As the outdoor golf season shuts down for winter, it’s time for basketball season, so we bring you a fun golf Q&A with long-time Oakland University coach Greg Kampe, a huge golf lover who has traveled the country, and still favors Michigan golf.
Looking ahead to the new year, Bill Hobson shares his wish list for golfers in 2025, complete with a hope for everyone to have their career low round, and for the excessive cheating in scrambles to stop. That’s just two of the 10 wishes.
There’s also 19 public golf courses to explore in the Brighton Howell Area once the season opens again in the spring. Many Up North type experiences but without the drive.
You can also find:
Players of the Year: Men, women and seniors
100 Years of golf at Sauganash Country Club
Gift giving ideas and product reviews
Video equipment review by Miles of Golf
Michigan News and Notes
All-State selections for girls high school golf
And so much more !
Thank you as always for joining us.
TomLang Editorand Publisher
What's Inside:
PLAYERS
564.5 points. Julian Menser of South Lyon, a MSU golfer with 455 points, Drew Coble of Lake Orion, a Grand Valley State University golfer with 400 points, and Drew Miller of East Lansing, an incoming MSU golfer with 370 points, rounded out the top five.
At the Michigan Amateur, Biagioli set a first goal of making match play.
GAM PLAYER
GAM PLAYER
OF THE YEAR: McCoy Biagioli of White Lake McCoy Biagioli of White Lake
By Greg Johnson By Greg Johnson
OF THE YEAR:
McCoy Biagioli of White Lake was just the 11th golfer to pull off the state’s top amateur golf feat by winning the Michigan Amateur Championship and the GAM Championship in the same year.
“All my close friends are not surprised, they are very proud of me, but I know from around golf in Michigan most people were surprised I did it,” he said. “My close friends, my teammates that play with me all the time knew the things I could do. Those who didn’t know me so well just didn’t know what I was capable of.”
Biagioli, age 19 and a Ferris State University golfer, scored 881.5 points, and John Quigley of Sterling Heights and the Michigan Publinx Golf Association, this summer’s GAM MidAmateur Champion, finished second with
“I had never made match play, and I didn’t know what to expect but I always knew I could win matches,” he said. “My dad told me before I left that week for the
tournament to bring home that (Staghorn Trophy). I thought it was possible. I knew I could win. I didn’t play that great in stroke play, but I made it to match play and won a match that wasn’t pretty. But I built on it, gave myself chances and pulled off big shots.”
He said the most memorable shot was a clutch 18-foot putt on hole 18 in the semifinals against Matt Zerbel of St. Joseph to win 1-up and move on to the final match with Jimmy Dales of Northville.
GAM senior director of competitions and USGA services, Ken Hartmann, said Biagioli was a surprise and not on anybody’s list of favorites to win the Michigan Amateur.
“I think we all learned about him that week,” he said. “I’m not surprised he is the Player of the Year. He went out and won the two biggest tournaments of the summer, so he definitely deserves it. It’s not an easy accomplishment.”
GAM WOMAN’s PLAYER OF GAM WOMAN’s PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Elayna Bowser THE
YEAR: Elayna Bowser
By Greg Johnson By Greg Johnson
Elayna Bowser tried professional golf after her stellar amateur career, which included winning the 2019 Michigan Women’s Amateur Championship and being a standout golfer for Loyola University Chicago.
“I gave it a good go for four years,” she said. “I can sit here and say I gave it my all and it led me to why I decided to switch back to amateur golf. I didn’t want to continue the route I was going and end up hating the game.”
She returned to the amateur ranks in 2024 and quickly made an impact by winning the GAM Women’s Mid-Amateur championship, and later in the summer reaching the round of 32 in the U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur.
Those accomplishments combined with what
she called one of her most consistent years of golf competition put her at the top of the Golf Association of Michigan Points List, and she has been named the 2024 GAM Women’s Player of the Year.
Bowser, 27 and a real-estate agent, earned 652.5 points to top the points list. Bridget Boczar of Canton, a Baylor University golfer and the winner of the GAM Women’s Championship for a second consecutive year, had 550 points. Shannon Kennedy of Beverly Hills, an MSU golfer and this year’s Michigan Women’s Amateur Champion, was third with 490 points.
Bowser said she previously considered 2019 as her best year in
golf because of her Michigan Women’s Amateur win and her success as a college player.
“I’m surprised how consistently I competed this year because I can’t devote the time to golf that I could before,” she said. “I won my first tournament back as an amateur though and played well the rest of the summer.”
The continued support by her father, Brett, and her brother, Evan, who is now a PGA professional in Florida, meant she could never just quit the game.
“Professional golf was a struggle, mentally, physically, emotionally but my dad and Evan are always there for me,” she said. “We’re a golf family. We’re all “golfaholics.” They are going to enjoy me being player of the year as much or more than I enjoy it.”
Brighton Howell Area Offers Brighton Howell Area Offers Great Golf Options Great Golf Options
By Tom Lang By Tom Lang
With a large portion of our state’s population living in Southeast Michigan, it’s not surprising that there is a huge selection of golf courses to support the golf-crazy public.
One such great assortment of choices can be found in the Brighton Howell Area – all located close enough to metro Detroit to take advantage of sports and entertainment in the big city – but also remote enough golfers can find great retreats for a unique buddies’ trip, ladies weekend or less expensive trip than a long drive up north.
Even from Grand Rapids, Battle Creek and regions north of Lansing, it’s only 90 minutes to Howell – and that much closer to Detroit if
the casinos or a Detroit Tigers game is on your agenda in the evening after a day with family and friends on the golf course.
The downtowns of both Brighton and Howell have been transformed in recent years with great restaurants and laid-back nightlife that provide unique dining opportunities, breweries, and navigable social districts for all tastes and interests.
In all, there are 19 public golf courses in the Brighton Howell Area. Some special courses that provide challenge and beauty – and won’t drain your wallet are all within minutes of either city – and in many cases feel like you are playing golf Up North but without the drive:
Chemung Hills Golf Club
Huntmore Golf Club
Huron Meadows Metropark
Kensington Metropark
Links at Hunters Ridge Golf Course
Moose Ridge Golf Course
Mystic Creek Golf Course
The Majestic at Lake Walden
Timber Trace Golf Club
ExploringBrightonHowell AreaCourses:
“This is home to some terrific golf courses –and players of all abilities are very fortunate,” said Nathan Oake, a PGA member for 25 years, and high school golf coach at Hartland, who also serves as director of the Kensington Junior Tour for area youth. “At the top of the list for me personally is
Dunham Hills Golf Club, and the combination of an undulating layout, and some of the best greens in SE Michigan make this a favorite of many.
“Two other spectacular layouts include The Majestic and Huntmore in my opinion, where golfers are treated to wonderful views, top rate conditions and
challenging shot requirements for their entire round.”
I have never played Huntmore but I have toured the other two a few times.
The Majestic (our cover photo this month) is aptly named, as there are some very majestic views along the way. The course sits on an incredible piece of property in an unusual area – right along the U.S. 23 Highway and provides an ‘Up North’ Michigan experience. Many golfers from the southern areas make The Majestic an essential stop on their northbound road trip.
The Majestic, which wraps around the spring-fed Lake Walden, is comprised of 27 holes. Holes 2through-14 continuously wind throughout woods and up and down the rolling terrain, truly giving the layout a majestic feel. Many holes of the third nine have the same appeal, especially the 3-hole stretch of Holes 23-25.
Continuesonnextpg.>>
GRAND GOLF
I did a review of Dunham Hills for the Detroit Free Press a few years ago, and wrote:
‘Dunham Hills is a fun track and beautiful property to enjoy. It’s a parkland style course with rolling hills and valleys, plus a variety of fairways that go uphill and downhill – all variables which combine to cause side-hill stances on many occasions. The course is loaded with trees, but they are spaced out enough it doesn’t feel suffocating. The last four holes are listed as some of the easiest handicap holes on the back nine, so a strong finish can be had. Above all, accuracy is paramount.’
In another FreeP review, I had the following to say about Timber Trace, west of Pinckey, a
sister city south of Howell and west of Brighton: As many designers do, Timber Trace’s layout saves one of the best holes for last, No. 18, a par 4 dogleg left. Avoiding a large bunker down the right side is a first step. The downhill approach shot is over a valley before going back up hill to the green complex. Water to the far right
and a greenside bunker on left protects the backto-front severely slanted green. So don’t go long or you’ll be limited to ‘just breathing’ on most any putt from above the hole.’
North of Howell is the Links at Hunter’s Ridge.
Designed by Paul Albanese of the Jerry Matthews team, Hunter’s Ridge has been under new ownership the last 5-plus years and has made major quality improvements. It first hosted a U.S. Open qualifier in 2002 and is one of my favorites with its open fairways on rolling hills.
The region has tons of modern hotel accommodations to choose from, but Hunter’s Ridge has an option that’s great for history buffs who want a unique setting – a 150-year-old farmhouse right on the property that has been
Kensington
updated to sleep 12. Full kitchen, large yard and large common area. What a great alternative for your group.
Moose Ridge sits southeast of Brighton on what a golfing friend of mine said, “It’s hard to find a better piece of property for a golf course in southeast Michigan …and the average player will love the views and golf course.” I feel it’s a very challenging track with lots of trips up and down hills and valleys, with some wide-open holes and others that are tight through the trees.
The two Metropark courses – Kensington and Huron Meadows – are proof that municipal golf is fun, and as expected much less costly. Huron Meadows often hosts high school team events and MHSAA post-season tournaments. Huron Meadows, which sits south of Brighton near U.S. 23 has a few extreme hills for cool views but also more level areas for walkers.
I did a review on Kensington for this magazine a few years ago as part of my ongoing series called ‘Freeways and Fairways’ because the property sits prominently along I-96 east of Brighton, writing:
‘Kensington Metroparks Golf Course has always been a fun track, and after the park system invested some money to spruce things up it’s an even better experience. Simple touches like all new signs at holes, easy to locate and well-marked junior tees in the fairways, large decorative rocks edging some newly-elevated tees and a sprucedup clubhouse area proves the green fees were reinvested for the long run.
‘No. 8 is the most picturesque hole on the course, a par 3 over water to a large green with tons of pin placement options. The view is even better coming off the 7th green and heading downhill to the tee.’
“Nearly every PGA Professional and course
GRAND GOLF
manager has also opened their arms to the Kensington Junior Tour in an effort to help grow junior golf locally,” Oake added. “For junior golf development and learning the game, it is tough to beat the programming and environment at Hartland Glen GC, Ironwood, and the Metroparks. Each course has friendly rates and has worked hard to remove the financial barrier for junior golfers learning to develop. I am proud to live and work in an area with such an enthusiasm for this great game.”
TimetoRefuel:
Here is a list of top-rated restaurants, according to reviews from Trip Advisor. We include guest reviews from online.
Brighton:
StillwaterGrill(American)
“Everything, from the moment we walked in the door was perfect.”
Bourbons(American,Steakhouse)
“This was my first time at Bourbons but it won't be my last!”
Cheryl’sPlace(American,famousfor breakfast)
Howell:
2FOG’sPub(American/Bar)
“Our first time in Howell. Not disappointed! If we lived in the area we'd be regulars.”
Diamond’sSteakandSeafood(American, Steakhouse)
“The entrees were very good sizes and be sure to leave room for dessert because their carrot cake is definitely worth the hype!”
CelloItalianRestaurant
“Get a few plates and share the main dishes. Tortellini and scallops were our favorites. Right after the lemon spaghetti. Lemon cello is a must have.”
With Tom Lang With Lang
Greg Kampe is the long-time, school recordsetting basketball coach at Oakland University – a coach who loves the game of golf as well – and has great connections to the game we all love.
Oakland’s upset victory over Kentucky in last year’s NCAA tournament was Kampe’s 699th overall as head coach. Kampe is now in his 41st year at Oakland, 11 seasons more than Tom Izzo at Michigan State.
His home course is Oakland Hills, and his
Q&A:
Q&A: Oakland University Basketball University Basketball Coach Greg Kampe Coach Greg Kampe
Oakland
best-ever handicap was a 6, but it’s gone up since then.
Question: Do you recall when it happened and how you fell in love with golf ?
Answer: “My father taught me the game at 8 years old. I did all the kids golf stuff, but he told me it’s for your old age. I was into football, basketball and I ran track. Dad said to play those sports, but when you’re older, golf will get you through mid-life sports. So, I didn’t practice much, but my senior year in college (at Bowling Green) I took two golf classes, and you had to play 10 rounds of golf to get a pass or a fail. So, I played a lot in the fall quarter and the spring. Going
out almost every day and having fun with it is when I fell in love with the game.”
Q: Do you see similarities between the sports of golf and basketball ?
A: “The sport of golf you have to stay in the moment and concentrate on the next shot. And in basketball, we talk next-play mentality all the time, and I think I got that from golf. The reality of it is, if you hit a bad shot, that one can’t become two, and two can’t become three. Don’t turn that bogey into a double or a triple. You’ve got to grind and think about the next shot. And in basketball, we teach that. If you turn the ball over, okay, but it can’t become a second one. You have to be able to let go of it and have the next-play mentality. That’s something we really preach. I got that from golf.”
Q: Do you have any golf superstitions?
A: “That’s interesting. I’m asked that all the time about basketball but never about golf. I will say that the only superstition I have, and it might sound goofy, when I’m playing in a tournament or an invitational
but not when I’m just out playing – on my golf ball on one side I put a smiley face and on one side a frown face. And if I’m playing good, any time I putt I have the frown face up (showing), to try to keep me to stay in the moment, a reminder the next shot counts. But if I’m playing poorly, I put the smiley face up to tell myself you can get better. It’s reverse psychology.”
Q: What attributes of golf draws you into the game?
A: “The competition against yourself. There’s no greater competition than self-competition. And the big thing I try to teach my team is, you’re going to get knocked down. And you have to learn how to get up, and to get up quick. When you’re on the golf course, you can hit three of the greatest shots in a row. Then you shank the next one, and what are you going to do? And the great Concludesonnextpg.>>
GOLF Q&A WITH COACH KAMPE
thing about the game of golf, no matter what your handicap is and no matter the score you shoot, the next time you play you can try to beat that.”
Q: What’s your favorite club in the bag and why?
A: “Putter, because I’m a terrible chipper and at a course like Oakland Hills I can putt from 30-40 yards off the green. But as far as others, it would be my 7-wood, because for some reason I’m always 175-180 yards away. No matter what course I always seem to be that yardage out, and that’s my 7-wood.”
Q: Do you have a golf bucket list?
A: “I’m to the point that I only have two left: Augusta National, and the other is Fisher’s Island. It’s out in the Cape Cod area, it’s really good. Top 20 in the world, so I’ve been told it is. I was ready to go (this summer) but something came up and I couldn’t make it. So, I would have had it down to one.”
Kampe then listed his favorite bucket list courses: “For me, my number one is Cypress Point. The next top three or four would be Frier’s Head, Monterey Peninsula Country Club, Shinnecock and Oakmont.”
Q. You’ve had the good fortune to travel across the country. What do you like about Michigan golf courses compared to other areas of the country?
A: “I think Michigan courses have their own unique feeling, as you walk the course. When you walk the Michigan courses, you’re really in nature. You’re up in God’s country…like God reached down with his hand and said I’m making this beautiful land and the trees. A lot of courses have taken trees out, but most of the northern Michigan courses still have all the tree lines and the change of color is still what makes it so majestic. And it makes it its own brand.”
Q: What coaching tactics or motivation would you try if you could be Keegan Bradley’s vice captain of the next Ryder Cup?
A: “I think what happened in the last Ryder Cup, you have to use that as motivation. You’re playing for your country. For me, our archrival is Detroit. We have the countdown. And at almost every practice our minds are ‘ we don’t lose to Detroit.’ There’s two things we don’t do in this program – we don’t lose on senior night and we don’t lose to Detroit. We have that mantra everyday with our players. So, I would try to use something like that on those (PGA Tour) guys. I don’t know if it would be successful, but that would be my mentality.”
2025 GOLF DREAMS
Bill Hobson’s 10 Most Fervent Bill Hobson’s 10 Most Fervent
Golf Wishes For 2025 Golf Wishes For 2025
Michigan becomes the only state south of Alaska to enjoy 22 hours of sunshine per day so we can play late into the night. While not entirely sure how popular this concept would be among my Superintendent friends, the thought of a 9pm shotgun start outing would be really fun.
The PGA Tour finally realizes what a gem it has in the Rocket Mortgage Classic and begins treating the event accordingly. It boggles the mind to watch from afar as so many other events on the PGAT schedule are given preferential treatment with dates, status, and top player participation. Detroit (and Rocket Mortgage) deserves FAR better for the investment being made and the top-notch quality of the event they stage.
Integrity invades golf scrambles. Throughout the 2024 season, the MOST listened to and watched conversation in the history of Michigan Golf Live was titled, “Has Cheating Ruined The Golf Scramble Forever?”
In response to the podcast, hundreds of comments were shared from frustrated golfers fed up with the outlandish scores being posted at
scrambles. Honest players are tired of posting a legitimate scramble score of 59, only to be relegated to a distant 2nd place because another team managed to scrape it around in 46.
Every course enforces a 4 hour 30 minute pace of play policy. In this “ no chance on earth” golf utopia, concepts of ready golf, maximum score per hole, and carts that automatically shut down at the appointed time all combine to begin eroding the alltoo-common 5-plus hour round. While most private golf clubs already have a more stringent policy in place, the public golf universe has a LOT of room to improve.
A doubling of the participation in the wonderful “Youth on Course” program. This wildly successful campaign has brought thousands upon thousands of new golfers
into the sport, offering parents the massive benefit of investing only $5 per round at participating courses. Even better, YoC reaches all the way up to the age of 18 – so if your young golfer isn’t already a part of it, this is the time!
A Caitlin Clark level player of impact for the LPGA Tour. Our state is blessed with a pair of outstanding LPGA events – the Meijer LPGA Classic and Dow Championship. Both tournaments embrace fans, deeply involve the community, and are among the favorites of LPGA players. Now imagine both competitions grabbing an even wider national spotlight as an uber talented new player emerges and sets the golf world on its ear.
More walking, less riding. This one is simple. Get out of the cart if you’re able, and walk when you play. With really cool advances in technology, there are plenty of innovative “robot” push carts (like the Axglo e5) that will literally do the heavy lifting for you so all that’s left is for you to walk and play. You’ll clock around 6 miles per round and find it to be just as quick as the riding version because everyone can walk directly to their ball. Try it. You just might like it.
Continued investment in short courses. As much as I enjoy a full 18-hole round with friends, there’s something really special about grabbing 3 clubs (maybe 2!) and winding down the day on these masterful creations. My personal favorites are the Bootlegger at Forest Dunes and the Short Course at Manistee National but there are still several to be explored...and hopefully more on the way.
Hot Take Alert! More sober golfers enjoying the game. Whether it’s the obnoxiously loud profane outbursts, damage to carts and course, and the implicit driving home somewhat (if not completely) impaired, out of control inebriation is evident far too often. Since when did it become super cool to get so hammered that you can’t play, remember, enjoy, or behave with any sense of decorum? Golfers are being oversold/served. They’re also bringing their own to the course. The Concludesonnextpg.>>
2025 GOLF DREAMS
idea of “blowing off some steam” is understandable...until it ruins the day for someone else who didn’t sign up for your foursome’s frat party.
A career low round for everybody. Remember that one day when everything was clicking? You couldn’t miss a green or a putt. The world was a bit brighter as you carded numerous birdies and avoided the disasters that always seem to wreck your card? Where did that magic go? It’s been 20 years (August of 2005) since my career low round of 69. Been close a few times, but more often than not, my finishing stretch throws a new potential PR directly into the trash (or pond to the right of #13). So, here’s wishing everyone finds that magic at least once in 2025!
CELEBRATING A CENTURY
Celebrating a Century: Celebrating a Century: Sauganash Country Club Sauganash Country Club
I love the front nine most, the original layout assisted by design legend A.W. Tillinghast, the famous architect of Baltusrol, Bethpage and Winged Foot. Once teeing off, there is little
By Tom Lang
By Tom Lang
Tucked deep in the southwest corner of Michigan, about 10 miles above the Indiana border, is an unassuming but wonderfullyhistoric golf course that turned 100 years old this past season.
Located south of Three Rivers along the CSX railroad tracks that dissect the small town, Sauganash has maintained the long-time name tradition of a ‘country club,’ but gets about 60 percent of its play from the general public.
I golfed with one owner and two members on an early-October day, before the leaves had fully turned to Michigan’s brilliant annual color show.
Technically, the property has almost two dozen owners, one of which is Rick Daniels. The group kept the course from nearly being sold off about nine years ago to become a new corn field, until the group revived it.
doubt the historic nine is this one, the way it is routed across the rolling landscape. Tillinghast took wonderful advantage of placing greens in the right spots of the key landforms.
A deep valley guards the approach to both elevated greens on holes No. 1 and 8. When we arrived at the latter, I told my playing partners that it was very clear this was originally designed as a square green – and the more I think back about it, No. 1 could have been, too.
Holes 10-18 are a challenging assortment through the woods and bordering the river on the back nine – a layout which was added in the 1970s. The back nine has more open spaces filled with natural golden heather between fairways. Holes 10-12 all turn left, the latter two wrapping along the Prairie River. Hole 15 also turns left. The rule of thumb for playing Sauganash is, on the front nine don’t go right off the tee, and on the back nine don’t go left.
“When you’re in a small community like ours,
things just become part of the community. And this golf course has been part of the community for over 100 years, and nobody wanted it to go away,” Daniels told me. “We have at least 10 owners that don’t even play golf. They just came in to help save it.”
Daniels went on to describe what they call ‘The Dark Years’ – when previous ownership let things go to the point almost every golfer in the area said they’d never come back. Grass had turned to almost dirt on more than half of some green surfaces. One of the owners has grass and fertilizer experience and he agreed they could get it all to grow back. It did, and very well for some wonderful greens to putt on. Daniels said that word of mouth of Sauganash’s revival only took about 6 months.
Daniels said the owners are not looking for a big payday; they simply want a great place for members and visitors to play golf, to support jobs and recreation in the community, and maintain a fun gathering place for residents.
He cited an example of Thursdays, when Sauganash has $20 green fees, and that includes a hot dog.
Now it’s the busiest day of the week. SauganashHole4
“I see all the time golf courses, on Saturday and Sunday, jack their rates up. Why?” Daniels asked. “You want to punish the guy who’s working Monday through Friday? You want to take advantage of him?
“We keep our rates the same all the time. We don’t want to penalize you for having a full-time job. We want you to come out and play golf.”
Daniels went on to share: “The 100-year anniversary party was just so much fun. We had to have over 250 people here, maxing the place out. When it’s a small community it becomes part of the community, and that’s the way this golf course has always been.
“And that’s why we wanted to keep it.”
GAM PLAYERS OF THE YEAR
GAM Super Senior Player of the Year: GAM Super Senior Player of the Year: Randy Lewis Randy Lewis
By Greg Johnson By Greg Johnson
Randy Lewis of Alma stayed healthy in 2024 and had fun playing golf once again.
“That’s the beauty of the game, finding satisfaction in things that maybe you didn’t when you were younger,” said the 67-year-old Michigan Golf Hall of Famer and Pine River Country Club member. “I was hurt in 2023 and barely played. I was thrilled to simply play a whole year without being hurt. That hasn’t happened for a while.”
The healthy retiree won the Super Senior division of the GAM Senior Match Play Championship early in the season and capped the year with the Super Senior title at the GAM Mid-Amateur Championship.
Lewis earned 235 points over the season to top the Super Seniors just ahead of Ian Harris of Bloomfield and TPC Michigan, who was runnerup to Lewis in the Senior Match Play and runner-up in the GAM Super Senior Championship. He had 205 points.
One of the state’s most accomplished amateurs, Lewis is a Super Senior Player of the Year for the
second time (2022) and has been a Player of the Year in three age categories. He was a two-time GAM Men’s Player of the Year and the GAM Player of the Decade in the 1990s, then later was the GAM Sr. Player of the Year for four consecutive years. Career highlights include the 2011 U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship, a start in the 2012
Masters Tournament, 37 starts in USGA championships and two Michigan Amateur titles.
Winning the Super Senior title at the MidAmateur at The Highlands in Harbor Springs was his highlight of the summer.
“Boyne and especially the Heather (course) are special,” he said. “That second round of the Heather was a little return to my old self for a round. I hit it where I wanted to hit it and made the putts I needed to make. Those days are fewer and farther between.”
GAM Senior GAM Senior Men’s Player Men’s Player of
the Year: of the Year:
Leo Daigle Leo Daigle
By Greg Johnson By Greg Johnson
Leo Daigle of Wixom had just won the seasonclosing GAM Senior Tournament of Champions but was unaware that he had also wrapped up the top spot on the GAM Senior Men’s Points List.
Greg Davies of West Bloomfield and Orchard Lake Country Club, last year’s GAM Senior Men’s Player of the Year and a Michigan Golf Hall of Fame member, filled him in on what he had accomplished.
“Greg, a great guy who has always been so nice to me, gave me a beautiful gift in telling me
I had accomplished something a golfer never forgets,” Daigle said.
The 60-year-old Daigle has been named the 2024 GAM Senior Player of the Year.
Daigle, a GAM member through the Michigan Publinx Golf Association (MPGA), qualified for the U.S. Senior Amateur, reached the semifinals of the GAM Senior Match Play and tied for second in the GAM Senior Championship to help earn 340 points.
The final critical points for Daigle came in the Senior Tournament of Champions where he finished just ahead of Mike Ignasiak of Saline, another MPGA member who tied for second in the championship.
Ignasiak, a former Major League baseball player, finished second on the season points list, too, with 332.5 points, just 7.5 behind Daigle.
I agreed to try a new pair of TRUE All-Day Knit II golf shoes – in their blue color – and man, is my wife glad I did.
They are very nice for the golf course, with a good traction grip sole and comfortable style on any terrain. That always helps the golf game, right?
But my wife made me stop wearing them on the golf course, to make sure I don’t muddy them up with stains. She loves the style the shoes add to what she thinks is my otherwise drab shoe choices (I wear lots of black because I’m a basketball referee in the winters) and she insisted that I save them for everyday wear to snaz-up my overall look.
“I decided to wear True because they are casual and comfortable,” said Michigan native and PGA Tour player Ryan Brehm. “I have zero financial affiliation with the brand, I just really like their shoes. For me,
since I spend so much time on my feet, I’ll always pick comfort over style. My ankles, knees and feet have never felt better since switching to True.”
Based on comments I hear from other golfers, it sounds like they agree.
NewAppforBallFitting
Compatible with both iOS and Android devices, ScanMyGolfBall can quickly scan and identify the proper golf ball for anyone’s game. Rather than collecting personal shot data about you, the brandagnostic app
collects golf swing information through a series of interactive questions and then matches you to a ball that best fits your game.
“It's a convenient and easy-to-use ball fitting tool,” says app and company founder Tim Chase. “Based on those questions, the app will recommend the best-fitting ball for you, or a series of balls. You can also scan any golf ball through your phone’s camera, and the app will tell you how well that ball fits you based on the profile you ' ve created. By using the right ball, most people will get more distance off the tee and more accuracy. The app is a great tool for golfers.”
Scottie Scheffler has revolutionized his game since he has committed to exercising with the GolfForever system. GolfForever's AI-driven video exercise app customizes workout programs for golfers based on a proprietary strength and flexibility test for maximum gains. The GolfForever Swing Trainer, a multi-use golf fitness and warmup tool for flexibility, speed, power, and injury recovery, is an integral tool on and off the course. Just ask Scottie.
Until December 25, you can save $50 on the GolfForever Swing Trainer alone. The Swing Trainer Plus Bundle (The Swing Trainer with a one-year GolfForever app subscription) is $100 off during this promotional period - $298.99. The Swing Trainer Pro bundle, the training system which adds the Wall Anchor+, Mini Bands+ & Stability Ball to everything included in the Swing Trainer Plus Bundle, will be priced at $388.96 ($150 savings) during this promotional period. Find these offers, and others, on GolfForever.com.
SuperStroke’s Zenergy line features many of the hottest putter grips on golf’s major tours. With new SpyneTM Technology (an improved, embossed ridge along the grip’s underside) and Multi-Zone Texturing for strategically placed texture in high-sensory areas to optimize delivers unrivaled control, responsiveness, and confidence in the hands of every golfer. For a premium gift at an affordable price, consider officially licensed grips featuring Marvel characters or logos of someone’s favorite NFL, MLB, NHL and NCAA teams. Visit www.SuperStrokeUSA.com (a Michigan-based company).
The Shot Scope V5 GPS watch with automatic performance tracking enables golfers to access over 100 game statistics including Strokes Gained and Handicap Benchmarking with no subscription fees on the Shot Scope mobile app.
Featuring a vivid full-color daylight readable screen, the V5 allows golfers to customize the color of their display to add personalization to their GPS watch. The V5 provides golfers with front, middle, and back distances to every green as well as measurements to hazards, layups, and doglegs on 36,000 preloaded courses worldwide. Holiday Season Sale Price: $219.99 (MRSP: $249.99), V5 Link
Michigan Michigan PGA Hall PGA Hall of Fame of Fame
Lee Houtteman was announced as the sole member of the 2024 Michigan PGA Hall of Fame Induction Class. Houtteman has been a PGA Member since 1991 and is the Director of Golf at Leland Country Club.
Lee’s playing accomplishments include winning the:
Michigan PGA Match Play Tournament of Champions
Michigan PGA Championship
Two (2) Michigan Senior PGA Championships Houtteman was also an 18-time qualifier for PGA Professional Championship and 12-time qualifier for the Senior PGA Professional National Championship. He also competed in the U.S. Senior Open, three Senior PGA Championships, and since turning 63 in 2024, has shot his age or better five times. For the last 10 years, Houtteman has been serving as
the Head Golf Coach at Glen Lake High School and as the coach for three PGA Jr. League teams.
The Michigan PGA Hall of Fame was founded in 2011 and exists to recognize and acknowledge those PGA Professionals who have excelled in their profession, achieved remarkable accomplishments, and made significant contributions to the game, the industry and the Michigan PGA.
NewDistrict5Directoris KevinMcKinley
Kevin McKinley of The First Tee of Northern Michigan, has been elected District 5 Director by the members of the Michigan Section PGA – a national post. McKinley been a member of The PGA of
America since 2002 and has served at The First Tee since 2023.
“It is a privilege and I am deeply honored to be selected to serve as District 5 Director,” he McKinley.
There are fourteen (14) District Directors of the Professional Golfers’ Association of America. Each District Director is elected to a three-year term of office, and also serves on the PGA of
America’s Board of Directors. McKinley’s District includes the Michigan, Northern Ohio and Southern Ohio Sections. McKinley previously served as President, Vice President and Secretary of the Michigan PGA.
Michigan Golf Course Association Announces Honorees
Dave Kendall, an owner and president of golf technology provider Handicomp Golf Information Systems in Jenison, headline the 2024 Award Winners
announced by the Michigan Golf Course Association (MGCA).
“We are excited to honor award winners that have left an indelible mark and exemplified the spirit of servant leadership in the Michigan golf industry,” said Jada Paisley, executive director of the MGCA.
DaveKendallistherecipientofthe MatthewsLifetimeAchievementAward. It is awarded to an individual or organization that over the span of a lifetime has provided steadfast leadership, outstanding service, and continuous commitment to the Michigan golf industry.
Kendall is a highly decorated golf professional previously recognized by the Michigan PGA as Teacher of the Year, Golf Professional of the Year, and Senior Player of the Year. A two-time Michigan Senior
Open Champion, Kendall has also been inducted into multiple halls of fame, including the Michigan PGA Hall of Fame and the Michigan Golf Hall of Fame.
Stewart“Stu”Healeyis therecipientoftheLyle LeekeDistinguished ServiceAward. It is presented to individuals who have displayed distinguished service to the MGCA and the golf industry in the state of Michigan.
Healey, the son of Handicomp founders Jim and Pat Healey, started working in the family golf technology business in 1985 and became president in 1993. He has led the development of the company from a landmark handicap services provider to a comprehensive offering of integrated and affordable cloud applications to serve social and competitive golf in golf communities of all types and sizes.
TheMichiganGolfCourseSuperintendents AssociationreceivestheAwardofMerit. The MiGCSA represents golf course superintendents across Michigan and originated from a consolidation of four regional organizations into a single, statewide chapter in 2008.
IndianRiverGolfClubwillreceivetheDul FamilyPlayerDevelopmentAward. The Cheboygan County Junior Golf Academy, founded over 15 years ago, provides free golf instruction to local youth, thanks to fundraising efforts by the county and Indian River Golf Club members, and partners with First Tee Northern Michigan.
