Michigan Links Digital Edition May, 2026

Strength in Community

A YEAR AFTER THE CRASH,

Dear Fellow GAM Members,

As I begin my term as president of the Golf Association of Michigan, I am honored to serve an organization that means so much to me and to so many across our state.

My path to golf was not a traditional one. I grew up playing hockey and baseball and came to the game later than most. But once I found it, I was drawn in quickly. As is true of many golfers, the more I played, the more I wanted to improve and compete.

Along the way, I got to know the volunteer referees who supported our competitions. I came to appreciate not just their knowledge of the rules but their presence — steady, fair, and always there when needed. That appreciation is what led me to get involved and give back to the game of golf through the GAM.

Today, one of the most meaningful parts of that experience is seeing how much it matters. It is not uncommon for players to invite officials to join them for dinner after a tournament, simply to say thank you. That kind of respect says a lot about our game.

“Golf has always been more than a game. It is a vehicle for connection, for character, and for community. I have seen firsthand how the game brings people together.”

—Dan Longeway, GAM president

Referees often try to stay out of the way — almost hidden unless they are needed. But experienced players understand their value. They know those officials are there to help, to apply the rules properly, and to ensure fairness for everyone in the field. That shared understanding is part of what gives the game its integrity.

Some of my favorite moments in golf now are the rounds I play with my grandson. Like a lot of us, he would prefer a perfect lie every time. But that is not how the game works, and it is not where the learning happens.

We talk about playing the ball as it lies and not always taking the easy way out. Often, it is the bad lie or the unusual situation that becomes the best lesson. We stop, look up the rule, and work through it together. Those are the moments that stay with you.

That same spirit carries over to the first tee at our championships. When I am serving as a starter, I like to

ask players a one-question rules quiz before they begin. Many of them have come to expect it, and I think they enjoy the challenge. It is a simple reminder that the game asks something of all of us — to know it, respect it, and play it the right way.

One of the things I value most about golf in Michigan is the strength of our club relationships. From private clubs to public courses and from staff professionals to volunteers, the GAM exists because of the partnership we share with each of you. Those relationships are built on trust, respect, and a shared commitment to serving golfers in the right way.

Golf has always been more than a game. It is a vehicle for connection, for character, and for community. I have seen firsthand how the game brings people together and creates opportunities that extend far beyond the course.

As we look ahead, I am excited to work alongside our dedicated staff and volunteers to continue strengthening that sense of community across Michigan.

Thank you for your continued support of the GAM and for the role you play in making golf in Michigan so special.

Here’s to a great season ahead. I’ll be on the first tee, and I hope to see you there.

Warm regards,

Dan Longeway President, Golf Association of Michigan

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The Governor Up North

Iron Mountain resident Jean Constantini represents U.P. golfers as a leader in the GAM

BY TERRY MOORE

Faces of the GAM

Born and raised in Iron Mountain, Jean Constantini checks off a number of boxes as a governor of the GAM helping to represent Upper Peninsula golfers. She started playing golf before she turned 10 at Pine Grove Country Club, home to one of the oldest courses in the U.P. “I had to keep up with my brothers; it was ‘If you can’t beat them, join them,’” Constantini says.

Her golf game improved as she played throughout high school, and she went on to the University of Michigan, where she earned a degree in mechanical engineering. From there, she had career stops in Washington, D.C., and Chicago. “After spending 10 years in Chicago, my husband [Michael] and I decided we wanted a better quality of life,” Constantini says. “So we moved back to Iron Mountain, where Michael is also from. But we had already joined Pine Grove before we moved back.”

Back in her old surroundings, she took on the position of director of technology at Breitung Township Schools. She was also the high school girls’ golf coach. “My perspective was to introduce golf to the girls and encourage them so they’d love the game as I do,” she says.

When asked why she’s enamored with golf, Constantini quickly replies, “There’s no better place to be than on a golf course. And I like competing and enjoy the camaraderie of team events.”

On that note, she’s a tournament player in the Upper Peninsula Ladies’ Golf Association, carries an index of 12.3, and has a personal best low round of 75. “I enjoy playing all the different courses in the U.P., while Pine Grove always hosts the match-play championship,” she says.

recalls. “That’s when I learned about course rating and how important it is for the game.”

“There’s no better place to be than on a golf course. And I like competing and enjoy the camaraderie of team events.”

—Jean Constantini

For her introduction to the GAM, she credits Mark Bultema, then the chair of the GAM’s Course Rating Committee. “I met Mark when he was visiting courses in the U.P. one summer, getting to know the courses and some of the players,” Constantini

Soon after, Constantini was a course rating team member, fully engaged in evaluating a course, its topography, and the factors that make a hole more or less challenging.

Given her engineering background, she’s comfortable with the statistical side of course rating. “Contrary to some people’s thinking [that] it’s subjective, course rating is a very data-driven system,” she says. “It has to be so as to fairly rate and compare courses to one another.”

It’s only appropriate to ask Bultema, a past president of the GAM with a keen eye for recognizing talent, to offer a final word on Constantini.

“Jean’s enthusiasm for course rating and serving the GAM as the governor in the Upper Peninsula has been contagious,” Bultema says. “She has a tremendous vision of the golf community Up North.”

Leading to Excellence

Ken Hartmann wins the Michigan PGA’s Distinguished Service Award for his impact on the GAM

BY GREG JOHNSON

Ken Hartmann, senior director of competitions and USGA services for the Golf Association of Michigan, has been named the 2026 recipient of the Michigan Section PGA’s Distinguished Service Award.

The PGA announced the 13 members who won the section’s annual awards on March 10. The 2026 special award winners will be honored at the President’s Dinner in the fall. The dinner celebrates PGA members who have excelled in their profession as well as those who have volunteered to serve the Michigan Section.

As the Distinguished Service Award winner, Hartmann is being honored as an outstanding individual who displays leadership and humanitarian qualities, including integrity, sportsmanship, and enthusiasm for the game of golf, the Michigan PGA said in a press release.

“Over more than two decades, [Ken] Hartmann has played a key role in elevating the GAM into one of the most respected Allied Golf Associations in the country,” the release said.

“Under his leadership, the GAM’s championship program has grown from a compact schedule into a comprehensive, statewide slate serving men, women, juniors, seniors, and net competitors. Tournament operations have also evolved from a volunteerrun model into a fully professionalized department supported by four full-time staff members and seasonal Boatwright interns.

“Today, the GAM ranks among national leaders in event days and USGA qualifiers, backed by strong participant satisfaction and a deep, well-trained rules volunteer corps. Throughout his career, Hartmann has earned the trust of PGA professionals, GAM volunteers, and players across Michigan — many of whom have worked with him through hosting, competing in, or supporting a GAM championship.”

Hartmann, 54 and starting his 25th golf season with the GAM, says he was surprised to learn he had won the award.

“Over more than two decades, [Ken] Hartmann has played a key role in elevating the GAM into one of the most respected Allied Golf Associations in the country.”

—Michigan Section PGA press release

“I didn’t know I was nominated or being considered,” he says. “I’m definitely honored and still a little shocked in learning my peers think that highly of me.”

GAM Executive Director Chris Whitten was not surprised that Hartmann was selected for the service award.

“I think for almost anyone who has competed in a GAM championship, Ken is probably the first person they think of when they think of the GAM,” he says. “He’s a tremendous representative of what we do, a great leader in his department with exceptionally high standards, and when we get feedback from Michigan golfers, our operation of tournaments sets a high bar nationally.”

Whitten says Hartmann is outstanding at building work relationships.

“It’s invaluable for us to have someone connected to our member clubs that host tournaments, the superintendents and PGA professionals across the state, as well as all the players, rules officials, and our volunteers,” he says. “He has built outstanding relationships with so many people working in golf.”

Faces of the GAM

Home Is Where Golf Is

GAM governor Frank Ervin III picked up the game during his wide-ranging career and now gives back in retirement

BY TERRY MOORE

Looking at Frank Ervin III’s life and background, one could easily say he’s “been around the block.” A GAM governor and rules official, Ervin grew up in Detroit and enlisted in the U.S. Navy, where he served in Vietnam on a guided-missile cruiser. After returning home, he worked at the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office for a spell before starting a long and successful business career. Primarily working for Michelin and Dunlop tire companies, Ervin moved 11 times, including a stint in Cincinnati. But when putting on all those miles, he probably never worried about tread wear!

“It was in Cincinnati when I began playing golf,” says Ervin, who has an adult son, Kevin, with his wife, Jocelyn. “It was a way to meet people and socialize. I love how golf allows you to play with people of different skill levels and still enjoy it. You’re not playing against them, say as in tennis, but really playing against the course and yourself.”

Now retired after his corporate journeys, which include a time working in governmental relations and lobbying, Ervin enjoys the company of his fellow members at Plum Hollow Country Club, where he served as club president in the 2008-2009 season. Among his golf cronies are Jay Hults and Chris Angott, both past presidents of the GAM. “They both encouraged me to get involved with the GAM,” Ervin says.

Soon after receiving that encouragement, Ervin volunteered as a tournament official, spending time

“I love how golf allows you to play with people of different skill levels and still enjoy it. You’re not playing against them, say as in tennis, but really playing against the course and yourself.”

—Frank Ervin III

on the course during various GAM competitions. “Early on, I knew the importance of knowing and interpreting the rules of golf,” he says. “That’s a key asset when you’re on the course as an official.” It helps that Ervin is a fine player, still sporting a 12.5 index in his senior years after once being as low as 3.7.

“One of the advantages of being a member of Plum Hollow is taking personalized instruction and tracking your improvement,” Ervin says. He says he also takes lessons in the winter at a club in Orlando whose director of golf was once his caddie at Plum Hollow.

Ervin has a long history of supporting caddies.

Says Hults: “More than any other Plum Hollow member, Frank has taken a personal interest in the caddie program and has connected very closely with the individual kids.  Frank’s mentorship has helped several of them qualify for the Chick Evans Scholarship.”

As a governor, Ervin serves on several GAM committees, including Championship and Membership. Ervin is not surprised at the GAM’s surge in membership to over 107,000 golfers.

“The GAM, led by Chris Whitten and staff, has expanded the umbrella of the game, articulating what the game is all about to non-private-club golfers,” Ervin says. “There are so many opportunities — besides a Handicap Index — that come with being a GAM member. And it’s economical.”

COMMUNITY STRENGTH IN

A year after the crash, the Charlevoix boys’ golf team reflects on the support and generosity they’ve received and how golf has brought them together

/ BY TONY PAUL

April 27, 2025, was a very bad night for the Charlevoix High School varsity boys’ golf team.

But, interestingly, a whole lot of good followed, especially from the small, tight-knit community in northwest Lower Michigan, as well as from the local and statewide golf community. Countless friends and strangers rallied relentlessly around the Rayders.

Even today — more than a year after a horrific car crash that left the team’s coach fighting for his life, a star golfer and basketball player with significant inju-

ries, and several other players with physical and emotional scars — there still are maroon “Rayder Strong” signs throughout town.

The community hasn’t forgotten what happened, and the coach, his players, and their families will never forget how the community came together for them.

“It kept us alive; it kept us going,” says Doug Drenth, the Charlevoix boys’ golf coach. “Out of so much bad, it showed what good there is in this world. There are still a lot of good people, and it brought us together, and I feel very, very grateful for it.

“It’s amazing. I was overwhelmed. It’s just really special.”

Members of the Charlevoix boys’ golf team — four

“[The community support] kept us alive; it kept us going. Out of so much bad, it showed what good there is in this world. There are still a lot of good people, and it brought us together, and I feel very, very grateful for it.”

—Doug Drenth, Charlevoix High School boys’ golf coach

current players and three graduated players — aren’t overly interested in discussing the particulars of that awful night one year ago, when the team van that Drenth was driving was struck head-on by a driver in a stolen SUV who was being chased by police and crossed over the center line on a two-lane road in Benzie County. The team was on its way to a hotel between rounds of a two-day tournament at Arcadia Bluffs Golf Club.

Drenth, a longtime fixture in the Charlevoix golf community, and his players, current and former, didn’t want any big deal made about their return to the tournament at Arcadia Bluffs in late April. They have been striving every day to get better and to get back to normal.

who they are, but they know who I am,” Gaffney says of all the support, gifts, and cards. He estimates he received more than 100 cards — lifting the spirts of a boy whose father has never heard him say, “Why me?”

But the team is willing and eager to talk about the immediate and overwhelming response to the accident, in which everyone in the Charlevoix van survived — Drenth and Joe Gaffney, now a senior, suffered significant injuries, and all eight people in the van were hospitalized — while the other driver died.

“It’s really incredible,” says Gaffney, 18, who, like Drenth, spent weeks in the hospital, before spending months in physical therapy. “Obviously, I wasn’t able to see a lot of it in the hospital. But it’s just pretty incredible to think about the amount of letters and cards I was sent, and gift baskets.”

One person gave Gaffney the thoughtful gift of a soldering kit, which stuck with him. He once had hopes of playing college basketball, but because of the extent of his injuries, he now has turned his attention to a civil engineering degree at North Carolina State University.

“Most of the people, you don’t even know

“It makes me grateful to grow up in a community like Charlevoix.”

On April 28, 2025, one day after the accident, as doctors were trying to save Drenth’s leg and piece back together Gaffney’s hip, a GoFundMe was created by board members of the Charlevoix County Junior Golf Association. Drenth, in addition to being the golf and crosscountry coach at Charlevoix High School, is the executive director of the Charlevoix County Junior Golf Association and clubhouse manager at the municipal Charlevoix Golf Club.

Club, Charlevoix Country Club, Belvedere Golf Club, and Dunmaglas Golf Course.

The money largely went toward covering medical expenses, and it was pivotal, particularly for the lengthy and expensive physical therapy for Drenth and Gaffney. Drenth’s son Maxwell, 17, and graduated player Brady Warchol also spent time in physical therapy in Florida. Not all of that PT was covered by insurance, including travel and hotel expenses. It’s been a long road to recovery; there’s still a ways to go for Drenth, even though he’s walking again, and for Gaffney, even though he’s returned to the basketball court and golf course. But the road would be longer without the generosity of others.

$200,000+ WAS RAISED FOR THE BOYS’ GOLF TEAM THROUGH GOFUNDME

“That wouldn’t happen without the community; ... it was all picked up by the GoFundMe,” Aaron Gaffney, Joe’s dad, says of the PT at a specialized facility in Florida. “It was more than Charlevoix. It just seemed to strike the right nerve in a lot of people, and people all over Michigan and the country.

“The golf community in general really came together.”

More than $200,000 was raised through the GoFundMe, with more than 1,000 people donating to the drive, in addition to the support from local restaurants and businesses, including all of Charlevoix’s golf courses: Charlevoix Golf

The seven boys in the accident last year were current team members Gaffney; Maxwell Drenth; Bryce Boss, 17; and Landen Whisler, 16, as well as graduated players Warchol, Emmett Bergmann, and Jackson Crouse, all 19. Golf, in ways big and small, has bonded the boys. Maxwell Drenth and Whisler are active members of the Golf Association of Michigan’s thriving

Youth on Course initiative, Gaffney and Crouse are former members, and Bergmann is a current GAM member. Boss is a member at Belvedere. The three graduated players have gone on to college, though Warchol and Bergmann did return to Arcadia Bluffs this spring to watch their former teammates compete.

They saw Gaffney shoot a 78 in Round 1 on Arcadia’s South Course; in Round 2, Boss led the way with 81. The team didn’t win the tournament — they had barely practiced outdoors by that point because of all the bad weather Up North, though they did win their first tournament of the year in Kalkaska a week before heading to Arcadia — but they got to the finish the tournament. They didn’t get to a year ago. And they proudly represented the community that has done so much for them.

“It meant a lot,” says Maxwell Drenth, whose hand was broken in the accident. “Ever since the first day of the accident, people were coming down to the hospital with donations, ... trying to help. ... It was awesome.”

Says Boss: “Everywhere you go, people are doing amazing things for the team.”

Whisler agrees. “Just to see the commitment and generosity of everybody, it was encouraging,” he says.

The community helped the Charlevoix boys’ golf team heal, physically and emotionally, while sports, golf especially, have helped them return to a sense of normalcy. Golf has also helped bring them closer together, say the boys and their coach — bonded by more than just one awful night.

Their golf coach, too, has been a major source of inspiration for the boys. Some of the boys are soft spoken, but none of them suffer any shortage of words when asked to describe Drenth, 62, whom they refer to as a “winner,” a “hero,” a role model. He’s been a relentlessly positive person, before and after the accident. They love Drenth, and he loves them. He worries about them, too, mostly about the scars less visible to the naked eye — the emotional ones.

Through the good times and the bad, Drenth plans to be there for them always. He’s a lifelong Charlevoix resident, and coming together and being there for one another is what people do in Charlevoix. The Charlevoix boys’ golf team knows that all too well, and they’re more than happy to talk about that.

“I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to thank the community adequately. ... How do we thank all of these people? We’re going to keep trying,” says Doug Drenth, who, among all the well-wishes he’s received, has heard from countless former students he’s taught and coached throughout the decades. One year later, Drenth continues to hear from them. “I just want them to know, they made a difference. What they did made a difference.

“The outpouring of love and support, ... it keeps you going in life. And I’m forever grateful.”

The returning members of the 2025

The Future Is Bright

Meet the GAM’s five 2026 summer Boatwright interns, four of whom are women

BY GREG JOHNSON

Women have been a growing segment of new golfers in recent years, and it has followed that more women are seeking careers in golf.

A foursome of women — Peyton Donovan of Rochester; Sara Linsdeau of St. Clair Shores; Sawyer McGee of Rochelle, Illinois; and Emily Sherman of Clarkston — will serve as USGA Boatwright interns this summer for the Golf Association of Michigan.

Max Anderson of Northville will be the lone male intern.

Each year, the USGA’s P.J. Boatwright Internship Program funds interns, traditionally through grants, at associations like the GAM across the country. The program delivered $2.1 million in grants to allied golf associations in 2025 and supported 219 interns around the country. Of those interns, 42% were women.

Daniel Magen, the USGA Boatwright Internship Program administrator, says the GAM having four women among five interns is unique for a single association but also a clear reflection of what is happening in the program and in golf.

“The growth of women in golf, and people of color, has changed in all the areas that used to be largely dominated by white males,” Magen says. “I think it means the associations like the GAM are gaining new perspectives in what they do, especially in marketing to a changing audience as well.”

GAM Executive Director Chris Whitten says the GAM worked to find the best candidates.

“We have one who worked with the AJGA [American Junior Golf Association], one who is an Evans Scholar, one who is completing her MBA at Kent State, so we get to choose that kind of accomplished people,” he says. “They will be a great help to us. We have found staff members through the Boatwright program. It works, and I like to think [that] at the same time they make us better, we teach them things to make them better and build their opportunities for careers in golf.”

Here’s a look at the five interns:

PEYTON DONOVAN, 22, is working on her Master of Business Administration at Kent State University in Ohio.

A former high school golfer at Stoney Creek High, she has worked with awardwinning teaching professional Kelly Kuhlman at the Twin Lakes Golf Academy for

the last two summers.

She has helped firsthand during Kuhlman’s instruction programs and also assisted with managing social media and marketing the programs. She will be interning with the GAM’s course rating program.

“I’ve grown up in golf, played varsity in high school, and have always loved the idea of working on golf,” she says. “Working with Kelly in golf was great, and I’m very excited to get this opportunity to learn about the other parts of the game with the GAM.”

The GAM’s course rating crews rate about 70 courses each summer with volunteers from across the state.

SARA LINSDEAU, 19, is from St. Clair Shores and is currently an Evans Scholar at Michigan State University, a result of her summer role as a caddie at the Country Club of Detroit.

She says that having seen the caddie side of golf, she’s interested to learn more about the other parts of the industry.

“As a caddie, I carried the bag, and with this internship, I will learn about the setup of tournaments, the behind-the-scenes process, what goes into tournaments from the business side,” she says. “I’m exploring a future in golf 100%. The philanthropy part of golf, helping gain access for those who might not be able to afford or find opportunities to play the game, is of great interest to me.”

Last summer, Linsdeau was an intern with a wealth management company and met a USGA leader who informed her of the Boatwright program.

“I did some research, talked with Boatwright interns around the country, and that led to finding out about the opportunity with the Golf Association of Michigan, which is perfect for me,” she says.

SAWYER MCGEE, 23, grew up in Rochelle, Illinois, and is a graduate of Carroll University in Waukesha, Wisconsin. She worked with the American Junior Golf Association as a tournament operations intern last summer.

She saw a GAM job posting, and that led her to a Boatwright Internship posting.

“I studied sports administration in school and worked through a few [sports], hockey and baseball, and was exposed to golf through the AJGA last summer,” she says. “I fell in love with golf, and it became a different path in sports for me to follow.”

McGee was part of the AJGA teams that conducted two tournament stops in Michigan last summer. She is looking forward to learning more about Michigan golf, too.

“[The Boatwright program] works, and I like to think [that] at the same time they make us better, we teach them things to make them better and build their opportunities for careers in golf.”

—Chris Whitten, GAM executive director

42% WOMEN INTERNS IN 2025

$2.1M TOTAL PROGRAM FUNDING IN 2025

“I’m excited to learn as much as I can, and I really do think I will stay in golf as I continue forward with my career,” she says.

EMILY SHERMAN, 19, is from Clarkston and just closed out her first year at Michigan State. She plans to study advertising management with a minor in sports business management.

Her role with the GAM will be hybrid; she’ll work with the tournament staff part of the time and the communications staff part of the time.

Formerly an editor of her high school yearbook, she is interested in learning the communications roles at the GAM as well as how the tournaments are conducted. She also played on her high school golf and lacrosse teams.

“I’ve been interested in a career in golf for a long time,” she says. “I’ve worked at Oakhurst [Golf & Country Club] and at Shepherd’s Hollow. I’ve enjoyed the experience, and my bosses are the ones who pointed out the Boatwright program as something I should consider.”

219 NATIONWIDE INTERNS IN 2025

MAX ANDERSON, 21, is a junior at Michigan State majoring in communications and minoring in business.

He is from Northville and considering a career in sports — especially in golf, a sport in which his father, Mike, is a successful competitor, including being a GAM Mid-Amateur champion and a past Player of the Year.

“It’s been awesome as his son to see him be successful in the game and to get to be on his bag for some of his great tournaments,” Anderson says.

Anderson, who played football and basketball in high school, expects to work with the GAM’s communications staff. He has put more emphasis on his golf game as a college student but says it is a hobby for him.

“I’m not the player my dad is, but I’m ready to do whatever is asked of me at the GAM,” he says. “I hope to get the most out of the opportunity and meet as many people in golf as I can. The game of golf includes some awesome people to learn from.”

ALWAYS STRIVING

Kalamazoo CC, Western G&CC, and Twin Beach CC continue significant projects

/ BY GREG JOHNSON

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

Kalamazoo Country Club, Western Golf & Country Club in Redford, and Twin Beach Country Club in West Bloomfield are in the midst of significant projects.

Here is a look at what’s to come:

KALAMAZOO COUNTRY CLUB

An extensive construction plan is on schedule as the 2026 golf season opens.

A new short course, officially named The Eleven, will open for limited play this spring and be watched closely through the season as it matures.

The new 18-hole championship course on the site of the original club course is on target to debut next spring. Architect Andrew Green and his team returned this month to continue their work.

General Manager Tim Rayman says the club is ecstatic with the construction results on the new Golf Performance Center, the

clubhouse and family activity center, the indoor racket facility, and the resort-style pool area. Work will continue this spring on the new outdoor racket area.

The Eleven short course, which had primary construction last fall, was looking good coming out of winter, according to Rayman, and recently, the grounds crew was able to roll the greens and make their first cuts of the season.

“We expect the need to limit the amount of rounds we can play on The Eleven at the beginning of the season,” Rayman says. “It’s not ideal, but we must ensure we take care of the course in Year 1. With construction concluding on the property, and without the championship golf course available for our usual leagues and tournaments, it will be interesting to see how the members utilize the club in 2026. While KCC will still have significant programming, it will feel more like a social club in Year 1.”

Last June, the club announced the plans for the short course and new championship course with a goal of becoming the premier golf destination in southwest Michigan.

The 11-hole short course offers an approachable and strategic playing experience for golfers of all skill levels and is divided into two distinct loops. It is designed to encourage casual, creative rounds and fastpaced play for practice and family fun.

“It’s the biggest golf course project in our 96-year history. Our membership overwhelmingly approved it.”

—Jim McGuigan, general manager of Twin Beach Country Club

The new 18-hole course is being crafted to host top amateur tournaments.

“This is a milestone not just for KCC but for southwest Michigan golf,” Rayman says. “We’re creating a championship-caliber facility that honors the land and will elevate our club for generations to come.”

WESTERN GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB

For its 100th anniversary, Western Golf & Country Club will not only host several events to mark the occasion but debut a new irrigation system that is being completed this spring.

Thielen Turf Irrigation Inc. has been doing great work, says Western General Manager Jason Iding.

“We also have been making a lot of course improvements and will continue based on our master plan created by Andrew Green,” he says.

Iding, who has served the club since starting as a caddie 40 years ago, also reports that restoration and a significant cleanout of the riverbanks, including tree removal to help turf conditions, are very

noticeable and will provide better views across the course.

Green’s plan and the work in progress have adhered to the original design by Donald Ross.

“Most courses are built in a square box, but we are a long, horizontal property with only two holes [Nos. 10 and 18] that the river doesn’t bisect,” he says. “Trees and bushes along the river being removed make it much more visible, but our Ross course will still play its traditional way.”

Meanwhile, the members have a handful of themed events to attend, including a Gatsby Gala, a Hickory Stick Open tournament, and more to commemorate each era of the club’s history.

“It’s going to be a busy, fun year at Western,” Iding says.

TWIN BEACH COUNTRY CLUB

Twin Beach is embarking this spring on a major irrigation renovation project that will include drainage enhancements.

Thielen Turf Irrigation Inc. is completing the work, and Twin Beach General

Manager Jim McGuigan is excited.

“It’s the biggest golf course project in our 96-year history,” he says. “Our membership overwhelmingly approved it, and it will take place over six to eight weeks doing a hole at a time. The cost is about $1.4 million, but it’s needed. We had a dated system with inadequate coverage of the course. We’ve had to do a lot of hand-watering.”

McGuigan says the new system will provide expansive coverage, use less electricity, serve the environment better in terms of water usage, and save maintenance staff time for other work on the course.

Twin Beach has nine holes — including two double greens — but also 18 different tees played from four different tee positions for a variety of different angles to the greens and what amounts to an 18-hole experience between 5,066 and 6,299 yards.

The original holes were built in 1928 and ’29 and opened in the middle of the Great Depression. Developer Frank Salter did considerable work on the course and real estate development in the area in the 1950s.

HOW WELL DO YOU KNOW THE RULES OF GOLF? ANSWERS ON PAGE 6

1. In stroke play, a player changes balls on the putting green (substitutes their favorite putting ball for the original ball played from the tee), holes out with the substituted ball, and plays from the next tee. What penalty, if any, does the player incur?

A. The player gets no penalty; the procedure is not a breach of the Rules.

B. The player gets a one-stroke penalty.

C. The player gets the general penalty.

D. The player is disqualified.

2. A player starts the round with 14 clubs. The shaft of the player’s club breaks while the player is making a stroke. Which of the following is false?

A. The player can replace the broken club with a new club.

B. The player can repair the club by getting a new shaft from the pro shop.

C. The player cannot use the club in its damaged condition because it is nonconforming.

D. The player cannot borrow a club from their partner.

3. A player is taking relief from an immovable obstruction in the fairway. When they drop the ball after determining the relief area, it strikes the turf within the relief area, accidentally deflects off their foot, and comes to rest in the relief area. What is the correct ruling?

A. The player must play the ball as it lies and incurs no penalty.

B. The player must redrop and incurs no penalty.

C. The player must play the ball as it lies and incurs a one-stroke penalty.

D. The player must redrop and incurs a one-stroke penalty.

4. In which of these situations is a player allowed to lift and clean their ball not lying on the putting green before returning it to play?

A. When lifting it to see if it is cut or cracked.

B. When lifting it to take relief from a sprinkler head on the fringe.

C. When lifting it because it interferes with another player’s stroke.

D. When lifting it to see whether it is embedded.

5. During a stroke-play competition, a player holes out a 2-inch putt using the grip end of their club. What is the ruling?

A. The player gets no penalty and must proceed to the next hole.

B. To avoid penalty, the player must replace the ball and complete their next stroke in the proper manner.

C. The stroke made counts, the player is assessed a two-stroke penalty, and they must proceed to the next hole.

D. The player is assessed a two-stroke penalty. They must also replace the ball and complete the hole by making a legal stroke. If they fail to do so and instead tee off on the next hole, they are disqualified.

New and Improved

The reopening of the Oakland Hills Country Club clubhouse marks a significant moment not only for members but for the broader Michigan golf community. After the devastating 2022 fire, the club has completed a remarkable rebuild as part of its Next 100 Project, restoring a central piece of its identity while preparing for the future. The new clubhouse, which welcomed members this spring, blends classic architectural elements with modern amenities and overlooks the renowned South Course, reaffirming Oakland Hills’ place among the game’s premier venues. Amid this milestone, the Golf Association of Michigan is especially proud to be part of the club’s next chapter. The GAM hosted its Annual Meeting at the newly rebuilt club-

house on May 6, offering attendees an early opportunity to experience the revitalized facility. With seven future championships awarded by the USGA over the next 25 years — including the upcoming 2029 U.S. Women’s Amateur — Oakland Hills is poised to remain a cornerstone of championship golf for decades to come.

Contact Kelli Marquette to learn about corporate opportunities or availability near you

For the GAM, gathering at Oakland Hills represents more than just a meeting location — it is a celebration of tradition, recovery, and continued excellence in Michigan golf. The restored clubhouse stands as a symbol of the club’s legacy and future, making it a fitting and inspiring setting for the association’s annual convening.

CRYSTAL HONORS

FROM GOLF DIGEST AND THE MGCA

MOUNTAIN RIDGE — Michigan Golf Course Association’s 2025 course of the year and home of the Michigan PGA Women’s Open — and Betsie Valley are both rated  by Golf Digest. Along with the practice facilities (and PGA instructors) at the Golf Learning Center, the courses are just steps from the resort village’s exceptional accommodations. Book your Crystal golf getaway now by calling 855-990-0117. GAM members qualify for a special discount.