Michigan Golf News, October 15, 2010

Photo by Jennie McCafferty

The Senior PGA Championship, the most historic and prestigious event in senior golf, will be played in 2012 and 2014 at The Golf Club at Harbor Shores in Benton Harbor, Mich. Arnold Palmer and Tom Watson play The Golf Club at Harbor Shores in August.

In This Issue

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Michigan Players Fared Well in USGA Championships:

By Terry Moore Golf Rules ... For a Good Reason: By Brad Shelton *** Rules Rule the Roost: By Bill Shelton Thad Gutowski - The Cyber Geezer = Part IX of a Series News and Notes from the Michigan PGA Annual Meeting Michigan PGA Has Fall Meeting and Hands Out Its 2010 Awards Treetops Appoints Barry Owens as NEw GM Hate To Be Rude Videos http://www.golfweek.com/categories/news/videos/hate-to-be-rude/ Sweetgrass GC Island Resort & Casino Break Ground on New Conference Facility Jeff Hintz Named Championship Director of the 73rd and 75th Senior PGA Championships Michigan Golfer Magazine Fall Issue Now Online http://michigangolfer.com/fall10/ New Shows on GLSP Minzey's Musings Michigan Golf Calendar 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

__/__/__/__/__/__/___/__/__/__/__/__/__/__/__/__/__/__/__/__/__/__/ __/__/ CIRCULATION 16, 047 Subscribe http://lyris.dundee.net/read/all_forums/subscribe?name=michigangolfnews Edited by Art McCafferty artmccaf@glsp.com Michigan Golfer Magazine http://michigangolfer.com/#pastissues Editor - Jennie McCafferty Archived, graphic, Michigan Golf News: http://issuu.com/michigangolfer Michigan Golfer Television http://michigangolfer.tv Producer - Art McCafferty Associate Producer - Jennie McCafferty __/ __/ __/ __/ __/ __/ __/ __/ __/ __/ __/__/ __/ __/ __/__/ __/ __/__/ __/ __/ __/ ==================================================================== MICHIGAN PLAYERS FARED WELL IN USGA CHAMPIONSHIPS: By Terry Moore ==================================================================== Competing in a national USGA Championship is an achievement onto itself. Often, local state qualifiers only have one three or four spots so the odds aren’t the best to make it into a prestigious national event. So here’s a toast to all those making it to the USGA finals this fall.

This past week several Michigan players competed in the U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur Championship held at Fiddlesticks CC in Ft. Myers, Fl. While Claudia Cenko of Beverly Hills didn’t make match play, Charlevoix’s Maureen Whitehead did. However, Whitehead lost her first match in 19 holes. Michigan Golf Hall of Fame member and now Florida resident Mary Jane Anderson Hiestand made match play and won her first match before bowing 1 up to Deborah Anderson in the second round.

Last week at the Men’s Senior Amateur at Lake Nona in Orlando, former U.S. Senior Amateur champion and Grand Blanc native Greg Reynolds did the best among Michigan players by advancing to the quarterfinals before losing to Jeff Burda of California. Incidentally, in his first match Reynolds took down one of the field’s strongest players, course architect Steve Smyers whose work includes Lockenheath near Traverse City.

Bill Zylstra, the recent Michigan Senior Am winner at Barton Hills, also made it into match play and won his first match. Zylstra fell to Indiana’s Dave Williamson 2-up in the second round. Another Michigan Golf Hall of Fame member, John Lindholm, also made match play but lost in the first round.

Other Michigan players in the field but not making the cut were Jerry Blake, Bill McDonald and Ed Shaffran.

A side note about Zylstra. Immediately following the trophy ceremony at Barton Hills, Zylstra jumped in his car and drove 13 hours straight to Charleston, SC, in order for him to defend his Azalea Invitational title. Only a four-putt on the final green that next day prevented Zylstra from sharing the low first round. Zylstra ended up T-12th in the 54-hole event held at the CC of Charleston, a lauded Seth Raynor design.

At last month’s U.S. Women’s Mid-Am Championship in Wichita, Menominee’s Sydney Wells had an excellent tournament. After qualifying for match play, Wells advanced to the quarterfinals before falling to Carol Robertson of Virginia Beach. Michigan Golf Hall of Fame member Mary Jane Anderson Hiestand made it to match play but bowed out in the first round. The only other Michigan

player in the field was Julie Massa.

At the men’s U.S. Mid-Am at Atlantic GC on Long Island, Grand Rapids Tom Werkmeister was the lone state player to qualify for match play after carding 74-75. Werkmeister lost his first match.

Other Michigan players competing were Charles Anderson, Lloyd Fisher, Mark, Hamilton, Eric Spencer, Walt Gieselman and Don Vaclav. =============================================================================== GOLF RULES...FOR A GOOD REASON: By Brad Shelton *** RULES RULE THE ROOST: By Bill Shelton =============================================================================== Golf Rules… For A Good Reason By: Brad Shelton In the last few weeks of the 2010 regular golf season, penalties against Dustin Johnson and Juli Inkster became the catalyst for debates and questions about the Rules of Golf.

On the last hole of the 92nd PGA Championship, Johnson grounded his club in a bunker and was assessed a two-stroke penalty eliminating him from a three-hole playoff for the Wanamaker Trophy.

Inkster, making a charge toward the lead during the LPGA Safeway Classic, used a training device (a weighted club doughnut) while waiting to tee off and was disqualified from the event.

As a result of these highly publicized events, fans and golf analysts are posing the question “Do we really need such black-and-white, cut-and-dried Rules of Golf?” The unequivocal answer is YES! Usually a chapter and verse guy – can you fault me? I am the grandson and nephew of ministers - I will forego my typical verbatim quote and simply state that the rules applied in the Johnson and Inkster situations specifically forbid these actions. And for those violations, both received the appropriate consequences as prescribed by the Rules of Golf.

Gray areas have no place in our game. The Rules of Golf must be precise and strictly enforced whether in a weekend match for a Coke or a major championship. To allow chaos, or the rule of popular opinion, denigrates the game.

To ensure fair competition, we must have explicit rules and penalties that omit individual or situational interpretation. In our Saturday morning 2-2-2, club championship, or weeknight league, most of us play golf without the benefit of an official. As a self-governing sport, our fellow competitors and the honor of the game rely on the integrity of each individual to abide by and enforce the Rules of Golf as written.

We both know that nothing is more annoying than a competitor violating a rule, particularly if that person thinks they have won the hole or round. How many times have we played the ball as it lies, added stroke and distance for out-of-bounds, and called a penalty on ourselves, only to have a competitor disregard the rules for their own advantage and “win” the event? In our case, it costs $2 for the drink and may not be worth the friendship to call them on it –although we should. On the professional tours however, the costs can be hundreds of thousands of dollars and historical fame.

We may not like the rules or even think certain rules seize the spirit of the original intent, but in golf “rules are rules.” That is what makes our game great, and to keep golf the most respected game we must each adhere to and apply the rules as written.

Keep in mind that most rules actually work in our favor allowing for relief from trouble after we have hit a good shot. No one complained after Arjun Atwal played his approach shot purposely into the

stands on the last hole of the 2010 Wyndham Championships to get free relief and a perfect lie – he won the event by the way. The rules we don’t like are usually a result of our own error or misfortune.

A wise man once told me that leadership was not a popularity contest. The same applies to the Rules of Golf. Sometimes the rules work in our favor - sometimes not. But be assured that if we all play by the rules the game is fair. **** Rules Rule the Roost!

By: Bill Shelton Tiger’s woes may be the biggest story in the 2010 season of professional golf but rules--more specifically rules infractions--may have the greatest consequences. Perhaps the two-stroke penalty to Dustin Johnson for grounding his club in a “sand bunker” that cost him a possible PGA Championship received the greatest attention but it was not an isolated event. At the same event, Jim Furyk realized a few holes into the round that a magnet from his putter cover was attached to his putter. Although finally determined by rules official not to be a violation, Furyk admitted the uncertainty impacted his performance.

Furyk was again the focus of a rules infraction by being disqualified for being five minutes late to the tee at the Barclay’s Pro-Am. One of the top ten PGA players was denied the opportunity to play in the multi-million dollar tournament and lowered in the Fed-Ex standings for being late for a pro-am event that isn’t a requirement for all players. Furyk is an upstanding and respected player who was penalized for a legitimate mistake. At about the same time, Julie Inkster, perhaps the most respected player in the LPGA, was another “victim” of an ambiguous rule, which resulted in her disqualification. She was in second place at the time. While waiting during a huge back-up on a course set up by rules official that had three par 5’s in a row, she attached a swing weight to an iron (violation of Rule 14.3) to make some practice swings to loosen up her 50-year old body.

Chad Campbell was clearly on site at the second event of the second event of the Fed Ex Cup. He had been on the practice range, in the locker-room, and even played in the first round. Then he was notified of his disqualification for failure to “register” when he arrived. He had forgotten to sign a book and it cost him an opportunity to win more than a million dollars! He wasn’t late, he wasn’t invisible, he did not gain an advantage--he just didn’t sign a piece of paper.

Three specific aspects of the rules of golf needed to be reviewed and revised. First, there are too many!

The USGA booklet on The Rules of Golf has grown to almost 200 pages. Golf is intended as a game of skill, integrity and etiquette where the participant monitors his or her behavior. It is played on the largest “playing field“ of any sport and only the golfer should be relied to conduct the game fairly.

Second, the rules are far too complicated. In addition to the USGA rules booklet, every two years the USGA and R&A publish Decisions on the Rules of Golf, a 600-page tome that make rule interpretations more complex. How many times in every professional tournament is the entire course at a standstill waiting for a rules official to determine where the golfer may drop his or her golf ball?

With the financial stakes so high, golfers are very reluctant to rely on their interpretations of the rules.

Rules should be easily interpreted so the pace of play is not unduly delayed.

Third, violations of rules should be identified by only the golf participants or rules official, not spectators or television viewers. Unless non-participants can see every golfer and every shot during the tournament, it is inherently unfair for specific golfers to be subjected to more scrutiny because of television coverage or fan following. What other professional sports have rules infractions called by television viewers? This approach is antithetical to the spirit of golf.

The reduction and simplification of rules would create a fairer, faster, and purer game of golf. Golf is a game of honesty and integrity not because of rules but rather the ethics and values of the players.

Rules officials need also to reconsider how the enforcement of rules best serves to improve the fairness and pace of the competition--not justify their existence. ======================================================= THAD GUTOWSKI - THE CYBER GEEZER = PART IX OF A SERIES ======================================================= Like many others, I love the Pure Michigan television commercials and I salute whoever came up with this great idea. For 30 seconds or so, I forget about what else Michigan is noted for: a bad economy; record unemployment and a high crime rate. They say this campaign has a return on investment of four to one, and I’m surprised it is not even higher. But except for a few Northern Michigan golf destinations I wonder if this advertising campaign did much to increase revenue for the vast majority of daily-fee facilities scattered throughout the state, so as always we are as they say, left to our own devices.

I have been actively involved in Michigan’s golf industry for almost two score, but I’m not one to yearn for the good old days. Especially when it comes to getting a message to a specific audience. Long before the world-wide-web, the acceptable methods of delivering a commercial message were through print, television or radio. With either it was like shooting dice: you didn’t know if you were going to crap out before making your point.

For years Michigan had one of the highest golf participation rates in the country - about ten per cent of a population of around ten million. A million golfers sounds pretty good. But how do you get the message to those who might have a ready-to-buy interest in what you are selling? The circulation numbers for the newspapers, television and radio were impressive. But I never knew how many legitimate prospects read my advertisement, saw my television commercial, heard my radio spot or opened my postage-paid envelope. Compare that with today: measurable target marketing at an extremely low cost via the internet. So why do so many courses fail to take proper advantage of the situation?

In past issues we have briefly explored outbound Email marketing and how to achieve maximum results. Now let’s reverse the process and take a look at the audience coming to you: via your website.

Over the past few months I have looked at many hundreds of Michigan golf course websites. Some are pretty good, more are pretty bad, very few are excellent and some don’t even exist. That’s right there are some courses that don’t have any internet presence and most often leave it up to a third party green-fee reseller to deliver their message. If I didn’t see this myself, I wouldn’t believe it!

After spending near countless hours at my computer screen (I’m the guy you might see with the bloodshot eyes) allow me to tell you about what I feel may be the worst website in Michigan golf.

It is a four-star facility strategically located in one of the state’s up-scale vacation spots and how about this: without an overabundance of close-by golf courses. Their site colors are pink and gray. That’s right; colors associated with ladies lingerie, not the out-of-doors. Okay, so maybe there is too much green in golf…but pink and grey? And how about this, there is a link to photos but they are labeled circa 2007. But hang on, there’s more. If the website visitor wishes to be included when they send out just three email messages per year, it is necessary to place a long distance telephone call to them, because there is no east click-to-join E-club link.

Think about it. Here in one of the most competitive golf markets in America, a viewer finds the site; is greeted by something that looks like Victoria’s Secret; views out-dated photos; and are advised to call if they wish to receive infrequent email updates. My gosh, who put this all together, Cosmo Kramer?

So that’s a great example of what not to do with a website. Next time we will review what to do.

Incidentally, I visited this facility on a perfect day for golf this past August and there were just four cars in the parking lot. Is there any wonder? But I had been here a few times before: when it was originally daily-fee, then for short period private-members only, and back to the present daily-fee concept. All this within a four-year period!

As always, I welcome your comments favorable or the other kind: cybergeezer@inbox.com ============================================================ NEWS AND NOTES FROM THE MICHIGAN PGA ANNUAL MEETING ============================================================ The Michigan PGA held its Annual Meeting on October 11, 2010 at Eagle Eye Golf Club. The meeting was well attended with 202 members and apprentices present.

The members elected the following at-large directors who will begin a 2 year term: Bob Bales, Brian Cairns, Paul Lehnert, Kevin McKinley and Karen VandenBerg.

The members also voted on the following members as they were selected as finalists for the 2011 Special Awards. Interviews will take place February , 2011 by the Special Awards Committee: Assistant Golf Professional – John Gates, Kelly Sivier Bill Strausbaugh Award – Dick Stewart, Mark Wilson Golf Professional of the Year- Dave Mocini, Gary Smithson Junior Golf Leader – Brian Cairns, Scott Wilson Merchandiser of the Year-Private – Pat Croswell, Kevin Muir Merchandiser of the Year-Public – Jeff Stalcup, John Paul Westbrook Merchandiser of the Year-Resort – Brad Dean, Kevin O’Brien The Patriot Award – Bob Koutnik, Wally Sierakowski PGA Horton Smith – Rob Fuhrman, Jordan Young President’s Plaque – Frank McAuliffe, Jordan Young Teacher of the Year – Brad Dean, Jordan Young The Section held its fourth Fall Merchandise Show October 10-11 with 34 booths sold and over 25 vendors. The Section saw a 2 day attendance of over 100 members and buyers from their clubs.

Taken and edited from the Michigan PGA Website http://michigan.pga.com/index.cfm?menu=2&openitem=2&CFID=10113383&CFTOKEN=10e300ef 5db06e4e-D8B44807-3048-769C-02C2F46ADB2D3703#

=============================================================================== SWEETGRASS GC ISLAND RESORT & CASINO BREAK GROUND ON NEW CONFERENCE FACILITY =============================================================================== The Island Resort & Casino in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula has broken ground on a new $2 million conference center to attract more corporate golf outings and meetings.

The resort – which owns and operates award-winning Sweetgrass Golf Club – started the 8,000 square-foot expansion project this fall. Located adjacent to the Sweetgrass pro shop, it will nearly double private function space to 17,400 square feet throughout the property.

“Since opening Sweetgrass in 2008, we’ve seen an increased demand for private parties and golf outings,” said Island Resort & Casino General Manager Tom McChesney. “Recent national rankings of our golf course have drawn groups who also need space for pairing parties, board retreats, and non-profit banquets.”

Scheduled to be completed in April, 2011, the conference center addition will increase total seating capacity by 828. It can be accessed via a new private outdoor entrance and is within easy indoor walking distance from the casino’s main floor, showroom, in-house restaurants and 275 hotel rooms.

The expansion is the latest of many capital improvements on the Island Resort & Casino campus, which have included the golf course, 1,700-seat Showroom, Palm Tower hotel wing with 162 additional guest rooms and luxury Presidential Suite.

Spring 2011 corporate golf outings or private events can now be scheduled by calling 906-7232141.or visiting http://islandresortandcasino.com.

A Buffalo Communications release ======================== HATE TO BE RUDE VIDEOS ======================== I happened upon these video golf nuggets the other day and thought others might be interested. Rude is a prettty cool reporter ande does a fine interview. http://www.golfweek.com/categories/news/videos/hate-to-be-rude/ ============================================ TREETOPS APPOINTS BARRY OWENS AS NEW GM ============================================ Treetops is pleased to announce the recent appointment of Barry Owens as the four-season resort’s new general manager.

Owens, a 25-year veteran of the Michigan resort industry, previously held the position of general manager at Garland Resort.

As Treetops’ general manager, Owens has full responsibility for all aspects of the resort and property management. “I am looking forward to working with Rick Smith and all the excellent staff currently at Treetops – the property is a Northern Michigan Icon and I can’t wait to be part of a tradition,” says Owens.

“Barry brings a wealth of hospitality and management experience to Treetops, and is very familiar with the Northern Michigan market,” says Mark Ridenour, a member of Treetops’ executive committee.

Owens comes on board as Treetops caps off the 2010 golf season, which is ending with one if its best fall golf seasons ever, and just in time for the resort’s preparation for the upcoming ski season. In addition, Treetops will celebrate its 25th year as Treetops beginning in 2011.

“Treetops started over 50 years ago as a ski area,” says Owens. “Its role in Michigan’s ski history as well as it’s dominating presence in Michigan’s golf industry for nearly 25 years is something of which I am excited to be a part.”

Treetops is home to 81 holes of championship golf by famed designers Robert Trent Jones, Sr., Tom Fazio and Rick Smith. Treetops’ Rick Smith Golf Academy is Michigan’s only three-time recipient of GOLF Magazine’s prestigious Top 25 Golf School in the Nation award.

In the winter, Treetops offers downhill skiing on 23 slopes, tubing, a PSIA and AASI-certified winter sports school and a full array of children’s daycare and learn-to-ski programs. In addition to golf and skiing, Treetops offers a full-service spa, conference and meeting facilities, indoor and outdoor pools and whirlpools, tennis courts, kids’ programs and an array of accommodations options.

More information on Treetops can be found at http://www.treetops.com or by calling (888) TREETOPS. =============================================================================== JEFF HINTZ NAMED CHAMPIONSHIP DIRECTOR OF THE 73RD AND 75TH SENIOR PGA CHAMPIONSHIPS =============================================================================== Jeffrey M. Hintz of West Palm Beach, Fla., has been named Championship Director of the 73rd and 75th Senior PGA Championships. The Senior PGA Championship, the most historic and prestigious event in senior golf, will be played in 2012 and 2014 at The Golf Club at Harbor Shores in Benton Harbor, Mich.

Hintz will lead efforts for The PGA of America for both Senior PGA Championships and will be responsible for facilitating the day-to-day business relationship between The PGA and KitchenAid. In May, Whirlpool Corporation, with headquarters in Benton Harbor, signed a four-year agreement with its KitchenAid brand to be the presenting sponsor of the Senior PGA Championship.

Hintz, 32, has been employed by The PGA of America throughout his career, beginning as an Operations Assistant at the 2001 PGA Championship at The Atlanta Athletic Club in Johns Creek, Ga. He later served as Championship Coordinator for the 2003 PGA Championship at Oak Hill Country Club in Rochester, N.Y., and as Championship Manager for the 2005 PGA Championship at Baltusrol Golf Club in Springfield, N.J. Most recently, Hintz has worked in the Championship Department at PGA of America Headquarters in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. He has been a part of the planning for and completion of 16 championships over the past five years, including the Senior PGA Championship, PGA Championship, PGA Grand Slam of Golf and Ryder Cup. A native of Indianapolis, Hintz graduated from Indiana University with a bachelor’s degree in Sports Marketing and Management.

Since 1937, golf's best professionals ages 50 and over have competed for the Senior PGA Championship's coveted Alfred S. Bourne Trophy. Past Champions include Gene Sarazen, Sam Snead, Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Lee Trevino, as well as Raymond Floyd, Hale Irwin, Gary Player and Tom Watson. Tom Lehman captured the 71st Senior PGA Championship in May at Colorado Golf Club.

================= FALL GOLF DEALS ================= Treetops http://www.treetops.com/index.php?method=promotions Marsh Ridge Resort http://marshridge.com/golf/proto/marshridge/ Hidden River Golf October 21st - 12:30 Shotgun 4 Person Teams $75 per person 18 Tough Holes, Dinner, Skins, Cold Beer http://hiddenriver.com ==================================================== MICHIGAN GOLFER MAGAZINE FALL ISSUE NOW ONLINE ==================================================== Contents http://michigangolfer.com/fall10/ Senior Tournaments Put Michigan Golf Back on the Map: By Jack Berry Michigan Tournament Round Up with Tim Hygh Strom Storms From Behind to Win Women’s Michigan Open Andy Matthews Wins Over Fouch and Do at the Tournament of Champions Brehm Wins Second Michigan Open at Orchard Lake CC Ron Beurmann Wins PGA Championship at Eagle Eye Teaching Pros Compete with the Touring Pros: By Brad Shelton Dyebolical: By Jack Berry The Golf Club at Harbor Shores Grand Opening: By BR Koehnemann For Pete’s Sake, Enough is Enough: By Bill Shelton Manitou Passage: Rebirth of King's Challenge: By Terry Moore Michigan Golfer Fall Issue http://michigangolfer.com/fall10/ Past Issues 1996 - 2010 http://michigangolfer.com/#pastissues ============================== NEW SHOWS ON GLSP NETWORK ============================== Michigan Travel Television

Scenes From Porcupine State Park http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GxIq0yBh1H0

Michigan Skier Television

Stephen Kircher -Winter Olympics, the Golf Market and Pure Michigan http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m8ecYP9c_cc

Michigan Golfer Television

Scott Hebert at the PGA Championship - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-B_2Y2PGJM Wisconsin Golf- Peter Allen and Mike Duff discuss their favorites http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTmzwSPmA7w Sweetgrass GC - Jennie McCafferty interviews Dave Douglas, Dir. of Golf http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQ5g4spcm40

Michigan Runner Television

Marathon Oasis de Montreal - http://michiganrunner.tv/2010montreal/ The 2010 Crim Festival of Races - http://michiganrunner.tv/2010crim Milford Labor Day 30K http://michiganrunner.tv/2010milford/ Kensington Challenge http://michiganrunner.tv/2010kensington/ Playmakers Spartan Invitational http://michiganrunner.tv/2010spartan_invite/ Run Wild for the Detroit Zoo http://michiganrunner.tv/2010runwild/ The Brooksie Way http://michiganrunner.tv/2010redoctober/

================== MINZEY'S MUSINGS ================== A husband and wife go to a counselor after 15 years of marriage. The counselor asks them what the problem is and the wife goes into a tirade, listing every problem they have ever had in the 15 years they've been married. She goes on and on and on.

Finally, the counselor gets up, goes around the desk, embraces the woman, and kisses her passionately.

The woman shuts up and sits quietly in a daze.

The counselor turns to the husband and says "That is what your wife needs at least three times a week. Can you do that?"

The husband says, "I can bring her in on Monday and Wednesday, but on Friday I'm golfing." ============================= 2010 MICHIGAN GOLF CALENDAR ============================= October 15-16 MHSAA - Girls Finals (LP) Division 1 - Eagle Crest Resort Division 2 - Forest Akers West Division 3 - Forest Akers East Division 4 - The Meadows November and December 30 - Dec 2 Michigan Golf Business Conference and Vendor Fair, Amway Grand Plaza Hotel, Grand Rapids http://www.mgcoa.org ------------------------------------------