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EDITOR'S LETTER

Welcome Aboard in 2022

What's Inside:

Regular readers of the Michigan Golf Journal may have noticed some ongoing adjustments in recent months, with an updated logo and new website address: www.MIgolfjournal.com. All changes are an effort to test some rebranding options while progressing forward with a new designer and webmaster as well, to expand the best magazine attributes of a state-focused publication. This year is the start of the fifth year I have created this publication, with the relentless approach to bring you a full complement of Michigan-focused golf news as the top priority. Your feedback tells me that’s happening. Golf lovers have many media options at the national level for pro Tour news, but almost all local coverage has otherwise disappeared. The Michigan Golf Journal – or MI Golf Journal as it is now sometimes called – is meant to fill local needs by providing the entertaining golf news and travel features that are most relevant to Michiganders.

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This month we touch on junior golf, college golf, amateur tournament opportunities, new equipment, Black History Month, a marathon Michigan golfer and the future U.S. Women’s Open coming to Michigan with new perspectives you haven’t seen yet. Please enjoy; and thank you for coming along for the ride. Tom Lang Editor and Publisher

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BLACK HISTORY MONTH

Black History Month: Calvin Peete PGA Tour wins, including at least one win in each year from 1982-86. Most impressively was Peete capturing the 1985 Players Championship, which is arguably the best professional field in the world of golf each season. In 1984, he won the Vardon Trophy for low scoring average. Peete was twice a member of the U.S. Ryder Cup Team during his forties in 1983 and 1985 (2-1-1). He also finished among the top five on the PGA Tour money list in 1982, ’83 and ’85. Peete was well-known for driving accuracy – he won that statistical title for 10 consecutive years on Tour (1981-90). All those years of success was despite a less-than-normal swing due to breaking his elbow falling from a cherry tree in Traverse City as a child and it

By Tom Lang As the February calendar turns and America celebrates Black History Month, the late Calvin Peete, clearly comes to mind as one of the best black golfers ever in the U.S. Peete was one of the greatest African American ambassadors of the game – and the most successful before Tiger Woods entered the scene. Peete was a Detroit native, the eighth born of nine children in his family. Very remarkably, Peete didn’t pick up golf until age 23 but went on to formulate a career of 12

not healing correctly. He could not fully extend his left arm, and he said several times that it helped him be the most accurate driver of the ball in the game. What an amazing athlete to adjust to the game in that way. Peete retired from the PGA Tour in 1995 but continued to play on the Champions Tour through 2001. He played in eight Masters Tournaments, eight U.S. Opens and nine PGA Championships with a top finish of third in the 1982 PGA. He was inducted into the Michigan Golf Hall of Fame in 1993. He died in 2015 in Atlanta after a long battle with lung cancer. He was 71.

THE QUEST FOR EVERY HOLE IN MICHIGAN

Michigan Man’s Quest to Play Every Golf Hole in the State So far, at 1,032 courses played, he is just three short of the goal By Tom Lang Fred Miller, PhD. is a golfing warrior – or a golf nut – or maybe a little of both. The retired Grosse Pointe Farms resident, Wayne State University professor and cancer researcher at the Karmanos Institute, claims to have played every golf hole in the state of Michigan except for a total of 36 holes remaining at three golf courses – Bloomfield Hills Country Club (18), The Dunes Club near Benton Harbor (9) and Epworth Heights (9) near Muskegon. All three locations are private clubs that he has tried to get on, but failed to so far. As of December 2021, Miller says he has played 1,032 golf courses (combined current and now closed) in Michigan in his lifetime. He counts a 9

or 18-hole course as one course. If the location has 27 or 36 holes, he counts that as two courses. He also requires of himself to score lower than 100 for 18 holes and lower than 50 for nine; if he doesn’t, he must play it again to make the list. There wasn’t time for me to leaf through and count every single scorecard Miller has stored in a large wooden filing cabinet to show his score and presence at each course, but I did see the nearly 1,000 pencils from each that he’s collected. He has several hundred logoed balls, and an excel spreadsheet – what else would we expect from a cancer researcher? – detailing all the locations, the green fees paid, the date played and his score. “I read a book that reviewed most of the golf

WWW.MIGOLFJOURNAL.COM courses in southeast Michigan and I thought that would be fun to try them,” Miller said regarding the decision to begin the mission in 1998. “Then the Detroit Free Press had an annual list of courses, so I cut that out and followed it. “Initially I said I’d play nine holes at each course, but that turned out to be a mistake, because later on I decided I would play all the holes. So, I had to go back and play those again. That’s what got me going on this.” You could say Miller has seen it all in golf in Michigan. He’s played every course that is on an island – such as Belle Isle, Grosse Ile, Coldwater Lake, Drummond Island, Mackinaw Island, etc. He even flew over to Beaver Island with three buddies. At the time it was his final public course to check off the list. He played the few holes that are plopped down inside Wild Cherry RV Park at Lake Leelanau. He played a short par 4 dogleg that has a tree in the green; yes, the large trunk was completely surrounded by putting surface at White Dear Country Club (not private). Then there is Valley High Country Club in Northport. Miller says two brothers built a par 3 nine-hole course for their friends and family. “It’s not open to the public, except if you know about it, it’s open to you,” he said. Another course in the U.P. had a dogleg par 3 ! On the list of his favorite courses is the Links/Quarry at Boyne’s Bay Harbor, the Hills Course at The Highlands, and Arcadia Bluffs. “I really like Arcadia Bluffs; for some reason I play really well there,” he said. “There’s so many great courses in Michigan.”

As soon as a new Michigan course opens, he gets there as soon as possible. Those recently include Arcadia’s South Course, Stoatin Brae, Sage Run, The Loop Red and Black, and the short course Bootlegger at Forest Dunes. The last two public courses played were American Dunes and the new Silver 9 at Saskatoon. To be as thorough as possible at getting every hole in Michigan, Miller used Google Earth to scan the Michigan state line and found three golf courses to play that have club houses in another state, but with multiple holes in Michigan: Continues on Page 7 >>

THE QUEST FOR EVERY HOLE IN MICHIGAN Gateway in Land O’ Lakes, WS Knollwood CC in Granger, IN Tameron CC (also known as Sunningdale) in Toledo, OH To get access to private courses, Miller had had to get creative. He goes to GAM Days that are hosted at mostly private clubs. He joined GAM’s rater team for a few years to get on others. He has played in charity events at courses he hadn’t played yet. Most other opportunities come from tapping into his friends’ network to find a friend-of-a-friend member of the club. Going outside of Michigan, Miller says he has played a total of 1,412 golf courses, including 30 in Ontario, one in British Columbia, two in the Virgin Islands and five in Hawaii. He’s also gone

to 124 golf courses rated in the top 100 at least one year by GOLF or Golf Digest – 27 of which were in Michigan at least one time. In 2012 the family took a vacation out west. He got a head start in the car and played golf for a week, then picked up his wife and kids at the airport and had family vacation time together. They then flew home while he drove home to hit more courses along the way. That same year he spent $4,595.50 on greens fees in and outside of Michigan. About that same time, he did a major tour of the U.P. the summer after retiring. From July 4th through the 12th (9 days) he tracked 33 courses at a cost of $987. Eighteen courses were 18 holes, and 15 were 9 holes, at an average of 51 holes per day. “I had a sleeping bag in car and stayed at various state parks with shower facilities. I played sun-up to sundown, driving between courses.” The most Michigan courses he played for the first time in one season was 127, in 2006. If any reader thinks they can help Miller play the final three golf courses on his list, contact me at: michigangolfjournal@gmail.com

FIRST TEE WEST MICHIGAN

First Tee Growing Fast in West Michigan record first year, in part with help from a $10,000 grant by the USGA. “Last spring, we were off to the races and started programming in Kalamazoo and we were just overwhelmed with the response,” said Tyler Smies, the only executive director the chapter has had since its beginning 11 years ago. “We ended up with 351 kids in 2021, by far the most we’ve had in a first year, including the Grand Rapids program. “It has been extremely encouraging including the fact that we were reaching our target demographics, with 120 of those kids on scholarship, based on their family’s income. Those kids get in the program for $5 or

By Tom Lang First Tee’s West Michigan chapter, based in Grand Rapids, saw tremendous growth last spring that should help the program that teaches youth about life skills and character-building via the game of golf, gain even more traction and provide more opportunities for kids. The staff and volunteers expanded into Kalamazoo in a

less, and we actively pursue those students to make sure they have an opportunity to play and to learn the game.” Smies gave much credit to Kalamazoo-area golf supporters Dean Marks, who runs the municipal golf courses in Kalamazoo, and Mitch Wilson, the golf coach at Kalamazoo College who’s well known for his competitive play in GAM tournaments.

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Marks runs the Kalamazoo Junior Golf Association, which provides more competitive

the Board. He said his motivation for helping first started by his parents teaching him about

play in the region. First Tee’s better players can easily transition into that “partnership” program. The chapter has a special program that funds scholarships for students to get one-on-

golf and his dad building his first set of clubs.

one lessons with local pros as well, to experience their best growth in the game. The chapter serves an average of 1,675 kids annually in Grand Rapids, Muskegon, Holland and now Kalamazoo. Smies agrees that volunteers are the backbone of programs like First Tee. They mentor youth, provide help with homework, and are positive examples in the community. One such volunteer is Board member Jason Manshum. He began by donating some equipment to the program, then did some coaching and four years later serves on

“I immediately fell in love with the game,” Manshum said. “The lessons that you learn, the nature of it being you against the course, there’s a lot of mental challenges, and of course physical challenges. And I love being outdoors in a beautiful setting. So, fast forward all these years later, I’m still and avid golfer who takes trips and plays locally, and with a great group of friends. “I realized golf has opened so many doors for me and I have made so many connections and built relationships with people who golf that I probably wouldn’t have otherwise, that I Continues on next page >>

FIRST TEE WEST MICHIGAN wanted to give back to the sport somehow. So, how do I do that; enter the First Tee. If you look at the mission, golf is just the vehicle used to teach life lessons to kids. On the course, at home, in the classroom, down the road on the job. Persistence, perseverance, things like confidence – the things I believe you inherently learn when you put a club in your hand and a peg in the ground at the first tee.” Manshum said his favorite First Tee program in West Michigan is unique to most other chapters. It’s called Homework and Hitting and is active for three 6-week segments from spring to fall. He said at multiple locations, kids can come in and get guidance on homework. Once they complete the homework, the kids can do indoor putting, hit balls into nets or indoor bays. There are additional games or activities to play and

socialize. “I think it helps keep the kids’ skills sharp, but also keeps them interested in the game through the wintertime. We’ve had a lot of success with that the past few winters at several locations across West Michigan.” A highlight for the chapter in 2021 were two students being chosen to play along side PGA Tour Champions players in the Pure Insurance Championship at Pebble Beach. Angelo Luciani played with pro Tim Herron, and Jack Seufert played with Woody Austin. They were both high school golf teammates at East Grand Rapids at the time, and the first to reach that event for West Michigan. Players have to have a 4 handicap or lower to even apply.

COVER STORY: BOYNE GOLF

BOYNE Golf: One Resort, Three Locations, 10 Times the Fun

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By Tom Lang There is no question the last couple of years have altered the way people look at and experience the game of golf. More people are playing golf than ever before, recorded at 24.3 million golfers nationally, and climbing, with rounds played expanding too. Women and youth are providing new golfers to total participant numbers as well. Travel choices have changed as many people stayed closer to home. In all three categories, and many more, BOYNE Golf has been able to accommodate the game the past couple years as well as anyone I have witnessed. One shift in particular has been the number of Michigan golfers returning to Boyne that have perhaps traveled elsewhere for their buddy trips or vacations. They are rediscovering why The Heather at The Highlands was voted National Golf Course of the Year in 2019 – or why both Golf Digest and Golfweek have placed Boyne’s Bay Harbor Links/Quarry two 9s on their top 100 Public Courses in America list (at No. 63 and No. 81, respectively in the U.S.). Arguably the biggest endorsement was FORBES Magazine, with contributor Scott Kramer picking Boyne as one of the top golf resorts in the country, recommending Boyne right along with the likes of Pebble Beach, Bandon Dunes, Pinehurst, American Club/Destination Kohler, and Kapalua in Hawaii.

COVER STORY: BOYNE GOLF Kramer wrote these comments about BOYNE Golf: My favorite of all, this Northern Michigan destination is actually three resorts with collectively ten golf courses spread over a fairly close stretch. There’s Boyne Mountain Resort with two layouts that offer spectacular views; The Highlands with four outstanding courses on-site, as well as a par-3 that plays up and down a ski hill; and the luxury property Bay Harbor Golf Club with 27 simply magnificent and scenic holes—many of them along the shore of Lake Michigan. Within five minutes lies Boyne’s Crooked Tree Golf Club that’s carved through stands of centuries-old hardwood, while perched on bluffs high above Little Traverse Bay. The variety of golf here is collectively refreshing, the scenery amazing, and the staff always welcoming. Go in the fall, when the leaves start changing color—thank me later.

Statistics show that “local” golfers have been giving BOYNE Golf a try again with the increased desire to stay closer to home during the pandemic. Data also shows their friends are flying in from other parts of the country in record numbers to join them, thanks to direct flights from 17 large American cities now coming into the Traverse City Airport. Cities like Phoenix, Dallas, Newark, Minneapolis, Denver, Boston, Philadelphia, Atlanta and Orlando, just to name about half. Michigan has always been a popular summertime destination with its mild 70-80-degree weather days for those golfers living in the heat-oppressive South – but recently that influx has blossomed even more. Whether their buddies get a house together in northern Michigan or utilize Boyne accommodations like the Ross Cottages at The Highlands, Disciples Ridge Condominiums at Boyne Mountain or Crooked Tree Cottages near Bay Harbor, it’s time for Michiganders to rediscover what BOYNE Golf has to offer with its championship-conditioned courses and growing amenities all over resort grounds. Bay Harbor Links Hole 6

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All-New: The Highlands, for men, women and kids A branding refresh was announced in December for The Highlands at Harbor Springs – Boyne’s long-time property to the north of Petoskey and east of Harbor Springs – which by the way are in themselves two of northern Michigan’s most delightful small towns with a mix of old historic charm and modern conveniences. The rebranding of The Highlands is part of Boyne’s 2030 Transformational Journey – a plan that continues to reinvigorate founder Everett Kircher’s vision of a grand, 4-seasons resort. While tons of changes and improvements have taken place the last 60 years to separate the property from its former defunct Harbor Highlands ski area, Boyne is taking even further steps this decade to serve golfers and skiers alike. The recently completed major renovation of 87 rooms in the Main Lodge is a game changer, especially for women and couples seeking a hotel lodging experience that is commensurate with the quality of the courses – plus more room and lobby remodels are on the way. My recent hotel stay in the updated section of the hotel was impressive. The bathrooms are stunning, and the seating and bedroom areas

Boyne Mountain Alpine Hole 4

Brookes, with hand-casted, forged, polished, and assembled taps, Euro-style toilets, custom designed lighted mirrors, vanity toe kick nightlights, and local art decorating the walls. Golfers of all age and skill levels can already enjoy the new TrackMan Range at The Highlands’ Ross Golf Center, plus custom club fittings when combined with the popular GEARS technology. There have already been significant upgrades to both the Ross Memorial Course and The Moor (with more stories to come in future magazines), plus new snow-making equipment. Golf Digest magazine named BOYNE Golf Academy its Editor’s Choice as a Best Golf School and Academy in the U.S. with its Continues on Page 17 >>

have improved use of space and style. Information provided by the property explains how the changes took place to blend traditional English countryside with contemporary features, such as classic materials from tufted leather headboards and rich wood built-in cabinetry to wainscoting and metal elements. Bathrooms feature marble floor and wall tiles, fixtures from British manufacturer Lefroy &

Remodeled room at The Highlands

COVER STORY: BOYNE GOLF BOYNE Golf Academy, the Couples Golf School, and Junior Day Camps – truly a family resource for golf improvement if you’re ever going to find one.

all participants have choices that fit their comfort level to make it fun to play the game, and, they can all play together.

Kids aged 17 and under play golf free with a paying adult after 2:00 p.m. – and during standard tee times, with just a cart fee. On

There is the Women’s Golf School – and for those who don’t want to golf, or do but get aches and pains from doing so – Michigan’s largest spa can be found at Boyne Mountain

Sundays after 2:00 (Family Fundays) at The Monument, The Moor and at Crooked Tree Golf

plus a full-service spa at Inn at Bay Harbor. A few years ago, my wife tried the spa at Boyne

Club, a family of four (mom or dad, two juniors) can play for free as long as one adult pays the normal rate.

Mountain and called it “the best one ever.” Rounding out potential experiences for families and couples include:

The List Goes On and On: BOYNE Golf has won so many awards and/or placement on top lists that there is no way to catalogue them all here. But one that stands out to me the most is being named by Golf Digest as a Top 33 destination for women’s golf trips in 2022. Six tee boxes on every single one of Boyne’s 10 golf courses assure that

Paved Bike Paths from Boyne Valley Trail from Boyne Mountain to Boyne City and the Little Traverse Wheelway from Harbors Springs, through Petoskey and Bay Harbor, ending in Charlevoix Avalanche Bay at Boyne Mountain, Michigan’s largest Indoor Waterpark Depending on the resort, it’s a 30-60 minute drive to Mackinaw City, the gateway to historic Mackinac Island.

If all that is not enough to plan your golfing vacation, click here or call 866.966.6910 and a BOYNE Guest Experience Agent can help will all kinds of information on resort options, golf courses and activities to formulate your own memorable trip. Ross Course redesigned opening hole

COLLEGE CORNER

CMU Women’s Golf Team Gets a Boost Over the Competition

Partnership with PXG Golf pays dividends Junior golfers look at many factors when choosing a college to play at the next level.

Methodist, Washington and Vanderbilt – a very elite group of college golf programs.

In the case of the Central Michigan Chippewas, coach Jim Earle has the blessing of being able to dangle the free PXG golf equipment carrot in

Each university involved is outfitted each year with all new clubs, or at least parts replacement like heads, shafts and grips;

front of wide-eyed recruits.

whatever each golfer may need.

Back in 2019, Renee Parsons, a CMU graduate

“It feels like you are a Tour player with a

and wife of PXG founder Bob Parsons, arranged for CMU to be added to the PXG University Program along with the likes of Duke, Arizona,

contract for clubs; our girls get treated like the pros do,” Earle said, now in his 4th season with the Chippewas. “It’s quite a great thing

Nevada, Oklahoma, Oregon, Southern

that the Parsons family and PXG Golf does for

WWW.MIGOLFJOURNAL.COM Collegiate golf. “It’s a great relationship with PXGto work with my players to help them get into the best possible fitted equipment that’s going to maximize their golfing ability and potential.” That same season in the fall of 2019, CMU – which re-started its women’s golf program from scratch in 2014 – had two 3rd-place finishes. This past autumn the team played in five tournaments and won three of them. The Chips also took second at Eastern Michigan and grabbed an additional third-place finish. Quite the change of fate in a short time frame. Earle said the team record vs. all the D1 universities combined at those events in the fall of 2021 was 43-2. Junior Zoe Vartyan, who came to CMU from Austria to play, said she didn’t know about the PXG relationship when she was recruited at just about the same time. But she knows today’s recruits notice for sure, “100 percent,” she said. “Recruits definitely hear about the PXG clubs we are getting, and they get super excited,” Vartyan continued. “I feel like it’s a big thing to help with recruiting. It shows that a huge company like PXG trusts us to be a good enough program to represent them, and (recruits think) if PXG trusts them and they are actually performing, that’s a big component and maybe that’s a program I want to be part of. “People are looking when we play with PXG clubs, and that makes you feel cool about yourself with PXG clubs in your bag. And it’s a confidence booster that they are giving us their clubs and we’ll hopefully do good things with them. It helps us a lot, because without good clubs it’s definitely harder to perform well.”

Vartyan placed first on the Austrian Juniors Golf Tour in 2018 and in 2017 before becoming a Chippewa. “It’s just an unbelievable resource for my players to have access to,” Earle added. “And players at this level with all their practicing and college play and summer play can go through three sets of wedges in a year. It’s a great resource for us and we do not take it for granted. The list of the other universities in their program is a list of who’s who, and for our mid-major program to be in that is just awesome.” By Tom Lang

WEST MICH GOLF SHOW

After a one-year hiatus due to the pandemic, the West Michigan Golf Show is back and anxious to tee off at DeVos Place in downtown Grand Rapids on Feb.11-13. As Michigan’s longest running consumer golf show, the 34th edition will highlight the top golf destinations in and outside the state, golf retailers and the chance to ‘get in the swing of things!’

Alt is especially encouraged by the attendance at recent Grand Rapids shows. She reported both the Grand Rapids Wine, Beer & Food Festival in late November and the Remodeling & New Homes Show in January approached their pre-pandemic attendance numbers and exhibitors reported sales surpassing previous records.

“We’re very excited, as are our exhibitors, to again be the unofficial start of the golf season,”

“The state-of-the-art air filtration system and hygiene standards implemented at DeVos

said Carolyn Alt, Senior Manager for ShowSpan, Inc. “In the past two years, golf has surged in popularity as a safe and healthy outdoor activity. There’s a pent-up demand for the Golf Show where patrons can plan their trips, buy

Place have reassured our patrons that we take their safety seriously,” Alt said.

merchandise and even get a mini-lesson at the show.”

Patrons will again see some favorite attractions. The ever-popular Treetops Holein-One-Challenge will remain a centerpiece, an actual golf hole begging patrons to try their luck and skill to make an ace, thus earning

Alt said patron surveys taken at past Shows

$100 on the spot. All monies raised will benefit

indicate 72% of attendees made a purchase at the Show and 58% of attendees played 30+ rounds of golf each year. “Avid golfers attend this Show,” said Alt.

the Folds of Honor and Patriot Golf Day charities. The Equitable Advisors Seminar Stage will

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showcase top teachers all weekend, including 2013 National PGA Teacher of the Year Lou Guzzi, who provided great golf perspective to attendees at the 2014 show. Other favorites include equipment and apparel sales by retailers, putting contests, training & fitness booths, the First Tee Family Golf Zone, and free lessons courtesy of the Ferris State PGM Program. And the tradition continues of rewarding early birds as the first 100 patrons each day receive a free sleeve of golf balls, courtesy of Boyne Golf. Another tradition is Ladies Day on Friday with special events and giveaways. Sponsors of the 2022 Show are Treetops Resort, Golf Association of Michigan (GAM), Equitable Advisors, Golf Car Plus, Alliance Beverage,

and Ferris State PGM Program. Admission is $12; Juniors 14 & under are FREE. Avoid the crowds and waiting in line by opting for online tickets. Good for all weekend or readmission, online tickets—with no added fee—are now available at www.WestMichiganGolfShow.com

PINEHURST AND SOUTHERN PINES

Pinehurst and Southern Pines: Golf’s “Title Town” By Brad King

While savoring its rich history, the Home of American Golf also eagerly anticipates its championship future. The Pinehurst-Southern Pines-Aberdeen region’s excitement boils down to two words: championship golf. Next up is the 77th U.S. Women’s Open Championship at Pine Needles Lodge and Golf Club in Southern Pines from June 2-5, 2022. This will be the fourth Women’s Open at Pine Needles, where Annika Sorenstam (1996), Karrie Webb (2001) and Cristie Kerr (2007) notched previous titles. In addition, the Country Club of North Carolina (CCNC) recently played host to the 2021 U.S. Junior Amateur. It was the third USGA event

research and testing center, turfgrass agronomy and management offices, along with a museum and welcome center. The resort’s crown jewel, Pinehurst No. 2, was awarded the USGA’s first U.S Open anchor site, with five championships scheduled from 2024 through 2047. For the second time in 2029, No. 2 will host both the U.S. Men’s and Women’s Opens in back-to-back weeks. Other exciting news includes construction of The Lodge at Pinehurst hotel, a 64,000-squarefoot, 34-room hotel on Pinehurst Resort’s campus that will overlook The Cradle Short Course. Plans for the hotel include meeting spaces, locker rooms, a fitness center and a bar.

contested at CCNC since the club’s debut in 1963. Meanwhile, the USGA is busy constructing a second home at Pinehurst Resort & Country Club called “Golf House Pinehurst,” which will

The Cradle has been an overwhelming smash hit with all golfers, particularly with the millennial crowd. Golfers can pay $50 and play as many holes as they like on the Gil

eventually be the site of the USGA’s equipment

Hanse-designed, par-3 layout. The Cradle is

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Franz also uncovered Ross’s “Lost Hole” —

you’ll enjoy on a golf course.

which is not part of the current routing — while researching historic materials prior to the restoration.

The Resort recently acquired one of the Village of Pinehurst’s most iconic hotels, The Magnolia Inn, along with Villaggio Ristorante & Bar. The Magnolia has served as the gateway to the Village since it opened in 1896, less than a year after Pinehurst was founded. Of course, there is plenty of additional golf buzz around the famed Sandhills, including a rousing renovation of Southern Pines Golf Club, a vintage Donald Ross-designed course dating to the early 1900s that is now under management of the company that owns and operates Pine Needles and Mid Pines. Architect Kyle Franz says the Southern Pines GC project evoked the essence of a Ross original, staying true to the well-preserved routing while removing elements that have been added through the years. More than 700 trees were removed, accentuating dramatic vistas throughout the property. The Ross greens have been revamped and the bunkers restored.

Other major renovation work has been done on area courses recently including Hanse’s facelift of Pinehurst No. 4, along with The New Course at Talamore Golf Resort, a popular Rees Jones original, and the neighboring Mid South Club, designed by Arnold Palmer. At the now private Dormie Club, there’s a new, spacious and stylish 16,000-square-foot clubhouse, along with 15 cottages and a standalone pro shop among numerous other upgrades at the only original Bill Coore-Ben Crenshaw design in North Carolina. The Home of American Golf remains proud of its past — and equally excited about its future. For the latest news about nearly 40 area courses and package information, please visit www.HomeofGolf.com.

AUGUSTA NATIONAL

Two Michigan College Players Headed to Augusta National Women’s Amateur University of Michigan women's golf junior Hailey Borja was invited to participate in the 2022 Augusta National Women's Amateur, March 30-April 2. With an international field of women amateurs, the field will compete in a 54-hole stroke-play event. Starting with 36 holes at the Island and Bluff nines at Champions Retreat Golf Club, the field will be cut down to the top 30, who will advance to Augusta National for the final round, Saturday April 2. The entire field will first play an official practice round at Augusta on that Friday. In her Michigan playing career, Borja has earned All-Big Ten second team honors (2020, '21) as she was the first U-M freshman to earn an allconference honor. She has started 19 straight

events for the Maize and Blue and carries a 73.25 career scoring average, which is on pace to set the all-time Wolverine record. In her 19 college events, she has 11 top 20 finishes, with four among the top five, including a recent win at the FGCU duel (Jan. 18) and a tie for fifth at the NCAA Championships (May 21-26, 2021), the top finish by a Wolverine at the national championship. Away from collegiate events, Borja has eight USGA tournaments to her credit, including three straight appearances at the U.S. Women's Amateur Championships. Advancing to match play in all three of those events, she reached her best finish last year making the Sweet 16.

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MSU’s Valery Plata: Michigan State senior women's golfer Valery Plata (Floridablanca, Colombia) was invited to participate in the 2022 Augusta National Women's Amateur (ANWA). The inaugural event was held in April of 2019, bringing together an international field of the best women's amateur golfers. "It's one of the top accomplishments of my career so far," Plata said about the invitation. "I've wanted to play in this ever since it was a thing. I actually remember calling Stacy (Slobodnik-Stoll) from home when I heard about it and told her I wanted to play in it and I wanted to figure out what I had to do. That was three years ago. This is yet another honor for Plata, who had a tremendous fall while playing on the college circuit and in international events. She led the Spartans in stroke average (73.00) in 12 rounds, while winning both the Women's Amateur Latin American (WALA) Championship in Argentina in November and then becoming the first-ever women's winner of the Patriot All-American Invitational in Arizona in December. Ranked No. 42 in the World Amateur Golf Rankings and No. 1 in the South American amateur ranks, Plata's win in Latin America automatically qualified her for two of the five Professional Majors in 2022, the AIG Women's Open and the Evian Championship. In June 2021 she made the cut at the Meijer LPGA Classic as well, scoring 4-under par. Plata, a 2-time First Team All-Big Ten selection and the 2020 Big Ten Player of the Year, has played in the last two U.S. Women's Amateurs

and was a semifinalist in 2020. Plata is the second Michigan State women's golfer to be selected to play in the ANWA, joining Allyson Geer-Park, who earned invitations in both 2019 and 2020 (the 2020 event was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic). Plata will not be the only Michigan State golfer to be playing in Augusta in April as James Piot (Canton), the 2021 U.S. Amateur winner, will play in the Masters. "It's tremendous," Slobodnik-Stoll said. "What we did over the last two years, with Valery a semi-finalist in 2020 in the U.S. Women's Am, then Valentina (Rossi) a semifinalist in the 2021 Am and then James (Piot) winning the U.S. Am, with those two driving (to Pennsylvania) to watch James win, it's just a very special time in the history of our program and something that we will always remember."

U.S. WOMEN’S OPEN IN MICHIGAN

Oakland Hills Gets Two U.S. Women’s Opens

Major announcement in January launches big future for women’s golf nationwide and in Michigan purse. The women’s purse is expected to reach $12 million in the next five years.

18th Hole, Credit Larry Lambrecht

By Tom Lang The USGA made women’s golf history in early January. It announced a huge increase in purse and exposure for the U.S. Women’s Open that brought praise from all corners of the country. The purse alone will nearly double, from $5.5 million to $10 million in 2022. Such a move is a huge step in showing equality between men and women in golf across the board that can lead to

“We didn’t just start to close the gap, we almost got all the way there,” said Michigan’s LPGA insider Liz Nagel of DeWitt, who has played on the pro Tour

most of the last 5-6 years. “I know this matters to each and every one of us, so in a way it’s seeing our passion and work come to life all the way down to the dollar sign.” Yet in the state of Michigan the largest impact is the fact Oakland Hills Country Club was awarded two of those special events, to take place in the years 2031 and 2042. The historic Michigan layout is one of many iconic courses

expanded recognition of women in golf at all levels.

named as future hosts yet was one of only three locations to be named a host for multiple years through 2046.

The men’s U.S. Open in 2021 had a $12.5 million

“We are obviously excited to be awarded two

WWW.MIGOLFJOURNAL.COM dates for the U.S. Women’s Open. It’s an honor

growing partnership with the USGA, and we

to be included with Merion and Oakmont as the clubs that were awarded two championships,” Club president Rick Palmer wrote via email.

are looking forward to further discussions on future championships.

For the past few years, Oakland Hills members invested more then $12 million into their South Course for a total remake of the property by one

“Oakland Hills is proud of what it has done for golf in the past, going back to the 1929 U.S. Women’s Amateur, won by the legendary Glenna Collett. But we are also exuberant

of the hottest designers in the market, Gil Hanse. What Hanse and his associates did was re-expose

about what we can do in the future for the game, particularly regarding the Women’s

the natural landscape that had been over-run by trees the past couple generations, better revealing the true features of the land where Donald Ross first designed the routing. Many bunkers were removed, but those that remained became bigger with more risk-reward elements. Hole 3 was moved a little, and on hole 7 the lake was taken out while they restored the creek crossing the fairway more than once. Sightlines became dramatic

Open and all those young women who will compete in 2031 and 2042.” Those host years seem like a long way aways, but they can be used as landmark dates to help promote more golf in general to the youth of

again, like Ross’ original layout over 100 years ago. “The South Course is such

New 7th Hole, Credit Larry Lambrecht

a gem in American golf course architecture,” Palmer added. “We believe it is championship ready after the splendid work of Gil Hanse and his team. Oakland Hills is excited about our

today. The economic impact as well for Southeast Michigan is a caveat golfers and non-golfers don’t always realize but can only help local businesses when the time comes.

EQUIPMENT REVIEWS

Titleist T-Series Iron Review By Kevin Caron, Club Fitter MILES OF GOLF Sole: In an effort to improve the club’s feel in regards to turf interaction, Titleist partnered up with the Vokey design wedge department. After receiving feedback from some of the best players in the world, Titleist reshaped the sole with variable bounce offerings to allow for more consistent transition through the turf. The new club heads now maintain a faster speed through the strike. T-100s Design: To the untrained eye, the T-100s looks like an exact replica of the T-100. Subtle differences in the heads overall configuration are what make this the faster option when comparing the two models. The loft specs of Every two years the golf community awaits the the T-100s are designed two degrees stronger release of Titleist’s new irons. The revamped Tfor extra distance compared to the standard TSeries irons focus on forgiveness through the use 18th100. Hole, Credit Larry Lambrechtof an innovative With the integration of multi-material designs allowing for better ‘Muscle Channel’, Titleist was able to results on off-center strikes. reposition head weight for a lower CG. This repositioned CG combined with the stronger T-100 loft produces a high launch with low spin Design: Given the T100’s compact and sleek resulting in extra yardage. This is an amazing design, Titleist had to develop alternative option for the golfer who prefers the feel, methods to improve the overall forgiveness and look, and workability of the standard T-100 feel. Using the denser D18 tungsten, they were but may be looking to gain a few extra yards able to place more weight in the heel and toe. While the previous tungsten weight had been welded to the head, Titleist has now utilized a new brazing process to minimize weight in certain spots throughout the head. This allows for a more precise CG placement creating a modern player’s iron with a higher MOI.

with each club. More comprehensive information and charts, plus details on the T-200 and the T-300 can be found at this link: https://www.milesofgolf.com/titleist-tseries-iron-review/

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Mizuno ST-G Driver Review By: Luke Nesbitt, Club Fitter MILES OF GOLF

incredible off the clubface, and can be adjusted to fit just about any player. In my testing with this club, I used the same shaft as my current driver – a Graphite Design Ad-DI 7x, paired with the 9* ST-G head at the -1* loft setting. I matched this driver as close to my current gamer as possible and it did not disappoint. Main takeaways from testing: The first thing I noticed is the feel off the face.

As a company primarily known for high quality iron production, Mizuno has been hard at work creating clubs for the very competitive driver market. The previously released ST-X And ST-Z drivers were a big step forward for Mizuno and seeing Keith Mitchell get a win on the PGA Tour while gaming the ST-Z has provided validation.

This company has long touted that “nothing feels like a Mizuno.” While this phrase has traditionally been tied to their amazing irons, I believe that it now works for their driver line as well. Even on off center strikes, this golf club feels awesome.

New this year, the Mizuno ST-G, is a driver that offers the most adjustability the company has

Secondly, I was thoroughly impressed with the ball speed produced by the ST-G. It’s important to note that I didn’t necessarily “have my best

ever offered. Instead of just two weight tracks on the sole, featured on the ST-200G driver, they have added an additional track at the back of the

stuff” while testing this driver. With an average smash factor of 1.45 (I’m usually around 1.48), I was leaving some ball speed on the table. That

sole. With the new placements of the weight tracks within the head, they can truly cater to any type of player, whether that person needs more spin, less spin, draw bias, fade bias, etc. This new technology, combined with Mizuno’s

being said, seeing an average of 163 was pleasantly surprising. I highly recommend trying this driver the next time you stop by The Cluboratory to test new clubs.

new Forged SAT2041 Beta Ti face and complex carbon construction, creates a driver that feels

Read more: https://www.milesofgolf.com/ mizuno-st-g-driver-review/

NEW EQUIPMENT

WheelPro All-inOne Carry Stand Bag & Push Cart By Ed Travis

For those days when you want to walk but don’t want to carry your bag, Zero Friction has come up with an innovative idea, the WheelPro Push Cart Bag which almost instantly changes from a carry/stand bag to a push cart.

What You Need to Know: After having been around golf for a shocking number of years finding a piece of gear that’s new, unique as well as useful is fairly rare. But the Zero Friction WheelPro Push Cart Bag neatly fills all those requirements. Watch this video done by John Iacono the company founder and president and I’m sure you will agree: https://player.vimeo.com/video/574633110 There are lots of bags on the market, but for a large number of golfers looking for outdoor

Fast Facts Converts to push cart Single strap Six full length dividers Seven zippered pockets: lined valuables, insulated bottle Three color choices: black/gray, gray/black, navy/white Umbrella holder Bag head cover Weight: 10 lbs.

$349.99

exercise, push carts have also become standard equipment, either buying their own renting each time they play. Zero 18thor Hole, Creditone Larry Lambrecht Friction’s WheelPro doubles as a stand bag with pop out legs and with the 11-inch wheels, which slide into the axle assembly and it becomes a push cart. To remove the wheels is simple, a single lever releases them. Simple to do as it sounds and the wheels when not in use fit into a handy storage/carry pouch. The push handle is attached to the top of the bag and adjusts to the angle best for the user and one of the WheelPro’s many nice touches is the front phone pocket which has a clear window so the phone can be read without removing it from the bag. In addition, without the wheels the bag fits on an electric or gasoline golf cart.

GAM SCHEDULE

18th Hole, Credit Larry Lambrecht

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18th Hole, Credit Larry Lambrecht

TOP-RANKED COURSES

Photo Above: Eagle Eye The 2022 annual Golfers’ Choice Awards, determined by GolfPass’ (NBC Sports Next) reviews from everyday golfers, recently released its list of the top 50 golf courses in the country. Michigan has two courses on the overall list: Tullymore at No. 33, and Eagle Eye at position 46. What is different about these rankings is they are created by adding up all types of online ratings from 1-5 stars by everyday recreational golfers who don’t necessarily have access to the top golf course locations in the country. They rate different categories as well, so these two Michigan courses are favored in good standing in a wide variety of categories such as cost value, condition, pace of play, friendliness of staff, as well as overall layout. In all, 10 categories are considered. Additional Michigan golf courses got ranked very high nationally for Best Pace of Play: No. 4 is Old Channel Trail in Montague No. 8 is Farm Golf Club in Bellaire.

For the category of Best Condition is: No. 5 is St. Ives in Stanwood No. 6 is Charlevoix Country Club – Heatherwoods Golf Course No. 12 is Tullymore again No. 25 is Shanty Creek, Cedar River

Tullymore

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Here are a selection of the reviewers’

Shanty Creek, Cedar River Course: “The area

comments about the various Michigan courses that were recognized in the national rankings:

had 1.25” of rain the night before and all the holes were playable by 9:00 a.m. No standing water was on any fairway or green and carts were still allowed. They strive to keep the course free of leaves. I like to start my season

Old Channel Trail: “Best round of the year… final round of the season and the course was in immaculate condition. Greens were much, much more up to speed than most in the area. Beautiful course for playing fall golf.” St. Ives: “St. Ives is legit… Customer service was awesome, the conditions were great, the topography / routing / design were on point and it was an overall great golf experience… It’s an interesting design In a good way) with a fair number of evelation changes and a mix of hole lengths. There is a fair amount of room off the tee but positioning is important in order to score well.”

Shanty Creek

up at Shanty Creek playing Cedar River when it opens, and play it as my last round of the year. Like an old friend, CR continues to play true and enjoyable. Thanks for taking such good care or it.” TOP 10 overall in just the state of Michigan:

Tullymore Eagle Eye Greywalls Gladestone The Ravines Forest Dunes Heather at Boyne Highlands Spruce Run at Grand Traverse Alpine at Boyne Mt. The Fortress