶĚ ĞŶ ,ŽŐĂŶ ǁĂƐ ƐĂŝĚ ƚŽ ŚĂǀĞ ŵĂĚĞ ƚŚĞ ĐŽŵŵĞŶƚ ǁŚĞŶ ĂƐŬĞĚ ǁŚǇ ŚĞ ŵĂĚĞ ƐŽ ĨĞǁ ŚŽůĞƐͲŝŶͲŽŶĞ͕ ƚŚŝƐ ǁĂƐ ďĞĐĂƵƐĞ͗ ͞/ ǀĞƌǇ ƐĞůĚŽŵ ĂŝŵĞĚ Ăƚ ƚŚĞ ŇĂŐƐƟĐŬ͘͟ He aimed to the side that had the most margin of error. Each shot is planned to make the next shot easier than the previous one.

One aspect of playing ĐŽŶƐŝƐƚĞŶƚ ŐŽůĨ ŝƐ ŐĞƫŶŐ to know what you can do reliably and only play shots that you are good at. Course management involves being able to ƌĞĂůŝƐƟĐĂůůǇ ƉƌĞĚŝĐƚ ƚŚĞ outcome of your shots. Ask yourself these ƋƵĞƐƟŽŶƐ ďĞĨŽƌĞ ǇŽƵ ƉůĂǇ a stroke. If I hit a solid shot with the club I have selected, where is it likely to go? If I miss hit or misdirect

this shot with this club, where is it likely to go? Is there room for either outcome? If not, maybe I should not be using this club. There is no rule that says that you are obligated to Ăŝŵ Ăƚ ƚŚĞ ŇĂŐƐƟĐŬ͘ /Ĩ ƚŚĞ ŇĂŐƐƟĐŬ ŝƐ ůŽĐĂƚĞĚ ŶĞĂƌ trouble, you would be well advised not to aim at it, but only as close as you dare, ǁŝƚŚŽƵƚ ŐĞƫŶŐ ŝŶƚŽ ƚƌŽƵďůĞ͘

In most cases I will not play a shot to the green unless I believe there is a high probability that I ǁŝůů Śŝƚ ƚŚĞ ŐƌĞĞŶ͕ Žƌ ůŝƩůĞ danger for a miss. If the ƉƌŽďĂďŝůŝƚǇ ŽĨ ŚŝƫŶŐ ƚŚĞ green is low, I will play to a safe area where the distance and angle make for an easy next shot. Mistakes and high ƐĐŽƌĞƐ ƵƐƵĂůůǇ ĐŽŵĞ ĨƌŽŵ consistently playing shots ƚŚĂƚ ŚĂǀĞ Ă ůŽǁ ƉƌŽďĂďŝůŝƚǇ of success. Playing easy shots that have a high probability of success ďƌĞĞĚ ĐŽŶĮĚĞŶĐĞ ĂŶĚ ůĞƐƐ ŵƵůƟƉůĞ ƐƚƌŽŬĞ ƉĞŶĂůƟĞƐ͘

Michigan Golf Journal Kī ŽƵƌƐĞ 'ŽůĨ 'ƌŽǁƚŚ

K&&ͳ KhZ^ 'K>&͗ ,Kt /' E /d ' d͍ From TopGolf, BigShots and Drive Shack to Indoor Simulators, the Golf Market is Growing By Adam Stanley

TopGolf

^ƚŽƌǇ ĂŶĚ ƉŚŽƚŽƐ ĞĚŝƚĞĚ ĨŽƌ ƐƉĂĐĞ ĂŶĚ ƌĞƉƌŝŶƚĞĚ ǁŝƚŚ ƉĞƌŵŝƐƐŝŽŶ ĨƌŽŵ ƚŚĞ ŽƌŝŐŝŶĂů ƉƵďůŝĐĂƟŽŶ: dŚĞ EĂƟŽŶĂů 'ŽůĨ &ŽƵŶĚĂƟŽŶ

Take a quick stroll through ĂŶǇ dŽƉŐŽůĨ ůŽĐĂƟŽŶ Ͷ Žƌ scroll through its Instagram ĨĞĞĚ Ͷ ĂŶĚ ǇŽƵ͛ůů ƐĞĞ ŐŽůĨ͘ Sort of. More denim than Dockers, more sundresses ƚŚĂŶ ^ĐŽƩǇ ĂŵĞƌŽŶ͕ ŝƚ͛Ɛ

ĐĞƌƚĂŝŶůǇ Ă ĚŝīĞƌĞŶƚ ŬŝŶĚ of audience than what the sport is used to seeing. And it’s growing. dŚĞ ƉĂƌƟĐŝƉĂƟŽŶ ďĂƐĞ ĨŽƌ ŽīͲĐŽƵƌƐĞ ĨŽƌŵƐ ŽĨ ŐŽůĨ ŝŶĐƌĞĂƐĞĚ ĂůŵŽƐƚ ϭϬй ŝŶ ϮϬϭϴ ƚŽ ĂŶ ĞƐƟŵĂƚĞĚ Ϯϯ

million people. The year ďĞĨŽƌĞ͕ ƚŚĞ ŽīͲĐŽƵƌƐĞ ƉĂƌƟĐŝƉĂƟŽŶ ŶƵŵďĞƌ ŝŶĐƌĞĂƐĞĚ ϳй ƚŽ Ϯϭ͘Ϯ ŵŝůůŝŽŶ͘ With its upward trajectory, almost as many people now ƉĂƌƟĐŝƉĂƚĞ ŽīͲĐŽƵƌƐĞ ĂƐ ƉůĂǇ ƚƌĂĚŝƟŽŶĂů͕ ŐƌĞĞŶͲŐƌĂƐƐ ŐŽůĨ ;Ϯϰ͘Ϯ ŵŝůůŝŽŶͿ͘

October 2019 ǁǁǁ͘ŵŝĐŚŝŐĂŶŐŽůłŽƵƌŶĂů͘ĐŽŵ

So, how much runway is ƚŚĞƌĞ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞƐĞ ŽīͲĐŽƵƌƐĞ ĨĂĐŝůŝƟĞƐ͍ That remains to be seen, says ClubCorp CEO David Pillsbury, who announced a joint venture with BigShots Golf in last year. BigShots is another entrant in the golf-entertainment space, ŽīĞƌŝŶŐ ĨƌĞĞͲƐƚĂŶĚŝŶŐ outdoor franchises along with an indoor franchise product that can be installed as a single ͞ƚĞĞ ďŽǆ͟ Žƌ ĂƐ ŵƵůƟƉůĞ units in bars, malls and

other retail venues. Like Topgolf, it provides newage technology (Doppler radar shot-tracking) along with full-service food and ďĞǀĞƌĂŐĞ ŽƉƟŽŶƐ͕ ƐƉŽƌƚƐ bars, music and televisions, and private event space. “I don’t think that anybody really knows yet what the demographic formula is that correlates ƚŽ Ă ƐĂƚƵƌĂƟŽŶ ƉŽŝŶƚ͕͟ ƐĂǇƐ Pillsbury. “We’re going ƚŽ ĮŶĚ ŽƵƚ ŚĞƌĞ ŽǀĞƌ ƚŚĞ next few years what that looks like. Having said

that, I think there’s plenty of room. As long as it’s fun, it’s entertainment, it’s fast, casual dining and an entertainment environment… it’s good for the game.” Topgolf and BigShots are joined in the golfentertainment space by ƌŝǀĞ ^ŚĂĐŬ͕ &ůǇŝŶŐ dĞĞ and a growing number of regional imitators. Commercial simulator businesses are popping ƵƉ ŝŶ ĐŝƟĞƐ ĂƌŽƵŶĚ ƚŚĞ country and throughout ŽŶƟŶƵĞƐ ŽŶ ŶĞǆƚ ƉĂŐĞ хх

Michigan Golf Journal Kī ŽƵƌƐĞ 'ŽůĨ 'ƌŽǁƚŚ

not playing 18 holes and ƉŽƐƟŶŐ Ă ŚĂŶĚŝĐĂƉ͘ ͞dŚĞǇ͛ƌĞ ƐƟůů ƉĂǇŝŶŐ money and they’re out there enjoying it, so what do we care?”

Big Shots Golf

the world – ŝŶ ^ŽƵƚŚ <ŽƌĞĂ͕ ĨŽƌ ĞǆĂŵƉůĞ͕ ƚŚĞƌĞ ĂƌĞ ŵŽƌĞ ƌŽƵŶĚƐ ŽĨ ŝŶĚŽŽƌ ŐŽůĨ played than outdoor. In a ƟŵĞ ǁŚĞŶ ůĂŶĚ ŝŶ ƵƌďĂŶ areas is at a premium and ĨƌĞĞ ƟŵĞ ŚĂƐ ŵŽƌĞ ĂŶĚ ŵŽƌĞ ĐŽŵƉĞƟƟŽŶ͕ ƚŚĞƐĞ ŝŶĚŽŽƌ ŐŽůĨ ĨĂĐŝůŝƟĞƐ ĂƌĞ ĂŶ increasingly-popular form of engagement. ůů ŽĨ ƚŚĞƐĞ ĨĂĐŝůŝƟĞƐ ŚĂǀĞ ƐŝŵŝůĂƌ ƉŽƚĞŶƟĂů ʹ ƉƌŽǀŝĚŝŶŐ Ă ĨƵŶ͕ ŶŽŶͲŝŶƟŵŝĚĂƟŶŐ ŽŶͲ ƌĂŵƉ ƚŽ ĂƩƌĂĐƚ ƉĞŽƉůĞ ƚŽ the game and, hopefully, create more golfers. No ŵĂƩĞƌ ŚŽǁ ƚŚĞǇ ƉůĂǇ͕ ƚŚĞ industry is eager for the ŶĞǆƚ ŐĞŶĞƌĂƟŽŶ ƚŽ ĐĂƌƌǇ ƚŚĞ torch, drive revenues, and ůĞƚ ƚŚĞ ŐĂŵĞ ŚĂǀĞ Ă ƉŽƐŝƟǀĞ impact on their lives. dƌŽŽŶ 'ŽůĨ ǆĞĐƵƟǀĞ Chairman Dana Garmany,

who oversaw the largest golf management company in the world for almost ϯϬ ǇĞĂƌƐ͕ ĐŽƵŶƚƐ ŚŝƐ ǁŝĨĞ among those who got ŝŶƟŵŝĚĂƚĞĚ ŽŶ Ă ƌĞĂů ŐŽůĨ course but felt comfortable at Topgolf. ͞^ŚĞ ǁĞŶƚ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ĮƌƐƚ ƚĞĞ at Pebble Beach as a new player, looked around all the people and said, I’m not ŚŝƫŶŐ ŝƚ͛͘ ^ŚĞ ƉŝĐŬĞĚ ŝƚ ƵƉ͕ walked out in the middle of the fairway and dropped ŝƚ͘ dŚĂƚ͛Ɛ ƚŚĞ ŝŶƟŵŝĚĂƟŽŶ factor in golf,” he says. “We’ve got to make sure it’s more of a hit-and-giggle thing; like nobody cares. She now plays in a group ĐĂůůĞĚ ͚&ŝǀĞ ĂŶĚ tŝŶĞ͛͘ That’s all she wants to do. We have to make sure that group of people isn’t looked down on because they’re

Among Topgolf’s guests ǁŚŽ ĂƌĞ ŶŽŶͲŐŽůĨĞƌƐ͕ ϵϰй say they feel comfortable at a Topgolf venue. Whether it’s kids, women or newcomers who have never swung a golf club before, this type of facility provides a fun, welcoming on-ramp to the game. E'& ƌĞƐĞĂƌĐŚ ĮŶĚƐ ƚŚĂƚ ŽīͲĐŽƵƌƐĞ ŝƐ ŶŽƚ ĐĂŶŶŝďĂůŝǌŝŶŐ ŽŶͲĐŽƵƌƐĞ͕ ƌĂƚŚĞƌ ƚŚĞ ƚƌĂĚŝƟŽŶĂů ĂŶĚ ŵŽĚĞƌŶ ĨŽƌŵƐ ŽĨ ŐŽůĨ ĂƌĞ ĐŽŵƉůĞŵĞŶƟŶŐ ŽŶĞ ĂŶŽƚŚĞƌ͘ ƌĞĐĞŶƚ E'& study found that 75% of ŶŽŶͲŐŽůĨĞƌƐ ǁŚŽ ǀŝƐŝƚĞĚ dŽƉŐŽůĨ ƐĂŝĚ ƚŚĞǇ͛ƌĞ interested in playing on a ĐŽƵƌƐĞ͘ ŶĚ Ϯϵй ŽĨ ŐŽůĨĞƌƐ ƐĂǇ ƉůĂǇŝŶŐ Ăƚ dŽƉŐŽůĨ ůĞĂĚƐ ƚŚĞŵ ƚŽ ƉůĂǇ ŵŽƌĞ ƚƌĂĚŝƟŽŶĂů ŐŽůĨ͘ The intent is to not only engage with current golfers, but to introduce ŵŽƌĞ ŶŽŶͲŐŽůĨĞƌƐ ƚŽ ŚŝƫŶŐ a golf ball with a golf club in an entertaining and non-

October 2019 ǁǁǁ͘ŵŝĐŚŝŐĂŶŐŽůłŽƵƌŶĂů͘ĐŽŵ

ŝŶƟŵŝĚĂƟŶŐ ĨŽƌŵĂƚ͘ dŚĞƌĞ are 14.7 million non-golfers who say they’re “very interested” in playing golf on a course, with another ϯϮ͘ϳ ŵŝůůŝŽŶ ǁŚŽ ƐĂǇ they’re at least somewhat interested. The popularity ŽĨ ŽīͲĐŽƵƌƐĞ ĨŽƌŵƐ ŽĨ ŐŽůĨ has contributed to this growing latent demand pool. “Topgolf is driving interest in huge numbers for golf. But the challenge from ŵǇ ƉĞƌƐƉĞĐƟǀĞ ŝƐ ƚŚĂƚ ƚŚĞ golf industry, for the most part, hasn’t really done ĂŶǇƚŚŝŶŐ ĚŝīĞƌĞŶƚůǇ ƚŽ convert interest to trials. That’s what we’re trying to change,” Pillsbury says. “We can’t change what everybody else is doing, but we can change what we’re doing. That’s what we’re focused on because we think there is a very unique, unprecedented opportunity to take advantage of surging interest in golf and ĐŽŶǀĞƌƟŶŐ ƚŚĂƚ ƚŽ ƚƌŝĂůƐ͘͟ The U.S. is the bestsupplied golf market in the ǁŽƌůĚ͕ ǁŝƚŚ ĂůŵŽƐƚ ϭϳ͕ϬϬϬ golf courses. More than ϰ͕ϬϬϬ ŽĨ ƚŚĞŵ ŽƉĞŶĞĚ

ĚƵƌŝŶŐ Ă ϮϬͲǇĞĂƌ ďƵŝůĚŝŶŐ boom from 1986 through ϮϬϬϱ ƚŚĂƚ ŽǀĞƌͲƐĂƚƵƌĂƚĞĚ the market. ^Ž͕ ǁŝůů ƚŚĞ ĐƵƌƌĞŶƚ ŽīͲ course building boom eventually outpace the demand for these kinds of ĂůƚĞƌŶĂƟǀĞ ŐŽůĨ ŽīĞƌŝŶŐƐ͍ /ƚ͛Ɛ ƐƟůů ĨĂƌ ƚŽŽ ĞĂƌůǇ ƚŽ ƚĞůů͕ and the industry overall seems more focused right ŶŽǁ ŽŶ ǁŚĞƚŚĞƌ ŽīͲĐŽƵƌƐĞ ƉĂƌƟĐŝƉĂƟŽŶ ĐĂŶ ďŽŽƐƚ ŽŶͲ course play.

E'& dĂŬĞĂǁĂǇƐ x Almost

as many ŵĞƌŝĐĂŶƐ ƉůĂǇ ŽīͲ course forms of golf ĂƐ ƚƌĂĚŝƟŽŶĂů ŐƌĞĞŶͲ ŐƌĂƐƐ ŐŽůĨ͘ KīͲĐŽƵƌƐĞ ƉĂƌƟĐŝƉĂƟŽŶ ŝŶĐƌĞĂƐĞĚ ĂůŵŽƐƚ ϭϬй ŝŶ ϮϬϭϴ ƚŽ ĂŶ ĞƐƟŵĂƚĞĚ Ϯϯ ŵŝůůŝŽŶ ƉĞŽƉůĞ͘ dŚĞƌĞ ĂƌĞ Ϯϰ͘Ϯ

million on-course golfers. x KīͲĐŽƵƌƐĞ ŐŽůĨ ĨĂĐŝůŝƟĞƐ can provide engaging and ŶŽŶͲŝŶƟŵŝĚĂƟŶŐ ŽƉƟŽŶƐ ƚŽ ĂƩƌĂĐƚ ƉĞŽƉůĞ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ŐĂŵĞ ĂŶĚ͕ ƉŽƚĞŶƟĂůůǇ͕ create more golfers. ϵϰй ŽĨ ŶŽŶͲŐŽůĨĞƌƐ ƐĂǇ they feel comfortable at a Topgolf venue, for example. x ƌĞĐĞŶƚ E'& ƐƚƵĚǇ ĨŽƵŶĚ ƚŚĂƚ ϳϱй ŽĨ ŶŽŶͲŐŽůĨĞƌƐ who visited Topgolf said they’re now interested in playing on a course. x There are 14.7 million non-golfers who say they’re “very interested” in playing golf on a course, with another ϯϮ͘ϳ ŵŝůůŝŽŶ ǁŚŽ say they’re at least somewhat interested. dŚĞ ƉŽƉƵůĂƌŝƚǇ ŽĨ ŽīͲ course forms of golf has contributed to this growing latent demand pool.

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