2021 GIGCC Special Section

GROSSE ILE GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB GIGCC Open House is April 10 Interested in joining the Grosse Ile Golf & Country Club? Or just curious about what the club offers or looks like or feels like on the inside?

Then, come on down on April 10 and take advantage of the club’s Spring Open House.

The club will throw open its doors from 2-5 p.m, for potential members to come in, tour the facilities and learn about the social and golfing memberships available.

Join now for up to 50% off initiation fees.

Contact Membership Director, Elisabeth Maurer, at 734-676-1166 or elisabeth.maurer@gigcc.com for more information.

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Grosse Ile Golf & Country Club

A place for families The Grosse Ile Golf & Country Club wants you.

The venerable, 100-year-old club with the nationally renowned Donald Ross golf course attached is looking for members and thus is holding its annual Spring Membership Drive.

The club, which has altered its member focus in recent years, is looking for families to join and toward that end, GICC has made improvements and changes to appeal to women and younger club members.

“Ten or 15 years ago, we would have appealed to what we call “traditional” members, said longtime Grosse Ile Golf & Country Club General Manager John Paul. “Today, we are all about families. We are doing everything possible to take care of members of all ages.”

The club has built the Ross Pub, a more casual dining area with a bar, numerous televisions and arcade-style games, increased youth activities at the pool, tennis courts and golf course, enhanced its women’s golf leagues and added things like “Nine and Dine,” in which mom and dad can play nine holes of golf and enjoy dinner afterward.

Here is a closer look at what GIGCC membership will bring: GOLF Golf still remains at the heart of the Grosse Ile Golf & Country Club experience.

“Without that,” said Paul, gesturing out the vast clubhouse windows at the snow-covered golf course, “we would not exist.”

Designed and built more than 100 years ago by famed architect Donald Ross, the country club course is one of the golfing jewels of southeastern Michigan and features some of the finest greens in the state.

Born in Scotland, Ross spent his adult life in the United States and built his reputation as the prodigious builder of golf courses. Among his most famous builds are Pinehurst No. 2 in North Carolina and Oakland Hills in Bloomfield Hills. The GIGCC course is revered because, unlike many other older courses, much of it is true to Ross’s original design.

Golf has always been the centerpiece of activity at GIGCC and the club has a highly competitive tournament schedule designed for golfers of every level.

The club is home to the Grosse Ile Golf & Country Club Men’s Invitational, the longest running invitational golf tournament in the midwest. The invitational also remains true to its roots. Many invitationals today are pared-back, three-day weekend versions of their former selves. Not at Grosse Ile. Just as decades ago, the Invitational covers a full five days and is celebrated fully by club members.

Grosse Ile was the first club in Michigan to sponsor an Invitational event. It began humbly in 1937 as a way to raise funds for course maintenance. The popular and highly successful idea has expanded to virtually every private club in the country today.

golf program that provides a great opportunity for youngsters to get an early start on a sport they can enjoy for a lifetime. You can look forward to creating lasting memories with family and friends on the acclaimed links of Grosse Ile Golf and Country Club.

The junior golf program offers lessons for children as young as five-years old and leagues that have players playing two, four, nine or 18 holes, depending on age and skill level.

Women, too, have a home on the links at Grosse Ile. The Ladies leagues are one of the fastest growing at GIGCC. There is even a beginner’s league, where novices can get some instruction and then play as few holes as they like until they get comfortable with the game. The beginners league is a very social affair and wine does play a role in helping lubricate things.

The club offers spring and fall leagues as well as couples leagues.

From its humble beginnings, the Invitational has grown to be the premiere event of the golfing season. It’s a reunion, a picnic, a sporting event and a happening all rolled into one memorable week in August that has become one of Grosse Ile’s finest traditions.

In addition to the Men’s Invitational, the club also sponsors Ladies, Junior and Senior Invitationals.

The course is also home to a thriving junior

TENNIS/SWIMMING Two of the hottest programs at GIGCC during the summer month are the swimming and tennis programs.

Again, the club offers lessons and programs for players and swimmers of all ages and all abilities.

The tennis program offers adult and youth leagues, individual instruction, and plenty of time for friendly matches among the old and new friends. The club’s professional tennis staff is available to meet all of your tennis needs.

GIGCC has room for serious players, beginners and youngsters. The junior program helps teach the game to beginners, intermediate and advanced players. The club has typical asphalt courts, plus championship clay courts, something found at few other clubs in the See PLACE, Page 4

Grosse Ile Golf & Country Club • Page 3

Weekly summer camps a big draw at GIGCC In line with its goal of being a family friendly club, the Grosse Ile Golf & Country Club offers one-week camps for five weeks throughout the summer.

The camps are run by KE Camps, an organization with more than 20 years experience running summer camps for country clubs. Today, more than 130 country clubs across the country rely on them for their summer programs.

All campers must be at least 5 years old by the first day they attend camp. In addition, campers must be potty-trained and able to handle a full day program.

KE Camp’s CIT (Counselor In Training) Program will run during the week of July 12th and is open to children ages 13 to 16. These older campers will participate in both regular camp activities as well as leadership projects.

To sign up for summer camp, visit the club website at GIGCC. com.

The unique set up of KE Camps offers children opportunities to experience a variety of innovative programs.

KE Camps is dedicated to creating a family-friendly and inclusive atmosphere and strongly believes this is accomplished by providing a joyful camp experience for each and every camper.

Every year since 2014, KE Camps has been awarded the Excellence in Achievement Award for Club Program of the Year by Boardroom Magazine.

Each day of camp will be a new and exciting experience for our campers as no two days are exactly alike!

The days begin with Hello Camp, a morning meeting of sorts where, through an assortment of organized activities, campers and staff get to know each other, review the day’s schedule and sing our special camp song! Similarly, we will end our days with Goodbye Camp, a time for wrap-up activities and reflections, SMILE Bands, snacks, and “see you laters.”

Whether you come for one week or the whole summer, the goal is to keep campers entertained.

Below is an outline of an average day at camp. Each activity lasts anywhere from 30-45 minutes and then we are on to something different. We know how important it is to keep our campers engaged at all times.

• Hello camp and icebreakers • Craft time • Tennis or golf lessons • Science experiment • Lunch • Relay races • Fun with foods • Swimming • Snack • Good bye camp Of course, you cannot fully capture the “vibe” of camp by just listing out activities in writing - there is so much more to the program in the way of Wacky Wednesday theme days, weekly community service projects, week-long traditions, the SMILE Band Program, precious time with camp counselors and more.

Every Wednesday at camp is a wacky one with a different festive theme – a true highlight of each week!

The summer’s Wacky Wednesdays are: June 21, Deep Sea Dive; July 5, Camp Carnival; July 12, Rockin’ the Red Carpet; July 19, A Day of Dr. Seuss; Aug. 2, Camp Olympics.

This year marks the return of Thankful Thursdays into the camp program.

In true camp spirit, every Thursday campers will have the chance to give back to their community by working together on a simple, fun and rewarding community service project.

This summer’s Thankful Thursdays are: June 21, Relaya-thon for Project Morry; July 5, Day of Gratitude; July 12, Alex’s Lemonade Stand; July 19, Lunch Bags for Meals on Wheels; Aug. 2, Thankful for Family.

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PLACE

Continued from page 2 area. There are also courts for Pickleball players.

The GIGCC swimming pool is a magnet for summertime activities for children and adults alike, including participation on the competitive swim team, swim instruction, poolside parties or simply spending time with your friends in the sunshine.

The swimming program is one of the most popular programs for kids at the country club, featuring the Devil Rays swim team.

“I’d say the swim program is probably the best program we offer,” admitted Paul.

Last summer more than 150 kids swam for the Devils Rays in a program run by veteran swim coach Max Monas, who has been coaching swimmers of all ages including high school, since 1978.

“Max does a great job and we are

lucky to have him,” said Paul.

In addition to the Devil Rays team, the club offers a pre-team development program and a team Mini Rays squad to get swimmers prepared for competitions.

DINING Dining at Grosse Ile Golf & Country

Club is anything you want it to be.

Interested in a quiet white-table-cloth dinner with that special someone with a fine steak or seafood? The Mixed Grille can provide that for you.

Ready to bring in the family for a fun night of casual dining or looking to come in and watch the big game with some friends? Then the new Ross Pub,

which features bar food and a dizzying array of appetizers is the spot for you.

How about a quiet summer afternoon out on the patio? Grosse Ile Golf & Country Club offers al fresco dining, too, with food delivered by waitstaff from either the Mixed Grille or Ross Pub. “We really offer a wide variety of things to eat,” said Paul. “During Lent on Fridays we have Dover sole, but if you just want some fish and chips, we have that, too.”

The club has a wide menu and offers weekly specials. So if you are looking for a formal dinner with a perfectly cooked steak, or a quick sandwich or pizza with your pals, the club can easily accommodate you.

In addition to family dining, the Grosse Ile Golf & Country Club stands ready for your every entertaining need.

The club can cater and host an intimate gathering, a graduation party, a shower or any event you might need all the way up to 300 people.

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