The Golf Explorer, Volume 3, Issue 3: A Fade Into Autumn

A FA D E I N TO AU T U M N

Rounding The Fairways:

Benzie and Manistee

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Contents 22 JACK NICKLAUS HEADLINES GAM CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION |

the golf legend is expected to headline an event this summer to help honor a state association

24 THE OTSEGO COMEBACK |

a resort under new ownership looks to the future

26 ROUNDING THE FAIRWAYS: BENZIE AND MANISTEE |

The Golf Explorer’s annual golfing tour series returns with a look at the Benzie and Manistee areas

32 THE FUTURE GENERATION |

to help engage, retain, and provide access for young golfers on the course, a number of programs are welcoming juniors to the greens across private and public facilities

34 ARCADIA EXPERIENCE |

the design and build behind a golf club’s mission to provide a world-class experience

38 THE DISH: DETROIT |

the chefs taking part in the craft dining experience revival in Detroit and the inspiration behind it

44 THE FAIRWAY DESTINATION | a few of the great golfing havens— and destinations—in Michigan

56 SHAPE OF IRON |

the new players iron pushing the boundaries in club innovation introduced by TaylorMade

Apple Mountain 10

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COURTESY APPLE MOUNTAIN

GOLF SPA SHOP DINE CASINO

GET UP AND GO The paradise of golf in Northern Michigan is more than a manicured green, orchard-lined fairway or battling The Bear. More than award-winning course design, spacious Clubhouse or veteran instructors. It’s having all of those things at your fingertips.

You won’t believe it if you haven’t seen it. Get up and go at grandtraverseresort.com/golf.

Owned and Operated by the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians

Contents 52 CRAFTED: THE BEER SERIES | several of the great craft brewing stops in the state

60 THE LOCHENHEATH EVOLUTION |

a northern Michigan golf club breaks ground on the next phase in its nearly-complete-transition back to private status

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88 DEVELOPING HOSPITALITY |

a series of new hotel developments in downtown Grand Rapids are set to change the hospitality landscape

92 GOLFING OUTLOOK |

industry leaders are looking to stay aggressive as they work to bring more people to the game of golf

GOLF ESCAPES |

a few golf escapes that can help create the tranquil frame of mind

68 CASTING THE LINE |

from manicured fairway to babbling brook, today’s traveler has an affinity for the experiential

72 REGIONAL GATEWAY |

the second largest airport in the state has continued to invest in making travel better and welcome its guests into a world-class transportation hub and gateway

86 AT THE TABLE: WITH DOUG SMALL |

President and Chief Executive Officer for Experience Grand Rapids talks favorite golf courses and best shots

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CHRISTOPHER PASTOTNIK

From the editor Golf is a quintessential pastime for many.

It is a game that is not only versatile, but also prevalent as it defines many social gatherings, corporate networking events, collegiate experiences, professional careers, and leisure travel.

There are a number of aspects one can appreciate about the game—its strategy, competition, course and club design, and setting—as well as its ability to connect, inspire, and enrich lives.

This third annual print edition seek to capture a snapshot of the action—and scenery—in Michigan as we continue to highlight some of the great places to play, stay, and explore in the Great Lakes State. In this issue, we recognize some of the thoughtful collaboration among educational and nonprofit institutions and local golf courses, as well as one resort’s comeback as it heads into the season under new ownership.

We also take a moment to learn about the design-and-build behind a club’s mission to provide a world-class experience, the iron design pushing boundaries, the chefs taking part in the craft dining experience revival in Detroit, and a few of the great golfing havens and escapes throughout the state. We head to Benzie and Manistee, where our annual golfing tour series returns with a look at the vacation destination; stop to cast in nearby rivers and streams, and savor a few of the great craft brewing stops in the state.

There is much to see and experience.

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

Rachel J. Weick Editor | SVK Multimedia and Publishing The Golf Explorer: Michigan’s Journal to Incredible Golf

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LEGAL Smith Haughey Rice & Roegge

MichiganGolfExplorer.com EDITOR Rachel J. Weick CREATIVE AND DESIGN Chris H. Pastotnik | H3 Designs PUBLISHER John C. Olsa ADVERTISING SALES John C. Olsa johno@svkmp.com

The Golf Explorer is printed once per year, with 200,000 copies printed and 181,200 via direct mail to our database.

Kim Amesbury, Advertising Sales kamesbury@comcast.net

©2019 All rights reserved. Contents may not be reprinted or reproduced without written consent of publisher.

Jamie Jewell, Advertising Sales jamiej@svkmp.com CIRCULATION David Fant, Market Mapping Plus PRINTING AND MAILING Walsworth Printing & Holland Litho CONTRIBUTORS WRITERS Riley Collins & Greg Johnson PHOTOGRAPHERS Brian Walters Photography Nile Young, Nile Young Photography 18

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ACCOUNTING Pennell CPA Fred Pennell, CPA, CGMA Brian Furness, CPA

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Greg Johnson | WRITER Greg Johnson has written about Michigan golf for 34 years, and owns a media services business in Hudsonville. He serves as co-chair of the Michigan Golf Hall of Fame Committee, and in 2012, the Michigan Golf Course Owners Association presented him with the Bruce Matthews Lifetime Achievement Award.

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Nile Young | PHOTOGRAPHER

Riley Collins | STAFF WRITER

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.

A Detroit-area native with a continual craving for learning, Riley has traveled nationally and internationally to gather new perspectives and creative and professional inspiration.

After moving around the state of Michigan—studying writing and making new friends—Riley has since settled in downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan where she earned a B.A in Writing and Rhetoric and General Business minor at Grand Valley State University. She has experience working with content management systems, editing works of non-fiction, and writing for a diverse grouping of Michigan-based publications.

When not writing or reading, Riley enjoys watching live music and casually studying different languages.

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Jack Nicklaus headlines GAM Centennial Celebration Text: Greg Johnson

FARMINGTON HILLS, MICH. — Golf legend Jack Nicklaus, who has won championships in Michigan and built some of the state’s most popular golf courses like The Bear at Grand Traverse Resort, will headline a June gala—the Golf Association of Michigan Foundation fundraiser — at Oakland Hills Country Club to help honor the association’s centennial.

The GAM 100 CELEBRATION, which will take place on Monday, June 17, will include golf on the famed South Course, with proceeds benefitting the GAM Foundation, including its efforts to grow the game through its Youth on Course initiative.

Nicklaus, who was 79-years-old on Jan. 21, 2019 returns to where he won the 1991 U.S. Senior Open on the South Course in a playoff with Chi Chi Rodriguez, and where 30 years earlier he finished fourth in the 1961 U.S. Open as a 21-year-old amateur.

Nicklaus will take part in a special program and celebration dinner, as well as a VIP meet-and-greet session. Opportunities and donation levels to take part in the celebration events, including golf, will be announced soon.

“Jack Nicklaus is the greatest golfer of all time and it will be great to have him back at Oakland Hills,” said David Graham, who will retire in June as the longest tenured executive director of the GAM with 18 years of service.

“It’s a special spot for him. His history of championship golf is unparalleled, and then you must add to that what he has contributed to the game as a golf course designer, businessman, brand, and philanthropist. He has great golf courses he designed in Michigan—TPC of Michigan in Dearborn, Harbor Shores in Benton Harbor and The Bear at Grand Traverse Resort—and he has epitomized a level of excellence for me and many of Michigan’s golfers over the years,” Graham added.

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pionship that Oakland Hills is hosting across the street on the North Course over the following five days.

The celebration is one of the highlights that will mark the GAM’s centennial this summer. A special centennial Annual Meeting in April is planned, and a new Executive Director will also be named this year.

Nicklaus has been a familiar visitor to the state, especially in the many major championships at Oakland Hills.

He also was part of a design team at Wabeek Country Club in suburban Detroit. It was one of his earliest ventures into design.

Since then he designed The Bear, which he built as ordered by then owner Paul Nine, to be the toughest course in Michigan. It has been softened over the years to fit resort play but has remained one of the top courses and most popular courses in Michigan. Last year it once again played host to the Michigan Open Championship and remains the flagship golf course of the resort.

TPC of Michigan in Dearborn was built from reclaimed land in the shadow of Ford’s national headquarters and for many years hosted the Senior Players Championship. It remains a vibrant club and community and annually hosts Golf Association of Michigan tournaments and GAM Golf Days.

Harbor Shores in Benton Harbor is his most recent foray into Michigan. He built an award-winning course that has hosted the Senior PGA Championship several times since opening. It, too, was built in part from reclaimed land, but also has three holes on a sensitive sand dune area with a spectacular view of Lake Michigan.

Previously published by GAM online and written by Greg Johnson; printed with permission.

The Otsego comeback Text: Greg Johnson

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athie and Gary Vollmar of Lewiston, Michigan added an air of excitement to the grounds at Otsego Club & Resort in Gaylord, Michigan from the moment the couple invested in its future.

The couple purchased the resort last summer in 2018 and set in motion a series of events that will bring The Tribute and The Classic courses back on line for 2019. The golf resort is also anticipated to introduce a new fleet of golf cars and remain a part of the 31-year-long successful marketing initiative by the Gaylord Golf Mecca. The group offers 15 golf courses across eight local properties with 20 area lodging partners, which will continue to include Otsego Club & Resort’s fairways and lodging.

“We will have 80 brand new carts, and we are adding a full-service halfway house on The Tribute at the 10th hole,” said Michelle Norton, director of sales and marketing at Otsego Club & Resort, in reference to new improvements. “Beverage cart service has always been a challenge through that part of the course. It will be a great addition to our service.”

Norton also noted the future looks bright for the resort. “[The Vollmars] are excited about this opportunity,” Norton said. “They have been keeping an eye on the resort for the last few years and are tickled to get it open and serving customers.”

Otsego Club & Resort was founded in 1939 and will now offer lodging, restaurant service through the Duck Blind Grille, skiing, golfing, and other amenities, such as the 24,000 square-feet of meeting and wedding space. The owners have also purchased land adjoining the resort, with a potential for additional development, according to Norton.

The Vollmars’ interest in the resort can be traced back to before it was initially sold in 2006 and when it ended up in the auction process, saw an opportunity

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for possible investment.

Norton said the new owners are passionate about the property and are dedicated to bringing it back to what it used to be—and more.

“They are savvy business people. They do their due diligence. They don’t make snap decisions,” Norton said. “Since they took control in August, they have looked at everything closely and it’s wonderful they did not just walk in and make rash decisions. They are doing what is best for the property, our clients, and the community.”

Gary Vollmar, a native of Cass City, Michigan and a graduate of Central Michigan University, is a certified public accountant who worked with Walboro Corp., a Fenton-based engine management and fuel systems manufacturer. Vollmar purchased a division of Walboro in Indiana and then in 2003, started Aggressive Manufacturing Innovations, or AMI. The company is a supplier to agriculture, construction, automotive, and the marine industries with five facilities in Michigan.

During the recent auction and ownership transition process, Ryan Holmes, golf course superintendent, maintained the Otsego Club & Resort courses while it was closed for much of last year, and has been retained to continue in that capacity.

The Tribute is an award-winning design by Gary Koch, PGA Tour Professional, and Rick Robbins founded at the resort in 2001. It has dramatic elevation changes and vistas in addition to sweeping modern golf design with classic elements. It plays up to about 7,155 yards with multiple tee additions.

Otsego’s other course is known as The Classic, which is a 1957 design by William Diddel. It plays from multiple tee choices from approximately 6,267 yards and nearly 3,920 yards. It has open parkland space, limited elevation changes and is popular for beginners, junior, and senior golfers.

The Tribute, OTSEGO CLUB

COURTESY OTSEGO CLUB

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Rounding the fairways:

Benzie and Manistee Text: R. Collins

The Golf Explorer’s annual golfing tour series returns with some of the great destinations to play, stay, dine, and discover in the Benzie and Manistee, Michigan areas.

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orthern Michigan is recognized for its pristine natural assets— from picturesque lakeshores and sandy dunes to rich harvesting soil and autumn hues—many of which play a part in the makeup of a variety of well-known golf courses. Apart from its notable options for quality play, northern Michigan also holds hidden gems in Benzie and Manistee Counties offering a number of ways to dine, unwind, and stay in both areas.

PLAY

Mountain Ridge and Betsie Valley Golf Courses

Crystal Mountain | Benzie County 12500 Crystal Mountain Dr., Thompsonville, Michigan

Home to both the Mountain Ridge and Betsie Valley golf courses—together en26

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compassing 36 holes of championship golf—Crystal Mountain is an award-winning golf destination visited by seasoned golfers and those looking to explore the game’s most notable courses. Mountain Ridge is nestled among northern Michigan’s native pines and set into the mountain’s topography, providing players with swift elevation changes and panoramic views. Recently renovated, the Betsie Valley golf course is an option offering treelined fairways and challenging bunkers, making it a satisfying setting for seasoned players.

Crystal Mountain also is home to a Practice and Learning Center with 10-acres of resources for golfers looking to warm up or improve their game, including a driving range, putting green, two-tiered chipping greens, and the Crystal Mountain Golf School.

Pinecroft Golf Course Benzie County 8260 Henry Rd., Beulah, Michigan Opened as Pinecroft Golf Course in 1992, the venue has undergone two transformations—first as a family fruit farm and then a Christmas tree plantation—before becoming a northern Michigan golf destination home to fruitful, undulating terrain and heightened views of Crystal Lake. The elevation changes and challenging greens are aspects of the course that Co-Owner Lee Stone finds favorable, with the 12th hole being his favorite with its elevated tees and wide landing area.

“The land is my favorite aspect of the courses,” Stone said. “The elevation change makes the course unique in the fact that it provides a diversity of character of the holes: it’s not flat land. Each hole COURTESY MAKE IT BENZIE

has its own character. Some holes have high, naturally elevated, tees and some holes offer great views of Crystal Lake.”

Champion Hill Golf Course Benzie County 501 N. Marshall Rd., Beulah, Michigan The second course Lee Stone added to the Pinecroft Golf Course repertoire, Champion Hill Golf Course, offers a dramatically different makeup and layout, running through the highest parts of Benzie County with wide fairways, minimal trees, and high winds. The course holds two-tiered greens and elevated tees; and Stone’s favored 15th hole, featuring a short but trick par-4 with a rolling fairway, classic pot bunker, and stunning views of the green.

Co-designed by Jim Cole, the course features five varieties of bluegrasses and greens composed of L-93 bentgrass, making them appropriately dense and playable. The course, tucked into 350 acres of Benzie County Highlands offers distant views of Crystal Lake and the Platte River Lakes.

Canthooke Valley and Cutters’ Ridge Golf Courses, Manistee National Golf & Resort | Manistee County 4797 U.S. Highway 31 S, Manistee, Michigan Nestled among the shady white pines of the Manistee National Forest, Manistee

National Golf & Resort offers the two distinctive par-71 courses of Canthooke Valley and Cutters’ Ridge, which were both named to reflect the area’s notable local timber industry.

Architect Gary Pulsipher designed Canthooke Valley to be challenging, yet playable for most golfers, creating moderately-sized fairways and generous bentgrass greens, but dotted with bunkers, sandy soil patches, ponds, and marshes.

Cutters’ Ridge, opened in 2000, was designed by notable Michigan-based Architect Jerry Matthews and is characterized by clay-like soil, wetlands, high slopes, and five sets of tee boxes.

The resort Inn holds Wanagan Grille and CJ’s Lounge for cold post-play beverages and both offer distinct atmospheres for celebrations or more intimate gatherings. CJ’s Lounge offers a pool table and large-screen viewing, while Wanagan Grille offers a lengthy menu filled with hearty portions and choice cuts.

STAY

Chimney Corners Resort Benzie County 1602 Crystal Dr., Frankfort, Michigan Since 1935, this northern Michigan getaway has offered a variety of lodging options to visitors from traditional summer cottages and cabins to a historic bed and breakfast on the shores of Crystal Lake.

The resort offers cozy apartment and lodge-style accommodations that are as inviting as current Owners Jim and Mary

Rogers, who have been operating the space since 1994. The resort is located on the scenic Michigan Route 22 highway and offers a number of outdoor activities for guests including paddle boards, tennis courts, fishing waters, and hoists for visitors’ boats. It also provides nearly 300 feet of sandy shoreline access to Crystal Lake beachfront.

On the bluffs above the resort, approximately 135 acres of trails encourage visitors to hike the coast to gain a sweeping view of the lake. The atmosphere and diverse menu at the newly remodeled Rock’s Landing and an association with the nearby Crystal Downs Country Club—designed by noted Architect Alister MacKenzie—round out the experience Chimney Corners provides guests as they explore all northern Michigan has to offer.

Hotel Frankfort Benzie County 231 Main St., Frankfort, Michigan The Hotel Frankfort welcomes visitors to the area with a variety of accommodations, such as luxury king rooms—The Sunflower Room features a Jacuzzi and wrought iron spiral staircase—to queen business rooms; as well as the event facilities of The Wine Cellar and The Sand Bar, and a revolving dinner menu paired with craft cocktails. The Hotel Frankfort’s concierge services also provide visitors with knowledge of the best activity options for their timeline, preferences, and budget. Located on historic Main Street, the hotel is located just blocks away from Lake Michigan.

S.S City of Milwaukee Boatel Manistee County 99 Arthur St., Manistee, Michigan

Crystal Mountain BRIAN WALTERS

Those looking for a more unconventional stay in the Manistee County area can look no further than the historic S.S City of Milwaukee, a 360-foot-long vessel built in 1931 to transport rail traffic across Lake Michigan. The ship now serves as a charming bed and breakfast destination and tour location, offering visitors a historically-centered stay with a complimentary continental breakfast before exploring the nearby beaches, downtown Manistee, or the Manistee Riverwalk.

Each passenger room or ship’s officers’ room is furnished with rich oak paneling, brass trim, and can accommodate up to four people.

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Manistee National Arcadia House Bed & Breakfast Manistee County 17304 Northwood Highway, Arcadia, Michigan Nestled between two bluffs in Sleeping Bear Dunes on the Lake Michigan Shoreline, Arcadia House Bed & Breakfast is a short distance from Arcadia Bluffs Golf Course, Crystal Mountain, and Arcadia Beach on Lake Michigan. The bed and breakfast, originally a residence built in 1910, offers on-site massage therapy and daily breakfast offerings to make guests at home in their cozy surroundings, full of Edwardian-era charm. Different packages offer guests a stay optimized for their needs, from the Relaxation Package and Shoes and Brews Package—featuring snow shoes for two and a $40 gift card to Stormcloud Brewing Company among others—to the O Christmas Tree Weekend Package which offers guests a twonight accommodation for two and the opportunity to pick an up to eight-foot-tall Frasier or Douglas Fir Tree at the Frankfort Christmas Tree Farm.

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SAVOR Stormcloud Brewing Company Benzie County 303 Main St., Frankfort, Michigan Located two blocks from Lake Michigan—and the stretch of shoreline often called the Golden Coast—in downtown Frankfort, Michigan, Stormcloud Brewing Company has specialized in bringing high-quality Belgian-inspired beer to Benzie County since 2013.

“Frankfort is our favorite place in the world. It’s gorgeous all year round and a fantastic place to live and do business, so we wanted to do that right here as opposed to opening in a larger market,” said Keirsun Scott, marketing and communications manager at Stormcloud Brewing Company.

The downtown pub hosts 16 taps and a full menu, which utilizes locally-sourced ingredients capturing the unique tastes of northern Michigan, from flatbread pizzas and fresh popcorn to small plates and

sandwiches. With an expansion in 2018 to include a new production facility and second taproom, and a new canning initiative that will include three beers, the Benzie County staple has much to offer visitors looking to savor the best of the area.

“We just love beer in general and if you hang out with the brewers for long enough, you’ll know that they love to experiment in general with new ingredients,” Scott said.

Rock’s Landing Benzie County 1577 Crystal Dr., Frankfort, Michigan Also in Frankfort, Michigan is Rock’s Landing: an intimate, seasonal location for those seeking to enjoy an eclectic menu full of sustainable ingredients mere inches away from Lake Michigan. What started as a snack bar for Chimney Corners Resort, is now a well-known getaway boasting a menu with items like braised lamb shoulder in red wine reduction and house-made Italian sausage ragu with NILE YOUNG

arancini, fried risotto, and mozzarella.

The combination of location, ingredients, and a thoughtfully crafted beer and wine list filled with local selections move Rock’s Landing’s traditional luxury dining experience into a category specific to northern Michigan.

Blue Fish Kitchen + Bar Manistee County 312 River St., Manistee, Michigan In downtown Manistee, relaxed new American dining is offered in the form of Blue Fish Kitchen + Bar’s riverside views, choice steak and Great Lakes fish cuts, farm-to-table fare, and artisan cocktails.

Dishes like Perch Tacos and the Autumn Harvest Salad on the lunch menu offer lighter daytime fare, while selections like Champagne Chicken and Firehouse Ribeye pair with thoughtfully crafted cocktails as the sun sets.

With over 100 unique holes, you’re sure to enjoy the greener side of Benzie County when you play our scenic fairways and take in the views of our dramatic vistas. For more on golf, events or lodging, go to visitbenzie.com.

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Iron Fish Distillery Manistee County 14234 Dzuibanek Rd., Thompsonville, Michigan For Iron Fish Distillery in Thompsonville, Michigan, the land that yields ingredients for small-batch spirits like Michigan Rye Vodka and Bourbon Whiskey Tawny Port Casks has been a top priority when bringing the firm’s goals of soil-to-spirit distilling to fruition.

“We’ve always had a concern about the land,” said David Wallace, owner of Iron Fish Distillery. “I’ve been on the Betsie River for the last 18 years—it’s in my back yard. We source all our water from a deep water well on our property to be conscious of what’s happening with our ground waters and surface waters.”

Collaboration with local partners also ensure creative approaches to distilling already organic, non-GMO ingredients:

G O L F. E A T. R E S T. R E P E A T. Up north, we live on the basic necessities.

Come experience our unmatched hospitality.

36 Holes of Exceptional Golf full service hotel wanagan grille restaurant

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(800) 867-2604 manisteenational.com 4797 us 31 South, Manistee

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Interlochen Center for the Arts maple syrup from Griner Family Sugar Bush is aged in barrels and then used to craft the distillery’s Maple Old Fashioned, and ingredients for award-winning gin—which will be aged in barrels and released in 2019—are sourced from Antioch Tree Farm. Local collaboration and pursued protection of Michigan’s valuable watersheds and nutrition-rich soil drives the distillery’s mission and involves guests in the process.

UNWIND

The Honor Trading Post Benzie County 8294 Deadstream Rd. Honor, Michigan Offering nature-goers a few options for exploration amid the Upper and Lower Platte River in Honor, Michigan—which forms at the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore and culminates in an entrance to Lake Michigan—the Honor Trading Post provides canoes, kayaks, tubes, and stand-up paddle boards to those seeking an adventurous flair to their northern Michigan stay. The Platte River offers scenic beauty at nearly 30 miles long and two-to-five feet deep on average, making it fit for both beginners to water navigation and more experienced visitors. The Upper Platte River features fast currents and tight turns, while the Lower Platte River offers gently flowing cur30

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rents, a sandy beach, and a pass through Loon Lake on the way to Lake Michigan.

Interlochen Center for the Arts Benzie County 4000 Highway M-137, Interlochen, Michigan Since its establishment in 1928, Interlochen Center for the Arts has drawn thousands of visitors each year to experience an ongoing celebration of art in its many variations. Visitors are invited to watch performances in music, theatre, visual arts, film, and dance, cultivated by the center’s talented students and faculty; and inspired by the surrounding campus and scenic natural environment. The center also plays host to noted featured artists and groups, from authors and string ensembles, to acrobatic and dance acts; and continues to nurture talent from around the world—alumni have received 26 Tony Awards and 124 Grammy Awards among other accomplishments.

The Vogue Theatre Manistee Manistee County 383 River St., Manistee, Michigan The Vogue Theatre in Manistee, Michigan offers the area vintage movie palace charm at a convenient location and price—among new box office arrivals, there are also 25-cent family matinees

and $2 classics. The historic, Art Deco, theatre was originally established in 1938 as part of the Butterfield Theaters chain and underwent a more than $2 million renovation in 2012, once again offering locals and visitors an intimate setting in which to unwind and enjoy old favorites or new releases.

Little River Casino Resort Manistee County 2700 Orchard Highway, Manistee, Michigan The Little River Casino Resort in Manistee, Michigan is one of northern Michigan’s ultimate destinations for either an exciting night out or a cozy night in. A multitude of options for gaming, dining, shopping, and pampering make vacation convenient and enjoyable, while concerts and special events draw crowds to experience their favorite acts. The accompanying lodge-style, 292-room hotel features a spa and salon, private fitness center, two indoor pools, a heated outdoor pool, sauna, and hot tub, among distinctive design features that celebrate the surrounding beauty of northern Michigan.

Owned and operated by the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians, Little River Casino Resort first opened in 1999 with 600 slot machines and has since grown its entertainment offerings to more than 1,300 slot and video poker machines, and table games.

COURTESY MAKE IT BENZIE

TEN COURSES. THREE RESORTS. ONE DESTINATION.

Boyne Highlands Resort The Heather • Hole #18

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by Michigan Golf Course Association

NORTHERN MICHIGAN

NATIONAL GOLF COURSE OWNERS ASSOCIATION

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The future generation Text: Greg Johnson

T

o help engage, retain, and provide access for young golfers on the course, a number of programs at both the state and local level across private and public facilities alike are welcoming juniors to the greens in the state of Michigan.

First Tee chapters; PGA Junior League teams; Top 40 Junior Golf; American Junior Golf Association national events; the parent-funded Teach, Grow, Achieve, or TGA, Premier Golf; and the highly popular national initiative known as Drive, Chip and Putt—culminating into the Augusta National at the Masters Tournament—are just a few of the events and initiatives now available to the younger golfer.

Since being approached in late 2015 by members of the Northern California Golf Association Foundation at the International Association of Golf Admin-

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istration and the subsequent pilot program launched by the Golf Association of Michigan in 2016, another program known as Youth On Course is gaining momentum.

David Graham, executive director of the Golf Association of Michigan, or GAM, said the initiative first of all addressed affordability and it focused on youth. The program was established by the NCGA Foundation in 2006 to provide young golfers between the age of six- and 18-years-old an opportunity to join for $5 and pay $5 for golf rounds at participating golf courses.

“I had to bring it to my executive committee. Steve Braun and others who had worked with junior golf through the GAM and other organizations, saw the same things I saw and that it fit with the mission of the GAM and our establishment of a foundation,” Graham said.

The GAM became the first regional golf association East of the Mississippi River to support the initiative. Under the GAM Foundation, Youth On Course Program golf facilities that choose to participate are subsidized. For each $5 round they receive the difference between the $5 paid and a contracted junior rate, which on average is about $8 per round.

“Cost was a deterrent to junior golf and this helps with that burden,” Graham said. “It’s working in Michigan and it’s spreading across the country.”

In its second year in 2018, the Youth On Course program through the GAM had more than 4,500 youth participate and play almost 6,000 rounds at 93 participating Michigan facilities. Nationally, Youth On Course, a non-profit, reports they are in 26 states and in 2018 there were 992 golf courses involved with more than 150,000 rounds being played by nearly GREG JOHNSON

Danielle Staskowski 50,000 youngsters. In addition, a scholarship program now gives away $250,000 to YOC member golfers annually.

“It’s a junior golf program, a growthe-game program that works,” said Judy Mason, the director of golf at Michaywe’The Pines in Gaylord, who is also heavily involved with a local junior association in the area and the current president of the Gaylord Golf Mecca.

“Cost was a big factor. There are other things that work against growth, but this program helps with one of the big ones,” Mason added.

Another junior initiative launched on the West Coast that has since made its way to the state of Michigan is known as TGA Premier Golf, which is an enrichment program providing pre-kindergarten through eighth grade level students with a chance to learn golf in an after school program.

Joshua Jacobs, founder and chief executive officer of TGA Premier Golf, took the cost of golf to the demographic that could afford it. Jacobs recognized a lack in introductory golf programs in 2003 when he created his company, which includes a franchise headed by retired newspaper editor Dave Robinson in Southeast Michigan. TGA franchises can be found in more than 80 markets across 27 states.

“Junior golf didn’t have a delivery system to bring the sport directly onto school campuses to solve junior golf’s primary barriers to entry: accessibility, cost, time, transportation and fun. When I first started TGA, our model was contrary to the industry,” Jacobs said.

“I learned that for decades, growing junior golf was a philanthropic, volunteer, or charitable endeavor where the norm was to provide free golf programs for primarily lower socio-economic demographics. That was in full contrast to the demographics supporting the game, mainly middle to upper income demographics,” Jacobs added.

Robinson’s Southeast Michigan franchise has been active for 10 years.

“We’ve grown every year significantly,” Robinson said. “In 2018 we had 3,500

kids in our programs, and we also hold camps and parent-child events.”

Robinson also said one of the best parts of his franchise is the return of former students who are now high school and college level golfers who work as instructors in his programs.

“Danielle Staskowski, a three-time state high school champion, is now one of our assistant coaches. She was in our very first summer camp in 2009 at Sycamore Hills at age seven,” Robinson said.

Robinson noted he thinks the game is growing at the junior level, despite the negative numbers heard about the entire industry.

“I keep seeing more kids, and kids that love the game,” Robinson said.

Robinson also plans to work with GAM in promoting Youth On Course to those involved and enrolled in his own program.

“Our students should take advantage of that and enjoy this great life-long game,” Robinson said. “We hope to build the next generation of golfers.”

The Drive, Chip and Putt national short-game competition for youth created as a grow-the-game initiative by the Masters Tournament, the PGA of American, and the USGA has at the least brought attention to building the next generation of golfers.

Last April, PJ Maybank of Cheboygan, 13-years-old, was the first Michigan youth to win his national age group title for boys aged 12-to-13-years-old at Augusta National. Maybank said he has spent hours practicing because he loves golf, but that the national competition did help drive him to practice more.

“I wanted to go to Augusta,” Maybank said.

Bradley Smithson

of Grand Rapids, Michigan made the most of his last year as a junior golfer, and the most fun he had was winning the Michigan PGA State Pro-Am Championship in tandem with his father, Gary Smithson, the head golf professional at Quail Ridge Golf Club.

“Winning with my dad was great,” Smithson said of the two-person, bestball competition. “Beating professionals and the best amateurs from the clubs they work at was just amazing.”

The State Pro-Am title was his highlight, but Smithson also was named the Golf Association of Michigan Junior Boys Golfer of the Year with wins in the GAM Junior Invitational and stroke play medalist honors at the Michigan Junior State Amateur. He also won the Michigan PGA Junior Championship.

“I finally put everything together that I have been working on with my coach Brandon Roby [Cascade Hills Country Club PGA professional] and showed I can do it and win,” Smithson said.

Smithson also indicated he hopes to repeat with a great summer in 2019 and his first among the men. He plans to attempt to play on the national stage in the U.S. Amateur and the U.S. Junior Amateur and then he wants to be a contributor on the Michigan State golf team in the fall. He has accepted a scholarship with the Spartans.

“I want to be Big Ten Freshman of the Year, and that’s what I will shoot for,” Smithson said. “I want to get to Michigan State, play a role on the team, and help out each week.”

The Michigan State University team has a roster full of former junior golf stars from the state, such as: James and Glenn Piot, Andrew Walker, Donnie Trosper, Austin Jenner, Zach Rosendale, Dylan and Devon Deogan, and Parker Jamieson.

Kyle Wolfe, director of handicap and competitions for the Golf Association of Michigan, said junior golf in Michigan is getting stronger each year.

“They are better, younger, each year, too,” Wolfe said. “There’s a lot of talent, and that has a lot to do with the development of the players we see moving on to the college programs.”

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Arcadia experience Text: R.J. Weick

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NILE YOUNG

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ast, open, and meticulous, The South Course at Arcadia Bluffs Golf Club in Arcadia, Michigan features classic design elements inherent to the courses during the golden age of early American golf. It is a course fashioned after the style of Charles Blair Macdonald, or CB Macdonald—fondly known as the father of American golf architecture—and his frequent co-designer Seth Raynor: featuring subtle challenges for the advanced golfer and playable angles and options for the beginning enthusiast.

In some ways, it is reminiscent of the Chicago Golf Club; and yet it remains wholly authentic to the land and complementary to the dramatic contours sculpted by Warren Henderson at The Bluffs.

Informed by its vision and supported by the nearly 311 acres of lightly rolling pasture and orchard terrain pieced together about one mile from Lake Michigan, The South Course is meant to be a tribute to a bygone era in course design and a reflection of Arcadia Bluff ’s mission to provide a world-class golfing experience.

William Shriver, president and chief operating officer at Arcadia Bluffs, noted the design-and-build of The South Course was also prompted out of a need to accommodate a growing audience of golfers and lodgers at the club as well as its organic development. As Arcadia Bluffs continued to add accommodations—The Lodge in 2010, The Cottages in 2014, and The Bluffs Lodge in 2017—the club was running out of tee times as the 60 rooms were booked 85 percent for four-out-of-the-sixmonth-long season.

“We have added an additional dining outlet too—what we call our Lakeview Bar, which is a more casual eating area with a full bar as opposed to our more formal dining area,” Shriver said. “So it was a combination of the two: the need for more tee times, need for space to put golfers; and then it was to keep up with the natural progression that we’ve had with Arcadia, really since we opened in 1999.”

Shriver noted the design vision for The South Course came directly from Arcadia Bluffs Owner Richard Postma, who wanted to pursue a golf course style that was a throwback to an early era of the game. The vision called for a design that was simple, straightforward, and avoided gimmicks and tricks; elements that were inherent to the architecture done by CB Macdonald and Seth Raynor. With a conceptual idea in mind, Arcadia Bluffs then looked to find a designer best suited for the task.

“The next step was: what designers

were out there who would fit our personality?” Shriver said in reference to the management team’s business mentality.

“We get it done. So we were looking for an individual who would fit into our mindset and our management philosophy; and also without even being asked, share the vision of that style of golf course.”

Referred to Dana Fry, ASCGA, golf course architect of Fry/Straka Global Golf Course Design Inc. by Henderson, Postma reached out to the designer and ultimately ended up tapping him to help bring the course to life. “[Fry] was just so enjoyable to work with from that standpoint and when he hits the ground to work, he hits the ground to work. I mean, this guy has more energy than any two humans I’ve ever met and he’s very involved,” Shriver said. “When he is here, he is on the site sun-up to sundown and he was just great to work with and he understood what the vision was and didn’t try to steer us away from it.”

Before the greens could be built up into defined plateaus, complete with greenside bunkers set below the surface, Postma, Henderson, and the Arcadia Bluffs team spent nearly a year searching for the right piece—or pieces—of land for the course.

“It had to be the right type of property.

The design features are similar [to Chicago Golf Club] and the reason they are, is because those are the architects: CB Macdonald and Seth Raynor,” Shriver said.

“We’d walk miles and miles around the local area. We were able to piece together seven parcels that now make up the 311 acres that is The South Course.”

Shriver also noted the seven parcels were owned by six different owners and a local gentleman, who has since passed away, served as the conduit to the other individuals. The land, which had been used for apple and peach orchards or remained unused, all tied together and fit the style the golf club was looking to build. While not flat, the land has an easy, gentle roll with a 360-degree openness that allowed for a multi-directional positioning with the two distinct nine-hole loops.

“It brings in the design features of Seth Raynor and CB Macdonald, where they used the natural landform, which is very subtle,” Shriver said. “They are able to angle bunkers, angle greens, they used a lot of squared-off edges to create some deception, and then of course you have the North, South, East, and West so you could point the holes in any direction you wanted to and have the elements play a huge part.”

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Course offers an expansive view across the approximately 311 acres. Strong grass faces, ribbons of flat sand, gentle slopes, ridges, and swales define the course at a glance; while squared-off greens averaging nearly 9,400 square-feet, flat bottomed sand bunkers, and rectangular tees with 90-degree corners reflect classic elements of golf course design.

“You don’t really have much of a swirling wind, because it is so wide open.

There is prevailing wind, so the par-5s aren’t particularly long as par-5s go, but they all play pretty much into the wind and then longer par-4s play downwind,” Shriver said. “When they designed golf courses 100 years ago, that is what they had to do, because they didn’t manipulate the land.”

The South Course also features firm and fast conditioning, which Shriver noted is one of the distinctive features about the layout. The speed of play averages about four hours and five minutes, compared to the four-hour-and-40-minute time at its neighboring The Bluffs course.

While the course can play differently from day-to-day depending on the wind—vast openness, lack of trees, and gentle roll of the property—Shriver noted its playability is another important aspect as it lends itself well to 30-handicap and scratch golfers alike.

“It is relatively open and the bunkers are placed in such that they are strategic, but you can easily navigate them if you have an idea where your ball is going,” Shriver said.

On the heels of The South Course’s build and subsequent debut, Arcadia Bluffs has also invested in the construc-

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tion of a new clubhouse located directly behind the 18th hole’s green. Anticipated to be completed and opened as of August 2019, the clubhouse is a three-level building with panoramic views designed in Nantucket or Shingle Cottage style

by Mark Oppenhuizen, AIA, NCARB, owner, president, and principal of Oppenhuizen Architects in Grand Haven, Michigan.

Programmatically, The South Course Clubhouse features storage, a snack shop, and restroom facilities on the lower level; a golf shop, dining and bar area, and outdoor covered porch with an elevated view of the property on the second level; and additional storage space in the attic’s third level. First Companies Inc. in Grand Rapids served as the contractor for the project, and RT London, which is a furniture company owned by Postma, provided design services and much of the interior furnishings.

The architectural style, while similar, differs slightly from the other buildings on the property, according to Shriver. While Oppenhuizen’s signature mark is evident

at Arcadia Bluffs as the sole architect, The South Course Clubhouse is all above ground with an air of a lowland coastal estate.

“The color scheme is very similar—we have our signature reddish color shingles with the gray shake and stone along the bottom—but it doesn’t look exactly like our other buildings,” Shriver said. “It has that feel to it; it has [Oppenhuizen’s] fingerprint on it.”

Both The South Course and its Clubhouse are complementary to Arcadia Bluffs’ portfolio: the exterior and interior palette of the clubhouse evokes a similar sense of place, while lending an upscale casual feeling compared to the more formal milieu of The Bluffs; and the course offers the same meticulous standards through a different lens.

“So many people have said they are opposite. They are opposite design features, but they complement each other tremendously in that you get a feel for two different styles of architecture,” Shriver said. “You have two different landforms to work with, but the two different architecture styles is basically the stark contrast.

It gives our guests that choose to play both courses two great choices.”

As Arcadia Bluffs celebrates 20 years in operation, it continues in its mission to operate as the finest golf travel destination in the country—and the recent additions of The South Course and The South Course Clubhouse are a reflection of its pursuit.

“It ties into that vision of providing a world-class travel destination and experience,” Shriver said. “We refer to it as the Arcadia experience and what guests will find [at The South Course] is the same thing they find at The Bluffs: meticulously maintained grounds all the way from the drive to the clubhouse, meticulously maintained grounds around that clubhouse and inside, and a golf course with perfect conditions all the time.”

NILE YOUNG

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VisitManisteeCounty.com/Golf The variety of courses in Manistee County rivals those in the best known areas of the state. The tree-lined fairways that cut through the national forest and the vistas of Lake Michigan are what sets Manistee County apart. All within thirty minutes of one another, seven championship courses and one executive courses grace the hills and valleys of Manistee County and welcome golfers of all skill levels each and every year.

The Dish:

Detroit Text: R.Collins

Mabel Gray 38

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Ima Noodles

Detroit’s craft drink and dining experience revival is built on an array of personalities that ref lect the vibrancy and diversity of the city itself. Whether in the area to sample East Michigan’s choice golf courses or simply explore the surroundings, visitors of Detroit will be greeted with a variety of dining choices.

The Golf Explorer: Michigan’s Journal to Incredible Golf had the opportunity to speak with four Detroit chefs taking part in the movement about the inspiration behind their brands’ endeavors and philosophies.

IMA NOODLES 2015 Michigan Avenue Detroit 32203 John R Road Madison Heights Chef/Owner: Mike Ransom

Located in the historic Corktown neighborhood of Detroit, Ima features a revolving selection of noodle soups, rice and curry dishes, and small plates that evolve traditional Japanese styles of cooking into something entirely unique to Chef and Owner Mike Ransom’s philosophy and cooking style. The menu develops a slightly different personality COURTESY LEFT: MABLE GRAY; ABOVE IMA NOODLES

at the outfit’s second location in Madison Heights, Michigan, but savory sauces, fresh sea-fare, and crisp greens continue to pronounce classic Ima f lavor.

TGE: Do you have a favorite dish on the menu right now?

Mike Ransom, chef and owner: My favorite dish right now would be our vegan Pho dish; Pho is a Vietnamese noodle soup.

[This is] a vegan version of a beef-based bone broth with heavy warming spices—all spice, star anise, and clove—and we serve ours with roasted tofu. It’s also served with noodles and garnished with fresh bean sprouts, Thai basil, and is served with fresh jalapeño and lime.

It’s a really refreshing, restorative dish. We have such a large vegan and vegetarian customer base that we’ve had a lot of fun exploring how we can create things that are normally animal-based and offer that same experience in a vegan or vegetarian form without compromising the f lavors. It’s been very fun to work with and we’ve managed to do that with our menu items so far. It also has those comfy spices you crave this time of year [in] the savory and aromatic broth.

TGE: Throughout your career, have you developed a personal cooking philosophy?

MR: I come from a background of French and new-American fine dining restaurants; so I came from having a lot more ingredients and more complex service style and going into each dish with a lot more steps. One thing that I’ve learned over the years [is this]: when I was a chef I was trying to put more into every dish and over the last six-or-so years I’ve been working on a subtractive synthesis, so taking away everything unimportant to making that dish great. Eliminating steps and refining dishes so they’re more minimal and so all the f lavors that are important are more prominent.

To me, it ends up making a better dish and also something more approachable to people. It allows people to understand what the dish is before they even taste it.

It also makes for more smooth service in the restaurant. The amount of labor in creating a dish has to be sustainable so you’re not wasting a lot of movements.

The other philosophy is that we’re a Japanese inf luenced restaurant, but I’m not of Japanese heritage—but I’ve MICHIGANGOLFEXPLORER.COM

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studied the cuisine for many years—so I’m conscious of not rehashing Japanese dishes. I think as a chef you have to be sure you’re reinterpreting the dishes you put on your menu and making them your own. If you come into the restaurant, I want to make sure people know that we’re evolving the dish instead of just recreating it. I think as a chef you have to show that kind of respect to your inf luences.

TGE: Is there anything else people might like to know about you?

MR: I always like to say that one of our biggest restaurant cultural philosophies is that we put emphasis on having a great staff as part of the experience; a really warm and informed staff. That’s a big part of what we do. I want to give a shout out to our fantastic staff. Part of our staff being able to put out a consistent product is that we’re opening our second location in Madison Heights, Michigan. At that location we’ll be doing some new menu items as well.

MABEL GRAY 25825 John R Road, Hazel Park Chef: James Rigato

Mabel Gray, in Hazel Park, Michigan, pays homage to Detroit’s industrial upbringing and affinity for hand-crafted food and beverages with ingredients and relationships sourced from local farms, butchers, and foragers. Chef James Rigato, a James Beard Foundation award semifinalist for Best Chefs in America in both 2017 and 2018, continually crafts menus in accordance with the availability of seasonal ingredients and his accumulated inspiration to create a taste that exudes the new metro Detroit.

TGE: There’s no set menu, so where do you gather inspiration to compose an entirely new menu often?

James Rigato, chef: It’s kind of ongoing.

It’s a lot like jazz where there’s always a tempo and idea. We’re a group of individuals here and I have my vendors in place; I utilize a lot of farmers so it’s [based on] whatever positions are stepping up to the stage at that moment. Then I kind of combine the ingredients, my travel inf luences, what I want to eat, and what the weather is like. So, it’s kind of this ongoing jam band of inf luences that leads me to everything from a bottle of wine and [working with] our cider-making guy to a buddy sending me a picture of a beautiful fish.

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TGE: How often does the menu change?

JR: Every day, typically. I’d say our menu changes anywhere from 20 to 100 percent a day. Sometimes I might just change a protein or a sauce, but week-toweek is when we see the most dramatic changes.

TGE: You mentioned sometimes it depends on the season and what you feel like eating. Do you have any idea what you might have on the menu in the next few months?

JR: I love cold weather so I love deep braises, hearty sauces, pickled vegetables, and sort of cellar foods like sauerkraut, preserved lemon, dark beer, and big red wines. In the winter you can get a beautiful braised shank and then crack into a 1984 Château Margaux; then you’re living.

TGE: What are some of your favorite ingredients to use?

JR: I think it’s a seasonal pick; I’m always looking for tomatoes and root vegetables. In spring, it’s asparagus so it really depends on the season. I love shellfish; you get the flavor off of the shell and then the f lavor off of the f lesh, so I really enjoy oysters, clams, shrimp, and crab. I feel like shellfish gives you the deep f lavors of the ocean; they’re like the fruits and vegetables of the ocean.

TGE: Do you have a personal cooking philosophy or style of cooking?

JR: As far as cooking goes, it should always be looking to improve. I want to be better than I was last year or last week.

The Japanese word “kaizen” or the constant state of improvement, being more efficient, or improving output—I borrow from that for my chef style. You should be more profitable and offer better quality to your cooks; you should be more relatable and it applies to every aspect. I want my best work to be in the future and certainly not behind me.

SHEWOLF PASTIFICO & BAR 438 Selden Street Detroit Executive Chef: Anthony Lombardo

The menu at SheWolf Pastifico & Bar in Detroit is inspired by the metropolis that is modern Rome, and is accompanied by dishes that exhibit the f lavors of other regions in Italy. With items such as Capesante Crudi—an arrangement of bay scallops, blood orange, fennel, and blood orange zagablione—and Pyramidi—oxtail-stuffed pasta dressed

in braised greens, bone broth, ricotta, and pecorino—composing the menu, Chef Anthony Lombardo has carefully crafted each bite to honor the tastes of modern Italy in a modern Detroit setting.

TGE: Your dishes are inspired by old Rome, but for people who don’t know what that means, what does it mean to you?

Anthony Lombaro, executive chef: It means Italy, but specifically Rome. It’s a city where everybody has travelled to Italy and other regions, like Asia maybe, and you take all of your talents and everything you’ve seen back to Rome. It’s almost like an international city rooted in Italian tradition. It’s not as “old world” as everyone thinks, but it’s an old city. The food is not as old as everybody thinks.

TGE: Do you have a favorite dish on the menu right now?

AL: I’d say the Campanelli with chicken livers. Our website always has an updated menu too; a couple things will change here and there [in the next few months], but not too much.

TGE: Do you have a personal cooking philosophy?

AL: Don’t under-chef and don’t overchef. I don’t want to make things too chef-y, but I would also never put lasagna on the menu here because people make lasagna at home. We don‘t want to overchef either; we don’t want to make something like a deconstructed lasagna either.

GREY GHOST DETROIT 47 Watson Street Detroit Chef: John Vermiglio

Set between the historic Brush Park and Midtown neighborhoods of Detroit, Grey Ghost—and Chef John Vermiglio— sought to honor a previous history of craftsman, art of butchery, and refined cocktails when creating the menu for the neighborhood eatery. Grey Ghost bears a name inspired by a notorious prohibition-era pirate and inhabits what was once a favored Detroit butcher shop.

Vermiglio and the Grey Ghost team are also the minds behind the new 1990s-inspired bar, Second Best, located at 42 Watson Street in Detroit, which offers a menu based on more casual, yet stylized and inspired bar fare. The combination of both Grey Ghost and Second Best offers a fresh selection of eating experiences to Detroit’s food and drink renaissance.

TGE: What do you think Grey Ghost’s

dining experience brings to the Detroit area that it might not already have had?

John Vermiglio, chef: We opened two-anda-half years ago so there was probably half the number of restaurants at that time, which is crazy. We knew there was good food here and talented chefs, but the biggest thing we wanted to focus on was hospitality and a certain level of service.

That’s the one thing I didn’t find that was at the level that it could be—the same level as the food and drinks—so that was our number one focus. [We wanted] to make this an extension of our homes and ourselves and blow people away with the level of service that we provide.

TGE: Where did you gather inspiration for what would become the menu?

JV: I laugh, because the menu is truly an extension of my brain and what goes on in there. I’ve had the privilege of traveling fairly well and working at a variety of different restaurants over the years in Chicago and I draw a lot from that. I enjoy Greek and Asian styles of cooking so you see a lot of inf luences from those [aspects] in there, but it’s pretty worldly.

When we opened the goal was also to pay homage to the butcher shop that was in the space before we were—a store called Ye Olde Butcher Shoppe—which unfortunately had an untimely demise as they were ahead of their time. The idea was to focus on the cuts and cocktails and we still do—with steaks and doing our own charcuterie—but now we’ve evolved and the menu has grown with us and the people who patronize our restaurant.

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“Playing conditions are perfect.”

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TGE: Do you find yourself coming back to specific ingredients even as the menu has evolved?

JV: I think with over the years of having a lot of cooks I’ve been working alongside with, one of the biggest things I try to teach is that, at least for me, it’s an art form: it’s an expression of ourselves. I think that finding your identity is important and to taste the success that you’ve had, because that’s where you’re comfortable.

I want people to order five plates of food and say “Oh that one’s John Vermiglio’s.” I adore fish sauce and soy sauce even though I just recently developed an allergy to soy. I also use a ton of crème fraiche and I love “everything seasoning;” anything can be fit into everything, that’s why it’s called that.

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The fairway destination Text: Greg Johnson

By definition, a destination is a place worthy of travel. It is often considered interchangeably with a stop, a place one wants to go, or even a harbor. It can be large or small, known or unknown; and when it comes to golfing destinations in the state of Michigan, there are many greens that beckon.

Whether it is the all-inspiring scenery or the all-encompassing amenities, The Golf Explorer: Michigan’s Journal to Incredible Golf sheds some light on a few of the great golfing havens in Michigan.

A-GA-MING GOLF RESORT Kewadin, Michigan The word A-Ga-Ming is a defining one: on the shore. It is a golf resort not only providing stunning views of Torch Lake and nearby Lake Michigan, but also gla-

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Black Lake

cier-carved bluffs, wooded land, parklands, and creeks.

As a golf resort, it offers 72 holes across four locations: Antrim Dells, Torch Course, Sundance Course, and Charlevoix Course. The latter is A-GaMing Golf Resort’s latest addition to its family portfolio of courses and amenities, as it recently acquired Charlevoix Country Club—clubhouse, bar, and grill.

Less than 30 minutes of easy driving time from Traverse City, Petoskey, or Charlevoix—and near beautiful Torch Lake—A-Ga-Ming has expanded in recent years to offer a foursome of popular golf courses at three sites all within 25 miles.

The original Torch course that overlooks Torch Lake and the modern Sundance course are at A-Ga-Ming’s COURTESY NILE YOUNG

main resort property in Kewadin. Antrim Dells, meanwhile, is in Ellsworth; and Charlevoix Country Club, is just outside of Charlevoix.

The main resort property is secluded and offers lodging in condominiums and townhouses, such as the approximately 45 well-designed, for-the-golfers, units that sleep about 190 guests and are located on natural bluffs that overlook the property.

More lodging is in the planning stages.

The new clubhouse at Charlevoix Country Club opened in August; and construction is planned for 2019 and 2020 on a new three-season pavilion at the A-Ga-Ming main resort, a new pro shop and dining facility near the Sundance course, and a new main clubhouse building on the site of the current main clubhouse, according to Mike

Brown, general manager and co-owner of A-Ga-Ming Golf Resort.

The four courses continue to offer different experiences. Sundance is a modern, fit-the-land, course with sweeping open holes through natural grassland areas as well as elevation changes and holes cut into stands of towering trees.

It is regarded as among the best work by Jerry Matthews, a golf course architect.

The Torch overlooks its namesake of Torch Lake, and great variety is offered in the layout in addition to the stunning vistas. Traditional smaller green-settings make for the challenge of the course that is fit into the rolling land left by the glaciers long ago.

Antrim Dells is some older work of Matthews, and yet true to his style, shapes to the land as it rolls through an area once MICHIGANGOLFEXPLORER.COM

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white sand bunkers, and blueberry bogs.

The recent award is just one of many BOYNE Golf has won over many years, and not just at Boyne Highlands.

At Boyne Mountain in Boyne Falls, The Alpine course annually hosts major golf tournaments due to its popular award-winning design and great challenge. Its second course, The Monument, combines testament to golf greats and the variety of fun in the game. Both courses offer dramatic finishing holes that keep golfers talking after they complete their rounds.

Bay Harbor Golf Club in Petoskey is unique among golf experiences in Michigan. The Inn at Bay Harbor and Bay Harbor Golf Club, Boyne’s f lagship properties near Petoskey, features 27-holes with three golf course combinations—Links/Quarry, Quarry/Preserve, and Preserve/Links—designed by Arthur Hills along the Lake Michigan shoreline.

The views are stunning. The golf offers an amazing variety of challenges.

Perched high on the bluffs above Little Traverse Bay is Crooked Tree Golf Club, which many feel offers the best golf course scenery in the Midwest, not to mention 18 great golf holes.

The Monument, BOYNE MOUNTAIN

dominated by rolling acres of orchards.

Charlevoix Country Club offers variety as well, from traditional parkland style golf holes and pure Northern Michigan holes cut through the trees to some open looks and water the golfer must navigate.

BOYNE BAY HARBOR GOLF CLUB Bay Harbor, Michigan BOYNE HIGHLANDS RESORT Harbor Springs, Michigan BOYNE MOUNTAIN RESORT Boyne Falls, Michigan Steven Kircher, Boyne’s president and the son of founder Everett Kircher, said recently that Bernie Friedrich, the company’s senior vice president, brought service to Boyne golf.

Friedrich, humbled by the praise, said he has always believed that service and the facilities offered to customers have to be maintained at the highest levels.

“It’s what we do,” Friedrich said.

BOYNE Golf provides a world-class golf destination to explore with 10 great 46

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golf courses at three resorts in Northern Michigan. All-inclusive vacation packages, elite instruction at the BOYNE Golf Academy, tournaments, and events are part of a long list of golf and other amenities.

Boyne Highlands Resort in Harbor Springs is a golfer’s grandest wish with The Heather, a timeless design by Robert Trent Jones Sr.; The Donald Ross Memorial, a composite of the legendary architect’s best-designed holes; The Arthur Hills course, a sweeping, modern design with breathtaking views; and The Moor course, another classic carved from beautiful terrain.

The Heather was named the 2018 Golf Course of the Year by the Michigan Golf Course Association. The MGCA Course of the Year Award honors a member course that meets four criteria: exceptional quality of the course, exceptional quality of ownership and management, outstanding contribution to its community, and significant contribution to the game. The Heather spans 7,148 yards of natural wetlands, rolling fairways, tour

BLACK LAKE GOLF CLUB Onaway, Michigan Black Lake Golf Club, which is approximately 18 miles from Interstate 75 in Onaway, features an award-winning golf course designed by Architect Rees Jones for the United Automobile Workers— now United Automobile, Aerospace, and Agricultural Implement Workers of America—in 2000 and its UAW Black Lake Conference Center.

The course is a classic design with imaginative bunkering, top-notch conditioning, and a get-away-from-it-all feel on each isolated hole just an hour from Gaylord and an hour from the Mackinac Bridge. The club is also part of the award-winning Gaylord Golf Mecca marketing effort.

The course has made more than one appearance on Golf Digest’s 100 Greatest Public Courses in America list and is annually listed among the Best Courses to Play in Michigan by Golfweek. It also continues to be regarded among the top 100 by Golf Advisor.

The course is designed to provide a challenge for golfers of all skill levels.

Five sets of tee markers are part of most holes and it is a course playing from about 5,058 to nearly 7,030 yards.

Complementing the big course is The Little Course: a nine-hole, par-3 meant COURTESY BOYNE RESORTS

to introduce young people to the game as well as sharpen experienced players’ short games. New tee mats were added in 2018.

Black Lake also has a practice area with about a 350-yard, double-sided, bentgrass tee range; four practice bunkers; four chipping and putting greens; a clubhouse with dining room and lounge; and men’s and women’s locker rooms.

The UAW Conference Center, with its many lodging options, has been open to the public for the last few years and has been remodeled to include new beds, flat screen televisions, and more. Stay-andplay golf has increased in conjunction with Gaylord Golf Mecca properties.

CRYSTAL MOUNTAIN RESORT Thompsonville, Michigan Crystal Mountain Resort in Thompsonville has a myriad of options for the traveler, and in the summer and shoulder seaons, it means some great mountain golf.

The Mountain Ridge course, designed

by Bill Newcomb, causes players to pay attention: putts that appear to slope away may actually slope up with the mountain contours. It’s very resort playable, and yet comes with championship credentials. The PGA Michigan Women’s Open Championship has been played there for the last 15 years.

The Betsie Valley course is a Paul Albanese renovation of the original at the resort, and worth the play, too. It’s not as taxing as the Mountain Ridge, in large part since it is built in the flatter valley area around the mountain.

Off the course, this year-round resort is a popular destination for skiers in the winter and also has multiple lodging options from single deluxe hotel rooms to spacious condos that house large groups.

Dining is top-notch through room service or at the restaurants, which comprise options such as the Thistle Pub and Grille at the Kinlochen Lodge by the pro shop or the Wild Tomato Restaurant and Bar. The resort also offers an art park, a spa, a fitness center, biking, a water park, and more. It has something for any and all families in addition to quality golf.

GARLAND LODGE & GOLF RESORT Lewiston, Michigan Garland Lodge & Golf Resort offers four golf courses that wind through about 3,000 acres of Michigan woodlands, meadows, lakes, and streams abundant with wildlife near Lewiston.

Fountains course is true to its name with water features as well as hazards that

highlight the rolling terrain. Designer Ron Otto, who did all of the courses at Garland, created this the course last and wanted it to be a must-play course. It is one that challenges the better player with a mix of holes placing emphasis on strategy around the greens and incorporate some of the original nine holes at the resort to comprise six par-3s, six par-5s, and six par-4s.

The Monarch is the longest of the course offerings at almost 7,200 yards and features towering white pines along

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the fairways. The first two holes and the last four holes are especially challenging: the golfer needs to warm up and keep on their game throughout—and may even catch sight of the resident bald eagles along the 11th hole.

Swampfire, aptly named, is a test of water: acres of natural ponds, lakes, and wetlands are an inherent element to the gently rolling terrain. The course is comprised of par-3s, par-4s, and par-5s, with only two dry holes.

Ref lections, considered a think-

IN BEAUTIFUL DOWNTOWN

SOUTH HAVEN

CHAMPIONSHIP GOLF COURSE RESTAURANT • INN 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.

Two new vacation cottages!

The recently constructed 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.

GOLF WEEK’S

BEST HawksHead_1.2V_GEv3i1.indd 1

523 Hawks Nest Drive | South Haven, MI 49090 269.639.2121 | HawksHeadLinks.com ||

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The Monarch, GARLAND

ing course where strategy rather than strength is required, has the least amount of water hazards of the four courses at Garland. Featuring a variety of holes, terrain, a number of doglegs, and tight driving areas, Reflections rewards accuracy throughout the shorter layout.

Garland also offers two restaurants and a Tiki Bar, and lodging is available in the Garland Lodge, Villas, and Cottages located throughout the resort property.

GRAND TRAVERSE RESORT AND SPA Acme, Michigan Grand Traverse Resort and Spa has been a regional gem and destination since it initially opened in 1980. Since then, it has experienced tremendous growth—such as the design of the par-72 Scottish linksstyle The Bear course by Jack Nicklaus in 1985 and the construction of the 17-story Tower in 1986—and transitioned as the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and 48

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Chippewa Indians assumed ownership of the resort and spa in 2003.

Today, it boasts 900 acres of quintessential northern Michigan landscape; 86,500 square-feet of meeting space; the 7,000-square-foot Spa Grand Traverse; four indoor and outdoor pools; a 100,000-square-foot Health Club; a gallery of shops, restaurants, and lounges; and the nearby Turtle Creek Casino & Hotel. Grand Traverse Resort and Spa also offers three championship golf courses and notable architects: The Bear, Jack Nicklaus; The Wolverine, Gary Player; and Spruce Run, William Newcomb.

The Bear is a course of Scottish terraced fairways, deep roughs, tiered greens, and pot bunkers set into the rolling land of trees, lakes, fruit orchards, and streams. While it debuted more than 30 years ago, The Bear was not the first course to make an appearance on Grand Traverse’s property. The resort’s original course—Spruce Run—had its start as

the nine-hole Acme Public Golf Course before expanding into an 18-hole course in the 1970s. William Newcomb, former University of Michigan Golf Coach, redesigned the layout in 1979 as a par-72 course and eventually named Spruce Run in 1992 due to its number of spruce and fir trees.

Then in 1999, Gary Player added his first signature course in the state at Grand Traverse with the completion of The Wolverine: lowland terrain and wetlands in the front nine, and highland terrain of rolling hills and hardwoods in the back nine.

The resort also offers year-round golf instruction, custom on-course lessons by PGA professionals, and special events and programs for golfers of all ages.

Grand Traverse Resort and Spa is expected to host the Michigan Open Championship once again on The Bear in 2019.

COURTESY GARLAND

GULL LAKE VIEW GOLF CLUB & RESORT Augusta, Michigan With its recent debut of Stoatin Brae, Gull Lake View Golf Club & Resort has commanded a sweeping panorama of the surrounding Kalamazoo County landscape and the interest of golfers everywhere.

Considered to be open, windswept, fast, and firm, Stoatin Brae is a Renaissance Golf Design signature piece atop one of the highest points in the local region.

Stoatin Brae, or Grand Hill in Scots Gaelic, was a departure from the norm as it was not designed by the family-owned and –operated resort—and is not a treelined parkland style course.

Senior associates of Renaissance Golf Design in Traverse City collaborated with the owners—now in its third-generation with Jon Scott—on the course overlooking the Kalamazoo River valley. It is also just one of six championship courses within the Gull Lake Golf Club & Resort portfolio, which has been under development since Darl Scott designed and opened a public golf course in 1963.

Gull Lake View Golf Club & Resort

also features the West Course, East Course, Stonehedge North, Stonehedge South, and Bedford Valley. What started as 18 holes more than 50 years ago, has developed into about 108 holes of golf; lodging accommodations—Fairway Villas, Luxury Cottages, Deluxe Suites, and Villa Suites—and multiple dining options, such as the modern American cuisine found at Blue Stem adjacent Stoatin Brae.

LAKEWOOD SHORES GOLF RESORT Oscoda, Michigan Cedar Lake near the shores of Lake Huron in the Northeast quadrant of Michigan is home to Lakewood Shores Resort, which features three very different 18-hole golf courses and the Wee Links for juniors and those wanting to work on their short game.

The Gailes course stands out, because it was designed and built to recreate the look and feel of a seaside course in Scotland. Designer Kevin Aldridge pulled it off with large double greens, sodfaced bunkers, fescue-lined fairways, and

waste areas. It is award-winning work, not easy to play and yet has the authentic feel when the wind whips off Lake Huron.

The resort points to the 10th hole as the essence of links golf for good reason: it is a short par-4, but has seven deep bunkers that hide, high fescue all around and no place to find a flat lie. The Gailes was recognized as the No. 1 New Resort Course

by Golf Digest when it opened during the industry’s building boom in 1993.

Other courses at the resort comprise Blackshire and Serradella. Designed by Kevin Aldridge, the Blackshire course was inspired by the famous Pine Valley Country Club in New Jersey and offers a rugged feel with hardwoods, large sand waste areas, and undulating greens.

The Serradella was designed by Bruce Matthews, and is considered a classic parkland design with minimal hazards, wide fairways, and large greens. It also incorporates floral gardens, making it a resort experience.

Lakewood Shores’ mission is to provide some of the best golf in the state at a great dollar value, offering visitors a variety of package opportunities.

West Course,

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beautiful land the glaciers carved in the heart of Michigan long ago.

The Lakes course, a Jerry Matthews design, offers the combination of beautiful trees and blue waters for a wonderful Up North vacation feel.

The Ridge Golf Course, a Mike Husby design, is shorter in length with senior-friendly tee positions, yet cut through the gorgeous hardwoods of the area with great vistas and significant elevation changes.

The resort also offers accommodations and amenities beyond the 54 holes of championship golf, such as The Summit at The Ridge and The Loon Restaurant, and lodging for more than 200 people—all within a three-mile radius near Gaylord.

The Wolverine,

GRAND TRAVERSE RESORT AND SPA SHANTY CREEK RESORT SUMMIT VILLAGE Bellaire, Michigan CEDAR RIVER VILLAGE Bellaire, Michigan SCHUSS VILLAGE Mancelona, Michigan Designed by “The King” Arnold Palmer, The Legend Golf Course at Shanty Creek Resorts in Bellaire helped launch the region as a legitimate golf destination in 1986.

Today, the resort features four championship golf courses—Cedar River, The Legend, Schuss Mountain, and Summit—across the three distinct villages of Summit, Cedar River, and Schuss and two mountain ski runs throughout its 4,500 acre-property.

The Legend, which was the 2014 Michigan Golf Course Association Golf Course of the Year, has hosted several tournaments such as the prestigious Michigan PGA Championship. It has great variety in its design, and Palmer said when it opened that it fit his philosophy of a golf course that great players, average golfers, and beginners can enjoy, because it is beautiful, fun, and challenging.

Weiskopf, the golf champion turned designer, spent significant time at the resort working on his Cedar River design.

The short par-4 holes are especially fun and challenging, and the design takes the golfer through some distinctly different landforms; from tree-lined mountain areas to open meadows. Classic bunkering and subtle, natural mounding add to the experience for the golfer.

The Schuss Mountain course, a top 50

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Warner Bowen design, is a traditional course through a host of hardwoods and around some water hazards. It gives the golfer an isolated, away-from-it-all experience. It too, has passed the test as a tournament host and remains a favorite of visitors to the resort.

The Summit course is a rolling parkland style course, traditional and easier to play than the other three on the property.

It can also be challenging from its back tees and on its sloping natural greens.

Summit Village includes 500 rooms plus a spa and fitness center; and Cedar River Village features an 86-room luxury condominium hotel; while Schuss Mountain Village has more dining, shopping, and entertainment options.

THE LOON GOLF RESORT Gaylord, Michigan The Loon Golf Resort, located in the heart of the Gaylord Golf Mecca, is known for its great golf, dining, and many lodging options, such as the perfectly designed, four-bedroom, four-bath townhome lodging for the stay-and-play golfer.

The resort estimates about 70 percent of the golfers who venture to The Loon for stay-and-play return to stay—and play— more.

The Loon Golf Resort offers approximately 54 holes of great golf across its The Loon, The Lakes and The Ridge courses, which are all within a short ride on a luxury bus provided by the resort. The spacious townhomes are within a sand wedge of the clubhouse and dining at The Loon.

The Loon, a redesign in 2011 by famous golf teacher Butch Harmon, is a classic golf design and rolls naturally across the

TULLYMORE Stanwood, Michigan A hidden estate located within central Michigan near Canadian Lakes, Tullymore Golf Resort is a roughly 800-acre symphonic ode for golfers on glacier-carved land. Its two, par-72, world-class, golf courses were crafted by acclaimed architects Jim Engh and Jerry Matthews; and it has also recently added an immersive indoor experience known as Topgolf® Swing Suite to its resort amenities.

The Topgolf suite features three simulators comprises 84 golf course choices, comfortable lounge seating, a private room for parties and events, and food and beverage service. Located in the St. Ives Golf Club clubhouse, the suite is available for rental for both business and social gatherings.

As a resort, Tullymore comprises both Tullymore Golf Club and St. Ives Golf Club. At Tullymore Golf Club, the Jim Engh-designed course is an 800-acre challenging, albeit meandering, layout through woods, meadows, and wetlands.

Nearby St. Ives Golf Club features the handiwork of Jerry Matthews combined with the dramatic statement of the land throughout the par-3s, par-4s, and par-5 holes.

Resort facilities comprise two clubhouses, condominium and hotel room accommodations, and amenities such as a fitness center, indoor and outdoor pools, and dining service options.

The resort has won many awards in recent years, including being named Michigan’s No. 1 Golf Resort and one of the Top 50 Golf Resorts in the U.S. in the 2010 Golf World Readers’ Choice Awards.

COURTESY GRAND TRAVERSE RESORT AND SPA

MACATAWAGC.COM 616.212.2600 US-31 West on New Holland St. Between 136th & 144th Avenues, Holland, Michigan

• Semi-private golf club • 18 hole championship golf course • Private pool & fitness memberships available • LiveGolf Studios • Brand new high definition PGA golf simulators and lounge • Recently renovated banquet facility • The perfect venue for events up to 300 guests • Vaulted ceilings, large windows & spectacular views of the golf course • Open to the public dining at RedRock Grille

TWO MUST PLAY LAKESHORE COURSES! The legendary Arnold Palmer Signature course in Saugatuck.

A Golf Digest “must play!”

• Only Arnold Palmer golf course in West Michigan • 18 hole public golf course • Elegant & modern event venue • The perfect venue for events up to 200 guests • Rustic-country ambiance • High ceilings, floorto-ceiling windows & picturesque views of the golf course 2 Hours North of Chicago Grand Rapids

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Just 30 minutes from Grand Rapids

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Ravines

ravinesgolfclub.com 3520 Palmer Drive, Saugatuck, MI 49453 Call 269.857.1616

Founders Brewing Co.

Crafted: The Beer Series Text: Greg Johnson

M

ichigan is known for a number of things—furniture, automobiles, fickle weather, and lakes—but it is clear from annual listings, rankings, and surveys that it also ranks high in golf courses and craft beer.

Zymurgy, a bi-monthly journal for members of the American Homebrewers Association, released a list in 2018 ranking top breweries in America based on reader feedback, placing Bell’s Brewery Inc. in Comstock, Michigan, and Founders Brewing Co. in Grand Rapids, Michigan as first and second, respectively.

USA Today also surveyed its readers to determine The Best Beer Scene, which put Grand Rapids on the map as number

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one in the nation in 2017 and number two in 2018.

The Michigan Brewers Guild, a network of brewers advocating for the craft beer industry, has reached more than 250 member breweries, microbreweries, and brewpubs, placing it among the top five states in the entire nation. Dubbed The Great Beer State, Michigan’s brewing industry contributes a total economic impact of about $2 billion, with $662 million in labor and wages, according to a January 2019 press release.

In similar inf luential fashion, the Michigan Golf Alliance totals more than 700 golf courses with a total economic impact in the state reaching $4.2 billion.

The industry also adds about $1.4 billion in wage contribution and another $118 million in charitable impact.

The two industries are far from mutually exclusive, as golf resorts like BOYNE—Boyne Highlands and Boyne Mountain—and Tullymore in Canadian Lakes host annual festivals and beer-tasting events connecting the crafters with both malted-hops and golf lovers alike.

Most resorts in the state also have craft beer connections and work with their local tourism groups.

The Golf Explorer: Michigan’s Journal to incredible Golf listed just a few of the great craft brewing stops in the state for players heading to the Great Lakes State—and Great Beer State—for a round or two of golf.

The family-owned brewer has several new beer releases planned for 2019, such as Hopslam, Larry’s Latest Flamingo Fruit Fight—released in January. Bell’s also plans to celebrate the return of Oberon Ale on March 25, 2019—and a subsequent release week and mini-kegs featuring a brand new design later this summer.

Larry Bell, president and founder at Bell’s, also noted in a press release that the company is planning to kick off a Leaves of Grass series this year—which simply sounds like a good pairing with golf and right in time for the season.

BELL’S BREWERY

Grand Rapids Brewery & Taproom 235 Grandville Ave. SW, Grand Rapids, MI Detroit Brewery & Taproom 456 Charlotte St., Detroit, MI Started in Grand Rapids in 1997, Founders Brewing Co. has been growing ever since. The nationally acclaimed brewery has expanded with a taproom in the Cass Corridor of downtown Detroit near the arenas and music venues.

Founders reports the Detroit Taproom is inspired by their love of Motown and offers some exclusive onsite brews.

Eccentric Café & General Store 355 E. Kalamazoo Ave., Kalamazoo, MI Comstock Brewery 8938 Krum Ave., Comstock, MI For the second consecutive year, Bell’s Two Hearted Ale was considered the top-ranked beer in American based on AHA members and Zymurgy readers in 2018. The American-style India Pale Ale is just one of the brewery’s many yearround, seasonal, and specialty beers in its portfolio—an evolution that began about 30 years ago.

FOUNDERS BREWING CO.

In March, just as the golf courses prepare for the season, Founders will make its celebrated new 2019 KBS bourbon, barrel-aged, imperial stout, brewed with coffee and chocolate, available to the public. The Grand Rapids and Detroit taprooms will make it available on March 8, 2019 and it will go out to all distributors on March 15, 2019.

ATWATER BREWERY

Detroit Tap House 237 Jos Campau, Detroit, MI Atwater in the Park 1175 Lakepointe Street, Grosse Pointe Park, MI Atwater Grand Rapids 201 Michigan Street NW, Grand Rapids, MI Atwater of Detroit makes German style lagers and boutique ales in its original Joseph Campau location, which now includes a Biergarten and Tap House.

Atwater in the Park recently opened in a renovated church serving food and all the Atwater spirits and wine; while Atwater in Grand Rapids opened in 2016.

Last year, Atwater, in collaboration with a Denver brewer and MSU alum Mark Porteous, released a beer to pay homage to Mike Sadler, the former

Founders Brewing Co. FOUNDERS BREWING COMPANY

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RIGHT BRAIN BREWERY

Michigan State University football punter who died in an automobile accident in 2016. Known as Hey Diddle Diddle, the beer title comes from a trick play that MSU converted on a fake punt during the 2013-2014 Rose Bowl winning season for the Spartans. On the play Sadler ran up the middle, as in “hey, diddle, diddle, Sadler up the middle.” Atwater Owner Mark Rieth is an MSU graduate and fan.

A portion of all sales benefit the Michael Sadler Foundation.

225 East 16th Street, Traverse City, MI Right Brain Brewery of Traverse City celebrated its 11th year in January 2019.

Right Brain’s Pub has nearly 40 beers on tap at all times, an eclectic look and feel, and seems to attract beer drinkers of all ages.

The Right Brain beers are available at many retail stores and pubs across the state, and the company continues to experiment with unusual ingredients not typically used in beer brewing—pig parts, asparagus, and real cherry pie from the Cherry Festival hometown—in addition to its popular Ambers, Pales, Stouts, and IPAs. Golf is a huge part of the summer tourism in the Traverse City area, and Right Brain is always a worthy 19th hole as it strives to Keep Beer Curious.

SHORT’S BREWING COMPANY

Bellaire Pub 121 N. Bridge St., Bellaire, MI Production Facility 211 Industrial Park Dr., Elk Rapids, MI

Short’s Brewing Company, with its expanded pub and store in Bellaire amid a bevy of golf resorts and courses including Shanty Creek, continues to create bold, f lavorful beer in the manufacturing facility in Elk Rapids, Michigan.

It has grown from Joe Short’s simple start into a very well received brand. The Starcut Ciders are as equally a hit as its beers.

In February, Short’s released a new f lagship brew called Juicy Brut. The ale is hoppy, tropical, and finishes dry while being low in sugar. It was created by Tony Hansen, head brewer at Short’s Brewing.

“Juicy Brut is a light-bodied ale that is very approachable, but has a lot going on,” said Hansen in a press release. “It has an amazing aroma that bubbles to the surface via high carbonation level. The f lavor is a tricky balance of maximum hop juiciness f lavor without being too bitter. The aftertaste is very clean and dry, making it super drinkable. Plus, the low sugar and low [alcohol by volume] make you feel good about having another, and another after that. Try it out.”

New Holland Brewing, THE KNICKERBOCKER

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TOP: COURTESY ATWATER BREWING; BOTTOM: TED BINGHAM

Atwater Brewery, DETROIT TAP HOUSE

BIG BUCK BREWERY

550 S. Wisconsin, Ave., Gaylord, MI It’s back, visible along the highway, and in the middle of the Gaylord Golf Mecca.

In 2018, Cathy and Shawn Smalley took ownership of the previously closed facility and rebranded the local destination. With a rustic theme and an emphasis on dining as well as craft beers, Big Buck Brewery looks to create brew that are seasonal, f lagship, and carefully crafted.

The Big Buck features more than 10 beers on tap at any one time, and the menu has a variety of options, such as the Hamtramck-sourced, tater-and-cheese pierogies.

Its opening doubled the breweries in Gaylord: Snowbelt Brewing Co., right on West Main Street, is popular with its handcrafted beers, cider, wines and food as well.

NEW HOLLAND BREWING

Pub on 8th 66 East 8th Street, Holland, MI The Knickerbocker 417 Bridge St. NW, Grand Rapids, MI New Holland Brewing Company’s brews and distills at three locations in Holland COURTESY ATWATER BREWERY

and Grand Rapids including their production facility on the north side of Holland, their Pub & Restaurant in downtown Holland, and their brewpub and distillery called The Knickerbocker on Grand Rapids’ West Side.

The two restaurants—and retail spaces—welcome guests seven-days-a-week and production tours are on Saturday afternoons. Play golf in the morning and take a beer tour in the afternoon works for many.

In February and March, New Holland rolled out Dragon’s Milk White. It’s a full-f lavored white stout with notes of vanilla, cocoa, coffee roast, and oak. It hits the spot, much like the original bourbon barrel-aged stout of New Holland, and offers a lighter drinking experience with its golden hue and lower alcohol by volume content.

BEARDS BREWERY

215 East Lake Street, Petoskey, MI Beards Brewery was founded in 2012 by two Petoskey locals. It brews in Charlevoix, but its popular pub is on Lake Street in downtown Petoskey overlooking Little Traverse Bay. The view from the patio is worth the

visit, and the brews make it a must return kind of place.

They have 24 taps and some great beers like their Luna, Oh! The Citranity!, and Serendipity Porter.

It’s a quality stop after playing golf in the area, which is equally all about quality golf, from Bay Harbor to Boyne Highlands.

BLACKROCKS BREWERY

424 N. 3rd St., Marquette, MI The Upper Peninsula should not be left out of exploring golf in Michigan, and it is not left behind in brewpubs to test either.

Find “the yellow house on the corner” for Blackrocks Brewery in Marquette. It is a great big house that was converted into the taproom in 2010.

Grand Rabbits, a dry-hopped cream ale with a grand name, and the 51K IPA, are popular for all visitors, golfers included.

In addition to Blackrocks, beer lovers will also want to check out The Vierling Brewery and Ore Dock Brewing Co. in Marquette.

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COURTESY TAYLORMADE GOLF COMPANY

Shape of iron Text: R.J. Weick

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n true maverick fashion, which speaks to its long legacy of breaking from tradition to push new boundaries in club innovation, TaylorMade Golf Company in Carlsbad, California introduced a new players iron to its P700 series last fall. Designed with the better player in mind, the P760 combines the precision, distance, strength, and forgiveness of its Tour-level-proven, series-mates into a single progressive set—replacing the P750 and P770 lines—that has the potential to disrupt the competitive playing field.

Chandler Carr, global project manager of production creation at TaylorMade, said the P760s is the next generation of the company’s Player Series clubs, which really caters to the better player looking for that feel and enhanced precision.

“The P760 is really that next step of combining the elements of P730 and combining the elements of P790. It’s really a progressive set,” Carr said. “It really caters to the unique nature of every single club throughout.”

Carr also noted now that speed has become a common thread with irons due to their flexible and fast faces, when designing a progressive iron set like the P760, control rather than distance is desired in the shortest clubs and when turning to the longer irons, ball speed, distance, and forgiveness are important elements. As a progressive forged players iron set, P760 is individually crafted to provide optimal performance from the three-iron to the approach wedge.

“It is a natural progression of our iron series to want to continue improving performance, even for good golfers. [They] are always looking for an edge, for more performance, to be better than the competition, and the equipment can help in that standpoint,” Carr said. “The cool thing about P760 is it is really providing performance where it matters most throughout the set.”

In construction, the P760 is designed to transition from forged hollow body with SpeedFoam injected into the face in three- to seven-irons, to a single piece forged head in the eight-iron, nine-iron,

“The technology in irons has really changed and not just a one-club-for-all, but being very specific to the intended golfer to be able to maximize their performance.” ­— Chandler Carr

pitching wedge, and approach wedge. In the shorter irons, the hollow cavity provides consistency in distance and forgiveness, while the longer irons deliver the feel and shot-making ability desired by better players. The P760 also introduces a chamfered leading edge in a redesign of its geometry to lend a cleaner entry at the turf while mitigating the risk of digging.

While replacing the P750 and P770, which performed how TaylorMade wanted in both the marketplace and on the course, with a product that outperformed and condensed the two series into a single set was a recognized uphill battle, Carr noted the initial reaction and feedback from retailers, accounts, and experiential demonstration days have been fantastic.

“It is a beautiful looking iron. When you put it behind the ball, you notice the clean shape, the styling, and the lines of the product have all been really massaged to give the golfer the performance they

are looking for,” Carr said.

“Talking about the better player, their requirements are paramount. Their requirements are so detailed and performance is their livelihood. These guys are playing golf for a living and every little aspect of the club has to be right—and for us to be a player in the players product, we have to do things right,” Carr added.

While it is necessary for performance and construction—the inherent engineering and design—of the iron set to be meticulously considered, any product introduced into the player market also has to take into account the aesthetics. Carr noted cosmetics or appearance has to be spot-on to even have credibility within the marketplace since it is a competitive field.

It is also an area TaylorMade has played a significant role in since its establishment in 1979 when Gary Adams took out a loan to rent a 6,000-square-foot MICHIGANGOLFEXPLORER.COM

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former assembly plant to create its first metalwood: a 12-degree stainless steel cast driver. Since then, TaylorMade has spent the past nearly four decades committed to innovation and pushing the envelope when it comes to the threshold of performance and revolutionary products for the game of golf.

“The technology in irons has really changed and not just a one-club-for-all, but being very specific to the intended golfer to be able to maximize their performance,” Carr said. “A 20-year-old game improvement iron was all about basically redistribution of mass—moving the weight somewhere else to make the club more forgiving—but now we can take that mass and with new manufacturing techniques and ways that our engineers working in our R&D department can find to maximize performance.”

TaylorMade’s foundation is rooted in developing new technologies in irons in particular that have changed the industry, from its rounded-camber-sole Technician iron in 1984 to its PSi and M2 series introduced in 2015 and 2016, respectively.

Innovations, such as its RIBCOR, Face Slot, Speed Pocket, SpeedFoam, and Inverted Cone technologies, have helped

launch the company into a position of renown.

“Irons are like mini-metalwoods now, where the faces are flexible, the [center-of-gravity] is low, the launch is extremely high, and the ball is traveling further than ever, because of the combination of all these technologies coming together,” Carr said.

When the RAC OS iron was introduced in 2004 featuring an improved tuned performance cartridge—saving 32 grams of weight—Carr said it was one of the company’s most popular-selling irons ever. Although big, the iron had perimeter weighting, a decent center-of-gravity, a fairly thin face, felt and sounded good,

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and performed well in comparison to its competition, according to Carr. The combination of the head and shaft working simultaneously resulted in a very easy-toplay iron, and when moving the mass or weight of club down low, it provided an opportunity to strengthen the loft.

“When you have the opportunity to strengthen the loft of your irons—if we talk specific to the novice golfer or game improvement golfer—it gives a better opportunity to maximize energy transfer into the ball, but since the weight or center-of-gravity is so low in the club, we are not sacrificing any height,” Carr said.

“The ball is traveling higher than ever, now going further, because we have stronger lofts and we are able to maximize our distance and forgiveness.”

For the last 39 years, TaylorMade has introduced irons as small as the P730 and as large as the M CGB integrating innovation, authenticity, and a passion for the game of golf. Each product has carefully considered its intended player audience— whether it is distance and forgiveness in the M4, or facilitating proper swing mechanics in young players with its Rory Junior Golf Sets inspired by Rory McIlroy—and at the end of the day, meant to provide access for those interested in maximizing their own individual performance on the course.

“We are pushing limits further and we are continuing to find new ways to generate distance for often overlooked in areas, because there is opportunity everywhere.

We know the game improvement golfer needs to hit it further and higher, and ultimately needs to hit it straighter,” Carr said. “We are not afraid to try new things to be able to make that golfer ultimately have more fun and we are definitely doing what we can as a brand to look at ways of doing things differently.”

As TaylorMade heads into its 40th year in operations in 2019, it is bringing with it a legacy of pushing boundaries and revolutionizing club design for the game of golf.

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The LochenHeath evolution Text: Greg Johnson

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onstruction on the first two of the planned six cottages at LochenHeath Golf Club in Williamsburg, Michigan, meant to help attract, serve, and lodge visiting national members officially broke ground last fall 2018.

It’s all part of a nearly-complete-transition back to private golf club status for the highly regarded, Steve Smyers-designed course hugging the East Grand Traverse Bay in northern Michigan.

General Manager Kevin O’Brien said the excitement is building toward a late June or early July opening.

“Phase One is two cottages, and we have been approved for six cottages. The first two are located 500 yards from our clubhouse and 100 yards from what will be that cottage’s own practice tee, which will be part of the practice facility itself,” O’Brien said.

“We want our national guests to get here, and then we will provide them a golf cart to motor around the clubhouse, cottages and facilities. We are creating a lifestyle,” O’Brien added.

The high-end, shaker style cottages are planned to feature metal roofs, stonework, carriage lights, and an interior design by Shane Inman, president and senior principal designer of The Inman Company. The residential and commercial interior design firm is located in New York, with offices in Traverse City, Michigan, and Chicago.

The nearly 2,400 square-foot cottages will feature four bedrooms—two of which will have lockouts for individual rentals.

O’Brien said each of the cottages will be wonderfully decorated with 21st Century floor plans, and a timeless, classic feel.

“The four bedrooms are essentially private suites with each having their own bathroom to work with larger or smaller groups. There’s also a great room, a kitchen with counter tops and a large table for gatherings, and one of the best things: they will have large screened in porches that face the bay and the sunsets,” O’Brien said. “They will be very comfortable, but with a modern touch to set us apart.”

Mapleridge Construction LLC, a local firm that has built many high-end homes in the area including at LochenHeath, is doing the construction; and most of the furnishings will be handcrafted and custom by Woodland Creek Furniture, which is based in Traverse City, Michigan with additional locations in Kalkaska, Michigan and Tulsa, Oklahoma.

“They will have wonderful touches and fit in with what we have in golf and our other facilities,” O’Brien said.

Membership is up to 101 individuals through a blend of national and seasonal members, and O’Brien said there has been very little attrition over the last five years.

“We started with a seven-year plan to become what the ownership group

and members want us to be, and we are on schedule through six years and excited about the future,” O’Brien said. “The cottages are the next part of the evolution moving forward, and when you seek the work being done it adds excitement and energy.”

LochenHeath’s short history is well-chronicled. It opened in 2002 as a public course with some local fanfare, went private in 2004, and then reverted to public in 2008 followed by bankruptcy for the then ownership. In 2010 the facility was purchased at auction by a group of 12 individuals that included 11 dedicated former members, and once the golf course was restored to playable levels reopened in May of 2011.

O’Brien, a Michigan native and an experienced manager in resort area golf, was hired in 2013.

“We have great original members who made sure LochenHeath opened again because they knew it was a great golf course and they wanted to continue to play it,” O’Brien said. “They have driven this. They knew what it could be.”

Limited public play is still a part of the picture for at least one more season to help drive membership.

“The golf course is back on the lists of top golf courses in the state where it belongs and with the cottages the lifestyle available here will soon be very apparent,” O’Brien said. “Things are going well at LochenHeath.”

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Bucks Run Golf Club

Golf escapes Text: Greg Johnson

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Evergreen Resort

BUCKS RUN GOLF CLUB

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o quote golf legend Harry Vardon: “For this game you need, above all things, to be in a tranquil frame of mind.”

Vardon, who pioneered techniques that remain influential to the modern golf swing, is still regarded as one of England’s greatest champions some 100 years later.

His timeless quote is no doubt a comment on the player mindset; and yet tranquility is an element that can be found in a number of golf settings—the least of which is Michigan and its many great escapes.

The Golf Explorer: Michigan’s Journal to Incredible Golf outlined a few of the places that can help create the tranquil frame of mind; so grab the clubs and discover a destination with that peaceful, easy feeling.

LEFT: COURTESY BUCKS RUN; RIGHT: TODD PIERSON

EVERGREEN RESORT

MT. PLEASANT, MICHIGAN

CADILLAC, MICHIGAN

Sometimes a quick escape is needed, and Bucks Run Golf Club in Mount Pleasant provides it perfectly in the center of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula.

Bucks Run has 18 diverse holes spread across nearly 290 acres. Designed by Michigan’s own Jerry Matthews, this award-winning course rolls out around Fisher Lake, and along and over the Chippewa River in playable fashion.

Matthews designed the holes with multiple tee options, with the ninth hole and 18th hole framing the clubhouse from their setting around the man-made lake.

It’s a resort experience without the lodging, and less than a two-hour-drive for most of the state’s population. Soaring Eagle Waterpark & Hotel is just down the road, too.

The all-grass putting course on the island of the lake is a must-experience for golfers as well, and Buck’s Run has a popular restaurant in The Quarry Grill.

Jon Conklin, the general manager and PGA golf professional at Bucks Run, said it is a perfect escape.

“Being in the center of the state, we can be a quick escape; especially for golfers in the southern part of the state,” Conklin said. “We have great golf right here; two hours less driving than going up north. We make time more valuable for the golfer. We take pride in being a destination, a resort really without the lodging. We market to the golfer who likes to travel some and seek out beautiful places to play.”

For nearly 70 years, people have escaped to Evergreen Resort for a good meal, a round of golf, or just a change of scenery.

In 1949, Curly and Velma McGuire planted the seeds for what would become a resort destination when purchasing a roadside restaurant. Formerly known as McGuire’s, Evergreen lives up to its name on its 18-hole Spruce course, and its ninehole Norway course. Improvements have been made recently across the board on the courses and in the lodging at the popular family stop.

The Spruce is on a hillside overlooking Lake Cadillac and winds through a pine forest with challenging smaller greens from the classic era of golf architecture. The Norway course is a more open venue played most often by casual golfers or beginners.

The dining at the resort comprises the imaginative regional cuisine in Passage North—The Grill at Evergreen Resort, and the casual tavern called in homage to the originals Curly’s Bar. Evergreen is clearly the place to start for the golf and lodging combination in the Cadillac area. There are other courses in the area for those who want to play more than two courses, but none offer the lodging options or approximately 117 cozy guest rooms of Evergreen; not to mention the indoor pool, whirlpool, sauna, and tennis courts.

The Cadillac Area Visitors Bureau describes Cadillac as a playground for the taking—and Evergreen is at the heart of MICHIGANGOLFEXPLORER.COM

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Forest Dunes Golf Club that playground when golf is on the mind.

It is also draped across 327 scenic acres amid about 500,000 acres of national forest, and in addition to golf there are nature trails for hiking, biking, snowmobiling, and cross-country skiing. Fishing, lakeside beaches and downhill skiing are available just minutes away.

FOREST DUNES GOLF CLUB ROSCOMMON, MICHIGAN

A visit to Forest Dunes in Roscommon is an escape to world-class golf amid 1,300 acres of heavily wooded land in the Huron National Forest.

Such was the vision of Lew Thompson of Arkansas, who—with a partner— acquired the facility in 2012.

On the land, when they took over ownership, was the award-winning course designed by 1973 U.S. Open Champion Tom Weiskopf, who has become equally famous in the design world. He created what he thinks is one of his top 10 designs over rugged native dunes and sand areas.

It’s been consistently ranked among the nation’s best since opening in 2002.

In 2016 another famous architect, Tom Doak, created The Loop, which features an innovative reversible routing that is played in two directions and essentially gives the resort 54 holes of golf. Golfers 64

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play the same 18 fairways, but from different select tee positions: clockwise one day, and counterclockwise the next day.

It has been lauded with praise since it opened as one of the most unique golf experiences in the world. The resort even has special days where golfers can play one way in the morning, and another in the afternoon, known as The Dual.

This year the resort also plans to allow golf carts on the course that is essentially designed for walking golfers.

“We found some groups were not coming because not everybody in their group could walk The Loop. This will give more people a chance to experience the course.

Of course, it will still be a course where you can walk. We feel that gives the golfer the true experience of The Loop and they can truly see the genius of [Doak’s] design,” said Don Helinski, director of operations at Forest Dunes.

“We just want to open it up to others too. For the sake of our business and people who can’t walk it dictates we do this. We feel it has matured enough to handle cart traffic and we think a lot of people will still walk the course as well,” Helinski added.

Thompson’s goal was to establish Forest Dunes as more than an exceptional golf escape: it is a picturesque setting with

an Adirondack style clubhouse featuring Sangomore’s restaurant, a modern Lake AuSable Lodge complete with 14 rooms, and golf villas and cottages.

Forest Dunes has also debuted the HillTop, which is a two-acre, 18-hole putting course built to help golfers improve their short game as well as be a fun and competitive challenge on its own.

HAWKSHEAD

SOUTH HAVEN, MICHIGAN

HawksHead is a Southwest Michigan haven for golf in a lakeside community known for its dining, wineries, boutiques, and natural setting.

“This is the best golfing experience and overnight stay in the Midwest,” said Arthur Hills, ASGCA, golf course designer, after the course opened in 1996.

“It is a place I would want to come to for golf, relaxation, good food, and everything is relaxed and comfortable.”

Hills fashioned great variety in the 18 holes that wind in an adventurous manner through the natural topography and native grasses near Lake Michigan.

The award-winning course plays to about 7,003 yards with multiple tee positions and can be played from the front position at nearly 4,960 yards.

Strategic bunker complexes and natNILE YOUNG

ural waste areas stand out and offer targets as well as risk-reward options to the golfer. The wind has a tendency to swirl and change directions based on its close proximity to the lake.

“We designed a course that everybody can play and enjoy, and the area is beautiful. The golf course in just a little bit of time looks like it has been here for a very long time,” Hills also added at the time of the course’s debut.

The HawksHead Restaurant and Pub has a great reputation on its own, and The Inn at HawksHead provides a roomy bed and breakfast opportunity in a restored Old English Tudor Mansion on-site. This escape is just a few minutes off Interstate 94, but feels like many miles in the serene setting.

PLAY ALL

8 COURSE S Learn more about all of our courses and the entire region by requesting our free travel guide at: cadillacmichigan.com

THE ROCK

DRUMMOND ISLAND, MICHIGAN

With a moniker like the Gem of the Huron, Drummond Island beckons visitors to its cobble beaches, inland lakes, and closed-loop trail systems. Set within the paddler’s paradise is an island golf experience known as The Rock at Drummond Island, which combines rustic beauty and a Harry Bowers design.

The Rock, which was built in the late 1980s, features 18 championship holes

EXPLORING

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Hawkshead carved from 400 acres of hardwood, cedar, and limestone. With bluegrass fairways and four sets of tees, the course can play up to 6,837 yards and greets players with a scene that foreshadows the serenity and rustic adventure the course provides.

It begins with a 546-yard, par-5: it’s a birdie change, though not easy. There are strategic bunkers and a water hazard behind the green that protect the hole.

Drummond Island offers a number of accommodation options, such as lodge style hotel rooms and private rental cottages and cabins.

APPLE MOUNTAIN FREELAND, MICHIGAN

The golf course at Apple Mountain Resort in Freeland added more than 600 tons of new sand and replaced underground drainage tiles in the 33 greenside bunkers on its 18-hole layout in 2018—in part to keep a well-earned reputation for great playing conditions and aesthetics.

Other areas were also worked on and the John Sanford-designed course remains a golf explorer’s favorite with its four sets of tees and generous fairways on what is a challenging par-72 championship layout.

The manicured path through the many 66

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bunkers—large and small—water hazards and elevation changes may take more than one play to learn angles and carries. It has a strong 145 slope rating from the 6,900yard back tees.

Apple Mountain is a full-service resort with golf, dining, spacious meeting rooms, and event space, such as the wedding chapel and pavilion.

In addition to a reputation for great course conditions, the resort is often lauded for its approach to outings. Apple Mountain has the entire staff involved in outings from the bag employees to the head golf professional, as well as food service, course rangers, and more. Scoring, course setup, and event planning are part of the service menu, too.

Golf season passes are especially popular and available now at their lowest prices of the year.

WILD BLUFF GOLF COURSE BRIMLEY, MICHIGAN

Among favorite stops for golfers traveling to the Upper Peninsula, Wild Bluff Golf Course at Bay Mills Casino & Resort in Brimley, Michigan offers a bit of wild on the bluffs and shore of Lake Superior.

Mike Husby, Michigan architect, did

the design, which has playable golf features such as roomy fairways, large greens, and some elevation changes. It also stands up to competition: PGA Canada had a four-year run as a tournament stop at the course, and a young Michelle Wie made national news taking on the men in that event.

A well-designed practice facility with a casino theme tops off the far north destination; and the views of the lake and the wildlife of the area make for golf combined with a nature hike. The carts have GPS monitors, and the days run long in the Upper Peninsula summer months.

Husby said he took great care in a design that would accommodate the variety of golfers who might visit the area, especially with a short season for golf in the Upper Peninsula.

“I wanted it to be fun for anybody, challenging for the big boys and girls who hit it far, and yet playable for the seniors and juniors, anybody really,” Husby said.

“The fact that it can host a professional tournament, and the nine-hole league players like it as well makes me feel great about it.”

COURTESY HAWKSHEAD

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Casting the line

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CHRISTOPHER PASTOTNIK

Text: Greg Johnson

Today’s traveler has an affinity for the experiential more than ever before. Whether it’s the new or the familiar, travelers have an appreciation for great experiences and perhaps even more of a willingness to step off the manicured fairway and into the babbling brook.

It’s a trend Steve Timmer, director of marketing at Grand Traverse Resort and Spa in Acme, Michigan, has noticed regarding the resort’s Orvis Michigan Fly Fishing Schools.

“Today’s traveler is much more experiential. They want to push their limits a bit further during their vacation and try new things, including f ly fishing,” Timmer said. “Having the experts from Orvis on-site teaching our guests about f ly fishing is a perfect fit for Traverse City’s ‘up north’ lifestyle. With a short COURTESY ORVIS

drive from our resort, you can be standing in a Blue Ribbon trout stream or fishing a remote inland lake.”

Orvis Michigan Fly Fishing Schools, or Orvis Michigan, is meant to introduce novices to the sport of f ly fishing as well as offer advanced instruction for the more experienced angler. The school offers one and two-day programs through the resort by Orvis Streamside of Traverse City, which is located a short distance from Grand Traverse. Dave and Kelly Leonhard, owners of Orvis Streamside, MICHIGANGOLFEXPLORER.COM

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previously had a retail presence in the shops at Grand Traverse Resort before moving downtown.

“We did schools when our store was at Grand Traverse Resort for 10 or 11 years, and now we’re back. We’ve been an official Orvis School for a long time, and we’ve been doing this in this area for 25 years,” Dave Leonhard said. “Working with the resort is a homecoming in a way.

The two-day schools will have one day at the resort and the second day at the store

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because it helps the people to see the tackle and learn about it.”

Orvis Michigan through Streamside leverages private trout ponds and classrooms, as well as stretches of the nearby Boardman River for instruction. The program not only covers casting techniques, proper f ly selection, essential knots, and how to play, land, and safely release fish, but also how to choose gear and tackle, and read the water and stream entomology.

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“We get you ready to step into the stream,” Dave Leonhard said, who has been a master certified casting instructor for the Fly Fishers International and a f ly aangler for more than 50 years.

Streamside also offers instruction for private lessons and guides at the local rivers through the resort. Leonhard said booking early for the classes, private lessons, and guides is suggested.

“Fly fishing popularity is on the increase right now, and our schools have grown tremendously over the years,” Leonhard said. “We limit our class sizes to a dozen people because that way we are able to cover things and answer questions more fully. It’s also less intimidating for the student, and more intimate.”

Leonhard, who is also a golfer, said the sports share some similarities.

“The gear heads who like golf gear— the equipment—like f ly fishing, too, partly because of the gear,” Leonhard said. “Like golf, it’s a heady sport; intensive. I’m a golfer and a lot of my friends are golfers and love to f ly fish as well.”

Leonhard also noted one of the priorities at Orvis is appealing to the younger demographic as well and classes offered through the resort are a perfect fit.

The one-day schools begin in Traverse City at Orvis Streamside, with the day culminating on the Boardman River with supervised fishing. Transportation is not included. The cost is roughly $279 per person, and special pricing for accommodations for Orvis Fly Fishing School participants is available at Grand Traverse Resort and Spa. This season’s One-Day Schools will be held: May 18 and 24, 2019; June 1 and 28, 2019; July 20 and 26, 2019; August 17, 23, and 30, 2019; and September 6, 2019.

The Two-Day schools start at Grand Traverse Resort with the first day culminating on the school’s private trout pond.

The second day starts at Streamside Orvis downtown, just a 10-minute drive from the resort, and ends up on the Boardman River. Transportation is not included.

The cost of the two-day schools is about $489 per person, and special accommodation rates are available at the resort. The Two-Day Schools will be held: May 3-4, 2019; June 15-16, 2019; July 13-14, 2019; and August 10-11, 2019.

d-Winning Cour r a w FROM ses A 4 Torch Lake to Charlevoix

Sundance Torch

Sundance exemplifies the extraordinary natural beauty of northwest Michigan with views of both Torch Lake and Lake Michigan. With wide, playable fairways, superbly sculpted greens, vast windswept bunkers, and spectacular vistas, Sundance will delight the scratch golfer or a newly fledged beginner.

Along US-31

The Torch offers spectacular views of Torch Lake and the surrounding countryside.

A challenging shot-makers course that favors accuracy over length, water comes into play on 11 of the holes, as do mature stands of woods throughout the course.

The Torch is known as one of the most scenic golf courses in all of northern Michigan.

Antrim Dells Charlevoix CC

Overlooking Lake Michigan, Antrim Dells is back to it’s splendor as one of the finest golf experiences in northern Michigan.

Former host of The Michigan Amateur, the course is in the best shape of it’s life!

Antrim Dells now features four sets of tees along with some of the “Sweetest Greens in the North.”

Along US-31

Golf Packages from $265 pp 800.678.0122 AgamingGolf.com

2 Nights / 4 Courses 1 to 4 Bedroom Condos overlooking Torch Lake, perfect for any size group!

Charlevoix Country Club offers golfers beautifully manicured bent grass fairways and large undulating putting surfaces.

Many holes weave their way across a nice mix of open and tree lined holes with expansive surrounds of heather. The last 4 holes are among the most challenging finishing holes in northern Michigan.

Regional gateway Text: R.J. Weick

Despite the years that have passed since its first success in 1903, flight is likely to induce a thrill of adventure in those opting to travel by plane. There is often still a moment of marvel as wheels leave the tarmac and transport passengers into the sky toward their destination. There is a sense of arrival when planes finally roll to a stop at a new city terminal across state, province, or territory lines.

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It is a journey to be celebrated and since the turn of the millennium, Gerald R. Ford International Airport, or GFIA, has invested in transforming the traveler airport experience in a major way.

From the nearly $50 million renovation of its passenger terminal building in 2000, the $32 million reconstruction of its East-West runway in 2001, and the 1,000-space express shuttle parking lot that debuted in 2002, to the authorization and commission of Gresham, Smith and Partners—a multi-disciplinary design and consulting firm in Nashville, Tennessee—to provide final design and construction administration services for the Terminal Area and Parking Improvement Program in 2004; each early milestone began to lay the foundation for what GFIA has become today.

The Terminal Area and Parking Improvement Program—initially studied

KARI DOUMA

in 2000 by the same Tennessee firm— introduced the four-level, 4,800-space parking structure complete with a canopy that has become an iconic silhouette for the airport. The project also integrated landscape and streetscape elements, covered and convenient parking adjacent to the terminal building, a helical entrance ramp, and dynamic message signage and wayfinding intended to improve the parking experience for both arriving and departing travelers.

“It is a ref lection of our branding,” said Tara Hernandez, marketing and communications director at GFIA, in reference to the wayfinding signage and canopy. “We tell people to use their imagination; it is whatever you want it to be, just like travel.”

Since its completion in 2009, GFIA then set its sights on transforming the traveler experience from curbside to cabin door and embarked on a near-

ly $45 million, multi-year, two-phase transformative renovation project that began in 2015. With more than $17 million in sponsorship funding from local community businesses and foundations, GFIA’s Gateway Transformation Project not only expanded the airport by more than 59,000 square-feet, but also redesigned the smaller facility into a modern and spacious aviation hub with a sense of place inherent to the region.

Partnering with Alliiance, a Minneapolis-based, full-service architecture and design firm, as well as local TowerPinkster Architects & Engineers in Grand Rapids, Michigan, GFIA’s new redesign comprises a consolidated passenger security checkpoint, a new post-security marketplace, pre- and post-security nursing rooms, business centers, work-life lounge areas, Military Welcome Center, a Gerald R. Ford Tribute Room, and Prospect Hill restau-

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rant. Terrazzo f looring reminiscent of moving water, additional lighting and suspended circular fixtures, murals of regional landmarks, curved wood in the ceiling, and leveraged local partnerships for other interior elements lend to the overall branding and sense of place distinctive to West Michigan.

“We tell people when they are in the airport to look down, up, and all around, because there are different elements ref lected in the makeup of who we are as West Michigan that also is ref lected in our branding,” Hernandez said. “We are the first thing you are going to see when you step off a plane. You are going to see that theme ref lected in the entire visit to West Michigan—in the colors, from the murals, the partnerships that we have had: all of those ref lections are seen throughout the airport.”

The airport began construction on the second phase of the Gateway Transformation Project in November 2018 and is anticipated to be completed in 2020, according to a GFIA press release. This second phase seeks to

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improve airline ticket counters, baggage service offices, baggage claim, and curbside areas. It will also feature new terrazzo f looring, LED lighting, and upgraded signage aligned with the design of the first phase of the project.

Phase Two of the Gateway Transformation Project also launched during a month of serving an all-time record number of passengers; as a seven-phase, $30.2 million airport apron reconstruction project continues; and on the heels of the design-and-build of the nearly 3,000-square-foot, AIA Michigan Honor Award-winning, GFIA Viewing Pavilion located opposite the runway.

In December 2018, GFIA experienced a 17-percent growth year-over-year with approximately 273,673 passengers— resulting in more than 3.26 million passengers served in 2018 alone—and marked the sixth consecutive record-breaking year for the destination hub.

The GFIA Viewing Park, owned by the airport and located at 4820 Kraft Avenue SE in Grand Rapids, has served as a popular place for local residents, families,

visitors, and aviation enthusiasts alike since it first opened in 1995. Initially a park featuring a long, serpentine-shaped parking lot and cul-de-sac with picnic tables where visitors could capture the drama of f light as planes roared down the East-West runway, the site has been transformed and elevated with a simple, yet carefully detailed structure designed

by Mathison | Mathison Architects, or MMA, in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

“This goes back to the primary kind of architecture: it is shelter. It has columns, the building is telling you what it is doing, it is directing rain, and it has this kind of purity as a structure,” said Ben Franceschi, architect at MMA. MMA, a full-service architectural firm grounded in modernism, is a practice striving to deliver projects that embrace its site, enrich its surrounding environment, and provide meaningful authentic experiences. Thomas R. Mathison, FAIA, principal and co-founder of MMA, indicated while the team was initially approached by Cascade Community Foundation to gen-

JASON KEEN

Chris Lutzke, in collaboration with Pete Dye, has designed a rolling “links” style championship golf course featuring magnificent shot values on every hole.

The replica island green of TPC Sawgrass #17 has been named the “most impressive and literal clone” by Golf Digest. Host of multiple US Open qualifiers, Michigan PGA Professional Championships, Michigan Amateur and JR Amateur as well as the 2020 NCAA Men’s Regional Tournament.

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erate a concept, it was after considering the project’s potential to benefit the larger community that they began working with the airport to elevate the design a step further.

“It has a sense of place today that it didn’t have before, because it is a destination now. It has an identity that wasn’t there before,” Tom Mathison said. “It is a strong solution without calling a lot of attention to itself.”

MMA wove together a number of core design elements into the project that integrated programmatic elements into a central covered pavilion and restroom structure featuring ADA accessibility that would not only provide shelter and an engaging viewing space, but also serve as an aviation-centric teaching environment for local organizations and schools.

The nearly $1.12 million GFIA Viewing Pavilion emerges from the landscape and at a glance is a simple structure

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comprising double canopy roof forms of red cedar, interspersed columns, and a metal paneled bathroom facility set upon a brushed concrete plaza. Each element is carefully detailed and placed to ultimately capture the line of f light in dramatic statement set against the horizon.

The roof form is as thin as possible and inspired by air foils and wings of aircraft; columns are cantilevered up from the ground; and gray columns are painted silver metallic to help dematerialize the columns and reflect the environment.

“The shape and form of the building is actually inspired by the trajectory of airplanes taking off and landing. When you stand under the pavilion, the roofs actually come down on both sides and as planes are taking off, they actually follow the trajectory of the roof form,” said Evan Mathison, principal and co-founder of MMA. “It’s the perfect moment. The building actually takes advantage of the

moment of f light.”

Completed in 2017, the Viewing Pavilion welcomes and inspires those who gather to watch f light in motion as nearly 300 aircraft take off and land on the tarmac each day, with approximately 120 of those being nonstop f lights to 29 major markets across six airlines.

For passengers who make their final destination GFIA, they are one step closer to a region rich with natural, recreational, cultural, and business assets for both the corporate and leisure traveler, from shoreline and fairway to event venue. Dubbed Beer City U.S.A. and abundant with courses, dining, and art, Grand Rapids is a golf connoisseur’s haven located within 40 minutes of the lakeshore. As the second largest airport in the state, GFIA continues to invest in making travel better and welcoming its guests into a world-class transportation hub and gateway to the region.

JASON KEEN

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@ michigangolfexplorer 2/15/19 12:32 PM

Here in

Traverse City,

GREAT things

just come together.

W

herever you golf, it should be in a pretty great place. It’s a place where the green is just half the story, and where the game only gets better after the 18th hole.

When you find yourself in Traverse City, Michigan, you’ll find yourself in a pretty great place. Resort views from the 16th floor compete with 450-foot bluffs hovering Lake Michigan. It’s is a place where ancient glaciers left their mark in clear lakes and dramatic hills, today giving our 20 golf courses a natural, breathtaking setting. But then again, the finishing touches added by the modern powerhouses didn’t hurt either. Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Gary Player, Jerry Matthews and Tom Weiskopf all left traces on their respective stomping grounds.

Truth is, the world is full of well-designed golf courses, so a truly worldclass golf destination needs to offer something more. Something genuine.

It has to be a real place with its own story, its own flavor, its own soul. It has to offer something special once you leave the course. And that’s what sets Traverse City apart, because it brings so much together.

On a single morning, you can finish a round, wander a magnificent beach and amble through the shops and stores of a friendly lakeside village. You could cast your line into one of America’s most famous trout streams, paddle the shores of a forest lake, search for delectable morel mushrooms on the wooded hillsides, or just take a drive through the most gorgeous display of spring wildflowers you’ll see anywhere.

Shoppers love our shady, pedestrian-friendly downtown with its quirky boutiques, restaurants, coffee shops and galleries, and the Grand Traverse Commons --- a former mental asylum --- offers some shopping and dining adventures of its own. And when that summer sun finally goes down, there’s still plenty to do. Nightlife in Traverse City can be an evening of acoustic folk in a dim brewpub, pulsating electronic in a Union Street bistro, or some gaming fun in a local casino.

And for the record, we make some pretty great cherries. Officially we are the cherry capital of the world, but we’re adding more to that resumé every day. That same land that’s ideal for cherries is also a famous wine-producing region with nearly 40 wineries as well as a fast-growing hops and craft brew scene. And you won’t go hungry, either.

Traverse City’s many restaurants have also created a national reputation for their fresh, innovative regional cuisine.

With abundant shopping, comfortable lodging and vibrant culture, it’s easy to see why this “Golf Coast” of the Midwest has teed up a list of awards. Named #12 in Golf Digest’s list of the World’s Top 50 Golf Destinations, named “America’s Summer Golf Capital” by Golf Magazine, and recently ranked among the Top 10 Golf Cities in the U.S., golfers seem to all agree that this is a pretty great place. Find yourself there at traversecity.com.

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West Michigan offers a range of must-play courses all within driving distance once you land. Whether you’re looking to play one of America’s greatest, a local favorite, or a crown jewel overlooking the water, you will find nonstop flights from 29 cities to Ford Airport in Grand Rapids. Join us for a round or two, along with all the other attractions our part of the world is famous for. Schedule your next round trip at flyford.org.

Pictured: Arcadia Bluffs Golf Club, The Bluffs Course, hole number 5

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GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN

COOLCITY “Golf and beer go hand-in-hand, for many golfers.

And that’s reason enough to descend upon Grand Rapids.”

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Pilgrm’s Run Golf Club

At the WITH table:

Doug Small Text: Greg Johnson

Doug Small is the President and Chief Executive Officer, or CEO, for Experience Grand Rapids Convention & Visitors Bureau, or as he likes to put it the Chief Experience Officer. It is the official Destination Marketing Organization for the community of Grand Rapids and has a mission to strengthen the region’s economic vitality and quality of life. The 58-year-old native of Napoleon, Ohio came to Grand Rapids from Denver, Colorado, where he served as the Senior Vice President for Visit Denver.

Small is a graduate of Siena Heights University in Adrian, Michigan, and spent time as a basketball player, high jumper in track and field, and on the golf course growing up. He has worked in travel and tourism in about five destinations across five states around the country and has been in Grand Rapids since 2008.

The Golf Explorer: Michigan’s Journal to Incredible Golf had a chance to speak with him recently.

TGE: Where do you play golf?

DS: I’ve been a member at Thousand Oaks [in Grand Rapids]; this is my fourth year. I joined Thousand Oaks, because of the golf course. I love it.

TGE: What are some of your favorite Michigan golf courses?

DS: I haven’t ventured out of the area much, but if Thousand Oaks is one, then Pilgrim’s Run is one-A, and then anything in the Petoskey area along the water. This summer I hope to get out around the state more. I play most of my golf in this area, or on a trip with my brothers, or down in Ohio with my brothers.

TGE: What is your best golf shot ever?

DS: I do have one hole-in-one, but it’s not the shot. The hole-in-one was on the 9th hole at Doral [in Miami]. My best shot ever was the double-eagle: the albatross. The course [Landmark Golf Club] was brand new when I played it in Palm Springs, [California]. I have some buddies from Dayton, [Ohio] where I worked 86

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when I was in Ohio and they would come out for a golf junket every year when I lived and worked in Palm Springs.

I was there for 10 years. We were playing and I dunked a 3-wood from about 228 [yards] for a two on a par-5. It was a course where they played the Skins Game a couple of years prior, and I didn’t really see it. The shot cleared a bunker and the pin was back. We looked everywhere for the ball at first—long, because we knew it wasn’t in the bunker. One of my buddies jokingly said, “check the hole,” and it was there. That was a thrill.

TGE: Do you have golf travel plans for 2019?

DS: I do. I’m going to start with Michigan and play some of the courses my friends have told me are must-sees. I have to put that list together. I need to venture out in the state I live. I will also get back to Palm Springs the week before Christmas and get back with my buddies there and play.

I have seven brothers and they golf.

We get together with their sons and every

other year they come to Grand Rapids and we play a Ryder Cup style and in the off years we go some other place. I think someone said this year we are going to go to the Suttons Bay and Traverse City area and play some courses. It may not happen this year, but I want to explore golf in Wisconsin, too. I’ve heard a lot about it.

TGE: Do you have a favorite player on tour?

DS: I don’t know if I have a real favorite.

I might go old school on you. I’ve always been a fan of Freddie Couples for a couple of reasons. One, I loved his game and wry personality; and two, his swing is beautiful. I’ve always rooted for Freddie.

TGE: Who do you most enjoy playing golf with?

DS: My brothers. I mean, I certainly have a close group I play with here in Grand Rapids, but my brothers are good golfers, and they are my brothers—all comedians—and it’s a blast to play golf with them. There seems to be a story COURTESY DOUG SMALL | EXPERIENCE GR

Pilgrims Run that comes out of every round. My dad is 89-years-old and doesn’t play anymore.

He played until he was 87-years-old. I’ve always enjoyed playing golf with my dad and my brothers.

TGE: Who is in your dream foursome?

DS: Freddie Couples, the friendly guy from Wisconsin, Jerry Kelly, hard not to pick Tiger Woods. If would let me go five, I would add [Peter Jacobsen].

tour and they Jake

TGE: What are your duties at Experience GR? DS: I oversee all administrative, operating, sales, and marketing in such a way that fosters collaborative relationships to fulfill organizational mission.

NILE YOUNG

As President and Chief Experience Officer, I oversee the day-to-day operations. I’ve spent 36 years—my career— doing what I do here: putting a face on the community and presenting it to the world to drive business and traffic here. We have 31 full-time and 14 part-time employees and we are charged with filling the convention center and hotels and bringing business meetings to Grand Rapids.

TGE: What else should we know about Doug Small?

DS: I have another passion along with golf. I would say I’m a frustrated chef.

My perfect weekend day is golf on the TV in the kitchen while I’m preparing some type of fun meal. Watching golf and cooking: I have equal passion for both.

MICHIGANGOLFEXPLORER.COM

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Developing hospitality Text: R. Collins

This year a series of new hotel developments in downtown Grand Rapids are set to change the hospitality landscape.

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Among the many developments set to break ground across the Grand Rapids, Michigan skyline, a series of new hotels are planned to emerge in 2019. It is an investment that is anticipated to further contribute to the city’s economic vitality and add to the 1,708 hotel rooms already downtown, according to data developed

by Downtown Grand Rapids Inc. in collaboration with the International Downtown Association.

The highly anticipated, 130-room AC Hotel Grand Rapids Downtown by Marriott is set to open in May 2019 in a restored, nearly 127-year-old building at 50 Monroe Street NW. The project saw the conversion of a property managed

by CWD Real Estate Development, a local real estate investment and property management firm in Grand Rapids, and will be placed under the management of AHC + Hospitality, formerly Amway Hotel Corporation.

“In general, downtown Grand Rapids has had a demand for additional guest rooms,” said Lauren Knowlton, director of development and regional general manager at AHC + Hospitality. “AC is a newer brand to the United States so it brings along some excitement. It gets a little bit away from that business and luxury traveler that other properties downtown are geared towards.”

The AC Hotels by Marriott brand are designed to ref lect the souls of their cities, offering a unique combination of quality, timelessness, comfort, and authenticity.

“The AC brand is known for [taking] a beverage first approach and the lounge will have a lot of local liquor and beer selections as well as wine on tap,” Knowlton said. “The development will also feature all Herman Miller furniture in public spaces on the ground f loor, which is not only unique to the area but also to the AC hotel brand in general.”

AHC + Hospitality will also manage the 160-room Hyatt Place Grand Rapids Hotel scheduled to be completed in July 2019 located a few blocks to the northeast at the intersection of Ottawa and Lyon.

The hotel will complement the adjacent 15-story office tower also under devel-

AHC + HOSPITALITY

opment by Orion Real Estate Solutions, a commercial and residential real estate developer in Grand Rapids, for Chemical Bank and Warner Norcross + Judd LLP. The Hyatt Place Grand Rapids Hotel is geared toward the traditional business traveler, according to Knowlton, and is unique in that it is pet friendly. The project will also include a 24-hour eatery called The Gallery and a 430-space park-

ing garage, which will both allow visitors comfortable conveniences in the heart of downtown’s entertainment district.

The city will also see the development of a 164-room Marriott Residence Inn within the central blocks of downtown at 10 Ionia NW in 2019 by the Hinman Company, which is a Grand Rapidsbased commercial real estate agency. The 12-story hotel will hold retail space on

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GOLF | DINING

Up North Gol f Without The Drive

the ground level and is expected to create about 51 jobs, according to the Michigan Economic Development Corporation.

Among other contributions to Monroe Street, the development is intended to support visitor volume at the DeVos Place Convention Center and Van Andel Arena.

Located South of the Marriott Residence Inn, a new 164-room Canopy

by Hilton will offer a neighborhood-centric addition to the new hotel lineup. The hotel will be opened by Mount Pleasant, Michigan-based hospitality management company Lodgeco Hospitality in 2019.

The Canopy by Hilton is part of the Studio Park development, which is a roughly $110 million project being constructed just South of the Van Andel Arena. The development, also scheduled to be completed in 2019, will include a nine-screen movie theater, 250 residential units, new parking and office space, and 40,000 square feet of retail space, further adding to entertainment, lodging, and living options downtown Further North and overlooking the Grand River, a seven-story, 246-room Embassy Suites by Hilton Hotel at 710 Monroe Avenue NW is expected to open later in 2019 under management of Suburban Inns, a hotel and hospitality management firm based in Hudsonville, Michigan. The hotel will be the first of the Embassy Suites brand in Grand Rapids and will accommodate corporate as well as weekend leisure travelers to the area.

Across the Grand River on the West bank, at 942 Front Avenue, a 110room Staybridge Suites by Holiday Inn will be owned and operated by Bacall Companies LLC, a Farmington Hills, Michigan-based developer and property-management firm. The new development will position guests between active city blocks and a serene river front, two of Grand Rapids’ distinguishable assets.

The urban setting and the riverfront will play key elements in each of the new developments that are currently being woven into the city fabric; introducing travelers and locals to Grand Rapids as a distinctive metropolitan destination.

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Golfing outlook Text: Greg Johnson

Industry leaders are looking to stay aggressive as they work to bring more people to the game of golf.

The consensus among some of Michigan’s golf leaders heading into the 2019 season is the industry is on solid footing—at least holding serve if not improving—and the emphasis needs to remain on bringing new people of all age groups into the game.

“We are being aggressive with construction of our new par-3 holes, with our teaching programs under Patti Butcher, and in making sure people have a good golf experience,” said Jeff Hoag, general manager of Scott Lake Country Club.

Hoag, who has co-owned the public, 27-hole golf course in Comstock Park near Grand Rapids, Michigan for nearly 43 years, also noted it is an endeavor that requires constant effort.

“It’s not something you can back off on. You have to engage the juniors, engage women golfers, engage the people who come to your place for the first time so they come back again and then take care of those people who do return and play in leagues and regular groups at your facility,” Hoag said.” You have to work at it.”

David Graham, who served as executive director of the Golf Association of 92

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Michigan for the last 18 years and is set to retire in June 2019, said the 2018 season was an outstanding year for the nearly 500 clubs and 70,000 members in the statewide association.

“We anticipated challenges with some competitive pressures, but that didn’t turn out to be and we actually grew our business modestly,” Graham said. “The trend going into 2019 is very good. We have more clubs interested in membership with us and we are very bullish about 2019.”

Graham also said the approach has been aggressive and will remain so at GAM. “We will continue to bring youth to the game through our GAM Foundation and Youth on Course, we will continue to listen to our competitive golfers and respond to them with our tournament schedule and offerings, and we will continue to try and reach more golfers through our programs, the ones we support, and through our expanded Net tournaments and the GAM Scramble,” Graham said. “We continue to try to bring people into the GAM to see what all we offer and how this great game can

be the game of a lifetime for them.”

Despite the more positive outlook, there are still challenges that remain for the state. Chris Sobieck, general manager at Watermark Golf Properties in Grand Rapids, Michigan, noted his concern for what he described as the mom-and-pop golf courses that are struggling—and in some cases, closing.

“Those are the kind of places that introduce a lot of golfers to the game, and we can’t overlook that,” Sobieck said.

“We need more people to play the game to stay healthy and grow the game.”

With the four private clubs of Watermark Country Club, Sunnybrook

Thornapple Pointe Country Club, Thousand Oaks, and Stonewater Country Club, and its two public facilities, Watermark Golf Properties is a prominent player in its market. Sobieck noted the golf courses do things to grow in their respective market, such as allowing high school teams to use facilities, presenting golf introduce and improvement programs for women and men through social and civic groups, and presenting junior programs of various sorts.

“We do what we can do, but I think the industry needs to find ways to support the smaller operations where people do come into the game,” Sobieck said.

NILE YOUNG

Mike Brown, general manager and co-owner of A-Ga-Ming Golf Resort in Kewadin, Michigan, said he feels better this year than last year.

“Watching Tiger Woods play again and seeing enthusiasm in the television ratings is a great thing, and golf facilities doing a combination of things to bring new players to the game is a great thing,” Brown said. “We started here in 1996, the year Tiger turned pro and honestly people were f locking to golf courses then.

We didn’t even have to advertise. I don’t think we will ever get to that point again, but there is enthusiasm again, we had a great weather summer and golf seems

to be back on track to maintain some growth.”

At Bucks Run Golf Club in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, Manager and PGA Golf Professional Jon Conklin noted for the market the golf course serves, things are going very well.

“Purely speaking from a Bucks Run point of view, we are growing, and our rounds are growing a bit, but we also target a different type of golfer at our rate,” Conklin said. “We go after the core golfer disposable income, because we are a destination course. Those people still have money and enthusiasm for the game.

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Bucks Run league rounds up and doing more in the off times.”

Conklin also indicated the target for building new golfers remains the same as in recent years: women golfers.

“We have to get them and keep them interested. It’s still a mostly male-dominated sport in terms of golfer percentages. If families play more and more women are involved it will help. Women make a lot of decisions in the household,” Conklin said.

“It’s not the same as it used to be where dad plays golf on Saturday and Sunday and comes home later in the day.

It’s a different lifestyle now and we have to keep responding to that,” Conklin added.

While the female golfer demographic is still key for growing and maintaining the industry, Brown also noted the importance of continuing efforts to engage new players since the industry is still counting on the Baby Boomer generation for another 15 years.

“At A-Ga-Ming we are in this for the long haul,” Brown said. “We will keep working to stay relevant to the millen94

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nials by doing a combination of things.”

In 2018, A-Ga-Ming was mindful of that vision when taking over ownership and management at Charlevoix Country Club.

“We took it over, rebuilt it after a fire and there was nowhere to go but up,” Brown said. “It’s up 40 percent and that is great. At the rest of A-Ga-Ming, we are up six percent—that’s great. We just have to keep working and thinking of things to keep us going in that direction.”

Hoag, of Scott Lake Country Club, said the 2018 season was a fabulous year overall in large part due to the weather.

“Everything was great until Labor Day and I think Labor Day Weekend’s weather was just Mother Nature letting us know she is still in charge of our success sometimes,” Hoag said. “The weather is the thing you can’t control. You keep working on the things you can control: you can control how hard you work at attracting more people to golf.”

At the state level, Graham also noted the successful work of the Youth on Course program through the GAM Foundation saw nearly 5,000 youngsters

play more than 6,000 rounds at about 93 participating golf facilities in 2018.

“More facilities are coming on board, which only means more young golfers will pay just $5 to play a round,” Graham said. “From the first time I was introduced to Youth on Course it was clear that it addressed one of the biggest problems the golf industry has: affordability; especially for young people just learning the game.”

Hoag, a past president and current board member of the Michigan Golf Course Association, also noted the great thing about the golf industry is the groups that share the successful things they are doing to bring golf to more people.

“You can find things to try,” Hoag said. “You just have to ask. Everybody has to pull together in the industry on that. We need people to play, and more of them to keep us all going.”

Note: The views expressed reflect both forward-looking and backward-looking statements regarding the end of the 2018 season and the upcoming 2019 season for the golf industry in the state of Michigan.

NILE YOUNG

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Arrivals The moment the rubber touches the tarmac and the plane begins to slow, there is an inevitable pull causing passengers to sit at the edge of their seat. A slight anticipation often fills the cabin, and for those headed to the green it may be piqued by a curiosity of stepping onto a new course or excitement of returning to a cherished fairway.

Regardless of the destination, there are a number of options for out-of-state travelers to choose from as they book their flight to the Great Lakes State. Take a look at some of the airports providing convenient access to incredible golf in Michigan.

ALPENA COUNTY REGIONAL AIRPORT (APN) Alpena

Lakewood Shores. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 min.

Black Lake. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 min.

Forest Dunes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 hr. 40 min.

BOYNE MOUNTAIN AIRPORT (BFA) Boyne Falls

Boyne Mountain. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 min.

Bay Harbor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 min.

Boyne Highlands. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 min.

CHARLEVOIX MUNICIPAL AIRPORT (CVX) Charlevoix

Bay Harbor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 min.

Boyne Mountain. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55 min.

Boyne Highlands. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 min.

CHERRY CAPITAL AIRPORT (TVC) Traverse City

Grand Traverse Resort & Spa. . . . . . . . . . 10 min.

LochenHeath. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 min.

Turtle Creek Casino. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 min.

A-Ga-Ming Golf Resort. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 min.

Crystal Mountain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 min.

Boyne Mountain. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 min.

Evergreen Resort. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 min.

Bay Harbor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1hr. 15 min.

Forest Dunes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1hr. 20 min.

Otsego Club. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1hr. 20 min.

Boyne Highlands. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1hr. 30 min.

MANISTEE COUNTY BLACKER AIRPORT (MBL) Manistee

Manistee National Golf & Resort. . . . . . . 15 min.

Crystal Mountain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 min.

PELLSTON REGIONAL AIRPORT (PLN) Pellston

Boyne Highlands. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 min.

Bay Harbor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 min.

Boyne Mountain. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55 min.

Black Lake. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 min.

Bay Mills. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 hr. 15 min.

GAYLORD REGIONAL AIRPORT (GLR) Gaylord

Otsego Club. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 min.

HARBOR SPRINGS AIRPORT (MGN) Harbor Springs

Boyne Highlands. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 min.

Bay Harbor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 min.

Boyne Mountain. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 min.

WEXFORD COUNTY AIRPORT (CAD) Cadillac

Evergreen Resort. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 min.

Crystal Mountain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 min.

Manistee National Golf & Resort. . . . . . . . . . 1 hr.

Forest Dunes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 hr. 20 min.

BAY MILLS CASINO & RESORT

BOYNE HIIGHLANDS BAY HARBOR CHARLEVOIX MUNICIPAL AIRPORT (CVX)

HARBOR SPRINGS AIRPORT (MGN)

BLACK LAKE

PETOSKEY/ HARBOR SPRINGS BOYNE MOUNTAIN AIRPORT (BFA)

BOYNE MOUNTAIN

A-GA-MING

OTSEGO CLUB

GAYLORD GAYLORD REGIONAL AIRPORT (GLR)

TURTLE CREEK CASINO GRAND TRAVERSE RESORT

TRAVERSE CITY

LOCHENHEATH

CRYSTAL MOUNTAIN

FOREST DUNES LAKEWOOD SHORES

WEXFORD COUNTY AIRPORT

RN AT IO NA LA I

MANISTEE NATIONAL GOLF & RESORT

CADILLAC

<M BS INT E

MANISTEE

EVERGREEN RESORT

O RP

(M RT

BS

)

LAKEWOO D SH

ORE S>

Arrivals MT. PLEASANT MUNICIPAL AIRPORT (MOP)

TULLYMORE RESORT

PILGRIMS RUN

GRAND HAVEN

GRAND RAPIDS

APPLE MOUNTAIN

SAGINAW

THORNAPPLE POINTE CAPITAL REGION INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT GUN LAKE CASINO

EAGLE EYE HAWK/ HOLLOW GOLF CLUB

LANSING

LYNX HAWKSHEAD

SOUTH HAVEN

BUCKS RUN

QUAIL RIDGE

THE MINES

RAVINES

MBS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (MBS)

GULL LAKE VIEW

KALAMAZOO

GERALD R FORD INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (GRR) Grand Rapids

Thornapple Pointe. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 min.

Quail Ridge. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 min.

The Mines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Min. Gun Lake Casino . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 min.

Pilgrims Run . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 Min. Lynx . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 min.

Ravines. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 Min. Gull Lake View Golf Club and Resort . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1hr. 5 min.

Tullymore Golf Club and Resort . . . 1hr. 20 min.

Hawkshead. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1hr. 22 min.

Bucks Run . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1hr. 50 min.

KALAMAZOO/BATTLE CREEK INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (AZO) Kalamazoo

Gull Lake View Golf Club and Resort. . .

Lynx . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Gun Lake Casino . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Ravines. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Hawkshead. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

25 min.

29 min.

30 min.

60 min.

60 min.

CAPITAL REGION INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (LAN) Lansing

Eagle Eye/Hawk Hollow Golf Club. . . . . 15 min.

MT. PLEASANT MUNICIPAL AIRPORT (MOP) Mt. Pleasant

Bucks Run . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 min.

MBS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (MBS)

Saginaw

Apple Mountain. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 min.

Bucks Run . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 min.

Lakewood Shores. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1hr 45 min.

DETROIT

EAGLE EYE AT HAWK HOLLOW | CLINTON COUNTY

GULL LAKE VIEW RESORT | KALAMAZOO COUNTY

Bath | 18 Public | hawkhollow.com | 517-641-4295

Augusta | 108 Public | gulllakeview.com | 269-432-7971

COURTESY EAGLE EYE

NILE YOUNG PHOTOGRAPHY

LYNX GOLF COURSE | ALLEGAN COUNTY

Otsego | 18 Public | lynxGC.com | 269-694-5969 LYNX GOLF COURSE

HAWKSHEAD | ALLEGAN COUNTY

South Haven | 18 Public | hawksheadlinks.com | 269-639-2121 BRIAN WALTERS PHOTGRAPHY

100

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MICHIGANGOLFEXPLORER.COM

THE MINES | KENT COUNTY

QUAIL RIDGE | KENT COUNTY

Ada | 18 Public | quailridgegc.com | 616-67 NILE YOUNG PHOTOGRAPHY

THORNAPPLE POINTE | KENT

Grand Rapids | 18 Public | minesgolfcourse.com | 616-791-7544

Grand Rapids | 18 Public | thornapplepointe

H3 DESIGNS

COURTESY THORNAPPLE POINTE

BUCKS RUN | ISABELLA COUNTY

Mt. Pleasant | 18 Public | bucksrun.com | 989-773-6830 NILE YOUNG PHOTOGRAPHY

TULLYMORE | MECOSTA COUNTY

Stanwood | 18 Public | tullymoregolf.com | COURTESY TULYMORE

OTSEGO CLUB | TRIBUTE | OTSEGO COUNTY

Gaylord | 36 Public | otsegoclub.com | 800-752-5510

76-2000

COURTESY OTSEGO CLUB

PILGRIMS RUN | NEWAYGO COUNTY

Pierson | 18 Public | pilgrimsrun.com | 888-533-7742 NILE YOUNG PHOTOGRAPHY

T COUNTY

e.com | 616-554-4747

HARBOR SHORES | BERRIEN COUNTY

Benton Harbor | 18 Public | HarborShoresLife.com | 269-927-4653 NILE YOUNG PHOTOGRAPHY

Y

231-972-4837

A-GA-MING RESORT | SUNDANCE | ANTRIM COUNTY

Kewadin | 54 Public | a-ga-ming.com | 800-678-0122 COURTESY A-GA-MING RESORT

CRYSTAL MOUNTAIN RESORT | BENZIE COUNTY

Thompsonville | 36 Public | crystalmountain.com | 231-378-2000 BRIAN WALTERS PHOTOGRAPHY

BLACK LAKE | CHEBOYGAN COUNTY

Onaway | 18 Public | blacklakegolf.com | 989-733-4653 NILE YOUNG

MICHIGANGOLFEXPLORER.COM

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101

MANISTEE NATIONAL GOLF & RESORT |

MANISTEE COUNTY

Manistee | 36 Public | Manisteenational.com | 231-723-8874 BRIAN WALTERS PHOTOGRAPHY

BOYNE HIGHLANDS RESORT | CHARLEVOIX/EMMET

Harbor Springs | 72 Public | boyne.com | 800-GO-BOYNE COURTESY BOYNE

LOCHENHEATH | GRAND TRAVERSE COUNTY

Williamsburg | 18 Private/limited Public | lochenheath.com | 231-938BRIAN WALTERS PHOTOGRAPHY

GRAND TRAVERSE RESORT | THE WOLVERINE GRAND TRAVERSE COUNTY

Acme | 54 Public | grandtraverseresort.com | 800-236-1577

FOREST DUNES | CRAWFORD COUNTY

LAKEWOOD SHORES RESORT | IOSCO

Roscommon | 18 Public | forestdunesgolf.com | 989-275-0700

Oscoda | 54 Public | lakewoodshores.com | 800-882-2493

BRIAN WALTERS PHOTOGRAPHY

COURTESY LAKEWOOD SHORES

APPLE MOUNTAIN | SAGINAW

CHIPPEWA COUNTY

COURTESY GRAND TRAVERSE RESORT & SPA

EVERGREEN RESORT | WEXFORD COUNTY

Cadillac | 27 Public | evergreenresortmi.com | 866-291-8136 COURTESY EVERGREEN RESORT

102

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MICHIGANGOLFEXPLORER.COM

Freeland | 18 Public | applemountain.com | 989-781-6789 COURTESY APPLE MOUNTAIN

WILD BLUFF AT BAY MILLS RESORT |

Brimley | 18 Public | wildbluff.com | 906-248-3617 BUCKO TEEPLE

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103

PLAY

STAY

DINE

LIVE

FEATURING STOATIN BRAE - RANKED TOP 5 IN MICHIGAN With a total of 6 courses and “up-north” golf without the drive, why spend your time on the road when you could be on an unlimited golf package in Southwest Michigan? Located just minutes away from the entertainment of Downtown Kalamazoo, Gull Lake View makes a perfect location for your next golf trip or to live out the resort lifestyle you always dreamed of.

LET’S TALK. GULLLAKEVIEW.COM | 844.692.5088

Reverse

your course at

�e Loo� �e Loo� � Red No. ���lack No. 1�

Electric golf cars now available for �e �oo� e��erience�

Imagine playing a course in one direction one day, then

reversing the routing and experiencing a completely different

course the following day.

Int Introducing �e �oop, a reversible, links�style throwback to

Forest Dunes No. 18

the game’s origin designed by renowned architect Tom Doak.

When combined with the nationally acclaimed Forest Dunes course, you won’t �nd two more contrasting styles of golf at one resort ... anywhere.

forestdunesgolf.com | (989) 275-0700 | info@forestdunesgolf.com Roscommon, Michigan

�e Loo� � �lack No. ��Red No. 1�

Lake AuSable Lodge