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MICHIGAN GOLF JOURNAL From day one in January of 2018, my pledge has been to bring Michigan-focused golf stories and news to readers of Michigan Golf Journal magazine – and to the website www.MIgolfjournal.com. I think that promise was well captured during the week of June 11-18. In that span, I was personally on-site to cover the high school state finals at Ferris State, the Michigan Open at Grand Traverse Resort, the Michigan Women’s Amateur in Rochester and the Meijer LPGA Classic near Grand Rapids. The span covered more than 1,400 miles driven.

What's Inside:

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Do I think every reader wants tournament coverage? I do not. But I know some do, and the golfers themselves truly do and they have worked hard and deserve to get some exposure for their talents. It’s the right thing to do, so I do it. The July magazine will also provide information on the incredible PGA Tour Rocket Mortgage Classic, 4 golf course reviews, Annika Sorenstam coming to Michigan, and the best round of golf ever recorded in Michigan, a 17-under par, 55 – among many other fun items like a 50 year salute to Title IX.

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Thanks for joining us on each of these adventures. Tom Lang Editor and Publisher

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A MAGICAL 55

The Shots (Or Lack Of) Heard ‘Round the World?

By Tom Lang Muskegon’s Andy Ruthkoski shot a golf careerdefining 55 on Monday, June 20 at his childhood golf course where he first learned the game, set the prior course record of 61 as an adult 10 years ago, and broke wide open now at age 39. At Oak Ridge Golf Club in Muskegon, Ruthkoski, who turned pro after competing at Michigan State University two decades ago, simply went out to play a twilight round of golf with the daughters of his girlfriend, whom he calls his stepdaughters. It turned into a red-hot round that came up three inches short of a “perfect” 18under 54. “I remember thinking as I walked up to tap it in that it could have been 18-under,” Ruthkoski told me as he drove to a Monday pre-qualifier for the John Deer Classic. “But, whatever. I was

most happy that I finished it out and I was done. I just wanted to keep the rhythm going and finally I ran out of holes, and that was it. It felt really good. “Knowing it (a 20-footer) was for an 18-under, I didn’t want to hit it 2-feet past the hole for a downhiller coming back,” he said about what he hoped would be the last putt. “I wanted it to be hard enough to just die in the front edge of the cup.” Ruthkoski acknowledges that the course length posted at 6,009 yards is not a PGA Tour level course by any means, but as any golfer knows getting a great score is not all about conquering length. It requires making the scoring shots of chips and putts to go low. He noted that in the 1950s, pros Ben Hogan, Jimmy Demaret and Byron Nelson played an

WWW.MIGOLFJOURNAL.COM exhibition there. “It’s a good course, with a lot of character, and where I would think, why don’t I just hit (my drives) short of the green, chip all my wedges close one day, and see how long I can go. And that’s really what happened that night. I think the crazy part was the start. I mean, I was set up with 9-under through six holes. That’s right folks – he started out eagle, birdie, birdie, eagle, eagle, birdie – followed by a fourth eagle on the par four 9th hole after driving the green and making a 20-footer to make the turn at 11-under par 25. Yes, he has witnesses, and videos taken by his friend Dave Buck and posted to Facebook who joined on the third hole and took Ruthkoski all the way through 18 to finish in time before darkness. “I could tell Dave was having a good time,” he said. “He’s just taking all the videos, there is swearing on the video, his commentary was pretty funny.” A turning point came on the 13th hole, a par 5 at 531 yards. He had some tree trouble off the tee but still got a punch shot out, then a chip onto the green to within four feet of the hole for a birdie try. “It was at that point I kind of thought as I’m lining up the putt, ‘okay, if I make

the putt I’ll be in 59 territory, so keep your head down, keep the putter head square and just stroke it.’ That was my thought and I knocked it in.” Making the PGA Tour has always been the dream, but Ruthkoski has never had the financial backing to make a long run at it. He gives lessons at Fruitport Golf Center in Muskegon and currently works at UPS in the mornings. He stopped mini tour play regularly in 2014, but still plays Michigan and Ohio pro events, and others within a day’s drive. He won the Michigan Open in 2007, and won back-to-back Michigan Tournament of Champions titles, in 2013 and 2014. “The thing is, it was a completely honest round,” he said. “I shot it. Nobody can take it away from me. I know I hit all the shots. I know I putted them all in, so anyone can say what they want. I’m fine with it.” Even finer if it’s a national or world record.

COVER STORY, ROCKET MORTGAGE CLASSIC

Rocket Mortgage Classic Continues to Evolve in Year 4 Players like Will Zalatoris, Adam Scott and Tony Finau heading to the Motor City, July 26-31 By Tom Lang Most fans, even diehard golf fans, don’t know a very important fact about professional sports – that golf raises more money for charities than pro baseball, football, hockey and basketball, combined. Fans across the nation watching golfers ‘chase a little white ball’ around are responsible for supporting medical breakthroughs, equipment for new hospital wings, social service agencies and food banks – just to name a few. In metro Detroit, the Rocket Mortgage Classic, in just the first three years, has funded more than $5.25 million in charitable donations, with the largest percentage going to try eliminating what’s been dubbed the ‘Digital Divide’ with the tournament’s ‘Changing the Course’ initiative.

The Covid-19 breakout in early 2020 almost immediately revealed that Detroit was the most under-prepared city in the country for people to work remotely; and the same for students to participate with classmates. Realizing this was the impetus for Rocket Mortgage the corporation, and the tournament as well, to jump into action and use professional golf to make significant changes. There are lots of details we could share, but the main point is applauding the fact that in the past year, 17 technology hubs at locations around the city have been added to the initial five sites. That opportunity, along with other connectivity solutions, has made Detroit now one of the most digitally-connected cities in

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the nation. Sports TV host Mike Tirico is on the Board of the tournament and said in his 25 years of travel covering golf, he’s never seen a PGA Tour event more connected to the city that hosts. “Every event has a mission of some kind, and one thing I can say that I’m impressed with ours is that we are very focused and hold ourselves accountable at making it bigger and better every single year,” said tournament director Jason Langwell. “And I think that’s evidenced how we’ve gone from five to 22 Tech Hubs and that gives you a lot of pride when you can talk about the why for what you do, not just the how and the what.”

Rickie Fowler

How Does Golf Make it all Happen?

Michigan Players:

It’s due to professional golfers like former World No. 1’s Jason Day and Justin Rose, plus Will Zalatoris, Matt Kucher, Adam Scott, reigning Player of the Year Patrick Cantlay, Tony Finau, Rickie Fowler and Kevin Kisner

While the behind-the-scenes support is very important to Detroiters, no one can argue that come tournament week, July 26-31, the PGA Tour stars are the show. In addition to the national names and defending champion Cam Davis of Australia (who won a five-hole

playing in such events for fans to come out and enjoy. All the TV revenues, sponsors support and fans buying tickets allows the tournament, after expenses, to distribute millions of dollars to charities in the region. “I want people to know when they buy tickets for the event, and food on the course, it’s going to impact the outcome here in Detroit and support this mission of ending the Digital Divide,” Langwell added. “It’s what we’re most proud of and it’s our reason for being; it’s why we get out of bed every day and we continue to make improvements every year.”

playoff last year) Michigan will have no less than three pro golfers playing in Detroit: Brian Stuard, Ryan Brehm and Ben Cook. Stuard grew up in Jackson and won a state title at Napoleon High. He went on to become Horizon League player of the year at Oakland University, and in 2016 he won the PGA Tour’s Zurich Classic for a birth in the 2017 Masters. Brehm is a former Mr. Golf in Michigan from Continues on Pg. 9 >>

COVER STORY, ROCKET MORTGAGE CLASSIC Mt. Pleasant High, where he won 3 state titles. He went on to become one of the greatest players in Michigan State history, and this year won the PGA Tour’s Puerto Rico Open. Cook is a Michigan PGA Section pro from Yankee Springs. As the reigning PGA Section champion, he is eligible for play at the Detroit Golf Club. “Ben’s a really good player,” Langwell said. “I wouldn’t sleep on him, at not only making the cut but making some noise. “They bring a massive gallery with them,” Langwell also said of Brehm and Stuard when speaking to Jack Ebling and myself on The Long Drive golf broadcast out of Lansing. “Brian pulls in a lot, with his sponsor over in Jackson, Alro

Michigan reps named so far are: MARCUS BYRD (24) – Professional (Middle Tennessee State) - Ann Arbor, Michigan JOE HOOKS (27) – Professional (Wayne State University) – Detroit, Michigan WILLIE MACK III (32) – Professional (Bethune-Cookman University) - Flint, Michigan MARCUS SMITH (20) – Amateur (Eastern Michigan) - Temple Hills, Maryland TROY TAYLOR II (22) – Amateur (Michigan State) - Westerville, Ohio Continues on next page >>

Steel. “Ryan brings a large crowd with him. They’re both wonderful people outside of being great players. They come into Detroit and it’s a big week for them, right? They have a lot more obligations, a lot more requests to go get dinner or go to an event. It makes for a much more taxing week, yet they’ve actually performed fairly well here despite that. You always want to have the local stories and they provide that.” Stuard placed T5 at Detroit in 2019 and both made the cut last year. Additional Michigan representatives will be playing in The John Shippen, a special event that began last year designed to get more black players their shot in professional golf. The John Shippen is a 36-hole stroke play competition for black male professional and amateur golfers and will be held July 23-24 at DGC. Fans can watch for free and the winner will be exempt into the Rocket Mortgage Classic field.

Cam Davis

COVER STORY, ROCKET MORTGAGE CLASSIC

More for FANS: Tickets and more information can be found at: www.rocketmortgageclassic.com. This year the tournament will feature fun new areas open to all ticket holders, each with its own unique benefits for fans to enjoy the event in refreshed and renewed ways: The Turn – featuring stadium-style seating with views of the 1st tee, plus an adjoining lounge overlooking the par 3 ninth hole. Treehouse – Located behind the green at the par3 fifth hole, this brand-new elevated fan deck provides 360-degree views of five holes (No. 1 green and Nos. 5-8). AREA 313 Grove / AREA 313 Village – An ongoing

tradition with new features is AREA 313, showcasing two newly created areas for fans to gather. AREA 313 Grove is a tree-lined, shaded location between holes 10, 11 and 14 where friends and family can spread out and relax while enjoying a special menu of food and drinks for purchase that are exclusive to the AREA 313 Grove. AREA 313 Village between the 16th and 17th holes will feature a giant LED videoboard so fans can follow all the action of the competition while enjoying food and refreshments for purchase from the tournament’s largest concession stand. High Noon Sun Deck – Fans can watch players approach the 17th green and take great photos from this elevated location. Adults can relax with a High Noon while they watch players come down the closing stretch at Detroit Golf Club. Additionally, fans attending with children should make a point to visit the CDW Youth Golf Zone located along the second hole. The space designed for kids of all ages to take a break from watching the action on the golf course and try their hand at some fun and interactive golf-related activities and games. Daily grounds tickets – starting at $60 for the first round Continues on Pg, 12 >>

COVER STORY, ROCKET MORTGAGE CLASSIC Thursday, July 28), $70 for the second round (Friday, July 29) and $80 per day for the final

grounds ticket when accompanied by a ticketed adult (up to four kids per adult)

two rounds on the weekend. Shared hospitality ticket options include the LendingTree Lounge, starting at $100 per day, and the Michelob Ultra Athletic Club, beginning at $250 per day.

Thursday-Sunday.

Detroit Community Days presented by DTE Energy will provide local fans free admission and parking on Tuesday, July 26 for the AREA 313 Celebrity Scramble and the Youth Golf Clinic presented by The Children’s Foundation, as well as on Wednesday, July 27 for the Delta Dental Pro-Am. Kids 15 and under receive a complimentary

“From the beginning there’s been so much excitement from the membership to show off our course, and our city, on a global stage,” said Jason Drumheller, President Detroit Golf Club. “Each year we see the (hospitality) structures going up (about 60 days out) and it does create a little racket and moving around, but there’s a lot of excitement. Being able to see the best players in the world play our best asset, the golf course, brings us a lot of pride. It’s definitely worth any sacrifices. I’m excited to see the PGA Tour players play this course that we get to enjoy each day.”

EPSON TOUR, ISLAND RESORT CHAMPIONSHIP

Island Resort Championship Grows One Name Longer Ssu-Chia Cheng added her name to the winner’s list of the Island Resort Championship presented by Delta County Area Chamber of Commerce in late June. The Taiwan native earned her second career victory shooting a total of 17-under par, winning the tournament by six strokes. “It definitely feels amazing to be winning a tournament, to be able to play some good golf out there under stress and all the expectations from everybody and even myself,” said Cheng. “I was struggling with mental issues bothering me for the past few years, so this was a little step for me, and I’m definitely happy and feeling great.” Cheng started her round strong with an eagle on No. 1 and kept her eyes on the prize, firing off five birdies throughout her final round of the 54hole Epson Tour event.

Six strokes behind Cheng, in second place, was Jiwon Jeon. The Korean carded four birdies in the final round to sign for a 2-under 70, despite the wind.

“I was playing pretty aggressive,” said Cheng. “I

Haylee Harford, Michaela Finn, Clariss Guce

was trying to do my best out there, and I didn’t want to be holding back. That’s not good for me and not good for the game.” She says she was feeling mentally tired around Nos. 16 and 17, which happened to be right after consecutive birdies on Nos. 15 and 16. Her plan stayed the same throughout all three rounds stay away from the rough. “I was really focused on my game plan,” said Cheng. “You don’t want to mess with all of the rough out here, so I was trying to hit as many fairways and greens as possible.”

and Emilee Hoffman shared third place at -10. Harford had the low round of the day at 6under par, carding five birdies and an eagle on the round. Finn, Guce and Hoffman also recorded under-par rounds. The tournament hosted each year at the National award-winning Sweetgrass Golf Club raised another $20,000 for the YMCA strong kids’ campaign. Around $25,000 went directly to non-profits that sell the spectator tickets. A rain delay on Friday hampered some fan participation, but in all about 4,500 attended on the weekend.

LPGA TOUR IN MIDLAND

Annika Sorenstam Headlines the Dow LPGA Team Tournament

from my friends on the LPGA Tour,” Sorenstam said. “Team events are always fun and I’m looking forward to the experience.” Sorenstam should know. She is an 8-time Solheim Cup member for Europe and captained the 2017 tournament, choosing Sagstrom as a captain’s selection. Sorenstam has earned more than 90 worldwide professional wins, including 72 on the LPGA Tour. She won 10 majors and a record eight Players of the Year awards. She’s also the only women to shoot a 59 in competition. Karrie Webb is also scheduled to play (with teammate Marina Alex), making it the first time since 2008 Webb and Sorenstam have battled on the course. Other notables include Stacy Lewis (with partner Maria Fassi) and the reigning Meijer LPGA Classic winner Jennifer Kupcho (teammate Lizette Salas), plus defending champs, the Jutanugarn sisters. “I've always been impressed with Madelene,” Sorenstam said about her teammate in a recent media video call. “I didn't really know her early, but the more I spent time with her,

By Tom Lang

Karrie Webb, Lexi Thompson and Stacy Lewis also join the talented team field Annika Sorenstam, perhaps the most decorated woman golfer of all time, is making a rare trip to Michigan to play in the Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational at Midland Country Club, July 10-16. The event will have 72 teams going after $2.5 million in purse money with a scoring format of better ball and alternate shot. “I’ve heard great things about this tournament

the more impressed I get. She's just a lovely person to start with. She's fun. “I enjoy playing with her,” Sorenstam added, also mentioning a recent pair of one-on-one matches that they split. “She says she appreciates me helping her. I appreciate her letting me be part of it. She inspires me and she gets this old body moving and focusing and trying to work hard on my game wherever I am. I think it's a mutual feeling there.” Check it out yourself by attending at Midland: www.DowGLBI.com

OCEANA COUNTY GOLF IS STRONG

Sister Courses Highlight Great Golf in Oceana County Oceana Hole 5

Located near very popular Silver Lake State Park By Tom Lang This is the 60th anniversary year for Oceana Golf Club, north up the coastline from Muskegon. Members and locals are ecstatic to have reached that milestone, especially considering that the local public course – first designed and built by townspeople from Shelby and Hart banding together to make their own hometown course – was about to shut down after Year 57. Its second lease on life came thanks to a local native who grew up in the area, played golf at Shelby High and eventually made it big in the financial investment services world. Jason Wenk, 41, lifted the property out of financial stress and sure closure just months

before Covid-19 temporarily shut down golf in early 2020 and he has since placed his resources into making improvements that have long-time golfers feeling giddy like a teenage girl feeling her first crush. Multiple improvements were made two years ago during Covid’s first months; like fixing a serious draining issue on holes 1 and 9, adding new irrigation, remodeling the clubhouse and securing newer power carts. We first brought you the historical back stories in a 3-part series in 2020. The most noticeable changes came in late last year and are now open for play – a brand new

WWW.MIGOLFJOURNAL.COM downhill par 3 and a former drivable par 4 being combined with a nearby par 3 to create a challenging dogleg left par 4 with major riskreward elements. “We really looked forward to the new par 3 as they were building it,” said newer member Doug Grigonis, who drives 30+ minutes from Whitehall to play Oceana’s rebirth. “And when they changed the par 4 No. 7 (now combined to make a new Hole 8) with the big dog leg, that really improved that hole. It’s a lot more challenging now, and it’s just a great set up. The front 9 is really improved with these two changes. The whole place is coming up; and it’s nice.” The new 5th hole is cut out of northern Michigan tall pines that form a horseshoeshaped barrier around the back and two sides, with a waste bunker covering the right side to save wayward shots from reaching those woods. The drop off from the elevated tee is at

least 75 feet, maybe more, and is 172 yards from the upper tips. The back tees on what used to be hole 5, but is now 6, are still in their elevated location at the highest point on the property with a drop exceeding that of the par 3, to a par-5 fairway below that turns slightly right near the large green. To make up for adding a new hole, the new hard left turn dog-leg 8th hole was reconstructed as described above. Other additions were some fountains placed in ponds to help aerate the water and help golfers see deceptively hidden water hazards. Almost a mile-and-a-half of new asphalt cart paths were added to help preserve grass conditions. Staff also added 15 tee boxes, to spread out the yardages more proportionally front to back Continues on next page >>

Oceana Hole 8

OCEANA COUNTY GOLF IS STRONG and allow people to have added options to fit their games. “We’re drawing a lot of new people from Muskegon and Whitehall, south of us 30 minutes,” said 31-year head pro Marc Inglis. “They’re willing to make that drive, because of the conditions, and the experience they’re getting here at Oceana Golf Club. The condition Corey (Parmalee) and his grounds crew keep it in is immaculate – which is all part of a capital improvement plan we’ve had going. We’ve improved and added to the equipment, and it makes night and day difference with what you can do with a golf course. It’s really paying off.” Inglis said staff numbers have doubled since the year 2019 when the doors were almost shuttered.

The back 9 kicks off with the par five 10th hole, which traverses up and over two huge ridges and through two deep valleys to an elevated green. Holes 13 and 15 also have perched greens on the same ridge that holds up No. 10 green, with a neighboring forest as the backdrop on all three.

Benona Shores also sees rebirth: A neighboring course less than 15 minutes away and closer to the Lake Michigan shoreline, Benona Shores, was also where Wenk played as a child. His only career holein-one came there on the 6th hole as a preteen. Combined, the two courses are very close to the famous dune rides and other summertime fun activities at Silver Lake State Park on Lake Michigan – which provides breezes almost daily on the course. Wenk didn’t intend to purchase Benona Shores (where, as a child, he’d pay for golf at the back door of the family farmhouse still onsite), but the previously family-run par 60 course – designed mostly for summer vacationers – recently lost its patriarch leader. Combining the two courses under the same ownership made perfect sense, especially being geographically close with the ability to share resources. The personal family ties didn’t hurt either. “The two courses, including Benona, we look at it more like we’re the steward of these places, not the owners,” Wenk said. “This is a time in which we have the responsibility to take care of these places and make sure they’re here for a long, long time.

Benona Shores Hole 1

Continues on Pg, 20 >>

OCEANA COUNTY GOLF IS STRONG strikingly downhill par 4 that sharply turns right at the elbow. All four are tree lined, before getting into a more open part

Benona Shores Hole 11

“The course has always been phenomenal. The land is just really special. The biggest mistake we could have made there was messing it up.” Nothing looked messed up to me – just primed for great community golf and a better-thannormal recreational opportunity for summertime visitors to the region. I played it in late June and had a glorious time. Unfortunately, many people see par 60 and rebuff it as a ‘par 3 executive’ course. That couldn’t be further from the truth. Benona Shores is a tough track, but without any par fives makes it more enjoyable for a wide range of golfers; those people learning the game, while it remains challenging for those more experienced. I enjoyed most the starting holes on both nines. Hole 1 strikingly goes up hill to the halfway point, then all downhill to the nicely shaped two-tier green. That par 4 is followed by two par 3s that each traverse uphill, followed by

of the course that’s flooded with apple, pear and apricot trees away from the fairways that were left standing from the former orchard the course is carved into. Holes 10 and 11 are us tough and attractive as any par 3-par-4 holes.

It’s clear why Wenk said the course was topnotch already – his investments are almost all to buildings and equipment. The clubhouse has been renovated and is to be expanded; the parking lot is no longer just a beat-up grassy patch, as new landscaping features greet arrivals, and brand-new power carts with super-plush seats await us for traveling the undulations of the land. Local golf courses mean so much to thousands of people across the state – as gathering places in open green spaces, recreation for good health and well-being, charitable and economic support in the community, socializing with friends, and making new ones. All of the above and more are why small-town golf courses are critical to communities, and these two sister courses are getting the job done in style.

HIGH SCHOOL GOLF

Michigan’s Mr. Golf: Bryce Wheeler

All came against many fellow All-State Dream Teamers. Right after graduating he placed T6 in the stroke play portion of the Michigan Amateur with a 70-73-143 against a mostlycollege field. Head coach T.R. Walters said that Wheeler flew below the recruiting radar because he wasn’t sending out video resumes. But as he kept winning and beating many top recruits, more college coaches sat up and took notice. “Absolutely outstanding kid,” Walters said. “And his work ethic is just outstanding. He’s a great golfer, but he’s an even better kid.”

By Tom Lang Bryce Wheeler, a recent senior at Gull Lake High School, was voted by the Michigan Interscholastic Golf Coaches Assoc. as the year’s top golfer, earning the title of Mr. Golf. He won almost a dozen tournaments out of the team’s 14-event schedule, won the Div. 2 Regional and capped the season by winning the Div. 2 State Final, by a six-shot margin. It was played at Grand Valley State, one of the toughest tracks in the state for tournament golf. He shot 67-71-138 and recently committed to the same University to extend his career there. Wheeler tallied a scoring average of 70.8. Some of the bigger wins were at Oakland University and the East Lansing Invitational, and at Gull Lake’s Invitational hosted at Grand Valley.

MHSAA State Tournament Winners: Div. 1 Team: Novi Detroit Catholic Central Medalist: Ieaun Jones, Ann Arbor Skyline Div. 2 Team: Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice Medalist: Bryce Wheeler, Gull Lake Div. 3 Team: Ann Arbor Greenhills Medalist: Cale Piedmonte-Lang, Greenhills Div. 4 Team: Lansing Christian Medalist: Jeffrey Andrus, Royal Oak Shrine Catholic

Michigan Players Qualify for the 2022 USGA Junior Amateur: Heading to Bandon Dunes, July 19-24 are Drew Miller (East Lansing) Beau Brewer (Dexter) Mitchell Strickland (Ann Arbor) Evan McDermott, (Spring Lake)

TITLE IX HISTORY

‘The One Woman Golfer’ By Janina Parrott Jacobs After the passage of Title IX in June, 1972, I became the first woman in the state of Michigan to play golf on a men’s team at Detroit’s Pershing High School in the fall of 1972 and later at Wayne State University in Spring, 1974. I had no idea of the importance of this because when you’re 16, you don’t think of these things nor have a clue you are making history. I simply wanted to play golf. Prior to Title IX, my college golf options were limited because I had earned a four-year academic Merit Scholarship to attend only WSU and quite frankly, no money to attend anywhere else. Truthfully, I didn’t know much about Title IX other than it was monumental legislation equalizing competitive sports opportunities for women, and that in some circles wasn’t viewed favorably by men or male coaches. Fortunately, WSU Coach Joel Mason, a former Green Bay Packer with a tough reputation, was very fair and respectful and didn’t allow any adverse behavior toward me. And so, I was accepted by the men on the team. My older brother Chris was two years ahead and all eyes were upon him to see if he would provide any special sibling consideration. Nope…. the guys would have chided him mercilessly! Actually, my teammates were wonderful: Harry the High Ball, Mark ‘Titanic Thompson’ Thomas, Dean ‘Monty The Windmill’

Janina Parrott Jacobs in college

Monterosso, ‘Mister’ O’Connor, The Loper, and others. I don’t know if I had a name, other than ‘The One Woman Golfer’, which was indicated on lodging sheets for overnight accommodations by Coach Mason. However, there was a lot to prove, at least in my mind. I wanted to earn my spot on the team and not simply be ‘gifted’ with it because I was a girl and the law said so. To say that our college team operated at a disadvantage – compared to today’s programs – is an understatement. In 1974, we had no home course, no equipment, no team shirts, and no practice range. The best that Coach could secure for us was shag practice (with our own balls and shag bag) on the football field on Warren Ave, south of the Matthaei

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Building beginning at 6:00 a.m. and ending when students arrived around 8:00. Other times

We also had the Rule of Three: rain, wind, and cold. You could take any two, but if the trio

we trekked over to the aptly named Old Main (it was really old), where radiators hissed heat in the cold second floor gym as we whacked golf

made an appearance you were doomed. One time it happened when we were playing near Bay City and many players called it quits and

balls into nets dropped from the ceiling.

walked in. Clutching a big mug of coffee, Coach Mason fought the elements as he strolled along with my match – the only coach out there with his ‘men’. All the other coaches were drinking big mugs of coffee…. inside the clubhouse. As the ‘one woman golfer’, he knew I’d never give up. He told the guys ‘as long as she’s out there, so are YOU!’ No one on our team quit. How could they?

Membership on the men’s team meant playing the ball ‘down’ from the Blue Tees in March, long before March Madness captivated everyone. Don’t think for a moment ‘ladies’ tees were an option, which was what they were labeled back then. We suffered through frigid temperatures, iced lakes, muddy and frozen ground, all in wet golf shoes because we only owned one pair. I hadn’t yet learned two pairs of spikes (yes, real metal spikes) were a must for road trips so one pair could dry from the

I don’t recall the particulars of too many matches other than that I won some and lost some. But do know this: several men I played

previous day’s muck and mire. I spent many mornings using a hair dryer to dry out my shoes. Gore-tex or waterproof shoes? No, we had bear

against in those days are now professionals, Directors of Golf, or top players in Michigan and while I don’t remember who won, they

grease to fend off wetness.

certainly do.

Janina Parrott Jacobs today

THE GOLF ECONOMY

Michigan Capital Legislators Learn About Golf’s Economic Impact From Allied Associations By Greg Johnson Michigan State Rep. Paulene Wendzel said she had no idea of the impact of the golf industry in the Great Lakes State before she started her career in politics. Most people don’t. In Wendzel’s case, she didn’t play the game until it was suggested to her that it was a great way to get to know people in politics. “Honestly, it’s where you can spend four or five hours with a person and really get to know them, so golf has helped me politically, and I found out I loved it,” Wendzel, R-Watervliet, said. “Then I learned about the Senior PGA (Championship) which we just had in our district at Harbor Shores Golf Club and I found out what just that one tournament alone does for the community.” Wendzel expanded her golf education in early June as the Michigan golf industry presented the Michigan Golf Day at the Capitol event. The Michigan Golf Alliance is the grouping of Michigan Golf Course Association (MGCA), the Michigan Golf Course Superintendents Association (MiGCSA), the Michigan Section PGA, the Golf Association of Michigan (GAM) and the Greater Michigan Club Management

Association. The Alliance convened with legislators and staff members on the lawn of the state Capitol, and also visited the offices of each legislator. For almost 15 years course owners, operators and superintendents have gathered each spring to voice a cooperative message. To mark the day, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer proclaimed that June is Michigan Golf Month. “The Michigan Golf Alliance created this event to facilitate golf industry representatives introducing themselves and informing the legislators and their staff on who we are and what our industry brings to the state,” Jada Paisley, executive director of the MGCA said. Messaging included industry facts like $4.2 billion in annual economic impact in Michigan, over 60,000 people employed by golf courses in the state. $1.4 billion in wages paid and over 150,000 acres of managed green space and wetlands that provide wildlife habitats. MORE INFORMATION: Contact Jada Paisley of the MGCA at 800-860-8575 or jpaisley@michigangca.org

GULL LAKE VIEW RESORT IMPROVEMENTS

Gull Lake View Resort Invests Nearly $2M for Golfers

Stoatin Brae

By Tom Lang There is no resting on laurels for Gull Lake View Resort near Battle Creek, in Augusta. Located halfway between Detroit and Chicago, the fourth-generation family resort, one of the largest in the country with six golf courses, won National Golf Course of the Year in 2021 for its highly-rated Stoatin Brae layout. When some courses would sit back and simply buff the shine on such a trophy, the staff and family owners at Gull Lake View got to work to make even more improvements to carry the torch long into the future. Where most of the renovation is most noticeable is in the 67 condos, utilized most often for family and buddies’ trips (yes, women have buddies’ trips too, which have been increasing), but the

huge investment can be seen all over the multiple properties. They can sleep about 280 people per night on property. “We spent a lot of time with the lodging,” said resort president Bill Johnson. “The buildings were first put up in the 1970s so we updated them with new beds. Three buildings got all new floors in the Villas, where we have our ‘Stay and Plays.’ We put in all new cabinets in the kitchens, and we’ve always kept updating the appliances as needed. Just trying to modernize the experience for guests.” They’ve added all new golf carts to Gull Lake View East and West and Bedford Valley – and while the public won’t necessarily see it, lots of new equipment for the grounds crew to make their jobs easier, more efficient and making for more pleasant grounds for the

WWW.MIGOLFJOURNAL.COM golfers to enjoy. There are also plans to rebuild many cart paths this summer.

Course of the year in 2021 helped push some new guests to travel a long way give it a try.

One popularity point for Gull Lake View is its location between Chicago and Detroit, and not too far from Indianapolis (3.5 hours). Johnson

“We’re getting some international play too,” Johnson said. “We have some people coming over from Scotland because they want to see

said being a lake region with hilly land and the closeness to large cities makes it attractive; basically 2.5 hours in either direction. “Those things really help us stay in the game.”

Stoatin Brae (which from day one has intentionally had a Scottish feel). And every year the course matures more and more. A super fun golf course that keeps getting highly-rated. I still say the Stonehedge courses are under-rated.

While Stoatin Brae gest lots of attention, as it should for its masterpiece links design on one of the highest points in Kalamazoo County, the formidable Bedford Valley continues

“All is good at Gull Lake View.”

important state tournaments annually, like high school state finals. It also used to host the Michigan Open, and regularly still hosts the Michigan Sr. Open. According to Johnson, the theme is ‘big.’ “It’s a good old-fashioned golf course. There’s no tricks,” Johnson said. “It’s big. The bunkers are big, the greens are big. The trees are big. And the yardage can be big (when necessary). Bedford withstands the challenge, for all ages and genders.” Stonehedge North has also hosted Div. 3 college tournaments as Gull Lake expands in more of those style events. Last year the resort hit a milestone in that someone from every U.S. state (lower 48) has now been to Gull Lake View Resort. Getting Golf

Bedford Valley

LINKS AT HUNTERS RIDGE

Links at Hunters Ridge is Evolving Beautifully By Tom Lang There’s been a lot of activity at The Links of Hunters Ridge near Howell the past few years, culminating in some excellent golf experiences for local regulars and newcomers alike.

people there care about what we think. That’s not always the case.”

One of the newbie’s is long-time mid-Michigan newspaper-columnist-turned-radio and TV-host Jack Ebling, who joined me for a round in early

The Links at Hunters Ridge was designed by Jerry Matthews and Paul Albanese, the latter who was onsite almost daily for two years overseeing the construction in the mid-1990s

June. Now he’s threatening to become a regular. “The Links at Hunter’s Ridge exceeded my expectations,” Ebling said. “And they were pretty high when I got there. The bottom line? I’ll be back! “The layout was easy to follow, interesting and just tough enough. Of course, it always helps when you par the first three holes after a 10month layoff. But reality returned soon enough (to my game.) You could tell they’d taken some extra steps to make the day fun. There was lots of TLC at The Links Course. And I’m sure the

High Quality Design:

on the Miesle family farm, dating back several generations of theirs to the 1870s. Within a few years of opening, Hunters Ridge hosted a U.S. Open qualifier. My favorite stretch of holes on the front nine are holes 4-6. The 4th is a short par four that goes a little uphill and slightly to the right. The 5th is a downhill par 3 requiring a good poke to clear a marsh, to a thin front-to-back, but wide green. I suggested to the assistant superintendent who joined us that day to add

WWW.MIGOLFJOURNAL.COM a sand bunker all the way across the front with a ‘beach’ style flow into the pond. It would

obstacles for golf’s distance changes the past quarter century. All bunkers are full of new

make the carry from the tee a little less yardage but for those still coming up short they could find their ball but won’t get a free ride out of the sand either.

sand without any lips, so balls hit toward bunkers have a chance to roll right through and into green grass.

Then comes No. 6, a long par five that has a creek cutting across and one of the few large trees on course to navigate around. Perhaps the crowning jewels, though, are the closing holes. The 17th tee is the highest point on the property from where you can see the entire course and drops 45-60 feet to the par three green. Then 18 is a par 5 risk-reward hole with water guarding the right side of the threetier green complex. The new owners the past four years have painstakingly paid attention to the details to make improvements as the course approaches 30 years of serving mostly SE Michigan golfers. Albanese has been hired again, to provide a master plan for the next decade or so. Some new bunkers were installed to create

Hole 10

The clubhouse has been freshened up but wasn’t big enough to add a full kitchen, so the owners designed a food truck to their specs to serve all the traditional golf course fare, but assuredly some non-traditional food as well. A highlight for Ebling was the ‘Hunter Burger,’ a half-pound blend of wild board, bison, elk and wagyu beef, topped with fried onions, Swiss cheese and chipotle sauce… you know, your average golf course burger. “My favorite part of the visit was the people,” Ebling said. “They made you feel like family. Jim (the super) and Jenny (one owner) couldn’t have been better unless Jim had traded scores with mine. And I’d never seen a food truck like that.” Go to: www.golfhuntersridge.com for more information.

MICHIGAN OPEN

Jake Kneen Withstands High Winds, Wins Michigan Open Where The Bear at Grand Traverse Resort hosted the 105th Michigan Open By Greg Johnson and Tom Lang Think about this for a minute… Have you ever heard of a player trailing by five strokes coming into the final round, shooting 1OVER par 73, and winning? That happened in mid-June to past Michigan Open champion Jake Kneen of White Lake to capture his second title in the last five years. That’s also just one indicator of an outside influence like the fierce winds that blew all day long in Traverse City and most regions north. People call some wind really tough – but this wind knocked down no less than three trees across the highways of M-72 west of Kalkaska and U.S 127 southbound, below Grayling to navigate on the way home. Kneen withstood the wicked winds the best among the remaining pros and amateurs who made the cut and emerged the champion of the Hall Financial Michigan Open presented by Turtle Creek Casino and Caesars Sportsbook. This was Kneen’s second state championship despite the closing 1-over 73 dropping him to a 7under 281 total on the wind-whipped Bear course at Grand Traverse Resort and Spa. Kneen, a 26-year-old mini tour pro, whose first Mich Open win was in 2018 when he was an

amateur just out of Oakland University, was able to take home the first-place check for $12,500 this time around. His name will go on the historic James D. Standish Trophy for a second time. Kneen said the long birdie putt at No. 14 from above the hole was the most critical shot because he trailed by one shot at the time.

MICHIGAN WOMEN’S OPEN

Michigan’s Sarah White Shoots 63 to Win Michigan PGA Women’s Open By Greg Johnson Sarah White of Caledonia shot a 9-under 63 in the final round to rally from five shots behind and win the 29th Michigan PGA Women’s Open Championship on the Mountain Ridge course at Crystal Mountain, June 29. White, 24 and playing on the LPGA Epson Tour with a quick stop in her home state to play in the Michigan Open, made eight birdies, an eagle and just one bogey in shooting 63 for a 6under 210 total and four-shot win. “It means a lot every time you win a golf tournament because you know that all of your hard work is paying off,” she said after collecting the $7,000 first-place check. “When it is your week to win, you get the good

“She had a good confident round going and it was fun to see her do so well,” Burnham said. “It did remind me of when I won in 2020. I shot 9-under in the last round to win. I knew what she was feeling.” A few days later Burnham was introduced as the new head coach at Oakland University.

bounces, you know, and you have all the momentum.”

White got a call from her brother Brett White, who is playing on the Korn Ferry Tour in Colorado this week soon after the round. He

Mini-tour professional Jessica Welch of Thomasville, Ga., took second place, while Crystal Wang of Los Angeles and the University of Illinois was third place and low amateur.

told her a Michigan golf fact; They are the first brother-sister duo to hold Michigan Open titles. Brett won the Michigan Open Championship in 2020.

Sarah Burnham, the 2020 Michigan PGA Women’s Open winner and former Michigan State star who played on the LPGA Tour last

“It’s super fun knowing we both are Michigan Open champs, and he told me now he has to try and one-up me,” said Sarah, who has been

year, was paired with White in the final round and said the champion was hitting every shot well.

making sports news for years since her days as a goalie on the boy’s hockey team at East Kentwood High School.

MICHIGAN AMATEUR

Spring Lake’s Nick Krueger Wins 111th Michigan Amateur Championship By Greg Johnson A pair of 21-year-olds, both with two years of college eligibility remaining, battled to the end, and an extra 19th hole when the first 18 ended all square, to determine the winner of the 111th Michigan Amateur. Nick Krueger of Spring Lake and Grand Valley State University lost a lead, rallied with dramatic shots and won the title, at Hawk Hollow in East Lansing, July 1. Krueger turned back Patrick Deardorff of Clarkston, and Eastern Michigan University. After ending the front 9 all-square, Krueger had a 2-up lead through 12 holes when Deardorff rallied by winning holes 13, 14 and 15 to take a 1up lead. He had that same lead at No. 18 tee before Krueger rolled in a downhill 20-foot putt for birdie to tie the match and force extra holes. On the 19th hole of the match, hole No. 1 at Hawk Hollow, Deardorff missed the fairway for the first time in eight rounds this week, pulling his tee shot into the marsh penalty area along the right side of the fairway. After a drop from an unplayable lie and a few more shots, Krueger, a Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference individual champion in 2021, was conceded a birdie putt for the biggest victory of his golf career.

“You dream of making putts on 18 like that to win events like this and it is so cool to be able to finally be in that position and come home with a win,” he said. “It means a lot, and I know this tournament has a lot of history, and it means so much to be able to compete in this and be one of the names on that trophy.” His march to win the historic Staghorn Trophy included a tense 1-up morning semifinal win over August Meekhof of Eastmanville and Michigan State University, while Deardorff was topping the Hawk Hollow home course hero, David Szymanski of Holt, 2 and 1 in the other semifinal. “If you told me at the start of the week that I was going to come in second and go 20 holes in the championship match against a high-level player like Nick Krueger, I’d be like, heck yeah, I’ll take that right now,” Deardorff concluded.

MICHIGAN WOMEN’S AMATEUR

Anci Dy Tops Her Sister Anika Dy to Win Michigan Women’s Amateur Championship in a FirstEver Sister Showdown By Tom Lang, with Greg Johnson contributing The Dy sisters apparently wanted more family time; well, at least 3 holes worth in the Michigan Women’ Amateur. Playing golf side-by-side their entire childhood and in high school at Traverse City West before splitting off to college – Anika to U-M and the younger Anci to the Univ. of Indianapolis – on a Friday in mid-June at Great Oaks CC, they went 21 holes before deciding the winner of the 106th GAM Women’s Amateur Championship. Anci won it on the par 3, 3rd hole. The sister showdown – the first ever in the championship’s rich century-plus history – was set up in the semifinals when Anika turned back Western Michigan University-bound Megha Vallabhaneni of Northville 3 and 2 in the morning, and Anci outlasted Anika’s Wolverine teammate and last year’s Am runner-up, Mikaela Schulz of West Bloomfield, in 20 holes. The Dy sister’s both shed tears when it was finished, some due to exhaustion from five consecutive days of golf (plus three holes) and some from the closeness of family and what it all means to both of them. Mom, Tess Dy, got into the hug-fest as well to congratulate both of her daughters for a well-played match.

“I think she’s really proud of me,” said Anci, 19, of her big sister, who’s actually a little smaller in stature. “I think she was able to see where I’ve come from with my game from a few years ago to now. I feel like, actually, I know she is going to try extra hard to get me the next time, but for today, she’s really proud of me.” FULL RESULTS: Visit GAM.org

MICHIGAN GOLF HALL OF FAME

3some Elected to Michigan Golf Hall of Fame Midnight Golf to Receive Special Award Three new inductees will enter the Michigan Golf Hall of Fame on October 16 at Ferris State University’s Katke Golf Club: Jennifer Kangas-Brody, a former LPGA Tour player originally from the Upper Peninsula Art McCafferty, a multi-media golf publisher and producer The late John Molenda, a longtime Knollwood Country Club professional who won the Michigan Open and the Michigan PGA Professional championships

“This talented threesome reflects the best of Michigan golf in playing ability, service to the industry and the making and telling of Michigan’s wonderful golf stories, and Midnight Golf is one of those stories because of its remarkable impact on Detroit’s youth and the community,” said Greg Johnson, MGHOF committee chairperson, in announcing the 2022 class. Kangas-Brody, 48 and a golf shop owner, merchandizer and LPGA instructor at Warwick Hills Golf & Country Club in Grand

In addition, the MGHOF has voted to present just its fifth Special Award in history to the

Blanc with her husband, PGA professional Doug Brody, is a former LPGA Tour golfer and MSU standout from the Upper Peninsula. She earned all-state honors at L’Anse High School, was an All-Big Ten golfer and team

Midnight Golf Program and its founder Renee Fluker, whose landmark program since 2001 has

captain at MSU. She won the Michigan Women’s Open soon after graduating from

used dedicated volunteers and PGA professionals to teach golf and life skills and help guide over 3,700 Detroit youth into colleges and professional careers.

MSU, turned professional in 1997 and in 1998 played full-time on the LPGA Tour. She won four times on the now Epson Tour, and in 2004 started teaching and coaching,

These individuals bring the number of members to 134.

WWW.MIGOLFJOURNAL.COM including her two very talented Junior golfer children. McCafferty, 81, is a familiar figure in Michigan golf with his wife Jennie making the rounds for decades of tournaments and events. The owner of Great Lakes Sports Publications has produced almost 6,000 YouTube interviews, reports and shows on all aspects of the game, published the Michigan Golfer magazine from 1983 to 2003 with Michigan Golf Hall of Fame member Terry Moore as editor and continues to collect and produce content and distributes a well-read digital Michigan golf newsletter. An educator at Eastern Michigan University by trade, he and Jennie have also produced and published content on running, skiing and travel. Molenda, who died in 2004 at the age of 65,

was a Detroit native and Novi resident who played golf at the University of Arizona and on the U.S. Army golf team. He was the runner-up in the 1961 U.S. Public Links Championship, before becoming a PGA golf professional serving at Knollwood Country Club for 29 years. A standout player throughout his career, he won the 1968 Michigan Open, the 1971 Michigan PGA, played in the national PGA Professional Championship 10 times, played in two U.S. Opens, played in the 1972 PGA Championship and won the 1990 Michigan Senior Open Championship. He was named the Michigan PGA Golf Professional of the Year in 1985. For more information and to learn about the current members of the Hall of Fame, visit mghof.org.

MICHIGAN PGA CENTENNIAL, THE SECOND 25 YEARS

MICHIGAN PGA CENTENNIAL (1922-2022) PART 2: The second 25-year segment of the Michigan Section PGA (1947-1972) This is the second of a four-part series produced in celebration of the centennial year of the Michigan Section PGA.

Mr. Rules, Warren Orlick, Makes Michigan and National Impact By Greg Johnson Warren Orlick, dressed like a PGA professional from a foregone era in suit coat, tie and plus fours, shared a greeting and handshake with legend Gene Sarazen, stopped to chat at a table where six-time Masters winner Jack Nicklaus and his wife Barbara were dining with Robert Trent Jones Sr., among others, and then spied and made his way toward a table that included a golf writer from Detroit he recognized, Jack Saylor of the Detroit Free Press. It was lunch time in the early 1990s inside the clubhouse at Augusta National during a Masters Tournament week. As he approached the table where Saylor was seated, he was introduced by Saylor to the group as golf’s Mr. Rules from Michigan. “How many Masters is this for you now Warren?” Saylor asked. “I don’t count them any

longer Jack, I just count my blessings that I’ve made it to another one,” was Orlick’s response. A part of golf’s elite leaders nationally and internationally as well as considered one of the leading experts on the rules of golf, Orlick is arguably the most prominent PGA golf professional ever to call the Michigan Section PGA home. He was president of the section from 1956-58, but a leader through his 29-year career as head professional at Tam O’Shanter Country Club and before that an assistant to Wilfrid E. Reid at Indianwood Golf & Country Club. In 1971-72 Orlick was the 17th president of the PGA of America. He’s the only golf professional to have led both the PGA of America and the Michigan Section. Horton Smith, a playing legend who was the head golf professional at Detroit Golf Club, was president of the PGA of America from 1952-54 but never served as president of the section. This fall John Lindert, the director of golf at Country Club of Lansing, will become just the

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second Michigan professional to serve as both president of the section (2008-09) and the PGA of America. He is currently the vicepresident of the PGA of America. Mark Wilson of the Professional Golf Management Program at Ferris State University, a past chairman of the PGA of America Rules Golf Committee, and like Orlick a Michigan Golf Hall of Fame member, said Orlick historically was the first PGA professional from the U.S. who was considered to be a peer of individuals from the USGA in terms of rules knowledge and contributions to the rules of the game. “PGA professionals got involved in the rules of the game in the 1950s and Warren was the leader of that, the very first chairman of the PGA of America Rules of Golf Committee,” Wilson said. “He was an integral part of the rules committee at the Masters. He had regular phone calls with Clifford Roberts (co-founder of Augusta National and the Masters with Bobby Jones) and met with him in New York about various aspects of the tournament and how it could be improved.” In 1990, Orlick lost the use of one of his hands due to health issues. While going through his

rehabilitation he established a weekly adaptive golf clinic. He went on to start adaptive golf leagues and tournaments, and in 2002 was presented the Rick Knas Lifetime Achievement Award for his contributions to Michigan’s athletes with disabilities. Also during the era and remarkable for the PGA of America, but with less impact at the section level, the PGA Tour split from the PGA of America in 1968. Led by some of its top players including Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer, the Tournament Players Division split from the PGA of America and five years later would become known as the PGA Tour. To read the full piece by Johnson, go to: michiganpga.com