Michigan Golf News, June 11, 2010

Sponsored by: Boyne Tournament of Champions • Tournament Information: http://tiny.cc/q2fts • Video: Coverage begins July 26

Michigan Golf News June 11, 2010

Vol. 10, no. 24

Photo by Art McCAfferty

The Bear's 25th Anniversary Tournament • Grand Traverse Resort & Spa • June 22 • Registration: http://tiny.cc/47ory

Hidden River Golf & Casting Club http://www.hiddenriver.com • Golf Packages: http://tiny.cc/i0scg • Big Fore: http://www.bigfore.com/

Ryan Brehm, Michigan Amateur Champion, 2007 In This Issue:

__/ __/ __/ __/ __/ __/ Treetops Resor t http://treetops.com • Treetops Television Network http://glsp.com/treetops/ • Golf Packages, 2010: http://tiny.cc/497ku

__/ __/ __/ __/ __/ __/ __/ __/ __/

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://tiny.cc/yf99k

Jeff Lesson Half Off Golf at

http://lessonongolf.com

99th Michigan Amateur at Oakhurst Golf & Country Club 93rd Michigan Open Championship Begins Next Week National Championship to be Held at French Lick June 27-30 Roman/ Lilleboe Take Home Nike Golfstate Pro Am Title Magazine Round Up From the Michigan Golfer Magazone Vault - Jack Berry on the Bear - 1997 From the Vault: Michigan Golfer Television - Tournaments on the Bear Greg Johnson on Hidden River's Tom Foster Current Ryder Cup Standings Minzey's Musings - Signs of the Times 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

GLSP INTERNET TELEVISION NETWORK (est. 2001) Channels:

Michigan Runner Michigan Skier Michigan Golfer Michigan Travel Running Canada Running Network You Tube

http://michiganrunner.tv http://michiganskier.tv http://michigangolfer.tv http://michigantravel.tv http://runningcanada.tv http://tiny.cc/4g25q http://tiny.cc/7i4l0

CIRCULATION 16, 645 Edited by Art McCafferty artmccaf@glsp.com ============================================================= 99TH MICHIGAN AMATEUR AT OAKHURST GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB ============================================================= The 99th Michigan Amateur Championship to crown the best male amateur golfer in the state will be held at Oakhurst Golf & Country Club, Clarkston, MI. The championship runs from June 22 – 26.

==================================== 93RD MICHIGAN OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP BEGINS NEXT WEEK ==================================== The 93rd playing of the Michigan Open Championship, presented by Michigan Lincoln Mercury Dealers will be played June 14tH thru 17th at the Orchard Lake Country Club. The purse is $70,000.

Mt. Pleasant’s, Ryan Brehm hopes to repeat his dominating performance as the defending champion. Brehm won his first professional event here last year by 8-strokes on his way to a 20-under par performance. It was the first time The Michigan Open was played at the Orchard Lake County Club

Photo by Carter Sherline / Frog Prince Studios

The top 156 amateurs will compete for two days of medal play (Tuesday/Wednesday) for 64 spots to commence elimination match play on Thursday with the champion being crowned Saturday afternoon. The defending Amateur Champion, Tom Werkmeister of Grand Rapids will be in the 156 player field.

Taken from a GAM release http://gam.org

Matt Thompson, a sophomore from the University of Michigan and a runner-up last year will be back trying to Tom Gillis, 2008 Michigan win the James D Standish Jr. Trophy. Thompson from Battle Open Champion Creek was recently honored with PING Division I AllMidwest Region honors by the Golf Coaches Association of America. He led U-M with a career-best and school-record 72.00 scoring average.

The highly talented roster of qualifiers includes six-time Michigan Open Champion, Scott Hebert, Head Professional at Grand Traverse Resort and Spa, attempting to win an unprecedented 7th victory.

Six other former champions are in the field including Bob Ackerman, Steve Brady, Randy Erskine, Ted Kondratko, Barry Redmond and Andrew Ruthkowski.

The public is invited to watch. There is no charge for entry or parking. Live scoring is available at http://www.michigan.pga.com and the golf page at http://www.michigan.org.

Taken from a Tim Hygh release *Note - From the Michigan Golfer Television Vault Michigan Open 2009 Michigan Open - Ryan Brehm Winner http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4to4gEE3f_A 2008 Michigan Open - Tom Gillis Winner http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gp435iZwtWg 2007 Michigan Open - Andy Ruthkowski Winner http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ySQ5SH3M_Oc 2006 Michigan Open - Scott Hebert Winner http://michigangolfer.tv/2006shows/michiganopen/ 2005 Michigan Open - Michael Harris Winner http://michigangolfer.tv/2005shows/michiganopen/ 2004 Michigan Open - Jeff Roth Winner http://michigangolfer.tv/2004shows/show23/index.html 2003 Michigan Open - Bob Ackerman Winner http://michigangolfer.tv/2003shows/show16/index.html 2002 Michgian Open - Scott Hebert Winner http://michigangolfer.tv/2002shows/show20/index.html =============================================================== NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP TO BE HELD AT FRENCH LICK JUNE 27-30 =============================================================== In 1984, Bill Schumaker of Columbia City, Ind., arrived in South Florida in October with a steady game and one of 360 players in the field assembled at PGA National Golf Club in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. Then 34, Schumaker posted an opening-round 73, which left him well back and tied for 43rd place.

He climbed up the leaderboard with rounds of 69, 72 and 70, which landed him a playoff with Gary Ostrega of Colonia, N.J. Schumaker birdied the first extra hole to capture the PGA Professional National Championship. To date, he is the only Indiana PGA Section member to win the Championship. The victory propelled Schumaker to capture that year's PGA Professional Player of the Year honors.

This month, at French Lick (Ind.) Resort, Schumaker, now 60, will add to his PGA Professional National Championship record. The PGA head professional since 1977 at Crooke Lake Golf Course in Columbia City will make his 29th appearance in the National Championship.

Taken from a French Lick release Note: If interested in going to this really incredible resort with the new Dye course, we invite you to look over our Grand Opening visit a year or so ago, with Bill and Brad Shelton. http://michigangolfer.tv/2008shows/french_lick_dye/ =========================================================== ROMAN - LILLEBOE TAKE HOME NIKE GOLFSTATE PRO AM TITLE =========================================================== The great play continued into the second and final day of the Nike Golf State Pro Am which made for a great finish. The team of Kyle Roman and Eric Lilleboe from Hidden River Golf & Country Club followed up their 64 on the Hills course at Boyne Highlands on Monday with a 63 on the Heather to give them a (-17) under total. This was good enough for a one shot victory over the teams of Charles Pasco and Joe Juszczyk from Plum Hollow Country Club and Frank McAuliffe and his son Frank McAuliffe IV from Ann Arbor Country Club.

This is the first victory for Kyle Roman, the Assistant Golf Professional at Hidden River Golf & Country Club and his amateur partner Eric Lilleboe, who is from Lansing and currently goes to Ferris State University where he is a member of the golf team. This win gives the Roman brothers back to back wins as Kyle's brother Jerry Roman won the 2009 event with his partner Kurt Valley. The State

Pro Am started in 1935 and some of the past winners of this event includes the names, Horton Smith, Al Watrous, Walter Burkemo and Chuck Kocsis.

A big thanks this year to Nike Golf, our sponsor and our host Boyne Resorts. They both really stepped up making this such a great event Contributed by Justin M Phillips Tournament Supervisor/Director of Junior Tour ===================== MAGAZINE ROUND UP ===================== Golfworld (May 31) Ron Whitten has written a terrific article, "Oregon Homage, sbout Bandon Dunes Resort's latest and perhaps greatest course, Old Macdonald GL. There is also an accompanying sidebar by Matt Ginella, "Why Bandon Shines" that is also very informative. Old Macdonald had many contributors to its development, but it was Michigan's Tom Doak and his right hand person, Dan Urbina that have their name on the course.

Interestingly enough, Doak , one of the world's hottest architects, has had to advise members of his company, that they will have to go the free lance route in the business. Jobs, are very tough, even for Nicklaus, that is traveling to Brazil to look at developing an Olympic venue, with Anita Sorenstam.

However, back to point, in my travels the best quartet or foursome of golf courses that I have visited, Kohler has my vote. Blackwolf Run, which features both the Meadows and Valley courses were the start of the area. Then Herb Kohler, put Dye together again to develop an additional twosome, Whistling Straits and The Irish course.

Incidently, I have to thank Dave Richards for introducing me to both Doak and Whitten. Whitten was in Michigan to do a review of Jerry Matthews Elk Ridge Golf Course and stayed at my house, primarily for the convenience and the fact that I would give him a tour of Ann Arbor on a ten mile run the next day. Whitten was preparing for the New York City Marathon, a run that I had made a couple of years earlier. We went out for a 10 miler the morning and he ran me into the ground. He was in a tad better shape then I, apparently.

I was introduced to Doak when he was working on High Pointe. He was impressive from the start and lived up to all the hype that Richards was putmping out. We reviewed his first course, High Pointe, in a driving rain. While other writers and dignitaries for the grand opeining were heading for shelter, my foursome continued to press on, because quite frankly, the course was so interesting. It was at this outing that I first heard about the "Redan" hole. A Redan hole is regularly featured in Doak's work. In fact, on the Old Mcdonald, he made sure that there was a Redan, in a salute to the Redan's inventor. *** The "Redan hole" in golf A Redan hole or Redan is an aspect of golf course architecture commonly associated with golf

architect Charles B. Macdonald. The term alludes to the "Redan" type of fortification. Specifically, a Redan hole should have a green which slopes downward and away from the point of entrance, typically the front right portion of the green. Links golf is played on the ground as much as in the air and consequently the green slopes away from the golfer playing to the green from the tee or fairway.

Thus, it is often played in an indirect manner, that is the player plays somewhat away from the target and then allows contours to direct the golf ball to its final resting point.

Macdonald's oft-quoted description from Scotland's Gift: Golf is as follows: Take a narrow tableland, tilt it a little from right to left, dig a deep bunker on the front side, approach it diagonally and you have a Redan.

Quoted from From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Redan ============================================================================= FROM THE MICHIGAN GOLFER MAGAZINE VAULT - JACK BERRY ON THE BEAR - 1997 ============================================================================= Think of great finishing holes in golf and there are precious few birdies -- not on the brutish 18th at Oakland Hills, the muscled-up (with water, more sand and length) 18th on Doral's Blue Monster, the tiny little green 18th at Belvedere Golf Club, longtime home of the Michigan Amateur, the treacherous 18th at the Tournament Players Club at Sawgrass or the uphill, slide-right long narrow slippery green that closes the Masters Tournament each year.

And as far as the Michigan Open field is concerned, add the 18th on the Bear at Grand Traverse Resort, a downhill par 4 that measures 472 yards from the back with a huge oak tree in the middle of a split fairway and then a large pond fronting the green.

Only once since the Bear became the Open's home in 1985 has anyone birdied the 18th to win. Tim Matthews did it in 1986 with a huge drive down the right side and then a three-quarter 9-iron stiff.

Matthews was two shots behind veteran Lynn Janson with five holes to play, drew even after Janson bogied the 14th and 17th and then won with the birdie on 18.

"When you're on that tee, it is not in your game plan to make a 3 (birdie) there," said defending champion Steve Brady who won his third Open on the Bear last year. Now an assistant professional at Oakland Hills Country Club, Brady said the Bear's 18th "is as good as it gets as far as a finishing hole is concerned."

"There are a lot of options to mess with your mind. If you go left, you can be into the prevailing wind and have anything from a 4-iron to a 6-iron. If you go right, I've had anything from a 7-iron to a wedge and you get a right to left wind," Brady said.

There's a lot of grass, and safety, on the left side; rough, water and the siren song of a short iron from the right side.

"I think it's one of the best holes on the golf course," said five-time Open champion Randy Erskine, professional at Great Oaks Country Club and winner of the 1985 Open, the first played on the Bear.

"It's the ultimate risk-reward both on the tee shot and the second shot.

"If you play to the right fairway, you'll have at least two clubs less going into the green. I've hit everything from a 9-iron on the right to a 3-wood on the left -- I didn't hit a very good drive on that one," Erskine said. "Once you get on the green, you have to be an excellent putter because there are so many humps."

The 18th is the final challenge on perhaps the most challenging course in Michigan and Nicklaus and his chief design associate then, Bob Cupp, didn't sugarcoat it. The Bear's slope rating is 149 from the back and the course rating is 76.1. For you masochists, only Indianwood's New Course has a higher slope and course rating -- 150 and 76.7.

"I remember vividly early in the design, walking the center lines with Nicklaus, Cupp and Paul Nine (the developer)," said Doug Grove, then the golf professional at Grand Traverse. "We were walking the third hole and Jack told Paul he'd give him 'a great resort course.'

Paul said, "I've got a resort course. I want a hard, championship course.' Jack didn't say anything and we walked on. He told Paul again he'd give him a great resort course and Paul again said he had a resort course and he wanted a hard, championship course.

"Jack's eyes were burning, even more burning than they get now. I could see him make up his mind that if that was what Paul wanted, he'd give it to him. And he did. It was a marketing ploy and some people hate it but I think it's a great course, I love it. It's one of my top five," said Grove who has opened three Nicklaus courses as the head professional -- the Bear, Country Club of the South in Atlanta and Glenmoor, south of Cleveland. He also opened Tom Doak's High Pointe in northern Michigan, Robert Trent Jones Junior's Orchards in suburban Detroit and now is at the Ray Hearndesigned Twin Lakes, also in suburban Detroit.

"On the 18th Nicklaus and Cupp talked about going left of the tree or right of it with the fairway and then decided to create a double fairway and give players an option. I think it's one of the greatest finishing holes in golf," Grove said.

The left side is longer but safer and the right is shorter and tempting and Brady said the inclination is to stand on the tee, aim at the big oak and, depending on your game, draw it to the left fairway or fade it to the right.

"But from the tee, you can't really see either fairway. You know there's a lot of room left and if you go right, there's deep rough or if you hit it long, you can drive into the water.

"So you get up there relaxed, aim at the tree -- and hit it straight."

The dreaded straight ball.

Straight means the ball lands in a swale dividing the fairways and while there's a fore caddie to mark where the ball falls, it's rough, literally, to get it out.

That's the drive.

The second shot is to the biggest green on the course, one that is divided, as Nicklaus likes to do, in four quadrants with a couple of large ridges. In the final round the flag is front right, just over the water.

"You can be safe and hit the green left but then you've got a 40-foot putt up over a ridge and down," Brady said. "If you're long, you've got a tough up and in.

"The first time I won (1991), I missed the green a little to the right and chipped to four feet. I had a three-stroke lead so that was a little comfortable. In 1992 I two-putted from 40 feet. Jeff Roth had a 15-footer for par_he had driven into the rough in the middle -- and missed it so we tied."

Brady won on the first playoff hole.

Brady didn't need overtime last year because Upper Peninsulan Scott Herbert bogied the 18th when a par would have put him into a playoff with Brady.

Brady blistered the Bear with four straight birdies in the middle of the final round enroute to a sixunder-par 66 that capped earlier rounds of 73-70-71 for 280, eight under par, and the $14,410 first prize.

Herbert, a Ferris State University graduate, took the 54-hole lead with a 65 but could only match par in the final and tied 1994 champion Tom Gillis, minitour player from Lake Orion, for second. Gillis mounted a final round charge with a 68 but couldn't catch Brady.

Gillis and Dave Smith of Howell have come in off the minitours for Open victories but since the Open moved to the Bear in 1985, no one has played it better than Brady even though he hasn't birdied 18 in the final round.

"I birdied 18 in the final round one year," former Grand Traverse pro Grove said. "Of course, I opened with a 78 but then I shot three 72s. In the last round I hit a 3-iron as hard as I could. It stopped 12 feet from the cup and I made the putt. It's one of the most rewarding shots I've ever hit.

He could have sold it to Herbert last year. For the contenders, the 18th remains the grizzliest on the Bear. http://www.webgolfer.com/june97/bear.html ============================================================================= FROM THE MICHIGAN GOLFER TELEVISION VIDEO VAULT - TOURNAMENTS ON THE BEAR ============================================================================= Michigan Open 2008 Michigan Open - Tom Gillis Winner http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gp435iZwtWg 2007 Michigan Open - Andy Ruthkowski Winner http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ySQ5SH3M_Oc 2006 Michigan Open - Scott Hebert Winner http://michigangolfer.tv/2006shows/michiganopen/ 2005 Michigan Open - Michael Harris Winner http://michigangolfer.tv/2005shows/michiganopen/ 2004 Michigan Open - Jeff Roth Winner http://michigangolfer.tv/2004shows/show23/index.html 2003 Michigan Open - Bob Ackerman Winner http://michigangolfer.tv/2003shows/show16/index.html 2002 Michgian Open - Scott Hebert Winner http://michigangolfer.tv/2002shows/show20/index.html Native American Cup 2006 Native American Cup II With Cheryl Wilson

http://michigangolfer.tv/2006shows/nativeamericancup/ 2005 Native American Cup I With Notay Begay http://michigangolfer.tv/2005shows/nativeamericancup/ ============================================ GREG JOHNSON ON HIDDEN RIVER'S TOM FOSTER ============================================ We happened to be surfing around and found a great article on Hidden River by Greg Johnson on Tom Foster, Hidden Rivers new owner. It is from the Michigan Live folks, enjoy http://www.mlive.com/golf/index.ssf/2010/05/spring_lakes_tom_foster_has_so.html ===================================== MINZEY'S MUSINGS - SIGNS OF THE TIMES ===================================== Over a Gynecologist's Office:, "Dr. Jones, at your cervix."

In a Podiatrist's office:, "Time wounds all heels."

On a Septic Tank Truck:, Yesterday's Meals on Wheels, At a Proctologist's door:, "To expedite your visit, please back in."

At an Optometrist's Office:, "If you don't see what you're looking for,you've come to the right place."

On a Plumber's truck: , "We repair what your husband fixed."

On another Plumber's truck:, "Don't sleep with a drip. Call your plumber."

On a Church's Billboard:, "7 days without God makes one weak."

At a Tire Shop in Milwaukee :, "Invite us to your next blowout."

At a Towing company:, "We don't charge an arm and a leg. We want tows."

On an Electrician's truck:, "Let us remove your shorts."

In a Non-smoking Area:, "If we see smoke, we will assume you are on fire and take appropriate action."

On a Maternity Room door:, "Push. Push. Push."

On a Taxidermist's window:, "We really know our stuff."

On a Fence:, "Salesmen welcome! Dog food is expensive!"

At a Car Dealership:, "The best way to get back on your feet - miss a car payment."

Outside a Muffler Shop:, "No appointment necessary. We hear you coming."

In a Veterinarian's waiting room:, "Be back in 5 minutes. Sit! Stay!"

At the Electric Company, "We would be delighted if you send in your payment.However, if you don't, you will be.", In a Restaurant window:, "Don't stand there and be hungry; come on in and get fed up."

In the front yard of a Funeral Home:, "Drive carefully. We'll wait."

At a Propane Filling Station:, "Thank heaven for little grills."

And don't forget the sign at a, CHICAGO RADIATOR SHOP:, "Best place in town to take a leak."

=========================================== 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 MICHIGAN GOLFER MAGAZINE SUMMER ISSUE: PREVIEW Table of Contents Alma Scots - Chris Lewis Walter Hagen Returns to French Lick - Brad Shelton French Lick Defies Economic Downturn - William Shelton Forest Dunes - Mike Duff Acquinas Golf - Chris Lewis Past Issues 1996 - 2010 http://michigangolfer.com/#pastissues ============================= 2010 MICHIGAN GOLF CALENDAR ============================= June 11-12 Boy's MHSAA State Finals -L.P. Division 1 - MSU, Forest Akers East Division 2 - MSU, Forest Akers West Division 3 - GVSU, The Meadows Division 4 - EMU, Eagle Crest http://www.mhsaa.com/tabid/112/SportProfile/True/SportTypeCode/GF/Default.aspx 13 MIAGT at Captains Club, Captain's Club at Woodfield, Grand Blanc, MI http://www.miagt.com/index.php?pg=schedule 14 PACII Golf Outing, Timber Ridge Golf Course, East Lansing http://michamber.com 14-17 Michigan Open Championship, Orchard Lake CC http://www.michigan.pga.com 17-20 U.S. Open, Pebble Beach, California http://usga.org

22 The 25th Anniversary of The Bear Tournamnent, Grand Traverse Resort & Spa http://grandtraverseresort.com/special-events/calendar-ofevents.cfm?eventId=EV_20100513144534534202 22-26 Michigan Amateur, Oakhurst G&CC http://gam.org 26 MIAGT Open Championship 2nd Major, The Orchards Golf Club, Washington, MI http://www.miagt.com/index.php?pg=schedule July 1-4 Jamie Farr Classic, Toledo, OH http://lpga.com 11 MIAGT at Fieldstone GC, Fieldstone Golf Course, Auburn Hills, MI http://www.miagt.com/index.php?pg=schedule 12 GAM Father and Son Matches, Birmingham CC 24 MIAGT at Lyon Oaks GC, Lyon Oaks Golf Course, South Lyons, MI http://www.miagt.com/index.php?pg=schedule 26 GAM Father and Son Matches, Travis Pointe http://gam.org 26 -30 94th Women's Amateur, St. Clair River CC http://gam.org 26-28 Tournament of Champions, Boyne Mountain http://www.michigan.pga.com August 3 Wounded Warrior Tournament, Garland, Lewiston, MI 7 Players Championship 3rd Major, Pilgrims Run Golf Club, Pierson, MI http://www.miagt.com/index.php?pg=schedule 9-15 U.S. Women's Amateur, Charlotte CC, North Carolina 12-15 PGA Championship, Whistling Straits, Kohler, Wisconsin http://pgatour.com 16-17 89th GAM Championship, Flint GC http://gam.org 21 MIAGT at Calderone Golf Club, Calderone Golf Club, Jackson, MI http://www.miagt.com/index.php?pg=schedule 23-25 Michigan PGA Championship, Eagle Eye GC

23-29 U.S. Amateur, Chambers Bay, University Place, Washington September 11 MIAGT at Coyote Preserve GC, Coyote Preserve Golf Club, Hartland, MI http://www.miagt.com/index.php?pg=schedule 13-16 Michigan PGA Match Play, Oakland University, Sharf 18 MIAGT Tour Championship, The Grande Golf Club, Jackson, MI http://www.miagt.com/index.php?pg=schedule October 1-3 Ryder Cup, Celtic Manor Resort, Newport, Wales - MG -