Golftime Midwest Summer/Fall 2021 by Killarney Golf Media

SUMMER 2021

MIDWEST

Ready for Ryder (Really) U.S. Captain Steve Stricker Talks About the Pandemic Postponement & Much More

SUBURBAN SURPRISE

Chicago’s Crane’s Landing a Golf Getaway With it All

MOTOWN

MAGIC

troit Metro De re of a has Its Sh its H r a ll e t S

COASTERS & COURSES

Take a Tour of the Midwest’s Best Amusement Parks & Playgrounds www.golftimemag.com

THE CLUB AT

LAC LA BELLE

262.567.7833 clubatlaclabelle.com

Contents

Dynamite Do-Over 24

A pandemic postponement only whets appetites for Whistling Straits’ Ryder Cup

Parks & Rec 34

We take you on a tour of the Midwest’s best amusement parks — and nearby courses

A Hideaway at Home 44

52 Big D Energy

Metro Detroit’s golf scene moving to its own resurgent beat

60 The Architect Interview:

Chris Lutzke

Pete Dye’s protégé talks Ryder Cup and reflects on 30 years with his mentor

Photo by Nile Young Jr.

Crane’s Landing at Lincolnshire Resort offers something for everyone

Volume 16, Issue 2

Editor’s Note

66 Industry Insider

Bump & Run

72 Equipment

Instructor’s Corner

80 The Back Nine

Rules of the Game 23 ON THE COVER: Steve Stricker by Jim Kelsh THIS SPREAD: Architect Chris Lutzke says wondrous Whistling Straits looks more like its original design than ever, in preparation for the Ryder Cup in September.

Editor’s Note

A Division of Killarney Golf Media, Inc. P.O. Box 14439 Madison, WI 53708

Phone: 608-280-8800 Fax: 866-877-9879

PRESIDENT John Hughes

GENERAL MANAGER Jim Kelsh

jim@killarneygolfmedia.com

MARKETING DIRECTOR AND SALES Sarah Starmer

sarah@killarneygolfmedia.com

Megan Augustin

megan@killarneygolfmedia.com

EDITOR Don Shell

editor@golftimemag.com

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Gary D’Amato Danny Freels Rob Hernandez Dennis McCann

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Nile Young Jr.

DESIGN AND PRODUCTION Muddy Creek Creative

FOUNDER Kim Thompson

ome things, like the right spouse, winning the Masters ticket lottery on the 10th try, or a decadent deep-dish from Lou Malnati’s on a Saturday night, are simply worth the wait. We have plenty worth the wait for you in this issue, starting with our cover story, on the 2020, er, 2021 Ryder Cup. The pandemic postponement put a damper on golf’s greatest rivalry last year, but September’s main event promises to overflow with anticipation and excitement. Our own esteemed Gary D’Amato corners the U.S. captain, Steve Stricker, for a rare Q&A all about the event — and what he expects from Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau. Don’t miss it, starting on page 24. In a tribute to the epitome of “hurry up and wait,” we take you on a tour of the Midwest’s best amusement parks. From Ohio’s Cedar Pointe to Chicagoland’s Six Flags and plenty more, we find the courses to play when you’re done with the coasters. See our feature, starting on page 34. Another worthy wait is the Marriott’s Lincolnshire Resort, home to Crane’s Landing Golf Course. The resort underwent a whopping $28-million renovation in 2018, but the pandemic put the brakes on the business for much of the past year. The course, of course, has kept the resort humming. Find out why in Dennis McCann’s feature, starting on page 44. Another fine feature worth the wait is one we’ve covered only sparingly in more than 15 years of Golftime Magazine: Metro Detroit golf. It’s high time we uncovered one of the Midwest’s most underrated golf scenes from a city with some serious soul. Don’t miss Danny Freels’ insider exposé, starting on page 52. Starting on page 60, we talk to an architect who waited in the wings for more than two decades, working alongside a guy named Pete Dye — a man named Chris Lutzke. We talk to him about his work getting Whistling Straits ready, his new short course, The Baths of Blackwolf Run, and the state of the game. But wait — there’s more! We take you inside the reimagining of Glenway Golf Course in Madison, Wisconsin, where golf mogul Michael Keiser is helping to create an incredible new neighborhood amenity. Don’t miss this issue’s Industry Insider, on page 66. There you have it, a full issue jam-packed with great features for you. So please, read on. And remember, good things come to those who wait.

MIDWEST GOLF IN YOUR HANDS

CHAMPIONSHIP GOLF LAKESIDE LODGING | GOLF WATERSPORTS | SPA

Explore Lake Lawn Resort. This historic Lake Geneva area landmark, set along two miles of Delavan Lake’s shoreline, is the ultimate destination for year-round getaways, retreats, weddings, meetings, and events. Located just 10 minutes west of Lake Geneva, Lake Lawn Resort is a full-service resort offering spacious and well-appointed guest rooms, 18-hole championship golf, boat & water sport rentals, cross-country skiing & ice-skating, three pools, a marina, a spa, and multiple dining options.

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Bump & Run NEWS & NOTES FROM THE WORLD OF GOLF

COURSE OF THE WORLD

Sandals St. Lucia Golf & Country Club at Cap Estate The brand-new Greg Norman-designed Sandals St. Lucia Golf & Country Club at Cap Estate offers stunning Caribbean seaside views, dramatic elevation changes and the island’s trademark tropical flora only found in St. Lucia. The

island’s only 18-hole championship layout, the course is designed to be both fun and challenging for players of all ability (and even for spectators). Visit sandals.com/golf for more information.

Reverse Your Course at

e Loop

The Loop — Black No. 6/Red No. 12

New 10-Hole Short Course Opening Late Summer 2020 Imagine playing a course in one direction one day, then reversing the routing and experiencing a completely diﬀerent course the following day. Introducing e Loop, Tom Doak’s Int reversible, links-style course. When combined with the original Forest Dunes course, a Tom Weiskopf design, you won’t nd two more contrasting styles of golf at one resort ... anywhere.

Forest Dunes No. 18

forestdunesgolf.com | (989) 275-0700 | info@forestdunesgolf.com Roscommon, Michigan

Nile Young Jr.

Bump & Run

In Memoriam: Arthur Hills 1930-2021

Architect designed more than 200 courses worldwide, advances his industry He was a legend in Great Lakes golf, an architect with more than 200 courses to his name worldwide (including several great tracks in Metro Detroit, see page 52), yet he shouldered all his success with a simple ethos and his trademark unassuming manner. Hills died in May at the age of 91, leaving behind a long legacy in the golf architecture industry, one he helped foster throughout his 55-year career. After graduating from Michigan State with a landscape architecture degree, Hills designed his first course on a whim at the age of 36, taking that landscape design aesthetic to the courses he built — they should be as pretty as they are playable. From Bay Harbor, Shepherd’s Hollow and Chicago’s Bolingbrook Golf Club in the Midwest, to Bighorn and Half Moon Bay out west, Hills had more than his share of big-name, jaw-dropping designs to his credit. He also designed several courses

overseas, from Portugal to Thailand and plenty in between. Hills also was a past president of the American Society of Golf Course Architects, helping grow the profession and fostering new talent such as Ray Hearn, Brian Huntley and Steve Forrest, his longtime business partner. “He started the business by placing an ad in the Toledo, Ohio, Yellow Pages under ‘Golf Course Architect’ while operating a landscape contracting business,” Forrest said. “I had the great privilege of learning all aspects of golf course architecture from a distinguished professional practitioner and humble gentleman over 42 years. Arthur became a father-like figure to me who was a mentor, an instructor, exhorter and admonisher while always trying to improve his own skills and increase his personal knowledge every day.” Rest in peace, sir. 11

Bump & Run

Hello, Moto!

Finn Scooters seriously fun ways to get around the golf course Sure, the Finn Scooters are long on looks. But these pocket rockets are much more than a pretty face. They do something a new driver or new drip never could: Take the most boring part of golf (getting to your ball) and make it one of the most exciting. Flying over fairway moguls at up to 15 mph, the Finn is unadulterated fun in a lightweight frame. With a 48-volt brushless electric motor, standard plug charger and surprising acceleration at the touch of a responsive thumb throttle, the Finn bikes are built to be the best time you’ve ever had on a golf course. Starting at $3,500. finnscooters.com.

Happy Anniversary to … The Glen Club, in Glenview, Illinois, on its 20th year. This fantastic Tom Fazio design reclaimed land once used by the Glenview Naval Air Station, and the Glen Club took flight in 2001 to soaring accolades. The 7,149-yard parkland gem has been named a Top 100 course by GOLF Magazine, and is a perennial tournament layout in Illinois, as well as home to the state’s golf hall of fame. Clearly The Glen Club is only getting better with age. Visit theglenclub.com. Ray Hearn, of Raymond Hearn Golf Course Designs, Inc., is celebrating his 25th year in business in 2021. Hearn, who won the American Society of Golf Course Architects’ “Design Excellence Recognition Award,” in 2018, has designed several standouts in the Midwest and beyond over the past quarter century, including Mistwood Golf Club in Chicago, Hemlock Golf Club (and many others) in Michigan, and redesign work at Yahara Hills Golf Course in Madison. He’s built courses everywhere from Moscow to Cairo to South Korea. Hearn’s current slate of projects includes redesign and restoration at Boyne Highlands Resort in Michigan, the Hilton Chicago Oak Brook Hills Resort in Illinois, and stately Midlothian Golf Club in Illinois. Clearly, he’s far from slowing down. “Why would you, when you get up each morning thinking about golf courses and golf course design?” Hearn said. “It is an honor and a privilege doing what I do every day. Plus, I must admit, it’s a lot of fun.” Visit rhgd.com for more of his work. 12

MIDWEST GOLF IN YOUR HANDS

S I M P LY P L AYA B L E

BOOK YOUR TEE TIME OR RESERVE A STAY & PLAY PACKAGE. CONVENIENTLY LOCATED 40 MINUTES NORTH OF CHICAGO, BEAUTIFULLY SITUATED ON THE DES PLAINES RIVER. Visit us at CranesLandingGolf.com

10 Marriott Drive • Lincolnshire, IL • 847-634-5935

AROUND THE REGION The Latest Golf News from the Great Lakes

SentryWorld’s Silent Sabbatical following a course tweaking for the 2023 U.S. Senior Open and concurrent with the opening of The Inn at SentryWorld, a boutique hotel located near the 18th fairway. Now, because of COVID-related shipping delays of furniture and materials, the hotel opening has been pushed back to sometime this fall and the course will remain closed to the public until 2022. — Gary D’Amato.

Photos by Nile Young Jr.

Consider yourself lucky if you’re a member of one of the large group outings scheduled to play SentryWorld (below) later this summer. No one else will play the Robert Trent Jones Jr. masterpiece in Stevens Point until 2022. The pristine parkland course on Sentry Insurance’s campus was closed for all of 2020 because of the coronavirus pandemic. It was scheduled to reopen in mid-August,

MIDWEST GOLF IN YOUR HANDS

Bump & Run

Forest Dunes New Ownership Forest Dunes (above), one of the Midwest’s most venerable golf destinations in Roscommon, Michigan, has new ownership, a newly named short course — and is charting a bold, new course for the future. The resort was purchased in January for an undisclosed sum by Rich Mack and Tom Sunnarborg, the dynamic duo that transformed a barren, spent phosphate mine in the middle of Florida into the golf purist’s paradise called Streamsong Resort. In 2018 Mack left his post at Streamsong’s parent, the mining company Mosaic, and he and Sunnarborg began the search for their next golf industry gig. Forest Dunes just met a lot of their criteria. “First, it has a great brand,” Mack said. “Forest Dunes is known not only in the Midwest but nationally, and with the Loop, even beyond that. It has a critically acclaimed, brand-new short course (named,

“The Bootlegger”) designed by Keith Rhebb and Riley Johns. It has real estate, infrastructure that’s available for sale, which added a dimension to this that you don’t find often. It has lodging, and newer lodging. That was important, too. “And it has critically acclaimed golf, with two top 50 or top 100 courses in the U.S. You don’t find that very frequently. And very importantly, it has land for future development. We love the courses that are there and we can hopefully even make them better, but we’re able to put our own stamp with a third course. “All of those components made it super intriguing to us.” That duo’s plans include adding a third course to the already-awesome lineup, with reportedly the best piece of land on property earmarked for something special. We can’t wait. Visit forestdunesgolf.com WWW.GOLFTIMEMAG.COM

Instructor’s Corner

Get ‘Fit’ – Your Golf Game Depends On It By Travis Becker, PGA

e all know staying fit and being active is key to a healthy lifestyle, on and off the course. But when it comes to golf, there is another kind of “fit” that makes a serious impact on a player’s success: the fit of your equipment. Ironworks Golf Academy helps develop players and assists them in playing their best golf. One key factor to this success is making sure their clubs are fitted correctly. Ill-fitting clubs may not be the only reason players aren’t reaching their true potential, but custom-fit clubs can and will remedy many of the common misses golfers experience during their game. With the proper fitting, players will hit the ball straighter and farther with improved consistency. The way we see it, club fitting starts with a solid partnership between the player and the fitter, much like the dynamic between doctor and patient. Certified club fitters, like those at Ironworks Golf Academy, offer a high level of service to golfers, combining a wide selection of fitting tools with state-of-the-art technologies for the most in-depth fitting experience. To optimize the health of each player’s golf game, the fitter must first assess their strengths, weaknesses, history and goals. Instead of taking a player’s blood pressure or checking their heart rate, a fitting looks at club and ball speeds, launch angles, descent angles and spin rates. A club fitter will also analyze current swing DNA characteristics such as club path, club face, attack and contact patterns. The player is responsible to make decisions on

what looks, feels, and sounds good, while the fitter focuses on optimizing ball flights. Fitting for a single club takes about one hour, where a fitting for the player who wants all new clubs can expect to take 4-5 hours incorporating the fitting elements of the driver, fairways, hybrids, irons, wedges and putter. Experience the positive and long-term benefits of equipment that’s custom fit to you and your game. Travis Becker was awarded 2021 Teacher of the Year by the Wisconsin PGA. The Ironworks Golf Academy has been recognized by Golf Digest as a Top 100 club fitter for 20212022. To learn more about Ironworks Golf Academy fitting philosophies please visit their website at www.ironworksgolfacademy.com.

WWW.GOLFTIMEMAG.COM

Instructor’s Corner

Travis Becker PGA Professional Travis Becker is the Director of Instruction and Club Fitting for the Ironworks Golf Academy located in Beloit, Wisconsin. The Wisconsin PGA voted Travis the Teacher of the Year in both 2015, 2019 and 2021. He was also rated by his peers as one of Golf Digest’s “Best Teachers” in the state of Wisconsin. In 2016, Travis was selected by the Golf Channel Academy to become the only lead coach in the state of Wisconsin. In addition, Travis has been recognized by Titleist as a Top 100 club fitter.

Ironworks Golf Academy

625 3rd St., Suite 100, Beloit, WI 53511 608-473-0095 www.ironworksgolflab.com

NOT JUST JUST PLAYING PLAYING NOT SM

A ROUND. ROUND. A

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course in the heart of Wisconsin Golf packages are available ranging from standard hotel rooms at the Wilderness Resort to our luxury cabins that accommodate up to 20 people.

The Woods Short Course is a 9-hole experience perfect Lush fairways and greens that roll fast and true add for a quick round and suitable yet challenging for to the beauty this abytrue destination golf Hurdzan and Fry, to feature the existing natural beauty Wild Rockand wasmake designed renowned architects of the Dells. With vast elevation changes and dramatic vistas around every turn, Wild Rock will challenge your game and dazzle your senses. Book your tee time or golf getaway today!

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7/20/21 1:13 PM

If you love

Erin Hills, Whistling Straits, Kohler, Sand Valley, The Ryder Cup, SentryWorld, Wisconsin Dells, Lake Geneva, Badgers, cheese, tournaments, Lake Michigan, friendly golfers, views, beer, lakes, fun, and so much more… Then you need to follow

The Voice of Golf in Wisconsin

Best golf writers in the state with Gary D’Amato, Rob Hernandez and Dennis McCann. Daily updates on all things golf.

www.Wisconsin.golf Killarney Golf Media publishes Wisconsin.golf and Golftime Midwest

Rules of the Game

If You’re Not Early, You’re Late 1 In stroke play, Alex, Brian, and Charlie have a starting time of 8 a.m. Charlie arrives at the first tee at 8:01 a.m., but before Alex (who has the honor) has played. What is the ruling?

By John Morrissett

A. Charlie gets no penalty.

4 In a match between Eric and Robert, Eric is 2-up after 16 holes. While playing the 17th hole, Eric realizes that he had started the round with 15 clubs and declares one club out of play. He and Robert play out the 17th hole, which Eric wins. What is the ruling?

B. Charlie gets two penalty strokes on the first hole.

A. Eric wins the match.

C. Charlie is disqualified. Answer: b (Rule 5.3a)

B. Eric is 1-up after 17 holes. C. Robert wins the match. Answer: b (Rule 4.1b)

2 In stroke play, Zach incorrectly tees off on the sixth hole from the white tees instead of the blue tees, which are 20 yards forward of the blue tees. What is the ruling? A. There is no penalty, and he must continue with the ball played from the white tees. B. He gets two penalty strokes and must continue with the ball played from the white tees. C. He gets two penalty strokes, must play from the blue tees, and must disregard the stroke from the white tees. Answer: c (Rule 6.1b) 3 In match play, David accidentally plays Joe’s ball that is lying in a bunker. What is the ruling? A. There is no penalty, and Joe’s ball must be replaced. B. David gets one penalty stroke, and Joe’s ball must be replaced. C. David loses the hole. Answer: c (Rule 6.3c)

5 In stroke play, while searching for his ball in the rough, Jim accidentally kicks and moves it. What is the ruling? A. There is no penalty, and the ball must be replaced. B. He gets one penalty stroke, and the ball must be replaced. C. He gets one penalty stroke and must play the ball from its new position. Answer: a (Rule 9.4b) 6 In stroke play, Bob’s ball lies in a bunker. In the backswing for the stroke, Bob’s club brushes the sand in the bunker but does not improve the lie or area of intended swing. What is the ruling? A. There is no penalty. B. Bob gets one penalty stroke. C. Bob gets two penalty strokes. Answer: c (Rule 12.2b(1)) John Morrissett is Competitions Director at Erin Hills and former Director of Rules of Golf for the USGA.

WWW.GOLFTIMEMAG.COM

The

Captain & the

COUNTDOWN WE TALK WITH U.S. CAPTAIN STEVE STRICKER ABOUT HIS THOUGHTS HEADED INTO THIS FALL’S LONG-AWAITED RYDER CUP AT WHISTLING STRAITS

Jim Kelsh

BY GARY D’AMATO

Ireland and Northern Ireland offer a magical, magnificent golf experience By Don Shell WWW.GOLFTIMEMAG.COM

MIDWEST GOLF IN YOUR HANDS

Jim Kelsh

efore the Ryder Cup became the most lucrative event in golf, before it became one of the hottest tickets in sports, before it stirred passions on both sides of the Atlantic, the respective team captains were largely ceremonial figureheads. There really was no pressure on the captains, because few cared who won or lost the cordial little exhibition between teams of professionals from the United States and Great Britain. Those days are long gone. Once the Ryder Cup found its way onto television in the 1980s, which coincided with the opening of the competition to continental Europe, the rise of stars such as Spain’s Seve Ballesteros and England’s Nick Faldo and the explosion of worldwide interest and corporate dollars, the captains no longer had the luxury of being invisible. Their every move, from practice schedules to pairings, now is scrutinized, analyzed and — when things go wrong — criticized. Into this cauldron steps Steve Stricker of Madison, Wisconsin. Unassuming, mildmannered and conscientious, the 54-yearold Stricker is charged with leading the U.S. team to victory, Sept. 24-26 at Whistling Straits. It’s a tall order, because Europe has won the biennial competition in seven of the last nine meetings, including a resounding 17.5 – 10.5 victory in Paris in 2018. Stricker has had an extra year to answer questions, think about his six at-large picks, consider pairings and prepare for Whistling Straits, because the 43rd Ryder Cup, originally scheduled for September 2020, was pushed back a year by the coronavirus pandemic. The following Q&A was put together from numerous interviews with Stricker over the past two years — one-on-one with Golftime Magazine, in Ryder Cup news conferenc-

es and in pre- and post-round interviews at PGA Tour and PGA Tour Champions events. (Note: the answers have been edited for clarity and brevity).

GOLFTIME MAGAZINE: The U.S. team didn’t get the results it wanted in Paris in 2018, and on top of that, Team USA has won only three of the last 10 Ryder Cups. Does it concern you that history is not on your side?

STRICKER: Yeah, it does concern us. … They outplayed us (in Paris). We had a difficult time with the golf course. The last few Ryder Cups haven’t gone the way that we would have liked, but for us it’s all about — for me, anyways — it’s all about moving forward. You know, we’ll probably have some new guys on the team. It will be the first team these 12 individuals will be together. So, for me, it’s about moving forward, learning from the past a little bit. Taking some of the things that we haven’t done so well and then trying to apply that to this next time.

GT: Over the last few Ryder Cups, there has been much discussion about the match play format, and how it seems to bring the best

43rd Ryder Cup WHEN: Sept. 24-26, 2021 WHERE: Haven, Wisconsin COURSE: Whistling Straits DEFENDING CHAMP: Europe TV: NBC THE SKINNY: The 43rd Ryder Cup finally arrives after being postponed in 2020 due to the pandemic.

WWW.GOLFTIMEMAG.COM

STRICKER: I don’t know if we are weak in that department. I think the Europeans have outplayed us the last few times. We get a lot of practice at it. We play a Presidents Cup every other year and we play this event and we also have the World Golf Championships-Match Play event. We have been looking into stats … and we gave a lot of holes away in France by making something other than par. We made almost as many birdies (as the Europeans), 28

MIDWEST GOLF IN YOUR HANDS

if I remember right, that week in France, but we just gave away so many holes in making different numbers. So, it could be our style of play. Our guys on the U.S. side are aggressive players. They make a lot of birdies. Usually, the guys that make the team are leading the birdie average for the year. They are just aggressive players and sometimes in match play it’s OK to back down and try to make a par. It showed in France that if we could have just made some pars that it could have been a different match. So, I think, if anything, the message for our guys would be, you know, sometimes backing off and making pars and making the

Nile Young Jr.

out of the Europeans. On the flip side of that discussion, the Americans do not seem to be as proficient at match play. Why is that?

Whistling Straits is ready and waiting for the world’s best golf rivalry, and looks as good as the day it opened.

other team earn it is a good thing. Wear them out a little bit.

GT: Europeans have won two of the three PGA Championships at Whistling Straits, and Americans are 0-for-3. Do the whispers about the Straits favoring the European team concern you?

STRICKER: You’re sure bringing up a lot of negatives here. … When you look out here (at the course) it has the feel of over there in

Ireland. Yes, it concerns us, but we’re going to have unbelievable crowd support here. The atmosphere should be much like Hazeltine (in 2016), or even more so.

GT: What do you remember about your experience as a Ryder Cup rookie?

STRICKER: My rookie experience was at Valhalla in 2008. Paul Azinger was the captain. We went on to win there and it was a great experience. Paul did a wonderful job. WWW.GOLFTIMEMAG.COM

I learned a lot from what he did there. He came up with a system that we bought into and he was a really good captain. The players responded to the fans there that week. The crowds at Valhalla were unbelievable. It’s a nerve-wracking time. … It’s probably the most nervous I’ve ever been playing the game of golf. During the time, you’re like, ‘Why do I want to do this?’ It’s so nervewracking that it’s not fun, but after it’s done and all over with, you’re like, ‘That was fun.” It drives you to make that team again.

We’ll see where it goes from there. Hopefully, they can put their differences aside for the week, be big boys and come together as a team. Obviously, I probably wouldn’t pair them together (in foursomes or four-balls), but I think as the team room goes, you want everybody on board. You can’t have an outlier, or outliers, making trouble for everybody else. But I’m sure they’re big men and they can put their differences aside and go from there.

GT: As the U.S. team captain, you have con-

GT: It’s all but a given that Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka will make the team on points. Much has been made about their ongoing feud, fueled by a back-and-forth on social media and golf fans weighing in and, in some cases, egging them on. It’s a distraction you certainly don’t need. How are you going to handle them?

STRICKER: Yeah, it’s not making my job any easier, you know? I haven’t talked to either one of them. I will have to at some point. 30

MIDWEST GOLF IN YOUR HANDS

STRICKER: We’ve made some tweaks, and I’m sure everybody knows what they are going to be. I’m not going to get into that part of it. We did some things to kind of enhance the benefit towards our side, just like they do when we go over to Europe. It’s minor little things. It’s not going to change the way the course plays dramatically.

GT: Being named Ryder Cup captain is perhaps the biggest honor of a golfer’s career, but it comes with an awesome responsibility. How big is the weight on your shoulders?

STRICKER: It is a big responsibility, but I’ve grasped it with a gratitude and a humbleness. I’m excited to do it. It’s in my home state of Wisconsin. The Ryder Cup has meant a lot to me over the years. I’ve been on one of the winning teams in 2008, which was a thrill. A couple of other ones, we could have won. It’s an unbelievable week. And to be part of it, no matter how you’re part of it, is special. I’m just so lucky to be able to be the

Jim Kelsh

“I’M JUST SO LUCKY TO BE ABLE TO BE THE CAPTAIN, ESPECIALLY IN WISCONSIN. I OWE A LOT TO THE PGA FOR GIVING ME THAT OPPORTUNITY AND (TO) MY PEERS FOR THINKING OF ME.”

siderable say in how the course is set up for the matches. What kind of adjustments will you make to Whistling Straits in order to give your team an advantage?

WWW.GOLFTIMEMAG.COM

Jim Kelsh

A Wisconsin native and resident, Stricker is sure to have the hometown crowd filled with especially fervent fans at Whistling Straits. captain, especially in Wisconsin. I owe a lot to the PGA for giving me that opportunity and (to) my peers for thinking of me to be the captain.

GT: Can you talk about the broader implications of hosting this event in Wisconsin, even outside of golf, what it means to you as a Wisconsin native and to the state to be able to host an event of this magnitude?

STRICKER: It started off (with) major cham32

MIDWEST GOLF IN YOUR HANDS

pionships. We had the PGA here three times and the U.S. Open over at Erin Hills and this is the ultimate. To have the ultimate event in the game of golf, to be here at Whistling Straits in Wisconsin, it’s really (special). From everyone I talk to, the anticipation, the excitement level is through the roof, and it’s no different for me, either. I’m very excited to have this opportunity to be here in my home state to try to help this team and lead this team to try to win this Cup back.

VISIT MINNESOTA

1. Arrowwood Resort

www.arrowwoodresort.com

Home of Great Golf and the 2016 & 2028 Ryder Cups

2. Black Bear Golf Course www.golfatthebear.com

3. Braemar Golf Course www.braemargolf.com

Play golf where the best golfers in the world play!

4. Breezy Point Resort

www.breezypointresort.com

5. Chaska Town Course www.chaskatowncourse.com

The land of 10,000 water holes invites you to test your game at some of the most beautiful and challenging courses in the world — enjoy Minnesota golf.

6. Cragun’s Resort www.craguns.com

7. Destination Bloomington www.bloomingtonmn.org

8. Giants Ridge Golf & Ski Resort www.giantsridge.com

9. Legends Club

www.legendsgc.com

10. Madden’s on Gull Lake www.maddens.com

QUALITY VARIETY PRICE-POINT VALUE

11. Minnesota National GC www.mnnationalgolfcourse.com

12. Prestwick Golf Club www.prestwick.com

13. Ridges at Sand Creek www.ridgesatsandcreek.com

14. Royal Golf Club www.royalclubmn.com

15. Rush Creek Golf Club www.stonebrooke.com

St. Cloud

www.stoneridgegc.com

www.territorygc.com

14 17

20. The Wilds Golf Club 12 3 5 www.golfthewilds.com 7 16

20 9at Fortune Bay 21. Wilderness 35 13 www.golfthewilderness.com 22

St. Cloud

19 Twin Cities

3 20 9 22

14 17 12

Rochester

22. Willingers Golf Club www.willingersgc.com

www.ExploreMinnesotaGolf.com WWW.GOLFTIMEMAG.COM

35E 35W

5 16

Alexandria

19 Twin Cities

35E

35W

Alexandria

17. StoneRidge Golf Club

19. Territory 15 Golf Club

Dulut

6 10

Brainerd

16. Stonebrooke Golf Club

www.superiornational.com 94

Brainerd

www.rushcreek.com

18. Superior National GC

Duluth

6 10

YOUR GAME. YOUR TIME.

You’ll simply soar with Cedar Point’s Rougarou, a “floorless” coaster where you can’t find your footing. INSET: Thunderbird Hills is a 36-hole club on the shores of Lake Huron.

Thrill

RIDES AHHHHAHAHAAAA!! WOOO-HOOOO!!! AYEEEE!!

No, those aren’t the sounds you make watching your tee shot sail toward an island green (well, sometimes they are.) Those, friends, are the sweet, innocent sounds of summertime fun at one of the Midwest’s many world-class amusement parks. Is there a better place to take the kids for a few fun-filled days under the hot summer sun? While we’re lucky to have some seriously super parks across the Great Lakes, we know you might want to pack up the clubs along with the kids as you head off to your weekend getaways. By Don Shell WWW.GOLFTIMEMAG.COM

ABOVE: Sawmill Creek Golf Club sits on the shores of Lake Erie, just a six-iron from Cedar Point. RIGHT: Cedar Point’s insanely fast (and fun) Top Thrill Dragster. Here’s a look at some of the great golf you’ll find within a coaster’s length away, as well as some of the other hotspots to hit while you’re in town:

CEDAR POINT

eponymous Sawmill Creek, with the back nine skirting the shores of Lake Erie. Just a short drive away in Huron, Ohio, is the 36-hole Thunderbird Hills Golf Club (thunderbirdgolfcourses.com), with two terrific tracks for you to tame, including the Bruce Palmer-designed South Course.

www.cedarpoint.com

OTHER EATS & TREATS: The Sandusky area has

SANDUSKY, OHIO

PARK HIGHLIGHTS: Cedar Point is famous for being the King of Coasters, including Valravn, the tallest, fastest and longest coaster in the United States, and Steel Vengeance, the tallest, fastest and longest hybrid coaster in the world! First opened in 1870, Cedar Point’s the second-oldest park in the U.S. and sees nearly 4 million visitors a year. It also has Cedar Point Shores waterpark to help keep you and the kids cool.

WHERE TO PLAY: Sawmill Creek Resort (sawmillcreekresort.com) is home to a highly rated Tom Fazio design owned and operated by Cedar Point Resorts. Built in 1974, Fazio’s early gem offers the Creek Nine around the 36

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become a playground for grownups, too, with excellent big-kid offerings like the Firelands Winery (firelandswinery.com), home to a gold medal-winning Gewurztraminer and fine dining on site. Take in the panoramic view of Sandusky Bay at the Dockside Cafe, feasting on fish tacos and adult beverages. And after a long day at the park or course, Small City Taphouse (smallcitytaphouse.com) has just what you need with more than 80 beers on tap plus a big lineup of steaks, sushi and more. Top if off with a trip to Toft’s Ice Cream Parlor (toftdairy.com), with more than 50 different flavors such as Lake Erie Cookie Island Monster, Buckeye Bites and of course, Cedar Point Cotton Candy. Mm-hmm.

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CLOCKWISE FROM ABOVE: Holiday World’s expansive Splashin’ Safari. The brand-new Jack Nicklaus-designed American Dunes. Michigan’s Adventure offers coasters, waterpark and more. Sultan’s Run is a must-play in Jasper, Indiana.

HOLIDAY WORLD SANTA CLAUS, INDIANA

www.holidayworld.com

PARK HIGHLIGHTS: Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus — Indiana, that is — where you’ll find the fun-filled haven called Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari. Holiday World is home to dozens of family-friendly rides and coasters, including The Voyage, the No. 1 wooden coaster in the nation by TIME Magazine, which goes underground in its mile-long adventure. The waterpark offers a wave pool, water slides and even the Cheetah Chase Water Coaster, which is exactly as awesome as it sounds.

WHERE TO PLAY: Christmas Lake Golf Club (christmaslakegolfclub.com) is a classic Edmund Ault design built in ’67 and remains a championship test. And just 30 minutes up the road in Jasper, Indiana, is the sanctuary known as Sultan’s Run (sultansrun.com), a delicious Tim Liddy design filled with waterfalls, woods and wildlife. And a little further still (but well worth the trip) is the fabulous French Lick Resort (frenchlick. com), home to the state’s top-rated Dye Course and the wonderful Donald Ross course, in addition to a casino and two spectacular hotels (including the incredible West Baden Springs Hotel), among many other amenities.

OTHER EATS & TREATS: When you’re in Santa Claus, Indiana, you’re kinda obligated to visit the Santa Claus Museum (santaclausmuseum.org), aren’t you? Don’t want to end up on a naughty list, after all. While you’re there you can check out the exhibits featuring the story behind the town’s famous name, artifacts from the town’s unique his38

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tory, and gaze upon the 22-foot stone Santa statue out front. For some sweet treats, head to the Holly Berry Farm (no, not Halle Berry, sorry). The fourth-generation family farm was started in 1913, and offers the freshest of strawberries, asparagus and more (hollyberryfarmindiana.com).

MICHIGAN’S ADVENTURE MUSKEGON, MICHIGAN

www.miadventure.com

PARK HIGHLIGHTS: Just a stone’s throw from Lake Michigan, Michigan’s Adventure is the biggest amusement and waterpark in Michigan, with more than 60 rides and attractions. Part of the Cedar Point family, Michigan’s Adventure offers the Corkscrew coaster and The Ripcord, with an 80 mph, 180-foot free fall! (You’ll feel your heart in your stomach, trust me.)

WHERE TO PLAY: Almost across the street from Michigan’s Adventure is the fun, friendly track called Lincoln Golf Club (lincolngolfcourse.com). Just down the road in the beautiful beach town of Grand Haven is the newly reborn American Dunes Golf Club (americandunesgolfclub.com). The

much-heralded Jack Nicklaus design is a rollercoaster of a course, a stunning sandscape with dramatic views, and proceeds benefit the Folds of Honor Foundation.

OTHER EATS & TREATS: The Muskegon area is home to some of the Midwest’s best beaches, including P.J. Hoffmaster State Park and Grand Haven State Park. With towering dunes, clean campgrounds and miles of nature trails (not to mention spectacular sunsets), the beach is the perfect place to take the family after a day at the park. For some great lakeside eats and drinks, check out The Deck BBQ & Beer (thedeckmkg.com), with live music, cold drinks, and fantastic barbecue — all with a lakefront view. For fancier fare, check out the new Noto’s at the Bil-Mar in Grand Haven (gh.notosoldworld.com), with steaks, seafood and those sunsets from its unbeatable location right on the beach.

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MIDWEST GOLF IN YOUR HANDS

LEFT: You can soar through the air on Six Flags Great America’s Xflight. ABOVE: Thunderhawk Golf Club is a stellar Robert Trent Jones Jr. design in Chicago.

SIX FLAGS GREAT AMERICA GURNEE, ILLINOIS

www.sixflags.com/greatamerica

PARK HIGHLIGHTS: Part of the famous Six Flags chain, Six Flags Great America first opened in 1976 and now has more than 15 roller coasters (including the twintracked American Eagle coaster), three themed children’s areas, and the 20-acre Six Flags Hurricane Harbor water park. One of America’s most popular parks, Great America has more than 3 million visitors each year.

WHERE TO PLAY: Just up the street from Six Flags is the terrific, Robert Trent Jones Jr. track named Thunderhawk Golf Club (thunderhawkgolfclub.org). Opened in 1999, Thunderhawk is the crown jewel in the Lake County Forest Preserve’s three-course lineup, and one of three RTJ designs in the Chicagoland area. Clocking in at 7,011 yards from the tips, with plenty of woods, water, and Mr. Jones’ beautiful bunkering, it’s no

secret why Thunderhawk is one of the most beloved tracks in the Windy City area. A little south of Six Flags is the beautiful, Tom Bendelow-designed Bloomingdale Golf Club (bloomingdalegc.com), featuring the same picturesque parkland feel of the architect’s other famous creation, Medinah Country Club. Opened in 1924, Bloomingdale Golf Club has stood the test of time as a championship test in the northern Chicago suburbs.

OTHER EATS & TREATS: When you’re in Chicago, you’re almost required by law to enjoy some of the city’s trademark deep-dish pizza. Gurnee is home to a few fine options, including Kaiser’s Pizza & Pub (kaiserspub. com), which is better known for its thin style, and the long-revered Giordano’s (giordanos. com), home of arguably the best deep-dish on the planet. If you’re hungry for deals instead, check out Gurnee Mills (simon. com/mall/gurnee-mills), the largest outlet mall in Illinois with nearly 200 stores, from Abercrombie & Fitch to the Zales Outlet, and plenty in between. Happy hunting. WWW.GOLFTIMEMAG.COM

CLOCKWISE FROM ABOVE: The Hades 360 at one of the world’s best waterparks, Mt. Olympus. The Carousel at the Mall of America might be worth the trip alone. Legends Golf Club is one of the very best in Minnesota. Spectacular Sand Valley is a thrill ride all its own.

WISCONSIN DELLS

WISCONSIN DELLS, WISCONSIN www.wisdells.com

PARK HIGHLIGHTS: The Wisconsin Dells itself is one giant amusement park, from go-karts to coasters to ziplines and much more. The Dells are most famous for their world-class waterparks, most notably Mt. Olympus (mtolympuspark.com), home to Triton’s Fury and Triton’s Rage dueling raft slides. Wilderness Resort (wildernessresort. com) is another dynamite Dells destination, as America’s largest waterpark resort, featuring four indoor and four outdoor waterparks.

WHERE TO PLAY: Oh boy. Maybe the only thing better than the Dells’ waterparks are the great golf options. Start your golfing

thrill ride at Trappers Turn (trappersturn. com), home to 27 holes of excellent Andy North and Roger Packard design, then for the nightcap take on the brand-new 12North short course, a 12-hole par-3 course North designed and opened July 20. A slip-andslide away is the wild and wooly Wild Rock Golf Club (wildrockgc.com), a spectacular Dr. Michael Hurdzan/Dana Fry design that plays over prairie, woods and an old rock quarry. To keep a good thing going, head up the road to Nekoosa, Wisconsin, where you’ll find the sensational Sand Valley Resort (sandvalley.com). With the David McLay Kidd-designed Mammoth Dunes, the Bill Coore/Ben Crenshaw-designed Sand Valley course, and the “Sandbox” short course, it’s the perfect place to unwind after a few days in the Dells — or any other time.

OTHER EATS & TREATS: For starters, treat yourself! Head to the serene, stunning Sundara Inn & Spa (sundaraspa.com), to fully recharge your body and mind with a healing stone massage and a dip (or two) in the infinity pool. For some sumptuous fare, find your way to local eatery High Rock Cafe (high42

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rockcafe.com), home to the “Truffle Shuffle” — a 1/2-pound hunk of cheese curds — and many other delights. Once sated, take in some of the Dells’ natural wonders, with a riverboat cruise through the Witches Gulch, an incredible area of natural rock formations to explore by sea and by foot. Take an Upper Dells boat tour from one of the many companies, like Dells Boat Tours (dellsboats.com).

MALL OF AMERICA

BLOOMINGTON, MINNESOTA www.mallofamerica.com

PARK HIGHLIGHTS: The Mall of America is kind of an amusement park for adults, with 520-plus stores in its 5.6 million square feet of space. There’s also Nickelodeon Universe and the Sea Life Aquarium to keep you busy. A short drive away is Valleyfair Amusement Park (valleyfair.com), home to more than 75 rides, including eight roller coasters, and Soak City, a seven-acre waterpark.

WHERE TO PLAY: In the time it takes to finish your Cinnabon, you can be at revamped Braemar Golf Course (braemargolf.com) in nearby Edina. Richard Mandell took the former 27 holes and rebuilt them into a more modern, more forgiving championship 18 in 2019. Another fine option is Legends Golf Club (legendsgc.com), a championship Gill Miller design featuring a 30-acre

lake, cascading creeks, scenic wetlands, deep ponds and dramatic topography. For a true test, take on The Wilds Golf Club (golfthewilds.com), a stunning Jay Morrish/ Tom Weiskopf collaboration tipping the scales at 7,012 yards from the tips..

OTHER EATS & TREATS: Aside from the 50 (fifty!) restaurants within the Mall of America, the area is absolutely overflowing with fantastic eats. Try Hazelwood Food + Drink (hazelwoodfoodanddrink.com), with its wood-fired pizza, walleye fish tacos and fine steaks and seafood, a great place to indulge that appetite you’ve worked up walking around the Mall. For simply some of the best Italian in the Twin Cities metro area, check out Ciao Bella (ciaobellamn. com), with handmade, locally sourced oldworld dishes, inviting atmosphere and stellar service. Bellissimo. Have a favorite hotspot we missed? A favorite course or coaster? Let us know! Email editor@golftimemag.com.

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A PERFECT

LANDING Chicago’s Crane’s Landing at Lincolnshire Marriott Resort offers options for everyone By Dennis McCann Photography by Nile Young

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isitors to the Chicago area have hundreds of lodging options, from box-style chain motels on every suburban thoroughfare to trendy boutique hotels in the city’s vibrant neighborhoods and of course the high-rise luxury hotels on iconic Michigan Avenue. And then there is Marriott’s Lincolnshire Resort on the city’s North Shore just minutes from downtown, which offers 390 guest rooms on 175 acres of property, multiple restaurants, Chicago’s largest theater-in-theround, working gardens, a spa, meeting and 46

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event space, hiking trails and ample green space in which to relax. Oh, yes. It also has an 18-hole golf course, the George Fazio-designed Crane’s Landing, which has hosted play from hotel guests and the public at large since 1975. “It is much more than a box hotel,” as Michael Phares, the resort’s marketing director said. In early summer, the resort was still getting back to full speed after a year of limited offerings due to state restrictions over the COVID-19 pandemic, but Phares said post-

PREVIOUS SPREAD: Crane’s Landing is no cupcake, as evidenced by the needle-nosed, 494-yard, par-5 seventh hole. ABOVE: The 215-yard, par-3 16th is a tough test, to boot.

vaccination travel was already leading to an increase in leisure travel and social events such as weddings and family reunions. Crane’s Landing, as was the experience of so many courses, experienced a big increase in play in 2020 that has flowed over into this season. “The golf course is doing phenomenal (business),” Phares said. “It has been for the

last year.” During the pandemic, much of the business at the resort, which underwent a $28-million renovation in 2018, came from Chicago-area residents who just wanted to get away from home isolation. A big attraction for the house-bound were the resort’s indoor and outdoor pools, Phares said, but now more visitors are coming from outside WWW.GOLFTIMEMAG.COM

the area. “Last year it was just a lot of locals,” he said. “Now this year the radius has kind of expanded to about 500 miles.” Some resort offerings are temporarily unavailable, including The Spa at Lincolnshire, while the popular theater has resumed its live shows with its summer concert series. The theater normally accounts for about 25 percent of resort revenue, Phares said, which makes resumption of shows a priority. The fall schedule includes performances of “The World Goes ‘Round,” followed by “Kiss Me, Kate” in November. 48

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In the meantime, the golf course is producing a larger than usual revenue share as the pandemic-prompted bump in play continues in its second year. The course is set on 110 acres with frequent views of the Des Plaines River, which accounts for some of the

ABOVE: The Des Plaines River gets top billing at the 154-yard, par-3 ninth. BELOW: Lincolnshire’s Theatre Marque is a top draw when the sun goes down.

water challenges golfers will encounter on 14 of the 18 holes. Crane’s Landing’s Tom Grey said the front nine is fairly short but still challenging, while the back nine plays as much as five shots harder. The par-70 layout offers four sets of tees, bentgrass fairways, a practice facility and golf shop. The golf course is also a Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary. Just to the right of the first tee is a large organic garden where the resort’s chef raises

vegetables for use in Lincolnshire’s restaurants, as well as hives for bees who produce honey for the same purpose and for use in a locally brewed beer, the signature Five Eyes Honey Ale served in Wright’s Brew & Bistro. It’s not the only amenity to lean on beer. A popular stay-and-play offering at Lincolnshire is the Birdies and Brews Package, which includes lodging, unlimited golf at Crane’s Landing, a dining credit and

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CLOCKWISE, ABOVE: The tough, 408-yard, par-4 eighth. The Five Eyes Honey Ale is made on-site from the expansive veggie and flower gardens. RIGHT: The course’s history is found everywhere, including the rail freight cars used for bridges. an “expertly curated six-pack of craft beers delivered upon tee time.” Given the resort’s location in busy Lake County, the property is removed enough from heavily trafficked roads and spacious enough to offer more seclusion than guests might expect, Phares said. The resort can handle large business groups but is also family-focused. “It’s what I call the ultimate leisure destination,” he said. “It is definitely a leisureoriented resort. Obviously we’ve got the golf course and the restaurants and the (pools) and we’ve got the land,” where guests can picnic, stroll, play volleyball and otherwise 50

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be entertained. “You’re so far removed,” Phares said. “It’s pretty secluded here. You may be in the Chicago area but it’s really secluded here.” Yet, at the same time, close to plenty of popular attractions in the area, including Ravinia Music Festival, Six Flags Great America, Long Grove Historic Village, Chicago Botanic Garden and outlet malls and shopping centers. Please visit www.marriott.com/hotels/ travel/chiln-lincolnshire-marriott-resort or www.craneslandinggolf.com for more information.

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Vito Palmisano

ASU Hitsville

Michigan’s largest city is more than just ‘Motown.’ Think great golf, too – and a whole lot more By Danny Freels WWW.GOLFTIMEMAG.COM

Yeah, OK, Rackham’s a “muni,” and yeah, OK, it’s not in the same class as more famous municipal courses such as Bethpage Black, Torrey Pines South and TPC Harding Park. But even so, it’s got some of the best holes, most beautifully designed and well-placed bunkers, and maddeningly puzzling putting surfaces you will ever experience. Find yourself above the cup on the numerous back-tofront-sloping greens ... and you’ll be shouting “Stop! In the Name of Love,” at your golf ball. Until they play it, it’s hard for many golfers to believe that Rackham was twice the site of the U.S. Amateur Public Links Champion-

ship (1941, 1961). The Joe Louis Invitational was held here several times as well, with many of the best Black golfers in the country — including Teddy Rhodes, Bill Spiller and Howard “Butch” Wheeler — walking the wide fairways. This fun layout, however (play early in the morning and you may hear the lions, tigers and bears awakening with a roar – another treat!), is only one in a wide variety of enjoyable golf courses that surround the Detroit Metropolitan area. A few miles to the southeast of Rackham — just down the road on famous Woodward Avenue, site of the first mile of concrete-

CLOCKWISE, FROM TOP RIGHT: Detroit’s riverfront has become a revitalized showpiece, like the city itself. Greenfield Village and the Henry Ford Museum are twin testaments to bygone eras. There are few more iconic symbols of Detroit than the Joe Louis fist, an homage to the boxing legend. The Detroit Insitute of Arts is one of the nation’s best. Rackham Golf Course is a classic Donald Ross and a staple on the city’s golf scene for nearly a century. 54

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Clcokwise from top: Vito Palmisano, Bill Bowen, Don Shell, Courtesy DIA

don’t like to brag but … I happen to have something in common with famed heavyweight boxing champion Joe Louis. No, not that; I couldn’t punch my way out of a bag made of tissue. Like Mr. Louis did, though, I love Detroit’s Rackham Golf Course. Owned by the city but actually located in nearby Huntington Woods right next door to the Detroit Zoo, Rackham is a 6,600-yard gem Donald Ross built in 1925, and one in a long line of classic “hits” you’ll find around Motown.

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CLOCKWISE, ABOVE: Fox Hills Golf and Banquet Center in Plymouth offers 63 holes with a focus on growing the game. Detroit’s dining scene is famous for Pegasus Taverna in the popular Greektown District, LaFayette Coney Island, and Buddy’s Detroit-style pizza. RIGHT: The 27-hole Shepherd’s Hollow Golf Club was designed by Arthur Hills and offers Northern Michigan-style golf much closer to home. paved road in the United States — you’ll find the magnificent Detroit Institute of Arts. Featuring one of the best and most diverse collections of art in the world, including works by Vincent Van Gogh, Diego Rivera, and Auguste Rodin, among other masters. The DIA is definitely worth a visit. In addition to Rackham, the city owns two other fun tracks: Rouge Park and Chandler Park. A bit further out golfers have a choice of seven Detroit Park courses and eight offered via the Huron-Clinton Metropark system. Before you go too far, though, make sure you sample some of the best food any big city has to offer. For Detroit-style pizza, Buddy’s is the place to go, at least I heard it through the grapevine that the original Buddy’s location on Conant Street is very cool. For coney dogs, you can’t beat Lafayette Coney Island 56

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on Lafayette Boulevard (I prefer the “loose burger” — seasoned ground beef on a hot dog bun topped with mustard and onions). For dinner, definitely check out Pegasus Taverna in Greektown or nearby St. Clair Shores. The restaurant is famous for its Saganaki appetizer, a cheese dish that’s set aflame at your table as the waiter shouts “Opa!” And if barbecue is your thing, you won’t be disappointed with Slows BBQ in Corktown. Many people already know that northern Michigan is one of the premier places to play golf in America — if not the world. What lots of golfers don’t know, however, is that they needn’t drive four or five hours from Detroit to have that experience. Within an hour or two from “the D,” in almost every direction, that same exceptional golf and “up north” feel is readily available.

A few miles north of the city, for example, in Washington, Michigan, you’ll find one of the state’s most admired public-access layouts — not just by golfers but by the game’s leading organizations. Designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr. and opened in 1993, The Orchards Golf Club is a stern test that measures 7,036 yards from the back tees. How stern, you ask? Well in spite of its wide fairways and good-sized greens, The Orchards has a back tee course rating of 74.6 and a slope of 144. Water and wetlands are often in play at The Orchards, as are thick stands of tall trees lining many of the holes. Add it all up and there’s little wonder why the 2002 U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship was held here, it has conducted the Michigan Open three times, and it has been a qualifying site for the U.S. Open, U.S. Amateur and the Buick Open. The Orchards is a good one. You’ll find a few other good ones at Fox Hills Golf and Banquet Center in Plymouth, roughly 25 miles west of Detroit. Fox Hills is a beautiful and very popular 63-hole facility that also features two driving ranges and a state-of-the-art learning complex with a short-game practice area. The three courses here — Classic Fox, Strategic Fox and Golden Fox — offer a wide range of challenges for golfers of all ages and abilities. Among Classic’s 27 holes are a few of the original 18, which date back to the 1920s. A good guess is that Classic was designed by Scotsman Wilfrid “Wilfie” Reid, an accomplished player credited with several early layouts in the Detroit area, including the Old Course at Indianwood Golf & Country Club, former site of both the U.S. Women’s and U.S. Senior Opens. Designed for both beginners and better players, Strategic Fox is a fun but challenging 18-hole par-3 course created by architect Ray Hearn. This very pretty par-54

layout also offers separate tees and a “cup” for the rapidly growing sport of Footgolf. Golden Fox, at only 6,783 yards from the back markers, is not long by today’s standards. Due to the water, wetlands, native grasses and numerous trees that are in play, the well-placed bunkers and the undulating, quicker-thanthey-look greens, this 1989 Arthur Hills layout is a very good test for even low-handicap players. (While you’re visiting, be sure to order the Eagle sandwich. It’s something else you’ll remember about Fox Hills.) Some 40 miles northwest of Detroit, off I-75, is another popular Arthur Hills creation: Shepherd’s Hollow Golf Club. Located in the City of the Village of Clarkston (yes, that’s the official name since its incorporation in 1992), this sprawling, 27-hole facility sits atop one of the highest elevations in all of equally sprawling Oakland County. The original 18 opened in 2000 and a third nine was

added a year later. The three nine-hole combinations here (1-18, 10-27 and 27-9) offer a choice of five sets of tees and a range in yardage from 4,906 to 7,236. Each combo is challenging but the toughest is 1-18. How tough? Well, how does a Course Rating of 76.0 and a Slope Rating of 146 sound? Believe it or not, those numbers are higher than at historic and much longer than the newly redesigned South Course at Oakland Hills Country Club in the Detroit suburb of Bloomfield Hills, site WWW.GOLFTIMEMAG.COM

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the course measures 6,912 yards, but be wary: This very pretty, very fun layout can also be quite challenging. OK, really challenging. Extreme changes in elevation and forced carries are common (play it from the back and you’ll swear there’s a forced carry with every tee shot!). There’s plenty of water and sand to contend with as well – including several sod-faced bunkers guarding many of the well-sloped greens. Without a doubt, the par 3s at Coyote Preserve are among its best and toughest holes, and arguably the best collection in the state. The sturdy 17th, for example, plays 221 yards from the back markers over a narrow lake that runs from the tee to the well-protected putting surface. Yikes! Play this course from the tips and you may want to change its name to Bear Pre-

Don Shell

of several U.S. Opens and PGA Championships, the U.S. Amateur and the 2010 Ryder Cup. (Something tells me not many players are “Dancing in the Streets,” when they finish 18!) Surprisingly, there’s little water in play at Shepherd’s Hollow, but lots of sand and tons of tall oak and pine trees bordering many of the holes. As stern as the golf may be, this very attractive facility (the glass-surrounded banquet venue is absolutely gorgeous) is a favorite to many in the Detroit area. A few miles west of Shepherd’s Hollow, just off U.S. 23 in Fenton, sits scenic Coyote Preserve Golf Club. One of only five courses in all of Michigan designed by Arnold Palmer (and his longtime associate Ed Seay), Coyote Preserve is an AP “Signature” course that opened in 2000. From the tips,

The Arnold Palmer-designed Coyote Preserve is one of Metro Detroit’s toughest championship tracks, with the 447-yard, par-4 fifth hole as Exhibit A. serve. Because that’s what it can be: a bear. When you need a break from all this good golf, make a fine drive just southwest of the city to Dearborn, home to the Ford World Headquarters and a local landmark now called The Henry Ford. Forever known as the Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village, the indoor and outdoor facility consists of 80 acres of history, innovation and just plain fun. In the museum (among thousands of other things), you’ll see John F. Kennedy’s presidential limousine, the bus Rosa Parks was riding in in 1955 when she refused to give up her seat, and the chair that Abraham Lincoln was sitting in on that fateful

night at Ford’s Theater in 1865. Outdoors at Greenfield Village (among other exhibits and rides), you can tour Thomas Edison’s exact laboratory he used when he was working on the development of the light bulb, painstakingly imported from Menlo Park, New Jersey. Believe it: There’s a lot to see and do on a day trip to The Henry Ford, but you’ll need more than a day to see it all. Take it from someone who has lived and played golf in the Detroit Metropolitan area for a long time. Once you get a sample (or taste!) of all that’s available … “There Ain’t No Mountain High Enough,” to keep you from coming back. WWW.GOLFTIMEMAG.COM

MIDWEST GOLF IN YOUR HANDS

The Architect Interview:

Chris Lutzke Pete Dye’s protege talks about the Ryder Cup, his new projects and the life lessons he’s learned along the way By Don Shell

hris Lutzke worked with Pete Dye for more than 30 years, helping create some of the game’s greatest golf courses, from The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island, site of this year’s PGA Championship, to the world-renowned Whistling Straits, home of this year’s Ryder Cup. He’s also an acclaimed architect in his own right, having designed the Top 100 course Eagle Eye in Bath, Michigan, as well as the new 10-hole short course at Kohler, Wisconsin, The Baths of Blackwolf Run. Born in Wisconsin, the 54-year-old Michigan State alum now has his residence with his wife in French Lick, Indiana, where he helped build the formidable Dye Course at French Lick Resort. We caught up with Lutzke recently to talk about the state of the game (and his game), his latest projects and Pete Dye’s legacy he carries on:

GOLFTIME MAGAZINE: I sure appreciate you making time today. I know you’ve got to be a very, very busy guy right now.

CHRIS LUTZKE: Well, you know, we’re down at Vero Beach (Florida), restoring or renovating the Pete Dye course, Grand Harbor. We just started. We just were planting our first 10 greens today. I like to be out there telling everybody what to do, which usually screws everything up, but I just am how I am (laughs). But it’s going pretty well.

GT: Do you get to play much? CL: I don’t, and you know, I was in the Dominican Republic for five years there. We WWW.GOLFTIMEMAG.COM

PREVIOUS SPREAD: Lutzke’s Eagle Eye has been named a Top 100 course in the U.S. ABOVE: The new 10-hole short course, The Baths of Blackwolf Run, opened earlier this summer. renovated all the courses at Casa de Campo, and I played golf almost every day and never got below a 15 (handicap). Right now, I’m probably in 18 or 20, if we went out today. I hate to admit that cause I eat, sleep and drink golf, but golf is hard. I’ve had a lot of back surgeries, but that’s just an excuse. My back’s pretty good right now. You know, (I don’t know if you need to put this in writing), but I was in the Dominican Republic for all those years and it seemed like I was calling Pete Dye every other day saying, “My God this is broke or that’s broken.” So, one day he answered the phone, and said, “Chris, don’t call me anymore.” (Laughs.) He says, “When something breaks down, I want you to play golf until the parts get there and then just go back to work.” And I’m thinking, well, that’s the craziest thing I ever heard. But that’s what I started doing and he’d come down and we’d play golf at Teeth of the Dog, or whatever. But one day he says, “Chris, I never met anyone that played as much golf as you have over the last five years and gotten worse.” (Laughs.) Golf is hard. 62

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GT: Well, you know, speaking of golf being hard, if we could talk about Whistling Straits a minute. You did a lot of the prep work for the Ryder Cup.

CL: Yeah, all of it. (Laughs.) GT: What’s this been like for you? Where does it stand right now? Do you feel ready? I’m surprised you’re not up there tinkering right now.

CL: Yeah, you know we were doing all the Ryder Cup work for the last two years. And we were finishing up the (new 10-hole short course) Baths course, getting ready for the grand opening. And it came to a certain point, I said, “I’m thinking, guys, we should probably get out of here because everything we do requires time to heal.” And having it moved back a year was probably the best thing that could have happened. Most of the work we did up there was for gallery movement and to try to get these people for the Ryder Cup out on the golf course. You know they got a really good amphitheater up there on the 18th hole, but those

folks are going to be pretty upset when that match gets over on hole 14, right? So, the objective was to get the people out onto the golf course, and anyone who’s ever been up there knows there isn’t a whole lot of room on that routing, so we moved an amazing amount of material. While we were out there, we exposed a lot of the original bunkers and you know, pulled a lot of the grass out of them, and it really looks more like it did there in the 2004 PGA Championship right now than it ever has. So, it really looks good up there.

GT: You were there from the beginning, and you know how it’s kind of evolved and changed over the years. So, you think it looks more like the original intent now than it ever has?

CL: I do, yeah. We pulled a lot of that grass down and opened up the long views and exposed more sand, and it’s definitely got a little more of that Irish or Scottish feel now. Not that it was ever lacking any of that flavor (Laughs).

GT: You’ve spoken very eloquently about what The Baths meant to you. Can you elaborate on that a bit, given your relationship to Pete and Mr. Kohler? What was that like?

CL: Well, you know, I think getting that call, and that piece of property, and you know, to sit down with Mr. Kohler and for him to say, “Hey, I want this to be your vision.” … To be able to spend that kind of money and move 160- or 170,000 yards of material on, what, 27 acres? And to come up with that and not have any restraints other than, “I want this to be like nothing anyone’s ever seen,” or something along those lines. I

mean, to have that kind of a project, to have a man like that trust a kid like me … I guess I’m not a kid anymore, I’m 54 (laughs) … but it was an honor to go in there and show them what I’ve learned all the years with Pete and to get my own thoughts my own design incorporated into that development, … that was really special.

GT: I can only imagine. CL: And I’ll say one more thing. You know I still have some of the original Pete Dye guys with me, guys like Abe Wilson. I’m a designer now and I go out and do all this work but at the end of the day, it’s only as good as the guys making it happen. You know I get all the credit, but they’re in the background and you know any great design is only as good as the guys you’ve got putting it together.

GT: You talk about The Baths as being one of the best projects you’ve worked on, because of Mr. Kohler’s support, but it also just looks like a lot of fun. It must have been just a tremendous amount of fun, right?

CL: It was. It was, of course it was, and it was even fun finding some of that very unique stone out there that was from northern Wisconsin, and we somehow found it. And Mr. Kohler was willing to pay for it because you know he named The Baths, The Baths. Before I even did a routing, he knew he wanted that to pay homage to the Kohler Company, and for you know, six months I was trying to figure out something out here that resembles these baths in our ponds. I didn’t want it to look too gimmicky because I could get funky real fast. It still needed to be something special and have a lot of WWW.GOLFTIMEMAG.COM

Lutzke worked with legendary architect Pete Dye for more than 30 years, helping build some of the world’s very best golf courses along the way. identity and a lot of character. And not look like a theme park, either, because you know you make that mistake, and that phone will stop ringing quick! So, it was a challenge. But it was fun, and I think we kind of balanced it out perfectly when everything was said and done, it’s pretty good.

putting courses are really something, too.

GT: So along with The Baths, this really kind

more for golf in the last 14 or 15 months than we’ve seen since the late ‘90s. I mean, everyone’s been trying to figure this out since the late ‘90s, cause we’ve seen it kind of going down, going the wrong way. But golf seems to be in a place where it hasn’t been since the late ‘80s or early ‘90s. And I’m not saying they’re building 300 courses a year, but it’s just that the ones that are here are wanting to spend some money and do some work. Everyone’s spending money now to try to make their course a little better.

of feels like the short-course craze is in full swing, would you say?

CL: I think it is. I think it is the craze and they’re popping up all over the place, from Pinehurst to Bandon Dunes and down here in Florida. I mean, there’s a younger generation of golfers coming out who want to have some speakers on their golf bag and play par threes barefoot, you know? I mean, it is what it is, what are you gonna do? Golf ’s changing a little bit, and these 64

MIDWEST GOLF IN YOUR HANDS

GT: Obviously we saw pretty much the entire game, having a huge uptick during the pandemic. Can you talk a little bit about the state of the game? Is this as healthy as you’ve seen it in a while?

CL: Yeah, I mean COVID’s probably done

GT: You’d worked with and known Pete for what almost must seem like your whole life.

CL: It really does. GT: What would you say — I know this is probably hard to pinpoint — but what would you say is the biggest lesson you learned from Pete?

CL: I guess what I learned most from Pete … Pete could always show up on a job site when everyone thought, you know, it was the worst day ever or the world was coming to an end, and he’d always put everyone’s mind at ease. I’ve seen him do it a thousand times. You know, let’s say your fifth hole broke off and fell into the ocean. I’m exaggerating a little bit, but Pete would come in and say, “God dang, that’s the best thing that ever could have happened to that golf hole! Now we can do this or this, since that, you know, whatever it was.” He always had the right things to say, and every time we left a place, everybody was always in a great mood. I don’t know if that’s his insurance salesman coming out of him, or he just always had a way of making people feel comfortable. And if it was telling a story about, you know the Dominican Republic or what he did last week, or, you know, somebody he ran into, he was just a good storyteller and people really gravitated towards him and trusted him and believed in him. And as far as design, you know, he did most of it in the field. You know, of course we did routings with topographic maps, but it was just to make sure we could fit 18 holes. But once that routing was done, that plan was in the back seat of a pickup truck, never to be seen again. Everything was in the field.

And a lot of times it’s just taking the dozer and just making a line in the dirt, and he’d stand back there where the tees go and envision a golf hole. He’d scratch 3 or 4 lines in the dirt there and finally he’d see it. And you know, after time I’d see it. Most people always said they could see what he was seeing, but they’re all lying. He just had a brilliant mind. And it was a process — “The Pete Dye Process” I called it.

GT: What would you say is the biggest difference between his design style and yours?

CL: Boy, that’s a good question. You know, in the last 10 or 15 years or before he passed away, he was just as happy going in and renovating a Donald Ross course as he was building a brand-new golf course, ‘cause he always thought he knew what Ross would do. And I’ve studied and I know Ross probably as good as any of those old architects. So, I do a lot of that same stuff and what I’ve learned over the years is it’s really easy to make a golf hole hard, or you know, difficult. The hard part is making a golf hole that anybody can play and still have fun. And I’ve renovated a lot of stuff with Pete over the years. And now in the last two or three or four years, I get to do it on my own and I’m honored. It’s a privilege and I don’t take it for granted. To walk out on these old Pete Dye courses, it’s pretty special, and my team feels the same way, you know. To walk a few holes when we first get here and figure out what he was thinking and to walk down those fairways and having him gone now … He’s watching over us, I’m certain of it. Visit crlutzke.com for — more the architect. Juli Inkster U.S. about Senior Women’s Open WWW.GOLFTIMEMAG.COM

Industry Insider

Big Things Happening at Little Glenway State-of-the-art simulators, indoor golf leagues, heated bays at driving ranges keep golf craze going strong during Midwest winter. By Dennis McCann

n a sunny summer day in Madison, Wisconsin, the reimagining of Glenway Golf Course was feverishly underway. Instead of golf carts zipping over the hills or walkers with pushcarts in twos and fours, big machines and their operators were pushing dirt, shaping greens and otherwise reinventing what had long been a popular but modest nine-hole layout in a residential neighborhood on the city’s west side. When the laborers have finished and grass grows in, Glenway will still be a ninehole golf course, but hardly the one it was before work began. Greens will be larger and boast more personality, fairways will be wider and firmer. And Glenway will be much more than a golf course, as well, transforming into a multi-use playground for golfers and non-golfers alike, with hiking trails, a putting course that will be open and free to the public — even some open space for community events. And there will be another rarity for a

nine-hole public course — a caddie program. The plan calls for caddies whose fees would be paid not by the golfers who hire them but the Western Golf Association, which runs the Evans Scholars program of full-ride caddie scholarships. That the project was a gift to the city of Madison from Michael Keiser and his wife, Jocelyn, was something of a surprise on two levels. One, the initial cost was valued at about $750,000, which is not the kind of donation cities are handed every day. And two, Keiser isn’t known for modest nine-hole courses. He runs the celebrated Sand Valley Golf Resort near Nekoosa, Wisconsin, which his father, Mike Keiser, created after similarly succeeding with Bandon Dunes Golf Resort in Oregon. Both are magnets for high-end golfers and bucket-list buddy trippers who are eager to pay big bucks to take on brawny 18-hole layouts that have won golf’s highest honors for design and challenges.

The new and (dramatically) improved Glenway Golf Course bears little resemblance to the original routing. 66

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Glenway

Golf Course Master Plan 2021

6 3

Tees

Greens

Fairways

Bunkers

Restored Pairie

A - Free Public Putting Green WWW.GOLFTIMEMAG.COM

Industry Insider

But Keiser, who with Jocelyn now live in Madison, said he saw in little Glenway a golf course that was neither long nor overly difficult and one that could be enjoyed by players of all skill levels. “Honestly, that length of golf course with great design is what golf needs more of,” he said in presenting his plan last spring. The Madison Parks Commission eagerly embraced the gift, and to the surprise of more than a few — Madison is known for enjoying years of debate and political wrangling over seemingly routine matters — the Common Council unanimously approved the project. Supporters said the emphasis on a mixed-use park was in keeping with recommendations of a golf course task force 68

MIDWEST GOLF IN YOUR HANDS

created to deal with long-term deficits in the city’s golf operation. Construction began in May with the removal of some trees and plans call for play to begin at the new Glenway in 2022. Keiser pulled out all the stops in assembling a murderers’ row of course designers and architects, including some who had helped make Sand Valley a golf destination. They included Craig Haltom, a course designer who had discovered the land where Sand Valley was built; Brian Schneider of Renaissance Golf Design, a UW-Madison graduate who is now working on the Lido course at Sand Valley; and Sara Mess, a former college golfer who worked for architect Tom Doak before becoming a high school

The clubhouse patio offers front-row seating to view Glenway’s renovation.

golf coach near Madison. Others consulting on the plan included Jay Blasi, who grew up in the Glenway neighborhood and now works for Robert Trent Jones II golf course architects; Andy North, the two-time U.S. Open champion from Madison; and Andy Staples, a Milwaukee native who is now a course designer. There was also a landscape design team to oversee prairie grass restoration, along with consulting agronomists and a native plant expert. The plan calls for expanding already large swaths of natural area to reduce both irrigation and chemical inputs. By early July, workers had already seeded

the first of the nine new greens and work was proceeding on schedule. “It’s exceeding my expectations,” Keiser said. “The architectural team is a doing a great job. They’re building new features and building really interesting golf holes that will be fun to play. “It’s a nice variety (of green styles). I feel good that we achieved nine different but fun greens.” Keiser makes no bones about borrowing from other courses to reimagine Glenway, including the birthplace of the game. “In terms of the mission of ecology, golf, mixed use, in that case it’s similar to Sand WWW.GOLFTIMEMAG.COM

MIDWEST GOLF IN YOUR HANDS

Industry Insider Valley,” he said earlier in describing the plan. But in terms of the redesign of greens and other features, “St Andrews is the model architecturally. We’re trying to draw inspiration from a lot of places but at the end of the day we want it to have a (feeling) all it’s own, and that’s Glenway.” In addition to all new greens, the work will include a new set of forward tees for youths and high-handicap players, and wider fairways and approaches to offer more

prominently in front of the course. Keiser hopes the free putting green might entice non-golfers to try their hand, and perhaps lure them to try golf in the future. In addition, there will be improvements to the small clubhouse and a renovation of a nearby patio area. Those changes increased the cost of his gift but he declined to say by how much. The end result will be a new Glenway Golf Course, but even those who know it well might need to get reintroduced.

MADISON IS KNOWN FOR ENJOYING YEARS OF DEBATE AND POLITICAL WRANGLING OVER SEEMINGLY ROUTINE MATTERS — THE COMMON COUNCIL UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE PROJECT. options off the tee and a greater variety of shots into the greens. Keiser told city officials that while it sounds paradoxical, the course should be more challenging for the lower handicap player while more friendly for the high-handicappers. “We think we can make it more enjoyable for both … by increasing the variety,” he said. The project has grown a bit since work began. Keiser brought in a nationally renowned landscape designer to come up with ways to make the course more appealing for motorists passing by and to partially screen the large putting green that will sit

“It’s the same routing,” Keiser said. “I think it will be unique to have the same routing in a different golf course.” Both Keiser and city golf officials said the mixed-use approach could serve as a model for other courses and other cities. Keiser said he hasn’t heard from anyone yet who wants to copy the concept, but he didn’t expect to yet. “I think that will come after it opens and we continue to get more attention, when we invite people to come out and play it. I think people need to see it. The proof’s in the seeing. “Glenway is a unique property and now it will have a unique golf course on it.”

Heavy machinery shapes the course with St. Andrews being the inspiration for many of the changes.

Please visit cityofmadison.com for more information.. WWW.GOLFTIMEMAG.COM

Equipment Preview

Callaway Epic Max To improve on an Epic driver takes some truly epic tech, and Callaway used cutting-edge Artificial Intelligence to create a faster, more flexible and forgiving clubface. Injecting twin vertical bars near the face to join and stiffen the crown and sole, the new Epic Max allows ultimate flex in the face for more ball speed across a bigger sweet spot. The Epic Max has three variations for all levels of players, low-launch, mid-launch and draw bias. $530. callawaygolf.com

THIS YEAR’S DYNAMITE DRIVERS PACK PLENTY OF BARK AND BITE By Don Shell

At this point in the summer, you (hopefully) have your irons dialed in, your short game on point, and you’re simply looking for that little extra edge in your game to push you past your plateaus. In other words: Going bigger. When it comes to kickstarting your game to the next level, nothing gets you there quicker than a big, bad, bold new driver. So with that in mind, we’ve let out six of the biggest, baddest dogs in the pack for you. Woof.

Equipment Preview

Titleist TSi3 Not all drivers are the same, and neither all metals. Titleist knows this better than anybody, which is why they went the extra 234 million miles with their new TSi3 driver. The company uses titanium developed for NASA’s Phoenix Mars lander, which means it’s light but tough, and perfect for a fast, forging clubface. Throw in the TSi3’s aerodynamic shape and adjustable rear weighting, and we’re betting this bad dog will send your tee shots into space, too. $549. titleist.com.

MIDWEST GOLF IN YOUR HANDS

Equipment Preview

TaylorMade SIM2 Last year’s introduction of the SIM driver was a revolutionary take on shape and speed, with its aerodynamic clubhead. This year’s model is a complete evolution on that design, improving every facet and forgiveness for the average player, and replacing the titanium everywhere but the clubface with carbon fiber. The result is a lighter, faster and friendlier howitzer. Comes in low-launch (SIM2), mid-launch (SIM2 Max) and the slice-fighting SIM2 Max-D versions. $529. The company also recently released the MySIM driver, configurable with literally thousands of colors and customizations built just for you, starting at $629.99. taylormadegolf.com.

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Equipment Preview

Cobra Radspeed Everything you need to know about Cobra’s big, bad Radspeed driver you can find on the face, marked with the infinity symbol, as in, “To infinity and beyond!” One thing that isn’t limitless, however, is the need for customization, which is why Cobra’s Radspeed comes in three models: the standard model, with most of the weight forward for players seeking low spin, the XB model, with the majority of weight at the back for best forgiveness, and the XD model, with a weight toward the heel to fight your slice. Rad. $450. cobragolf.com.

MIDWEST GOLF IN YOUR HANDS

Check out our Golftime website to keep up with news and offers! Golftime Magazine is dedicated to people who realize the world’s greatest game is more than a pastime, people who appreciate the rich variety and value in the region they call home.

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PXG 0811 X PXG’s Tour-tested prototype finally found its way into production for the rest of us, with two different models — X and X+ — designed for low spin or high launch player needs. Both versions offer a fast-flex titanium face for better ball speed and lower spin, with a composite crown to save weight and increase speed. The clubmaker has a reputation for top-tier clubs (and prices), but to better bring their clubs to the masses they also feature a lower price point: $299. pxg.com.

Ping G425 Max With a name like “Ping,” it’s no wonder the clubmaker is intensely focused on what happens at the Moment of Inertia (MOI), aka impact. Ping’s new G425 Max boasts the highest MOI in the company’s long, proud history, making it the most forgiving driver they’ve ever designed. They’ve reduced the weight in the crown and face — now just three dollar bills thick! — with a moveable weight in the rear to help mid- to high-handicappers. Also comes in low-spin, low trajectory LST and slice-fighting SFT models. $500. ping.com. 78

MIDWEST GOLF IN YOUR HANDS

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The Back Nine

Practice Makes Purr-fect

y current cat Jessie, like almost all of my cats over the years (bless their hearts), loves golf. Well, actually it’s not that she loves golf the sport. What she really loves are golf balls. During the long, cold winters we all have to endure here in Michigan, I often will practice my putting on the area rug in my living room. I don’t downhill or cross-country ski, I don’t ice skate, I don’t snowmobile and I don’t make snowpersons in front of my home. When necessary I do shovel snow. I don’t believe, however, that shoveling snow is considered a winter sport around the Great Lakes (although it should be). So, to help get through these long, cold winters and prevent me from jumping head first off my roof with my hands tied behind my back, I will get out my putter and a couple of balls and practice a bit. Jessie, like almost all of my cats over the years (bless their hearts), finds this activity great fun. What she will do is sit nearby and watch patiently until I make a stroke. And then, at the last second, especially on that rare occasion when the ball is about to hit dead center, she moves quickly and swats it away. She will then take up a new

MIDWEST GOLF IN YOUR HANDS

by Danny Freels position and wait for my next attempt. I can’t really see the slight smile on her face but I know it’s there. I find it annoying but she finds it hilarious. My cat Bogey felt the same way (I should have named her Double Bogey) and so did my cat Bear. My cat Phantom, whose face looked like the masked guy in the Phantom of the Opera poster, loved me so much she didn’t care if I missed every single putt. I had rescued her many years ago as a kitten from under somebody’s deck somewhere and she was grateful for that until the day she died. When I practiced my putting (during the long, cold winters here in Michigan), Phantom would look up at me with moist eyes and I could never tell if it was because of her gratitude or because my technique made her sad. One other thing about my current cat is that — unlike many of us — she’s not picky about golf balls. Whether it’s a Titleist Pro V1 or a TaylorMade Project A, Jessie is ready to give it a whack – and she can do it with either paw. Now that summer is here, though, and my area rug is put away until November, I practice my putting at the golf course and not in my living room. Among her toys on a chair in that room – fabric mice and birds and some other things – is a white, plastic golf ball. Sometimes when I’m working in my office in the basement, I will hear the knock! of that ball hitting the wooden floor. I suspect Jessie knows that in just a few months winter will be here again. And she’s getting ready for a new season of “golf.”

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