SWEET HOME ALABAMA
MARCH 2021
RTJ Golf Trail and Gulf Shores Golf Seafood and Southern BBQ
NO GOLF SHOWS NO PROBLEM We’ve Got the Deals
30 Evans Scholars
GOLF’s DISTANCE DEBATE Dear USGA: Leave Equipment Alone Pick the Right Tees for You Designing Senior Tees
Michigan Golf in Journal Springtime Pinehurst
Local Knowledge from the Home of American Golf
The Pinehurst, Southern Pines & Aberdeen area in North Carolina is ready to welcome golfers this spring season By Brad King With the eyes of the golf world aimed squarely in its direction, Pinehurst, N.C. — also known as “the Home of American Golf” — stands more than ready to shine this spring. Boasting nearly 40 golf courses within a 15-mile radius, North Carolina’s Sandhills region — Pinehurst, Southern Pines, Aberdeen
Pinehurst No. 4 by Gil Hanse packs a powerful punch
and other quaint, surrounding communities — consistently delivers some of the country’s finest golf, as well as world-class dining, shopping, entertainment and more. When planning any visit to the Pinehurst area, some important local knowledge might make your trip even more memorable.
The 2024 U.S. Open Championship on Pinehurst Resort & Country Club’s No. 2 Course will be followed by national championships at Pinehurst in 2029, 2035, 2041 and 2047. Next year, another of Donald Ross’s most praiseworthy creations, nearby Pine Needles Lodge & Golf Club, will play host to
March 2021 www.michigangolfjournal.com
its fourth U.S. Women’s Open Championship. Ross restoration expert Kyle Franz impeccably renovated both Pine Needles and its sister course, another Ross gem Mid Pines Inn & Golf Club. Local knowledge tip: Now, the resort offers a new way to navigate the links. Finn Scooters are available at Pine Needles or Mid Pines, offering an unforgettable experience while also speeding up pace of play.
If you can’t play Pinehurst No. 2, Southern Pines Golf Club may well represent the next best example of what Ross had in mind. Nine holes opened in 1906, and by 1912 the course had been expanded to 18 holes. Now under management of the company that owns and operates nearby Pine Needles and Mid Pines, Southern Pines is in the midst of an 18-month course improvement plan that is expected to include design tweaks from Franz.
Golf Advisor ranked Talamore Golf Resort in Southern Pines as the No. 1 golf course in North Carolina and No. 9 in the U.S. in its latest ratings. “I cannot wait to go back and play this course again,” wrote one rater. “Amazing resort quality conditions at a fair price.” Talamore and nearby Mid South Club are sister properties under the Talamore Golf Resort umbrella of clubs. Planning to play Tobacco Road Golf Club in Continues on next page >>
Highly decorated and never duplicated, Tobacco Road
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Springtime in Pinehurst former horse training estates. Longleaf is also home to the U.S. Kids Golf Academy and the U.S. Kids Foundation. Local knowledge tip: Don’t forget Longleaf’s par-3 “Bottlebrush” Course, which features six fun holes you can play all day for less than $10.
Finn Scooters are available at Pine Needles and Mid Pines.
nearby Sanford? The widely heralded but equally challenging Mike Strantz design will certainly test your skills. Local knowledge tip: The safe strategy for teeing off on hole No. 1 — an intimidating 558-yard par-5 bordered by nasty mounds of rough — is to lay up 165 yards or so. Make the green in three and you still have a chance to start your round with a two-putt for par. Two wonderful contrasts in design styles can be found locally within the Maples family design tree. Ellis Maples designed 36 holes of traditional golf at the Country Club of Whispering Pines. His son, Dan, built Longleaf Golf & Family Club on the site of one of the Village of Pinehurst’s
Plan your spring trip now to make a pilgrimage to the “Home of American Golf.” www.homeofgolf. com/packages-deals. com MGJ
Editor’s Letter
Spring Will Soon Be Sprung would be ahead of the current forward tees – and that many seniors should not resist using them. It’s already March. That means, despite some record snowfall amounts, by the end of this month golfers could very well be out on the links in southern Michigan. Does life get any better than that idea? One of the more recent hot topics in golf was the announcement by the USGA and R&A that those two organizations feel a need to dial back golf equipment, including the golf ball. We have four stories this month related to the DISTANCE
DEBATE. One is about
golf courses needing to consider how much older the golfing population has become (despite the fact youth are entering the game at a nice pace) and they need to think about installing senior tees that
A second piece in our distance debate is about how everyone at every golf skill level can use easy math to calculate the correct tees to play from. Then we have two guest columns on why the USGA and R&A need to leave equipment alone for the 99.9% of us, and if they truly fear Tour pros making tournament golf courses obsolete then the game of golf needs two sets of equipment rules.
No Golf Shows, No Problem, We’ve got the Deals: This March issue also is loaded with golf course deals that our patrons would normally find at the West Michigan and Novi Golf Shows that were canceled by Covid-19. You can cash in on the savings when you click on Michigan Golf Journal
Cover image: Kiva Dunes Golf & Beach Resort, Gulf Shores
sponsor pages which link to golf show specials at Black Lake, Michaywe Pines, Gaylord Country Club, Treetops, Gull Lake View Resort and Grand Traverse Resort. If you cannot wait for the temperatures to rise in Michigan, make sure to review our cover story (page 12) about golf in the state of Alabama. What a wonderfully rich state it is for golf. The northern tier is like northern Michigan’s rolling landscape but is only a day’s drive away from the Mitten. The Gulf Coast portion of Alabama has true white sugar sand beaches along the Gulf of Mexico – I have walked them myself. My thanks go out to each reader every month for supporting this mission of uncovering great golf news in the Great Lakes State – it’s a true pleasure to provide it. Hit ‘em straight. Tom Lang Publisher/Editor
Michigan Golf Journal
Double Down on Bucket-List Golf
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Cover story: Sweet Home Alabama
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Golf’s Distance Debate
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A Case for Senior Tees
24
Pick the Right Tee Yardage
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Roll Back Distance for Elite Golfers Only
30
Full GAM Tournament Schedule
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Michigan News and Notes
Evans Scholars
30 Michigan Caddies Awarded as Evans Scholars By Tom Lang Christyanna Griffin and Bianca Holsey are two Detroit Cass Tech High School seniors, and girls who are part of an upward trend of more female caddies earning the prestigious Evans Scholarship, the most historic and renowned full housing and tuition college grant awarded to golf caddies. Like all Evans Scholar winners, the two girls reflect the scholarship’s four selection criteria: a strong caddie record; excellent academics; demonstrated financial need; and outstanding character. All 30 Michigan caddies chosen for 2021 will attend either Michigan State, or the University of Michigan to continue their educations. In 2005, 19 percent of women were given Evans Scholarships. As of last year, the number had climbed to 30 percent nationwide. Out of Michigan’s 30 winners this year, seven are girls. The Evans Scholarship is valued at an estimated $120,000 over four years. Its history dates to 1930, and more than 11,320 caddies have graduated as Evans Scholars since the program was founded by famed Chicago amateur golfer Charles ‘Chick’ Evans Jr.
“These young students all have shown excellence in the classroom and in their communities, as well as on the golf course,” said John Kaczkowski, WGA President and CEO. “We welcome them to the Evans Scholars family.” Griffin has three siblings and must remain a role model to them as the oldest child of a Continues on next page >>
Michigan Golf Journal Evans Scholars
high school volleyball and swimming teams at Cass Tech.
Christyanna Griffin
single mother. She hopes to become a criminal defense attorney. “Receiving the Evans Scholarship lifted that financial burden off of me and my family’s shoulders,” she said. “This scholarship has changed my life completely.” Hosley caddied almost 200 loops in two years at the Country Club of Detroit, while also prepping for the
Mario Migaldi
“I have developed much better time management, especially when it comes to planning out school assignments and extracurricular activities,” Hosley said. “I have also gained the confidence and ability to communicate easier with members, teachers, classmates, and peers. The choices I make are non-negotiable; I will succeed.” Mario Migaldi of Okemos wants to enter the medical field and has been heavily involved in school government and as a mentor for an elementary school science program. His father’s business was hit especially hard during Covid-19. “I am very grateful that the scholarship committee, my sponsoring club, my teachers, my family, and my friends all see something in me and believe in me that I can be someone who works hard and wants to better the world around me,” said Migaldi, who was nudged into caddying by a former high school golf teammate. “I will take this opportunity that I have been given and make the most out of it.” Rockford senior Briggs Maloney plans to play
Bianca Hosley
golf this spring for a third season with the Rams. His community service record is as long as a driver shaft, and he writes sports stories for a local publication, with dreams of a career in broadcast journalism. “I pursued a job as a caddy because, quite simply I love golf,” he said. “I am extroverted by nature and I enjoy being of service to others.” MGJ
Briggs Maloney
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Michigan Golf Journal Evans Scholars
All 30 winners from Michigan for 2021 are listed below: Michael McGrath Timothy Nelson John Nelson Donna Proctor Jordan Fansler Billy Morris Jacob Bush Christyanna Griffin Cameron Henry Bianca Holsey Melvin Thomas Daniel Newbold Charles Klatt Jeremiah Bethke Brendan Blood Joseph McComb Conner Wilczewski Mario Migaldi Jacob Patterson Olivia Howell-Hummel Briggs Maloney Lawrence Stanley Jillian Gaddie Steven Jarecki Jacob Melvin Aiden Bettig Joseph Sorgi III Natalie Dobbs Brock Strebeck Kacey Ellis
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MichiganHome Golf Journal Sweet Alabama
Capitol Hill Judge
Sweet Home Alabama Gulf Shores and RTJ Trail Await By Pam Shaheen Sweet Home Alabama is more than just the title of a song or movie, although they both certainly evoke the spirit of the beautiful state. It’s also a mantra for the hardworking, friendly folks that travelers encounter along the way. From the bagboys and beverage cart girls on the
world-class golf courses to the servers and chefs in the award-winning restaurants, visitors are made to feel right at home, ensuring that time spent in Alabama is as sweet as the tea. Sweet Home Alabama is a golfing destination unlike any other, as a home to the original ‘golf trail,’ plus
modern and historic golf resorts and over 32 miles of sugar-white beaches along the Gulf of Mexico. Both the incomparable Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail and the Arnold Palmer-designed Craft Farms Resort in Gulf Shores put Alabama on the radar of traveling golf groups more than two decades ago.
March 2021 www.michigangolfjournal.com
The ensuing years have upgraded the state’s position on all types of vacation bucket lists by spawning award-winning hotels, spas, and luxurious resorts; exciting craft breweries with medal-quality beers; world-renowned bass fishing events and red snapper rodeos; and a thriving culinary scene, ranging from fresh Gulf seafood and a unique BBQ Trail to James Beard-recognized chefs and restaurants. Just a few of the golf resorts that make Alabama so special are: • Renaissance Ross Bridge Golf Resort & Spa in Birmingham, boasting an RTJ Golf Trail golf course, luxurious spa and delectable dining • Pursell Farms just 45 minutes south of Birmingham, which is a unique golf resort with lodging options ranging from a brand-new boutique inn, 4 bedroom golf cottages and an 8 bedroom lodge, along with the award-winning Farmlinks Golf Course • The century-and-ahalf-old Grand Hotel Golf Resort and Spa on Mobile Bay, considered the “queen of Southern resorts”
• And Kiva Dunes in Gulf Shores, Alabama’s only gulf-front golf resort offering a Jerry Pate-designed course, clubhouse and fairway condominiums, as well as beach homes to rent. Here’s a snapshot of some of the golfing locales in the state to allow you to create a custom golf vacation to Sweet Home Alabama. Huntsville is a great place to start your Alabama golf journey, as the most northern location of the golf trail and home to the U.S. Space & Rocket Center. But there’s also two more trails to enjoy while in the Rocket City. Wet your whistle on either the Downtown Huntsville Craft Beer Trail with ten stops or the Downtown Huntsville Craft Coffee Trail with nine stops. Kiva Dunes Golf & Beach Resort
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Lodging options range from convenient hotels near golf to upscale accommodations downtown. Alabama’s largest city, Birmingham is home to two RTJ Golf Trail sites (Ross Bridge and Oxmoor Valley) and the state’s most luxurious golf resort at Renaissance Ross Bridge Golf Resort and Spa, plus the Barber Vintage Motor Sports Museum, Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, James Beard Award winning/ nominated chefs and restaurants, four craft breweries and exciting nightlife options that only a city this size can offer. You can choose to stay on-site at Ross Bridge, at a historic downtown hotel, a boutique inn or any number of convenient branded hotels.
Continues on next page >>
MichiganHome Golf Journal Sweet Alabama
The sister cities of Auburn-Opelika combine to create the coolest college town and one of the most intriguing small towns in the South. It’s also home to Robert Trent Jones’ favorite location on his trail. The RTJ Golf Trail at Grand National boast 54 holes of scenic and challenging golf along a gleaming lake. These two small towns have an abundance of great eateries too, plus the Red Clay Brewery and the award-winning John Emerald Distilling Company are located in historic downtown Opelika. Your overnight choices include the on-site Marriott Golf Resort & Spa at Grand National, the oncampus Auburn University Hotel and a bunch of hotels and B&Bs scattered around. Once called the Paris of the South, Mobile has long been the cultural center of the Gulf Coast and you’ll find an authentic experience like nowhere else in the southern U.S. As the birthplace of America’s original Mardi Gras, a good time is easy to find in this port city. Attractions include the USS Alabama Battleship, Bellingrath Gardens & Home, riverboat dinner
Ross Bridge
cruises, the Dauphin Street entertainment district and a couple of craft breweries. Not only is the RTJ Golf Trail’s most southern stop, the 54-hole Magnolia Grove, in Mobile, but there are several other challenging courses to keep you in town a bit
longer. And choosing to stay longer will be easier when you stay at either the historic Renaissance Battle House Hotel & Spa or the Renaissance Riverview Plaza, both part of the RTJ Golf Trail collection of hotels and resorts. Gulf Shores and Orange Beach are home to 32 miles of white sandy beaches that line the pristine turquoise waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Add the nine premier golf courses to the numerous adventurous activities, including fishing, boating, kayaking and biking, and Continues on page 16 >>
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MichiganHome Golf Journal Sweet Alabama
you’ll find there’s more to this small beach town than meets the eye. Then, after a full day of fun in the sun you can grab a hearty meal at one of the many locally-owned restaurants that specialize in everything from fresh Gulf seafood to sweet Alabama BBQ. And don’t forget to wash down your meal and end your day with a cold beer at Big Beach Brewing Company or an infamous bushwacker (aka adult milkshake) at the legendary FloraBama Lounge & Oyster Bar. At the end of the night, you’ll want a comfy place to lay your head and fortunately Gulf Shores and Orange Beach have an outstanding selection of accommodations from hi-rise condos and colorful Pursell Farms
Lakewood
beach houses to nationallybranded hotels and resorts. The Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail, with its eight hotels/ resorts and 26 courses at
11 sites around the state, and Coastal Alabama Golf, the booking entity for the Gulf Shores-Orange Beach area, are eager to put together customized golf packages for your foursome or group. Check out AlabamaGolfTours.com for sample itineraries and more information on how you can make Sweet Home Alabama your next golf destination or visit: www. RTJGolf.com and www. CoastalAlabamaGolf.com to book today. MGJ
Gaming in the U.P.
Island Resort & Casino Now Home to TwinSpires Sports Book By Tom Lang The world of sports betting has recently exploded in Michigan after laws changed making it acceptable in multiple forms and formats. It is one of the newest opportunities for golf junkies to add that extra burst of fun when planning their next trip to the Upper Peninsula, where great golf is offered but sometimes over-looked, most namely at Sweetgrass, Sage Run, Greywalls and TimberStone. All four dynamic layouts consistently rank in top echelon of Michigan golf courses. Golfers who visit Island Resort & Casino, located just outside of Escanaba and featuring the awardwinning Sweetgrass and Sage Run golf courses, will now be able to add sports book
entertainment to their golf vacations. TwinSpires, the official online wagering site for Churchill Downs and the Kentucky Derby, announced its official partnership with the resort in January. Through TwinSpires, golfers can now bet on their favorite sports including PGA Tour, NBA, NFL, NHL, MLB, MLS and many more at one of the convenient 14 kiosks located in T.McC’s Sports Bar. TwinSpires Sportsbook offers different betting options– straight bets, parlay bets, teaser bets, live bets, futures and proposition bets. To add a little extra, golfers can book a golf trip around one of sports major events – like the PGA Championship in May, U.S. Open and NBA Finals in June, Ryder Cup
and College/NFL Football in the fall. Also, its own Island Resort Championship on the LPGA Symetra Tour takes place in mid-June at Sweetgrass.
Great Golf Packages: The U.P. golf season is still a couple months away, but now is the time to plan the next trip. Fully customizable packages offer 1-, 2-, 3- and 4-night lodging options with up to four rounds of golf. Package prices range from $95 - $758, depending on the time of year and single or double occupancy. One of my favorite experiences in the U.P. is the Perfect 4-Some, a customizable package combining Sweetgrass and Sage Run together with the acclaimed Greywalls in Marquette and TimberStone in Iron Mountain. The package offers 3-, 4-, and 5-night lodging options at Island Resort with four rounds of golf. Visit www. islandresortgolf.com. MGJ
The Distance Debate
Golf’s Distance Debate By Jason Sanchez, GM at Maple Hill Golf
to start changing layouts, making the golf courses longer. Continued technological advancements have left courses with little or no more room to expand.
Ben Hogan once said that golf is a game of sportsmanship, technique, mental game, and strategy. Fast forward to today and you can argue that playing the right equipment should be added to Hogan’s list. Tiger Woods has made many courses look like pitch and putt courses since he entered the tour in 1997, and countless other players have followed in his wake. The PGA Tour and tournamentheld courses were forced
The PGA sees a problem, arguing that professional players are hitting it too long and something must be done. The current proposed fix takes aim at the equipment; a shorter legal length limit on non-putter clubs (no more 48” driver for DeChambeau at The Masters) and a ball that just won’t go as far.
But why? Golf simply does not have a distance problem. PGA Tour players represent an elite minority of golfers. Part of the game’s allure is watching tour players hit long drives into tight fairways and then making our own best efforts
using the same equipment. The PGA and R&A should be far more concerned with the average (and below average) golfer. The game needs to be fun for them. The rise of TopGolf has shown that people will try the sport if it is fun and entertaining. Modern distance gains have become integral to today’s recreational golfers and vital for the growth of the game. Equipment technology combined with club fitting and analytics has made the game more accessible and enjoyable for millions of golfers. Going backwards is not a healthy option. Hitting bombs off the tee and making birdies is entertaining for people to watch. Bryson DeChambeau and Rory Mcllroy currently lead the tour in driving distance— maybe the PGA can argue there’s a distance problem when they start winning every tournament. Until then, let’s get as many people playing the game as possible by keeping fun (and distance) a part of the game. MGJ
Michigan Golf Journal The Distance Debate
Tee Yardages are Out of Range for Many Seniors By Janina Parrott Jacobs
As golfers age, there are normally two consequences: distance goes down and scores go up. Tee yardages mastered years ago are now out of range, and even the most forward set can still be formidable, making those birdies and pars less attainable. The golf industry and course architects have made great strides in creating more playable designs, but age and gender factors relevant to yardage haven’t been completely solved, especially where senior women are concerned. Results show up most noticeably in handicaps.
Based on 2020 GHIN postings from the GAM, the average men’s score was 87 and the average women’s, 99, with senior women skewing higher. Given the minimum 12-stroke difference, does that signify men are better players than women or perhaps, for decades, women have been playing tees that are considerably too long? Studying course statistics, 5400-5600 was common for women’s forward tees. In listening to all senior golfers, the need is apparent for shorter yardage. The PGA of America recommends 4,000-4,200 yards for
players with swing speeds of 65mph (about 140 yarddrives), yet few facilities offer those rated yardages. Furthermore, according to the USGA, the longest par4 a 21-26 handicap female can reach in two shots is 280 yards, which to most men, sounds short. However, if the average woman’s drive is 135-140 yards, even that isn’t feasible because her approach shot won’t reach the green. According to the current USGA Handicapping and Course Rating system, all sets of tees are rated from four perspectives initially on driving distance
March 2021 www.michigangolfjournal.com
assumptions: female ‘scratch’ players at 210 yards, ‘bogey’ at 150 and male ‘scratch’ at 250, with ‘bogey’ golfers at 200 yards. However, nowhere is there any provision for age. It’s possible that the current handicapping system isn’t equitable toward seniors, many whose only real flaw is lack of distance. Using proper teeing areas helps but what happens when one is ridiculed for moving up to a more manageable ‘senior’
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distance….something even golf legend Jack Nicklaus advocates? Obviously, there are also social issues to overcome. “I’m just a 90’s shooter now….” said former collegiate golfer Anthony P., who shot mid-70’s during his competitive days. “I can’t reach greens but my playing buddies object if I move forward.” Rotator cuff surgery further curbed Anthony’s mobility, and distance faded significantly.
Still fit at age 67, with a 14-handicap, he continues to play his home club at the ‘regular men’s’ yardage of 6500, about 900 yards too long for his 185-yard drives. Again, the only skill lacking is distance. If he used tees equal to his driving ability, single digits would probably return. In fairness, Anthony’s club has multiple sets of rated tees and combos from which male members can play, ranging from 6950 to almost 5900. Yet, in Blue Tee tournament competition, there’s a requirement for moving up to the White tees: age and handicap must exceed 85. But who determined this formula, and is it equitable? Bob Jones, almost 80 years old, catches forward-tee
Continues on next page >>
Michigan Golf Journal The Distance Debate
flak from his 50-something ‘spring chicken’ buddies. “They don’t understand why I need an ‘advantage’ because I have an OK short game.” Though Bob has to mosey up fairways hitting multiple 3-woods, when flat-bellies are lofting irons. And what, exactly, constitutes a senior? 19th-hole talk offers no concrete answer. AARP claims you at 50. The LPGA’s Legends qualifying age is 45, while Champions Tour rookies are 50. GAM’s senior status is 55, with super seniors at 65….and women ‘legends’ at 70. Bernie Friedrich, Senior Vice President Golf Operations and Resort Sales at Boyne Resorts addressed these issues years ago. “We started with four tees and now have six
tee options at all our courses as of 2018. We encourage our guests to play from yardages they are used to and not the perceived colors that have been associated with both genders. “Having six tees gives our guests the ability to play that “combo” tee option and have fun.” he added. “Four of our courses are between 4,100 and 4,500 yards from the Silver tees. And, we decreased our course watering by 50% in fairways so that the grass is firmer, which results in a golf ball going further. It’s a lot more fun to hit an 8-iron than a 4-iron and this gives players the chance to feel good about their game and not become discouraged.” For avid women seniors who wish to post legal scores, options are scarce. They can
March 2021 www.michigangolfjournal.com
play from the shortest forward tees to greens they cannot reach, and watch scores rise. Or they can play from junior or family tees, unrated for them, and not post those scores. Washtenaw Golf Club in Ann Arbor had better ideas: After playing with his many students, Operating Partner and Michigan Golf Hall of Fame member Dave Kendall took action. “It became evident the most forward tees were too long to provide a pleasant experience for my players,” he said. “Moving them to the beginning of the fairway helps make the game more welcoming to all. As golf course operators, we should do everything we can to broaden the appeal of golf to as many as possible.”
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Longtime MWGA member Lu Stockton agreed: “The shorter tees at Washtenaw make a huge difference for the average 20-handicap golfer. Knowing there is now a chance to hit the greens is motivating; a positive attitude is so important in the game of golf!” Or, like Michigan Golf Hall of Famer and Super Senior Sara Wold, you can decide what ‘your’ par is at any course. “For me at the ‘old’ Washtenaw”, she laughed, “par was 84!” An important question remains: Sir, madam, when you move up to shorter teeing grounds as they become available, are you prepared for your handicap to go… down? MGJ
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Michigan Golf Journal The Distance Debate
Which Tees Should You Play?
Selecting the right overall distance only adds enjoyment to the game By Chris Mile, Owner, Miles of Golf, Ypsilanti I have wanted to tackle this subject for some time because it is a real big deal, and I have seen some half-baked answers to this question. In my book, every golfer should have the opportunity to hit par 3s in one shot, par 4s in two, and par 5s in three. If this is not possible, you are playing a course (or set of
tees) that is too long, and if you play a course that is too long or too short, you will not get the joy you should from the game. Computing Your Ideal Course Distance: The answer to the question of how long a course should be for each golfer is simple: 28. Just multiply the length of a well hit drive for you by 28 and that, in my estimation, is the length of a course that will be both challenging but enjoyable to play. The logic behind the “Driver x 28” is that an ideal course will have a combination of easy, moderately difficult, and difficult holes. Knowing the length of your drive, you can estimate how far you hit your other clubs. The easiest portion of all calculations is to know the distance of your well hit tee shots. This is a more difficult question than you might think, and as a clue, most of us overestimate. To get a real accurate Continues on page 26 >>
Michigan Golf Journal The Distance Debate
estimate, you can have the TrackMan radar units at Miles of Golf measure your drives. They are accurate to within 1 foot for every 100 yards. How “Driver x 28” Was Created: We need to know only two things to create an ideal course length. (1) We need to know how far you hit each club in your bag and (2) we need to define what clubs you hit into each hole on the mythical ideal course. Both of these are a lot easier than you would expect. No. 1 Determine How Far You Hit All Your Clubs. By knowing how far you hit your driver, we have good data to predict how far you will hit all the clubs in your bag. Obviously, this will not be exact for each golfer, but it will be close. The hardest part of this is to have a good (and realistic) estimate of your total driver distance for a well struck driver. No. 2 Designing an Enjoyable Golf Course. My definition of a course that is fun to play will have a combination of short, medium, and long holes. For example, since the average course has four par 3 holes, one should be easy, two moderately difficult, and one hard. There are generally four par 5s, so
the same logic applies to par 5s. There are usually 10 par 4s, so I am saying there are three easy, four average, and three hard par 4s. This course should make you hit a lot of different clubs, which is usually a definition of a good golf course. No. 3 Compute the Distance of the Ideal Course. I am arbitrarily defining short, medium and long holes. For example, my definition of a medium length par five is a driver, #3 fairway club, and pitching wedge. I am saying a medium length par 4 is a driver and 6 iron. We need to do this for each hole; namely decide what approach shots we want to hit into each category of hole. For more details on why “Drive x 28” works, and charts showing a comparison to PGA Tour players, go to this link: https://www.milesofgolf. com/which-tees-should-you-play/ MGJ
Michigan Golf Journal The Distance Debate
Golf Distance Rules Can Learn From Other Sports Guest Opinion By Terry Moore The USGA and the R & A, golf’s rule-making bodies, are not waiting nervously for my opinion on the distance debate surrounding the game. But here it goes in brief: something needs to be done at the elite golfer level to roll back distance in order to maintain the traditional dimensions of the game. We can’t continue to lengthen Augusta National and other iconic venues to resist a very small number of players and their ever-rising average driving distance. The PGA Tour’s average driving distance has risen to 296.4 yards, a 15% increase over the past 20 years. Meanwhile, the average driving distance for recreational golfers has decreased one yard since 2005 to 216 yards. To me, this means having one set of equipment rules for elite tournament players—amateur and professional alike— and another for recreational players. Although the word is an anathema to some traditionalists, I can live with a “bifurcation” of the rules.
Several major sports have done a better and smarter job of regulating the effects of technology. Look at Major League Baseball (MLB). It has long banned the use of aluminum bats in the game, knowing the increased velocity imparted by such bats would be ruinous to current ballpark dimensions. And recently, MLB took steps to deaden its official ball in order to combat the surge in home runs. Hmmm, sure seems like reasonable measures to harness the effects of “distance” in the game. Another example is tennis. In 2002, the Tennis Federation adopted a new tournament ball to help slow down the serve game on hard courts while speeding up the game on slower surfaces such as clay. The slightly larger ball came off the racquet at the same speed as a standard tennis ball but it slowed down during flight to give the receiver about 10 percent more reaction time. The result
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was more rallies and less of a power serve game.
which maximize the benefits of ball and equipment advancements.
The USGA and the R & A are taking a cautious and methodical approach in weighing the distance issue. Recently, they released an update on the subject announcing proposed limitations on the length of shafts and the spring-like effect of clubfaces.
Complicating this discussion are the ageold bugaboos of money and commercial interests. Golf is beset with publicly traded equipment companies that thrive on the marketing and endorsement of Tour stars. They have a major financial stake in this debate. Likewise, Tour players and their agents want as few regulations as possible for equipment and ball manufacturers. They’re not going to bite the hands that feeds them.
There was even talk of looking at a new ball with a specified density requirement that might make them lighter, thereby having an increased negative effect on the fastest swingers. That innovation is certainly worth pursuing given elite players’ higher swing speeds, unlike slower recreational players’,
Where this all leads remains uncertain. But here’s one safe bet: attorneys will be very busy. MGJ
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2021 GAM Tentative Tournament Schedule Event: 110th Michigan Amateur Location: Cascade Hills Country Club Date: Tue. – Sat., June 22-26 Entry Deadline: April 21 Qualifiers: Edgewood CC May 3 Gowanie GC May 7 Clio CC May 10 Washtenaw GC May 11 Fieldstone GC May 13 Pheasant Run GC May 19 Bedford Valley GC May 19 Kaufman GC May 27 Twin Lakes G&SC May 28 Forest Akers GC - West May 29 Boyne Highlands – Moor June 2 Greywalls June 5 Second Chance Owosso CC
June 9
Event: 100th GAM Championship Location: Franklin Hills CC Date: Aug 2-3 Entry Deadline: Qualifiers: Atlas Valley GC June 30 Michaywe Pines July 1 Edgewood CC July 12 Sunnybrook CC July 14 Forest Akers GC – West July 16 Indian Springs July 22 Polo Fields G&CC July 26 Event: 39th GAM Mid-Amateur Location: Boyne Heather & Moor Date: Sept 1-2 Entry Deadline: August 20 Event: 13th GAM Senior Match Play Location: Stoatin Brae Date: June 1-4 Entry Deadline: May 19 Event: 15th GAM Senior Four-Ball Location: PohlCat GC Date: Aug. 16-17 Entry Deadline: August 4
Event: 105th Michigan Women’s Amateur Location: Saginaw CC Date: Mon.-Fri. June 14-18 Entry Deadline: June 4 Event: 29th GAM Women’s Championship Location: Klinger Lake CC Date: Mon.-Tues., July 26-27 Entry Deadline: July 14 Event: 23nd GAM Women’s Mid-Amateur Location: Oakhurst G&CC Date: Tues. – Wed., June 1-2 Entry Deadline: May 19
Second Chance Owosso CC
July 19
Event: 11th GAM Women’s Four-Ball Location: Polo Fields G&CC Date: July 12-13 Entry Deadline: June 30
Event: 43 MI Girls’ Junior State Amateur Location: Forest Akers GC - East Date: July 6-9 Entry Deadline:
Event: 17th Michigan Women’s Senior Amateur Location: Mt. Pleasant CC Date: June 28-29 Entry Deadline: June 16
Event: 3nd GAM Junior Kickoff Location: Washtenaw GC Date: April 24-25 Entry Deadline: April 18
Event: 25th GAM Women’s Senior Location: Birchwood Farms G&CC Date: August 29-30 Entry Deadline: August 18
Event: 13th GAM Junior Stroke Play Location: Forest Akers GC - East Date: August 4-5 Entry Deadline: July 26
Evert: 10th GAM Net Match Play Location: Lakes of Taylor Date: June 7-9 Entry Deadline: May 26
Event: 5th 14 & Under Match Play Championship Location: Woodside GC Date: July 20-21 Entry Deadline: July 7
Event: 31st GAM Net Team Location: Oakhurst G&CC Date: July 19 Entry Deadline: July 7
Event: 9th GAM Junior Invitational Location: Forest Akers GC - West Date: Sept. 18-19 Entry Deadline: Sept. 6
Event: 20th Michigan Net Amateur Location: Washtenaw GC Date: Aug. 23-24 Entry Deadline: August 11
Event: GAM Tournament of Champions Location: Travis Pointe CC Date: Oct. 4 Entry Deadline: Sept. 26
Event: 7th GAM Net Chapman Location: Grosse Ile G&CC Date: Monday, May 17 Entry Deadline: May 5
Event: 11th GAM Sr. Tourn. of Champions Location: CC of Jackson Date: Sept. 27 Entry Deadline: Sept. 19
Event: 1st GAM Two-Person Scramble Event: 35th GAM Senior Championship Location: TPC Michigan Location: Barton Hills CC Date: Monday, June 28 Date: Sept 14-15 Entry Deadline: June 16 Entry Deadline: Sept. 1 Event: 5th Michigan Senior Net Am Event: 6th GAM Super Sr Champ. Location: Atlas Valley GC Location: The Medalist GC Date: August 2-3 Date: Wed.-Thurs., July 28-29 Entry Deadline: July 21 Entry Deadline: July 16 Event: 10th GAM Scramble Championship Event: 12th GAM Sr/Mid-Am Team Location: Tullymore Resort (Tullymoor & St. Location: Western, Plum Hollow, Grosse Ile (5/24) Ives Courses) Date: May 17/May 24 Date: Sept. 26-27 Entry Deadline: April 15 Entry Deadline: Sept. 15 Event: 8th GAM Four-Ball Championship Location: Country Club of Lansing Date: Sept. 20 Entry Deadline: Sept. 8
Event: 43rd MI Junior State Amateur Location: TPC Michigan Date: Mon. – Thurs., July 26 – 29 Entry Deadline: Qualifiers: A-Ga-Ming June 26 Huron Meadows GC July 7 Twin Lakes G&SC July 9 Gull Lake CC July 12 Links of Novi July 14 Pontiac CC July 15
nd
Event: 49th Fuller Cup Matches Location: Prestwick Village GC Date: Oct. 12 Event: 71st Men’s Atlas Trophy Matches Location: Macatawa GC Date: Oct. 2-3 Event: 29th Women’s Atlas Trophy Matches Location: Tecumseh GC Date: May 22-23 Event: 10th GAM/GO Matches Location: Date: Event: GAM Father & Son/Parent Child Location: Cherry Creek GC Date: Monday July 12 Event: GAM Golf Day Series Championship Location: Indianwood G&CC - Old Date: Oct. 5
2021 USGA Championships and Qualifiers Event: Location: Date: Entry Deadline: Local Qual:
U.S. Open
Event: Location: Date: Entry Deadline: Local Qual:
U.S. Junior Amateur
Event: Location: Date: Entry Deadline: Local Qual: Event: Location: Date: Entry Deadline: Local Qual:
Torrey Pines GC, San Diego, Calif. Thurs-Sun, June 17-20 Muskegon CC Barton Hills CC
May 3 May 10
The CC of North Carolina, Pinehurst, N.C. Mon-Sat, July 19-24 The Meadows (GVSU) TPC Michigan
June 14 June 15
U.S. Senior Open Omaha Country Club, Omaha, Neb. Thurs-Sun, July 8-11 Knollwood CC
Oakmont CC, Oakmont, Pa. Mon-Sun, Aug. 9-15 July 5 July 6 July 19
Event: Location: Date: Entry Deadline: Local Qual:
U.S. Mid-Amateur
Event: Location: Date: Entry Deadline: Local Qual:
U.S. Senior Amateur
Event: Location: Date: Entry Deadline: Local Qual:
U.S. Amateur Four-Ball
Sankaty GC, Siasconset, Mass. Sat-Thurs, Sept. 25-30 Spring Lake CC Detroit GC – North
Aug. 25 Aug. 26
CC of Detroit, Grosse Pte. Farms, Mich.
Sat-Thurs, Aug. 28 – Sept. 2 Oakland Hills CC - North July 19
CC of Birmingham, Birmingham, Ala.
Sat - Wed, May 14-18, 2022 Battle Creek CC
Event: Location: Date: Entry Deadline: Local Qual:
U.S. Girls’ Junior Amateur Columbia CC, Chevy Chase, Md. Mon. – Sat., July 12-17
Event: Location: Date: Entry Deadline: Local Qual:
U.S. Women’s Amateur
Lake Forest GC June 21
Westchester CC, Rye, N.Y.
Mon-Sun, Aug. 2-8 St. Clair GC
July 2
May 25
U.S. Amateur
Egypt Valley CC Oakland U (Katke) Walnut Creek CC
Event: U.S. Women’s Open Location: The Olympic Club, San Francisco, Calif. Date: Thurs-Sun, Jun. 3-6 Entry Deadline: Sectional Qual:
Oct. 13
Event: U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur Location: Berkeley Hall GC, Bluffton, GC Date: Sat-Thurs, Sept. 25-30 Entry Deadline: Local Qual: Event: Location: Date: Entry Deadline: Local Qual:
U.S. Women’s Senior Amateur Lakewood Club, Point Clear, Ala. Fri-Wed, Sept. 10-15 Wednesday, July 29 Spring Meadows CC Aug. 12
Event: U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball (2022) Location: TBA Date: Entry Deadline: Local Qual:
Michigan Golf Journal Michigan News and Notes
PGA of America Honors Detroiter Reneé Fluker In mid-February, as part of a Black History Month tribute, the PGA of America honored long-time golf supporter Reneé Fluker, in a video series called ‘Standouts: Black Women in Golf.’ Fluker founded the Midnight Golf Program 20 years ago and still oversees its great success as President, helping mostly inner-city teenagers advance their place in life via the game of golf. Fluker oversees daily program operations and manages all phases of donor relations. Her evenings are spent mentoring 250 metroDetroit high school seniors each week, with the help of other business professionals,
alumni from the program – and from the golf side, PGA teaching pros who give of their time teaching the finer traits of golf. Not just the golf swing however, but also the traits of discipline, etiquette and respect for the rules. There is almost always a waiting list for teens wanting to join. Since 2001, more than 2,500 students have progressed through the program, with 90 percent enrolling in college. Midnight Golf started with 17 students meeting at Franklin-Wright Settlements. Now it’s expanded to a 30-week curriculum that has helped hundreds of metro Detroit’s
at-risk high school students enter college and various professional careers. Students learn about financial literacy, college readiness and community activism — while being exposed to the game of golf. The PGA video can be viewed here: https://vimeo. com/511199192 MGJ
Memorial Day Weekend is a New Beginning for Patriot Golf Day PGA REACH, the charitable foundation of the PGA of America, and the Folds of Honor, which provides educational scholarships to spouses and children of fallen and disabled service members, will jointly host the 15th Patriot Golf Day over Memorial Day Weekend – the first time
the nationwide annual fundraiser will be conducted then. Traditionally it has been held Labor Day weekend. Lt. Col. Dan Rooney, PGA, Founder and CEO of Folds of Honor, said: “Working closer with the PGA, we can now offer opportunities and services that benefit both
our Veterans through PGA HOPE and their families through educational scholarships funded by Folds of Honor.” For details go to: www. foldsofhonor.org/patriotgolf-day/ MGJ
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Tournament Champions The Michigan State women’s golf team won its first tournament of the season in early February, capturing the FAU Paradise Invitational in Boca Raton, Florida. The Spartans shot an even-par 288 in the final round, the lowest score of any team in the field. Michigan State won with a 6-under-par 858 (282288-288) total, topping Maryland by one stroke and third-place Vanderbilt by two. MSU entered the final round four shots behind leader South Florida, which finished fourth.
“It’s a good start to the season,” MSU coach Stacy Slobodnik-Stoll said. “It was a good experience, and it feels great to be on the road with the team again (after a year off due to Covid-19).” PGA Four-Ball Champions Repeat: In a field of more than 100 teams in the PGA Four-Ball Stableford Team Championship, the same two guys won the same
tournament two years in a row with the same two guys finishing second. That happens in golf about as often as making consecutive albatrosses. Yet Ben Cook of Caledonia, MI and Ben Kern of Georgetown, TX, split the $10,000 first prize for the second consecutive year. They made six birdies for 12 points in the final round on the Ryder Course at Port St. Lucie, FL, finishing five ahead with 46. MGJ
EAGLES FOR CHILDREN HEADING INTO 10TH YEAR children in each club’s local area. It began with the idea of using one great moment on the golf course – and Eagle – to benefit children in need.
Eagles for Children is a 501(c)3 organization that created a program designed for golf clubs to raise money in a fun, golf-oriented fashion to benefit disadvantaged
Co-founders Hal Zaima and Don Kegley of Oakland Hills Country Club created the concept in 2012. Three other local clubs agreed to join; and all totaled the clubs had raised nearly $40,000 and awarded to 14 different
children’s charities in SE Michigan. Nine seasons later, Eagles for Children has given grants to over 100 local children’s charities totaling $2,865,403. This year 14 clubs are participating. More details on the program can be found in our original story from April, 2018: https:// michigangolfjournal. com/2018/March/16/ index.html MGJ
Michigan Golf Journal Michigan News and Notes
U.S. Open Qualifiers Return in Michigan After Covid-19 concerns cancelled local qualifying for the 2020 U.S. Open, such qualifiers are returning this spring for the 121st U.S. Open Championship – with two being hosted in Michigan. Muskegon Country Club will host the men on Monday, May 3, followed a week later with a qualifier at Barton Hills near Ann Arbor on May 10. The USGA is offering 109 sites nationwide and in Canada. California and Florida lead with the most local sites at 14 and 13, respectively. Weather is
a factor in scheduling as the first local qualifier is scheduled for April 26 in Tennessee and the last is May 18 in Ontario. Barton Hills is an exceptional Donald Ross design. A long ravine runs through a large section of the back 9, creating rolling fairways and a very challenging climb to the highly perched green of No. 15. Back in 2008, the course hosted the USGA Women’s Mid-Amateur, and 10 years prior contested the U.S. Women’s Amateur. Muskegon Country Club,
founded in 1908, has ties to Ross and has hosted two Michigan Amateur Championships since 2005. Ken Venturi (1964) and Orville Moody (1969) are the only players to win the U.S. Open after qualifying through both local and final play. To be eligible, a player must have a Handicap Index® not exceeding 1.4, or be a professional. MGJ
Grand Traverse Resort Now Offers Luxury and Premium Rental Properties Grand Traverse Resort and Spa has teamed up with Homes & Villas by Marriott International to offer premium home rentals that provide guests extraordinary options to choose from when booking travel from among its 30 hotel brands and more than 16,000 home rental properties around the world. Grand Traverse Resort listings consist of homes and condos with amenities like access to a private beach club, three championship
golf courses, and upscale dining, plus wonderful views of Grand Traverse Bay and Old Mission Peninsula. MGJ
Book Review
The Final Missing Piece of Ben Hogan’s Secret Puzzle By Fred Altvater Dedicated golf fans are familiar with the Ben Hogan mystique and have searched to uncover his secret for years. Golfers have studied his books, “Power Golf” and “Five Lessons” in detail to find the key that would make them consistent strikers of the golf ball, just like Hogan. Several books on golf swing technique quote Hogan and refer to his published works, but they all have left out important facts. Finally, someone has found the final piece of the puzzle and is making it available to the public. Dave Hamilton is a single digit handicap golfer and has spent his lifetime tinkering with his golf swing. He has been a better than average golfer for over 50 years, but always felt something was missing and continued his search for the perfect move. In his new book, “The Final Missing Piece of Ben Hogan’s Secret Puzzle,” Hamilton explains not only why, but how to improve your golf swing in easy to understand language. Hogan developed a strong left hand to counteract his tendency to hook. Hamilton has learned that a strong left hand is one of the keys to a solid strike and offers drills to increase overall strength and performance. He also prescribes simple exercises to strengthen your grip that can be accomplished while taking a daily walk or sitting in your easy chair. So much has been made of the proper plane for the golf swing, but it has always been difficult to demonstrate. Using a simple baseball bat swing
and Hula Hoop drill, Hamilton’s book easily outlines the perfect swing plane to build muscle memory and improve your scores. Dave Hamilton is not a teaching professional, but he has spent a lifetime studying the golf swing and understands what every golfer needs to improve. This book is a must read for any golfer, whether a scratch, or high handicapper. Golf doesn’t have to be hard. Trackman, Launch Angle, Ball Speed and Spin Rate are important to comprehend, but sometimes the best answers are the easiest to understand. This book can unlock the secret and help you become a better golfer. Get your copy on Amazon today and lower that handicap in 2021. MGJ
Photo credit: The Sea Pines Resort and Rob Tipton
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