Mackinac Island, MI

Aquarina Beach & Country Club

A Quick Trip to the WAWA

For many golfers… this quick trip

to the Wawa would be a stop at the local convenience store for some gas, adult beverages, a sandwich for the road… or just some snacks. For those more adventurous golfers… Wawa is a true “Bucket List” golf course in upper Michigan on Mackinac Island. Especially if you are going to play with “Hickories.” The key fob on the electric cart… (yes… electric cart) explained it best. This is “One of Michigan’s oldest and most historic golf clubs, Wawashkamo was design by Alex Smith of Scotland. It remains unchanged, a one-of-a-kind links… offering a very special experience.” BOY… they weren’t wrong. When we arrived at Wawa and had parked and locked up our bikes. Okay… there’s a part of this adventure that needs to be explained. When we made the final arrangements for our visit, we had instructions. Take the 9:30 AM departure out of Mackinaw City on Shepler’s Ferry Service. When you arrive in Mackinac Island, rent a bicycle and head to Wawa in the middle of the island, the directions are simple. Bicycle? Doing some quick researched revealed that are no cars on Mackinac Island. Bicycles or Horse and Carriage taxis is the only mode of transportation. The itinerary said that we would arrive by 11:00 am to meet with PGA Golf Professional, Chuck Olson. OKAY… back to the timeline… that is nearly an hour to make it to Wawa… on a bicycle? When we arrived on the island and rented our bikes, they said… there is only one hill to climb. I am sure they are still laughing because there is only one hill… it basically went from the port to the golf course. Technically, I guess that is only one hill. Arriving on time at Wawashkamo to meet with Mr. Olson… Chuck started in telling us of the history of Wawashkamo (or what the residents call Wawa). Built in 1898 by Alex Smith US Open Champion (1910) from Scotland. When the Grand Hotel was built, many businesspeople from the Chicago area, came to the island and built magnificent homes along the South rim of the island, and would come to the island for months at a time. After several years, they decide to have the 9-hole golf course built. The golf course is built on the site of a British and American battle during the War of 1812. The battle was fought on an old farm that existed on the island, so the land was cleared and very accessible. Alex Smith designed the 9-hole golf course with 2 sets of teeing ground, making for the challenge of 18-holes. He used the same cleared farmland, so all the

Wawashkamo Circus Ring number 3 green

pieces of the battleground are still very imaginable as you play the course. Chuck explained, “when you arrive at the first tee, there is an old British canon, where the original front line of the British military was established. “We don’t water the fairways here. They are in their natural state… just the way they were in 1898. They are bumpy and you will see some very quirky bounces, Olson explained. “They didn’t have modern equipment in 1898, just horses and plows to make fairways and green complexes… and you know what?... that is what makes Wawa, what it is! We aren’t about to change that.” After walking through the 123-year-old completely restored clubhouse adjacent to the final hole… as well as the original caddy shack… marveling at all the old relics and pieces of the past, we were off to the first tee for an adventure that we wouldn’t soon forget with our Hickory golf clubs. One more comment from Olson… “when you get to the 3rd green… you will see something that doesn’t exist anywhere else in the world.” Standing on the first tee, you can’t help but wonder over to the British canon and taking aim on the same line since 1814, to the first green 517 yards away. Beside the canon was a bench for just relaxing as you find yourself gazing out over the wide-open links course and the forest that masks the Northern shore of Lake Huron. Remembering that Chuck said… “be careful of the woods on the right… and the heather is on the left… just don’t take the cart in there.” Don’t ya just love those self-talk reminders as you are about to play your first shot of the day. This is such a perfect course for hickories. Flat and with the unwatered fairways… the ball was going to roll… so just get it in to play. As we approached the 3rd green with our approach shots. We found the “Circus Ring!” Deep fescue grasses that surrounded the green. Mr. Smith built the green to promote a lofted shot to the green. In the past, there wasn’t an opening in the front of the green. Only recently was the chipn-run entry put in to this green. We played through the “Chocolate Drops” on the side of the 8th fairway… and best of all… the “Cross Bunker” that ran across the entire fairway to penalize the bad shot, while allowing a good tee shot to have a perfect approach to the green. More than anything else… we enjoyed the history of the game, and the history of the property with the signage funded by the Mackinac Island Community Foundation that located where you were and what may have happened at that point. The one point of interest that stands out was that during the confrontation between the American trying to take over Fort Mackinac from the British, that Major Andrew Hunter Homes was at this point August 4, 1814, where a majestic red oak tree stood. A violent rainstorm took down the tree in 2012, but a tree

Wawashkamo British Canon Wawashkamo Caddie Shack Golf on the Wise Way

ring analysis indicated that the red oak was between 210-220 years old, making it a living witness to the events in 1814. My thought was a portable xray of the tree to see if any lingering musket balls were still embedded in the oak continuing the legacy and the history story of Wawa. As we completed our round at Wawashkamo… thanked Chuck Olson for his hospitality… our pledge was return and play in the National Hickory Stick Challenge Tournament in August 2022. So, pack those knickers and join us on our next quest for a Quick trip to the Wawa. Considering we were at one of the highest points on the island. We looked at the map and decided to venture a little higher and visit Fort Holmes overlooking Ft. Mackinac. Aptly named for the Major that led the American’s quest to take over the island in 1814 and lost his life trying to flank the British. Next stop… all downhill I might add, was a stop at Arch Rock and the vista that it produced with the lake as a backdrop with the natural formation. Heading back down to the city… we passed beautiful houses built on the cliffs overlooking the city of Mackinac. At one point we found a sign that said “Steep Downhill… Please walk your bikes.” WHAT… well… this is one sign that I will pay attention to next time. Talk about an “E Ticket Ride.” Arriving back in the city with its quaint architecture, narrow streets full of bicycles and horse drawn wagons and taxis… we were told that we were considered “Fudgies.” “You may not buy any trinkets or t-shirts before you leave the island… but everyone buys the “Home Made Fudge” to take home… hence the moniker “Fudgies” or tourist in layman’s terms. We found the “Oldest on the Island,” Murdick’s Fudge on Main Street, established in 1898. Oh My! – they were right… you can call us Fudgies!… but we are happy Fudgies. They have perfected the term Home Made Fudge, Peanut Brittle and Salt Water Taffey. You watch it being made. Fresh… from the table to… well… you get the drift. I can certainly hope that what we bought leaving Murdick’s makes it half was back to Florida to share. My only problem at this point is that you can order online and they will ship! A boat ride back to Mackinaw City may have been the highlight of the day, topping off the sunset behind the Mackinaw Bridge. Arch Rock