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JUNE 2021

BRYSON IS BACK: with PHIL, RICKIE and BUBBA

July 1-4

Michigan Makes World Top 100 Golf List, Twice Advice for Parents of Junior Golfers ‘My Boyhood Hero Jack Nicklaus is Real’

COMING SOON: Michigan Open LPGA Tour x 2

American Dunes

When a Childhood Hero Turns Out to Be Real

Behind the scenes at American Dunes By Tom Lang Risk-reward is an often-overused phrase in golf. No risk, no reward of a possible eagle or short birdie putt – which is not even on the same planet compared to the risk of transforming a local popular golf course and turning it into a national golfing beacon to draw people to Michigan to help the families of fallen soldiers – which is exactly what Lt. Col. Dan Rooney did with his new best friend, Jack Nicklaus, as the pair developed the highlypraised American Dunes in Grand Haven during the past three years. “It was something I wanted to be a part of, it was that simple,” Nicklaus said at the grand opening press conference May 2. Yet, creating American Dunes – to become a huge source of funding

for the non-profit group Folds of Honor to provide scholarships for children of fallen soldiers, which Rooney founded and developed – from a previous ‘bowling alley’ course where golfers tunneled through the thick trees on both sides of every fairway, into a wide open, wind-swept dunes golfing experience, was nothing simple at all.

ambition … and you come to a day like this everyone is like, ‘oh wow, look at what happened. This story is unbelievable, it’s a honeymoon.’ But, it was hard,” Rooney said after a long pause, literally as his shoulders slumped a little and he let out a small sigh, as if most of the weight finally disappeared from his broad shoulders that day.

“You know, when you jump into a project of this

Rooney, Nicklaus and their multiple supporters Continues on next page >>

Michigan Golf Journal American Dunes

beyond ‘how are you today?’ The second are nice friends you can eat dinner with and hang out and help a little if needed. But it’s level three he is feeling blessed to have reached with both Jack and Barbara Nicklaus.

are all grateful for the huge words of congratulations from literally thousands of people tied into Folds of Honor, or who golf, or media that cover such stories. But truly, getting there was not all fun and games. “I’m not a big guy to say, ‘what have you accomplished, but more of what have you overcome.’ I am so proud of what we overcame, from the first meeting at the Bear’s Club to where we are today,” Rooney said. “We’ve been flying into the wind and he’d (Nicklaus) always tell me that ‘greatness doesn’t come along very often, and for this place to be great we’ve got to push’,” as Nicklaus nodded his head in full agreement while sitting next to Rooney. But as Rooney told me in a personal interview in late May, taking the nervous risk to approach his ‘boyhood hero’ was just the start (and this comes from a U.S. fighter pilot). Rooney knows human nature enough to have said it’s a huge gamble to get to know your boyhood hero because they

are the ones who could let you down the most – based on what could be your inflated perceived dreams and vision. Nicklaus never let Rooney down. In contrast, Nicklaus was the rock for Rooney. “One of the coolest, most meaningful journeys of my life,” Rooney said, “and it’s taking shape in a really powerful way.” Rooney went on to say he recognizes three levels of human relationships. The first is surface interaction with people you like that does not go very deep

“There’s Level 3, the deepest relationships in your life,” Rooney told me. “The gift. And I describe my relationship with Mr. Nicklaus (whom he calls Jack in private) as a level one starting out, like most of us; great admiration … we know his persona, but we really don’t know him. And to some of the same extent, Barbara. “Yet, on this three-year journey, I got to go to what I call Level 3 with the greatest golfer of all time and my boyhood hero. It’s just such a gift and I’m truly grateful to the good Lord.” Getting to Level 3 never happens if there are no struggles, all smooth sailing he added. “It’s through the struggles, and through the honest conversations,” Rooney

June 2021 www.michigangolfjournal.com

continued. “That’s what the lens or the pen will never capture of American Dunes, is that on this threeyear journey there was great headwind, and great struggle. “We had haters along the way, and in dealing with that I was so afraid when Mr. Nicklaus said yes to do this of anything that would be negative around this. And there were just some bad people involved in this journey, that didn’t want to see (American Dunes) happen. They were stuck in the past, or didn’t like me, or whatever it is. Granted, it was a very small percentage but the message for all of is, ‘haters are going to hate.’ They’re out there, they’re real.” Rooney added that looking back he had a couple people planning to sue him “and I

was so afraid to have this conversation – and that’s when he pulls me under his wing and says ‘Dan, I don’t think I’ve ever done a golf project in my life without somebody trying to sue somebody.’ He added: ‘This stuff happens but we’re together on this, and nobody is going to break us apart.’” Rooney shared his pleasure and his relief that the transformation of the old Grand Haven Golf Club into American Dunes survived despite tough budget issues and storms coming through and taking down more trees, and Covid challenges during construction – and even the threatened lawsuits. “Dan would say ‘I can’t afford some of these things, and I’d tell him, ‘don’t worry, the money will come along,”

Nicklaus said. “You’ve got a real purpose and a really, really good reason you’re doing it. People will help. People like to help. People love what you’re doing and what you’re creating here.’” It didn’t hurt that Nicklaus was so committed to American Dunes he waived his multi-million-dollar design fees. “All of these things that we went through together that were deepening our relationship had we not had the struggle,” Rooney said. “I think that’s true in our marriages (in general life), it’s true in our families. “Everyone’s writing a bright, shining-light story of American Dunes. But the story of humanity pretty much is, that the greatest achievements most often have to come from the places of the greatest resistance and challenge. And through that, we built this amazing, Level 3, totally honest relationship where you can go back and forth with someone and know that person’s never judging you.” We’ll reserve the judgements for the completed golf course – to which this writer gives an A+. MGJ

Michigan Golf Journal

Letter From the Editor

If you have read this far, you saw glimpses of the personal journey of Dan Rooney (from Folds of Honor) and his boyhood hero who became the adult friend, Jack Nicklaus. American Dunes is an incredible creation, evolved from Nicklaus’ sightlines and imagination along with the natural flow of the sand covered dunes near Grand Haven. But none of it would have happened if the pair of visionaries took head on all the challenges and the setbacks

to persevere, just the way anything worth doing in life comes about.

Another story we have can help parents of junior golfers persevere – through the challenging times of learning the game to make sure kids have fun and they aren’t forced to live out the unrealistic parents’ dreams. We’ve also packed into this edition of the magazine reviews of places to play, including Michigan landing two regions on the Top 100

Places to Play in the World, by GolfPass. You’ll also read the background of year 3 of the PGA Tour’s Rocket Mortgage Classic coming July 4th weekend and hear from Golfweek’s senior writer Beth Ann Nichols, who has adopted Michigan as her second home. This and so much more I hope you’ll enjoy. Tom Lang Publisher/Editor

What’s Inside: PGA Tour, Rocket Mortgage Classic

Q&A with Golfweek’s Beth Ann Nichols

Parents: Here is how you develop Junior golfers

Freeways and Fairways

Michigan Players Watch List

Michigan Open Advance

Michigan News and Notes

Top 100 Places to Play in the World

MichiganMortgage Golf JournalClassic Rocket

Rocket Mortgage Classic Again Puts Detroit in National Spotlight

PGA Tour Pros like Mickelson, Day, Fowler, DeChambeau and Watson Soon to Descend on the Motor City By Tom Lang Detroit has garnered attention in recent years for being America’s ‘Comeback City.’ Part of that comeback is supported by the fact Rocket Mortgage was able to draw the PGA Tour to the Motor City in 2019. Although Michigan had hosted excellent pro events for many prior years and decades (i.e. the Buick Open and the Ford Sr. Players Championship), two years ago became the first time in history the PGA Tour stepped inside Detroit city limits to play pro golf. The Rocket Mortgage Classic itself has experienced its own comebacks, the first being the fight to return to competition in 2020 – for its second showing – when

June 2021 www.michigangolfjournal.com

pro golf stopped in its tracks during the early months of the Covid-19 pandemic last spring. Scheduled then for May, the 2020 Rocket Mortgage Classic was shifted to July so it could be one of the first events to return to the Tour’s national schedule, albeit with no fans allowed on site. The 2020 tournament was a huge success as thirdround leader Matthew Wolff battled eventual champion Bryson DeChambeau headto-head in the final round, played across the heralded Donald Ross-designed North Course at Detroit Golf Club, providing for some electric competition. In all, despite no fans on site, but who generously supported the tournament via online donations and sponsor collections, more than $2.7 million in proceeds went to local charities championed by the tournament. Nate Lashley reinvigorated his career when taking the title of the 2019 inaugural tournament. This year, over the July 1-4 Independence Holiday weekend, the Rocket Mortgage Classic will celebrate golf-fan freedom by welcoming fans back on-site in Detroit to watch

and cheer on the likes of players such as tournament defending champ (and U.S. Open champ) Bryson DeChambeau, plus the ageless 6-time major champion Phil Mickelson. Jason Day, Webb Simpson, Bubba Watson and Rickie Fowler are also scheduled

to return, along with Harold Varner III, as the initial committed players in the field. Michiganders will ideally be cheering on Brain Stuard of Jackson (who placed T5 in 2019) and Ryan Brehm of Traverse City, as well as other potential ‘locals’ in the field.

Continues on page 11 >>

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Rocket Mortgage Classic Player exemptions into the full field of 156-golfers were recently announced as Flint native Wille Mack III and Davis Thompson of the University of Georgia, who is the No. 4 ranked amateur in the world. They join the other PGA Tour bombers taking on the tight fairways and slick greens of the DGC North Course – which will also include recentlycommitted players like Mickelson and former Masters champ Patrick Reed, plus Max Homa, Kevin Kisner, and Cameron Champ. Mack made his PGA TOUR debut earlier this year when he received sponsor exemptions to play in the Farmers Insurance Open and the Genesis Invitational. Thompson has made three previous PGA TOUR starts, and also qualified to play in the 2020 U.S. Open via his amateur ranking. After the tournament in 2019, two-time Masters’ winner Watson said: “Detroit. It’s amazing. Gosh, nothing but all the sports and different things that’s happened in this area. Then when you talk about the Ford Museum, where my kids loved, and seeing some of the old history and

different things…the first F-150 (on display at the museum) that was pretty cool to see…so, it’s the history and the things that have come out of this city has been amazing, what I’ve learned. So, to be here to play golf is fun. It’s pretty neat.” Watson has been one of the most consistent supporters of a PGA Tour event in Detroit, so much so that he personally donated $20,000 to the First Tee in SE Michigan and has regularly been involved in the Area 313 Charity Challenge mid-week.

Tickets Now on Sale: A short time ago, on May 27, ticket sales began for general admission. Go to: www. rocketmortgageclassic.com.

“We are thrilled to be able to welcome Michigan’s most passionate golf fans back to the Rocket Mortgage Classic, because no sporting event captures our imagination, or ignites our passion and enthusiasm like one with the presence of fans,” Jason Langwell, Executive Director of the tournament, said in a release. “The tournament extends a big thanks to our city and state government and health officials and the Rocket Mortgage team for working with us to create and approve our robust health and safety plan.”

Black Golfers will be Highlighted by new John Shippen Tournament Coming to Detroit: A new national competition designed to bring attention Continues on next page >>

Rocket Mortgage Classic to, and opportunity for, the best Black golfers across America will be contested in Detroit, June 27-28, also at the Detroit Golf Club. Additionally, a one-hour TV special about THE JOHN SHIPPEN will air on CBS leading into final-round coverage of the Rocket Mortgage Classic on Sunday, July 4. The players – invited from a pool of Black male and female golfers from both the professional ranks and collegiate programs – will be competing to earn an exemption into the PGA Tour Rocket Mortgage Classic for the men, and the LPGA Tour’s Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational for the women (in team format). The tournament is named for the first black professional golfer in U.S. history – John Shippen, Jr. – who first worked in golf as a caddie at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton, New York.

After playing in his first of 6 U.S. Opens in 1896, was hired as the golf professional at the Maidstone Club in East Hampton, New York later that year. Shippen spent most of his working life at Shady Rest Golf Course in Scotch Plains, New Jersey – the first African-American owned and operated golf club in the United States – where he served from 1924-1960. Shippen was bestowed PGA of America membership posthumously in 2009.

Changing The Course: Last year’s early days of the Covid-19 pandemic also triggered a realization for the glaring differences in digital connectivity in the city compared to most other regions. It launched an entirely new way of looking at the charitable resources generated by the tournament: the Changing the Course initiative, where most of the 2020 tournament proceeds were steered. School children’s education and adult job and income searching challenges cropped up the most as ways in which citizens of

Brian Stuard

Detroit are severely lacking in Internet and electronic devices connectivity that keeps them further behind. New this year is a program to support ‘Area 313’ – the threehole stretch of 14-16 at Detroit Golf Club – which tournament officials hope will become ‘the most charitable three holes in golf’ and will help further fund the Changing the Course initiative. The goal is to raise $1 million from fans who want their images prominently displayed on course by donating to the “Faces of Area 313” program. More money can be raised via two more tournament initiatives: • the Area 313 Celebrity Scramble on Tuesday of tournament week, which both Watson and Varner have participated in before. • Rocket Mortgage’s commitment to award certain scores made by all the PGA pros during competition at holes 14 (an eagle will raise $5,000), Hole 15 (a hole in one will generate $10,000) and on Hole 16 (a birdie will raise $5,000). Last year, with 15 eagles on Hole 14, and 63 birdies on 16, the company’s donation reached $385,000. MGJ

For more information on any and all of the opportunities shared in this story, go to: www.rocketmortgageclassic.com

LPGA in Michigan

LPGA Tour in Michigan June and July The Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give returns this year, June 17-20, to continue its tradition of kicking off the summer and feeding hungry families – followed closely by the LPGA’s Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational, which supports a variety of charities in the Midland/Bay City region. “The Meijer LPGA Classic has become a summer tradition for numerous families and its cancellation last year (in 2020) was one of many necessary sacrifices our community made in the battle against COVID-19,” Meijer President & CEO Rick Keyes said in a statement. “We’re excited for its return this year, despite the changes, because it helps our food pantry partners through the Simply Give program.” There will be 5,000 tickets per day available to the general public – roughly one-third of its traditional capacity – to align with

State guidelines around the ongoing pandemic. However, the event will feel very different because the recently updated State mandate did not provide enough time to include the traditional 3-day Grand Taste food event. New in 2021, the tournament will have limited seated concessions areas on course with fare from local restaurants and breweries. Single day tickets will cost $10 apiece and will be sold online on a first come, first served basis; but weekly grounds passes will not be available this year. Visit meijerLPGAclassic.com. At Midland Country Club, the Dow GLBI returns, July 11-17, in its unique twoperson team scoring event. However, event organizers also announced the

cancellation of the Eat Great Food Festival, scheduled for July 11 – 12, 2021, in Bay City. There will still be Eat Great Pop-Up events and the return of the Eat Great Trail at the golf course. Eat Great Trail ticketholders will have access to a variety of menu items on several hospitality decks located throughout the course at Midland Country Club. Beer and wine selections will be available for guests 21 and over. Follow @EatGreatFestival on Instagram and Facebook or online at EatGreatFoodFestival. com for the latest updates. MGJ

Michigan Golf Journal Symetra Tour

Two LPGA Symetra Tour Events in Michigan Kick Off in the U.P. By Tom Lang If the golfing pedigree of Sierra Brooks, Kaitlyn Papp – or Michiganders Sarah White and defending champ (from 2019) Daniela Iacobelli are any indication – the Island Resort Championship at Sweetgrass in the U.P. will be a knock down drag out barn burner of a tournament on the LPGA’s Symetra Tour. Okay, enough of the superlatives. Just know – it is going to be a great event come June 11-13 at one of Michigan’s top-20 courses. “When our players come into Escanaba and Harris, Michigan, they know that they’re in for a treat, and they leave with those comments,” said Tim Kramer, VP of the Symetra Tour. “Just the passion that the folks up there (in U.P.) show towards the event, the red carpet they roll out for our players, and

obviously the quality of the golf course, really make it an LPGA type of experience for our players that they’ll experience at the next level as well. We know at Island Resort we’ll get the best of the best.” Four of the last five Sweetgrass winners are now on the LPGA Tour, where all four named above are stretching for. Iacobelli grew up in Macomb County, while White hails from Grand Rapids (see related story on page 21). Brooks just graduated from Florida and qualified

for Women’s U.S. Opens in 2016 and ’19 and was runner up in the NCAA tournament the latter year. Papp is from the University of Texas at Austin, and placed 9th in the U.S. Open last year, earning her a return trip where she’ll play at The Olympic Club the week before going to Escanaba. “For us it kicks off our golf season,” said Tony Mancilla, general manager. “Less than 200 golf courses in America out of 16,000 host a professional tournament, and we’re one of them. That says a lot. We don’t lose sponsors, we just gain them. And we have a good committee that never changes.” In August, the LPGA Symetra Tour plans to visit the Battle Creek Country Club for its annual Firekeepers Casino Hotel Championship. MGJ

Michigan Golf Journal Parenting Advice

Parenting Competitive Junior Golfers Guest Column by Jenn Brody I am the mother of two successful competitive junior golfers – and the number one thing that I would like to start off with is that juniors (and adults) have to have fun. I know this sounds very cliché, but it really is so important. Creating a fun environment to introduce the game will help a junior learn to love

the great game of golf, hopefully for the rest of their lives. My daughter, Kate, is 16 years old and my son, Tyler, is 14. Both kids have been playing golf since they could walk, they love the game, and now play a lot of competitive golf. I feel so lucky that they both love to

play. They both have been fortunate to get introduced to the game at Warwick Hills Golf and Country Club, where their dad, Doug Brody, is the head golf professional. We started off taking them to the range, going for golf cart rides, playing a hole or two and getting treats at

Continues on page 18 >>

Michigan Golf Journal Parenting Advice

the halfway house. Doug also took the kids to play putt-putt golf any time he had the chance. It was another fun environment to be able to introduce them to the game and work on their putting without even knowing it! We also always made sure they had the right length golf clubs. Clubs are like shoes, once you grow out of them, you have to get new ones!! Now for the tough part of parenting competitive junior golfers. As parents, we have to let the kids own their own game. This doesn’t mean you can’t be involved but pressuring them to do what you want them to do doesn’t seem to work for the long haul. They have to be their own driving force to practice, play, and learn the game. I have never made the kids practice or play if they didn’t want to. One very hard thing to do is, don’t yell at them or be upset with them for playing poorly. I promise you; competitive golfers know when they haven’t done well. No one ever tries

to hit bad shots or miss putts. They don’t need the negative reinforcement from their parents. I cannot stress these last few sentences enough. I really try to not even talk to the kids about their rounds unless they want to talk about it. This probably sounds a little too nice but telling the kids “I love to watch you play” is some of the best advice I have ever read. I’m not saying it’s easy to watch the kids have bad days or a bad round, but we have to be the safe place for them to land after those tough days. Hearing criticism or getting unsolicited advice is not the answer.

The only thing I get upset about are bad attitudes and tempers on the course. I had a terrible attitude and temper, and it did not help my performance at all. I want Kate and Tyler to respect their playing partners, spectators, the golf course, and the great game of golf. Enjoy the ride of your junior’s competitive golf careers. It’s a game. It’s a hard game. It’s their game. Be their safe place to come to, not the place they are scared to go to. Remember to tell them how much you love to watch them play. It will go a long way. MGJ Editor’s note: Both Brody children are highly successful Junior golfers. Tyler won two Hurricane Junior Tour events in January and reached the Drive, Chip and Putt Regional Finals at Oakland Hills as a 12-year-old. Kate won the Michigan high school Div. 1 state championship last fall, and competed in the National Finals of Drive, Chip and Putt at Augusta National in April.

Michigan Watch Golf Journal Players List

Ongoing Success Nationally for GAM Winners By Tom Lang

Young competitive golfers from Michigan often test their skills in Golf Association of Michigan (GAM) tournaments throughout their teenage years and college days – many of them focused on a dream of reaching the professional level. Success stories include Brian Stuard of Jackson earning a PGA Tour win in the 2016 Zurich Classic and continuing to add to his 20-career top 10 finishes and $11 million-plus in PGA Tour career earnings. There’s Ryan Brehm of Traverse City and Joey Garber of Petoskey – both former Michigan Amateur champions and both grabbing PGA Tour Korn Ferry wins – playing regularly on that tour (Garber) and the PGA Tour (Brehm) most of the last three years. Mt. Pleasant native Kelly Robbins had a solid

LPGA Tour career (9 wins), and Farmington Hills native Meg Mallon (1983 Michigan Women’s Amateur) is in the World Golf Hall of Fame after a 23-year pro career filled with 18 wins, including two U.S. Women’s Open titles and eight consecutive Solheim Cup teams. Liz Nagel of DeWitt is currently on the LPGA Tour carving out her dream. Here are four younger golfers to watch: Sarah White: White – a 2014 high school state champion from East Kentwood – took full advantage of the first time she got into an LPGA Symetra Tour event by winning the Founders Tribute, in August of 2020. The former high

school hockey player on the East Kentwood boys’ team scored a final hole birdie for a 15-under par score to edge out Sophia Popov by one stroke, the day prior to Popov heading overseas and shocking the world by winning the 2020 Women’s British Open. White has full Symetra Tour status for 2021.

June 2021 www.michigangolfjournal.com

James Piot:

Allyson Geer-Park: Geer-Park set marks and records across Michigan as a Junior golfer – including winning the 2015 and ’16 Michigan Women’s Amateurs at the youngest age in history (age 14), and the 2018 GAM Championship. The Brighton native turned pro in mid-2020 after Covid-19 abruptly ended her multiple recordsetting college career at Michigan State – where she was named All-Big Ten first team all four years. Geer-Park was instrumental in the team winning two consecutive Big Ten Championships. She played in three Meijer LPGA Classic tournaments as an amateur, and in the inaugural Augusta National Women’s Amateur in 2019.

Currently an amateur at MSU, the 2018 GAM Championship winner had the best summer of his golfing life in 2020 and only seems to be improving. He was stroke play medalist then finished runner up in match play at the 2020 Michigan Amateur. He soon followed with the secondbest score at the U.S. Amateur – a sizzling 6965-134 at Bandon Dunes in Oregon. His 65 was the lowest round; a 7-under par performance. He won two college tournaments in the fall of 2019 and one more in early 2021 after year-long Covid-19 restrictions on college golf were lifted. He earned AllBig Ten this spring too and earned a trip to the NCAA Finals.

Jake Kneen: Kneen grew up playing amateur events from his home base in White Lake and later at Oakland University, where he earned Horizon League Freshman of the Year (2015) and Player of the Year in 2018, when his scoring average led the conference. That same summer he won the professional Michigan Open as an amateur and has won multiple times on mini tours since. Kneen’s big break came in July 2020 when he Monday-qualified into the PGA Tour’s 3M Classic in Minnesota by scoring an 8-under 63. More PGA Tour events are his top goal for the up-and-coming Michigander. MGJ

Shanty Creek Expands

Shanty Creek Resort Acquires Neighboring Hawk’s Eye Golf Club: Expands to 90 Holes Public Courses” by Golf Magazine. Shanty Creek CEO Pete Bigford added in the same release: “With the addition of Hawk’s Eye, an exclamation point has been added to Shanty Creek’s bid to be Michigan’s best golf resort.” Northern Michigan’s Shanty Creek Resort announced adding Hawk’s Eye Golf Club to become the fifth 18-hole championship course within Shanty Creek’s now almost 5,500-acre property. With 90 holes at one destination, Shanty Creek says it elevates them to be among the Top 10 largest golf resorts in North America. “The addition of Hawk’s Eye (to our collection of courses) is huge—literally and figuratively,” Mike Mooney, Director of Golf for Shanty Creek, said in a release. “Having five courses within an 8-mile radius adds significant appeal and prestige for golfers looking for a world-class getaway.”

The Tom Weiskopf-designed Cedar River course has been a northern Michigan favorite for many years, along with the Arnold Palmer-designed Legend. Shanty Creek now holds three top courses in Michigan — all in one location. “Add our Schuss Mountain and Summit courses and the variety of golf is unmatched,” Mooney added. Since its introduction in 2004, Hawk’s Eye has been named to several course rankings and listings including “Top Courses in Michigan” three times from Golf Advisor and among Michigan’s “Best

Within the past year, the resort has expanded and improved additional amenities, including the new Topgolf Swing Suite golf simulator in The River Bistro, a new fleet of golf carts, and the new CoffeeBAR coffee house at The Lakeview Hotel. The four-season golf and ski resort is located 31 miles northeast of Traverse City in Bellaire amid the Chain of Lakes region. For more information about Shanty Creek, or custom golf packages, visit www. ShantyCreek.com or call (231) 533-2020.

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Michigan News and Notes

Famous Course Designer Arthur Hills Dies at 91 Renowned golf course designer Arthur Hills passed away May 18. He was age 91. A graduate of both MSU (science) and Michigan (landscape architecture), Hills excelled at golf as a member of the MSU Spartan golf team. He formed his golf course architecture firm in the 1960s and went on to design more than 200 courses and renovate another 150. His Michigan works include two awardwinning layouts at Boyne – the highlyesteemed Bay Harbor Golf Club, and The Hills at Boyne Highlands. He also created Red Hawk near Tawas and renovated MSU’s Forest Akers courses.

An environmental pioneer, Hills designed the first Audubon Signature Sanctuary courses in the United States, Mexico and Europe. The late Pete Dye dubbed Hills “the Mayor of Naples” for the number of private country club courses that he designed in and near that coastal Florida location. Other Michigan gems include: Shepherd’s Hollow in Clarkston, Fox Hills in Plymouth, Stonebridge in Ann Arbor, Fieldstone in Auburn Hills, The Moors in Portage, Lyon Oaks in Wixom, Oakhurst in Clarkston, Hawks Head in South Haven, Egypt Valley in Ada, Lakes of Taylor, Glacier Club in Washington Township and Pine Trace in Rochester. MGJ

U.S. Senior Amateur in Detroit Needs Volunteers Volunteers are needed to make the 66th U.S. Senior Amateur a success at the Country Club of Detroit, to be played August 28 Sept. 2. The volunteer package includes a Peter Millar golf shirt, a hat, cinch bag and breakfast, lunch and snacks before and/

or after shifts. Work 4 shifts or more and you can attend the thank you volunteers outing at the CC of Detroit. Volunteer needs range from on-course scoring and forecaddie duties to spectator control, to player assistant at the practice range and sign in.

Details: Read more MGJ

Michigan Golf Journal Michigan News and Notes

Raymond Hearn Golf Course Designs Celebrates 25-Year Anniversary

Raymond Hearn Golf Course Designs, Inc. has excelled in golf course architecture, including creating new course designs and the restoration, renovation, and remodeling of existing courses throughout the United States and abroad for 25 years.

“It has been a great ride thus far with a couple bumps – recessions – mixed in here and there,” Hearn, ASGCA member and the company’s president and founder, said. “We have stayed busy during these 25 years and our portfolio remains diverse with a variety of projects.” Hearn said he has enjoyed the privilege of working on three pre-1900 projects with a fourth and possibly

fifth assignment coming soon, and that working on existing courses versus creating new ones is obviously entirely different but equally as exciting. “Respectfully, working on courses where Willie Park, Ross, Bendelow, Langford, Tweedie, and other legends graced the property and created years ago is an incredible privilege for which I am humbled,” he said. MGJ

Steve Braun of Charlevoix Receives GAM Honor for Distinguished Service Steve Braun, 76 and a Flint native, current Charlevoix resident and member of the Michigan Golf Hall of Fame, who has volunteered and served the game of golf in multiple ways for six decades, was presented with the 2021 Distinguished Service Award by the Golf Association of Michigan (GAM). “Steve did it all as a governor, rules official, chairman of the championship committee,

quintessential volunteer for the GAM and has always been an articulate spokesman for golf,” said longtime GAM governor Terry Moore. “I was so impressed when he was president of the GAM and he helped lead the Youth on Course initiative … and Steve was instrumental in leading the national awardwinning Flint Junior Golf Association (FJGA).” He almost doubled the FJGA membership from 1975-’85, worked for the American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) as a tournament director and received the AJGA’s national service honor (Digger Smith Award) in 1992. MGJ

June 2021 www.michigangolfjournal.com

First Tee — Eastern Michigan to Launch Programming at Maple Leaf Golf Course First Tee — Eastern Michigan announced today that new junior golf programming will launch at Maple Leaf Golf Course this summer. This expansion was made possible through the chapter’s partnership with the Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational. Junior golfers ages 5 through 18 are invited to register for classes that will take place from June 24 – August 12, 2021. Classes will focus on golf instruction while also emphasizing life skills such as inner

strength, self-confidence and resilience. The $100 registration fee includes all instruction and a junior golf tournament in August. Participants are encouraged to bring their own equipment however, there will be equipment available during class time for those that do not have their own. Financial aid is available for those not able to pay the registration fee. Program director and PGA Professional Joe Simpson said in a news release: “The need to empower our youth,

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so that they are prepared to tackle all of life’s challenges is critical now more than ever. The game of golf naturally provides opportunities for safe and socially distant outdoor activities that can provide a fun and meaningful experience.” Those interested in participating are encouraged to register at www. firstteeeasternmichigan.org. MGJ

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Michigan Golf Journal Question and Answer

Q&A with GolfWeek’s

Beth Ann Nichols By Tom Lang

Beth Ann Nichols, in April, became the first female president of the Golf Writers Association of America, in her role as Senior Writer at GolfWeek and contributor at the Golf Channel. She played golf at Florida Southern College, married Lansing, Michigan native Ben Nichols and has been at GolfWeek for almost 20 years since college.

You garnered a lot of attention this spring in suggesting the LPGA Tour tournaments are not equitable in the set up compared to men’s tours/events. Please give a summary of that concept.

“I’ve been frustrated for some time now with how courses are often set up for elite women. Too many times women hit long irons or hybrids into greens that were designed for wedges and 9-irons for approach shots. In many cases, it seems that officials get caught up in setting up courses to a certain number rather than looking at what club is required for the second shot. “The other element that seems to separate the modern men’s game from the women’s game is a lack of enough risk/reward opportunities on the LPGA. What the LPGA considers

to be a reachable par 5 is, in fact, not reachable for the majority of the tour. Meanwhile the men often hit low to mid-irons into par 5s on their second shots. “There’s only been one 59 on the LPGA (Annika Sorenstam, 2001) and a total of six scores of 60 or better. On the PGA Tour, there have been 52 scores of 60 or better. There’s no reason that LPGA players can’t bring fans to the TV more often for a 59 watch. As Angela Stanford said, ‘Let them light it up!’”

How would you describe the public’s response to your opinions?

June 2021 www.michigangolfjournal.com

“I’ve been amazed by the number of people who responded to the story. This isn’t just an LPGA problem. It’s an all of women’s golf problem. Too many courses lack enough teeing options for women to be able to reach par 4s in regulation. “I loved it when men told me they had a lightbulb moment after reading the story: It’s not about making it so that a woman (their mom, daughter, friend) lands her tee shot in the same general area as them. It’s about making sure they have a similar club in on the second shot.”

You were not born in Michigan, but we hear your husband was and that your family visits here often. What types of things strike you about Michigan that would bring you here even without the family connection?

“I had no idea that the coastline of the Upper Peninsula was so jawdroppingly gorgeous. Our Pictured Rocks hike a few summers ago was incredible.

We love to fish, hunt waterfalls and lighthouses and chase the sunset on Sugarloaf Mountain. The lakes are a great summer escape. And I haven’t even mentioned golf yet!”

Do you play much golf here, and/ or have any ‘Michigan Bucket List’ courses?

Greywalls, Arcadia Bluffs, Forest Dunes, Bay Harbor and Pilgrim’s Run are among my favorites so far. I’d love to get to Crystal Downs and Treetops. The UAW Black Lake Course was a stern but beautiful test.

The kind of place you’d like to get a second crack at.”

What does it say on a national stage that Michigan hosts 2 LPGA Tour events?

“I think Michigan hosts two of the best stops on tour. Have you seen the Grand Taste Experience at the Meijer LPGA Classic? It’s an event within an event. And the Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational team tournament offers one of the most intriguing formats of the year. Golf in Michigan isn’t talked about enough as far as I’m concerned.” Continues on next page >>

Question and Answer more than 6 million women played golf in the U.S. last year, nearly half a million more than the previous year. Golf during the pandemic became a family-oriented activity, and I hope it stays that way. For golf to thrive in the U.S., women and girls are the path forward.”

Beth Ann with husband Ben

What’s your prediction for the future of women’s interest in the game of golf recreationally?

“The National Golf Foundation reported that

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Is there any one or two big issues

involving women and the game of golf that you think every man needs to know?

“Most male amateurs can learn more about the game from watching the LPGA than they can watching the PGA Tour. The way Dustin Johnson or Rory McIlroy attack a golf course is unrelatable to mere mortals. Yet there’s so much to gain from studying the fundamentals of the best women in the world, who hit it 250 to 280 with the most enviable tempo. Go see a women’s event in person. You’ll be hooked.” MGJ

Freeways and Fairways

Freeways and Fairways: The Dream

By John Retzer, GolfBlogger.com This review is part of an occasional series that looks at golf courses situated along Michigan freeways – those you drive by frequently, or on that annual vacation, but never seem to have time to stop and explore. This one you certainly should, according to our guest reviewer.

The Dream checks off all the boxes for Northern Michigan golf: Wooded holes, wide fairways, elevation changes and good conditions born of the region’s moderate summer climate. Located off I-75 in West Branch, it is at what I would consider the gateway to Northern Michigan. If you have not already done so, on your next trip “Up North,” make a point of stopping off for a few hours play.

The Dream golf course was designed by Jeff Gorney, who also designed The Nightmare, sister course of The Dream. Another of Gorney’s designs — and a SE Michigan favorite of mine — is Hills’ Heart of the Lakes. The Dream is a family affair, owned and operated by the Courtemanches. From the tips, The Dream stretches to 7,000 yards and plays to a 73.7/135. That’s Continues on next page >>

Michigan Golf Journal Freeways and Fairways

a difficult layout. The Whites are in at 6,392 and a 70/6/124. Gold tees measure 5,769 and play at 67.4/119. The forward tees find their rage at 5, 118 yards and a 68.6/117. The Dream offers golfers a nice variety of holes. Lines from tee to green on the golf course are rarely straight, asking players to consider ball placement on every tee. Still, only four of the holes are what I would consider real doglegs. The remainder

have twists that won’t take you out of play but will increase the difficulty of the following shot. Further complicating matters are the fairway bunkers on eleven of the holes. I like golf course designs with fairway bunkers because they add an additional strategic consideration to the holes. My favorite hole was the first, a downhill thrill ride with a turn to the right at the end (photo at top of

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page). It’s bombs away here. Try to keep the ball to the left, but don’t get caught in the bunker. Another bunker threatens on the left side of the fairway around a hundred yards out. A good drive gives a player a chance at reaching in two, but the green has a bunker on the front left and mounding on the edges. These could end up negating the advantage of a heroic, but wayward shot. A more prudent player might decide to lay up the right of the 100-yard bunker.

June 2021 www.michigangolfjournal.com

Visible to drivers on I-75 south, is the par three fifth, which plays across a pond to an elevated green. The 189 yard par three is quite the challenge. Short, and you risk rolling back into the pond. Long, and you may have to chip back to the green on a downhill lie. Right, your ball ends up on a little rock-strewn creek. Left, it’s cart path and a probable bounce into the woods.

The Dream, 18th hole

The 18th hole also deserves mention. It is as good — and tough — a finishing hole as I have seen. The number two handicap hole on the course, it measures 427 yards from the back tees, plays

downhill to a bunker strewn fairway, then back up again to an elevated green. The green is large — some 10,000 square feet — but with all the bunkers looks like an imposing target. MGJ

Michigan Golf Journal Michigan Open

Grand Traverse Set to Host the Historic Michigan Open By Tom Lang

The Michigan Open is the most prestigious golf championship in the Great Lakes State – and no other venue has hosted the Michigan Open more times than Grand Traverse Resort and Spa. The 2021 version is coming, June 14-17. The Michigan Open dates back to competition in 1916 and the highlyacclaimed Northern

Michigan resort hosted the most consecutive years ever, from 1981 through 2008. Spruce Run was the venue in the early years, before the competition was moved over to The Bear, Jack Nicklaus’ signature golf course in Michigan. After traveling to a few other courses in metro Detroit, the Michigan Open returned to Grand Traverse in 2018.

“That first 28-year stretch when the Open was played at Grand Traverse Resort was just a magical era for the championship, and for most people it really established the resort and The Bear as the true home of the Michigan Open,” said Kevin Helm, executive director of the Michigan PGA Section. “When we returned in 2018, it just felt like coming home and you

June 2021 www.michigangolfjournal.com

treatment in a rehabilitation facility. There, he had to literally re-train himself to walk. Almost exactly three years later, he became Michigan’s champion.

could feel the excitement from the players.” The 2020 Winner: The 2020 Michigan Open was capped off by a truly emotional story. Grand Rapids native Brett White suffered a diabolical infection in 2017 that caused his brain to swell to lifethreatening levels. He spent a week in the hospital, followed by 14 days of impatient

White is a mini-tour pro who led the 2020 Michigan Open wire-to-wire. His 12-under total for four rounds gave him a 5-stroke margin of victory in the 103rd playing last year. “When I was in the hospital, I didn’t think this (win) was possible, but when I got out, I knew I wanted to be able to golf again,” White said the day he sealed up the title. “I started with walking and as soon as I could walk, I knew that I at least wanted to be able to golf again for my

sanity. I love the game of golf. I was going to attack (rehabilitation) just like I did this tournament, one step at a time, one day at a time and try to get better every day. “Turtle Creek Casino stepped up and basically doubled the purse, which I think elevates the championship,” White added. “A lot of people want to win the Michigan Open, but to have this kind of purse really got a lot of people excited, especially here at a great venue against the great talent in Michigan. I see the Michigan legends, their names on that plaque and now I’m part of that fraternity. That’s great.” MGJ

Michigan Golf Journal National Travel

Cleared for Takeoff? From David Lorentz Chief Research Officer National Golf Foundation

Editors’ Note: The National Golf Foundation surveyed golfers to see if their travel plans for making long trips have changed since last year. Here is an overview of their findings in late April.

The comeback of commercial aviation is underway in the U.S., which no doubt bodes well for many in the golf business. Despite an increased willingness to trundle down the open highways last year, golfers made far fewer trips in 2020 (at least 50% fewer, we now estimate), which impacted resorts and businesses – far and wide – that cater to the needs of travelers. Passenger throughput at domestic airports currently sits at 57% of 2019 levels (using 7-day rolling data).

This is up from 45% at the beginning of March and 37% at the beginning of February. The trend is expected to continue alongside the increasing incidence of vaccinations, and the rolling back of pandemic restrictions. At the moment, it seems the rebounding is especially evident at smaller, outdoorvacation-oriented airports vs. big-city hubs[1] – suggestive of a “get away but stay safe” mentality that will likely permeate

for some time, and should benefit many golf properties. This return to the friendly skies means more golf trips and more destinations back in the consideration set. Core golfers, on average, are now expecting 1.8 golf trips in 2021, which rivals reported counts in recent, non-pandemic years. As for where, the ones who’ve already taken a golf trip in 2021 ventured 40% farther, on average, than golf

June 2021 www.michigangolfjournal.com

travelers did last year (600 miles vs. 425, as the crow flies), while trips planned for the rest of the year should be almost as distant (590 miles, on average). These are positive and perhaps expected signals from golfers, which we’ve corroborated through discussions and surveys with operators. Based on responses from four dozen resort properties, nearly three-

quarters indicated pre-bookings for MayDecember are higher than last year, and almost twothirds suggested they’re higher than other recent, non-pandemic years. More broadly, 9 of 10 reported increases in rounds, website activity and social media engagement, while 8 in 10 reported increases in travel package inquiries. The lone soft spot, it seems, are the more lucrative

large-group and corporate bookings – only 40% mentioned those were up. Recovery in the travel sector will be welcome news for many, but also means golfers will once again be forced to make certain tradeoffs. Whether for business or leisure, the return to flying will cut into “golf time” and personal discretionary budgets – the extent to which we’ll be looking to understand. MGJ

(For more findings and anecdotal feedback from NGF member operators, please click here).

MichiganTop Golf100 Journal World

Boyne’s Bay Harbor

Michigan Lands Two Regions on World Top 100 Golf Destinations List GolfPass writers select Northern Michigan No. 8 worldwide, and Southwest Michigan in the top 100 Used with permission of GolfPass Few sports in the world are as globally interconnected as golf. And perhaps the greatest thing about the game is that any golfer, of any ability, anywhere in the

world can travel to play many of the planet’s most incredible courses. They can play courses that have hosted major championships or have been laid out in some of

the most magical corners of the globe. With golfers everywhere eager to return to travel this year, GolfPass’ staff of experienced writers has

June 2021 www.michigangolfjournal.com

compiled an extensive list of the world’s Top 100 golf destinations. We determined the list based on each destination’s distinct allure to golfers around the globe. A strong roster of publicly accessible courses is the main criteria, but each destination’s history, off-course attractions, landmarks and dining, as well as hospitality, culture and collection of private clubs were also considered. To determine where a destination should rank, we often asked the question: “Which place do I want to visit more?” The answer sometimes carried equal weight as the notion of “Where can I play?”

After considerable deliberation, we are pleased to present our list of the world’s top 50 golf destinations in order, while we’ve ordered the second 50 alphabetically. No. 1 St. Andrews, Scotland No. 2 Pebble Beach, California No. 3 Northern/Northwest Ireland No. 4 Pinehurst, N. Carolina No. 5 Australian Sandbelt No. 6 Bandon, Oregon No. 7 Scottsdale/Phoenix, Arizona No. 8 Northern Michigan Continues on next page >>

Belvedere Golf Club

MichiganTop Golf100 Journal World

Sleeping Bear Dunes

Diamond Springs

Few golf destinations match the variety found in Northern Michigan, which, depending on how much you’re willing to drive, runs about two dozen courses deep, including a collection of multi-course resorts highlighted by Boyne’s three properties. Rolling hills through hardwood forests make this the elevated tee shot capital of American golf. Dr. Alister MacKenzie’s private Crystal Downs heavily influenced modern architecture as a haunt of top architects Tom Doak and Mike DeVries, while Tom Watson played some boyhood golf at the historic, semi-private Belvedere in Charlevoix. Scores of affordable, offthe-beaten-path courses are waiting to be discovered. No visit here is complete without a visit to the lakeshore for Arcadia Bluffs and Bay Harbor, not to mention a jaunt to America’s greatest sand trap: Sleeping Bear Dunes.

No. 9 No. 10

New Zeeland Augusta, Georgia

World Top 100 Destinations: Nos. 51-100 In no particular order…

Southwest Michigan Northern Michigan gets tons of attention (rightly so), but the southwestern quadrant of the state is home to a great roster of courses revolving around Grand Rapids, whose three area Mike DeVries designs – Pilgrim’s Run, Diamond Springs and Mines Golf Course – form a formidable, affordable trio. Nearer to Kalamazoo, Gull Lake View Resort’s six-course offering is topped by Stoatin Brae, one of the best public courses to open in the 2010s. To read details on the entire World Top 100 locations, go to: https://www.golfpass. com/travel-advisor/articles/world-top-100destinations MGJ

Experience the best of Upper Peninsula golf! #15 Sweetgrass

#4 Sage Run

Award-winning golf has become a centerpiece of the Island Resort & Casino. Sweetgrass, consistently ranked among Golfweek’s Best Courses, features an open layout with some of the game’s most fun greens to putt (Redan, Biarritz, Island, and Double-green). The Island Resort Championship at Sweetgrass is part of the Symetra Tour - “Road to the LPGA” and the future of women’s golf. Sage Run Golf Club provides a different kind of golf experience where holes flow through the hardwoods and around a drumlin ridge. Sweetgrass and Sage Run: dramatically different, but equally exceptional.

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Photo: No. 10, Pete Dye Course at French Lick Resort