Michigan Golf News, May 21, 2010

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Michigan Golf News May 21, 2010

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Vol. 10, no. 21

Hidden River Golf & Casting Club In This Issue:

Marsh Ridge Resor t and the Natural Golf Course http://www.marshridge.com • Marsh Ridge Resort Television Network http://glsp.com/marshridge/ • 2010 Golf Package Rates http://www.marshridge.com/golf/ proto/marshridge/packages/packages.htm

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2010 Michigan Golf Hall of Fame Ceremony, by Terry Moore Dave Kendall has a double-eagle at Eagle Eye, by Jack Berry Linda McCann: Treetops Cover Girl Payday First Tee Mid Michigan Hidden River Joins 'Winning' GAM Exclusive Tee Time Program Aquinas Saints - Looking Back and Striving Forward Michigan Golfer Magazine: Spring Issue Minzey's Musings Michigan Golf Calendar http://michigangolfer.com/mgn/calendar.html Michigan Golf Archives http://michigangolfer.com/mgn/archives.html Michigan Golf History http://michigangolfer.com/mgn/history.html Michigan Golf Association Links http://michigangolfer.com/mgn/associations.html

GLSP INTERNET TELEVISION NETWORK (est. 2001) Channels: Hidden River Golf & Casting Club http://www.hiddenriver.com • Golf Packages http://www.hiddenriver.com/sites/ courses/view.asp?id=392&page=10449 • Big Fore: http://www.bigfore.com/ Jeff Lesson Half Off Golf at

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Michigan Runner http://michiganrunner.tv Michigan Skier http://michiganskier.tv Michigan Golfer http://michigangolfer.tv Michigan Travel http://michigantravel.tv Running Canada http://runningcanada.tv Running Network http://runningnetwork.com/RNW/index.php/media/rntv You Tube http://www.youtube.com/my_videos?pi=0&ps=20&sf= added&sa=0&sq=glsp&dm=2

CIRCULATION 16, 645 Edited by Art McCafferty artmccaf@glsp.com

Photo courtesy Michigan Golf Hall of Fame

=========================================================== 2010 MICHIGAN GOLF HALL OF FAME CEREMONY: By Terry Moore =========================================================== Last Sunday at Eagle Eye Golf Club Sue Ertl, John Traub and Bill Zylstra became the newest members of the Michigan Golf Hall of Fame. Although taking different routes toward golfing excellence, they all thanked family members, friends and mentors gathered for the occasion in similar heartfelt and humble fashion Permit me to begin—in reverse alphabetical order—with Bill Zylstra. The veteran Detroit publinxer has attained remarkable state and national stature for his outstanding senior amateur achievements including being ranked by Golfweek as the top senior male amateur in the country.

Crediting his late parents for instilling a love and respect for the game, Zylstra also acknowledged and thanked former M.S.U. golf coaches Bruce and Mary Fossum for establishing a “family atmosphere and warm feeling” while he was a Spartan varsity golfer in East Lansing. Zylstra also praised his longtime teacher— Bill Zylstra PGA pro Paul Haase—for transforming his game nine years ago.

“Paul is 90% responsible for all of my good play,” said Zylstra, the GAM’s 2009 Senior Player of the Year and a recent Florida Senior Amateur champion. “The other 10% goes to me, I guess, since someone has to hold onto the club.”

Adding words of praise for the Michigan PGA, the GAM, Michigan Publinx Association, and Glenhurst GC, Zylstra also said state senior players such as Bill McDonald, Greg Reynolds, John Lindholm, Bill Curtis and Jack Van Ess all “inspired and motivated me to become a better player when I turned 50.”

Growing up on a nine hole course in Lexington, MI, John Traub echoed gratitude to family and friends as well as to his Michigan PGA colleagues for his induction into the Hall of Fame. He also reflected on winning the Club Professional Championship in 1980 over a windswept and OB-stakes strewn PGA National GC in Palm Beach Gardens, FL. In 30 mph winds, Traub put away the driver and relied on his one-iron off the tee, keeping the ball in play. “I played it safe and shot 69 and won the tournament,” said Traub. “That title opened up lots of doors.”

In 1981, he competed in the World Series of Golf at Firestone CC and played with Jack Nicklaus and Lee Trevino. He recalled two guys in the gallery heckling Trevino with one yelling out, ‘Hey Lee, what do you feed your caddie?’ Without missing a beat and looking over at the rotund Herman Mitchell, Trevino snapped back, “Oh, about two rednecks a day!”

In 1982 at the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach, Traub played a practice round with the eventual winner Tom Watson. He also played with Seve Ballesteros and later became good friends with him. But Traub said his biggest thrill was meeting and having lunch with Ben Hogan at Shady Oaks. “He had an

A native of Ionia, Sue Ertl earned Hall of Fame honors for her notable LPGA record as well as her distinguished collegiate golf career at M.S.U. where in spite of being a “walk-on” she ended up later becoming the school’s first ever Sportswoman of the Year in 1978.

A multi-talented athlete in high school, Ertl took time to pay tribute to her former high school golf coach who was in the audience while calling to mind that varsity sports for young women in the `70s represented a new frontier. “Many high school girls before me never had the chance to play sports so I was fortunate to do so,” said Ertl now a club teaching professional in University Park, Florida. Ertl’s comments about her coach also prompted an ovation. “Thank you for your class, Mary Fossum.” Along with teammates, friends and family members in the room, Ertl recognized her mother, Carol, as “my number one fan.”

Photo courtesy Michigan Golf Hall of Fame

intimidating presence with the most piercing eyes,” said Traub who’s now an accomplished instructor. After lunch, Hogan personally signed and presented Traub with a copy of his famed “The Five Fundamentals of Golf.”

Sue Ertl

On the LPGA circuit for 11 years, Ertl was a steady and popular player, known for her fan club called “Ertl’s Turtles.” Her best LPGA finish was fourth, which she attained on four occasions including in the 1990 LPGA Championship, the first ever $1 million dollar purse in a major championship for women.

At times choking up with emotion, Ertl told of her continued passion for the game and how much enjoyment she receives from teaching. And she thanked fellow golfers and friends for “encouraging me, for opening doors for me, and for challenging me.”

Humorously and ably emceed by Michael Patrick Shiels, the morning and golf savvy host for WJIMAM and the Michigan Talk Radio Network, the dinner program concluded a sunny day of golf at Eagle Eye GC in Bath. Established in 1982, the Michigan Golf Hall of Fame is overseen and managed by the Michigan Golf Foundation, a non-profit 501 (c) (3) organization. For more information, visit http://www.michigan-golf-foundation.com ================================================ DAVE KENDALL HAS A DOUBLE EAGLE AT EAGLE EYE ================================================ Dave Kendall had a real eagle eye at Eagle Eye Golf Club Sunday in the Michigan Golf Hall of Fame outing at the suburban Lansing club. A double eagle eye.

Kendall, the immediate past president of the Michigan PGA Section and head of the Kendall Academy in Ypsilanti, holed his 235-yard 4-wood shot on the 18th hole.

Playing in a four man team with Eagle Eye Manager Alex Koss

The odds are better for professional golfers, and Kendall is a twotime winner of the Michigan Senior Open and Michigan Senior PGA. So Kendall’s double Sunday wasn’t a lucky shot caroming off trees and cart paths. In fact, it was his second double eagle.

"I got the first one 20-25 years ago in the Michigan PGA’s Fall ProAm trip to Las Vegas. The 18th hole THE COURSE DOGLEG YARDS and I cleared a gorge with my drive by one foot and only had 160 yards to the green. I hit 7-iron and it went in. I got a skin on it but one of my amateur partners made an ace earlier in the round and didn’t get anything – someone else made an ace and cut him,” Kendall said.

Photo courtesy of Golf Business magazine

A double eagle is a rare bird. The British call it an albatross. Dean Knuth, who developed the Slope golf course rating system for the United States Golf Association, “guesstimated” in Golf World that it is a one million to one shot. Hole-in-one odds for the average golfer are 13,000 to 1.

Dave Kendall

===================================== LINDA MCCANN: TREETOPS COVER GIRL ===================================== "Good morning!, It isn’t often that someone in my position has the opportunity to recognize and congratulate an employee who is on the front cover of a nationally recognized magazine. However, as many of you already know, Linda McCann is that special employee as found on the cover of the May issue of PGA Magazine. On pages 64 & 65, there is a wonderful article about Linda and our resort. A few paragraphs into the article, Linda makes an excellent point about what we do: “…you deal one-on-one with the customer, try to give them the best experience they can have, and the job brings you something different every day.”

Photo courtesy of PGA Magazine

But no one cuts a double eagle.

I encourage everyone to think about that statement because I believe Cover, May 2010 it is “bang on” regarding what we are here to do each and every day we come to work. Whether we are dealing with an internal customer (our fellow employees) or an external customer (guests and local patrons), we are here to try our best with what we have to work with. If each of us knows that we have done our best, that’s all we can ask of one another. Linda, congratulations and thank you for all you do for our resort and our guests! I know I speak for all of the Treetops family regarding how proud we are to have you on our team."

Thank you! Mike Mike Hernandez GM Treetops Resort http://treetops.com

==================================================================== AQUINAS SAINTS - LOOKING BACK AND STRIVING FORWARD- By Chris Lewis ==================================================================== While Aquinas College is known for providing a stellar liberal arts education to thousands of students year after year, it has also produced a solid men’s golf team throughout the last few decades. From the 1963 team that finished second in the NCAA Division II national tournament to the 2005 and 2006 teams which won two consecutive conference championships, Aquinas’ golfing history has certainly been successful.

However, in recent times, the Aquinas Saints have been planning for the future, as the relatively young team continues to gain experience in college golf. Head coach Tom Gunn (’67) has led the Saints for 24 consecutive years. During the last two decades, Gunn has helped both inexperienced and wellexperienced teams reach their full potentials. Gunn believes he will be able to help his current team reach its full potential as well.

“The team will definitely be stronger next year, despite the loss of Brad Hall (’10), the only senior on this year’s team,” said Gunn. “During this past season, the Saints experienced some growing pains.

Yet, I believe that the lessons the team obtained this season will serve them well in the future. Alex Smith (’11) and Max Rouse (’11) will lead the less-experienced team to future successes next year.”

Reflections on the Fall 2009 Season Coach Gunn certainly has a variety of reasons for believing in the future successes of his squads. First, the fall 2009 team was actually led by Joel Siegel (’13), a freshman from Sparta, Michigan and a former leader of Sparta High School’s varsity golf team.

“Joel had an average of 77.6 for all conference matches, which was lower than all of his fellow teammates, including senior Brad Hall,” said Gunn. “I am very excited about the future of Joel’s career with Aquinas. I believe he will definitely contribute to the Saints’ future successes throughout the next three years.”

Second, even though the squad finished fifth in scoring in the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC), out of seven teams, the team did have a rather strong performance at Siena Heights University’s hosted jamboree. With a total score of 307, by far the team’s best score of the season, the Saints showed that they can certainly compete with the other teams in their conference. Through more successful matches like the Siena Heights jamboree, the team will not only gain confidence, but will also obtain consistency during the coming years.

“That day our team averaged 77.6 strokes. Besides the squad’s performance at Siena, the Saints’ next best score was 312 during its first jamboree of the season,” Gunn said. “As I look back at this past season’s best performances, I cannot help but to believe that the best is yet to come.”

Aquinas Golf – A Longstanding Tradition of Golfing Success Throughout the last six decades, various individuals have led the Aquinas Saints to success on the golf course. Yet, one individual golfer seems to stand above the rest. As a 1964 graduate of Aquinas, John Kurzynowski remains the most successful golfer in the program’s history. Kurzynowski first began playing for the Saints in 1963, after transferring from Jackson Junior College. During his first year

with the Saints, the team earned a Division II national runner-up finish after a 19-5 seasonal record.

In the meantime, Kurzynowski finished fourth individually in the 1963 NCAA Division II National Championship. Yet, Kurzynowski would attain further honors while playing for Aquinas during the 1964 season. That year, he followed his fourth-place finish at the NCAA Division II National Championship with a victory, in order to become the first national champion and All-American in Aquinas’ history. After his successful golfing career at Aquinas, Kurzynowski became a golf professional, in order to use his talents to positively impact the sport, as well as individuals who are learning how to play the game.

In 2002, Kurzynowski was honored for his past achievements and contributions to Aquinas golf, as he was inducted into the college’s inaugural athletic hall of fame. The following year, Kurzynowski was once again inducted into the college’s hall of fame, as a member of the 1963 team which remains the most successful squad in Aquinas golf history. The team, known as the “Yankees of the North”, finished with a regular season record of 19-5, while defeating larger schools like Notre Dame, Western Michigan University, and Wayne State University. Even though the team did not win the NCAA Division II National Championship, its runner-up finish is still Aquinas’ highest team finish at a national sports competition.

Coach Gunn Looks Forward to a Successful Future Of course, collegiate golf will always remain a team-oriented sport, as no individual will ever be viewed as more important than the core team unit. Even though Aquinas’ 2009 squad did not repeat the success of the 1963 team that finished second in the NCAA Division II National Championship, the team still has a positive outlook on its past season, as well as its capabilities for success in the future.

“The team has learned so much during the past year about how to persist through losses in a respectful, sportsmanlike manner,” said Gunn. “The team will use its past experiences rather positively, as each individual will strive to obtain team success during the coming years. I have no doubt that Aquinas will continue to have successful golfing squads well into the future.”

Through its affiliation with the Catholic Dominion tradition, as well as its core liberal arts curriculum, Aquinas College provides a Christian atmosphere in which students can not only learn and grow within the classroom, but outside of it as well. Aquinas students are well-prepared for lives of active leadership and service upon their graduations, as they strive to improve the lives of other people. With its location in the thriving metropolis of Grand Rapids, students are able to enjoy the benefits of a small educational community within a larger city.

Meanwhile, Aquinas also offers its students a variety of athletic opportunities, ranging from soccer and cross country to tennis and lacrosse. With nine men’s athletic teams and twelve women’s athletic teams, Aquinas has had successful athletic programs since its establishment in 1886. Aquinas athletes are typically known for their academic achievements, as well as their athletic accomplishments, as they tend to focus on both the utilization of their academic talents and their accomplishments within the athletic arenas.

For more information about Aquinas College, as well as its wide selection of athletic programs, please visit http://www.aquinas.edu/index.html.

====================== FIRST TEE MID MICHIGAN ====================== Pre-season fun 4 person scramble on May 23 at Centennial Acres near Sunfield to benefit The First Tee Mid Michigan chapter scholarship fund. It is a 9 hole event, shotgun start at 1 p.m. Fees are $35 for golf, cart and snack. Prizes too. Pay at the door, reserve a spot at 517-281-7475.

BIG DEAL. June 5. National celebrity paraplegic golf trick shot artist Dennis Walters will present a FREE 1 hour show at Eagle Eye Golf Course on Chandler Road. The event starts at 1 p.m. as Dennis Walters will appear on his nation-wide tour. The First Tee Mid Michigan is hosting this community event for kids of all ages. Walters appeared recently on two CBS special segments. Eagle Eye manager Alex Coss is hosting the event. Information is listed at http://www.thefirstteemidmichigan.org. Call for any questions at 517-281-7475.

SIGN UP NOW. Summer 5 week classes for The First Tee registration is available on-line at http://www.thefirstteemidmichigan.org. Area youth ages 7-17 will receive instruction in Nine Core Values and the game of golf. Lessons begin June 14, with a second session starting on July 19. Boys and Girls will be trained at the Sycamore Training Center, Forest Akers East and Royal Scot.

DRIVING RANGE. Sycamore Driving Range is open, weather permitting, on a daily basis. The First Tee Mid Michigan will operate the Range under a special out sourced contract with the Lansing Parks and Recreation Department. PGA Pro Ron Applegate heads up the Pro Shop operations and Training Programs.

A John Greenslit release ======== PAYDAY ======== Hi Art, Don't get a chance to say it very much but thanks for doing this great work for Michigan golf. We really do appreciate it and really do read through it!

Hope you have a great golf season!

JF John Fulling, CGCS Kalamazoo Country Club Kalamazoo, MI 49008 ============================================ MICHIGAN GOLFER MAGAZINE - SPRING ISSUE http://issuu.com/michigan_golfer/docs/mgspring10 ============================================ Table of Contents "Shenandoah and the Michigan Golf Classic" - By Jack Berry "43 Years at the Masters" - By Jack Berry “Collegiate Spotlights: Michigan Golf Programs Provide Opportunities for Students - Albion College" - By Chris Lewis

"Treetops: Golf at its Best" - By Mike Duff "Michigan Golf Association and Legislative Leader, John Dodge Passes" By Bill Fountain "Slice of Life: Torrey Pines, San Diego and The Bucket List" By Terry Moore 2009 Past Issues Site Winter http://issuu.com/michigangolfer/docs/mgwinter09 Fall http://issuu.com/michigangolfer/docs/mgwinter09 Summer http://issuu.com/michigan_golfer/docs/mg0609 Spring http://issuu.com/michigan_golfer/docs/mg0409

“It’s a great way to reach out to GAM members,” Hidden River head golf professional Jerry Roman said. “We’ve already been a participant of the GAM’s Swing & Save program and have been very happy with that.

Both programs represent a win-win-win arrangement for the golf course, the GAM, and for golfers.”

Photo by Dave Richards

================================================================= HIDDEN RIVER JOINS 'WINNING' GAM EXCLUSIVE TEE TIME PROGRAM ================================================================= Hidden River Golf & Casting Club has joined the Golf Association of Michigan’s Exclusive Tee Time program which enables GAM’s 60,000 members to book a tee time at one of the participating clubs.

Hidden River Golf & Casting Club Hidden River is a charter member of the new and user-friendly Exclusive Tee Time program which also posts special pricing off regular rates. GAM members log onto the Association’s website at www.gam.org, pick a participating course, a preferred date and tee time, and then pay online with a credit card. Meanwhile, Swing & Save--introduced eight years ago-- gives GAM members 10% off regular green fees at Hidden River Thursday to Sunday, excluding twilight and some holidays.

Designed by W. Bruce Matthews III and located 13 miles north of Petoskey, Hidden River is known for its variety of golf holes set amid beautiful surroundings, including the Maple River, a blue-ribbon trout stream. “It’s a beautiful piece of land,” said Matthews who counts Hidden River as one of the “underrated gems” of northern Michigan. “There are five sets of tees that will test golfers without embarrassing them.”

Hidden River is also a popular dining destination with its award-winning Rainbow Room restaurant.

With optional patio dining overlooking the Maple River and the ninth green, the Rainbow Room was rated by PGA Travel magazine as one of “Top 4 Golf Course Restaurants in the Midwest.” And yes, trout is on the menu.

For more information about Hidden River Golf & Casting Club visit http://www.hiddenriver.com Media Contact: All About Golf, 616-490-0433 ================= MINZEY'S MUSINGS ================= A doctor examining a woman who had been rushed to the Emergency Room, took the husband aside, and said, 'I don't like the looks of your wife at all. 'Me neither doc, ' said the husband. But she's a great cook and really good with the kids.'

--An old man goes to the Wizard to ask him if he can remove a curse he has been living with for the last 40 years. The Wizard says, 'Maybe, but you will have to tell me the exact words that were used to put the curse on you.' , The old man says without hesitation, 'I now pronounce you man and wife.

---While shopping for vacation clothes, my husband and I passed a display of bathing suits. It had been at least ten years and twenty pounds since I had even considered buying a bathing suit, so I sought my husband's advice. 'What do you think?' I asked. Should I get a bikini or an all-in-one? Better get a bikini, ' he replied 'You'd never get it all in one. He's still in intensive care, --The graveside service just barely finished, when there was a massive clap of thunder, followed by a tremendous bolt of lightning, accompanied by even more thunder rumbling in the distance. The little old man looked at the preacher and calmly said, 'Well......she's there.'