The Golf Explorer - 2024

ROUNDING THE FAIRWAYS: Coastal Golf

ROUNDING THE FAIRWAYS: Coastal Golf

Four Magnificent Golf Courses. ONE REMARKABLE SETTING.

Experience four masterpiece golf courses set amidst over 3,000 acres of unspoiled northernMichigan wilderness. 72 holes—all meticulously crafted and impeccably designed to offer you an unparalleled experience.

Midweek Golf Packages start as low as $145* per person. Includes 1 midweek night’s lodging and two rounds of golf. Book now by calling 866.442.7526.

GolfGarland.com

*Rate is available for Sunday-Thursday night stays and does not include taxes or resort fees. Price is per person based on double occupancy in standard two-bed accommodations. Sunday golf rounds can begin after 12pm. The Fountains course requires a surcharge. Space is limited and based upon availability; upgrades may be available for a slight fee. Not valid with any other offers. Can be discontinued without notice. Other restrictions may apply. Payment in full may be required at the time of booking.

36 Award-Winning Championship Holes. World Class Dining. Awesome Accommodations.

Contents

18 PILGRIM’S RUN ROUNDS OUT 25TH ANNIVERSARY | the public golf course officially turned 25 years old in late July 2023, hitting a major milestone in the golf club’s history

20 2024 KITCHENAID SENIOR PGA CHAMPIONSHIP AT HARBOR SHORES ENDS A CHAPTER | the major championship returns to southwest Michigan for a sixth time, bringing a highly competitive field of golfers and a celebration of the regional community to the Jack Nicklaus Signature Course

22 THE COTTAGES AT BUCKS RUN | Bucks Run Golf Club debuts its first two onsite cottages this season

24 THE 2023 MICHIGAN GOLF COURSE OF THE YEAR | A-Ga-Ming Golf Resort’s Sundance Course named 2023 Michigan Golf Course of the Year by Michigan Golf Course Association

26 DESTINATION ESCAPES TO THE GREAT LAKES | a list of golfing destinations across the state of Michigan

36 THE COLLEGIATE | the tournament returns this fall to the birthplace of Folds of Honor in Grand Haven, Michigan with expanded live coverage and the introduction of a women’s field

55 DAVE PELZ ON PUTTING RHYTHM AND POWER SOURCE | the internationally recognized golf instructor and bestselling author on short game fundamentals like putting rhythm and the proper source for putting

58 COASTAL FAIRWAYS | this annual fairway tour heads to the shoreline, showcasing some of the signature course designs located near Michigan coastlines

Contents

43 GROUNDS TOUR | a visual gallery of Michigan golf courses

66 DESTINATION: GRAND RAPIDS | the festivals and special events that bring people together all year long through art and celebration, food and music, and reverence and unity throughout Grand Rapids, Michigan

69 LIFE ON THE LINKS: LAKESIDE DUNES | the residential community realized at Muskegon Country Club in West Michigan, designed and built in partnership with David C. Bos Homes

72 MEET IN MT. PLEASANT | the Mid-Michigan destination and cultural arts and entertainment hub, featuring acres of parkland, preserves, golf courses, and a vibrant downtown district

76 ON THE SHELF | in conversation with David Burns, owner of Alto Bar, on the historic bar’s prolific bourbon and whiskey collection

79 EXPLORING THE CAPITAL | Lansing and its unique attractions

82 PRIVATE IN MICHIGAN | inside the private golf course destination and experience of LochenHeath Golf Club in Williamsburg, Michigan

84 THE OUTLOOK | a look at the state of the golf industry in the country and a local perspective on the upcoming 2024 golf season

89 DIRECTORY | a list of courses in Michigan

94 ARRIVALS | a map of airports in the state

LEGAL

Smith Haughey Rice & Roegge

ACCOUNTING

Pennell CPA

Fred Pennell, CPA, CGMA

Austin Roberts, Senior Accountant

MichiganGolfExplorer.com

EDITOR

Rachel J. Weick

CREATIVE AND DESIGN

Robin Vargo

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Riley Collins

Marsha Stratton, Idea Stream

PUBLISHER

John C. Olsa

ADVERTISING SALES

John C. Olsa, johno@svkmp.com

Kim Amesbury, Advertising Sales kamesbury@comcast.net

CIRCULATION

David Fant, Market Mapping Plus

PRINTING AND MAILING

Walsworth Printing & Holland

Litho

CONTRIBUTORS

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Brian Walters Photography

Nile Young, Nile Young Photography

FINANCE

Lake Michigan Credit Union

PO Box 586 Hudsonville, MI 49426 (616) 379-4001

michigangolfexplorer.com/contact-us/

©2024 All rights reserved. Contents may not be reprinted or reproduced without written consent of publisher.

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Nile Young | PHOTOGRAPHER

With a portfolio spanning more than 400 courses across the globe, Nile Young is among the foremost photographers in the industry. His library includes some of finest golf properties in the world, including: The Old Course at St Andrews, Michigan’s Arcadia Bluffs, Tucker’s Point in Bermuda, Florida’s StreamSong Resort, Wisconsin’s Whistling Straits, and Mexico’s Mayacoba. Nile’s expertise extends to lifestyle, portraiture, and architectural imagery for many of the world’s top resort brands, including Wyndham, Walt Disney World Golf, Four Seasons, World Golf Village, Hilton, and Waldorf Astoria, among others.

His work has been published in such notable titles as Golf Magazine, Golf Digest, and Links Magazine, as well as the Sports Illustrated and Jack Nicklaus calendars.

From the editor

In 2023, the American Golf Industry Coalition released its latest industry impact report, highlighting golf’s direct, indirect, and induced impact footprint across the nation in key sectors like tourism, real estate, charitable fundraising, retail, and facility operations. It also outlined how golf can be leveraged as a vehicle or platform for purpose-driven missions, initiatives, and organizations that foster camaraderie and community, promote diversity, equity, and inclusion, and drive awareness to industry opportunities for those looking to pursue a career in the golf-related industry.

In this issue, we touch on many of the segments and related industries highlighted in the report, providing a snapshot of what the game of golf looks like in the state of Michigan. We highlight the investment into existing courses and operations as facilities look to continually improve their experience, new developments taking place on property for both the visitor and resident alike, and the vacation destinations set in a dynamic, natural landscape that offers more than economic benefits. We hear about the festivals and special events that bring people together all year long in Grand Rapids, Michigan; we explore the Mid-Michigan destination of Mt. Pleasant and the Capital of Lansing. We tour signature courses near the iconic shorelines of Michigan, and learn about the Folds of Honor Collegiate, returning this fall to American Dunes Golf Club with a full men’s and women’s field.

Welcome to The Golf Explorer: Michigan’s Journal to Incredible Golf. Rachel J. Weick

CRYSTAL

BOTH 18-HOLE CHAMPIONSHIP COURSES: RATED FOUR STARS BY GOLF DIGEST. The Mountain Ridge course is a quintessential Up North challenge. The Betsie Valley course is scenic, playable and, after a major renovation, better than ever. The Golf Learning Center earned a Golf Digest Editors’ Choice Award as one of the Best Golf Schools in the U.S. Reserve lodging, tee times and lessons at crystalmountain.com or call 877-288-9775.

Visit minesgolfcourse.com to learn more and to book your tee time or call 616.791.7544 Stay

Gypsum Grill and Event Center opening in the fall of 2024.

Event space accommodates up to 275 guests

Pilgrim’s Run

ROUNDS OUT 25TH ANNIVERSARY

Pilgrim’s Run Golf Club, a public course facility in Pierson, Michigan, officially turned 25 years old on July 24, 2023, hitting a major milestone in the golf club’s history and in the longevity of its 18-hole course.

Designed by Mike DeVries of DeVries Designs Inc. in collaboration with a group of six designers—each of whom were designated three holes to shape and form—and Kris Shumaker, former superintendent, Pilgrim’s Run is a blend of six distinctive philosophies amid undulating greens and contoured bunkering. Built over 400

acres of West Michigan landscape, the course features bentgrass fairways and unique green complexes, and white pines and black oaks across 7,093 yards, with six different yardages available to allow players to choose their level of challenge on the par-73 course.

Pilgrim’s Run, which debuted its front nine in 1997, officially unveiled its back nine on July 24, 1998 and since then, the course has been recognized as an affordable, friendly golf course with top course conditions over the years by organizations like Golf Digest, Golf Magazine, Golf Advisor, and Golfweek.

Michael Rey, PGA, Director of Golf at Pilgrim’s Run, said it is rewarding for the facility to achieve the milestone, and is continuing to celebrate the 25th anniversary into the 2024 season.

“The success record that we have had and just the longevity of what we have been able to accomplish as a facility—the bonds that we have made through the 25 years, it’s rewarding for us to be a part of this thing and to have the success that we have had for this long of time,” Rey said.

Since its official open in 1998, Pilgrim’s Run has introduced instruction and tournament events, invested in upgrading its clubhouse and improving cart paths, and ensuring its course conditions exceed golfers’ expectations—which is overseen by Kenneth Hunt, superintendent.

“We are looking at a hugely successful year,” said Rey, in reference to the 2024 season. “It is a fantastic time to be a part of the golf business and we are certainly having fun here at Pilgrim’s. We enjoy doing what we do and being able to offer what we offer to our guests.”

Text: R.J. Weick

2024 KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship

AT HARBOR SHORES ENDS A CHAPTER

Text: R.J. Weick

The KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship is returning to Harbor Shores Resort in Benton Harbor, Michigan for the sixth time this May 23-26, 2024. The championship brings a competitive field of accomplished, senior golfers like defending champion Steve Stricker to the Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course in southwest Michigan, as they compete for a total purse of $3.5 million in a 72-hole, stroke play format.

“The players have really come to love Harbor Shores. From the facilities standpoint, it’s fantastic. They have everything from parking, locker rooms, dining, practice facility, and first tee all within a couple hundred yards,” said Brandon Haney, Director of Championship Operations and 2024 KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship Director at PGA of America.

“It’s a fantastic property for players, and the golf course itself is tremendous. It’s the only Jack Nicklaus Signature Course along

Lake Michigan and Harbor Shores has recently cracked the top 90 in public courses in the country, which is well-deserved. It is a fantastic golf course and one that really challenges all golfers, getting all sorts of terrains and experiences while playing,” Haney added.

The course, designed by Nicklaus Design, transformed about 550 acres of landscape into an 18-hole championship course featuring four diverse terrains with the removal of more than three million square feet of dilapidated structures and over 140,000 tons of waste material from portions of the Paw Paw River. As a not-for-profit, the resort also allocates a portion of its greens fees to maintain public areas in Jean Klock Park and integrates native plant names and artwork at each hole to complement plaques featuring Nicklaus’ major championships.

With its inaugural debut at Augusta National Golf Club in 1937, the KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship is the oldest of the five major championships in men’s senior golf and has cel-

ebrated players like Sam Snead, Arnold Palmer, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus, Lee Trevino, Tom Watson, and Colin Montgomerie as champions throughout its history. This year’s 84th edition also marks the end of a chapter, as PGA of America and sponsors, Whirlpool Corporation and KitchenAid, announced their mutual decision to part ways after 2024. The move will also see future championships take place at venues like the Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Maryland in 2025; and Fields Ranch East at PGA Frisco in Frisco, Texas in 2029.

“This is the sixth time the KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship will be hosted at Harbor Shores. We started our partnership with KitchenAid and Whirlpool Corporation back in 2011 and as part of that we have brought it here to Harbor Shores every other year since 2012. We unfortunately had to cancel the 2020 edition due to COVID, but we are very much looking forward to coming back here to southwest Michigan,” Haney said.

“2024 will be the final year of the KitchenAid sponsorship of the Senior PGA Championship. We decided it was mutually beneficial for us to go our separate ways after this year, but we are immensely proud of everything we have accomplished together in our partnership; the growth we’ve seen in the community over the last 10 years. So, we are very much looking forward to hosting the event here, shining the spotlight on Harbor Shores and southwest Michigan one last time and making this really the best championship yet,” Haney added.

For Harbor Shores, the KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship is as much about hosting the event as some of the game’s greatest players return once more to the 18-hole, public course set on Lake Michigan, as it is about showcasing southwest Michigan-based businesses and

partners, highlighting the resort’s history as a major revitalization initiative, and celebrating the local community.

Over the years, the KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship has evolved into a family-friendly fan event with experiences like the Makers Trail 19th Hole—located on the 17th green and featuring craft beer, wine, spirits, and cider from local southwest Michigan makers—celebrity chef demonstrations, and live entertainment.

Makers Trail 19th Hole participants comprise: Silver Harbor Brewing, Sister Lakes Brewing, North Pier Brewing, River Saint Joe, Peat’s Cider Social, Round Barn Winery & Estate, Dablon Vineyards, Iron Shoe Distillery, Lazy Ballerina Winery, and Evelyn Mae’s BBQ Food Truck. The KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship is also sponsoring a free, community concert on Wednesday, May 22 to kick off the weekend. Haney noted to curate an event like this is not unlike building “a city on a golf course.”

“The beautiful thing about it being our sixth time here, is we have been able to see what has worked and what needs to be improved as far as the spectator experience and one of the big changes we have coming this year is the Pure Michigan courtyard, which has been the fan zone, per se, of the championship, is moving locations,” Haney said. “We are actually moving all of those elements—the KitchenAid Fairway Club, the community showcase, our volunteer headquarters—from Graham Avenue out into a centralized location on the golf course adjacent to the 14th hole in North Pier Brewing’s parking lot.”

The move will allow spectators, volunteers, and other guests convenient access and proximity to the golf course rather than the more segmented experience from previous years. Haney noted that the team noticed there had been a bit of distance between the road location and the course in other years, and wanted to deliver a more immersive and connective experience

between the community showcase and the golf championship taking place on course.

“We are really excited about that change,” Haney said. “I think the level of Senior PGA Championship golf right now is really at an alltime high. When you look at last year’s championship that was held at PGA Frisco in Texas, going into Sunday, the top two names on the leaderboard were Pádraig Harrington and Steve Stricker. It came down to a playoff between them which Steve ultimately won, so from a golf standpoint, you are getting guys that are playing some of the best golf of their careers and getting to see them test their game here at Harbor

Shores is going to be really fun to watch.”

As players, spectators, volunteers, and local partners alike return to Harbor Shores once more, Haney said the ability to showcase and highlight a lot of the things going on in the community and the area is one of his favorite parts about the championship.

“This year we have 10 local businesses whose products will be featured in the Makers Trail 19th Hole, so it is just unique for us to be able to not only host a major championship, but do it in a way that there is a community tie and benefit to it. It is very fun and rewarding for us to be able to be a part of that,” Haney said.

Sundance at A-Ga-Ming Golf Resort

2023 MGCA COURSE OF THE YEAR

Course: Sundance

Opened: 2005 Designer: Jerry Matthews Location: Kewadin, Michigan

Award: 2023 Michigan Golf Course of the Year by Michigan Golf Course Association

STAY AND PLAY PACKAGES AVAILABLE

Encounter one of West Michigan’s finest upscale public golf facilities. This magnificent course was built on over 400 acres and bears the hallmark of premier design and construction, with bentgrass fairways, distinctive green complexes, and 6 different yardages to play from! Pilgrim’s Run is a “must play” for golfers who enjoy the combination of tranquility, beauty, and great golf!

“Top 10” Golfweek’s Best Public Course by State, 2020

#1 Ranked Golf Course for “Staff Friendliness.”

The Golf Advisor Staff 2018

“Top 10 Hidden Gems in the U.S.”

2014 The Golf Channel

Course record 29-36= 65

PGA Tour Two-Time U.S. Open winner Lee Janzen

Duffers Bar and Grill, Sundance Brick Oven, Sunset Bar & Grill at Antrim Dells, and Shanahan’s Pub at Charlevoix Country Club, and a number of signature and custom stay-and-play packages that make a multi-day golf escape or a 36-hole day trip convenient and accessible. With its three, onsite accommodations, Maplewood Ridge, Cedar Hollow, and Vista Townhomes, and four destination courses, A-Ga-Ming invites returning and new players alike to stay, dine, and unwind across 72 holes of golf on the shore.

BOYNE GOLF

Bay Harbor Golf Club

5800 Coastal Ridge Drive | Bay Harbor, Michigan

The Highlands at Harbor Springs

600 Highlands Drive | Harbor Springs, Michigan

Boyne Mountain Resort

1 Boyne Mountain Road | Boyne Falls, Michigan

Crooked Tree Golf Club

600 Crooked Tree Drive | Petoskey, Michigan

Featuring 10 championship courses designed by architects like Robert Trent Jones Sr. and Arthur Hills, BOYNE Golf offers a unique golfing experience across its three resorts amid the hardwoods, the coastal bluffs, and the rolling terrain of its northern landscape. There is the Scottish style of The Links and the industrial edge of The Quarry at Bay Harbor Golf Club, the timeless design of The Heather and Arthur Hills at The Highlands, and the unforgettable compilation of the Donald Ross Memorial and the challenging invitation of The Moor. BOYNE also offers spectacular mountain panoramas at The Alpine at Boyne Mountain, a sanctuary-like experience at The Preserve at Bay Harbor Golf Club, and a walk through centuries-old hardwoods at Crooked Tree Golf Club. Whether it is charm, challenge, or dramatic backdrop, BOYNE Golf invites guests both on and off the course as an ultimate getaway.

In Boyne Falls, Boyne Mountain Resort is an all-seasons, 415-acre playground featuring two championship courses, a spa, the state’s largest indoor waterpark, and the world’s longest timber-towered suspension bridge, known as SkyBridge Michigan. The bridge, which spans more than 1,200 feet, connects the peaks of McLouth and Disciplines Ridge, and is available year-round. There are also other after-golf activities like shopping, dining, guided e-bike tours, Fitness and Wellness Center, Zipline Adventures, tennis and wakeboard camps, fishing, and horseback riding, to name a few. And the resort offers lodging like the European-inspired Chalet Edelweiss, Mountain Grand Lodge and Spa, Clock Tower Lodge, Boynehof Lodge, Deer

Lake Villas, Mountain Cabins, and Village at Disciples Ridge, among others.

To the north, The Highlands at Harbor Springs has embarked on a transformative journey that is reimagining the iconic destination as the “grande dame” of four-season resorts. Featured projects not only include improvements to its Main Lodge

and Tower Lobby, but also a Highlands Café, outdoor pool complex, course upgrades to the Donald Ross Memorial, and the introduction of a new par-3 short course known as Doon Brae. The course, which is inspired by the Scottish words for “down into a valley” and “hillside,” is located at the former site of Cuff Links on the lower slopes

BOYNE/BAY HARBOR

BOYNE/BAY HARBOR

near the Main Lodge and designed by Ray Hearn, Michigan golf course architect. The short course will also be accompanied by a Himalayan style putting course meant to test the skills of all levels of golfers and nongolfers alike.

The BOYNE Golf portfolio also includes Crooked Tree Golf Club and Bay Harbor Golf Club, and its third resort, The Inn at Bay Harbor. With beautiful rooms, charming cottages, four onsite restaurants, and an immersive, full-service spa, The Inn at Bay Harbor is a waterfront hotel

and resort just outside of Petoskey. The Autograph Collection Hotel is serene and thoughtfully designed, featuring views of Little Traverse Bay and limestone cliffs.

BOYNE Golf offers a number of inclusive packages, like the Stay & Play, Unlimited Golf, and Champions Golf Package, and with direct flights from 17 major cities to nearby Cherry Capital Airport—and Boyne Mountain’s recently upgraded airstrip—a vacation to the world-class golf destination is just a short flight away.

CRYSTAL MOUNTAIN RESORT

12500 CRYSTAL MOUNTAIN DRIVE | THOMPSONVILLE, MICHIGAN

Since 1956, Crystal Mountain has become known as a dynamic community playground featuring 36 holes of championship golf, quaint cottages and vibrant village center, an 18,500-square-foot spa, 10-acre practice facility, amenities, real estate, and a 30-acre Michigan Legacy Art Park across 1,500 acres of forested land.

CRYSTAL MOUNTAIN

CRYSTAL MOUNTAIN CRYSTAL MOUNTAIN

The four-season resort offers two, 18-hole courses carved into its landscape, known as Mountain Ridge and Betsie Valley. Mountain Ridge, which will once again host the 31st Anniversary of the Michigan PGA Women’s Open Tournament—a 54-hole, stroke play event the course has hosted for 22 years—invites players to panoramic vistas, soaring pines, and elevation changes across its fairways. Its second course, Betsie Valley, offers tree-lined fairways, challenging bunkers, protected greens, and its recent renovation introduced new tee boxes, expansive forest floor clearing, and additional forest management initiatives in 2021.

Crystal Mountain provides tailored golf instruction through its Golf Learning Center, the 10-acre practice facility complete with a driving range, putting green, and multi-tiered chipping greens with bunkers. The resort and golf destination also offers additional programming through its Crystal Mountain Golf School, which leverages TrackMan4 technology and a collective teaching experience of more than 60 years across its team of professionals. As a member of America’s Summer Golf Capital, Crystal Mountain is a part of a collection of eight resort properties representing 26 golf courses and some of the world’s finest golf architects.

In addition to golf, Crystal Mountain offers a number of activities and amenities for guests to explore from the Crystal Coaster Alpine Slide, Outdoor Pool & Water Playground, and Edge Adventure Course & Zipline, to

chairlift rides, biking, shopping, and guided or self-guided tours through the 30-acre preserve featuring over 50 sculptures and poetry stones. Located across from The Thistle, Kinlochen Shop is the resort’s golf pro shop and home base for apparel and more, and there are other dining options like the one-stop-shop, Mountain Market, family-friendly Wild Tomato, Bru Bar, and Betsie River Pizza & Subs.

Crystal Mountain also offers opportunities for those wanting to make the resort home, such as condos, townhomes, fractional ownerships, resort homes, and land for sale along with real estate nearby. Other local attractions in close proximity include the award-winning Iron Fish Distillery in Thompsonville, Point Betsie Lighthouse, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, and Frankfort, Michigan.

FOREST DUNES GOLF CLUB

6376 FOREST DUNES DRIVE | ROSCOMMON, MICHIGAN

Nestled within the Huron National Forest, Forest Dunes Golf Club is a golfing destination with 54 holes of championship golf off the beaten path featuring onsite lodging and dining amid nearly one million acres of protected land and habitat home to species like Kirtland’s Warbler and Pitcher’s Thistle.

As a getaway experience, Forest Dunes features the 18-hole Forest Dunes Course designed

by Tom Weiskopf as a parkland-style with modern enhancements across 500 acres of heavily wooded land. The course features a more rugged, open back nine in comparison to its front nine, and leads players through hardwoods, meadows, native dunes, and water features back to the Adirondack-inspired clubhouse designed by James Nordlie, AIA, of Archiventure Group in Denver, Colorado. The 22,000-square-foot clubhouse and facility houses the destination’s restaurant, bars, locker rooms, and golf shop amid vaulted ceilings and woodwork.

Forest Dunes also invites players to take a swing at its 100-yard-shot at the 19th hole, or BYE hole, after 18 holes on its course, or try out its 10-hole short course known as the Bootlegger designed by Keith Rhebb and Riley Johns as a creative and fun experience featuring 65-to150-yard holes for players of all ages and skill levels. There is also the HillTop putting course, a nearly two-acre practice facility reintroduced in 2018 following the debut of The Loop course in 2016. Designed by Tom Doak and Renaissance Golf Design, The Loop is a reversible course featuring two distinct golfing experiences. The Loop-Red has a counter-clockwise routing featuring a more traditional design, while The Loop-Black features a clockwise routing that plays with a touch start and easier finish.

The golf destination offers a number of convenient lodging accommodations just steps away from both fairway and clubhouse. Its larger cottages feature different amenities like fire

FOREST DUNES GOLF CLUB

pits on the beach and ping pong to billiards tables and sauna, while its villas offer various floor layouts and a number of rooms that can scale up or down to different group sizes, such as its four-bedroom villas that allow ensuite bathrooms and for people to be grouped together in the village. There are also a number of

standard rooms and suites in its two-story Lake AuSable Lodge, located just 35 yards from the Forest Dunes course’s first tee, and onsite dining includes the Bootlegger Bar, The Grille, and Durant’s Room, which can host private dining and corporate events up to 24 people. Forest Dunes recently expanded its outdoor dining

TEE-UP TO A NEW EXPERIENCE!

Our redesigned golf course will test your skills, not your patience! It is now friendlier to play for all ages and skills, whether a beginner on a school golf team or a seasoned player.

Wolf River Golf Park is owned and operated by Little River Casino Resort, an entity of the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians. We are transforming the former Bear Lake Highlands into a casual and inviting outdoor recreation option for our community.

Book a tee-time, today, and you’ll enjoy a golf experience like no other!

experience with a renovation to its Bootlegger Bar, opening up the space to allow for a 360-degree view of the courses and to accommodate additional bar seating. This year, Forest Dunes will also have a new pavilion on the back patio to provide additional shade for guests interested in enjoying a quieter alfresco dining experience. Forest Dunes is located just under five hours from Chicago, roughly three hours from Detroit, and two hours from Grand Rapids by vehicle, and nearby airports like Traverse City Airport, Grayling Army Airfield, and Roscommon Conservation Airport, offer travel options by plane with shuttle service available at select airports through Forest Dunes with advanced scheduling.

GARLAND LODGE AND GOLF RESORT

4700 NORTH RED OAK ROAD | LEWISTON, MICHIGAN

Just south of West and East Twin Lakes in Lewiston, Michigan on roughly 3,000 acres of Michigan wilderness, Garland Lodge and Golf Resort invites golfing aficionados and enthusiasts alike to an immersive experience set within a region teeming with wildlife. Set into a rolling terrain of meadows, streams, lakes, and pines, the resort’s courses integrate unique character and course design that combines classic features with a combination of par-3s, par-4s, and par-5s.

PHOTOGRAPHY: GARLAND LODGE AND GOLF RESORT

GARLAND LODGE AND GOLF RESORT

Spa Grand Traverse. Located inside the resort, the spa offers a number of treatments like deep tissue and stone massages, facials and cosmetic facial acupuncture, hair artistry and nail care, and waxing, lashes, and brow services.

ISLAND RESORT & CASINO W 399 US 2 & 41 | HARRIS, MICHIGAN

Wholly owned and operated by the Hannahville Indian Community, Island Resort & Casino is a golf, gaming, dining, entertainment, and resort destination located roughly 15 miles west of Escanaba on the western shores of Lake Michigan’s Green Bay. Ever-evolving, Island Resort & Casino first began as the Hannahville Bingo Hall in 1981 and over the years has developed into a dynamic resort featuring a 454-room hotel complete with an 11-story Palm Tower, a 42-site RV Park, a

full-service Drift Spa, indoor Splash Island waterpark, and an immersive gaming experience with traditional games like Blackjack, Roulette, Craps, and 1,150 slot machines.

It offers world-class entertainment and headline acts through its 1,315-seat, theater-style Island Showroom and its Club Four One, dining venues like Horizons Steakhouse and T. McC’s Sports Bar, and roughly 13,000 square feet of convention and meeting space. It also recently completed a $30 million expansion project in 2021 and introduced a dedicated Sportsbook area to its gaming floor in 2022, and continues to welcome professional, collegiate, and enthusiast golfers alike to its championship courses since its first 18-hole course known as Sweetgrass opened in 2008.

Featuring a parkland layout, Sweetgrass is a celebration of the Hannahville Indian Community with its integration of traditional Potawatomi villages, allies, medicines, and symbols in each

of its course hole names. Recognized in 2021 as the Michigan Golf Course of the Year and in 2022 as the Jemsek National Course of the Year, Sweetgrass hosted its first annual professional championship in 2011 and served as the Evian Championship Qualifier in 2019. The course is also welcoming spectators, volunteers, and sponsors back to the LPGA Epson Tour Island Resort Championship—the 13th Island Resort Championship—this June 21-June 23, 2024 as players from across the globe compete for a purse and a chance to earn an automatic exemption onto the 2025 LPGA Tour.

Sage Run, which debuted in 2018, is a prairie links-style course designed by Paul Albanese, featuring timbers, open vistas, strategic bunkering fescue grasses, and a natural drumlin. It hosted its first Island Resort Intercollegiate in 2019, welcoming NCAA Division 1 talent to the Upper Peninsula, which in 2023 saw teams like South Dakota State University, Bowling Green Michigan, Boise State, Central Florida, North Texas, Illinois State, and Miami of Ohio, among other NCAA Men’s Golf teams compete in the two-day, 54-hole stroke signature invitational.

The Hannahville Indian Community is a federally recognized Potawatomi Indian Tribe residing in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. It is one of three tribes comprising the Three Fires Confederacy, or Three Fires Society.

LAKEWOOD SHORES GOLF RESORT

7751 CEDAR LAKE ROAD | OSCODA, MICHIGAN

On Michigan’s Sunrise Side coast, Lakewood Shores Golf Resort is a play-and-stay destination nestled between Cedar Lake and Van Etten Lake in Oscoda, Michigan. The region, located between Sturgeon Point Lighthouse and Tawas Point Lighthouse on Lake Huron, is a naturalist’s playground of coastal dunes, hardwoods, marshes, and bogs featuring roughly 35,000 acres of unique trails in and around the area, avian habitats, and beaches, to name a few. Set on the northern side of the Au Sable River, Lakewood Shores Golf Resort offers three unique golf courses, onsite lodging, and meeting facilities across over 500 acres of manicured fairways, meandering berms, and fescue grasses.

Initially Serradella Farms, Lakewood Shores was transformed into a golfing community complete with homesites, a private course, and various amenities in the late 1960s. When Stan Aldridge purchased the golf course and adjacent land in 1986, he invested in developing it into a true resort destination that provided exceptional golf at an affordable price. In 1990, onsite lodging was introduced and in 1993, The Gailes officially opened, setting the stage for the resort’s future. Today, Lakewood Shores features the three distinct courses of The Gailes, Blackshire, and Serradella; standard hotel suites and two-bedroom suites

ISLAND RESORT & CASINO

with in-room jacuzzi; and The Wee Links. The 18-hole, pitch-and-putt course invites players to warm up or wind down with holes ranging from 50 to 105 yards, and is free to resort guests.

Its original course, Serradella, features a classic parkland design by Bruce Matthews and is known for the more than 50,000 annual and perennial floral gardens planted along the 18-hole course that offers minimal hazards, large greens, and wide fairways. In 1993, The Gailes added a different golfing experience to the resort portfolio, drawing inspiration from the seaside courses of Scotland. Designed by Kevin Aldridge, son of Stan Aldridge, The Gailes captures the Scottish links experience with large double greens, long fescue grasses, and

meandering berms. Also designed by Kevin Aldridge, Blackshire debuted in 2001 with a rugged feel and classical walking experience. Aldridge, who sought to recreate the look and feel of Pine Valley, designed the course with large sand waste areas and undulating greens across less than 200 acres, to give it a turn-of-the-century feel.

Lakewood Shores offers custom stay-and-play golf packages for guests, and each of its 152 onsite rooms overlook the Serradella and Wee Links courses from private patios. The resort is located about three hours, or 200 miles, from Detroit; four hours, or 215 miles, from Grand Rapids; and an hour, or 50 miles, from the Alpena County Regional Airport.

SHANTY CREEK RESORT

Cedar River Village

2400 Troon Road | Bellaire, Michigan

Hawk’s Eye Village

2620 Hawk’s Eye Drive | Bellaire, Michigan

Schuss Village

1826 Schuss Mountain Lane | Mancelona, Michigan

Summit Village

5780 Shanty Creek Road | Bellaire, Michigan

This four-season resort is an iconic destination located in Michigan’s Chain of Lakes Water Trail, a 100-mile inland water trail that traverses four counties, 12 lakes and interconnected rivers, and vibrant communities. Set in Antrim County, Shanty Creek is surrounded by miles of worldclass mountain biking and hiking trails, diverse marshy habitat, rivers and lakes, and features four distinct villages across more than 5,500 acres of landscape: Summit Village, Cedar River Village, Schuss Village, and Hawk’s Eye Village. Each of the villages bring their own unique perspective to the overall Shanty Creek experience, in which dining, lodging, and recreational opportunities reflect different architectural styles and inspiration—and 90 holes of golf across five championship courses.

SHANTY CREEK RESORT

LAKEWOOD SHORES RESORT

AmericanDunes funded over $2.5 million to Folds of Honor in the past two seasons, assisting our military and 1st responder families in Michigan and around the USA!

HEROIC ROUND

THE COLLEGIATE

Text: R.J. Weick

The “American Dream” is often associated with material success and prosperity, but as a national ethos and aspirational ideal, it was intended to represent so much more: liberty, democratic equality, upward social mobility, access to knowledge, opportunity, and the value of education. And as American Dunes Golf Club in Grand Haven, Michigan looks to host its third annual Fold of Honor Collegiate in September 2024 opportunity, education, and competitive play in both the men’s and women’s fields are just part of the overall story that will unfold this fall.

It is a story that brings together competitive fields of collegiate teams, a three-day event that has become more than a tournament, and the inland, links-style design of a Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course. And it also embraces a foundation and nonprofit organization providing the families of fallen and disabled service members and first responders with life-changing educational scholarships at the birthplace of Folds of Honor, and highlights just how the game of golf can serve as a vehicle and platform for change, inclusion, and bringing people together.

“We want the Folds of Honor Collegiate at American Dunes to serve as a uniter; that is why we have men and women; that is why we have Historically Black Colleges and Universities and the service academies. We want it to be a platform to talk about this incredible mission that we are on while highlighting a beautiful game,” said Scott Tolley, Corporate Impact Officer for Folds of Honor and Tournament Director of the Folds of Honor Collegiate.

“I want to emphasize that, because we wake up every day and we look at the news and our country is sadly very divided. The thing with Folds of Honor, Folds of Honor Collegiate, American Dunes, and the game that we love is that it is not red, it is not blue. For us, it is red, white, and blue, and when you are providing educational scholarships to children and spouses, I believe there is no better path to unity than through the gift of education. Education is knowledge, knowledge is power, and that enables us to bring people together. To be able to use the game of golf as a platform to raise money and awareness for Folds of Honor, it is invaluable in my opinion,” Tolley added.

The Folds of Honor Collegiate is a 54-hole stroke play event that takes place each year at American Dunes Golf Club in Grand Haven, Michigan. Born from a conversation Lt. Col. Dan Rooney, F-16 Fighter Pilot, PGA Professional, and Founder of Folds of Honor, had with Casey Lubahn, Michigan State University Men’s Golf

PHOTOGRAPHY: COURTESY OF FOLDS OF HONOR | PICTURED: 2023 COLLEGIATE CHAMPIONS NOTRE DAME MEN’S GOLF TEAM, LT. COL. DAN ROONEY

COURTESY OF FOLDS OF HONOR | PICTURED: LT. COL. DAN ROONEY AND CECIL BELISLE OF KANSAS, 2023 INDIVIDUAL TITLE

Coach; and Gregg Grost, former CEO, and Dustin Roberts, current CEO of the Golf Coaches Association of America; the event launched in 2022 with 18 men’s collegiate teams, including NCAA golf programs, Army, Navy, Air Force, and two HBCU Schools, Texas Southern and Virginia Union. For Lubahn, who was integral in that early conversation to create the college event at American Dunes, it was about developing a regional, homestate event that paid homage to Folds of Honor Foundation, and its mission—driven in-part in honor of his father, who is a Vietnam veteran—but after connecting with Lt. Col. Dan Rooney, that vision became so much more.

“Your vision changes, it gets bigger. I remember telling people as we were building it, as we were raising money and creating awareness, that this would be one of the biggest things I’d ever done in my career, it’s a legacy thing. It’s great for the university, for college golf, and the biggest event in college golf in my opinion—and it starts with Michigan State at the center of it,” Lubahn said.

“I hope that as we continue to transcend college athletics by making this event about other people, that it becomes a model college athletics continues to follow, that we can use these incredible platforms we have as coaches, as student athletes, to do good for other people. That is what I hope the legacy is here and I hope Michigan State is proud of our affiliation with America’s heroes and building something great for them,” Lubahn added.

Lt. Col. Dan Rooney noted that when Jack Nicklaus and he began to reimagine American

Dunes, they discussed having a collegiate event and agreed it was the right thing to do.

“In three short years, to have an event of this caliber, is something I never imagined. Each year it gets better and better. The Folds of Honor Collegiate is a fitting representation of the mission, its legendary golf course designer, and the individuals who need and deserve our help,” Lt. Col. Dan Rooney said. “As a former collegiate golfer at Kansas, I know firsthand what an individual sport the game is. But the Folds of Honor Collegiate is different. You are playing for the spouses and children of fallen or disabled military service members and first responders. With our Honor Bag Program, when you see the number of scholars at your school on your bag, you know that’s real people and you’re making a positive difference. There is no other tournament like this.”

Tolley, who has also served as consultant and representative for Jack Nicklaus for over 26 years and sportswriter before that, noted that with Lt. Col. Dan Rooney’s dynamic background as F-16 Fighter Pilot and PGA Golf Professional—and a member of the University of Kansas Jayhawk golf team—the college tournament was also a natural evolution for American Dunes to raise awareness for Folds of Honor, while highlighting some of the best players on collegiate teams, service academies, and Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Building on that first year’s success—in which Michigan State University served as sole college host—2023 Collegiate once again welcomed 18 men’s teams to play the 54-hole stroke play event on Sept. 4-6, 2023,

this time with live global coverage on the Golf Channel and with co-host Florida State University, in reflection of the national field.

“We decided to take this to another level and talked about doing this on television, so we engaged with Golf Channel, which has been a huge supporter of the college game. They provided us a wonderful platform and so we were able to have 18 men’s teams on-air for three hours each day,” Tolley said. “It was a huge success last year, just very special, and to a person, to a coach, to a player, they all came away from the event saying, ‘this is more than a golf tournament for us, this is playing not for us or our school, but for a cause.’ It just really resonated with them.”

To better represent its own field of scholarship recipients and better reflect its mission, the 2024 Collegiate is expanding this year to include women’s collegiate teams. Over the years, the Folds of Honor Foundation has awarded 52,000 educational scholarships since 2007—a record 9,300 for the 2023-2024 academic year alone—of which 45 percent of all scholarships represent minority recipients and 57 percent of all scholarships go to females, according to the foundation. Amy Bond, Florida State University Women’s Golf Coach, said the Folds of Honor program is a blessing to so many family members who have had a loved one serve in the military or as a first responder and the event is a unique opportunity for all the teams involved.

“I am thankful to be a part of this event, especially as we add women’s college teams to the tournament,” Bond said. “We are blessed every day to be able to play the great game of golf and

I, and five men’s teams ranked in the Bushnell Golfweek Division I Coaches Poll. For Lubahn, this year’s Collegiate is an exciting and special opportunity in that it will bring its men’s and women’s teams, the university fan base, and the Folds of Honor communities together.

“We were runner-up last year, we get to play a home event, a course we are familiar with, and I think we can be competitive. I’m going to have a very young team, so this will be their first pass at competing in the most unique event in college golf, but more than that I’m excited to bring this Folds of Honor community, which I adore, together with the Michigan State community. It is mutually symbiotic that these two organizations are together in this event,” Lubahn said.

“Besides the Golf Channel coverage, which is really exceptional, the minority participation with HBCUs and now the women’s [participation], this event has really done things that have never been done in college golf. I hope that people across the state of Michigan really do what they can to come out in support, it will be vital in continuing to move forward. It is a really neat event to go to watch great golf, but with more accessibility and maybe even a deeper and greater meaning,” Lubahn added.

The field will also likely include Florida State University’s Lottie Woad, a sophomore who recently won the 2024 Augusta National Women’s Amateur by birdieing three of her final four holes; as well as include Army, Navy, Air Force, Grand Valley State University, and an HBCU, in addition to others. GVSU Women’s Golf is regionally ranked third in NCAA Division II and within the top 20 nationally in Mizuno WGCA Coaches Poll Division II, and for Mailloux, the event is also a chance to represent Division II talent at the Division I level, while supporting the Folds of Honor Foundation.

“I believe that my girls are super talented and one of the things I’ve always been proud of my teams in the past is that when the competition is there and the stage is set—whether a top-level Division I or Division II event—they step up to the plate and bring their best. I’m excited for them to play at that level and at that stage and have another chance, an opportunity, to showcase the talent that we have,” Mailloux said.

And for Tolley, who said there is no game that exposes or highlights one’s character and personality better than the game of golf, he can’t wait to see the amazing assemblage of golf talent take to the course later this year.

“[Golf] is all about honesty, integrity, and sportsmanship, and it just has so many life lessons and values involved and that is why I think it is a beautiful game,” Tolley said. “The message to me is American Dunes and the Collegiate provide opportunity, and that is what our mission does. It creates opportunities for the families of our fallen heroes and I just love everything about it. It’s a great collaborative effort by some really talented people.”

Getting to BOYNE Golf has never been easier... Whether driving, flying into nearby Traverse City (TVC) from 18 U.S. cities, or our newly renovated private 5200’ airport at Boyne Mountain, our 10 magnificent courses are closer than you think. Call 888.835.2456 to plan your 2024 trip today.

Welcome to The Land of More

Take a scenic spring drive through the Petoskey area by car or cart. Better yet, do both. Play a round with breathtaking views of Lake Michigan and Little Traverse Bay then stroll the beach at the Petoskey State Park. Tee up at courses you’ve heard about, read about, and always wanted to play. With 16 pristine courses and 6 charming towns to explore – getting more from your next golf trip is a gimmie. Get started with your game plan at PETOSKEYAREA.COM

GOLF MECCA Gaylord, Michigan

PHOTOGRAPHY: LYNX GOLF COURSE

LYNX GOLF COURSE Otsego, Michigan

PILGRIM'S RUN GOLF CLUB Pierson, Michigan

THE MINES GOLF COURSE

Grand Rapids, Michigan

Take a drive

Sweetgrass and Sage Run: dramatically different, but equally exceptional.

Located in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.

RANKED #10 IN MICHIGAN

AWARD-WINNING CHAMPIONSHIP GOLF

book early to guarantee choice dates

RANKED #19 IN MICHIGAN

ROUNDING THE FAIRWAYS:

In this year’s edition, The Golf Explorer: Michigan’s Journal to Incredible Golf heads along the shoreline in its annual fairway tour, showcasing some of the signature course designs and their breathtaking natural landscapes. From Lake Michigan and Lake Huron to Lake Superior, we travel up the coast, exploring the wild grasses, rolling terrain, windswept bluffs, dramatic ridges, and sandy soils that make golf in Michigan an unforgettable experience.

COASTAL FAIRWAYS

AMERICAN DUNES

AMERICAN DUNES

Envisioned as a haven, a tribute, a memorial, and a place of celebration, American Dunes Golf Club has become fondly known as “the church Jack built.” Once the former site of the Grand Haven Golf Club—and birthplace for what would later become the Folds of Honor Foundation— American Dunes features a Jack Nicklaus Sig-

nature Golf Course design that reimagined the old course into a 7,213-yard, par-72 course that carves through iconic sand dunes and opened up narrow tree-lined fairways. The course, located near the shore of Lake Michigan, features 30 bunkers, Triple Seven bentgrass greens, and generous, rolling fairways.

The course, which debuted in 2021, is full of drama and reverence, incorporating Nicklaus’ 18 major championships in names for each hole and plaques to honor fallen military, first

responders, and a Folds of Honor recipient. It is an experience that intentionally goes beyond the fairway as well, with its Wall of Honor, CAVU Fighter Squadron Bar, and daily reverent times in which taps play every day at 1300 hours and the national anthem plays at 17:30 for The Retreat. Featuring 18 holes of signature Nicklaus design and precision, American Dunes was created to become more than a golfing destination, but also as a safe haven for veterans, first responders, the fallen and disabled, and their families.

AMERICAN DUNES

GRAND HOTEL | THE JEWEL

This historic island destination has welcomed visitors for centuries, featuring recreational activities, landmark attractions, and car-free streets full of horse-drawn carriages. It is also home to the 1887-built Grand Hotel, a National Historic Landmark overlooking the Straits of Mackinac, and the resort’s 18-hole golf course. The course, which comprises the two nine-hole courses of the Grand and the Woods, is known collectively as The Jewel and is connected by a mile-and-a-half, horse-drawn carriage ride through parts of the island often unseen by visitors.

The Grand, which was built in 1901, was redesigned in 1987 by Jerry Matthews and welcomes players with lush landscaping, manicured tees, and scenic views of Lake Huron and Round Island. The front nine was joined by the back nine less than a decade later when Matthews introduced the Woods through the interior of Mackinac Island. Both the Grand and the Woods feature

GRAND HOTEL | THE JEWEL

GRAND HOTEL | THE JEWEL

a driving range able to accommodate up to four players at a time and golf carts are also available throughout the season.

HARBOR SHORES RESORT

201 GRAHAM AVE. |

BENTON HARBOR, MICHIGAN

Featuring four diverse terrains, this Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course transformed roughly 550 acres of land that was once abandoned, marked by the distinctive fingerprint of industrial rise and fall, into a dynamic golfing experience with deep ties to the local community. The revitalization, which saw more than three million square feet of dilapidated structures demolished and the removal of over 140,000 tons of waste material onsite and portions of the Paw Paw River, was backed by the not-for-profit Harbor Shores, as it also sought to establish a relationship to its surrounding natural environment and bring wildlife back to the area.

Each hole has been named for plants indig-

PHOTOGRAPHY: HARBOR SHORES RESORT

HARBOR SHORES RESORT

HARBOR SHORES RESORT

enous to the region and feature metal sculptures and hand-blown glass made by local artists, Josh Andres and Jerry Catania, through a partnership between Harbor Shores and the Benton Harbor Arts District. There are also plaques describing Jack Nicklaus’ major championships and a portion of the greens fees are allocated to help maintain public areas in the nearby Jean Klock Park and its 12-mile walking system.

The six-time host of the KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship, Harbor Shores Golf Course unfolds with inland terrain, drawing players to the freshwater coast with dramatic views of the dune and shoreline landscape by the end of the first nine holes. The course then

winds through rolling hills, ravines, and hardwoods before it finishes along Paw Paw River, Ox Creek, and wetlands.

HAWKSHEAD LINKS GOLF COURSE

523 HAWKS NEST DR. | SOUTH HAVEN, MICHIGAN

Designed by Arthur Hills, HawksHead Links Golf Course is an 18-hole course featuring a variety of play elements, offering something for players of all skill levels. Ranging from 4,889 yards at the gold tees to a par-72, 7,003-yard layout at the champi-

onship tees, HawksHead Links features a combination of par-3s, par-4s, and par-5s across its 18 holes designed to naturally flow through prairie land and long grasses, links-style. There are waste areas and deep pot bunkers, double-tiered greens with huge drop offs, waste areas intersecting fairways, elevated green complexes, and tight landing zones with narrow, triple-tiered greens guarded by bunkers in front and behind. This year, HawksHead has introduced new carts complete with GPS, invested roughly $250,000 in irrigation upgrades, and upgraded cart paths, and with its new superintendent, raised turf conditions and bunkers.

Located in South Haven, HawksHead has been a staple in the community since it opened in 1996. Founded by Al Ruppert, South Haven resident and local restaurateur—of Clementine’s in South Haven and Clementine’s Too in St. Joseph—HawksHead Links Golf Course also invites players to unwind at the pub-inspired HawksHead Restaurant featuring panoramic views of the woods and links, and to stay at the restored Old English Tudor-style inn onsite. The Inn at HawksHead blends old world elements with modern amenities, while the HawksHead’s GoldenHawk subdivision offers four-bedroom cottages located on the back nine of the course.

MANITOU PASSAGE GOLF CLUB

4600 S CLUB DR. | CEDAR, MICHIGAN

Nestled amid Point Betsie Lighthouse, Leland’s Fishtown, and Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, Manitou Passage Golf Club is an Arnold Palmer Signature Course defined by Arnold Palmer Design Company design tenants like

HAWKSHEAD LINKS GOLF COURSE

MANITOU PASSAGE GOLF CLUB

risk-reward, strategy and fun, and beauty, and the glacial-informed landscape. With site features like moraines, outwash plains, and drumlins, the 18-hole course intentionally begins in a sprawling meadow at the lowest elevation and then ascend, winding along ridges to return to the terraced clubhouse and nearby pond.

There are fescue-filled meadows, hardwoods, expansive ridges, and water features, and when a group of dedicated golfers purchased the course, they invested in its redesign to increase playability, reducing severity in several doglegs, and widening select landing areas. The tee boxes were also raised on the fifth hole, providing a glimpse of Lake Michigan between Pyramid Point and South Manitou Island, while making the carry to the landing area more manageable. Lodging is available at The Homestead, from its historic waterfront inn, resort hotels, and privately-owned villas and homes rentals, and dining options comprise Arnie’s, overlooking the 18th hole greens, as well as a number of venues offered onsite at The Homestead.

MARQUETTE GOLF CLUB | GREYWALLS

1075 GROVE STREET | MARQUETTE, MICHIGAN

Since 1926, Marquette Golf Club has welcomed golfers to the highland and coastal landscape surrounding the Lake Superior port city in the

Upper Peninsula of Michigan. First designed by William Langford and Theodore Moreau, the Heritage’s first nine holes expanded in 1969 into a full 18-hole course when David Gill added dramatic slopes and a challenging finish to the gently rolling terrain and imaginative green complexes. In 2005, the semi-private club grew into a 36-hole facility with the addition of Greywalls designed by Mike DeVries.

Considered a testament to the natural wonder and rugged beauty of the area, Greywalls integrates fairways and boldly contoured slopes, dramatic elevation changes and bunkered links, and breathtaking panoramas and lake views. Ranging from 4,631 yards to 6,828 yards, Greywalls complements the original Heritage Course which runs 5,161 yards to 6,260 yards at the tees.

MARQUETTE GOLF CLUB/GREYWALLS

PHOTOGRAPHY: GREYWALLS

30+ golf courses within 30 minutes.

Pilgrim’s Run Golf Club

We are a lavender farm in Caledonia, Michigan, with store and bakery that people can visit.

Open year round, but through harvest which begins mid June.

XANDER BUNNIES

Xander Community 501c3

(A ticketed event) WWW.LAVENDER-LIFE.COM

Meet Xander the SUPER-SOFT, LAVENDER STUFFED BUNNY, (Buy one and we give one to a child in foster care!)

DESTINATION:

Grand Rapids

Text: R.J. Weick

Festivals and special events often play a pivotal role in cities, communities, and individuals’ lives. They may evoke laughter and music, art and celebration, reverence and unity, and as a platform, serve as a powerful means in which to bring people together to share tradition, stories, and hope for a vibrant future. In Grand Rapids, Michigan, unique and creative events help elevate residents’ quality of life while also activating different neighborhood parks, cultural landmarks, and locations within the city. And for its Office of Special Events at the City of Grand Rapids, those events not only display its vibrant, diverse community, but also help foster a sense of belonging so people feel engaged and connected within the city.

“I think people came to see that there is an emotional connection when engagement hap-

pens and without that social connection, we saw that the emotional connection didn’t happen. That social element impacts our quality of life, it impacts the sense of unity and the sense of belonging, and it’s a collective action that brings together both public and private, social sectors and stakeholders, that creates a vibrant city,” said Evette Pittman, Special Events Manager at the City of Grand Rapids Office of Special Events.

“On a community-wide scale, having this connection and this sense of community makes us a better place to live—a wonderful place to work, live, and play—and events play a part of that in creating that social bond and that emotional connection in the community,” Pittman added.

The Office of Special Events, or OSE, partners with local organizations and works with residents, planners, and other organizers to plan and permit activities, special events, cultural festivals, and sporting tournaments that take place

on city-owned and public property, and activate spaces like streets, sidewalks, and parks. It strives to serve as a one-stop-shop for realizing high-quality, year-round activities, events, and entertainment across the city, as part of the City’s larger mission to elevate the quality of life for its residents through city services and become a nationally recognized destination that is welcoming, innovative, equitable, and collaborative. In 2023 alone, OSE oversaw 655 events in Grand Rapids, from Storytime in the Park, Fathers and Families Flag Football, Corgis in the Park, and Retriever Fever, to Amway River Bank Run, World of Winter, Festival of the Arts, and its weekly Swing, Salsa, Jazz, and Food Truck events.

“I feel like we are back to pre-pandemic levels and at a point in time where more events are coming, folks are excited to be outside and to gather together—folks are still being cautious, but they are definitely enjoying the activations and events that are taking place within the city. Folks are excited to plan their own events and come up with new activations, so it’s an exciting time here in Grand Rapids,” Pittman said. “I think that social connectivity is so important and I think that it has brought us closer together as a community and it shows when we are at our events.”

Pittman also noted in recent years, OSE has witnessed new events, new activations, new locations, and new partnerships develop, and watched as different organizations that embraced similar values and goals work together to bring their events to fruition—and as the community has surrounded them and those new activations in really exciting ways in support. In 2023, OSE also launched new weekly events that will be added to familiar staples like the Tuesday Night Swing Dance, to feature Praise in the Park on Sundays, Art in the Park on Mondays, and Food Truck Fridays.

“Our longest series that we have here in the city is our Tuesday Night Swing, which will continue, and we have Wednesday Night Salsa, so it is a great time if you’ve ever wanted to learn some of the different Latin dances and just enjoy good music, good food, and good folks. And then we have our Thursday nights, which are our Jazz in the Park,” Pittman said.

“Food Truck Fridays happens at Riverside Park and it has outgrown the space that it was in, so we are actually moving it north in Riverside Park to where some of the older, little league baseball fields are that are no longer in use. Our Parks department is taking those fences down and restoring the grass in those areas,

so we are able to host even larger events out there,” Pittman added.

Events like World of Winter—a two-month festival that is considered one of the largest of its kind in the United States featuring more than 100 art installations, activities, and events—have grown tremendously in recent years, while others like ArtPrize continue to adapt and return to the city as its new direction looks to become an event for the community of the community. There are also diverse, cultural festivals like Festival del Cinco de Mayo, Festival of the Arts, Polish Heritage Festival, A Glimpse of Africa, Fiesta Mexicana, African American Art and Music Festival, Yassou! Greek Festival, Grand Rapids Asian-Pacific Festival, and Grand Rapids Pride Festival, to name a few.

Others, like Tots & Taps Festival, Beer City Open Pickleball Championship, Oktoberfest Grand Rapids, West Michigan Light the Night, Making Strides Against Breast Cancer, and Grand Rapids Turkey Trot highlight unique interests, passions, and causes, and will take place around the city, such as at Calder Plaza, LMCU Ballpark, Van Andel Arena, and Belknap Park. Grand Rapids was recently named the thirdmost pickleball-obsessed city in the United States based on a Google analysis report on Offers.Bet, which Pittman noted is an exciting development to see how the different tournaments can attract players from across the country and beyond to the city. Pittman also said despite the growth—as the city welcomes a new 8,500-seat, downtown soccer stadium and the new riverfront Acrisure Amphitheater on Market Ave., as well as new restaurants and new activations and events—Grand Rapids is still a community, which is reflected in its dedication to festivals and special events.

“I love the fact that we have wonderful things like the Grand Rapids Ballet, which is still our only professional performing ballet company in the state of Michigan, and then we have our Grand Rapids Symphony, which has been around for so many years and now is outside of the walls. They are still at DeVos Hall, but they are planning at least three activations where they are going to play at local parks, exposing a broader audience to symphonic music. They haven’t changed their mission, they’ve just expanded, they understand that the community needs to experience them in different ways, and it helps these arts organizations stay relevant while the community benefits,” Pittman said.

“We are still cohesive as a community. The city has so many partners, organizations, and businesses that work together to create that cohesiveness and that is what shows when you look at our community. What I would hope for the future is that we would be able to set aside anything that divides us as a community to work together to make sure that we stay vibrant and that we stay strong and we stay a place that is a great place to live and to work and to raise your children and to have fun,” Pittman added.

FESTIVALS AND SPECIAL EVENTS

GRPC Earth Day Open Pickleball Tournament | April 26, 2024.

Belknap Park

Festival del Cinco de Mayo | May 4, 2024.

Rosa Parks Circle

Fiesta Mexicana | Sept. 13, 2024.

Calder Plaza

Amway River Bank Run | May 11, 2024. Downtown

Food Truck Fridays |

Riverside Park

Cider Fest | May 18, 2024.

Rosa Parks Circle

Roll’N Out Food Truck Fest | May 19, 2024.

Calder Plaza

Storytime in the Park | June 4, 2024.

Garfield Park

Festival of the Arts 2024 | June 7, 2024.

300 Monroe Ave. NW

Grand Rapids Asian-Pacific Festival 2024 | June 14, 2024.

Calder Plaza

Homecoming of the Three Fires Pow Wow | June 15, 2024.

Riverside Park

Justice 4 All Juneteenth

Vol. 4 | June 19, 2024.

Calder Plaza

Art at the Park | June 21, 2024. Garfield Park

Grand Rapids Pride Festival | June 22, 2024.

Calder Plaza

Beer City Open Pickleball Championship |

July 8, 2024. Belknap Park

Fathers and Families Flag Football | July 13, 2024. MLK Park

Hispanic Festival | Aug. 2, 2024. Calder Plaza

A Glimpse of Africa | Aug. 8, 2024.

Calder Plaza

Oktoberfest

Grand Rapids | Sept. 27, 2024. Riverside Park

She Runs Grand Rapids | Sept. 29. John Ball Park + Downtown Streets

West Michigan Light the Night | Oct. 3, 2024.

Calder Plaza

Making Strides Against Breast Cancer | Oct. 19, 2024.

Calder Plaza

Walk to End Alzheimer’s | Oct. 26, 2024.

Calder Plaza

Grand Rapids Turkey Trot | Nov. 28, 2024.

Van Andel Arena

GRAND RAPIDS AREA PUBLIC GOLF COURSES:

Mines Golf Club | 330 Covell Ave. SW, Grand Rapids

Pilgrim’s Run Golf Club | 11401 Newcosta Ave., Pierson

Quail Ridge Golf Club | 8375 36th St. SE, Ada

The Golf Club at Thornapple Pointe | 7211 48th St. SE, Grand Rapids

GRAND RAPIDS AREA HOSPITALITY: Amway Grand Plaza, Curio Collection by Hilton | 187 Monroe Ave. NW, Grand Rapids

Canopy by Hilton Grand Rapids Downtown | 131 Ionia Ave. SW, Grand Rapids

JW Marriott Grand Rapids | 235 Louis St. NW, Grand Rapids

Embassy Suites by Hilton Grand Rapids Downtown | 710 Monroe Ave. NW, Grand Rapids

Hyatt Place

Grand Rapids/Downtown | 140 Ottawa Ave. NW, Grand Rapids

*For a full calendar of events, courses, and hotels, visit experiencegr.com

LIFE ON THE LINKS:

Lakeside Dunes

At the turn of the 20th century, as cities became electrified, automobiles began to shift from luxury to versatile necessity, and Prairie Style architecture started to emerge in landscape from architects in the Midwest, Thomas Bendelow began carving out a golf course into 130 acres of virgin dune near Lake Michigan in Michigan. Nestled on the southern edge of the 4,150-acre freshwater Muskegon Lake in Muskegon, the course would officially open as Muskegon Country Club in 1908 as an architectural signature of the Scottish American golf course architect. The course, which subsequently underwent a complete redesign and renumbering process in 1920 by Donald Ross, renowned golf course designer, has endured to this day as an integral part of the

community amid the freshwater, wooded, and dune landscape.

The golf course, which has hosted Regional Qualifying Rounds for the U.S. Open and the Michigan Amateur Championship, features 6,697 yards from the back tees, rolling terrain, fescue-lined fairways, and a par-72 challenge for both the experienced and enthusiast player alike. In addition to its flexible membership options, Muskegon Country Club offers practice facilities like a driving range, a short game area, and putting green; a competitive-laned pool, poolside snack bar, public restaurant; and other amenities like access to private country clubs, athletic clubs, and business clubs through its ClubCorp network.

Recently, Muskegon Country Club has embarked on a collaborative endeavor with its new owners, RedWater, a hospitality company based

in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and local custom home builders to bring its newest addition, a neighborhood community, to build-reality. RedWater, which specializes in dining, events, golf, sports, and fitness, acquired Muskegon Country Club in 2021 as one of six private courses, two public courses, and select LiveGolf Studios in its golf portfolio. Other courses in its portfolio include: Macatawa Golf Club, Holland; StoneWater Country Club, Caledonia; Sunnybrook Country Club, Grandville; Thousand Oaks Golf Club, Grand Rapids; Watermark Country Club, Cascade; The Golf Club at Thornapple Pointe, Grand Rapids; and Ravines Golf Club, Saugatuck. Since purchasing the country club, RedWater introduced a new onsite restaurant, Lake Bluff Grille, in June 2022 and officially announced its Lakeside Dunes at Muskegon Country Club initiative in July 2022.

Text: R.J. Weick

Located southwest of the golf course near the intersection of Beach Street and Sherman Blvd., Lakeside Dunes at Muskegon Country Club features 34 freestanding, semi-custom club homes ranging from about 1,600 square feet to 2,688 square feet on the main level with select large custom home sites available. Designed and built in partnership with David C. Bos Homes, a family-owned custom home builder based in Spring Lake, Michigan, the customizable models and floor plans are informed by a team that has built a legacy of creating beautiful, living spaces for clients since 1973.

David J. Bos, president and chief executive officer at David C. Bos Homes, said when RedWater bought the Muskegon Country Club, there was a gorgeous piece of property on the backside of the course and ended up hiring David C. Bos and Jim Remiga, a developer and land planning team, as consultants to guide them through the planning phase for an entire community. Then, the company looked to David J. Bos to help bring their design vision to fruition.

“From an overall standpoint, when you are putting together a development like this, it is how can you impact the natural environment the least, or we always strive to save as many trees and natural vegetation as we can, while at the same time creating a great community with great sites where we can capture views or privacy. For Lakeside Dunes, the first 17 sites are directly on the golf course, so they have spectacular views and it ranges from unobstructed views where you feel like you are right on the course, to beautiful views,

but yet still have some privacy,” said Bos, in reference to the community plan layout.

“And then, the sites on the other side of the street, or the south side, are wooded sites. So, you have the luxury of living in a golf course community, which has a path connected all the way to the golf course so you can drive your golf cart to the golf course or you can drive your golf cart to the restaurant, but then have a nice, private site in a cool community,” Bos added.

For 50 years, David C. Bos Homes has built a portfolio of work driven by creativity, careful detail, and craftsmanship, striving to deliver stylish, sustainable, and efficient spaces for their clients. Specializing in custom building and renovation, the experienced design-build company has been owned and operated by the Bos family for two generations. For Bos, Lakeside Dunes is representative of the company’s design-build process, in which the team strives to work with clients through every step to ensure their custom home at the end of the day is a dream made real.

“I always say, ‘who you are and how you live is what you should live in,’ and that is always how we have approached every project with every client, because when we are finished, we don’t want them to say, ‘I wish we could have that,’ or ‘I wish we would have done this.’ We go through every part and piece of the home to make sure they are getting what they want and that they love their home,” Bos said.

“The other thing that goes hand in hand with that is the fact that we are design-build and

when we go through that design process, we’re allowing each and every client to be so involved in it. We’re working through every step with each client, versus us designing what they think they want and telling them what it should be. We are going to have our name on it, but it is going to be their home,” Bos added.

For Lakeside Dunes, design options comprise single- and two-story homes, two-to-five bedrooms with a primary on the main floor and walkout lower levels, a two-stall garage with golf cart storage—and a three-stall option on select sites—and additional living space in the lower levels with two bedrooms, bathroom, and recreational space options. Each of the current models—like Augusta, Oakmont, Andrews, and Cypress—feature design language expressive of the classic cottage vernacular inherent to the West Michigan lakefront, such as familiar gable forms, cottage-inspired elements, covered front porches, and lap siding with shingle accents. In Augusta, a two-story walkout features a total of 2,706 square feet with a three-stall garage option; Andrews, a single-story, walkout ranch features 13’ vaulted ceilings in the great room and kitchen; and Oakmont, a single-story, walkout with 13’ vaulted ceilings and three-stall garage options offers a total of 2,442 finished square feet. Each of these models feature a total square footage that include a finished lower level.

“We have an overall theme of what we call ‘club homes,’ but they are very much your classic, cottage style home with a real front porch

that you can sit on. I would say really classic, cottage style architecture, but every single client we have met with so far, we are almost building them a custom home,” Bos said.

“I love meeting each unique client. Craig Smith, [chief operating officer at RedWater] and I work together as a team, and I help [the clients] visualize what a home is going to look like on that particular site. What are your views going to be out of that four-season room, what are your views going to be out of the great room, do we want to make modifications to the plan to capture those views differently, or shift the home at a certain angle to maximize the views, maximize the daylight? It is so fun to be a dream merchant and get to meet people and help them capture what they want in their home,” Bos added

The project moved into the initial phase of development in 2022 and as of late 2023 had eight sites reserved with an additional one sold. For Bos, whose team is familiar with the nuanced challenges that often arise working on or near the lakefront, it is also about designing to budget in order to achieve a home that fits their functional, aesthetic, and financial goals.

“Rather than designing something with everything they could ever want and then see how much it costs, because of their involvement, we are able to design a home to fit their budget while getting the spaces they need,” Bos said. “I just love houses, I love architecture, and I love seeing the excitement in clients’ eyes when we get to design

and they’re like, ‘that’s it, that’s our house,’ and then getting to see them at the end when they are moving into their house. It is just so exciting to see.”

With access to Muskegon Country Club amenities like its historic course, pool, and restaurant, as well as its close proximity to nature trails, Beachwood Park, Bronson Park, Kruse Park, Kruse Park Dog Peach, Bluffton Bay Marina, Safe Harbor Great Lakes Marina, and Muskegon Yacht Club, Lakeside Dunes offers a unique community lifestyle tucked into a natural land-and-waterscape.

“These are beautiful homes nestled into the community and the whole community is nestled on top of a dune. It’s like, where can you live on a beautiful golf course with a restaurant with pools and amenities and Lake Michigan across the street in western Michigan? There is just nothing like it being built,” Bos said.

2023.

From

Weekends

From

Mt. Pleasant MEET IN

Text: R.J. Weick

In Isabella County, Michigan, Mt. Pleasant is a Mid Michigan destination and cultural hub for arts and entertainment largely bordered by the Chippewa River. It features a vibrant downtown retail, shopping, and dining scene, a community of small and large businesses alike, more than 1,000 local farms, and over 1,000 acres of parkland and 19 nature preserves.

It is also home to Ziibiwing Center, Art Reach of Mid Michigan, Central Michigan University, Mid Michigan Community College, Soaring Eagle Casino, Annual Mt. Pleasant Craft Beer Festival, and the Shepherd Maple Syrup Festival, a community staple since 1958. There are more than 100 restaurants, such as local favorites like Summit Smokehouse & Tap Room, Midori Sushi & Martini Lounge, Mountain Town Brewing Company, Hunter’s Ale House, The Brass Café, Rubbles Dive Bar, The Green Spot Pub, Marty’s Bar, Freddie’s Tavern, and Max & Emily’s Eatery—and roughly 13 local golf courses, including Bucks Run Golf Club, PohlCat Golf Course, and The Pines Golf Course at Lake Isabella.

Located off East Airport Road, PohlCat Golf Course is a par-72, championship course featuring a mix of modern and classic links-style design elements. Designed by Dan Pohl, former PGA Tour Professional and Mt. Pleasant resident, the 18-hole course plays over and around the scenic Chippewa River and as an upscale public facility, features a full-service restaurant and newly renovated banquet facility that can accommodate up to 300 guests for special events. Pohl noted the design of the course was informed by roughly 30 years of experience playing different courses and it was critical to integrate playable characteristics that would allow for all levels of play from golfing enthusiasts and experienced players alike.

In Lake Isabella, roughly 16 miles to the west, The Pines Golf Course at Lake Isabella invites golfers to tee up at their Bruce Matthews-designed course situated near the 875acre Lake Isabella. The 18-hole public golf course is considered user-friendly, while also posing a number of challenges to the more experienced golfer, across its multiple elevations and five water holes, and the facility also offers

a practice range with two putting greens and a chipping green. The facility offers an onsite restaurant known as Tally’s Bar and Grill, featuring starters like crispy brussel sprouts, apple crostini, and Tally fries; salads, flatbreads, burgers, and sandwiches; as well as full dinner menu like fall entrees of Parmesan Encrusted Walleye, Butternut Squash Ravioli, and House Smoked Baby Back Ribs.

Back to the east, along S. Chippewa Road in Mt. Pleasant, Bucks Run Golf Club has become a Mid-Michigan destination for golfers since

the Jerry Matthews-designed course opened in 2000. Once a former quarry for sand, gravel, and stone, the roughly 290-acre property has been transformed into a landscape of sculpted fairways, sand bunkers, and tee boxes across the award-winning, 18-hole course. Bucks Run Golf Club has evolved over the years to include an onsite restaurant, professional golf shop, and its new overnight accommodations, known as The Cottages at Bucks Run, which overlooks its signature, par-4, 18th hole on course and Lake Fisher beyond.

Mt. Pleasant also invites residents and guests alike to venture through its various museums, galleries, and indoor exhibits, like Mt. Pleasant Discovery Museum, where creativity and inspiration meet; Ziibiwing Center, a premier museum and cultural center highlighting the tradition of the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe and Great Lakes Anishinaabe Tribes; For Arts Sake, a downtown space to sell, teach, and make art, featuring the community’s only splatter room for art therapy; and Art Reach of Mid Michigan, an arts organization offering classes

and outreach, among other services. Its downtown district also features a number of local shops like Trillium and Sleepy Dog Books, and is transformed into a metaphorical canvas each year for its Art Walk Central, the highly anticipated art competition featuring more than 60 artists and their work across diverse mediums. The event is anticipated to take place August 1-24, 2024.

Beyond its sidewalk streets and galleries, Mt. Pleasant welcomes adventure enthusiasts to explore the area’s natural beauty, from the 100acre Bundy Hill Preserve, which feature more than two miles of hiking trails and the highest point in Isabella County; to Deerfield Nature Park, which is a 591-acre park featuring two, 18-hole disc golf courses, swinging bridges, a covered bridge, picnic areas, covered pavilions, an artesian well, and views of the winding, 92mile Chippewa River.

PHOTOGRAPHY: (TOP)

CVB; (BOTTOM) MICHAEL BUCK, M-BUCK

On the shelf

In the bucolic landscape of southeast Kent County, a historic bar has quietly fermented, distilled, and matured in recent years into a rich, complex bourbon and whiskey experience. Located in Alto, Michigan—a small community home to Saskatoon Golf Club and Tyler Creek Golf & Camp situated along nearly three miles of Pratt Lake Creek—Alto Bar has become known as a whiskey destination, featuring a prolific collection of bourbon, whisky, and whiskey in ranging rarity, flavor profile, and from regions like America, Scotland, Ireland, and Japan, to name a few.

Initially established in 1900, Alto Bar has undergone several iterations throughout its lifetime and when David Burns, current owner, acquired the bar in 2008, he had a vision of

transforming it into a bourbon and steak destination as home to Rockstar Steaks and a more-than 600-bottle collection of whiskies. The Golf Explorer: Michigan’s Journal to Incredible Golf had the opportunity to catch up with Owner David Burns to learn more about his affinity for bourbon and to learn more about the Alto Bar collection.

The Golf Explorer: Tell us about your collection. When did you start collecting whiskey and what drew you to the spirit?

David Burns: I started collecting probably about 10 years ago and I think I was a little bit ahead of the curve for most of the people who are involved in it right now. Part of the reason I started was I needed something to attract guests into the bar other than our featured food, so it was pretty much a necessity to try and provide a different bar experience than my clientele had before.

Text: R.J. Weick

Do you look for a certain region, year, flavor profile, rarity, or is it all across the board?

I look for new offerings based on what bourbon blogs are specifically talking about, whether it is good juice or it is reasonable. Then I usually buy three or six bottles on speculation, meaning that you can do well in relation to your collection, that you can put on your wall, probably 25 percent of the time. The other 75 percent is that it ends up being just okay, it’s not really sought after, or it’s not what it was cracked up to be, so it is a speculation sport with the new stuff. I also look for rarity and those are tough to get, because of the competition for a lot of bottles in the state of Michigan.

In terms of the distillation process, the aging, the aromas, the flavor, the feel, the finish of a whiskey—do you have a favorite aspect of that story? What inspires you?

My personal taste preference is smoothness and depth of the juice that I’m drinking, depth meaning that when you nose it, it is there and when you taste it, it is a complete package, it’s not missing anything. To me, that is the most important aspect of a good bourbon or a good Scotch or a good Japanese whiskey.

What would you tell guests or people who are new to bourbon and whiskey to look for?

I would say, start with the basics, the budgets, meaning that if you are going to try bourbon and you’re going to try to enjoy it, start with Buffalo Trace, Eagle Rare, Maker’s Mark, [brands] that are mass-produced bourbons and see if there is something there that you really enjoy as far as the taste profile goes and then once you do that, then it is based on your budget. How much are you willing to spend for a bottle or a drink in a bar? Is it $10, $20, or $50 or less for a drink? Are you talking $39, $89, $159 for a bottle?

This can be a very expensive sport. I think people need to stick to realistic expectations of what they can afford, but with that being said, there are really great bottles at $40 and there are really terrible bottles at $200 and it is based on personal preference, based on what you like, such as flavor profile or if you’re a high-proof person.

There is such a rich cultural history, a connection to the earth and ingredients, the people behind the whiskey, and something about how people can come together to enjoy a glass—what makes the bourbon or whiskey story special in your mind?

If you’re talking about bourbon, it’s a uniquely American product. It can’t be produced anywhere other than America and I think that particular aspect is absolutely fascinating to me. Scotch is Scotch, Irish whiskey is Irish, and bourbon is American, and so that is what I love about it, I really do. From the aspect of a drinker who would like to explore different veins or venues of bourbon, meaning that 80 or 90 percent of all bourbon used to come from Kentucky, now you can get great bourbon out of Wisconsin, you can get

great bourbon out of Michigan, you can get great bourbon out of California, and there are fantastic distilleries in Utah.

Is there anything you would like to add or any specific bourbons you wanted to highlight?

My favorite is Jefferson’s Ocean. It’s reasonable. It’s an $89-$90 bottle and it’s my personal favorite out of all of the bourbons that are readily available. The best bourbon that I’ve ever had is Booker’s 25th [Anniversary Bourbon], which are extremely hard-to-get bottles, but that is the best bourbon I’ve ever tasted. The best rye I’ve ever tasted is Thomas H. Handy. It is impeccable, the way that

you taste it, it’s light-years ahead of everyone else. That is just my favorite.

As far as recommendations go, I would invite people to come into the bar and sit down and have a flight. Sit down and talk to our staff about bourbon in general and what makes tastings and a glass of whiskey so enjoyable, because there is nothing like it. We have 400-plus bottles at the bar, and a total whiskey [count] of 600-plus. We’ve had people come in from all over the United States and the exclamation is, ‘I cannot believe that this is here in the middle of Alto.’ We are a farming community, it’s a very small community, but we think we have a really great collection and we love what we do.

From its exclusive setting less than two miles from Lake Michigan, and nestled between South Haven and Saugatuck, HawksHead Links offers world-class golf, fi ne dining, superb accommodations, special events, and beautiful weddings. The 7,003-yard, par-72 golf course designed by Arthur Hills, a renowned golf architect, winds through sand dunes and woodlands in southwestern Allegan County.

Vacation cottages

Four-bedroom, four-bathroom cottages—featuring a common kitchen and dining room—are located on the back nine of HawksHead and provide a serene golf or beach vacation escape for families or friends.

EXPLORING THE CAPITAL

Text: R. Collins

Lansing, as Michigan’s capital, grew in recognition as an auto manufacturing powerhouse in the late 1800s before it transformed into a destination for Big Ten sports fans, festival enthusiasts, and avid golfers alike. Throughout the area, visitors can find subtle nods to Lansing’s history while also enjoying a growing list of modern amenities, including several championship golf courses offering different styles of play. Though unique, each course in the area showcases the rolling green topography, pic-

turesque forested areas, and quaint streams that have come to signify Michigan golf for many.

Lori Lanspeary, CTA, marketing and community engagement manager at the Greater Lansing Convention and Visitors Bureau, noted that Michigan’s capital region is a great golf destination with 30 courses within a 30-mile radius. With its central location, golfers don’t need to drive far to find remarkable courses, that “up north” feel, and great affordability.

In terms of course offerings, area favorites Eagle Eye Golf and Banquet Center and the Forest Akers Golf Courses in East Lansing hold signature appeals

for their links-style, championship course and collegiate reputations, respectively. Eagle Eye’s eponymous course presents enjoyable challenges from any of the five tee sets on each hole, and even surprises golfers with a replica of the island green at the TPC Sawgrass on the 17th hole. Visitors’ greens fees include driving range access, and pre-play is complemented by two practice putting greens. The property is home to five courses, as well as a putting course and the Michigan PGA’s headquarters. Visitors can find several styles of play, from Eagle Eye’s links-style championship design to Woodside Golf Course, a rare 12-hole course showcasing Michigan hardwoods and challenging contours.

Just north, Forest Akers is nestled on the campus at Michigan State University, and it is home to the university’s Big Ten golf programs, championships, and two pro shops dedicated to quality MSU gear. Both award-winning courses on the property—East and West—are open to the public, and when not in play, visitors can utilize the Golf Center’s 20,000-square-foot putting green, 18 covered and heated year-round hitting stations, three-acre bentgrass practice tees, and more.

Nearby both destinations, several new hotels offer ample rest points for busy travelers and golfers. The Courtyard by Marriott Lansing Downtown is located in the heart of downtown, near the home field for the Lansing Lugnuts, the city’s minor league professional baseball team. For those who want a bigger taste of on-campus vacationing, the Graduate East Lansing hotel is one of the area's newest offerings overlooking the Michigan State University campus, where it faces a singular view of the Lansing skyline from its rooftop bar.

Both hotels are also located near plenty of Lansing’s popular restaurants, breweries, distilleries, and shops. One, aptly named Lansing Brewing Company, is a historic venue positioned in the heart of Lansing’s Stadium District; it first welcomed visitors in 1897 as more laborers arrived on Lansing’s growing automotive scene.

For the variety seekers, Lansing Shuffleboard and Social Club along the Lansing River Trail offers five different restaurants, across an approximately 15,000-square-foot entertainment complex, including an organic Italian kitchen and a Himalayan snack shop. There is also High Caliber Karting and Entertainment, an indoor action and entertainment park featuring high-speed go-kart racing, axe throwing, rage rooms, and games; and the nearby Zap Zone XL in Okemos, Michigan, featuring 120,000 square feet of diverse entertainment from laser tag, arcade games, and thrill park to rage rooms, bowling, and high-speed karting. And familiar names in dining like Jolly Pumpkin,

HopCat, and Buffalo Wild Wings, and local favorites like Crunchy’s, Falsetta’s Casa Nova, The Peanut Barrel, MEAT. Southern B.B.Q. & Carnivore Cuisine, and The Soup Spoon Café, to name a few.

Between the area’s new multi-seasonal activities and tried-and-true mainstays, Lansing reflects the vibrance of many Michigan cities in the spring and summer months, as barriers between indoors and the surrounding outdoors disappear, and sidewalks become busy.

Behind ever y company, ser vice, product or individual is a stor y, and at SVK Multimedia and Publishing, our team is ready to help you tell yours.

Go to svkmp.com to contact us.

PHOTOGRAPHY: LANSING CVB

PRIVATE IN MICHIGAN:

LochenHeath Golf Club

Text: Marsha Stratton, Idea Stream

Since its reopening in 2011, LochenHeath Golf Club in Williamsburg, Michigan—just east of the nation’s cherry capital of Traverse City—envisioned a future as a private club. After it became a reality in 2021, the club experienced three successful years as a private golf destination. For Kevin O’Brien, PGA, General Manager of LochenHeath, its continued appeal for prospective and existing members is its high-quality golf, pristine golf course conditions, privacy, and signature vistas.

The golf course, an exceptional design by Architect Steve Smyers, is carved from over 300 acres of historic cherry orchards that hug the Lake Michigan coastline and is an incredible property. The course sits on a dramatic piece of property with elevation changes of up to 85 feet and views of the East Grand Traverse Bay from 13 holes on the course.

“It has great movement to the land, and its setting above East Grand Traverse Bay provides wonderful vistas,” states Smyers.

O’Brien’s favorite holes are the 15th hole, a par3; the 14th hole, a par-4; and the 7th hole, a par-5, but he notes that there is something for everyone thanks to golf course architect Steve Smyers’ unique melding of links-style and parkland-style design features across the course. Generous fairways encourage breezy play and total views of the course’s scenic vistas, while wooded pockets keep play exciting and add to the intimate, private feel.

"Members will join for the outstanding golf and the exceptional culinary experience. It’s a

warm and welcoming membership. Our goal is to provide LochenHeath Members with a private, low-volume, exclusive destination golf club focused on like-minded golfers and bestowing an authentic championship-level golf experience,” O’Brien said.

LochenHeath members are invited to enjoy the experience without a hurry. The club hosts four membership tiers—national, seasonal, resident, and corporate—allowing members a comfortable fit for their lifestyle and preferences. Foundationally, a significant benefit of the club’s private status is its allowance for careful, attentive maintenance that may not be possible otherwise.

“When you’re a private club with a low volume of rounds, the conditions are exceptional, and it also allows for a no-tee-time reservation when coming out to play,” O’Brien said. “Members will

often just come out to practice because we have one of the best practice facilities in the Midwest.”

When at the club, members and their guests can enjoy well-appointed spacious Member Cottages, featuring four en-suites, an expansive common living area, a gas fireplace, and comfortable appointments throughout. After a great golf day, golfers can unwind with a powerful wall shower and overhead waterfall feature. The relaxing outdoor deck overlooking the bay and beautiful sunsets will become a favorite gathering place at the end of a perfect day.

With its relaxed, low-round pace and cultivation of luxury amenities, LochenHeath Golf Club attracts members seeking top-quality Northern Michigan golf to enjoy leisurely in a picturesque, private setting.

THE OUTLOOK

Text: R.J. Weick

In conjunction with 2023 National Golf Day, an advocacy event that took place May 8-10, 2023 in Washington D.C. for the first time since 2019, the American Golf Industry Coalition released its 2022 Golf Impact Report, highlighting the industry’s footprint in the United States. The report, which is the fifth of its kind, building on data metrics introduced in 2000, 2005, 2011, and 2016, is intended to capture the size and scope of the game of golf by quantifying its direct, indirect, and induced impact across the country—and has produced a more complete picture of just how much the industry has evolved and grown even in the last decade.

Some of its key points outlined how golf drove $101.7 billion in direct economic impact in 2022, which is a 20 percent increase from $84.1 billion in 2016; and how its indirect and induced ripple effect drove another $124.9 billion, resulting in a total $226.5 billion economic portrait that has enabled over 1.65 million jobs with at least 1 million of employees being directly tied to the industry. The report also highlighted how golf can serve as a powerful vehicle and platform for charitable fundraising, in which $4.6 billion was raised for various charitable causes in 2022—a 16 percent increase from $3.9 billion in 2016—driven by local courses, where four out of five facilities held at least one charitable tournament outing in 2022.

With the introduction of alternative forms of golf, the game’s participation has also grown and become more diverse, with a base reaching 41.1 million in 2022 from the roughly 32 million in 2016, and drawn young players to the game as well. Nearly half of all golf participants, or 48 percent, of on- and off-course players in 2022 were between the ages of six years old and 34 years old—and in the wake of the pandemic, the more intangible benefits of golf as a game and as an industry have emerged, highlighting its role as a “positive contributor to the physical, mental, and social wellness” of people, as a community asset, and as a means to provide valuable green space.

The 2022 Golf Impact Report also noted that the trees and turfgrass at facilities can improve

air quality and can “serve as sanctuaries providing an essential habitat for a wide variety of plants and animals”—and the industry’s ongoing sustainability efforts have resulted in a water usage reduction of nearly 29 percent since 2005, introduction of drought-tolerant turfgrass, and a reduction in total irrigated acres of 11.5 percent at existing facilities.

It is a report that goes beyond high-level figures to analyze just how the industry can stimulate related or adjacent industries, breaking down golf’s total direct, indirect, and induced economic contribution of $226.5 billion into core industries like golf facility operations, capital investments, golf-related retail, tournaments, and charitable fundraising and their associated jobs, wages, and taxes at both the state and local, and federal level. It also looks at enabled industries like golf tourism and golf real estate, as well as its non-economic benefits.

For instance, of the nearly $13.2 billion of total golf-related retail, supplies, and manufacturers, $7.22 billion of that is considered direct, while an additional $5.95 billion is designated indirect and induced. Golf facility operations, a roughly $90.5 billion engine, is broken down into a direct impact of $37 billion and an additional $53.57 billion in indirect and induced impact. Golf real estate has grown to be a $32.9 billion enabled industry with golf tourism reaching more than $64 billion in direct, indirect, and induced value.

In terms of participation, which reached 41.1 million with 27.9 million considered off-course participants and an additional 25.6 million considered on-course participants, the report highlighted how non-traditional forms of golf have led to a notable growth in the sport through forms like Topgolf venues, indoor simulators, golf-in-school programs, surpassing on-course play—which has witnessed an increase in its base for six straight years—for the first time. The “fun, social, and approachable golf entertainment offerings” has contributed to a 62 percent increase since 2016 in latent demand, according to National Golf Foundation. And “female and ethnically diverse representation among on-course participants has also risen to its highest levels on record,” according to the 2022 Impact Report, noting that 25 percent of traditional golfers are women and girls, and “African American, Asian, and Hispanics” represent 22 percent of all on-course players, with proportions even higher among off-course-only participants.

Non-traditional or alternative, off-course options have also continued to expand across the national golfing landscape. The National Golf Foundation found that there are more than 100 large-scale golf entertainment venues in supply, with over 600 additional golf simulator business locations, with the modern golf ecosystem evolving to include businesses, brands, and ventures like Topgolf, Swing Suite, X Golf, Five Iron Golf, Puttery, Puttshack, and Popstroke in the common vernacular. Topgolf, which recently merged with

Callaway to become Topgolf Callaway Brands Corporation in 2022, also noted that the game is growing and that the game is changing—making the game more accessible and enjoyable whether that is in a customized fitting and trying new drivers featuring AI-integrated technology, or playing Angry Birds at Topgolf—in which golf balls virtually smash structures, pigs, and cause “mayhem and destruction” in Angry Bird fashion.

While new course construction has decreased, investment in existing facilities has grown 10.3 percent to roughly $3.5 billion and new home construction and reconstruction—within golf real estate—has also increased 10.5 percent to reach roughly $13.14 billion. There are also five times the number of golf courses in the United States compared to any other country, with roughly 15,945 courses and over 2,500 alternative golf facilities, and with associations like the PGA Tour, PGA of America, United States Golf Association, and LPGA, among many others, it alone is a segment that generates nearly $1.45 billion in revenue with more than 100 professional and major amateur golf events.

In addition to health and environmental wellness, there is also a critical social component to the industry as purpose-driven missions, initiatives, and brands look to the game as a means to “create a more positive impact on people and the planet,” according to the report. One such campaign, “Make Golf Your Thing,” launched in 2020 as a collaborative, multi-faceted initiative to en-

sure the future of golf is open to everyone, which was received well by the public based on National Golf Foundation research in 2021. By 2022, “Make Golf Your Career” job portal was also introduced as an ongoing effort to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion, and driving awareness to the industry’s opportunities.

FORE HIRE, an organization founded to educate, guide, and connect former and current collegiate women golfers with career opportunities, has partnered with PGA of America Career Services and organizations like Women’s Golf Coaches Association, AJGA, Mizuno Golf, and Topgolf Callaway Brands Corp. to host “Women Who Want to Work in Golf” in both 2023 and 2024. This year's event, held May 19-21 in conjunction with the NCAA Division I Women's Golf Championship, will be held in Carlsbad, California, hosted by Topgolf Callaway Brands, and is meant to connect participants with potential employers and increase awareness of the availability of talented women looking to enter the industry. The United Black Golfer’s Association Inc., a Laurelton Queens-based nonprofit launched in 2014, has spent the last decade providing opportunities for men and women golfers interested in the game of golf, including scholarships for students pursuing higher education and other nonprofit organizations, charities, and

groups; and Black Girls Golf of Atlanta, Georgia, founded by Tiffany Fitzgerald, is on a mission to improve the golfing experience for Black girls. Folds of Honor Foundation has also had a long history with the game of golf, leveraging the Jack Nicklaus Signature Course at American Dunes Golf Club in Grand Haven, Michigan to help support its mission to provide educational scholarships for children and spouses of disabled and fallen service members and first responders.

Other organizations like African American Golfer’s Digest, All Access Golf, Golf Women Mean Business, Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Latina Golfers Association, Mexican American Golf Association, U.S. Adaptive Golf Alliance, USA Disabled Golf Association, and Women of Color Golf, among others, are committed to increasing diversity, visibility, relatability, and accessibility to the game; while women and POC-owned businesses introduce unique top quality products, clothing, and accessory brands, social platforms, and services to the landscape.

And events like Women’s Golf Day, founded by Elisa Gaudet, which returns May 28 through June 4, 2024 as a global movement and series of events celebrating women and girls playing golf and learning skills that last a lifetime across a growing network of locations, is embracing a

mission to make golf fun and accessible across the world. It has grown to more than 1,300 locations in over 84 countries since 2016, including locations in Michigan, uniting women across the globe regardless of race, religion, language, geography, or economic status. Some of the local courses and resort destinations participating comprise: BOYNE Golf in Harbor Springs, Grand Traverse Resort and Spa in Acme, Verona Hills Golf Club in Bad Axe, and Pine Grove Country Club in Dickinson County.

LOCAL PERSPECTIVE

For Michigan, the Michigan Golf Alliance noted that the industry has a roughly $4.2 billion economic impact, employing over 60,000 people and $1.4 billion in wages paid annually, and manages approximately 127,500 acres of green space with roughly 28,000 acres of forest and wetlands that provide vital habitat for wildlife. And as local courses look to tee up for seasonal on-course and off-course play, at places like Pilgrim’s Run Golf Club in Pierson and Forest Dunes Golf Club in Roscommon, 2024 reflects a continued investment in existing facilities and growing interest in the game.

Michael Rey, PGA, director of golf at Pilgrim’s Run Golf Club, said that as the club celebrates its 25th anniversary into the first half of the new sea-

FOREST DUNES GOLF CLUB

son, one of its goals in 2023 and leading into the 2024 season was to create an even better experience for their customers

“We did that by upgrading our technology systems inside the clubhouse, out to our starter shacks, and even our beverage cart operation to make the experience better all the way around. One of the key aspects we put into play last year is including a starter time, basically sending out five groups each hour where a lot of public golf courses might go six, seven, or even eight groups in an hour. By taking that extra time out, it got people around the golf course a lot faster so they could enjoy their stay,” Rey added.

“We constantly looked to upgrade all of our operations, from how we redid the cart paths the last couple of years on the golf course, and how we have taken steps to improve our parking lot and driveway into the clubhouse, to how we have also done everything to the clubhouse possible to make this place look new and fresh after 25 years. We’ve made a lot of changes to our overall program just to make it a better experience for the customer when they are here,” Rey added.

Pilgrim’s Run Golf Club plans to continue using the same booking format for this upcoming season, and as Rey noted, has already opened up their tee sheets for the entire season—a policy shift that was a first in 2023—which has led to thou-

sands of pre-booked rounds as of March 2024.

“We used to do just a month out in our booking, but this year we’ve already pre-booked 7,000 rounds before April, so we’re looking at a very busy year here for us. We are keeping the same thing in play as far as the starter time involved, but overall, we are looking at a hugely successful year. The reason we had to change our policy on our tee sheet is because we have people coming from all over the world now to see us and we can’t just wait a month out to book them anymore,” Rey said. “We have to make sure that the season is there for them to book, so we open that tee sheet up in early November and start taking tee times all the way through.”

While the industry has maintained a robust, stable footing, full of innovative and exciting opportunities not just across the state, but nationwide and globally, it still faces challenges like rising costs across sectors such as turfgrass management, supply chains, operations, and equipment. And in a state like Michigan, where some courses operate seasonally or rotate their golf offerings with winter activities and indoor, off-course golf alternatives, weather can play a major role in a season’s success as well.

“I think one of the biggest challenges is that the cost of everything continues to rise for all, so unfortunately, we have to, and most golf courses have to, increase our rates. The cost of business has gone up drastically in the last three years— the cost of fertilizer, the cost of buying mowing equipment, the cost of new golf carts. I’ve run businesses for 25 years and if we can break even, it’s a successful year, so golf courses aren’t making a lot of money on this when there are increased rates, they are just trying to stay afloat while trying to make changes like upgrades in their program to make people want to keep coming back to their facilities,” Rey said.

“But I think golf is in a great position right now. People have come back to find golf as a place that they want to spend their time and so the golf business itself is fantastic. It’s booming and it has helped us to have places like the Toptracers and Topgolfs of the world. They are getting people in to just hit the balls and try it, and those people who are hitting balls and finding success there want to take it to the golf course. So, it is a fantastic time to be a part of the golf business,” Rey added.

Forest Dunes Golf Club, located roughly 135 miles northeast of Pilgrim’s Run, also is looking to build on another successful year in 2023 in this upcoming season. Don Helinski, director of operations at Forest Dunes, said that the big takeaway was that the club continued to welcome guests from all over the country as it has established itself as a true national destination for golf resorts, in large part due to its Tom Doak-designed, reversible course known as The Loop.

“Folks are coming to check out what it is all about and the architectural genius that [Doak] was able to accomplish in routing out two different courses utilizing the same 18 greens, and overall, golf is at a green state right now, particularly in northern Michigan with all of the great

courses we have up here. Folks who come from out-of-state aren’t coming to just play one of our courses, they are coming to experience multiple resorts,” Helinski said.

“I think the unique thing about golf is that it is something you can enjoy by yourself or you can enjoy it with a group. It’s personal, you can play at your own level, set goals for yourself, but more than anything there is a social aspect to it and I think with COVID, everybody felt trapped in various ways and coming out of that we really now value the time we are able to spend together and have fun and creating traditions. Golf can be the secondary part of enjoying the whole experience; it can be more about the time just spent being together,” Helinski added.

As Forest Dunes Golf Club heads into the 2024 season, which as Helinski noted is an exciting prospect as the destination welcomes golfers back on property, it is building on changes made prior to and in the wake of the 2023 season. The club not only renovated its Bootlegger Bar, removing the existing fireplace to open up expansive, 360-degree views of both Bootlegger Short Course and Forest Dunes Course, but also expanded outdoor seating and wrapped up construction on a covered pavilion on its back patio.

“The pavilion on our back patio will offer shade to our guests dining during the day and then will have a cool ambiance at night with lighting and music out there, and obviously, in case of inclement weather, we could still have guests dining in a little bit of an alfresco experience under some cover,” Helinski said.

“We are also looking forward to continuing the evolution of the Bootlegger Short Course. Each year it continues to be more and more popular as groups realize how fun it is to be able to play with up to 12 people together, music playing, barefoot with two clubs and a putter, and beverage in hand,” Helinski added.

Helinski also noted the biggest opportunity for the club moving forward is continuing to keep things fresh and adding amenities to its portfolio of two championship courses, a short course, and an 18-hole putting course.

“We have the major things everybody is looking for as it relates to the golf experience, but there are always little nuances and new things we can continue to evolve and add to keep things fresh and I think that is important,” Helinski said.

“We do have enough land to expand with another course, and that has always been the goal of our current ownership since they bought the property in 2021, so we will see where that takes us in the near future. But the other opportunity and the great thing about the game of golf is enjoying it with travel companions, and so anything we can do to make the experience more special—whether that is fire pits at the cottages or ping pong tables or the Bootlegger bar and the ambiance—to enhance that experience is going to be very important,” Helinski added.

Friday, June 21, 2024 7:00 PM – 11:00 PM

Irish/Scottish Cèilidh (party!) in the Pub Tent with Live Music! Music begins at 7:00 PM

$22.50 Admission

Cash bar

Saturday, June 22, 2024 9:00 AM – 11:00 PM

Highland Games begin 9:30 AM Festival grounds open until 8 PM (Music continues until 11:00 PM)

$12 (16 & older)

15 & under - FREE

June 21 & 22, 2024

HOLLAND, MICHIGAN

Traditional Irish and Scottish foods

Celtic Genealogy Assistance | Vendors of Celtic goods

Irish Pub tent | Scottish Clan Tents | Kids area

Are you interested in being a part of the festival? We welcome inquiries from Celtic Merchandise Retailers, Irish & Scottish Food Vendors, and Scottish Clans. Visit our website!

www.HollandCelticFestival.org

info@HollandCelticFestival.org

Facebook.com/HollandCelticFestival

HOLLAND CELTIC FESTIVAL

Ottawa County Fairgrounds

BLACK LAKE GOLF CLUB | NORTH | CHEBOYGAN COUNTY Onaway | 18 Public | blacklakegolf.com | 989-733-4653

BUCKS RUN GOLF CLUB | WEST | ISABELLA COUNTY Mt. Pleasant | 18 Public | bucksrun.com | 989-773-6830

BOURBON AT ITS VERY BEST

David Burns, Owner

4

3 Beautiful Locations

72-Holes of Championship golf

Welcome to A-Ga-Ming Golf Resort, nestled on the shores of Torch Lake and Lake Michigan, where you’ll nd inclusive stay and play packages; club memberships; special twilight, junior and senior rates; dining options; a fairytale wedding venue; and so much more.

Sundance Named 2023 Michigan Course of the Year

Sundance embodies all of the characteristics of the Course of the Year award. The golf course has fostered a vibrant community hub where people can come together for gol ng, socializing and events while supporting charitable causes that bene t the broader community.

• Jada Paisley, Executive Director of the MGCA

Sundance exempli es the extraordinary beauty of northwest Michigan with views of both Lake Michigan and Torch Lake; wide, playable fairways, superbly sculpted greens, and vast windswept bunkers.

4 from torch lake to charlevoix award-winning courses