It’s that time of year when national publications start leaking out their “Top” and “Best of” lists. We find them intriguing, so we share them, but always from a perspective of how the Michigan courses fair and fit into the national picture. In this February magazine, we look at both the best new courses in the country, and the top 100 public courses. The cool part is that Michigan is very well represented, much more than most states.
Treetops has been busy this winter making big improvements for golfers, and new course announcements are ample as well.
Guest writer Bill Hobson has taken a deep dive on his other platforms on the topic of all the cheating that goes on in scrambles. Sometimes it’s all in fun for charities to collect more cash on a special hole(s). Yet such tactics – plus some liars on the course – could be turning off golfers who are often forced to roll their eyes at the unrealistic and flat-out wrong scores that often result.
This month you can also find:
For parents of youth golfers, the Drive, Chip and Putt and PGA Jr. League registrations are now open This summer Michigan will once again be packed with pro tour events, and now LIV Golf is getting in the picture. The USGA has shared data that shows unique perspectives on the growth of the game.
What's Inside:
GAM announced some winners of their special awards – we share them with you. And so much more !
Thank you as always for joining us.
TomLang
Best New Courses in the U.S. Says Golf Digest Best New Courses in the U.S. Says Golf Digest
TheCardinalatSaintJohn’sGetsAccolades
ByTomLang ByTomLang
The best new course in the United States in 2024 is Pinehurst No. 10, a design by Michigander Tom Doak, according to Golf Digest’s latest announcement.
Second place was Cabot Citrus Farms (Karoo) in Florida, followed by third place Sedge Valley in Wisconsin.
Two more courses curiously-labeled as ‘Runner Up’ rounded out Golf Digest’s ‘top 5’ – with no others listed – and one of those two was Michigan’s very own Saint John’s Resort The Cardinal, in Plymouth, designed by another Michigander, Ray Hearn.
Golf Digest said this is the fifth time Doak has won ‘Best New Course of the Year.’
These awards are part of what make me often wonder if Michigan golfers truly appreciate what wonderful courses and course designers we have in the Great Lakes State. Doak and
Hearn are not the only golf household names when it comes to architecture. We also can claim Mike Devries, Paul Albanese and the Matthews family’s three generations.
Michigan has some of the best golf environment factors and formations, and good weather, to provide incredible golfing experiences. And while the cost of golf has risen in lockstep with the game’s popularity, often times Michigan golf is the most affordable anywhere in the country. I do advocate for traveling elsewhere on occasion for golf, but if you do not have the means or desire to venture beyond our border, you’ll have wonderful experiences if stay right here at home for your golf exploration.
Number One:
I do not doubt this pick. I haven’t played Pinehurst No. 10 (just No. 2) but based on the descriptions Doak gave me in a sit-down back in May, and the photos that have been shown, I can believe it.
I asked Doak halfway through 2024 what the response from others was like: “We’re still in the honeymoon phase,” Doak replied. “All new golf courses, the first six months they’re open everyone’s saying, ‘oh, that’s awesome.’ So, it will be a year or two before I really know (how people feel about it), but the client is surprised that it’s as strong of a golf course as it is.
“When they hired me they didn’t say anything plus or minus about tournament play. They’ve obviously got a great course to play tournaments on (Pinehurst No. 2), and they really weren’t looking to do that again, but they told me recently they just had all the USGA people out for the U.S. Open media day (in spring 2024), and they played No. 10 the day before that, and (USGA reps) were saying they want to host an event there (No. 10).
They’re not sure what yet, but they definitely want to host an event there. It’s a really strong golf course.”
Golf Digest described it this way: “After a tame start with three holes that loop around a calm section of ground, the design gradually amplifies as the land becomes more extreme leading up to the par-4 eighth, one of the most original and bizarre holes in American golf. It plunges through the tall spoils of an old sand mining operation, staggering drunkenly over displaced ridges, hummocks and dunes.
“Many of the drives at No. 10 play across subtle crests of land, disguising what’s ahead, and though the fairways offer latitude, the course plays much longer than the scorecard yardage (7,020 yards from the back tees). The real
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BEST NEW COURSES IN U.S.
highlights are the inventive green complexes. Most are surrounded by fields of short grass, similar to Pinehurst No. 2, leaving the choice of recovery shots up to the player. But the green contours are fascinating and fiendish, a combination of collecting slopes and bowls offset by shoulders, tiers and steep fall-offs often on the same green. Pinehurst #10 hits the high notes of sand, sculpture and pines that make the whole Pinehurst experience endlessly intoxicating, but the rhythm is new and represents the way forward for one of America’s legendary resorts.”
Saint John’s The Cardinal:
Golf Digest gave this narrative of the Plymouth course:
“Designed by architect Ray Hearn, it replaces Saint John’s early 1980’s 27-hole resort course
(from the Matthews family) with more spacious and strategically engaging holes that are either brand new or significantly redesigned. The excess holes were removed and transformed, giving Hearn room to add a fun 7-hole short course and large, Himalayas-style putting green. Part of a $50 million-plus renovation of the entire campus, The Cardinal is a much-needed reclamation of a scenic and moving piece of land that tended to get lost under the old design, with a less formal style of bunker and the latitude to explore different avenues into the greens. Though just 20 miles from downtown, the revamped feel of the wooded property whisks players to a place much farther away.”
Whether you do or do not travel for golf to the top named new courses in North Carolina, Florida, or Wisconsin, you really cannot be disappointed if you stay right here at home in the Great Lakes State.
The Drive Chip and Putt national finals are fast approaching in April at The Masters, but this coming summer’s registration for local qualifications for next year is now open.
Drive, Chip & Putt is a free event that is open to boys and girls ages 7-15. Juniors are separated into four age divisions for both boys and girls: 7-9 years old, 10-11 years old, 12-13 years old, & 14-15 years old. Participants advance through local, sub-regional, and regional qualifiers to make it to the National Finals at Augusta National Golf Club on the Sunday before the Masters.
At each qualifying level, participants hit three shots at each station, Drive, Chip & Putt, for a total of nine shots. Each shot receives a point value. There are prizes for the top three in each Skill and for the top three overall participants. The contestant with the highest number of accumulated points will be declared the overall champion in their age division. The top two overall participants in each age & gender division from each local qualifier will advance to the sub-regional qualifier. No sub-regional nor regional qualifiers are scheduled for Michigan locations.
Local registration here: https://michiganpga.com/junior-golf/drivechip-putt/
Treetops Now on Full Display Treetops Now on Full Display
ByTomLang ByTomLang
With a name like Treetops, it’s clear from the start that northern Michigan trees are a major component to any golfer’s expectations and experience at the Gaylord-area golf and ski resort.
The staff at Treetops took that fact very seriously in its most recent tree removal program at the Rick Smith Signature Course.
General Manager Barry Owens told me that for the last 30 years since the Signature opened to rave reviews, trees were now becoming intrusive in several ways. They were causing too much shade for having healthy turf, expansive root systems were sucking up too much water at the peril of other foliage health
– and most of all, trees were blocking the great views and vistas of the surrounding countryside that a golf experience at Treetops offers.
There was no choice but to cut back some trees and remove many more altogether. The vast majority he said were outside the boundaries of the holes themselves.
“When the course was originally built you could see several other holes,” Owens said of the elevated views on the Signature. “Now golfers will be able to do that again and that’s what this is all about. We’ve done it with a couple of our courses already including the Rick Smith Tradition and Tom Fazio Premiere.”
Owens said that 95 percent of the trees they removed are 30 years old. “Some of the bigger
ones we are taking down were saplings, or 15 footers that didn’t do much, and before you know it, now they’re 40 footers that cause too much shade with big root systems that are sucking water out of the ground.”
“When the Signature first opened, we were fortunate to get all the national awards and such, and a lot of this effort is to bring the course and the experience back to that time.”
One example Owens gave was hole No. 6, a par 5. He said the smaller trees had grown so much that when driving down the cart path on the left side, golfers couldn’t see the hole they’re playing on the right.
“We’re very excited because it’s going to open things up, improve turf conditions, it will improve shot values and you’re going to see other holes on the course,” Owen said. “On 16 and 18 we’ve really opened up the beautiful long views.
“When we did the Tradition (tree removal almost three years ago) people just loved it. We did the Fazio course last winter and it also
received rave reviews. Now, the Signature will probably be the most dramatic of all because we had a lot of overgrowth that needed to be addressed.
“Rick Smith did a really good job on the bunkering when the course was built,” he added, “but lately a lot of it you couldn’t see anymore. The trees had overgrown so much.”
Some of the tree removal wasn’t avoidable anyway due to some Beech trees dying off. Owens said those are suffering from diseases not that much different than the Emerald Ash Bore disaster that killed so many Ash trees in Michigan about 10-15 years ago.
Golfweek’s list of the top 200 golf resort courses in the country that came out recently showed that the Signature jumped up several places to No. 162. Owens said he feels this tree improvement project will take it even higher on future ranking lists. Well respected Michigan-based course designer
TreetopsSignatureHole15
TreetopsFazioHole11
Paul Albanese has been guiding Treetops with modifications and ideas.
“Taking out those trees will provide tremendous views across that wonderful piece of property,” Albanese said. “I think Rick Smith meant to take out more trees in the original design, so this is fitting with his vision in the first place.
“What you get is a double win when you take trees out. Not only do you get these great vistas, the sunshine and the air movement that is allowed now makes turf quality that much better. We’ve increased the ability for
(the superintendents) to keep the turf in the condition they want it, so that’s a real plus. I think golfers will appreciate it all.”
TheTraditionand theFazio:
“It’s similar to what we did at the (Tom) Fazio course last year,” Albanese continued. “We took out a whole bunch of trees and I don’t think most golfers would even recognize we did that. There were just more trees behind the ones we took out. And taking out that layer we’re able to increase turf quality at the Fazio course and open
up some great views there too, especially 18.”
Owens said removing most trees at the Tradition (also designed by Smith) allowed for an inland links style course that gives golfers a totally different look. These changes highlights the terrain variation and brings wind into club selection.
“Since the tree removal took place (in 2022) the course has shot up in popularity, brings a completely different golf experience than the rest of our courses and it’s accomplishing exactly what we were hoping for,” Owens said. “We did some updates in the irrigation systems in addition to
the tree removal, so the Tradition probably has arguably the best greens on the property right now.”
Owens said keeping the initial designs are paramount in the latest master plan.
“It was important to us to keep the integrity of all the original designs, and we know Paul honors that position,” he said. “We want people to know we haven’t moved any dirt. We haven’t added bunkers or removed any. We have kept that all intact because we love the quality of the designs from when they were done. But there might be in the future some things done; because bunkers do change over time.”
The original course, the Robert Trent Jones Masterpiece in which the resort name Treetops was first established, opened in 1987 and Golf Digest named it the No. 2 new
resort course in the United States. Today, Golfweek notes this ‘bucket list’ course as a Top 200 Resort Golf Course at No. 147, having moved up in the rankings by 44 spots.
OtherInvestmentsandImprovements:
Starting last year, Treetops put more emphasis on communicating their Pace of Play expectations, and the reviews were positive. The current goal for 18-hole rounds is 4.5 hours.
“We made big strides in that last year,” Owens said. “While most people when asked if they play slow will say ‘no,’ we really do have a problem with it in the golf industry overall if we’re honest about it. So, we’re out there publicly talking about it, putting emphasis on it – because it’s so important for a good experience. People don’t want to be out there for an extended period but would rather play in an appropriate amount of Concludesonnextpg.>>
TREETOPS COVER STORY
distance to the Jones Masterpiece pro shop and driving range.
The Chalets were also updated. There are six 3-bedroom units and six 2-bedrooms – again, with open areas for eating, playing cards, etc., with a fully-lit putting green outside them all and bonfire pits as well.
“Lots of activity there every evening, people outside putting, networking and meeting new TreetopsTradition
time. Last year we publicized it to our guests before coming, and we had great feedback and great results.
“We think it starts with awareness and knowledge of expectations and communicating them.”
But he also said Treetops does not go to the point of using GPS to police anything: “We feel you’re out there to get away from screens. But people can choose to use their own screens, from watches to apps. We had great feedback and participation last year (regarding pace of play) … and we are looking forward to big leaps this year.”
There’s also evidence that the popularity of the reinvigorated Jones Cottages has swelled. Treetops now has 6 cottages, with 4 bedrooms 4 baths each with large gathering areas upstairs and down – that are all walking
people, and maintaining old friendships,” Owens added.
Treetops has invested over $5 million the past few years on lodging options and upgrades, so if you haven’t had a Treetops overnight experience in a while, perhaps it’s time to return. More information is at: https://www.treetops.com/summer/golfing/
Treetopslodgeandnorthernlights
CHEATING IN SCRAMBLES
Cheating in Cheating in Golf Scrambles:
Golf Scrambles:
A National A National Epidemic Epidemic
ByBillHobson ByBillHobson
We’ve all seen it happen firsthand.
An impossibly low score posted on the big board at the end of a 6-hour charity scramble. You played directly behind the team that posted the “winning” score and - after
watching them hack, flail, chunk, and skull shots all day – know with 100% certainty there is zero chance that score is legit.
Welcome to the new world of rampant cheating in golf scrambles.
The problem is widespread. Stories abound of teams reporting impossible scores that overshadow the efforts of honest players, tainting the spirit of friendly competition and, in many cases, driving participants away from the format entirely.
ACultureofDishonesty
The allure of winning, whether it’s a trophy, pro shop credit, or a free hot dog, seems enough for some players to bend or outright break the rules. But it’s really not the value of the prize that irritates honest golfers – it’s the mangled spirit of the game and absence of a commitment to integrity.
The problem isn’t just limited to high-stakes events with lucrative prizes. Cheating has been observed even when the rewards are minor, suggesting that the motivation often lies in a bizarre need to claim victory at any cost. This culture of dishonesty undermines the very essence of golf, a sport rooted in integrity and selfregulation.
HowCheatingHarmstheGame
Cheating in scrambles isn’t just a moral failing it actively ruins the experience for everyone else. Honest golfers who put effort into their strategy and teamwork leave feeling disillusioned, knowing their best efforts could never compete with fabricated scores.
It also detracts from the event’s purpose. Many scrambles are organized to support charitable causes, but excessive cheating shifts the focus from fundraising and fun to skepticism and frustration. When the competition’s integrity is in question, even participants who join for charity feel let down.
Moreover, cheating erodes the reputation of scrambles as a format. What should be a lighthearted, inclusive way for golfers of all skill levels to enjoy the game has turned into a circus where honest participants feel like fools for playing by the rules.
SolvingTheProblem
Short of the impossible idea of finding enough volunteers to handle the scoring for every team in a scramble, there are some practical ways to produce a more accurate, tolerable result and restore fairness and fun to the format:
Playoffs for Top Teams: Organize a 1-hole playoff for the top teams, forcing them to compete publicly. This transparency could deter cheaters who fear being exposed.
Live Scoring: Use apps like Golf Genius to allow real-time score submissions. While not foolproof, this creates greater transparency and accountability.
Flight Systems: Group teams into tiers based on their reported scores, with prizes awarded within each flight. This levels the playing field and reduces the incentive to cheat.
Modified Formats: Introduce formats like the “modified Chapman,” where teammates alternate shots after the teeoff. This increases accountability and makes it harder to cheat.
Focus on Fun Over Competition: Shift the emphasis from scores to enjoyment by offering prizes for random draws, individual skills competitions, or humorous awards like “Most Honest Team.”
TheRoadAhead
Despite these proposed solutions, it’s clear that cheating in scrambles is a deeply ingrained issue. Many organizers prioritize fundraising over competitive integrity, leaving it up to players to self-police – a system that relies on a sense of honor increasingly absent in today’s scramble culture.
The only way for scrambles to regain their charm requires both players and organizers to rethink their approach. Players must value integrity over hollow victories, and organizers should consider creative measures to curb dishonesty while keeping the event enjoyable.
Until the cheating stops, they risk becoming a disheartening experience that drives honest players away.
Watch the full length MGL Podcast Report on Cheating in Scrambles: https://youtu.be/3OPOMxBgwEU
Listen to the full length MGL Podcast Report on Cheating in Scrambles: https://traffic.libsyn.com/foregolfersnetwork/FG N Episode 452 - Scramble Cheating.mp3
TOP 100 COURSES IN MICHIGAN
Golf Digest Golf Digest Releases Releases
ByTomLang ByTomLang
Golf Digest recently released its Top 100 Public Golf Courses list for 2024-25, and the Great Lakes State is well represented with nine courses – five of which pin in two locations: at Forest Dunes and Arcadia.
Our neighbor to the west, Wisconsin, has 10 public courses on the list, including Whistling Straights at No. 4 overall. I’m not sure if Michiganders feel there’s a competition with Wisconsin or not, but for just these two states to host nearly 20 percent of all the best public courses in America speaks highly to wonderful Midwest options, historic course designs and great weather for golf lovers far and wide to enjoy.
Regarding this list compiled by the golf magazine, editors stated: “It’s meant to be both a marker of exemplary golf design and a guide to where you might want to play, either soon or on a special occasion trip. The price tags on many of these courses may be forbidding but they’re nevertheless open to the public, and
many of those on the second half of the list are quite reasonably priced for the level of golf they deliver.”
GreatMichiganGolf:
Here are Golf Digest’s picks for top 100 courses which are located in Michigan, their ranking, and with comments from the magazine editors:
14.ArcadiaBluffs
The magazine remarked about how much like- competition Arcadia Bluffs faces with Pacific Dunes and the neighbor across Lake Michigan, Whistling Straits, yet appreciated our natural, non-man-
53.ArcadiaBluffsSouth
GD: The challenge at Arcadia Bluffs for architects Dana Fry and Jason Straka was to create a course that guests would want to play as often as they do the original course…the designers turned to Chicago Golf Club and the architecture of C.B. Macdonald and Seth Raynor for inspiration. The South Course is a throwback in time, a jigsaw puzzle of intersecting bunkers, centerline hazards, alternate routes of play and geometric shaping. Where the Bluffs Course is a feast for the eye, the South Course is a treat for the intellect.”
TheLoopBlackatForestDunes made dunes. They also added: More recently, the Bluffs faces competition from within, the sister layout, the South Course at Arcadia Bluffs (No. 53), designed by Dana Fry in the style of C.B. Macdonald and Seth Raynor.
32.ForestDunes
The Roscommon location dates back in history as a secret place for Detroit mobsters to hide out. Now the world comes to enjoy a resort north of the small town that has been transformed to a
58.TheLoopBlackatForestDunes
wonderful golfing experience on rolling sand base with tall pines along with the extras of the Loop reversable courses (later on this list) and the Bootlegger short course, impeccable housing for overnight stays, and great food choices in its massive clubhouse.
GD: The idea of a reversible golf course is as old at the Old Course at St. Andrews, and golf architect Joel Goldstrand built a series of nine-hole reversible courses for small clubs in Minnesota,
TOP 100 COURSES IN MICHIGAN
Iowa and North Dakota back in the 1980s. But give (Michigander) Tom Doak credit for convincing a client to take a chance on an 18hole reversible layout. “The goal is to have two very different courses over the same piece of ground, so people will want to stay over to play it both ways and compare and contrast the two,” Doak said.
Greywalls
Superior are fantastic, beginning with the opening tee shot. Like Wilderness Club (No. 44 on our 100 Greatest Public list), this is a destination course worth hiking to play.
69.TheLoopRedatForestDunes
I was glad to see that the magazine rated each
59.Greywalls
GD: A decade before architect Mike DeVries created the world-class Cape Wickham Golf Club in Australia, he produced an equally compelling design in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, a second 18 for Marquette. It’s called Greywalls because of all the granite rock outcroppings that edge some holes and squeeze others, like the short par-4 fifth, and because the rock provides the rugged topography over which this course scampers up and plunges down. The vistas out over Lake
73.Tullymore
direction/color name of the Loop as two separate courses, because despite the fact they lay over each other in the reversible format, it takes a keen golfer to realize this. Even though the topography and landforms are the same, with individualized green entrances and other unique features, in no way does it feel like the same course, nor playing the course backwards from the day before.
GD: A past member of our 100 Greatest list, Tullymore has exciting design variety with five par 5s and five par 3s. The course winds through 800 acres of woods and wetlands and features the unique "muscle" bunkers and bowled greens that architect Jim Engh became known for when he was designing some of the most distinctive new golf courses in the late 1990s and 2000s. Tullymore has previously been ranked for 18 years on our 100 Greatest Public, debuting at No. 14 in 2003.
TullymoreHole17
NewtoGolfDigestList:
90.HarborShores
GD: Just 90 minutes from Chicago in western Michigan, Harbor Shores is a scenic Jack Nicklaus layout that often gets high marks for conditioning from our panelists. It was constructed over parts of a former manufacturing facility that required a
significant amount of remediation, but the result is a sanctuary of nature where toxic compounds used to be. The holes are spread far and wide around the vast site, broken into distinct sections while crossing the Paw Paw River several times. Harbor Shores offers intriguing design variety, with dense forest, dunes, creeks and fescue all in play,
and a highlight stretch of three holes along Lake Michigan.
98.BelvedereGolfClub
This Michigan gem is celebrating 100 years in 2025. It has hosted dozens and dozens of the prestigious Michigan Amateur tournaments over the years and will again this summer. Golf Digest added this: “It’s a graceful example of a design that reacts to the land with fairways that flow over links-
like ripples and greens sited on natural landforms and benched into slopes. The putting contours are from another era, full of dimples, knobs, swales and bubbles that enliven short game intrigue chips and putts demand as much attention and creativity as full shots, the sign of great architecture. Belvedere is a private course that welcomes outside play, and it can be walked in the early season for as little as $62.”
WHY GOLF SHOWS MAKE SENSE
From Frost to Fairways: Maple Hill From Frost to Fairways: Maple Hill
Golf’s Winter Show Success Golf’s Winter Show Success
ByJeremiahRichey ByJeremiahRichey
Golf is a sport synonymous with sunlit fairways and verdant greens, thriving in the warmth of spring and summer. Yet, Maple Hill Golf in Grand Rapids sees an invaluable opportunity during the winter season.
Participating in golf shows is a strategic choice driven by several compelling reasons, each contributing to the company ' s sustained success and engagement with the golfing fraternity.
Building&MaintainingCustomer Engagement
Winter golf shows provide Maple Hill Golf with a valuable opportunity to maintain customer engagement during the off-season. These events reinforce the company’s commitment to the sport and its community through personalized interactions that foster loyalty and build stronger relationships. Additionally, the diverse audience at these shows including seasoned golfers, industry professionals, and newcomers enable Maple Hill Golf to expand its market reach, attract new customers, and boost brand recognition.
BringingDealstothePeople
The winter season provides Maple Hill Golf with the perfect opportunity to offer unbeatable deals on equipment and gear. It features some of the best prices on prior-year models while also giving golfers an exclusive first look at the newest products hitting the market and spark excitement for the upcoming season.
FunFacts
Maple Hill Golf was at the first Michigan Golf Show in Novi (1992); the show started with only 2 aisles of vendors.
Maple Hill Golf has been part of the West Michigan Golf Show since the beginning (over 30 years ago).
Maple Hill Golf started the Toledo Golf Show in downtown Toledo at the Sea Gate Center; Buckeye Wolverine Golf now runs it, but Maple Hill Golf attends as a featured vendor each year. In the past 30 years, Maple Hill Golf has participated in over two hundred golf shows, with the furthest travel being to Atlanta, Georgia.
Maple Hill Golf's strategic involvement in winter golf shows extends beyond business success it has become an invaluable resource for golfers across the region. By offering exclusive discounts on equipment and fostering connections with industry experts, Maple Hill not only helps golfers save money but also builds lasting relationships to meet all their golfing needs.
A Crowded Summer Awaits: A Crowded Summer Awaits:
TomHemminger, a 50-plus year golfer, supporter of golf charity events in metro Detroit and former instructor for kids learning the game, shared this perspective:
Several Pro Tour Events Stacked On Each Other
Several Pro Tour Events Stacked On Each Other
By Tom Lang By Tom Lang
The recent announcement by LIV Golf to hold a new pro tournament in August at Saint John’s Resort in Plymouth further demonstrates that the Michigan golf calendar is jam packed with options and crowded schedules for golf fans to navigate.
In the month of June alone, there’s the nowtraditional Meijer LPGA Classic scheduled for Father’s Day weekend as usual, followed by the Dow Championship LPGA event the final week of June. Okay. But for the second consecutive year, the PGA Tour scheduled the Rocket Mortgage Classic the same week as the Dow.
Now with the LIV event in Plymouth added near the end of August, it’s parked right on top of the well-established Ally Challenge on the PGA Tour Champions played in Grand Blanc.
Due to this new tournament traffic, we went to Facebook and other connections to get fan reactions to such scheduling challenges.
good thing for southeast Michigan and for golf fans in general. I love that it gives families another chance to see professional golf played in our backyard.
“I hope a ton of kids will be able to attend an event that is played on a public golf course that is available to them. To me, this tournament is less about LIV, and more about introducing a new generation (our youth) to this great game where they can play with friends, feel the thrill of competition, experience nature in beautiful settings, and learn about etiquette, sportsmanship, and integrity. While this tournament joins a list of several tournaments
“While I am not a fan of LIV, and the fracture in professional golf is deeply disappointing, I do feel the tournament in Plymouth will be a in Michigan this summer, I believe there is a slice of the pie for everyone as Michigan’s love affair with golf is insatiable.”
Facebook user JohnERheinhardt had a different take: “This is frustrating that there are two events scheduled at the same time on both occasions. Hopefully the number of patrons at these events does not decline from their previous numbers or the tours will remove the event. Local economies and local charities will be the big losers if that happens.”
Another Facebook user, KevinGeisler, shared this viewpoint: “Everything should have been tried to be scheduled on different weekends. I can see how LIV wouldn't care since they aren't part of the PGA but you would think maybe the LPGA and PGA (Tour) would coordinate with each other.”
It’s not surprising that golfers’ opinions on this topic are wide ranging. Several expressed their lack of support for LIV Golf, and others embraced the new league’s approach. Many were disappointed that the schedule makers don’t seem to communicate, but agree that since all events are multiple days, fans can still see both
events that are held the same week if they really wanted to.
JeffRoth, a member of the Michigan Golf Hall of Fame and renowned instructor at Boyne whose hometown is Plymouth, shared this: “Season is too short, tournaments too plentiful. Pick and choose the golf you want to visit that week. A golf fan can do both. Michigan is blessed with great courses, many many courses, many great knowledgeable fans, and TOUR and LPGA events.”
Another Facebook user, DougHammond, shared this reaction: “We didn’t have anything (pro tournaments) for like a decade…..now we are
SaintJohn’s
A CROWDED SUMMER
complaining we have too much golf? Up north tournaments would be cool but the infrastructure is not there to accommodate such large tourneys.”
He wasn’t the only golfer hoping that a large pro tournament would be played Up North – so maybe neither know that the LPGA Tour’s feeder, the EPSON tour, is coming to Boyne, also in June – right on top of the Meijer LPGA. And by the way, there are two more EPSON events in Michigan, in June marking three consecutive weeks; the FireKeepers in Battle Creek and in the U.P. at Island Resort and Casino.
Almost everyone made their Tour allegiances known, like Facebook user DenisMohr, while a nice segment agreed fans could go to multiple venues if they chose.
“I think it’s great but do a better job scheduling,” Mohr wrote. “They are at the mercy of each tour. Dow event is fantastic, and well executed. And the format is very entertaining. The others are same old stuff…smash and wedge. Rather watch the LPGA.”
Another, YvonneRamona, commented on their love for the Ally Challenge by sharing: “I wouldn’t pass up the Ally weekend, they have amazing concerts, I hung out with Bubba and we were offered free veterans passes.”
A few people remarked about how professional tournaments benefit the local hosting communities economically, and of course the charity aspect of proceeds supporting non-profits.
Facebook user BrianDilworth: “I understand that coordinating schedules of multiple different tours is a challenge, but ultimately the fans and the charities that typically benefit from these events, are the losers. The tours have all become tone deaf to everyone but the sponsors and the players. Not a sustainable approach in my opinion.”
The bottom line seems to be if you love all golf tours, make an effort to support them all and pick various days that week to see the pros in person. If you prefer one Tour over the others, show that too.
In the end, it’s clear that local communities and local charities are the ultimate winners.
USGA USGA Provides
a Provides a Snapshot Snapshot of the of the Recreational Recreational Game Game
The United States Golf Association (USGA) announced in late December that 3.35 million golfers posted over 77 million scores in 2024, and that the World Handicap System contains first-person data that offers a one-of-a-kind snapshot of how the game was played last season at a macro level. The report also compares data going back to 2020 to reveal trends about the recreational game.
As the calendar turns to 2025, users can interact with an updated GHIN Rewind to see a complete picture of their 2024 golf game.
The USGA said that trends include:
A significant increase in 9-hole score posting: There were a record number of 9hole rounds played in 2024 with 13,798,174 scores posted – an 8% increase over 2023 and up nearly 40% since 2020.
More golfers with a Handicap Index®: Over
3.35 million golfers in the U.S. maintained a Handicap Index in 2024 – up over 6% year over year and up nearly 30% since 2020.
New golfers posting more 9-hole rounds: Those who established a Handicap Index in 2024 were more likely to play and post 9-hole rounds; women who started this year played 9 over 50% of the time, whereas men new to the game played 9 over 28 percent of the time.
Short courses becoming more popular:Since last January, par-3 and other shorter length courses are now eligible to obtain a Course Rating™ and Slope Rating® and, to date, over 180K scores have been posted at more than 350 short courses nationwide.
Most rounds posted are recreational: A widely held notion that a Handicap Index is only for golfers who are playing in elite competitions continues to be dispelled by
the data, as 94.5% of the 77 million rounds posted were recreational. Also, 25.4% of men and 23.7% of women posted at least one competitive score in 2024, meaning that over 75% of all golfers were playing and posting for fun.
Chris Whitten, executive director of the Golf Association of Michigan (GAM) said that we are seeing very similar trends in the game in the Great Lakes State, as GAM membership growth has been 60% since 2020, with more rounds being posted across the state each year.
“Short courses and 9-hole rounds are making a big impact,” Whitten said. “In Michigan, GAM has rated all 14 shorter courses that requested it, and, for example, Threetops at Treetops Resort has become a favorite for posting rounds.
“The recent changes to WHS rules for 9hole rounds are a game-changer, too. Now, scores immediately affect a golfer’s index, making it easier and more rewarding to post those rounds there is no more waiting to combine two 9-hole scores.
“All of this reinforces something we’ve always believed,” Whitten continued: “Handicap Indexes are for everyone. They bring golfers together and level the playing field, no matter the skill difference. It’s been amazing to see this mindset drive our growth over the past four years. "
Course Rater of Course Rater of the Year: the Year: Kurt Visniski Kurt Visniski
ByGregJohnson ByGregJohnson
Kurt Visniski of Grand Blanc finds it hard to believe he is the Golf Association of Michigan’s Course Rater of the Year.
“When (Hunter Koch, GAM director of course rating) was announcing the rater of the year he had all the previous winners raise their hands,” Visniski recalled of a fall awards and golf gathering.
“I remember thinking that is quite a group, the best raters out there. I look up to all of them. Then he made the announcement,
and it still feels unreal that I’m part of that group now. I was quite surprised to tell you the truth.”
Visniski, a 63-year-old retired mechanical engineer, is a GAM member with his wife and fellow course rater Lisa Stewart-Visniski through Flint Elks Country Club.
The award is presented annually to the course rater who demonstrates outstanding proficiency with the Course Rating System™ and is committed to helping grow and develop the GAM Course Rating Program.
Visniski said his wife, a past Course Rating Rookie of the Year winner, started with the course rating teams of the GAM before him, and she suggested he would like it. In addition, he realized it was a way to play golf courses that he might not otherwise have an opportunity to play.
“As I got more involved with it, I realized I may enjoy the rating part of the job more than the playing part,” he said.
The Visniski duo is heavily involved. While some health issues sidelined him late in the season in 2024, Visniski estimates he participated in 30 ratings in the 2023 season.
“I never thought about course rating before Lisa got involved, didn’t realize it existed,” he said. “I went in with no expectations and found out the skills I used as a mechanical engineer, the attention to detail, the numbers, fit with it.”
Additionally, the GAM chose Brett Quencer, a member through Currie Municipal Golf Course in Midland, as the Rookie of the Year, and Don VanOostveen, a member through Sunnybrook Country Club near Grand Rapids, as Trainer of the Year.
Superintendent Superintendent Award of Merit: Award of Merit: Carey Mitchelson Carey Mitchelson
ByGregJohnson ByGregJohnson
Carey Mitchelson, the director of operations at College Fields Golf Club in Okemos and executive director of the Michigan Turfgrass Foundation (MTF), has been involved in the golf industry for the last 50 years, learning, sharing, serving and making friends.
“I found that even though it is a business and a sport, golf is also a place to meet people and make friends, the kind of friends that want you to be successful,” he said. “You can be a complete stranger on the first tee, but by the end of four hours you have their phone number in your phone, and they become somebody you talk with often. I can’t think of another sport or business like that.”
The annual award, presented since 2011, is bestowed upon a superintendent who has demonstrated leadership, professionalism, good character and high standards of conduct through pursuits associated with golf course grounds maintenance and care.
Adam Ikamas, executive director of the Michigan Golf Course Superintendents Association (MiGCSA), nominated Mitchelson.
“Nobody works harder than Carey, either out on the golf course or on the front end of the MTF,”
Ikamas said. “I’ve heard about and later was part of stories regarding Carey’s influence and involvement in golf. If it happened on the turf side of Michigan golf, Carey was either a part of it or leading it. His contributions, leadership and dedication to Michigan’s golf industry and turf industry are unparalleled.”
Mitchelson, a Michigan native and accomplished player, started in golf with his father Kyran Mitchelson, a longtime superintendent at multiple golf facilities primarily in the Flint area.
“I wanted to be a teacher, but every summer I would find myself working for dad at the golf course and eventually I switched (from Central Michigan to MSU) and changed to turfgrass (management).”
He excelled from the start of his career and was named the head superintendent at the Country Club of Detroit at the age of 25. He served the club for 19 years and then branched into other roles in the industry, helping build courses and working in Florida and Michigan, before returning to take on his current role at College Fields and serving in multiple volunteer positions with MTF, the GAM Green Committee and MiGCSA.
More Golf Courses Coming More Golf Courses Coming
in Michigan: in Michigan:
BOYNE Golf will open for play its new par-3 short course Doon Brae, and the Back Yaird (Scottish word for yard), a Himalayan-style putting course, will open in a few months. Located behind The Highlands Main Lodge, the new short course will be BOYNE Golf’s 11th golf course, expanding their tagline to Michigan’s Magnificent 11.
Doon Brae, now accepting tee times, will be a nice add-on to any golf and resort package. The name, Doon meaning going down into a valley, and Brae, meaning steep bank or hillside in Scottish, is fitting as the routing of the course is on the site of the former Cuff Links nine-hole par-3 course set along the hillside that doubles as a ski slope during the winter months.
“As far as I know, this is the first modern golf course ever built on a ski hill,” said Bernie Friedrich, Director of Golf Course Renovations and Development at Boyne Resorts. “The combination of small greens inspired by some of the great green templates from overseas
with sod-faced bunkers and tight mowing patterns will be a fun, perfect add-on to the daily golf itinerary. It also provides a wonderful option for families, kids, and beginners to try golf for the first time.”
Although Doon Brae is routed on a ski hill, designer Ray Hearn focused on minimizing the walking uphill. The course, which measures between 993 yards and 678 yards, will feature a variety of fun yardages with downhill, flat, uphill, and sidehill lies, generally moving horizontally back and forth across the slope. Holes range from 57 yards to 134 yards, providing multiple angles and fairway options, with shorter-length holes having fewer bunkers on the path toward the greens, while longer holes provide more strategic angles with bunkers more in play.
Complementing Doon Brae is the Back Yaird a 1.5-acre 27-hole putting course featuring three nine-hole combinations. Inspired by great putting courses like the Himalayas at St. Andrews and Thistle Du at Pinehurst, this exciting golf experience features a variety of slopes and swales, providing endless excitement for golfers of all abilities, families, and kids. The location, just off the Slopeside Patio of The Highlands, will be convenient for Boyne lodge guests.
ForestDunesannounces SkyFall:
Forest Dunes already has three Top 100 golf courses in the country and hopes to add a fourth in the next couple years – SkyFall, a new private club announcement – designed by Gil Hanse and Jim Wagner that will also allow limited resort guest play.
“The opportunity to have Gil and Jim craft their first original design in Michigan on what is the most compelling property at Forest Dunes is really exciting,” says Rich Mack, who owns Forest Dunes alongside business partner Tom Sunnarborg. “Gil and Jim are two of the most influential golf course architects of our era…we know they will find the best of the land to work with and turn it into something unforgettable that members and guests are going to thoroughly enjoy, hopefully many times.”
With elevation changes of up to 70 feet, the new golf course will weave across 300 acres of forest land adjacent to the current ForestDunes public play courses. While SkyFall will be a private membership club, public guests staying on property at Forest Dunes will have access to limited tee times.
With the addition of SkyFall to Forest Dunes, the Roscommon-area resort will bring another toptier option to the highly acclaimed northern Michigan golf region and be the only golf facility in the world with courses designed by three legends of the game the late Tom Weiskopf, Michigander Tom Doak and the Hanse/Wagner team. The popular Forest Dunes course, designed by Weiskopf, is rated among America’s Top 100 golf courses, as is The Loop, Doak’s highly ranked and innovative reversible layout with both designs among the best in the U.S. Forest Dunes also offers a popular 10-hole short course named The Bootlegger, designed by Keith Rhebb and Riley Johns.
MICHIGAN NEWS AND NOTES
Michigander Part of Michigander Part of National Winning Duo National Winning Duo
Mike Stone of Perrysburg, Ohio, and Patrick Wilkes-Krier of Ann Arbor, Mich., could sense victory coming at the PGA Senior-Junior Team Championship on the Wanamaker Course at PGA Golf Club.
After all, in the last three PGA SeniorJunior Team Championships, the duo finished T12 in 2022, T10 in 2023 and T3 last year.
And who said golfers from Michigan and Ohio can’t get along?
“We had our eyes set on winning,” said Wilkes-Krier, a self-employed teaching pro at Kendall Academy of Golf in Michigan. “We’ve been climbing the ranks.”
The climb finished Jan. 30 when the pair combined for a 5-under 67 , finishing the 72-hole tournament at 30-under 257 for their first PGA Winter Championship. The winners split $10,000.
“The last couple of years, we would make a mistake like a double bogey that would cost us,” said Stone, a PGA Assistant Professional at Belmont Country Club
who has qualified for three PGA Championships.
“We just kept it in front of us, and Patrick played really well today.”
PGA Jr. League registration is now open at facilities across the country. Families can learn more, find a local program and sign up online at PGAJrLeague.com.
Led exclusively by PGA of America Golf Professionals and LPGA Professionals, PGA Jr. League provides kids ages 17 and under with the opportunity to learn and play golf on a team. Expert coaching, combined with a scramble format that promotes teamwork and mentorship, creates an environment that supports players of all skill levels. Last year, over 77,000 players participated in PGA Jr. League, establishing another record in the program’s history.
“In its 12-year history as a PGA of America growth of the game program, PGA of America Golf Professionals have coached more than half a million youth through PGA Jr. League,” PGA of America President Don Rea Jr., Owner/Operator of Augusta Ranch Golf Club (Arizona) said in a news release. “Golf is for everyone, and that’s what PGA Jr. League is all about.”
PGA Jr. League programs are primarily offered in two age divisions - 13u (ages 13 and under, with minimum age varying by facility) and 17u (ages 14-17) - with a 9u division being piloted in 2025.
