Michigan Links Digital Edition August, 2026

Golden Hours

THE FALL GOLF SEASON SHOWCASES MICHIGAN’S MOST STUNNING VIEWS

Dear Fellow GAM Members,

For most of my life, fall was not the end of golf season. It was the beginning.

I played for Rockford High School in the late ’90s, when the boys’ season ran through the fall (Go Rams!). College golf followed the same calendar, and then for 15 years of coaching after that, every new season began in September.

To me, the summer season felt like preparation for the important rounds in the fall. So while many recreational golfers were slowing down and thinking about putting the clubs away, I was just getting excited. That rhythm stayed with me. Even now, there is something about this time of year that feels like bonus time rather than borrowed time.

I know some players may grumble about shorter days, aerification holes in the greens (you’ll be thankful in the long run), or piles of leaves adjacent to fairways, but look on the bright side: Tee times are slightly more available, the colors are worthy of a framed photo, and a course you have been fighting all summer suddenly feels manageable again. There is a reason so many golfers say fall is when they enjoy the game the most.

“Michigan courses in September and October have a way of feeling new even when you know them well.”

Michigan courses in September and October have a way of feeling new even when you know them well. A hole you have played a hundred times looks different when the trees behind the green have turned. Our regular courses surprise us, and the ones we have not yet played are worth finding before the season closes.

We are spoiled by where we get to play in this state, and this issue of Michigan Links is built around that. We are highlighting some of the best fall golf Michigan has to offer, courses and experiences worth discovering for the first time or returning to with fresh eyes. You will also find

stories about our four Michigan Amateur champions, a celebration of Dan Kunert’s 10 years with the GAM, and a look at renovations underway at Kingsley Club, Pine Trace, Island Resort & Casino, and Egypt Valley. With more than 48 million Americans playing golf last year, the game is not winding down. Neither are we. Go find a course that surprises you this fall.

I hope this is your favorite season.

Warm regards,

Chris Whitten Executive Director, Golf Association of Michigan

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Steadfast Support

Golf Days Coordinator Dan Kunert marks a decade of connecting GAM members with the state’s best public and private courses

BY TERRY MOORE

Faces of the GAM

Given his background, it’s really not surprising that Dan Kunert is celebrating his 10th anniversary with the GAM as its Golf Days coordinator. Steadfast in his commitments, Kunert is not one to flit from one path to another.

Eleven years ago, he retired from the city of Warren administration after 28 years, during which he spent the last 13 in property appraisal. In fact, he grew up in Warren, went to Warren’s Cousino High School, graduated from Oakland University, and then went straight to work for the municipality.

“You might say I’m a Warren man all the way,” says Kunert, who also adds that he played in the city’s golf league for 35 years.

Kunert’s association with the GAM began when he played in member relations outings. Later, upon his retirement, he became a rules and tournament volunteer.

“Jeanne Myers, an assistant GAM tournament director, took me under her wing,” Kunert says. “I kept showing up for events and was doing 30 a year.”

During that time, he became close with David Graham, then the GAM’s executive director, as well as Ken Hartmann and Ted Newton from the GAM’s tournament department. When the GAM Golf Days coordinator at the time, Greg Zeller, stepped down to concentrate more on his golf game, Kunert was a natural successor for the staff position.

“I’d like to dream that I could step down like Greg and end up as he did as the GAM’s Super Senior Player of the Year, but that’s not happening,” Kunert says with a laugh.

Despite his self-disparagement, he’s a decent player. Kunert carries a 17.1 index and joined Oakland University’s Golf & Learning Center this year while still playing at Maple Lane and Lincoln Hills. Most notably, he’s had a hole-in-one. “It was at The Loop at Forest Dunes, so a special moment at a special place,” he says.

Under Kunert’s deft hand, GAM Golf Days remain a popular membership perk. The appeal is still the same as when they started in 2009: They provide GAM members with the opportunity to play top-notch public and private courses at an affordable price.

“But what makes a Golf Day special for most players is the camaraderie and social benefits,” Kunert observes. This year, 26 Golf Days were scheduled, and many have been sold out with waiting lists.

Married to Cheryl, whom he met as a co-worker at — where else — the city of Warren, Kunert is especially grateful to the GAM, specifically to Newton, Hartmann,

“I’m thankful not only for [the GAM’s] unwavering support of Golf Days but also for their support and understanding when [my wife] Cheryl was diagnosed with Stage 2 pancreatic cancer.”

—Dan Kunert, GAM Golf Days coordinator

and Chris Whitten, the current executive director. “I’m thankful not only for their unwavering support of Golf Days but also for their support and understanding when Cheryl was diagnosed with Stage 2 pancreatic cancer; it meant I had to be away from some Golf Days because of her treatments,” Kunert says. “But she survived with flying colors and is back on the golf course.” Coming from an expert, that’s the best kind of appraisal!

Pure Michigan Pride

Up-and-coming Red Wing Carter Mazur grew up playing the state’s best-value public courses

BY TONY PAUL

Carter Mazur was eager to talk some golf. The young Detroit Red Wings forward had just left the driving range ahead of an upcoming round at Oakland Hills Country Club — his first since the storied club in Bloomfield Township renovated the historic South Course.

It was a real treat for Mazur, no country club fella. He grew up playing public courses in the Jackson area.

“I haven’t been out there in a bit,” Mazur said. “My money manager actually got me out there.

“So I’m fired up for that. I’m excited to see what they did over there.”

Told there are a lot fewer trees post-renovation, he laughed. “I’m all right with that!”

Michigan Links recently caught up with Mazur, 24, a former standout and national champion at the University of Denver who was drafted by the Red Wings in 2021, made his NHL debut with a one-game cameo in 2025, and got an eight-game run with the Wings late in the 2026 season before signing a two-year contract extension in July.

Mazur is looking forward to earning more chances on the ice in Detroit in the upcoming season, but with training camp still weeks away, he’s taking the opportunity to continue working on his golf game.

Here are the highlights of our recent conversation, which has been edited for clarity and length.

Michigan Links: How long have you been playing golf?

Carter Mazur: I started playing when I was younger. My dad always tried to get me and my brother [to play] when I was 5 or 6, but I hated it [laughs]. I don’t know why, but I hated it when I was younger, so I stopped playing. And then I started to pick it back up in eighth grade. So I started playing middle school golf, and then I played high school golf for three years at Lumen Christi [in Jackson]. So I would say about 10 years now.

Were you one of the better golfers on your high school team?

I would say I was like the middle guy. We had two really good golfers. They went and played college golf. One at Wayne State, and

I forget where the other guy went. I was more of just, I don’t know, it was a good way of getting out of school [early] on Friday, that’s for sure [laughs].

Where was your home course? Cascades. ... It’s awesome. Awesome place there.

How much do you play now?

I try to get out every week. It’s one of those sports that I enjoy a lot. It gets you outside. It’s easy to spend time with friends and just hang out.

What’s your favorite course in Michigan?

That’s a tough one.

You can go one public and one private.

Well, most of them are public. ... I would have to go with Arcadia [Bluffs]. Arcadia is probably up there just for the views. And then closer to my home, I would have to go with Calderone. ... Another cheap, kind of linksy-style course. I really enjoy that one.

The value at Calderone is off the charts.

It is. I think it’s the best value in the United States, to be honest. ... That’s a course for sure that everyone has to go play.

school. I was always like 82 to 85 in high school, and now I’m around par golf to 75.

What’s your handicap?

Right now, I say I’m at a 6.5 when I play for money [laughs]. Right now, I’m like a 2.3.

Is golf more fun when you’re playing for money?

I wouldn’t say for money; I would say for anything. There has to be something on the line. It makes it more fun, for sure.

What’s your dream foursome?

I would have to go with my grandpa, who passed away when I was younger. I heard he was a really good golfer, so I’d put him in there for sure. And then I really like Min Woo Lee right now, so I’d

Where was that at?

Arbor Hills, another Jackson one.

Two eagles? What did you shoot?

We did like a two-man scramble. I want to say like 14 under.

All right, favorite club in the bag? Ooooh, I have to go 7-iron. The 7-iron is probably my favorite club. Just the feel, everything. I would have to go with a 7-iron. Or a 3-iron. I like long irons; I’m a long-iron player. So I’d have to say a 3-iron or a 7-iron.

I didn’t even know they still made 3-irons [laughs]!

Oh, I love it. I still have the same clubs from high school. I’m about to get some new ones, but I love them, so there’s been no point of ever changing them.

What’s the strength of your game?

“With how hockey is, it’s just easy to … relate the same shot pattern into the golf swing. I try to shoot the puck as hard as I can, so I might as well try to hit the golf ball as hard as I can.”

What makes the Michigan golf scene so special?

I love sweatshirt weather, and Michigan really has all four seasons. ... I think fall golf’s the best, too. ... And there are a lot of courses, so there’s no shortage of golf, especially Up North. The value for golf here is pretty awesome.

Dream course to play, anywhere in the world?

It’d have to be Augusta, right? That would be unbelievable, with all the history behind it. I don’t think a lot of people are going to get that opportunity, so it’d have to be that one. [On the Michigan front, Bay Harbor and American Dunes remain on Mazur’s bucket list.]

So what’s your best score?

My best score is a 69 at Cascades. So 3 under. ... That was two years ago. My game’s improved a lot since high

—Carter Mazur, Detroit Red Wings player

have to put him in there. He’s probably my favorite golfer on the [PGA] Tour. And then I heard Michael Jordan’s really good, so I’d put him in there just to talk to him.

Yeah, you’d be playing for money in that round.

Absolutely, if he’s in the round [laughs].

What’s your favorite memory on the golf course?

I would say my first hole-in-one. Well, my only hole-in-one [laughs]. … That round was pretty cool. My dad, on Hole 9, chipped in for eagle, and so we were kind of going crazy. He was like 110 yards out. He chipped in, and then the next hole, 8-iron, hole-in-one from 170. I didn’t see it go in because it was kind of a tucked pin, and then we got up there. And then two holes later on a par 5, I chipped in for eagle. It was a crazy little four-hole stretch.

I would say long irons. When the driver’s not working, I’ll probably hit 3-iron off the tee. I can hit it far enough to be safe most of the time. ... [It goes] like 260.

Wow.

Yeah, I have like a Jon Rahm swing, so it’s steep and fast.

Was it always like that?

Yeah. I never really got golf lessons. I kind of just played. With how hockey is, it’s just easy to kind of, I don’t know, relate the same shot pattern into the golf swing. I try to shoot the puck as hard as I can, so I might as well try to hit the golf ball as hard as I can.

Why do you think so many hockey players make good golfers?

That’s a good question. I would say probably because [of] the timing of the season. You’re [off] in the summer, and you don’t want to put too much strain on your body going out playing other sports. [In golf] you don’t strain your body as much. It’s not as tiring, and it’s just something easy to get out there and goplay with your buddies in the summer. And again, summertime for hockey players is June all the way till September, so it’s practically the whole golf season, especially in Michigan. You get all that time off, and you’ve got to find something to do with your time. So you might as well go golfing!

Connor Hellebuyck enjoys a round of golf during the offseason.

Constant Chase

After bringing home Olympic gold and touring the country to celebrate, Connor Hellebuyck gets back to playing another sport he loves: golf

BY TONY PAUL

No, Connor Hellebuyck didn’t show up for his first round of golf after the Olympics wearing his gold medal around his neck. He waited until his first tournament, thank you very much, and brought it only because he was asked to.

It’s been a wild and whirlwind few months for Hellebuyck, the Commerce native and Walled Lake Northern High School alum.

But things are finally starting to calm down, at least a little bit, for the veteran NHL goalie after helping lead Team USA to its first Olympic gold medal in men’s hockey since 1980 during the 2026 Winter Games in Italy.

And that means a little less talk about the gold and more time spent on the greens for Hellebuyck, an avid golfer and member at Edgewood Country Club.

He started playing at 19, when he was a rising star on the junior hockey circuit.

“My buddy [Alex Wise] one day wanted to do it, so we went to a par-3 course, … and we got hooked. We loved everything that came with it,” Hellebuyck says.

“We would take whatever hot deal was available in the area, and we’d go there, or we’d go at twilight, a little course called Hickory Hill, a total nine-hole course just on the edge of Commerce in Wixom. It was $10 to play after 6, and we’d just walk it.

“I was completely obsessed for about five straight years, and I got to a decent point. And then life hit me. Got married, had kids — you know, the things that take you away from the game.”

Hellebuyck, 33, is squarely back in the game these days, and just as when he’s in goal for the Winnipeg Jets or Team USA, he’s pretty darn good — carrying a 6.8 handicap as he continues working to get back to his personal best of 6.6.

He typically plays at least once a week during the NHL offseason, and in a good week, he’ll get out two or even three times. It helps that his kids are getting older — his son is 4.5; his daughter is 3 — and showing interest in swinging the club, and his wife, Amanda, is getting into it, too, with a Tuesday league.

Golf — and his other main hobby, fishing — lines up perfectly with the NHL offseason, the summer. The sport also provides another competitive outlet for a guy who first broke into the NHL in the 2015-16 season.

“I think it’s just the challenge; there’s no mastery of the sport,” Hellebuyck says. “It’s like a constant chase. And that’s what’s really fun for me — the constant chase of getting better.”

Hellebuyck has played golf all over the country and beyond — he gets to play occasionally during the season, on off-days, on the road — and is particularly fond of Alotian Golf Club in Little Rock, Arkansas, and Whistling Straits in Kohler, Wisconsin.

He has fond memories of Chileno Bay Golf & Beach Club in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, because that’s where he made his hole-in-one, a “pure 6-iron” from 176 yards that drew next to no reaction from his playing partners, all of whom had made aces previously. It was Hellebuyck’s first; he admittedly and understandably went nuts and celebrated with Opus One. His bucket-list course is Augusta National,

Above: Hellebuyck is recognized during the State of the Union address at the U.S. Capitol on Feb. 24.

same as yours probably.

In Michigan, he loves his home base, Edgewood, where he’s been a member since 2019. He likes Orchard Lake Country Club and Arcadia Bluffs Golf Club, of course. He could probably go on and on about Michigan golf.

“It’s very beautiful,” Hellebuyck says. “Everywhere you go, there are trees, nice grass. You get the water on both ends of the coast for the Great Lakes. Michigan’s just been a hotbed for golf for a while.”

Michigan’s actually been a dynamo in golf longer than Team USA has been one on the international scene in men’s hockey, though Hellebuyck, a four-time NHL All-Star and winner of three Vezina Trophies (for best goaltender) and one Hart Memorial Trophy (for MVP), played a major part in changing that narrative in February, culminating in a 2-1 victory over Canada in the gold-medal game.

Hellebuyck made an Olympic-final record 41 saves as one of several Michigan standouts on the team, along with Red Wings center and Waterford native Dylan Larkin, Canton’s Hughes brothers (Jack and Quinn), Shelby Township’s Kyle Connor (also a teammate of Hellebuyck’s with the Jets), and Grosse Pointe Woods’ Zach Werenski.

Team USA swept the gold in hockey in Italy with the women also beating Canada 2-1 in overtime, led by Farmington Hills’ Megan Keller’s winning goal, and the men and women have been on a whirlwind

celebration tour ever since. Hellebuyck was among players honored by the president at the State of the Union speech, where it was announced he would receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom — the highest civilian honor. Recently, he appeared on a celebrity edition of Family Feud alongside Larkin. He was a Detroit News Michiganian of the Year; his dad accepted on his behalf, wearing his USA jersey.

“It’s been very crazy,” Hellebuyck says. “My life’s changed forever. It’s been awesome, but it’s been very hectic.”

Maybe that’s why he doesn’t try to overcomplicate things on the golf course, or even when talking about golf (asked for a dream foursome, he simply rattles off three of the game’s greats: Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, and Gary Player). He doesn’t like to play for money because it puts unnecessary expectations on him, brought by himself (“I’m like a 6, but when I put money on it, I expect myself to be a scratch”).

While he’s an experienced tournament competitor in fishing, he still is shy about playing in the club championships at Edgewood.

Hellebuyck wants to get his handicap down just a bit more before he takes that next step in the sport that can’t be perfected.

“There’s always improvement,” Hellebuyck says, “always getting better.”

And now, after a wild few months, there’s finally some time.

‘Golf Is My Therapy’

GAM member Tony Herzberg swings away in battle with blood cancer

BY GREG JOHNSON

Two doctors told Tony Herzberg he would never walk again.

Faces of the GAM

The 73-year-old GAM member at The Moors in Portage was diagnosed in 2023 with multiple myeloma, a blood cancer that affects plasma cells and currently does not have a cure.

Chemotherapy was the treatment recommended, but an intense reaction to it left him with severe neuropathy. He was unable to stand and was in the hospital receiving plasma transfusions when the two doctors made the negative prognosis.

Physical therapy followed his hospital stay, long hours over eight months at Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital in Grand Rapids. Building leg strength came first, and Herzberg toiled, determined to change his assumed future.

“Long story short, I told the doctors I wanted to walk again, drive my truck again, and play golf again,” he says. “That’s when I still couldn’t stand, but with Mary Free Bed and my wonderful therapist, Hayley Roth, we made it happen.”

because I’ve learned time is precious,” he says. “Dealing with this makes you realize that, and that’s why I golf as much as I can. Right now, I can’t walk the course because of my current problems, so that’s become the first goal going back to physical therapy — walk again and play and do it in four hours so I’m not holding anybody up.”

He’s still playing, though, using it as additional physical therapy.

He made it happen so well that he was in remission for 29 months. Recently, the neuropathy returned; he has balance issues, and he has returned to Mary Free Bed for more physical therapy. He soldiers onward, walking as they said he wouldn’t, and has volunteered on a regular basis at Mary Free Bed to help others.

He is also driving his truck, the one with the “GQLFER” license plate and a sticker that carries the message “One day closer to a cure.”

And he plays golf as often as possible, multiple times a week at The Moors. Last August during remission — he could walk 18 holes at the time — he made a hole-in-one, the second of his golfing life and the first since his blood cancer diagnosis.

“It was wonderful; each day is wonderful

“I’m at The Moors a lot, playing now in a cart even though I hate carts. I’m not great at golf, a 17-handicap from the white tees with balance issues, but I don’t stay away. I love it. It’s my therapy. I have a great group of friends and members who support me and encourage me there. It’s about my quality of life.” He says his worst day on the golf course is better than any day without it.

“The reaction to chemo really hit hard, and even my therapist, Hayley, told me after about four months of therapy that when she first met me, she didn’t think I would ever walk again,” he says. “She told me, ‘You were in so much pain.’”

Herzberg describes some of the effects of multiple myeloma.

“All your nerve endings at the skin — well, the outer coating, the protective shield — gets disintegrated, and everything becomes very, very sensitive,” he says. “Right now, if I touch my hand, if feels like someone slicing with a razor blade.”

He plays on, shooting around 90 and inspiring those around him.

Chris Zeigler is a GAM governor and member at The Moors. She’s also a friend of Herzberg and calls him incredibly inspiring.

“A lot of people would have given up,” she says. “You should have seen him. At one point, he was in a wheelchair, couldn’t drive. And then he shows up at the club barely walking with braces on his legs, and I remember him telling us

all that the goals were to be able to walk again and to get back out and play golf.”

Zeigler says she played golf with him earlier this year when he was still in remission.

“He walked 18 holes, and I couldn’t believe it — from where he was at before and seeing how painful and hard it was on him,” she says. “And he still comes out and plays. He has just this inspiring positive attitude about life, about golf.”

Zeigler says he’s a great example of someone who finds a special purpose in golf.

“We all know golf gets you outside, keeps you active, and it is good for us, and on top of it, you make great friends, but Tony shows us it can be something else,” she says. “He shows it can help us as a goal to help overcome obstacles and that loving golf can be the motivation to work hard just so you get to play again.”

Herzberg started playing golf at age 13 in Northville, Illinois, and caddied, too, including once in the PGA Tour’s Western Open. He’s been in love with the game for a long time and has been

especially dedicated to playing since retiring from a career in graphic arts with Southern Graphic Systems in Battle Creek. He joined The Moors in 1991 when he lived in the Kalamazoo area and has remained a member even though he now lives in Grand Rapids.

“A great golf club has the great golf course like The Moors, but it’s also the people, the friends you make,” he says. “The people at The Moors have helped me through this. I love golf, but I think what I really love is playing golf with my friends. That keeps me going.”

Herzberg’s golfing continues as his immunotherapy and physical therapy continue. He says a CAR (chimeric antigen receptor) T-cell transplant is likely in his future.

“They take your T cells out of your body and then reengineer them and put them back in,” he says. “I understand it’s a brutal process, but I’m willing to if I can get healthy, stay alive, [and] have some quality of life, which to me means getting to play some golf.”

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Golden Hours

THE FALL GOLF SEASON SHOWCASES MICHIGAN’S MOST STUNNING VIEWS

When the calendar turns to fall, many golfers assume the season is winding down. In Michigan, it’s quite the opposite.

Autumn is when the state’s golf courses are at their most breathtaking. As the first hints of color appear in the Upper Peninsula, Michigan’s annual fall color tour begins its slow journey south, painting fairways, forests, and shorelines in brilliant shades of crimson, amber, and gold. For weeks, each region offers its own unforgettable display, making every round feel like a front-row seat to one of nature’s greatest shows.

Michaywé Pines

From the rugged beauty of the Upper Peninsula to the rolling hills of northern Michigan and the treelined fairways of the southern part of the state, fall invites golfers to experience Michigan in a whole new light. Crisp air, comfortable playing conditions, and vibrant landscapes combine to create some of the best golf of the year.

So don’t put the clubs away just yet. Pack the car, plan a road trip, and discover the incredible courses and unforgettable scenery that make fall golf in Michigan a destination all its own. The season isn’t ending — it’s simply entering its most beautiful chapter.

48th Michigan Junior Amateur Championship

Tommy Preston of Grand Rapids rallies to win the title

Tommy Preston of Grand Rapids was struggling to find fairways with his tee shots early in the title match of the 2026 Michigan Junior Amateur Championship at Bedford Valley Golf Course in Battle Creek on July 9, and he faced a 2-down deficit to Harris Hoekwater, also of Grand Rapids, through eight holes.

Then, things changed — suddenly. He chipped in from 35 feet on No. 9 for a birdie, rolled in a 30-foot putt on No. 10 for a birdie, and made a 15-foot putt for another birdie on 11, resulting in a 1-up lead.

“I was able to recover from some bad tee shots and then just started to make some putts, and when I start to make some, I start to feel confident that they are all going in,” said the 16-year-old Grand Rapids Catholic Central golfer after he closed out the 3-and-2 championship victory. “That was really nice.”

Hoekwater, 17 and a golfer at South Christian near Grand Rapids, made a birdie on the par-5 No. 13 hole to square the match one more time but then lost the 14th hole to a par when he had tree troubles. Preston then made a 6-footer for birdie on No. 15 and added another birdie on the par5 16th for the win.

“I feel great,” Preston said. “My game felt pretty good all week, and I just needed to get the putter going, which I was able to do in a lot of the matches, like this one.”

The Grand Rapids twosome beat two other West Michigan-area players in the morning semifinals to reach the final. Preston beat Jack Klimek of Ada 3 and 1 and Hoekwater bested Sumner Meekhof of Coopersville 2 and 1.

Preston, who finished second to earn one of three spots in the U.S. Junior Amateur at a qualifier on June 16 at Pheasant Run Golf Club, played in the national championship

as the exempt Michigan Junior Amateur champion.

The July 9 state championship match was completed in a little over two hours, as both golfers were quick to play following a short weather delay.

“I always play fast, and Harris plays pretty fast, too, and I get in my rhythm, and I just start playing faster and hitting good shots,” Preston said. “I just don’t like to think too much about it. I don’t need things to get in my head.”

Hoekwater said he had a good week and felt good about reaching the finals but regretted a few bad holes in the title match.

“I would like a couple of shots back, especially coming down the stretch,” he said. “Tommy chipped one in, made some putts. He played great.”

The 15-and-under champion was also crowned. Benjamin Vento of Rochester

Hills topped Zane Rueger of Saline 3 and 1 in the title match.

Vento reached the title match with a dramatic 1-up win over Easton Short of Pinckney in the semifinals. The match was tied at 18 when Vento holed out a gap wedge shot from 79 yards for an eagle and the win.

Rueger, meanwhile, made the finals with a 3-and-1 win over Watson Mercier of Novi.

In the final match, Vento won three of the last four holes on the front nine to take control. The stretch was highlighted by a 40-yard bunker shot to 5 feet and a resulting birdie on No. 7.

“It feels pretty cool, honestly,” Vento said after the title match. “I didn’t really know that it was going to happen, and I was trying to get through each match and have a good tournament. I feel good that I hit some great shots and it happened.”

115th Michigan Amateur Championship

McCoy Biagioli turns up the heat to win a second time

McCoy Biagioli of White Lake was exactly where he wanted to be on July 3, which was hoisting the historic Staghorn Trophy as the winner of the 115th Michigan Amateur Championship for the second year.

The current Michigan State University golfer, who was on the Ferris State University golf team the last time he won in 2024, beat Logan Price of Grand Blanc 7 and 5 in the final match of the championship presented by Carl’s Golfland at Eagle Eye Golf & Banquet Center near East Lansing.

“I’ve been working on my swing, and in stroke play, I hit it really well, but I couldn’t make any putts,” he said. “Then, the putts started to fall.”

And fall and fall again.

He beat last year’s Michigan Amateur runner-up, PJ Maybank III of Cheboygan and

“I knew going into match play if I could get some putts to drop, it would be really tough to beat me. Once match play started, I had it going, and it was fun.”

—McCoy Biagioli, winner of the 115th Michigan Amateur Championship

the University of Oklahoma, in that morning’s semifinals 3 and 1, and that was the closest match of the six he played for the week.

Meanwhile, defending champion Caleb Bond of Williamston — Biagioli’s teammate and roommate at MSU — lost to Price 3 and 2 in the other morning semifinal.

The local Lansing-area crowd missed out on the all-MSU final they’d hoped for, but counting Biagioli’s first win before his transfer to MSU, Spartan golfers have won the last four Amateurs (August Meekhof in 2023, Biagioli in 2024, Bond in 2025, and Biagioli again).

The latest Spartan winner started the week with great confidence on a course the team plays often for practice and team qualifying.

“I knew going into match play if I could get some putts to drop, it would be really tough to beat me,” Biagioli said. “Once match play started, I had it going, and it was fun. I wouldn’t say easy because there are a lot of good players out here. Maybe it looked easy, but it was still difficult to do and especially playing and walking in this heat.”

As Mother Nature turned up the heat, so did Biagioli, who played just 85 out of a possible 108 holes in match play. He became the 15th golfer in Michigan Amateur history to win multiple titles, and the first to become a two-time winner since Tom Werkmeister of Grand Rapids in 2017.

To top things off, Biagioli received an exemption into the field at the 2026 U.S. Amateur.

The Michigan Amateur title match looked a lot like Biagioli’s earlier matches. He hit an 8-iron to within 1 foot for birdie on the par-3 second hole to grab the lead, then won the fourth and fifth holes with pars as Price made bogeys.

On No. 9, Biagioli hit his “wow” shot of the day, a 5-iron second shot from 257 yards to 20 feet. He made the putt for an eagle and led 5-up heading to the back nine.

Price bogeyed No. 12 from the fringe on the long par 3 while Biagioli two-putted for par and a 6-up lead. On 13, Price’s approach shot drifted right into the pond and eventually led to a concession, and the match was concluded.

“I’ve got a couple of years on these young guys, and I was exhausted,” said Price, a 28-year-old sales rep for EBlock Flint. “I played a lot of golf, and it was hot. I got some bad breaks, but some good ones, too, and I’m happy to have made it this far. Congrats to McCoy. He played great. I’m happy for him. He’s playing such great golf, and I don’t mind losing to great golf.”

110th Michigan Women’s Amateur Championship

Canton’s Bridget Boczar wins at Oakland University’s Golf & Learning Center

Bridget Boczar of Canton has been playing in the Michigan Women’s Amateur Championship since her early years in junior golf, and this year, she had a feeling.

“To finally win is really great,” she said after besting Lauren Timpf of Macomb 2-up in the final match of the 110th Michigan Women’s Amateur Championship presented by Carl’s Golfland on July 24 at Oakland University’s Golf & Learning Center in Rochester.

“I had a feeling about this week because I was playing pretty good this summer.”

Boczar, who is 22 and recently completed her college golf career at Baylor University, made the golf numbers work for her in a tight, well-played final match against the 19-yearold Timpf, who will be a junior on Purdue University’s golf team.

Timpf, the stroke-play medalist and top seed for match play, said Boczar simply had a better golf game in the final match.

“I wasn’t hitting it close enough; I guess overall, I wasn’t as sharp as I was earlier in the week,” she said. “She had better looks at birdie than I did, and she made a few more than I did. She’s really an amazing player and a great putter. I expected all of her putts to go in.”

Boczar, whose name will be inscribed on the historic Patti Shook Boice Trophy, said she felt she was in control of her golf

“I was able to be confident and come out here and have some fun. ... My mom was out here every day. I had great support. It was just an awesome week.”

—Bridget Boczar, winner of the 110th Michigan Women’s Amateur Championship

ball through the final match.

“The pins were tough today, so sometimes it was really just about making par,” she said.

“Earlier in the week, I shot 6-under in the first round and it was easy to make birdies. They were easier pins, and there was less wind. Today, the conditions were just tough. I really felt like I made a lot of quality golf shots.”

Boczar also had a close match in the morning semifinal. She made a critical birdie on Hole 16 and held off Elise Fennell of Kentwood and Central Michigan University, 1-up. Fennell, in the final four for three consecutive years, fell to the eventual champion for the third year in a row.

In the other semifinal, Timpf had a slim lead for the final 12 holes of her 2-and-1 win over Grace Slocum of Traverse City and the

University of Wisconsin.

The championship match was also tight from the start, and both players were under par in the end (Boczar 3-under, Timpf 2-under).

Neither player had more than a 1-up lead through the first 17 holes. Timpf made consecutive birdies on holes 11 and 12 to take a 1-up lead, but then Boczar won 13 with a par and 14 with a birdie to take a 1-up lead. They traded pars on 15, 16, and 17, and then Boczar closed it out with a 10-foot birdie putt on 18.

Boczar, a two-time GAM Women’s Championship winner who played her first two years of college golf at Oakland University, said familiarity with the course helped.

“I was able to be confident and come out here and have some fun,” she said. “My brother Jack caddied for me today. My sister Grace was here yesterday. My mom [Roxanne] was out here every day. I had great support. It was just an awesome week.”

She was next headed to the U.S. Women’s Amateur and then back to Baylor to finish her education. She’ll graduate in December with degrees in math and philosophy.

“I’m not sure what I’m going to do once I have my degrees,” she said, “but golf will always be part of what I do as either a professional or an amateur.”

“It means so much to win this. I haven’t won a GAM event before, and it’s really nice to win one, but also because I’m leaving [the U.S.]. It’s a good way to finish.”

—Sixtine Charnelet, winner of the 48th Michigan Girls’ Junior Amateur Championship

“I haven’t won a GAM event before, and it’s really nice to win one, but also because I’m leaving. It’s a good way to finish, and it’s match play. I love match play.”

Charnelet, who was born in France, has lived with her family around the world, including in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates and in South Africa. Her family has lived in Bloomfield Hills for the last three years, and she played on the Cranbrook girls’ golf team.

48th Michigan Girls’ Junior Amateur Championship

Sixtine Charnelet of Bloomfield Hills clinches the title at Forest Akers West

Sixtine Charnelet of Bloomfield Hills, and soon to be Paris, was in trouble at the turn in the final match of the 48th Michigan Girls’ Junior Amateur Championship on June 25. Her opponent, 12-year-old Lilo Tsai of Ann Arbor, the surprise of the tournament, had just chipped in on No. 9 for a birdie and a 3-up lead at Forest Akers West Golf Course in East Lansing.

“I just battled through,” said the 15-year-old Charnelet, who rallied with a 3-under back nine for a 2-up win in what will be her last GAM tournament because her family was scheduled to move back to

her native France soon after.

“I didn’t play very good on the front nine, and [Tsai] is so consistent with making pars, but I started making putts on the back nine,” Charnelet said.

She made a 25-footer on the par-3 No. 10 and was 2-down. Then she made a 10-footer on No. 13 and was just 1-down, and she finally tied the match by dropping a 20-footer for birdie on No. 15.

Things happened quickly after that. She went 1-up on 16 when Tsai made bogey. They tied the par-5 17th, and then Charnelet closed it out with a 6-foot slider for par on No. 18.

“It means so much to win this,” she said.

In addition to having her name inscribed on the Wright Memorial Trophy for the victory, she also received a USGA exemption into the U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship July 13-18. Her family worked out a way for her to play in the tournament, despite it being a continent away from their new home.

“I do plan to keep playing golf and hopefully get the chance to come back to the U.S. to play college golf,” Charnelet said. “I would really like that to happen.”

During her trophy ceremony speech, Charnelet thanked her mental coach, Ian Martin of Brighton, who was in the gallery.

Charnelet said one of the things they worked on was how to approach the last few holes of a tournament.

“It’s exactly what I did today,” she said. “I accepted that there was going to be stress and that there were going to be moments when the shots were not very good. You have to accept it, enjoy that you are playing, and play the best you can.”

Charnelet earned her spot in the afternoon title match with a 5-and-4 win over McKenzie Stevens of Northville.

Tsai, the youngest stroke-play medalist in the tournament’s history, beat Saisha Patil of Okemos 2 and 1. Patil was the runner-up in the 2025 championship.

Like Charnelet in the overall division, Belen Berishaj of Birmingham came from behind to win the 15-and-under championship.

Hannah Kim of Troy was 2-up through 14 holes, but Berishaj won the 14th hole, finally tied the match with a 30-foot birdie putt on the 17th, and then won No. 18 with a par to take the title 1-up.

“I knew if I stayed focused, something good would happen,” Berishaj said. “It’s match play, and really anything can happen.”

Investing in Golf

Big changes are ahead at Egypt Valley, Kingsley Club, Island Resort & Casino, and Pine Trace

/ BY GREG JOHNSON

Golf Association of Michigan member golf clubs and courses continue to invest in their properties as the golf industry continues on its path of recent success.

Following is a rundown of significant changes and enhancements being undertaken across the state.

EGYPT VALLEY COUNTRY CLUB

A $9.5 million project to enhance both the Ridge and Valley golf courses at Egypt Valley Country Club in Ada is underway in the hands of golf course architect Chris Wilczynski, who formerly worked with the original architecture firm of Arthur Hills/

Steve Forrest and Associates.

Starting in spring 2026, the first phase involved irrigation system improvements, including modernizing the infrastructure to support course conditioning and long-term sustainability.

Bunker restorations are also being undertaken with plans to elevate strategic and visual presentation of the courses.

The club says Wilczynski is charged with ensuring the enhancements preserve the integrity of the original design while introducing subtle changes. Some expanded fairway approaches, improvements for better green visibility, and reimagined bunkering will be part of the process.

“These enhancements represent both a respect for our history and a vision for the future,” said Egypt Valley President Troy Schrock in a club press release. “Our goal is to ensure that Egypt Valley continues to deliver an exceptional golf experience while remaining a leader in championship-caliber play in West Michigan.”

The courses will remain partially open throughout construction, and Egypt Valley plans to continue to serve the broader community by hosting nonprofit tournaments that support local organizations and charitable initiatives.

“This ongoing commitment is complemented by the Club’s deep golf heritage

Golf Association of Michigan member golf clubs and courses continue to invest in their properties as the golf industry continues on its path of recent success.

dating back to its founding in 1921, and its reputation as a premier venue for notable events,” the press release stated.

In addition to hosting the Champions Tour’s Farmers Charity Classic for a decade, the club has also held the 2010 U.S. Junior Amateur, two Michigan Amateur Championships, a Michigan Women’s Amateur Championship, and multiple Michigan PGA Professional Championships.

KINGSLEY CLUB

The owner and operator of Kingsley Club south of Traverse City, Escalante Golf, is adding a second golf course and a clubhouse to its acclaimed property, and

renowned designers Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw (of Coore & Crenshaw) are completing the $40 million project.

Escalante Golf said in a press release that when complete, Kingsley Club will offer one of golf’s most fun and architecturally compelling 36-hole experiences and that the project reinforces the company’s commitment to preserving the club’s minimalist spirit while enhancing the overall member experience. Escalante, which acquired Kingsley Club in 2022, owns and operates multiple properties in 17 states.

The new 18-hole course will be located on a newly acquired 520-acre parcel southeast of the existing property and feature fescue playing surfaces, native grasses, and minimal land disturbance in keeping with the philosophy that defines the current Kingsley Club brand and Coore & Crenshaw’s design portfolio. The walkable course routing will also include a 19th “bye hole” that returns golfers to the clubhouse after the first six holes.

Construction is underway. Limited preview play is anticipated in late 2028, and a full opening is planned for the 2029 season.

“This is a rare opportunity to create a very special course in a region renowned for superb golf,” said David McDonald, president of Escalante Golf, in the press release.

Kingsley’s new course is expected to play at par 72 and a maximum of 7,200 yards. The new course will complement the club’s existing Mike DeVries-designed course, which opened in 2001 and is currently ranked among Golf Magazine’s Top 100 courses in the U.S.

Escalante has also broken ground on a 4,000-square-foot clubhouse. It will replace the retrofitted construction trailer that welcomed Kingsley Club members and guests for more than two decades. It is expected to open in 2027.

ISLAND RESORT & CASINO

Island Resort & Casino near Escanaba has completed a new nine-hole course, and preview play has started, with a full opening planned in 2027.

Named the Cedar Course — and also dubbed Kishki, the word for “cedar” in the Potawatomi language — the new nine-hole course was designed by architect Paul Albanese and features several nods to golden age architecture and famous template holes.

The golf resort currently has two highly regarded 18-hole courses, Sweetgrass and Sage Run, both ranked among Michigan’s best public-access courses by Golfweek. Albanese also designed both of those courses.

The Cedar Course is playing to a maximum yardage of 3,445 yards and par 36. It is designed on terrain less steep than Sage Run and yet offers more elevation changes than Sweetgrass.

“We’re actually adding a third course due to customer demand,” said Island Resort General Manager Tony Mancilla in a press release. “We’re often booked up on Sweetgrass and Sage Run, especially in the mornings. Cedar gives guests more access to great golf — when they want it.”

PINE TRACE GOLF CLUB

After two years of renovation that started in September 2024 and included a complete closure of the course, Pine Trace Golf Club reopened its gates this summer. Golfers are finding rebuilt greens and bunkers along with new cart paths, regrassed fairways, a reconstructed practice facility, and a new irrigation system.

A special-events venue is scheduled to open next spring.

The “new” Pine Trace offers five tee options on each hole and a layout that plays to 6,574 yards maximum, as well as to 3,941 yards to engage golfers of lower skill levels.

The management team at Pine Trace executed what they call a multimillion-dollar total infrastructure overhaul while still honoring the core beauty and architecture of the original Arthur Hills design.

Michael Bylen, owner and operator of Pine Trace, said the goal was to elevate the overall guest experience and reestablish Pine Trace as a leader in public golf in metro Detroit.

Pine Trace first opened in Rochester Hills in 1989 and is a sister course to Shepherd’s Hollow Golf Club in Clarkston and Cherry Creek Golf Club in Shelby Township.