Michigan Golf Journal December 2023 by migolfjournal

MI GOLF JOURNAL

Editor’s Letter

What's Inside:

Happy Holidays one and all. With Thanksgiving behind us and the Christmas and New Year’s season approaching fast, much of our golf focus in December turns indoors. The most interesting indoor golf facility I have found is the brand-new TrackMan Simulator Room at the clubhouse of Eagle Crest Golf Club in Ypsilanti. The cover story will explain why it’s so intriguing – but in this edition we additionally look at indoor golf options in general as well.

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In December we also cover: Miss Golf Lauren Timpf’s high school accolades – and we share the list of All-State players too. A woman Michigander who now designs golf clubs like the Titleist TSR Driver. Up North golf course reviews at Boyne and Treetops. A new golf world record set recently, and how golf courses in Michigan participated in the feat.

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Golf tips looking at a course management perspective. Lots of other golf industry news. And before we go, the good folks at Maple Hill Golf share some gift giving ideas for the favorite golfer(s) in your life. Thank you for joining us. Tom Lang Editor and Publisher

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GIFT GIVING IDEAS FOR GOLFERS

Gift Giving for the Golfer in Your Life By Jeremiah Ritchie, Maple Hill Golf Shopping for the golfer in your life should be very easy. We are always in need of something that we’re either losing or wearing out – golf balls, tees, and gloves to be sure. But if you’re looking for something more unique, for a gift they’ll really remember, here are a few items to consider this holiday season.

Bag Boy Nitron Push Cart Whether you walk, or want to walk more, the Bag Boy Nitron Pushcart is the easiest cart to get you on and off the course. Not only is it loaded with all the features you would expect on a modern pushcart, but it also features Nitro Piston Technology. The patented nitrogen powered auto assist mechanism makes opening and closing the cart easy. Just one simple motion and you’re ready to load your golf bag on it and head to the tee.

Blue Tees Player+ GPS / Speaker This takes the golf speaker game to a new level. The Blue Tees Player+ GPS/Speaker provides superior 360° on and off the course and a touch screen display for front/center/back yardages at over 40,000 courses. Yes, it also offers audible distances, a built-in power bank, and will even tell you your driver distance. It’s ideal for a his/hers or a buddy gift, too, as you can pair two or more Player+ speakers together so you can enjoy music from every direction.

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Orlimar CRX Cooler Bag Rarely do you find a bag with this many features at such a great price. The 15-way top cart bag features 3 full-length dividers (really all you need) and 9 zippered pockets. Plus, you’ll find the standard towel ring, glove patch, umbrella holder, and rain hood included. But the best part is the removeable insulated 6-pack cooler that has an integrated pocket, perfect for keeping your drinks cool and concealed.

Garmin Approach S70 GPS Smart Watch

If golf is your world, this is your watch. The Approach S70 from Garmin has every feature you can think of and more. It’s pre-loaded with over 43,000 courses, and the easy-to-read, touch screen display makes reading texts, checking the time, and finding your yardage simple in any light. You can monitor your health with the wrist-based heart rate and sleep score, improve your fitness by counting your steps or tracking your workouts, and do it all while you stay connected with up to 16 days of batter life. Downloaded playlists from Spotify, smart notifications, and even Garmin Pay contactless payment.

MEET MISS GOLF LAUREN TIMPF

Miss Golf: Lauren Timpf

school golf. “So, I wanted to work all four years to that goal. When I got the call that I was named Miss Golf it just meant everything to me to know that all my work the past four seasons, and previous to that, paid off. It was really cool hearing that news.”

The Macomb Lutheran North senior won three state titles By Tom Lang Lauren Timpf has been a dominant player in girls’ golf the past several years, both in high school competitions and in GAM tournaments. She capped her senior season in high school by being selected Miss Golf by the Michigan Interscholastic Golf Coaches Association. The award came on the heels of winning her third consecutive Division 3 high school state championship, this fall played at Grand Valley State’s The Meadows, with a 3-under 74-67. She is one of just seven girls in the Lower Peninsula finals history to win three state titles. Timpf, who attends and plays for Macomb Lutheran North, told me that as an 8th grader she noticed that Miss Golf was one of the biggest awards a young lady could win in high

The list of girls in the class of 2024 is as strong as any season before, maybe with the worthiest candidates of all.

That includes Div. 1 champ Elise Fennell of East Kentwood and runner up Jessica Jolly of Rockford, both on their way to Illinois State. There was also Div. 2 champ Lauren Davis of Coopersville, who is heading to CMU. “It’s just awesome to know that I’m part of the group of girls who have won this award before,” Timpf said. “I knew coming into this season I’d have to post some of my best numbers.” That she did. Timpf finished with a 69.4 scoring average in 18hole events, collecting 51 birdies and four eagles. She won seven invitationals, many against the top programs in the state – including the Macomb County tournament locally. Timpf also won four

WWW.MIGOLFJOURNAL.COM career regional titles going into her four state final competitions. She picked Purdue for college, telling me she loves the coaching staff, who made a great first impression. “I liked how interested they were in me, I felt like they really wanted me to play for them. The equal interest on both sides was cool to see. And I love the campus and the sports-centered atmosphere.” Timpf plans to study business and give professional golf a try, but if that doesn’t work out, she’d like to work somewhere in the golf industry.

All-State Super Team Lauren Davis, Coopersville, senior Macie Elzinga, Byron Center, senior Elise Fennell, East Kentwood, senior Jessica Jolly, Rockford, senior Alena Li, Okemos, junior Mia Melendez, Ann Arbor Greenhills, junior Lillian O’Grady, Grand Rapids Christian, soph. Lauren Timpf, Macomb Lutheran North, senior

Division 1 Ellie Britt, Lake Orion, senior Venetia Chap, Farmington, senior Annie Flavin, Plymouth, sophomore Isabel Kelly, Grand Ledge, junior Ananya Kumar, Rochester, sophomore Laura Liu, Rochester Adams, senior Madison Martens, Brighton, senior Brooke Morris, Plymouth, senior Copeline O’Krangley, Caledonia, junior Abbie Pietila, Brighton, senior Ava Weeks, Troy Athens, senior Madison Yang, Rochester, junior

Division 2 Paige Anderson, Musk. Reeths Puffer, senior Mackenzie Behnke, Cranbrook-Kingswood, senior Charlotte Boudeman, Gull Lake, sophomore Maeve Casey, Farmington Mercy, junior Ava Clark, Mason, senior Katie Leinwand, Portage Northen, senior Avery Manning, Dexter, sophomore Chaille Payne, Forest Hills Northern, soph. Sophie Skoog, Forest Hills Eastern, senior Abby Slankster, Farmington Mercy, senior Rylee Smith, Zeeland West, senior Skyler Tierney, Forest Hills Central, senior

Division 3 Zoe Dull, Spring Lake, junior Rebacca Guernsey, Dowagiac Union, junior Sanora Kochan, Goodrich, junior Alivia Ligrow, Pinckney, senior Emma McKinely, Ludington, senior Kelsey Preston, GR Catholic Central, soph. Averie Pumford, Freeland, junior Paige Radebach, Williamston, freshman Saige Rothey, Macomb Lutheran North, junior Nicole Shafer, Williamston, junior Ashley Thomasma, GR South Christian, senior Ava Wisinski, GR Catholic Central, junior

Division 4 Jordyn Bonnema, Kalamazoo Christian, junior Anna Brush, Royal Oak Shrine, senior Rachel Fay, Wixom St. Cathrine, junior Kennedy Gernnat, Kalamazoo Christian, junior Sophie Hauser, Lansing Catholic, senior Jesse Kautz, Almont, senior Anna McCubbins, Napoleon, sophomore Kyleigh Ramos, Clinton, senior Anna Schaibly, Bath, junior Grace Slocum, Traverse City St. Francis, junior

EAGLE CREST AT EASTERN MICHIGAN UNIV

Eagle Crest Golf Club Has It All

Indoor, Outdoor, College Training and more By Tom Lang Golfers like me appreciate when course owners and operators never rest on their laurels – always evaluating what they offer to the golfing public and, if needed, at least making small adjustments to keep things fresh when possible. Eagle Crest Golf Club along I-94 in Ypsilanti is just such a place – although its recent adjustments are not small at all. They are HUGE. Already ranked No. 5 in Southeast Michigan by the Detroit Free Press, and 13th nationally for best public courses based at universities, Eagle Crest is a calming resort atmosphere on Ford Lake. When there, golfers won’t even notice or hear tens of thousands of cars flying by on the

Hole 16

Photos by Randy Mascharka nearby section of freeway connecting Ann Arbor and Detroit Metro Airport. While several sections of the course have been renovated in the past 10 years, the new, huge addition is the two-story Clubhouse expansion with its TrackMan Simulator Room. The new 2,200-square-foot facility has 4 TrackMan bays and lots of people gathering spaces – but what sets it apart from any indoor facility I’ve ever seen in Michigan: the back wall is all glass, and from its high perch it overlooks the golf course with sprawling Ford Lake in the background. It’s without a doubt one of the best golf views in Michigan, especially when golfers are cozy warm inside during the off season. Additionally, the men’s and women’s golf

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teams at EMU have their own new building right next door. The new two-story tall EMU

see what we have, not only that building, but the golf course right here that’s all connected

Performance Center is 13,000 square feet, where almost the entire men’s and women’s golf teams will have room to practice

and how we can showcase the sport of golf here at Eastern Michigan.”

simultaneously, said Stephanie Jennings, the women’s head coach and also the first ever female Michigan PGA President. “It’s a game changer,” Jennings said emphatically. “It takes our golf programs (men and women) into a whole different level of where we can go now. A lot of the teams that have been performing better than us have had buildings like this for a while, and now we’re going to have better facilities than some teams we compete against. “So, it’s getting the top recruits to come in and

The public TrackMan Simulator Room ‘showcase’ opened just before Thanksgiving and golfers have already been in to hit balls, track their swings and golf ball statistical patterns, play one of 265 simulated course choices from around the globe, and enjoy great food and drinks with their friends and family while gazing out the wall of windows. The four TrackMan bays allow golfers to measure all parts of their swing, flight line, the club speed, ball speed, smash factor, and more – Continues on next page>>

Eagle Crest’s New Golf Simulators

EAGLE CREST AT EASTERN MICHIGAN UNIV percentage points, than the number of people who play traditional on-course golf. Some of those numbers include both types of golfers, but still, think about that for a minute.

and get it all on video from 3 cameras in a split screen. An app will allow review of all those characteristics at any time. “I’ll start looking at how I’m turning, how I’m rotating – the things that I’m working on – so when I have a few minutes or cannot sleep, I can break it down anytime on my laptop or on my phone,” said Eagle Crest GM Wes Blevins, now in his 13th year. “The whole point of doing this building was to keep up with (golf) technology, and with what is happening in the golf industry,” Blevins added. “Indoor simulation rounds just keeps getting bigger and bigger,” he said, adding that it’s a good alternative not just for indoor golf but for people who don’t have the time for 4-5 hour rounds of golf outdoors. Blevins touched on the fact that the number of people that play ‘off course’ golf has grown to the point its numbers are greater, by a few

Additional recent figures from the National Golf Foundation say an estimated 6.2 million Americans hit golf balls with a club in a golf simulator (or facility like TopGolf) just within the past year, a total that’s surged 73% compared to pre-pandemic levels. In 2019 and years prior, simulator participation had hovered just under 4 million. Eagle Crest has developed an Indoor/Outdoor Practice Club (IOPC) Membership. For $250 per month, members get unlimited one-hour time slots non-peak times – Mondays through Thursday before 4:00 – on TrackMan. During peak times the membership provides a 20 percent discount. Included is two 1-hour lessons from a PGA pro, 10 percent off pro shop purchases and no initiation fees and no penalty for cancellation. The outdoor portion also includes unlimited balls and time on the driving range, short game practice area and putting greens.

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Blevins envisions people using the indoor facility not just in cold weather, but some

junior tournaments. In 2025 and ’26 it will host the NAIA women’s college national

might use it in the summer in the more comfortable air conditioning to warm up and analyze their swing before going outside to play 9 or 18. Then there is a second level – a wide open room for parties, holidays, wedding showers, and more. The onsite Marriott will be booking corporate events and the bays are open for those kinds of events as well.

Blevins said the coaches love coming to Eagle Crest because it’s all self-contained with the hotel, new performance center, large and goodlooking range overlooking the lake, plus food all in one spot.

championships.

Tournament Quality Golf:

“They can stay here overnight, they eat here,” he said. “They can park their vans and not have to go anywhere else.

In addition to being the home course for the EMU college teams, Eagle Crest hosts NCAA events, high school state finals and national

“And with the Marriott right here, it really is a great staycation type place. There’s lots of things to do without the long drive.” Continues on next page>>

Eagle Crest from over Ford Lake

EAGLE CREST AT EASTERN MICHIGAN UNIV

Heading Outside: Playing Eagle Crest has always been a lot of fun for me, but with the almost 10-year long tree removal program concluded, plus individual hole improvements and some fixed drainage challenges near the lake, it’s a great new experience if you haven’t tried it lately. There’s significant elevation changes not normally found in SE Michigan, with great water views on most of the course. Hole 14 is the start of my favorite 4-hole stretch. It’s a severely dropping par 3 that has been opened up to more lake views behind the green – a wide open sightline to Ford Lake appears where the view didn’t exist before. All in all, the hole is much more visually appealing than in prior years. Hole 15 is a shorter par 4 with a tee shot over the corner of a pond that runs the entire left side and juts in to protect a significant portion of the

Hole 17

front of the green; yet bail out room remains on the right side of the approach. Hole 16 is a very stout par 5. The tee shot requires a carry over a marsh to a wider landing area since more trees have been cleared out. The approach shot is to a peninsula green that extends out into the lake and is one of the nicer views on the golf course. Tree removal also on the left with some drainage repair has made the fairway firmer than before. Hole 16 was also lengthened. Hole 17 is one of the toughest par 3s around if you play the back NCAA tees, making that a 250-yard poke. For normal golfer mankind from closer tees, it’s a beautiful par 3 with a good sized green protected by a wrap-around bunker that keeps balls hit to the right or long from going into the pond. So much is going on at Eagle Crest we need more space, but check for yourself at: https://eaglecrestresort.com/

MORE INDOOR GOLF OPTIONS

Fox Hills Adding 8 TrackMan Simulators

The indoor golf craze is expanding even more in Southeast Michigan as Fox Hills in Plymouth will open 8 TrackMan simulators in late December or early January. At the indoor Performance Center, the 6 heated bays with a garage door that open onto the range are being fitted with custom retractable screens that will allow the TrackMan SIMS to coexist with hitting outdoors. “With a press of a button the SIM retracts, and we can open our garage doors and hit outside instead of into the SIM,” said general manager Bill Durham, adding that in the same building, two more TrackMan simulators are being added in a dedicated area which is being remodeled to include a bar. The Strategic Clubhouse next door is also being updated and will be open yearround with expanded food options. “Many of our current golf leagues are looking forward to continuing their night of golf through the off season by signing up for weekly tee-times using the SIMS. Also, open play and group bookings will be welcomed.” Award-winning golf instruction opportunities that Fox Hills has offered for several years will continue.

A TREETOPS VISIT

Treetops Masterpiece Hole 6

Masterpiece is Simply That

By Tom Lang Sometimes there’s great power and simplicity in a name. At Treetops Resort, that is certainly true with the original course onsite designed by Robert Trent Jones, Sr. – The Masterpiece – which opened in 1987. The very first hole grabs a lot of attention when visitors pull into the main entrance at the resort’s original south location, as the first hole meanders downhill right at you. All the other resort golf was added to the Treetops North location about 5 miles up the road, where golfers will find the Smith Signature, the par 3 Threetops, the Smith Tradition and the Fazio Premier. With a slope rating of 147, the Masterpiece is a beautiful modern architecture type design, but

since it was completed several decades ago the layout could be called ahead of its time. There’s an excellent use of the natural landforms with twists and turns, including the No. 6 hole – often considered the most iconic in the Treetops collection. It’s there where Jones looked out over the Pigeon River Valley landscape and told then-owner Harry Melling, he should call the place Treetops. I found that there is great use in the design of high elevations and some lower areas where water naturally collects on the property, especially holes 8 and 9. While there are so many good holes to choose from on the Masterpiece, my favorite string of three consecutive back-to-back (to back) are 13, 14 and 15. They may not stick out in a lot of golfers’ memories, but the variety and sightline

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views are wonderful. Hole 13 is a medium-length par 3 hitting to a two-tiered green over a small gorge with water in the bottom. On 14, check the yardage off the tee because the end of the shorter fairway – not far past the 150-yard barber pole – has a severe drop off into natural rough that could snag a golf ball for life. But keep your drive near the 150-yard marker on the flat fairway and you will have a clean shot over a ravine to an elevated green that is skinny but deep. The land disappears behind the green as well, so some precision is needed. No. 15 is yet again another highly-elevated tee, on a short par 4 down into a valley before going back up a little to the perched green – a green which is heavily guarded by bunkers yet is still playable by virtue of the fact this lower-than-avg golfer made a 4-foot par putt. While playing the Masterpiece in September, I came across two women having the time of their lives. They were sporting new Treetops Hole 15

lap blankets, a gift from the resort for their longevity of visits. “You don’t have to be intimidated here,” said Sheri Everitt of Sterling Hgts. “We’re on the Masterpiece right now; we originally thought we could never play the Masterpiece, like ‘we’re not worthy.’ But we’re having fun here. It’s relaxing with the views. “For the value, and being three hours away from metro Detroit, it’s an easy drive, the service, that staff have all been outstanding. The price is great; and you can look for specials.” Her long-time friend and playing partner, Karen Gray of Troy, was giddy about spending time with her friend up north. “Because we book with the same agent, Kristen Hughes, we always get the same elegant room, with a kitchen,” Gray said. “But what excites us the most is the elevation of the tee boxes. It’s hard to find this anywhere else in Michigan. The high tees is why we love it here. And I love the Lee Trevino hole (on Threetops).”

WORLD RECORD JOURNEY THROUGH MICHIGAN

Stoatin Brae Holes 11, 14, and 15

Michigan Became Part of Golf World Record Patrick Koenig played nine golf courses in Michigan on his way to world record Photos by Patrick Koenig By Tom Lang On Labor Day, I had the pleasure of joining golf course photographer Patrick Koenig for 18 holes at Gull Lake View’s Stoatin Brae – the 396th course he had played in 2023. That’s right, almost 400 courses in under 9 months. Koenig was making his way around the highlyranked links course near Battle Creek as part of his world record jaunt to play as many 18-hole courses as he could in one year. Without doubt, many days he had to play two for 36, as only complete rounds would count for the Guiness Book of World Records. About six weeks later, on October 17, Koenig played round number 450. It took place at Omni Interlochen in Broomfield, Colorado. It remains unofficial until Guinness verifies all the information, about a 12-week process, but

Koenig tracked every hole (including my poor score on September 3) on the Golf Game Book, a digital scorecard and social golf app. From April 2008 through March 2009, former record holders Jonathan and Cathie Weaver played 449 golf courses in 365 days. He’s utilizing the tour, traveling from course to course in a specially outfitted RGV (Recreational Golf Vehicle), to raise money for The First Tee in Seattle. As of mid-November he played his 500th course to essentially put the record out of reach – and the year isn’t even over. “Anyone that has ever set a goal and accomplished it knows what it feels like to achieve something,” Koenig told me. “The intensity of the feeling is always enhanced by the amount of time and energy that goes into that achievement. A grand sense of satisfaction.”

WWW.MIGOLFJOURNAL.COM I found Koenig to be very pleasant, funny, and a talented golfer – the type of relaxed person you’d enjoy in your Tuesday night beer league. He has averaged about 77 per round during the world record grind, with an all-time best 67. He didn’t seem worried if the playing partners that randomly joined his effort were good or bad golfers, as long as they kept pace. Two other local golfers who follow Koenig on social media joined us to make a foursome that day that finished in a fraction over four hours. “Nothing too wild or completely unpredictable has happened on the tour yet,” he told me when we caught up in late October. “What is always the most surprising is the passion and generosity of the people that join. “Time away from friends and family has been challenging,” Koenig added. “I have sacrificed a lot with my relationship, but that has turned out for the better with an increased level of commitment and communication.” In an 8-day span, taking one day off, Koenig played nine courses in Michigan: Detroit Golf Club, Fieldstone Golf Club, Copper Hills, The Loop Red, The Loop Black, Forest Dunes, Kingsley Club, Belvedere Golf Club and Stoatin Brae. On the latter course, Koenig told me: “I loved the links feel to the golf course. The course was challenging but not very penal. There was always a chance to recover.”

Stoatin Brae has always been one of my favorites. It’s challenging, but it won’t kill you. It’s aesthetically beautiful and despite being a wide-open links course, it offers good variety from the front to the back nine. The course itself is loaded with challenges but is balanced by a sense of serenity and calm. Whether having a good day or bad day striking the ball, every golfer should be able to walk off the course and say that was a great way to spend their time. Over the last few years, grass on the course has grown in beautifully since its 2017 opening (which was soon followed by being selected 2021 National Golf Course of the Year). Right off the bat, Hole 1 is the first of several with the green complex lower than the end of the fairway, causing a blind tee shot in some cases. Conversely, hole 7 is a long par 3 that is uphill but with bunkers and a ridge still hiding Continues on next page>> Hole 8

WORLD RECORD JOURNEY THROUGH MICHIGAN

(from the back tees) most of the huge green. The flag is visible, but it plays much farther away than it looks to the naked eye due to more fairway than can be seen between the bunkers and green, so trust the published yardage and then hit up one club at least. Making the turn to the back 9 is an eye-opening experience. The front nine for the most part is level, and all laid out in front of the golfer with no tricks, but after stopping for a treat at the hallway house (The Bunker, you’ll see the name makes sense) you climb the small hill to the 10th tee to the left and the 14th tee to the right. Both are elevated and open up to the more rolling hills portion of the property. Holes 10 and 11 are possibly the most attractive back-to-back holes in that region of Michigan. No. 10 is a shorter par 4 that with a big drive

Hole 16

and a helping wind, golfers can flirt with the small, elevated green. But stay left because the entire fairway slopes right and balls going right will have a tougher climb to the green. No. 11 is a medium-length par 3 with a perched green that plays farther away than it looks (but note; all references to playing distance is predicated on that day’s wind strength and direction, a main feature of Stoatin Brae). On a clear day downtown Battle Creek can be seen in the distance across the valley – from No. 2 and 11. No. 13 is a cool dogleg left through a valley formed by the tall hills left and right, and 14 is a gorgeous par 3 downhill. Holes 16-18 are wonderful closing holes (par 5, par 3, par 5) that will test but delight most golfers with their challenges and looks – the latter two heading into a setting sun at day’s end – the best way to end any round.

FEATURED PHOTO: HOLE 17 AT SWEETGRASS GOLF CLUB

BOYNE COURSE REVIEW Hole 4

Boyne Mountain: The Alpine Course The resort’s second oldest layout is not second tier By Tom Lang Boyne Resorts has a lot to be proud of in the golfing world. Choices like elevated views of Lake Michigan/Little Traverse Bay at Boyne’s Bay Harbor, and the first championship course ever built in northern Michigan – The Heather, designed by Robert Trent Jones, Sr. and voted the 2019 National Golf Course of the Year – are just two examples which can tend to overshadow very nice golf on other layouts; like The Alpine. The latter was the second course ever installed at Boyne, in the 1960s. Boyne now has 10 golf destinations in Michigan located above the earth’s 45th parallel. The Alpine is one of two courses at Boyne Mountain, along with sister course The Monument, which was fourth in

the Boyne Golf construction timeline. Each August, The Alpine hosts the prestigious Tournament of Champions, a uniquely special event put on by the Michigan PGA Section that molds pros and amateurs, men and women, juniors, mid-Ams and senior golfers together at one event to go head-to-head, sans varying tee boxes. “Personally, I love the Alpine and it may be my favorite Boyne course,” said Kevin Helm, executive director of the Michigan PGA. “That is not meant to take anything away from the others, I just like the layout, mix of holes, and how everything is pretty much right in front of you. “Combine that with consistently excellent turf conditions and you have a great venue to host our Tournament of Champions. We hear a lot of similar feelings from the players as well. The

WWW.MIGOLFJOURNAL.COM greens can be difficult to read if you do not have a lot of experience playing there, but players still talk about how much they enjoy playing the Alpine.” Although it’s sometimes cliché in the golf world to say ‘no two holes are alike’ that phrase does aptly describe the Alpine. For example, even the three dogleg left holes each play differently and have their own distinguishing look and needed strategy. Designer Ray Hearn developed a 10-year plan to change and update, in some small and some big ways, all of Boyne’s golf properties. At The Alpine, fairway rough around bunkers has been cut down to fairway height. It provides a clean and cool look, but also makes the course more playable for the recreational golfer… but doesn’t necessarily make it easier to score for tournament golf. I found the greens to be relatively large compared to other courses. They have very

Speaking of putts, when reading do not forget where the mountain is in relation to the angle of your putts. Most will break away from the mountain top, even those that look flat, in the direction of Deer Lake in the valley. Hearn’s plan included implementing a shorter cut around most of the greens to make them feel extra expansive and more attractive – and to increase a golfer’s choice to chip or putt when off the edge. A nice change was on hole 2, a shorter par 4. The second shot is a full carry to the green to clear a pond, so one improvement was to take out a bunker just over the water but before the green to remove the penalty of just making it over the water, to only drive up and find the beach. Check out The Alpine and any of the other delightful Boyne choices in northern Michigan.

little undulation, but that said the slight breaks in the greens can be very hard to detect and read, to make putting just as difficult as if there were many hills and swales in the putting surface.

Hole 18

NEW SHORT COURSE UP NORTH Boyne Highlands

BOYNE Golf New Short Course Named Doon Brae BOYNE Golf’s newest, and 11th overall, golf course in Michigan has been named Doon Brae. It’s the new par-3 short course located on the backside of The Highlands Main Lodge and is scheduled to open summer of 2024. “What excites me most is how beautiful and different it is,” said Bernie Friedrich, Director of Golf Course Renovations and Development at Boyne Resorts said about the course constructed on the downslope of an active ski hill. “There are three or four stacked wall bunkers. Instead of using tee boxes, we'll have just one marker on each hole and let guests play wherever they want.

short courses. We want to keep people excited about golf and wanting to play. If playing 18 or 36 holes is not enough on any day, this gives golfers another option.” The name Doon Brae, where Doon means going down into a valley and Brae means steep bank or hillside in Scottish, is fitting as the routing of the course is set along the hillside that doubles as a ski slope during the winter months. Michigan golf course architect Ray Hearn was selected to create Doon Brae, among other work he’s been doing to renovate several courses in the BOYNE Golf portfolio.

“And the greens are inspired by some of the great ones around the world. They're not copies of any specific greens, but they look different

“Drawing on our inspiration from the British Isles allowed us to create scaled down versions of famous template greens highlighted by The Short at National Golf Links,” he said. “Other

and are big. There's a lot of excitement about

green templates include Eden, Punch Bowl,

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Redan, Reverse Redan, Volcano, Steep Slope, Postage Stamp, and Biarritz."

space. The golf course will also be lighted, play music, along with food service and fire pits.

The course, which will measure 993 yards from the back and 678 yards from the forward areas, will feature a variety of fun yardages with

"Guests will really enjoy the uniqueness, character and fun atmosphere around the new course and putting green," said Josh Richter,

downhill, flat, uphill and sidehill lies, generally moving horizontally back and forth across the slope. Holes range from 57 yards to 134 yards, with very few uphill walks.

Senior Vice President of Golf Operations for Boyne Resorts. “And with the new Himalayan putting green also being built, we're creating a pretty cool and huge golf gathering space. Guests can gather for games and fun, while enjoying their favorite beverage and taking in all the beauty of Northern Michigan. It's going to be a heck of a space for all to enjoy in way that is best for them. Having music playing as well will make it a fantastic entertainment

The new course, along with the 1.5 acre ninehole Himalayan-style putting course, are both designed to be fun for everyone. They will create an entertainment area for golfers and families alike to hangout well into the evenings, creating a new level of energy in this

environment."

Hole 18

INDOOR HOME SIMULATORS components of a home golf simulator and their approximate costs: Launch monitor: $400 - $20,000 Projector: $750 $5,000

Ace Your Golf Game with An Affordable Home Golf Simulator Home golf simulators have become increasingly popular as technology has improved, and prices have declined. But are they affordable for the average golfer? According to Trevor Faust, president of Ace Indoor Golf, a leading golf simulator manufacturer, retailer, designer, and installer, the answer is: "Yes. A home golf simulator can range from a few hundred dollars to tens of thousands of dollars, and there's an option for everyone." If you're looking for a basic way to practice your swing and get some feedback, you can get away with a relatively inexpensive simulator. For example, you can buy a FlightScope Mevo launch monitor for around $450 and use it with a net and a TV or projector. This will give you a good idea of how your club is performing and where your ball is going. However, if you're looking for a more realistic golf simulation experience, you'll need to spend more money. This could include buying a highend launch monitor, a projector, a hitting mat, software, and even a golf simulator enclosure. Here is a breakdown of the different

Screen: $500 $5,000 Hitting Mat: $350 $5,000

Golf course software: Free - $2,700 Net/enclosure: $495 - $5,669 $4,000 Golf Simulator As you can see, the cost of a home golf simulator can vary widely depending on the components you choose. If you're on a tight budget, you can still get a good home golf simulator experience for about $4,000. Here is a budget-friendly example Launch monitor: Rapsodo MLM2 Pro ($699) Projector: Epson PowerLite 1780 ($749) Screen: HomeCourse Pro Retractable screen and side netting ($2,299) Golf course software: 1st year free with MLM2Pro Mat: Fiberbuilt Hourglass 5’x3' hitting mat ($350) This setup will give you a good idea of how your club is performing and where your ball is going. You'll also be able to play a variety of different golf courses. $15,000 Golf Simulator If you have more money to spend, you can get a more realistic and immersive golf simulation

WWW.MIGOLFJOURNAL.COM experience by upgrading to a higher-end launch monitor, projector, and screen/enclosure. Here is an example of a more premium home golf simulator. Launch monitor: Uneekor QED ($7,000) Projector: Epson Powerlite 1781 ($799) Enclosure/Screen/Pads: Ace Medalist Enclosure with Premium Screen ($4,699) Golf course software: Uneekor Refine+ ($2,000) Mat: Fiberbuilt Performance Series 4’ x 8’ ($919) A simulator package like this will give you an incredibly realistic golf simulation experience. You'll be able to see precisely how your ball is flying and get detailed feedback on your swing. Golfers can also get a custom-designed and installed simulator from a provider like Ace for $15,000 and up. Ace is a golf industry provider to companies like PGA Tour SuperStore, Edwin Watts, Roger Dunn, Dick's Sporting Goods, and GolfTec. If you want to purchase a home golf simulator, it is more affordable than ever. For more information, visit aceindoorgolf.com.

GAM Winter Simulator Series The GAM Winter Simulator Series presented by Boyne Golf is back and registration is open. This two-person best-ball competition is an opportunity for GAM members that can be played at any TrackMan Simulator (public or private), whether you are in Michigan or elsewhere this winter. This series is open to both men and women of all skillsets. A new competition begins on the first of each month running from December to February. Classic courses such as PGA West (Stadium) in December, The Heather Course at The Highlands at Harbor Springs/Bay Harbor for January and Innisbrook (Copperhead) in February are part of the series. For more information and registration, please CLICK HERE. You must be a GAM member to participate.

GAME CHANGERS

An Exclusive Club Stephanie Luttrell parlayed her passion for playing golf into a career designing clubs Luttrell started playing competitive golf at Grandville High School, where she shot a 108-109 in the state tournament as a freshman. “At that time, Stacy Snider was the same age as me, and she was the best golfer in the state of Michigan. … My senior year, just having that

By Paula Pasche Re-published with permission from Michigan Links magazine When Stephanie Bezilla Luttrell’s dad taught her to play golf, it was the beginning of her passion for the game. A few years later, when she was deciding on a career path, her dad told her to find something she loved. She excelled at math and science and found a way to involve golf. Today, Luttrell is the director of metalwood development at Titleist, celebrating 20 years in the golf club design business. If you’re playing a TSR driver, you know her latest handiwork.

barometer of being able to watch players who are better than you play and practice

with them, I was shooting in the mid- to low 70s,’’ Luttrell says. Grandville won back-to-back state championships in her junior and senior years. Luttrell then walked on to the women’s golf team at the University of Michigan, where she played for four years and earned a degree in mechanical engineering. “You could say it was a blessing in disguise that I wasn’t more talented because I probably ranged

WWW.MIGOLFJOURNAL.COM between sixth and ninth on the team,’’ the now 42-year-old Luttrell says. “I didn’t have to travel as much for tournaments, but I did get to have that experience of being a collegiate athlete. It allowed me more bandwidth to focus on my studies.’’

“My job there was really a great formative experience for me in terms of learning about golf club design and development. I worked on every product category — drivers all the way through to putters — for the Tour players. Some of it led to new product offerings for Cleveland,’’ Luttrell said. “So, it was a great experience for me coming from the background of being a player, getting to work with the players directly, understand what their performance needs are, and translate that back into new designs and specifications for them.’’ Three years later, she moved to Titleist, where she has been for 15 years. “We have a great relationship between our R & D [research and development] team and our Tour team. We have weekly meetings where we gather feedback from them. We understand Continues on next page>>

She graduated in 2002 and attended the PGA Show with her brother Shaun Bezilla, the head PGA professional at Harbor Point Golf Club in Harbor Springs. Resume in hand, she introduced herself to representatives from several golf manufacturers. Callaway created a position for her to join their advanced research and innovation team. “They’re the ones who brought me to southern California. I was fortunate to work with them on their motion capture testing and research and looking at how a player swings and how the parameters of the golf club design can impact player performance and swing,’’ said Luttrell, who lives north of San Diego. A turning point in her career came two years later when Cleveland Golf called.

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USGA FOUR BALL QUALIFIERS Her brother Shaun qualified in 2022 for the Senior PGA Professional Championship. “He’s on staff with Titleist as well. It’s great to have it all in the family, so I don’t have to harass him about playing some other competitor’s clubs,’’ Luttrell said.

where their performance needs are. We consult with them,’’ Luttrell said. “We had a meeting last week about how it’s going with the TSR on Tour. This has been our most successful driver launch to date since I’ve been here.’’ As a bonus, Titleist is where she met her husband, Aaron, who is the product manager for Titleist Vokey wedges. She considers herself a weekend warrior since playing golf is not a function of her job. “I have a lot of love for the game. I’m still a scratch player. I try to keep my game sharp, but I’m not playing at a competitive level for my business per se,’’ Luttrell added. “I do have an opportunity to take out new equipment, new prototypes, to be able to evaluate them.’’ She doesn’t get back to Michigan as often as she did pre-pandemic but remains close with her family. Her mom and dad, Karen and Ed Bezilla, moved Up North to be closer to her brother and his family. Her mom competes in GAM senior women’s tournaments.

She takes great pride in the Titleist brand and remains a huge Wolverines fan. “When I was at Michigan, Tom Brady and I both worked the front desk at the U-M Golf Course. For NCAA regulations, I couldn’t have practice-and-play privileges throughout the summer unless I was an employee of the university. Tom and I worked the front desk together, and I’m happy to say he’s playing Titleist now.’’

MGCA AWARDS

2023 AWARD WINNERS: Michigan Golf Course Association Honorees Jeff Hoag, owner and general manager at Scott Lake Golf & Practice Center in Comstock Park, and Carey Mitchelson, the director of operations at College Fields Golf Club in Okemos and executive director of the Michigan Turfgrass Foundation, headline the 2023 Award Winners honored on Nov. 28 by the Michigan Golf Course Association (MGCA), at its annual Business Conference and Vendor Fair at FireKeepers Casino Hotel in Battle Creek. Hoag received the Matthews Lifetime Achievement Award, given to an individual or organization that over the span of a lifetime has provided steadfast leadership, outstanding service, and continuous commitment to the Michigan golf industry. In 2023, Hoag celebrated his 50th year in the golf industry. Over the years he has expanded Scott Lake from an 18-hole facility to 33 holes of golf with a state-of-the-art practice facility. Carey Mitchelson received the Lyle Leeke Distinguished Service Award, presented to individuals who have displayed distinguished service to the MGCA and the golf industry in the state of Michigan. He is the director of operations at College Fields in Okemos, and also serves the game of golf as the executive director of the Michigan Turfgrass Foundation. He was instrumental in helping create a successful new MGCA program – the Registered Apprenticeship/Golf Course Maintenance Technician. Kari Kahanec was honored with the John Dodge CARPE DIEM Award, for being a team member of a MGCA member course who demonstrates creativity and success as defined by the legacy of the late John Dodge. It includes a grant award from the MGCA Scott Family Educational Support Foundation. Maple Hill Golf earned the Dul Family Player Development Award, for demonstrating creativity and success in growing the game by developing new golfers and new rounds and overcoming perceived barriers. Their youth development programs have been led for many years by Jason Sanchez. Maple Hill will also receive a grant award from the Scott Family Educational Support Foundation to support continued golf programming for kids, women and beginners. MGCA members are owners and operators of golf courses in Michigan.

GOLF TIPS

Golf Tips: Course Management Provided by Dave Kendall Academy in Ypsilanti One aspect of playing consistent golf is getting to know what you can do reliably and only play shots that you are good at. Course management involves being able to realistically predict the outcome of your shots. Ask yourself these questions before you play 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

The golf legend Ben Hogan was said to have made the comment when asked why he made so few holes-in-one, this was because: "I very seldom aimed at the flagstick." 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.

likely to go? Is there room for either outcome?

In most cases I will not play a shot to the green unless I believe there is a high probability that I will hit the green, or little danger for a miss. If the probability of hitting the green is low, I will play

If not, maybe I should not be using this club.

to a safe area where the distance and angle make for an easy next shot.

There is no rule that says that you are obligated to aim at the flagstick. If the flagstick is located near trouble, you would be well advised not to aim at it, but only as close as you dare, without getting into trouble.

Mistakes and high scores usually come from consistently playing shots that have a low probability of success. Playing easy shots that have a high probability of success breed confidence and less multiple stroke penalties.