In This Issue •
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Photo courtesy of The Dream
VOLUME 36
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14 20 23 28
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New Videos
The Dream, Hole No. 15
Paul Nine Was a Ten in Michigan Golf in the ’80’s By Art McCafferty
R.I.P. Susan Bairley, 1953-2018 By Art McCafferty
West Branch: Three Immaculate Courses with an “Up North” Feel By Chris Lewis
The Berry Patch: Summertime Golf in Michigan –
Life is Good By Jack Berry
Michigan Golf History from 1895 - 1910 By Art McCafferty
1000 Michigan Golfer Videos By Art McCafferty
Slice of Life - NCAA Golf & Oklahoma City Conquer All By Terry Moore
Michigan Golfer News
Weekly email newsletter To join: email artmccaf@glsp.com
MICHIGAN GOLFER MAGAZINE • SUMMER
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http://michigangolfer.com MICHIGAN GOLFER
Photo/Video Paul Bairley Kevin Frisch Gary Morgan Dave Richards Carter Sherline Scott Sullivan
Publisher/Editor Art McCafferty artmccaf@glsp.com Editor Emeritus Terry Moore
Composer Jamie Fallon
Associate Publisher/Producer Jennie McCafferty Writers Jeff Bairley Paul Bairley Phyllis Barone Jack Berry Mike Duff Greg Johnson Doug Joy Vartan Kupelian Brad King Tom Lang Chris Lewis Brian Marshall Scott Moore Bill Shelton Scott Sullivan Illustrator Tytti Fallon
Director of Accounting Cheryl Clark
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New Videos
Online:
http://michigangolfer.tv http://michigantravel.tv http://youtube.com (search “glsp”)
Tournaments Crystal Mountain -25th Michigan Women's Open with Phyllis Barone French Lick: Home of the LPGA Legends & Symetra Tours - Brendan Sweeney The Frank Syron Tournament at Pontiac CC, 2017 - Lloyd Syron Point O'Woods & the 2019 Western Amateur with Dennis Mitchell & Matt Flaherty Bedford Valley - Home of the Senior Open with Charles Scott & Jack Berry LPGA Marathon, Scenes From 2017 - A Carter Sherline PhotoVideo EMU/Michigan PGA Spring Scramble - Stephanie Jennings on EMU Alumni & Course Michigan PGA Spring Scramble At Eagle Crest Resort LPGA Volvik Championship III Presser with Phyllis Barone Volvik LPGA Qualifier at Eagle Crest Resort, 2018 Volvik Winner Minjee Lee at her press conference Scott Sullivan Visits the KitchenAid Kitchen at the Senior PGA Open Volvik Party at the Big House with Phyllis Barone and Carter Sherline Scenes at the Kitchen Aid Senior PGA Championship with Carter Sherline Volvik Pro-Am Interviews: Michael Whan, Wanda Walker, Bob Krause, Randy Bryer and Harold Cook Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational, 2019, Michael Whan with Phyllis Barone Lewis Jewelers, Pro-Am Sponsor at Volvik, with Phyllis Barone Golf Organizations E.W.G.A - New Partnership LPGA with Phyllis Barone - Michigan Golfer MWGA 2018 - Francine Peques with Jennie McCafferty Laura Winch - EWGA is now part of LPGA - with Phyllis Barone
Courses Fieldstone GC @ Auburn Hills, 2018 Preview - With Gordon Marmion Pinehurst Area Golf - Something For Everybody with Phyllis Barone Huron - Clinton Metroparks Golf with Phyllis Barone - Michigan Golfer The Majestic at Lake Walden - MGCOA Golf Course of the Year, 2017 Pilgrims Run GC, A Mike DeVries Design with Jeff O'Malley & Phyllis Barone Arcadia Bluffs, New South Course with Bill Shriver & Dana Fry - GLSP Golfing the Jewel at the Grand Hotel with Jason Horricks LochenHeath GC - Producing Champions - with Terry Crick & Kevin O'Brien Michaywe Pines Golf with Judy Mason and Jennie McCafferty Keweenaw Peninsula Golf with Susan and Paul Bairley - Michigan Golfer Red Run GC - Joe Marini, GM, Bruce Hepner, Architect, Gary Thommes, Superintendent & Jack Berry Flint Golf Club - A Willie Park Jr. Design - 100th Year Anniversary Lochenheath Golf Club - Beautiful Course & Vibrant Membership - With Kevin O'Brien
2018 • MICHIGAN GOLFER MAGAZINE
Golf History & People Robert Trent Jones, Jr. Sightings - Peter Allen, Jack Berry Jack Berry and Jeff Lesson on Golf John Retzer - The Original Golf Blogger & His Many Golf Adventures Debbie Williams Hoak - An Award Winning Year - Michigan Golfer Charles Scott - A Life of Golf Architecture with Jack Berry Tom Harding - Kendall Academy at Miles of Golf with Jack Berry Chris Mile of Miles of Golf - One of America's Top 100 Golf Shops Volvik USA President Don Shin chats with Phyllis Barone at the Pro-Am Debbie William-Hoak - Athena Leadership Award with Phyllis Barone LPGA's Cheyenne Woods Visits U of M's CS Mott Children's Hospital with Phyllis Barone Michigan Golf Hall of Fame Al Watrous - Class of 1982 Hortin Smith - Class of 1983 Walter Burkemo - Class of 1983 John Barnum - Class of 1984 Dorothy Higbie - Class of 1984 Dave Hill - Class of 1985 Leo Diegel - Class of 1985 Marvin Stahl - Class of 1988 Randy Erskine - Class of 1991 Mike Hill - Class of 1992 Chick Harbert - Class of 1992 Lloyd Syron - Class of 2004 Jeff (J.R.) Roth - Class of 2005 Jack Seltzer - Class of 2012 Debbie Williams Hoak - Class of 2018 Tom Harding - Class of 2018
The Michigan Open An Evening with Ken Devine & Jack Berry Michael Patrick Shiels - Michigan Open at GTR&S - End of an Era? The Michigan Open @ Grand Traverse Resort on The Bear - Scott Hebert 2016 The Michigan Open - Jeff Bronkema - Prestwick Village GC The Michigan Open - Tom Gillis 1994 & 2008 with Jack Berry Jeff Roth Winner 1998 & 2004 with Ken DeVine The Michigan Open at Grand Traverse Resort & Spa - J. Mike DeAgostino Barry Redmond - 1989 - Grand Traverse Resort & Spa Michigan Golf Hall of Famer Tom Harding - with Ken DeVine Sponsor Mercy Elite Tim Matthews Winner in 1986 - Grand Traverse Resort & Spa Thomas Werkmeister Winner 2014 - Prestwick Village GC Randall Hutchinson Wins 2011 at The Orchards Jack Seltzer Winner 1987 - Grand Traverse Resort & Spa Ryan Brehm - Winner in 2009, 2010 & 2014 MSU Coach Casey Lubahn & Ryan Brehm, 3 Time Winner John Davis, Record Eagle Reporter, & Jack Berry Discuss The Bear Tom McGee, Director of Golf - Grand Traverse Resort & Spa Kevin Helm, Ex. Dir. Michigan PGA, Talks About the Return to GTR&S & The Bear Setting Up The Bear for the Michigan Open - Justin Phillips & Paul Galligan Michigan Open History at Grand Traverse Resort - Jack Berry, Greg Johnson & Ken Devine Paul Nine - Developer of The Grand Traverse Resort & Spa - Part I - Spruce Run & Michigan Open Paul NIne - The Tower, Nicklaus, The Michigan Opens & The Bear - Part II
Michigan Golfer Shorts Pictured Rocks GC - Munising, Michigan Red Fox GC - Assorted Holes on the Front Nine - Gwinn, Michigan Northern Michigan University GC - Front Nine
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Paul Nine Was a Ten in Michigan Golf in the ’80’s
Photo by Carter Sherline / Frog Prince Studios
By Art McCafferty
Illustration by ‘Tytti Fallon
From left: Ken Devine, Jack Berry, Paul Nine, Jim Dewling
W
e did a soft launch of the Michigan Golfer in late summer of 1982, featuring Dan Art McCafferty Pohl on the cover and then went into a full production with the Michigan Golfer with six issues a year in 1983.
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The timing was right for our publication and many others across the land as golf in the ’80’s produced some spectacular stories about golf nationally and, also, in our state. Michigan added more than 60 golf courses to our inventory during that decade, The Bear being one of them. One of the shakers and movers from that era was Paul Nine. Paul was a U of M graduate with a law
degree who was looking to get into resort development. He landed at the Grand Traverse Resort in the resort’s early days and worked with a banker to provide some new leadership for the struggling property. The Michigan Golfer Magazine reported on the fulfillment of a lot of dreams at the resort during the ’80’s. The highlights included its host
2018 • MICHIGAN GOLFER MAGAZINE
and Visitors Bureau created a real buzz about the Traverse City area.
As you read our Michigan Golfer Summer Issue, take a look at two of the three Paul Nine shows we have put online. The third will follow in mid July.
Photo from Michigan Golfer archives
Part I
Paul Nine, 2nd from left, Jack Nicklaus Jr. and Jack Nicklaus tour the course.
We thought this would be a good story to celebrate ’80’s golf in Michigan and, to do so, we assembled our own foursome – Paul Nine, Jack Berry, Ken Devine and Jim Dewling, for a video series on Michigan Golfer Video.
Taking the Reins at Grand Traverse Resort – Building Spruce Run and Hosting the Michigan Open https://youtube.com/watch?v=OxK _aJIAmWU
Part II The Tower, Nicklaus, & The Big Bad Bear https://www.youtube.com/watch?v =LvVN50hmmzk
Part III Has the Bear Become Bearable? Coming soon . . . - MG -
Photo from Michigan Golfer archives
ing the Michigan Open for all of the ’80’s and beyond, building the Tower, bringing in Nicklaus to design The Bear and attracting a Senior Tour event to the resort with the sponsorship of Michigan Bell. Golf and a very active Convention
Nine held the reins at the resort until the early ’90’s when some new owners took over.
Doug Grove, Jack Nicklaus, Jr., Jack Nicklaus and the resort’s pro look over The Bear. MICHIGAN GOLFER MAGAZINE • SUMMER
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R.I.P. Susan Bairley, 1953 - 2018 By Art McCafferty
sadness is spreading throughout the land as people hear about the passing of our colleague, Susan Bairley.
A
the University as EMU finally had a golf course and a first class corporate center to host companies and the like. The Michigan Golfer debuted in 1983, and our editor, Terry Moore, selected Susan as one of our writers. Since those early days, Susan contributed up until
Photo courtesy of Paul Bairley
In the early ’80’s when Susan and I were employed at Eastern Michigan University, we created
the first of many Michigan Golf Summits that were to be held at our brand spanking new Eagle Crest Resort. Of the three entities comprising the resort, EMU owned the golf course and the Corporate Education Center with another company owning the hotel. It was a fun time for us at
Susan and Paul Bairley play golf at Treetops. 8
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Illustration by ‘Tytti Fallon
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Photo by Carter Sherline / Frog Prince Studios
Shirley Spork, Bonnie Bairley (Susan and Paul’s daughter) and Susan Bairley attend the Michigan Women’s Golf Association’s Legacy Celebration, May 2014.
this year with her story and video on Keweenaw Peninsula Golf. Her early involvement with the Michigan Golf Summit as well as being the founder of the Michigan Women’s Golf Summit, showcased her leadership skills. Susan was thought of as a “player” in Michigan golf. 10
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Susan was one of the shakers and movers in realizing and then promoting one of EMU’s greatest treasures, Shirley Spork, one of the original founders of the LPGA. Susan and her husband Paul also established the Shirley G. Spork Women’s Golf Endowment. EMU picked up on
this and we are now having the 2nd Annual Shirley Spork Invitational on October 7-9. When The Michigan Golfer started putting video on-line Susan was one of our go-to hosts. She was an experienced interviewer who made people com-
2018 • MICHIGAN GOLFER MAGAZINE
Michigan Golfer TV Features Susan Bairley
2018 Keweenaw Peninsula Golf & Fun https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gds3Nye1HJo
The K Club Ryder Cup with Jack Berry https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EjP-DKnCERw Ireland Golf with Jack Berry https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zbgnvuQszqM 2017 Shirley Spork and the Other LPGA Founders https://youtube.com/watch?v=MKLAOGPzbao
2016 Christine Meier – Two Time Michigan Amateur Champion https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1rEcC7JADU
Allyson Geer - Winner Women's Michigan Amateur https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHKgJcpSHaA 2010 Memories of The Bear With Dave Lovejoy and J. Mike DeAgostino https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xrv2JuDvYkc 2008 Florida Golf Preview - The Sarasota Region https://youtube.com/watch?v=keSWNMLve5Y
fortable during the interview process. We have listed a number of shows in which Susan and, at times, her husband Paul, appeared. The videos feature Susan in a variety of assignments she has done for our company over the years. While I have many favorites, the one that comes to mind is her interview with Shirley Spork last year, as they discussed the other founders of the LPGA. It was history in the making and LPGA Commissioner Michael Whan was so impressed with the interview, his office requested a copy for their archives. As you can see from the information in her obituary, a celebration of her life will be held on August 3rd. As part of the celebration of her life, the Michigan Golfer will create a special video of her life and the lives she touched.
Mitchell Funeral Obituaries: https://www.mitchellfuneral.com: Susan Marie Bairley, of Chelsea, age 64, passed away at home surrounded by her family on June 25, 2018. She was born the daughter of Edward and Helen (Daugul) Jablonski on July 15, 1953.She is preceded in death by her father.
Cathal O'Sullivan of Sullivan Golf and Travel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_9tzDfbJag
Susan was born in Detroit and grew up in Center Line, with surviving siblings Edward Jablonski Jr., Kathy James, Nancy Nuell, and James Jablonski. On September 10, 1978 she married her beloved husband Paul Bairley, and together they had three children: Alan (Robin) Bairley, Jeffrey (Elyse) Bairley, and Bonnie Bairley. Susan also had four grandchildren: Braden, Lillian, Sienna, and Calen.
2003 Sara Wold – Michigan Golf Hall of Fame https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2BfwG3FCkfE
Susan received her bachelor’s degree in Journalism from University of Michigan, and her master’s degree in Public Administration from Eastern Michigan University. She worked in Communications and
2006 Ryder Cup Practice Round at the K Club https://youtube.com/watch?v=vThAA3Q57NM
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Public Relations throughout her career, which included positions at Eastern Michigan University, Ford, and most recently, USCAR. Susan loved working in the automotive realm, attending auto shows with her colleagues, and all things cars. Outside of the office, she was an avid writer for The Michigan Golfer, the A Position, and a member of the Golf Writers Association of America. She and Paul enjoyed traveling to many golf courses for writing assignments as well as frequent trips to Northern Michigan.
She loved traveling, theater, music, all things British, being in nature, dressing up for a night out in the city, and spending cherished time with family. She had a particular interest in antiques, operating booths at two antique malls in the area. Susan loved her family and friends immensely and selflessly, a quality that showed during her tenure as president of the Chelsea Senior Center, and through her involvement with other charitable organizations throughout the years. She always supported the performing arts and had a passion for social justice and equality. Susan never failed to inspire her 12
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Photo by Art McCafferty
Susan and Paul established the Eastern Michigan University Shirley G. Spork Women's Golf Endowment, to provide scholarships in honor of the LPGA founding member.
Mike Biber and Susan Bairley
children to find their creative voice, pursue higher education, and always find the good in other people. She was a woman of love, leadership, and purpose.
Funeral Home Chelsea, Michigan with pastor Todd Jones officiating, on August 3, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. There will be a luncheon to follow at the Inverness Country Club Clubhouse. The family asks Susan was diagnosed with pan- that any donations made in creatic cancer in April 2017, a Susan’s memory be made to Faith battle she fought heroically for 14 in Action. months. A memorial service will - MG be held at the Staffan-Mitchell
2018 • MICHIGAN GOLFER MAGAZINE
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West Branch: Three I with an “Up North” F
Photo courtesy of The Nightmare
By Chris Lewis
The Nightmare, Hole No. 11.
Immaculate Courses Feel
V Illustration by Tytti Fallon
irtually every Michi gander has heard of West Branch. Known for its numerous gas stations, Chris Lewis fast food restaurants and outlet mall, the city’s prime location on I-75 is an ideal stop for drivers as they travel to and from northern Michigan.
Each course not only offers the “Up North” feel that so many golfers treasure, especially during their vacations, but they were also designed with all types of golfers in mind, regardless of their ages and experience levels. By offering something for everyone, the courses are tailored to any type of guest, whether golfers are interested in spending quality time with their families, working on their games alone or conversing with friends and business colleagues.
So, the next time you plan a golfing trip “Up North”, perhaps you won’t need to travel as far as you thought. Enjoy the scenery, camaraderie, slower pace and overall “Up North” atmosphere you’re seeking a little closer to home instead—by teeing it up at the following three courses this summer.
The Dream: A Vision Transforms into Reality Introduced to the game of golf at an early age, Tom and Dan Courtemanche spent many evenings assisting their father as he constructed his own golf course, Pinconning’s Green Hills Golf. Ever since the course first opened in 1971, the
Photo courtesy of West Branch Country Club
Considered the beginning of “Up North”, the city is so well-designed for travelers that even the most ardent golfers may not realize three
pristine golf courses—The Dream, The Nightmare and West Branch Country Club—are located within minutes of their typical gas, food and shopping destinations.
West Branch Country Club Golf Course 16
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Photo courtesy of The Dream
The Dream, Hole No. 5 brothers have been intrigued by golf course design and inspired to follow in his footsteps one day. That day eventually arrived 23 years later when a close family friend notified Tom and Dan about an opportunity to purchase a former cattle ranch, a property he believed was an ideal location for a golf course.
says Darcy Coutemanche, general manager of The Dream. “Cut out of hardwoods, the course also offers the rolling terrain—a sign of the beginning of ‘Up North’ Michigan—that provides a northern Michigan feel without being overwhelmingly difficult for beginners and high handicappers.”
Within a matter of three years, the course—appropriately named The Dream in celebration of the brothers’ shared dreams to operate their own golf course, which had now become reality—opened to the public. Located three miles west of downtown West Branch, the 312-acre property was immediately recognized for its fairness, as all greens (each of which are 10,000 square feet or larger) were receptive to nearly any type of approach shot, while fairways were generally wide, bearing in mind amateurs’ hooks and slices.
A par-72 ranging from 5,118 to 7,000 yards long, the course is primarily renowned for its fifth hole, a par-three that requires golfers to hit their tee shots over a pond.
“The course is fair and fun for players of all skill levels, and was always intended to be that way,”
“This is the hole that everyone sees on I-75 southbound with the fountain in the middle of the pond,” Coutemanche explains. “It entices players off the road and gets them interested in playing the course.” He adds, “And this interest is continuing to increase, as more and more golfers discover The Dream’s natural beauty, forgiveness and perfect conditions.”
The Nightmare: A High Value for All Customers After nearly five years of success with The Dream, the Coutemanche brothers decided to purchase yet another property in West Branch. Located one mile west of The Dream, the property was an ideal location for what the brothers would consider a sister course: The Nightmare. Opened in August 2003, The Nightmare— despite the potential images its name may invoke—is actually easier than The Dream, leading many customers to suggest a future switch in names (a change that will unlikely ever occur). Featuring generous fairways, large, undulating greens and 74 bunkers strategically located near tee and greenside landing areas, the par72 course currently ranges in length from 5,168 to 7,020 yards. Every hole is secluded, so that golfers are only able to see the hole in which they are currently playing, often leading them to feel as if they are the only people on the course.
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Photo courtesy of The Nightmare
The Nightmare, Hole No. 2 “What separates The Nightmare from other courses is the value it’s able to offer to customers,” says Kyle Middleton, director of golf at The Nightmare. “It’s always in top notch shape, and we take pride in how well it’s manicured—ensuring it stays that way throughout the entire golfing season.” In addition to providing a high value to customers, with regards to its immaculate conditioning, The Nightmare also offers a gorgeous practice facility, featuring a large putting green, a practice bunker and target greens on the driving range (all range balls are included with each round, entirely free of charge). Furthermore, guests are also welcomed to shop at The Nightmare’s fully stocked pro shop, which includes the industry’s latest clubs and clothing from companies like Callaway, FootJoy, Kate Lord, Titleist and UnderArmour. With regard to food and drinks, guests may also purchase a variety of items—burgers, chicken tenders and 18
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sandwiches, to name a few—at The Nightmare’s snack bar and bring their own beverages of choice with them, as neither The Dream nor The Nightmare has a liquor license. Both courses provide ice and coolers on all carts though; this option to bring drinks leads to considerable cost savings for golfers, which certainly does not go unnoticed, as both courses’ personalized customer service is gaining recognition throughout Michigan. “We go above and beyond to make sure we accommodate all of our golfers’ needs,” Middleton stresses. “And we take pride knowing we offer a product that many customers keep coming back for.”
West Branch Country Club: A Significant Variation in Difficulty Founded in 1928, West Branch Country Club was originally con-
verted from a farm into a nine-hole golf course. Nearly 50 years later, nine more holes were added, as the club’s popularity continued to rise, particularly due to its well-manicured and remarkably smooth greens, often referred to as the best in Michigan by many guests. Open to the public, the club’s first nine holes are very forgiving, as its fairways are wide and its greens are typically large. However, everything changes on hole 10, as the last nine holes feature tree-lined fairways, along with smaller greens that often provide much tighter landing areas for golfers’ approach shots. “Club selection and strategy are extremely important on the back nine,” says Tom Hornbacher, general manager of West Branch Country Club. “But this variation in difficulty is key, as the course offers something for golfers of all abilities—a fun and playable nine holes for less skilled golfers and a more challenging design (featuring nine equally difficult holes)
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for more advanced golfers.” Measuring 5,865 to 6,479 yards long, the course also has two different pars: a par-72 from the men’s tees and a par-73 from the women’s tees. Like The Dream and The Nightmare, the club is also located near I-75, offering golfers yet another easy commute during their drives “Up North”. This year, golfers may purchase single memberships (with carts) for $1,600 or couple memberships (again with carts) for $2,200. Discounts are provided to seniors (of $100 for singles and $150 for couples), while juniors can purchase walking memberships for only $300.
to play all three golf courses, they should consider purchasing the West Branch Triple Play: a twonight stay at the West Branch Quality Inn and golf with a cart at The Dream, The Nightmare and West Branch Country Club—for just $280 per person this summer! If you’re seeking an ‘Up North’ experience closer to your home, you simply can’t miss out on this deal.”
“Whether guests are looking for variety on our golf course or variety at our restaurant—we also offer ‘All You Can Eat’ fish and chips and slow roasted prime rib on Fridays and Saturdays—they will not be disappointed,” Hornbacher states.
For more information about West Branch’s trio of golf courses, please visit http://www.thedream.golf, http://www.thenightmare.golf and http://www.westbranchcountryclub.com.
He continues, “And if they’d like
- MG -
Photo courtesy of West Branch Country Club
Unlike The Dream or The Nightmare, West Branch Country
also offers guests a variety of drink options at its Sandbaggers Bar & Grill, which is open daily throughout the season. Known for serving Michigan-made beers (currently six in all), the bar and grill also has a wide selection of food, including burgers, sandwiches, shrimp, wings and wraps. Dinner items like blackened and grilled salmon and Cajun chicken tortellini are also highly popular.
West Branch Country Club Sandbaggers Bar and Grill MICHIGAN GOLFER MAGAZINE • SUMMER
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The Berry Patch
Summertime Golf in Michigan – Life is Good
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ummer officially started on June 21, the same day I got the news that my pacemaker is good for 11 more years. Wish our sumJack Berry mers lasted like that instead of our winters.
Michigan Amateur at Country Club of Detroit where Arnold Palmer rose to national acclaim in 1954. Globally two of the four major championships have been played already, the Masters and the National Open. That’s what it was known as back in the fifties and early sixties. Then the United States Golf Association pushed golf writers to start calling it the United States Open. Not only does golf run half of its majors before summer starts, thor-
oughbred racing runs its three biggest races by the end of the first week in June, the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont. Half of the big four of tennis have been played, the Australian and French Opens, and so has the biggest car race, the Indy 500. Those before the barbeques and fireworks shows do provide cheers and gripes to go with hot dogs and beer. Phil Mickelson’s stick-handling trot on the 13th hole at Shinnecock will be fodder summer long. To bad the NHL referee who
Photo from Michigan Golfer archives
Before the official summer start we’ve had our two state major championships, the 101st Michigan Open on the Bear at Grand Traverse Resort and the 107th
By Jack Berry
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Ricky Barnes won the U.S. Amateur at Oakland Hills, 2002.
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Photo by Carter Sherline / Frog Prince Studios
Tiger Woods has two wins and two second place finishes at the Buick. played in the Open missed the cut. If he’d been there he could’ve sent Phil to the penalty box. The USGA’s setup for the Open, or any Open, is good for conversation. They take a course that was built a century ago, before PhD agronomy and the cursed stimpmeter. They virtually dehydrate and use rollers and mowers that turn greens brown. No Tommy Fleetwoods in the setup crew. Fox funnyman Ken Brown made a perfect illustration of the Shinnecock greens in his Brownie Points. He just turned over an iron skillet, put a ball on top and it rolled off.
No skillet necessary on the fifth, seventh and eighth greens at Glenhurst GC in my old guys weekly nine hole league. The course opened in 1932 and the practice then was roll-off greens, inverted saucers, for drainage and they’re doggone maddening especially when the flags are close. Phil has some kindred souls as the balls roll off. Phil’s trot and the Shinnecock greens may be remembered more than the winner but Brooks Koepka now has mastered two USGA setups which somewhat reminds me of Oakland Hills which was conquered by three double winners of the Open,
Ralph Guldahl, Ben Hogan and Andy North. Guldahl and Hogan won Opens in successive years, 1937-38 and 195051. North’s Opens were seven years apart, 1978 and 1985 and he and Guldahl also won at Cherry Hills. Arnold Palmer won his lone Open at Cherry Hills in 1960 and the Denver club hasn’t had an Open since. Steve Jones bested Tom Lehman and Davis Love III in Oakland Hills last Open, 1996. The West Maple Rd. club has hosted two hugely successful U.S. Senior Opens, won by Palmer and Jack Nicklaus, plus two very successful
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U.S. Amateurs in the 24 years since the Jones victory. Oakland Hills thought the last Amateur, in 2017, would earn a seventh Open. Paul Azinger, Brad Faxon and Curtis Strange, the three Fox analysts, raved about Oakland Hills but the USGA has lockjaw. Nothing for Oakland Hills. Instead Opens have gone to Chambers Bay (disaster) and Erin-way-too-wide Hills. It is booked through 2024 and members of hard-to-reach Shinnecock, the end-of-Long-Island club, a two hour train ride or traffic-socked car from Manhattan for the fans, want another and surely will get it.
Warwick Hills will have a field of familiar faces from the lamented late stages of the Buick Open. The Champions Tour arrives Sept. 1416 for The Ally Challenge. And if you want a real kick, go to one of the 10 Drive, Chip and Putt sites conducted by the Michigan Section of the PGA. Sites are Bay Meadows, July 9; Boulder Creek, July 13; Pheasant Run, July 16; Fox Hills Learning Center, July 21; Oak Pointe, July 24; Grand
Haven, July 26; Hawk Hollow, July 31; Gull Lake View West, Aug. 7. Two earlier sites were Whispering Willows, June 22; Midland CC, June 25. Four Michigan youngsters made it all the way to Masters Sunday at the Augusta National this year. P.J. Maybank III of Cheboygan won the Boys 12-13 group and Josh Lavely of Kewadin took second in Boys 1415. Georgia Bosart of Clarkston was third in Girls 10-11. Allison Cui of Okemos was fourth in Girls 12-13. Today’s kids will either make you wish you’d started real young or reach for liniment for a sore aching back. Either way, you’ve got a Pure Michigan summer to enjoy the game. I know my pacemaker will.
Photo from Michigan Golfer archives
So, no Open here. Two LPGA tournaments, the Meijer and Volvik, beat out of here before sum-
mer but there’s easy, up close golf with two Symetra tournaments, one at the Island Resort and Casino in the Upper Peninsula which opens Sage Run, a companion to Sweetgrass and both designed by Paul Albanese, and one at Battle Creek.
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Warwick Hills hosts the Buick Open. SUMMER
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- MG -
Michigan Golf History from 1895-1910: The Bendelow & Willie Park, Jr. Era By Art McCafferty
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n 1885 the golfing citizenry of Fairfield, Connecticut achieved at least 135 years of immortality by launching the Brooklawn Country Club, now considered the oldest club in the United States. In 1888, New York's St. Andrews opened. Six years later it provided the site for the nation's first invitational amateur contest held in 1894. It was also the year when some pioneering Michigan golfers teed it up at Roaring Brook Course in Harbor Springs. Roaring Brook Course is gone now, but Wequetonsing Golf Club and Harbor Point Golf Course still remain. And according to the folks
in the know up there both of these Harbor Springs courses came on board in 1896. At least this is the point where we will start our coverage. There is a great Michigan map on the wall at Mission Pointe Resort on Mackinac Island. The map highlights Michigan development and also lists the amount of people in the state during that time. At least two of the top five population areas were in the north. Perhaps that is why many of our early golf courses were established there. It was during that time that cruise boats plied the Great Lakes and brought vacationers from Chicago up to Harbor Springs or Mackinac Island. Detroit vacationers were taken to Mackinac
Island, the Les Cheneaux islands or Sault Ste. Marie. In the Upper Peninsula, Michigan mines were going full blast and places like Houghton-Hancock and Iron Mountain were densely settled. Of particular note during Michigan's entry into the golf world, was the arrival of two early Scottish golf designers: Tom Bendelow and Willie Park Jr. Tom Bendelow, who later worked quite a bit with Donald Ross, was responsible for designing over 400 courses in America from 1895 to the early 1920s. His most noteworthy accomplishments outside of Michigan include Medinah #3, Skokie
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Country Club, East Lake Country Club in Illinois, Garret Park in Indiana, Tripoli in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and Lakewood Golf Course in Colorado.
1896 Harbor Point GC Harbor Point GC, Harbor Springs Designed by Dave Foulis, redesigned by Dave Gill MGTV: A Tour with Shaun Bezilla https://www.youtube.com/watch?v= 3DCBcAwcgu-EU Website: https://www.harborpointgolfclub.com
1896 Harbor Beach Golf Course Harbor Beach Golf Course (Private), Harbor Beach 1896 Wequetonsing Golf Club Wequetonsing Golf Club (Private), Harbor Springs Website: http://www.wequetonsing golfclub.com 1896 Kent Country Club Kent Country Club (Private), Grand Rapids Designed by Donald Ross Website: http://kentcountryclub. softlinks.com
Photo courtesy of Les Cheneaux Club and Golf Links
Willie Park, Jr. was the son of four-time British Open Champion Willie Park of Scotland, who won in 1860, 63- 66-75. Willie's uncle Mungo won in 1874 and finally, Willie himself won in 1887 and 1889. He was also enough of a promoter to see the virtues of publishing his own instruction books, "The Game of Golf" (1896). The book was widely read at the time, as it represented the first such book on golf. While Willie did win his share of tournaments, his real love was golf club design and golf course design. He became so good at the latter that he is noted as our country's "First Great Architect." His signature American course is Olympia Fields-North, Illinois. The course dates back to 1922, and it previously hosted the 1928 U.S. Open and the PGA Championships of 1925 and 1961. It also hosted the Senior Open in 1997. In England he is known for his masterpiece, Sunningdale Old, located in Berkshire.
His Michigan courses include Flint GC, Red Run GC, Battle Creek CC and some of the holes at Meadowbrook CC. Source: http://golfcourse.com
Les Cheneaux Club & Golf Link (Public), Cedarville Website: http://lescheneaux.org/ things-to-do/golfing/ MGTV: A Tour of the Course https://www.youtube.com/watch?v =3DrHcBT96QnoE Located in Cedarville, in the eastern Upper Peninsula, Les Cheneaux is traditional links in its essential features. The nine-hole Les Cheneaux Golf Club was laid out and chartered by the early members of the Les Cheneaux Club and was ready for play in May of 1898. Play is from the water and back to the water, sand and water are both natural hazards, as are forest and rock, and the design of the grounds is dictated by the land, not imposed on it. By 1900, the club had posted both a professional nine-hole record score of 38 (by W.V. Hoare) and an amateur record of 41. Though there have been some changes since the very early years, such as lengthening some holes, the essential character of the links has changed little. Many of the hazards are overgrown piles of the fieldstone cleared from the original fairways and the perpetual hazards of the forest and rock outcrops remain challenging. Les Cheneaux is open to the public and plays 2,852 yards from the middle tees. Source: Website http://lescheneaux.org/things-todo/golfing/
Les Cheneaux Club and Golf Links, Cedarville 24
1898 Les Cheneaux Club & GL
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1898 Saginaw Country Club Saginaw Country Club (Private), Saginaw
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1898 Wawashkamo Golf Club Wawashkamo Golf Club (SemiPrivate), Mackinac Island Designed by Alex Smith Website: http://wawashkamo.com MGTV: A Course Tour with Chuck Olson https://www.youtube.com/watch?v =ZDBG6IKpLfg MGTV: Wawashkamo National Hickory Stick Classic https://www.youtube.com/watch?v =r-biX1n7pG8 Wawashkamo Golf Club, listed by Golf Magazine as one of the top 10 nine-hole courses in the world, is also the first nine-hole course designated as a Historic Golf Landmark by Golf Digest. U.S. Open Champion and Scotsman, Alex Smith built the course in 1898. Wawashkamo was named after an utterance of Chippewa Chief Eagle Eye, who observed that the golfers on the course "wa- washkamo" walk a crooked path. Well, that part hasn't changed and really not much else at the course has changed either. The course is still cut by horsedrawn mowers, much of the watering system comes from the clouds that pass by the island, and the course still allows golfers the opportunity to use sand tees. The rough is rough, and wayward shots will have you reaching into your bag for a new ball. The postage- sized greens demand accurate approaches, not any different from decades past. To get a more comprehensive story on this famed golf course you need to
Photo by Art McCafferty
Designed by Tom Bendelow Website: http://saginawcountryclub.com
Wawashkamo Pro Chuck Olson with National Hickory Stick Classic ladies read, Walk a Crooked Trail - A Centennial History of Wawashkamo Golf Club by Frank Straus and Brian Leigh Dunnigan. 1899 Washtenaw Country Club
Washtenaw Country Club (Private), Ypsilanti Website: http://polofieldsccmi.com MGTV: Video Tour https://www.youtube.com/watch?v =NEPy4uPiUv8 Other Shows Randy Erskine - Former Head Professional & Michigan Golf Hall of Fame Inductee https://www.youtube.com/watch?v =ITL2LUHRJ8w Melvin “Bud” Stevens - Member & Michigan Golf Hall of Fame Inductee https://www.youtube.com/watch?v =3D-WLXy2vVPAE MWGA 20th Anniversary https://www.youtube.com/watch?v =3FhT-hHgXnY 1901 Grand Hotel - Jewel 1994 Grand Hotel - Woods
Grand Hotel - Jewel (1901) and Woods (1994) Golf Courses Website: https://www.grandhotel. com/ activities/golf-on-the-jewel
MGTV: A Tour of The Woods Course With Jerry Matthews and Jack Berry (2014) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v =zOGlsellsYc Mark Kelbel - Former Golf Professional at the Grand Hotel, now at The Broadmoor (2017) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v =dp1JSPnpB6w Golfing the Jewel With Jason Horrick & Jennie McCafferty (2018) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v =a-dbbRSXP48 1901 Manistee Golf and CC 1930 Back Nine Manistee Golf and Country Club (Semi-Private), Manistee Designed by Tom Bendelow; Back Nine designed by Bruce Matthews, 1930 Website: http://manisteegolfandcc.com MGTV: W. Bruce Matthews III How My Grandfather Designed the Course https://www.youtube.com/watch?v =kCvzkq5hQYo 1901 Sault Ste. Marie CC Sault Ste. Marie Country Club
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Photo courtesy of The Grand Hotel
Muskegon Website: https://www.muskegoncc.com Designed by Tom Bendleow, 191011 Redesigned by Donald Ross, 1920 Remodeled Holes 2 & 3 by Jerry Matthews & Associates, 1979/1989 Renovation by Bruce Matthews III, 1999 MGTV: 102nd Michigan Amateur https://www.youtube.com/watch?v =3DTTX6Iq5ud-Y
The Jewel at the Grand Hotel (Semi-Private), Sault Sainte Marie Redesigned by Jerry Matthews Website: http://saultstemariecc.com 1902 Pine Grove Country Club Pine Grove Country Club (SemiPrivate), Iron Mountain Back nine designed by Larry Packard, 1962 Website: http://pinegrovecc.org MGTV: Izzo and Mariucci Golf Classic with Susie Fox and Jennie McCafferty https://www.youtube.com/watch?v =U1eRHpFO5d4 1903 Ann Arbor Golf & Outing Club
1908 The Highlands, Grand Rapids
The Highlands (Private), Grand Rapids Built in 1908 Redesigned by Donald Ross, 1916 Closed in 2017 1908 West Shore Golf & CC
West Shore Golf & Country Club (Private), Grosse Ile Designed by George Ferry. Website: https://www.westshoregcc.com 1908 Muskegon Country Club
Muskegon Country Club (Private),
1909 Battle Creek Country Club Battle Creek Country Club (Private) Battle Creek Designed by Willie Park, Jr. Website: http://www.battlecreekcc.com MGTV: Firekeepers Symetra Tour Coverage (2015) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v =3DqWRzvejvnNQ 1910 Gowanie Country Club Gowanie Country Club, Mount Clemens (Private) Designed by Thomas Shoemaker.
1910 Kalamazoo Country Club Kalamazoo Country Club (Private), Kalamazoo
1907 Hillsdale Golf & CC Hillsdale Golf & Country Club (Private), Hillsdale Designed by Thomas Bendelow Website: http://hillsdale.golf/history.php 26
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Photo by Art McCafferty
Ann Arbor Golf & Outing Club Website: http://www.aagoc.org
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1910 Cadillac Country Club Cadillac Country Club (SemiPrivate), Cadillac Designed by Paul Blick Website: http://cadillaccountryclub.org 1910 Flint Golf Club
Flint Golf Club (Private), Flint Designed by Willie Park Jr. Flint Golf Club - Back in the Day The Flint Golf Club originally had created a nine hole course, that had its direction from its first golf and greens chairman, J. Dallas Dort. "In 1918 the Flint Country Club Corporation was started as a separate entity to the Flint Golf Club Corporation. We believe the original intent was to separate the golf course from the lot owners and to later dissolve the land company after all the lots were sold. Prospective landowners / members had to be elected to the Flint Country Club Social Organization and also buy a lot from the new Flint Country Club Corporation which had sub-divided and perfected this plat on August 15 1918. The original area involved approximately 150 lots surrounding the 127 acre golf course property. Financing was the next step in the process. The future of Flint Golf Club was shaped with the help of the “Golf Gods” and this certainly was among the most powerful group of men in the United States at the time. The purchase price for the golf course land and surrounding lots was estimated at $225,000. In addition to Dort the following were the original incorporators: Walter P. Chrysler, William S.
Ballenger, Edwin Atwood, Arthur M. Davidson, Charles S. Mott, Fred A. Aldrich, Charles M. Begole, William W. Mountain, Harry Basset, Charles Bonbright and Arthur G. Bishop." http://flintgolfclub.com/history/ Website: http://flintgolfclub.com /course-info/ MGTV: https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=YNMQU5j1WX0 Note: In reading the history of Flint Golf Club, I ran across the name of Charles S. Mott, as one of the original contributors to the club. Mr. Mott was a benefactor of mine on two occasions, when I served a Mott Intern Fellowship in Flint. During the 70’s Flint was one of the most innovative school districts in America. In 1971, my first internship required that I move to Flint and participate in the emerging Community Education movement. My family and I enjoyed our year in Flint and our daughter was born there. It was a great laboratory city and I learned much from their educational product and was one of many that carried its philosophy to all corners of our country in the 70’s and 80’s. The second time Mr. Mott served as my benefactor was when I completed my doctoral degree while enjoying another Mott Intern Fellowship. Dr, Jack Minzey, contributor of Minzey’s Musings until his death in the Spring of 2018, was a cherished
mentor to me and inspired me to be the best that I could be, first as my high school psychology teacher and later at Eastern Michigan University. He was responsible for getting me to apply for the Mott Internships. I mention this to alert you to my fondness for the City of Flint. Like many, I have been saddened by the troubles that have impacted the city. First, was the massive downsizing of the city’s labor force by General Motors, i.e. Roger and Me, and then, of late, was the drinking water scandal that inflicted such pain on the city and our state. With the aforementioned stories in mind, we cold-called Flint Golf Club and received a warm welcome. We met GM Troy Stieve, Club Professional, Scott Brotebeck and Assistant professional, James Bennett. They were amazingly generous with their time for their “drop in guests” and we quickly established a rapport as you will see in the video we produced. Hopefully this summer, I will be able to return and take up the challenge of their soon-to-be-100-year-old Willie Park Jr. design. Andy Staples on Willie Park Jr. Designs: http://golfclubatlas.com/featureinterview/feature-interview-withandy-staples/ 2017 - MG -
Photocourtesy of Flint Golf Club
Designed by Tom Bendelow Website: http://kalamazoocountryclub.com
Flint Golf Club
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1000 Michigan Golfer Videos - Top Shows By Art McCafferty
John Daly Grips it and Rips it at the Niagara Falls
Top 10 Michigan Golfer Videos of all time* !"#$%&'()*
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before 2007 lost all of their traffic numbers and had to start over. For that reason, shows before 2007 are not listed on our viewership stats. That was all part of the growing process. While we near 5,000 videos on YouTube, we have “lost” roughly another thousand due to
server meltdown or changes in video playback software. The beauty of YouTube, is that all of the videos we post are shown, regardless of the video format we used in putting the shows up. Of the 4,989 videos we have put on YouTube, 1,136 have been about golf.
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Slice of Life
NCAA Golf & Oklahoma City Conquer All
Illustration by Tytti Fallon
I
Karsten Creek Golf Club, the host venue of Oklahoma State University. On the women’s side, the Arizona Wildcats won their third national championship in a thrilling extra hole playoff against Alabama. In the men’s finals, Oklahoma State won on its home turf against Alabama, claiming its 11th national title in a 5-0-0 clean sweep of matches against the
Crimson Tide. The NCAA Golf Championships in Stillwater provide a timely opportunity to extol the virtues and benefits of visiting Oklahoma City—the state capital and its largest city at 1.3 million people— less than 70 miles away. After visiting OKC for the first time at the end of February, my wife and I
Photo courtsy o Terrry Moore
Terry Moore
n late May, the NCAA Division I Women’s and Men’s Golf Championship were held on consecutive weeks at Stillwater’s
By Terry Moore
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The Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum tells a powerful story of the events and aftermath of the horrific terrorist bombing of April 19, 1995, that claimed 168 lives. SUMMER
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looked at each other and I said, “Hey, did I leave my iPhone charger at the hotel?” Okay, I may have said that but I also said, “Wow, Oklahoma City is one fun, entertaining and inspiring place to visit!” Here are the highlights of our well-spent 48 hours in OKC:
Oklahoma City Thunder—
Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum—An affiliate of the National Park Service and on the Register of Historic Places, this painstakingly conceived
and dedicated site tells a powerful story of the events and aftermath of the horrific terrorist bombing of April 19, 1995, that claimed 168 lives. The Memorial Museum provides an insightful and emotional journey into the history of the city, the chaos and extent of the destruction, the investigation and cracking of the case (a lone police officer noticing the culprit’s vehicle without a license plate) and the tremendous community resolve for rebuilding, healing and transformation. The Outdoor Memorial is equally inspiring. One suggestion: revisit The Outdoor Memorial in the early evening to witness how the Field of Empty Chairs is illuminated. Eerie, moving, and indelible.
National Cowboy & Western Heritage
Photo courtsy by Jim Meeks
For sports entertainment, it’s hard to beat game night at the city’s NBA franchise at the fittingly named Chesapeake Energy (yes!) Arena in downtown OKC. The Thunder, which just concluded its 10th season, has helped transformed and revitalized the downtown area. But it didn’t do it alone. Oklahoma City residents voted yes to a one-cent-sales-tax initiative bringing more than $5 billion in both private and public investment to the city since 1993. This initiative is called
the Metropolitan Area Projects (MAPS) and is currently on the third MAPS project. The downtown is alive and jumping with bars, restaurants, shops and other attractions in safe, walkable districts, many with distinct styles. Sometimes, major sports franchises are often over-sold and overhyped in terms of their economic and civic impact. That’s not the case with the Thunder. Being at one of its game, and marveling at the MVP-wizardry of Russell Westbrook, is a rush as its fans are some of the loudest and most vocal in the NBA. And yes, we saw a winning game.
The Oklahoma City Museum of Art maintains one of the largest collections of Chihuly glass in the world. 32
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Photo courtsy of Terrry Moore
“Horses at Stream” by Charles M. Russell is an example of the world-class collection of the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum.
Museum—This is an absolutely amazing attraction, and highly recommended even for those whose love of the American West may be confined to John Wayne. The wings and galleries are Smithsonian in scope and quality, so reserve at least several hours to fully appreciate it. The history displayed throughout and especially the classic and contemporary art collection are worldclass—such as Frederic Remington and Charles M. Russell. The firearms collection is also stunning. In short, giddy-up over and visit.
Overholser Mansion—For an informative trip “back in time” to Oklahoma’s pre-statehood days, check out this carefully preserved mansion. Built in 1903 (in today’s dollars well over $1 million), the Overholser was OKC’s first man-
sion, the proud home of namesake Henry O. who made his fortune in real estate and the mercantile business. The two-story, brick-and-stone 20-room mansion was a sensation in its day for its architecture. Here’s how The Daily Oklahoman described it back then after an opening event: “The house is a sermon on beauty. It is uplifting and ennobling as works of art are ever.”
Oklahoma History Center— Another must stop for history buffs and the ever curious-minded. Many worthwhile exhibits are here but we were most enthralled with “We Are Who We Were: American Indians in Oklahoma.” This exhibit represents all thirty-eight federally recognized American Indian tribes currently associated with Oklahoma. Visitors may explore the historic
past of Oklahoma’s native peoples, including the infamy of the Trail of Tears, and experience contemporary American Indian cultures. Here, I learned in World War I, OK’s Choctaw tribesmen and soldiers served as code talkers during the trench warfare. In another part of the Center, I noticed an exhibit titled “Sit-in Movement,” which honors an act of civil disobedience of Oklahoman Clara Luper at a segregated drug store counter on August 19, 1958, two years before the more famous sit-in at Greensboro, NC. OHC displays life and history in unflinching and interactive fashion, balancing the inspirational with the painful elements of a state’s history.
OKC Museum of Art—Another pleasant surprise. In 1968, the OK Art
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Photo courtsy Oklahoma State University
Karsten Creek Golf Course in Stillwater is on the campus of Oklahoma State University. Center, the forerunner of this museum, purchased the 154-piece permanent collection of Washington DC’s Gallery of Modern Art. Presto! The city’s modest arts community was immediately catapulted into elite national company for its major collection of postwar art. During our visit, the exhibition titled “The New Art: A Milestone Collection Fifty Years Later” celebrated the Museum’s pivotal acquisition. In 2002, another major acquisition occurred with the purchase of a Dale Chihuly exhibition of glass and drawings, including a 55foot piece that graces the museum’s entrance. Today, the OKCMOA maintains one of the largest collections of Chihuly glass in the world.
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attractions, hip districts, projects and people-magnet venues such as the 15,000-seat Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark, the home of the OKC Dodgers, LA’s Triple A affiliate; the Bricktown Canal (with a nod to San Antonio’s famed canal) that extends into the entertainment district; the nearby Oklahoma River’s emergence as a whitewater rafting mecca, attracting adventuresome kayakers (Olympians train here!) from across the USA; and major facelifts and renovations to the area’s Convention Center and Civic Center Music Hall. On our last evening in this bustling yet congenial city, we walked at sunset from our hotel to the nearby Centennial Land Rush Monument, a massive installation of the world’s largest bronze sculptures
by artist Paul Moore (darn, no relation) depicting the historic events of April 22, 1889, when 50,000 homesteaders gathered at the water’s edge of the unassigned lands. Located at the south end of Bricktown Canal, the monument features 45 aweinspiring figures suspended in time as they race to claim new homesteads. Don’t miss it. Only the NBA-like shot clock of time prevented us from seeing more of OKC’s myriad sights and attractions. Two days were woefully not enough time to capture all what makes this area such a vibrant and eclectic place to live, work and play. Surely, there are problems, civic shortcomings and the usual headaches here common to any large urban community. But in light of where the community stood after that fateful April day in 1995,
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one leaves here thinking anew about the state’s motto—"Labor Omnia Vincit”—Latin for "Work Conquers All". Finally, if asked when we might return to Oklahoma City, there’s a quick and fitting response from this happy cowboy and cowgirl. Sooner rather than later.
Where to Play: Thinking of the NCAAs, if you wish to divide your state college loyalties, visit Karsten Creek GC in Stillwater on the campus of OK State U. and the Jimmie Austin GC in Norman at the U. of Oklahoma. From OKC, Jimmie Austin is the closer of the two and less pricey than the upscale Karsten Creek. Both are deservedly top-ranked courses befitting the calibre of their golf programs. Closer to OKC— more modest in both price and presentation— are such daily fee courses as Earlywine Park, Lincoln Park (West), and Trosper Park. If you have private club connections, find a way to play Twin Hills G & CC in OKC, a Perry Maxwell-designed gem that’s hosted several major championships in its heyday such as the PGA, Western Amateur, USGA Junior and the old Oklahoma City Open once won by Arnold Palmer.
Where to Stay: For convenience, amenities and a cool ambience, the all-new AC Hotel, a Marriott property, in the Bricktown area is a winner. It reminded us of a boutique European hotel for its minimalist, chic design and its across-the-pond inspired breakfast. But unlike those Euro versions, the AC has more spacious guest rooms. The hotel was the first built in OKC to use more affordable modular construction—a technique where a project is constructed in sections offsite and assembled together on-site. But you wouldn’t notice it unless, like us, you were told. Besides the alert and attentive service, we relished the AC Lounge where we
enjoyed happy hour looking out from tall street level windows to the neighborhood. Other room delights: the deluxe bedding, oversized spalike showers, desk area, enhanced media and the overall sound-proofing of the room and corridors. Quiet and peaceful when it’s needed for weary and happy OKC visitors. Visit https://www.marriott.com/ hotels/travel/okcac-ac-hotel-oklahoma-city-bricktown/ For more details about the aforementioned OKC sites and attractions, just google any of the sites listed. And visit www.visitokc.com for comprehensive travel info. - MG -
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