michigan golfer, winter 2011/ 2012

In This Issue

4 Michigan’s Top 10 Stories of the YearBy Jack Berry

8 Jackson’s Dave Hill Never Left Home By Jack Berry

10 Mississippi GolfBy Tom Lang

18 Collegiate Spotlight: Hope CollegeBy Chris Lewis

21 Collegiate Spotlight: Lake Superior State UniversityBy Chris Lewis

24 Slice of LifeBy Terry Moore

MICHIGAN GOLFER

Publisher/EditorArt McCafferty

[email protected]

Editor EmeritusTerry Moore

AssociatePublisher/ProducerJennie McCafferty

WritersJeff Bairley

Susan BairleyL’anse BannonMike Beckman

Jack BerryTom DoakMike DuffRob Ford

Thad GutowskiKelly Hill

Greg JohnsonB.R. Koehnemann

Vartan KupelianTom Lang

Chris LewisScott Moncrieff

Jim NeffNorm Sinclair

Michael Patrick Shiels

Ron WhittenJanina Parrott Jacobs

Herschel NathanialBernice Phillips

Bill SheltonBrad Shelton

Photo/VideoKevin Frisch

Dave RichardsCarter SherlineBrian Walters

Director ofAccountingCheryl Clark

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V O L U M E 2 9 • W I N T E R 2 0 1 1 / 1 2 • N U M B E R 4

Cover: Randall Lewis holds the Robert T. Jones Jr. MemorialTrophy after winning the USGA Mid-Amateur Championship,Shadow Hawk Golf Club, September 22, 2011. Photo © USGA

2 W I N T E R 2 0 1 1 - 2 0 1 2 • M I C H I G A N G O L F E R M A G A Z I N E

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24 Terry Moore: Slice of Life


Whether you’re ready for it ornot, the calendar says it isDecember and one constant withDecember is list time, Top Ten ineverything and No. 1 in MichiganGolf is easier than picking the rightChristmas tree.

Alma’s Randy Lewis is likethe star on top of the tree –shining bright. Lewis is the

first Michigander to win a nationalchampionship since Greg Reynoldswon the United States SeniorAmateur in 2002.

Lewis practically was a seniorwhen he won the United StatesMid-Amateur Championship insteamy Texas in September. Hewas 54, one year short of qualify-ing for the Senior Amateur (he’slooking forward to his next birth-day) and 20 years older than theaverage age of the 30 previouschampions.

What’s more, it came 15 yearsafter he reached the 36-hole finaland lost. Lewis admitted he was

caught up inthinking if he wonthe match, hewould be invitedto the MastersTournament.

“That was thewrong thing tothink about,”Lewis admittedafter winning itall this time. Andthis time, he willbe invited to theMasters.

Lion Kim, aUniversity ofMichigan student,won the 2010United States Public LinksChampionship and played in the2011 Masters but unlike Lewis andReynolds, he wasn’t a Michiganresident nor had he played in thenormal schedule of state tourna-ments. Lewis is a two-time winnerof the Michigan Amateur, three-time winner of the 72-holeMichigan Medal Play, GolfAssociation of Michigan Player ofthe Decade (1990s) and was elect-ed to the Michigan Golf Hall ofFame in 2009.

Following Lewis in the TopTen:

2—100th Michigan AmateurChampionship at BoyneHighlands’ Heather course.

The celebration for the state’s old-est championship teed off with adinner with many past championsin attendance including GlennJohnson, 5 victories, Pete Green, 4,and Bud Stevens, 3. The trio start-ed the tournament with a first teeceremony. Green and Stevens hitdrives but Johnson, 88, pleaded asore back. Willie Mack III of Flintprevailed in the tournament defeat-ing two Michigan Wolverines,Matt Thompson in the semifinaland 2010 champion Joey Garber in

By Jack Berry

Jack Berry

Michigan’s Top 10Stories of the Year

Lion Kim

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5M I C H I G A N G O L F E R M A G A Z I N E • W I N T E R 2 0 1 1 - 2 0 1 2

the final. Mack, who played col-lege golf at Bethune-Cookman inFlorida, is the first African-American to win the Amateur.He turned pro after the victory.

3—Michigan Golf Hall ofFame welcomed four newmembers: Jim Briegel vet-

eran publinxer of Ann Arbor,golf course architect Art Hillswith undergraduate degree fromMichigan State and graduatedegree from Michigan, TerryMoore of Grand Rapids, journal-ist and entrepreneur, foundingeditor of Michigan Golfer maga-zine and founder of the WestMichigan Golf Show, and DonPerne, teammate of Hill’s atMSU, longtime PGA profession-al and with Robert Ewigleben,another MSU alumnus, foundedthe Professional GolfManagement program at FerrisState.

4—Sadly, deaths of DaveHill, Tom Chisholm and KenJanke, all members of the

Hall of Fame. Hill was the bestMichigander on the PGA Tour,winning 13 times and being ontwo Ryder Cup teams, then win-ning six times on the ChampionsTour. Hill always was colorful,quotable and a great shotmaker.Chisholm was president of theGolf Association of Michigan andfor six years a member of theUnited States Golf Association’sExecutive Committee where hewas a national leader on golf andthe environment. Janke was anardent player from his days as anine-year-old caddie at PlumHollow and was the master atorganizing one-day charity tourna-ments starting with the Walter

Hagen tournament at Bay Pointeto benefit the American CancerSociety. Janke’s collection ofeverything golf – magazines,clubs, balls, pictures, scorecards,and tournament programs was oneof the largest individual collec-tions in the country. And it wasJanke’s suggestion to Indianwoodowner Stan Aldridge that theMichigan Golf Hall of Fame wasborn in 1981.

5—Joey Garber of Petoskey,top young player in Michiganwho had a successful fresh-

man season at the University ofMichigan, transferred to theUniversity of Georgia. Garber saidhe felt his game would progressfaster if he was able to play year-round.

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6—Michigan State namedSpartan alumnus CaseyLubahn as golf coach.

Lubahn was a three-year lettermanand captain and then served threeyears as assistant coach to MarkHankins as MSU won two Big Tenchampionships. When Hankins leftfor Iowa, his home state, Lubahnwas appointed head coach atMiami of Ohio. He lifted that pro-gram but was happy to return toMSU, a move welcomed by manyMSU supporters.

7—Marty Jeppesen of EasternMichigan was named Playerof the Year by the Michigan

Publinx Golf Association. Jeppesenwon the GAM championship andthe Horton Smith at Detroit GolfClub. He qualified for the U.S.Amateur and then turned pro toplay on minitours and work up tothe PGA Tour.

8—Shanty Creek’s ArnoldPalmer-designed Legend cele-brated its 25th anniversary.

The Legend came on line whennorthern Michigan golf beganbooming with major designs, theJack Nicklaus Bear at GrandTraverse, and Robert Trent Jones’sHeather at Boyne Highlands andMasterpiece at Treetops.

9—The Weather. After a wetspring (no surprise there)summer and fall were good

and rounds picked up. Treetops,with a strong push from its onlinemarketing, had its most roundsever. Not everyone was happy butwith a state that has many coursesfrom the southern border to LakeSuperior and with the PureMichigan campaign still breathing,overall it was a good year.

10—And the year closedwith the Michigan GolfCourse Owners

Association presenting its awards:the Bruce Matthews LifetimeAchievement Award to DarylKesler who put Mid-Michigan golfon the map with his Hawk Hollowand Eagle Eye courses and largeclubhouses at each, plus a newhome for the Michigan PGASection. Carolyn Olson, owner ofthe popular Elmbrook Golf Coursein Traverse City took the LyleLeek Distinguished Service Award,Scott Lake Country Club inComstock Park was named Courseof the Year and Michigan State’sTurf Team was given an Award ofMerit.

Pretty good year, I’d say.

- MG -

Ken Janke

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2011 Michigan Golf Hall of Fame Inductees– Left to right standing:Arthur Hills, Jim Briegel, Terry Moore. In front: Don Perné.

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The numbers tell this about DaveHill: Winner of 13 PGA Tourand six Champions Tour

events, three Ryder Cups and unbeat-en in three singles matches, runnerupin the 1970 United States Open, tiedfor third in the 1974 PGAChampionship behind winner LeeTrevino and runnerup Jack Nicklaus,tied for fifth with Nicklaus in the1970 Masters Tournament won byBilly Casper.

You get the idea. Hill, the farm boyfrom Jackson, played the PGA Tour ina golden era, arguably the strongest

ever – Nicklaus, Trevino, Casper,Arnold Palmer, Sam Snead, GaryPlayer, every one of them a memberof the World Golf Hall of Fame.

He won four Danny Thomas-St.Jude Memphis Opens and the 1969Buick Open was one of three titlesthat year that resulted in the VardonTrophy for lowest stroke average.

Dave Hill is the best golfer tocome from Michigan in the postWorld War II era, when the ChickHarberts and Walter Burkemos, PGAchampions, took safe payday clubjobs. Hill turned pro in 1958 after a

stop at the University of Detroit, wonthe Michigan Open in 1959 and head-ed out to the pro tour where yourclubs had to insure paydays and thepurses were barely into six figures.The Buick Open purse was $125,000when Hill won and he collected$25,000.

Hill played when players shapedshots and nothing pleased him morethan a well-struck long iron. Hill andCanadian George Knudson were alike– 1-iron slim and attached to the prac-tice range.

But most sports fans didn’t know


Dave Hill, bottom left, with other notables at the U.S. Open Regional. L-R: GlennJohnson, Sam Snead, not identified, Walter Burkemo, Bud Stevens, others not identi-fied. L-R Dave Hill, not identified and Michigan Golf Hall of Fame member Gene Bone.

By Jack Berry

Jackson’s Dave Hill Never Left Home

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of Dave Hill for his ball-striking orhis tournament triumphs. They knewhim for saying his mind and that was-n’t popular with golf’s hierarchy andhe frequently was fined. His mostfamous brush was during the 1970U.S. Open at Hazeltine Country Club,outside Minneapolis. It was a newcourse designed by Robert Trent Joneson a farm field.

Many players didn’t like it but keptquiet. Not Hill. Asked his opinion, heasked where the golf course was, thatJones had ruined a good cornfield.And if you don’t like the answer,don’t ask the question.

He was fined, of course, but hestill managed to finish second to TonyJacklin, his highest finish in thenational championship. That was theDave Hill most people knew. But notthe folks in Jackson, especially AlGlick, who with his brother, Robert,started a little company called AlroSteel. If you ever saw Hill play, yousaw ALRO STEEL on his cap.

Glick frequently could be seen fol-lowing Hill on the Tour and said hecould write a book about Dave and hisexperiences and his fines.

“One time Dave was fined $500and he wrote a check for $1,000 andhanded it to the commissioner. Thecommissioner handed it back and saidhe’d been fine $500. Dave said he toldhim to keep it because he was goingto continue voicing his opinion.

“Dave was a great, great person,”Glick said after Hill, 74, died lastweek of emphysema. “I could talk for-ever about him. The last few yearswere bad for him. He was strugglingwith his health. He couldn’t play buthe’d show up (for customer golfevents).”

Glick said he knew Dave, and his20 months younger brother Mike,

when they were kids living on thefamily farm that was adjacent to theCountry Club of Jackson.

“They’d come over and shag ballswhen Dave was 8 or 9. Then they cad-died. Dave didn’t have a club. Hetwisted some kind of tubing to hit theball with. Then he got a couple of oldclubs. One of my best friends datedDave’s older sister.

“When Dave and Mike played onthe high school team they beat every-one in the state. Then when Daveturned pro nine of us (Country Clubof Jackson members) put up themoney for him to play the Tour,”Glick said.

Success didn’t come easy andGlick said that in 1965 Hill “wasabout ready to give up the Tourbecause he wasn’t making enoughmoney to make a living for his family.He came to me and my brother andanother businessman and we had acontract.

“At the time sponsors would get100% of whatever the player won. Itold Dave we didn’t want any of hismoney but we would like him to taketwo-three weeks in the summer andplay with our customers. Our compa-ny was small and just getting started.He was almost like a salesman for us.

“Dave was great. He said it was upto him to make sure his amateur part-ners had fun. He did everything hecould to make sure they had a goodtime. He always said he had a goodtime playing in pro-ams.”

That isn’t true of a number of Tourplayers who play only because they’rerequired to do it.

Glick said the third person of thepartnership dropped out and it washim and his brother and mainly hand-shake contracts for 35-40 years.

“After he won the Vardon Trophyhe had a lot of offers from people tomake a lot more money but he wasloyal to us. When he went to theSenior Tour we sat down with Daveand said this is what we’d like to do,with a money figure. Dave said‘That’s too much.’ The lawyer saidhe’d never seen anything like it. Thatwas Dave.”

“When you see ‘loyalty’ in the dic-tionary, there should be a picture ofDave. It’s hard to beat the relationshipwe had. He never let us down. He wasjust a great person,” Glick said. “It’sunbelieveable the number of e-mailsand telephone calls I’ve had from peo-ple who played with Dave. I’m justgoing to miss him so much.”

Dave Hill went out on the big tour,the show. But he never left Jackson.

- MG -


Dave Hill hits some practice shotsfor the gallery.

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By Tom Lang

Mississippi Golf

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Michigan and Mississippimay seem worlds apartin many facets such as

culture and industry, but bothstates have several similarities –including the game of golf andaccompanying amenities.

One big difference? – a muchlonger golf season – which can beenjoyed year round.

Mary Beth Wilkerson, Directorof Tourism, MississippiDevelopment Authority, who

praised the Pure Michigan tourismcampaign, said: “Golfers can expe-rience very diverse product here,with not just great golf but gamingand the top-name entertainmentcoming in. It’s also great for cul-tural and heritage travelers.”

Not only does Mississippi sharethose same traits with the GreatLakes State, but few may realizethe geographic terrain has manycommonalities – tree-lined areasalong the Gulf of Mexico like ourown giant freshwater shorelines,

and the middle-eastern part of theMagnolia state has rolling hills thatare a slightly smaller version ofour great Up North.

Those rolling hills are bestexperienced in Philadelphia,MS, where Dancing Rabbit

is seen in the media as the homecourse to PGA pro John Daly. Itstwo 18-hole courses – the Oaksand the Azaleas – frequently earnhigh national reviews, especiallyfor being one of a handful of casi-no properties (Pearl River Resort)anywhere with two championshipcourses onsite.

Michigan golfers would appreci-ate Dancing Rabbit’s rolling terrainand sharp elevation changes, plus theAzaleas course is the only one inMississippi with bent grass greens.The Oaks course has no two holesdesigned alike with excellentrisk/reward par 5s scattered through-out. Several rock formations are alsoexposed around the course for an UpNorth look and feel.

The hotel accommodationsmake Dancing Rabbit stand out aswell. The second floor of the club-house has 8 hotel-style rooms, alloff a great room at the stairwaylanding where groups using thefacility can gather – that is if theyare not enjoying the southern plan-tation-style wrap around porch.Each second-floor room also has awalk out door to the same hugeporch. Skip the casino hotel in thisinstance for the must-try uniquehospitality experience.

About one hour away inWest Point is Old Waverly,a wonderful place for golf

buddies, families or corporateOld Waverly Back Nine

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groups to stay and play – and usingthe lodging is the only way non-members can access the club.Villas are designed with a living-room connecting 4 separate bed-rooms/baths. The clubhouse, lessthan 25 years old, was constructedto look like a century-old southernmansion. Old Waverly hosted the1999 U.S. Women’s Open, won byJulie Inkster, and is close to thecollege-town amenities ofMississippi State (MSU).

Old Waverly has a wonderfulmenu in the clubhouse as well,including great steak and seafoodchoices – but the local-brand hamis a hit as well. Several holes onthe course wrap around a 40-acrelake and the property makes gooduse of small brooks, bridges andwaterfalls for aesthetic effect.

Atrio of sister courses forany wish list are FallenOak, The Preserve and

Grand Bear. All are near thecoastal entertainment epicenter ofGulfport/Biloxi.

Fallen Oak is best known as“the experience.” The course onlyhosts about 40 players each day on

average because only guests of thecasino resort Beau Rivage areallowed to play – and because itcosts $200.

It truly is an experience.

A limousine ride from the casi-no to the golf course 20 milesaway is required, and part of thepackage. Upon arrival at the gatedproperty, golfers are greeted bystaff who take and clean their golfshoes, then it’s off to the tastefulclubhouse for a good meal or sig-nature Bloody Mary – or both.After a quick history lesson by thestaff about the property anddescription of the sub-air systembuilt under the greens (likeAugusta National), golfers headout with their forecaddie on acourse that feels like it’s just theirsfor the day.

Soon they’ll find that designerTom Fazio picked one of the betterparcels of land for the area withgood elevation changes and slop-ping, but he left lots of room offthe tee for the recreational golfer toenjoy, rather than loath, the round.It’s a tough track no doubt, but fairto golfers keeping the ball in play.

Most bunkers emulate the twists ofthe fallen oak tree and look morelike pieces of artwork than they dohazards, but are brutal to escape.

The most traffic the highly-ranked course ever gets in is themonth of March, when Fallen Oakhosts a PGA Champions Tour event.

“It’s over the top for resort golf,but not in your face,” said FallenOak General Manager DavidStinson. “You look back andmaybe think, ‘I didn’t really expectthat experience, but maybe I reallydid since it’s Fallen Oak.’ ”

The Preserve is a Jerry Patedesign in which no two holes arealike, making for a nice day of var-ied strategies and challenging golf.The front nine is tighter than theback, creating a good variety ofcourse management choices.Several risk-reward opportunitieswill challenge the better playersbut generous landing areas areavailable for those less experi-enced. The Preserve is one of thebest courses on the MississippiGulf Coast due to a good mix ofbunkers, plus water and marshareas to please the eye and add

Fallen Oak Sand Dunes

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challenge to the round.

Grand Bear’s name gives an easyhint to its designer, the Golden Bear,Jack Nicklaus. As high quality asFallen Oak and The Preserve are,most of the locals said Grand Bearwas their favorite place to play.Situated in lower-lying flat geogra-phy, Nicklaus did very well to incor-porate what limited elevationchanges were available.

Landing areas and green com-plexes push up against some haz-ards to make the course tough forwayward shots but not to the pointthe course is too hard, as there is agood balance of more wide openholes. Nicklaus’ slopping of theland enhances the challenges ofapproaching and holding manygreens, yet once aboard the puttingsurface the greens are not tooundulating for the average golfer tonavigate.

For Gulf Coast nightlife thereare three casinos to choosefrom in the vicinity, includ-

ing the Hard Rock (which wasoriginally scheduled to open theexact day Hurricane Katrina hit)next door to Beau Rivage. Acrossthe street from both gamblingjoints is local historic landmarkand restaurant/bar called MaryMahoney’s. Urban legend claimsthat Elvis Presley’s ghost still trav-erses the stairway up and downfrom the second floor.

But good golf in Mississippi isno legend – it’s for real.

- MG -

Grand Bear Golf Course

Beau Rivage

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Since joining the MichiganIntercollegiate AthleticAssociation (MIAA) in 1934,

the Hope College FlyingDutchmen have become one of theassociation’s most consistent mem-bers and regular champions.

With 16 MIAA championshiptitles, including ten throughout thelast thirteen years, Hope College’smen’s golf team, which is based inHolland, roughly half an hour fromGrand Rapids, tends to featureexperienced lineups, mostly com-prised of juniors and seniors.However, during this past fall, theteam’s roster was a bit unusual.

Featuring six freshmen, onesophomore, one junior, and twoseniors, the 2011-2012 FlyingDutchmen lineup may have beenquite different from former teams,as one of the youngest squads inthe college’s history, but the team’sfinal results were anything butuncommon.

With a 19-stroke victory overrunner-up Trine University, locatedin Angola, Ind., Hope captured the2011 MIAA Championship – thetenth of Coach Bob Ebels’ presti-gious, 21-year-long career at Hope.

Youth. Talent. Success!While competing against a vari-

ety of liberal arts colleges at coursesthroughout the Midwest, includingits home course, WuskowhanPlayers Club, a 7,000-yard-long lay-out designed by Rick Smith andlocated in West Olive, Hope enjoyedquite a memorable fall season.

In addition to winning theMIAA championship, Hope wonthe third MIAA jamboree of theseason, hosted by Olivet College,by four strokes over AdrianCollege. Less than a month later,Hope won an MIAA jamboree that

Hope College Men’s Golf Team

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Hope College Flying Dutchmen Capture 2011 MIAA Championship

By Chris Lewis

Collegiate Spotlight


was hosted by Calvin College – itsmain rival in the association. Hopeand Calvin’s rivalry, especially inbasketball, has become well-known throughout the country andaround the world. The rivalry haseven been featured by sports net-works like ESPN in the past, a fur-ther sign of its significance withinthe MIAA, as well as the NCAA.

As a result, this victory was cer-tainly one of the highlights of theseason, right after the 2011 MIAAchampionship.

But how did such a young teamenjoy so much success and create avast array of memories that will beenjoyed by Coach Ebels and allteam members for years to come?

For Ebels, this question can beanswered with only one word – tal-ent.

“Although Hope currently has ayoung team, each member dis-played so much talent throughoutthe fall,” Ebels said. “The teamalso has a very strong freshmanclass – perhaps one of the most tal-ented freshman classes in the histo-ry of the golf program.”

Additionally, two individual play-ers enjoyed considerable successduring the fall season. Co-captainsNick Campbell (’12) and AndyThompson (’12) received All-MIAAhonors for their stroke averages andconsistently high levels of play.

“Nick was a first-team honoreefor a third consecutive season as hefinished with a 76.1 stroke aver-age,” Ebels said. “Andy alsoreceived recognition, as a second-team honoree, for his 77.4 average.He was also awarded the coaches’sportsmanship award.”

Through victories at three MIAA

jamborees and the MIAA champi-onship, as well as individual first-and-second-team honors forCampbell and Thompson, the HopeCollege Flying Dutchmen securedyet another unforgettable season thispast fall, much like they havethroughout the last 77 years.

A History of Champions– Individually and

Collectively Since 1934, Hope College has

had its fair share of successfulindividual golfers. But none havestood out from the rest of thecrowd quite like Eric Wohlfield.

A native of Brighton and a 2001Hope graduate, Wohlfield was thenational Division III freshman ofthe year back in 1998, as well asthe MIAA’s conference medalistduring his freshman year.

Amazingly, Wohlfield’s golfingcareer only continued to improvethroughout the last three seasons inwhich he was a member of theFlying Dutchmen.

During his junior and senioryears, he was named a conferencemedalist again as he ultimately fin-ished his career with a MIAA careerrecord – in 30 conference tourna-ments from 1998 to 2001, he aver-aged only 74.4 strokes per round.

A variety of other golfers haveachieved numerous types ofrecords as well, including MattLapham (’07), who holds Hope’sall-time best seasonal scoring aver-age – 71.8.

Tommy Yamaoka (’08), whoacquired the college’s second-bestseasonal scoring average, with a72.3, also has a share of the recordfor the best 18-hole round in

MIAA tournaments – a 67. He cur-rently shares this record with RyanShedd (’05).

Of interest, 13 team membershave conference medalist honorssince Coach Ebels was hired backin 1991. Since then, Hope hascompeted as a team during the2000, 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2010NCAA Division III championships.

Developing Future Leaders

Since its establishment in 1866,Hope College has been focused onoffering its students a distinct, liberalarts education within an enrichingenvironment in which students canshare their beliefs with one another,expand their educational interests,develop novel research initiatives,and build a foundation for theirfuture careers and lives.

Since his hiring in 1991, CoachEbels has been focused on offeringhis team members much of thesame, as academics, sportsman-ship, and character building havealways meant more to him thanany victory or MIAA champi-onship title ever could.

“It’s definitely nice and, ofcourse, fun to ‘win,’ but it is moreimportant for me to know that theHope golf experience has shapedyoung men to become future lead-ers,” Ebels said. “I want to beassured that our members are pre-pared to make a difference whenthey step out into the world aftergraduation. Hope College is aplace where that is happening.”

For more information aboutHope College, as well as its wideselection of athletic programs,please visit http://www.hope.edu.

- MG -

Throughout the country,Michigan’s Upper Peninsulais renowned for a variety of

reasons.

First, the Upper Peninsulaarguably has some of the most pris-tine lakes and forests in the UnitedStates, including Lake Superior andHiawatha National Forest, as mil-lions of people visit the area annual-ly to witness Mother Nature in itsfinest form.

In addition, Mackinac Island isbeloved around the world for itsentertainment options, horse-drawncarriages, upscale Grand Hotel, andmouthwatering, homemade fudge.

Finally, Sault Ste. Marie, one ofthe nation’s oldest cities, has gar-nered public attention as the homeof the Soo Locks, a set of locks thatallow ships to travel from LakeSuperior to each of the other fourGreat Lakes. Sault Ste. Marie is alsowell-known for its fishing, boating,and lodging opportunities, attractingthousands of individuals each year,who visit the city to relax and leavethe typical stresses of their everydayworking lives behind.

Of course, as one of the mostnorthern and coldest cities inMichigan, Sault Ste. Marie is notusually considered a prime locationfor golf. However, surprisingly, with

courses such as Tanglewood Marshand Sault Ste. Marie Country Club,the area offers golfers some of thestate’s most affordable, challenging,and gorgeous courses.

Additionally, every year, highlytalented and successful high schoolgolfers from the Midwest, as well asOntario, are recruited to participatein Lake Superior State University’smen’s golf program, which has beencompeting against variousMidwestern colleges and universitiessince 1951.

Reflections: The LakersMaintained Consistency

Throughout the Fall Season

Located in downtown Sault Ste.Marie, near the waterways of theSoo Locks, Lake Superior StateUniversity has maintained its men’s

golf program off and on for sixdecades, providing young men withopportunities to participate in local,state, and regional golf tournamentshosted at some of the finest coursesin the Midwest.

After a four year period, from 2005to 2009, in which the university’s golfprogram did not compete collegiately,the university’s men’s golf team wasreinstated during the fall of 2009, fol-lowing the hiring of head coach JamieDavison. During the last two years,Davison’s utmost goal as head coachhas been simple – to help the teamcompete against a host of other GreatLakes Intercollegiate AthleticConference (GLIAC) squads on aconsistent basis.

“To have an opportunity to leadthe university’s golf program hasbeen very enjoyable,” Davison said.“I love working with all of theteam’s members to help thembecome more competitive so theywill ultimately not only have top-tenand top-five finishes, but team victo-ries as well.”

With this goal in mind, theLakers’ 2011-2012 season beganwith the Al Watrous MemorialInvite, which was hosted bySaginaw State University fromSeptember 10-11. The tournament,which honors the memory of formerPGA TOUR and Ryder Cup member


Lake Superior State UniversityLakers Prepare for Upcoming

Spring 2012 SeasonBy Chris Lewis

Collegiate Spotlight

LSSU’s Doug Piesko

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Al Watrous, was contested at BayCity Country Club, a par-72, 6,880-yard-long layout.

The Lakers, led by freshmanDoug Piesko (’15), who shot 72 and74, finished the tournament in ninthplace, with scores of 294 and 304.

The team followed this top-ten fin-ish with an eleventh-place showing atthe Northwood University Invitational,which was hosted at Midland’s CurrieMunicipal Golf Course. Led onceagain by Piesko, who secured first andsecond round scores of 79 and 75, aswell as Sean Stubbs (’13), who alsoshot 79 and 75, the team acquired itssecond consecutive top-15 finish ofthe season.

Just one week later, the team com-peted on the road again. However, thistime the squad participated in theNCAA’s Regional 1 tournament,which occurred at HawksHead GolfCourse. HawksHead, located in SouthHaven, is well-respected within thegolf industry as an Arthur Hills design.With its deep bunkers, fescue, andwoodlands, the course has even beenranked by Golf Digest in the past; themagazine has rated it “4 ½ stars” onits list of “Places to Play.”

Although the team was unable torecord a third straight top-15 finish,the Lakers were again led by Piesko,whose tie-33rd showing includedrounds of 78 and 74.

During the following week’stournament, the GLIAC Men’s GolfChampionship, the Lakers earnedtheir first top-ten finish since thevery first week of the season. Withscores of 77, 80, and 77, JustinHelmholdt (’14), and Piesko, whoshot 75, 79, and 78, led the team asindividual scorers.

Contested at Eagle Eye GolfClub, which has previously beenrated as the 27th best public coursein the nation by GolfWorld, thethree-round-long tournament fea-tured various Michigan-based col-leges and universities, includingGrand Valley State University andWayne State University.

Lastly, during the final tourna-ment of the season, the FindlayInvitational, hosted by FindlayCountry Club, the Lakers finishedwith a tenth place showing for itsthird top-ten finish of the fall. Yetagain, Piesko led the Lakers with a77 and a 79 while finishing tie-42ndas an individual. The team’s tenth-place finish was certainlyrespectable, considering the daunt-ing 7,155 yard-long course that eachteam member encountered.

In addition to obtaining anothertop-ten finish, the team was alsoexcited to have an opportunity toplay one of Ohio’s oldest and mostpopular courses, where some ofgolf’s leading legends previouslycompeted. Located about 50 milessouth of Toledo, Findlay CountryClub has welcomed golfers like JackNicklaus and Arnold Palmer in thepast while hosting various profes-sional and amateur events, includingthe Ohio Open, the Ohio Amateur,and a U.S. Open qualifier.

With top-twenty finishes in all fivetournaments of the Fall 2011 schedule,the Lakers relished one of the mostconsistent seasons in the history ofLake Superior State University golf.As a result, Coach Davison is certain-ly excited about his team’s future,especially as the squad continues toprepare for its Spring 2012 season,which is scheduled to begin during thelast week of March.

The Lakers Continue to Develop Mental Toughness

While Preparing for the Future

To prepare for a successful springcampaign, Coach Davison is mainlyfocused on helping each one of histeam members further improve theirmental toughness – one of theteam’s most noticeable charactertraits, especially when consideringthe squad’s strong finishes last fall.

“Of course, golf is a mental gameas much, if not more, as it is a phys-ical game. Mental toughness on thecourse separates the men from theboys, so to speak,” Davison said. “Ireally think the team has begun tomake some great strides towardsbecoming mentally tougher, not onlyduring practice rounds, but duringGLIAC and NCAA tournaments aswell.”

As Davison prepares his team fora challenging spring schedule, whichwill include tournaments in Indiana,Kentucky, and Ohio, he is lookingforward to helping some of histeam’s youngest leaders, such asPiesko, Brandon Vizina (’14), andAndrew McKenney (’14), cultivatetheir talents and realize their fullgolfing potentials.

“I am expecting the future of theteam to be very positive,” Davisonsaid. “The team is young and isimproving each week. I can’t wait tosee each team member work towardsone common goal – maintainingconsistency so that the Spring 2012season will be the university’s mostsuccessful one yet.”

For more information about LakeSuperior State University, as well asits wide selection of athletic pro-grams, please visithttp://www.lssu.edu/. - MG -

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It was nearly twenty years agowhen I last visited Scottsdale,Arizona, as part of a winter golf

getaway. At that time and coming offthe stress of the West Michigan GolfShow, I needed some R & R at awarm and sunny locale with plentyof fine golf courses. Scottsdale filledthe bill to the tee, so to speak. But itwas a short visit, only a long week-end, and our foursome (my wife andI and another couple) just played twoor three courses and we stayed at amodest hotel with limited amenities.

Besides a few birdies, the high-light of the trip was seeing actorGene Hackman and his wife hav-ing dinner near our table at TheBoulders, the sensational resortwhere we played earlier that day.To his credit, Hackman respectedour privacy and didn’t bother usfor an autograph. The lowlight wasme backing into a cactus, drawingsome blood and guffaws at thesame time. And on another day, Iincurred a case of sun sickness ordehydration (again, all my owndoing) which knocked me downfor our final evening’s dinner. Butother than those miscues, it was amemorable trip which served up abracing tonic to face the remainingweeks of Michigan’s winter.

Well, the week afterThanksgiving, I was invited backto Scottsdale as Michigan’s GolfRoad Warrior (GRW) representa-

tive. GRW is an offshoot ofTheAPosition.com websitewhere in addition to MichiganGolfer, I post some of my scrib-blings and observations of thegame. Anyway, as a GRW I wasasked to endure the rigors ofstaying at several five-starresorts, playing some world-classcourses, and dining at severalfine restaurants. Performing suchduties without complaint, amedal was later pinned on myuniform. So in the interest of atransparent and complete investi-gation into my actions on theground, let me share a few bulletpoints (no pun intended) of my

all-too-short week in Scottsdale:

The Four Seasons ResortScottsdale at Troon North is aAAA Five Diamond property thatjustly wears its lofty crown. Thesetting of the resort, with views ofPinnacle Peak and amid the desert,is breathtaking. Few if any amenityis overlooked and customer serviceis an art form. The concierge, withless than an hour’s notice, foundme a replacement for my missingMacBook power cables, allowingme to go about my business andsleep well again. And the golfer’smassage prior to our tee-time onemorning was a revelation. It deliv-ered the best and most relaxingpre-shot routine imaginable. Funnything, twenty years ago I stayed atthe equivalent of a two seasonsresort; suffice to say I prefer allFour Seasons.

Top-ranked Troon North GCwith its pair of courses is adjacentto the Four Seasons and delivers aterrific one-two punch of excellentgolf and accommodations. FerrisState University grad and formerMichigander Mike Friend playedwith our group, proficiently by theway, and serves as Troon Golf’sDirector of Golf Events. Oh yes, Ihad a natural one-putt eagle on thedriveable par-four 15th hole but itwas topped only minutes later byanother natural eagle (and with astroke on the hole!) via an 85 yardwedge hole-out by the Four

Slice of LifeBy Terry Moore

Photo opposite page:Boulders Resort, South CourseArizona Golf

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Seasons’ Dave Akin who must hailfrom Heartbreaker, Mich.

McDowell Mountain RanchGC is newly re-opened after a $1.2million revamp as an affordabledaily fee layout that’s co-owned,along with other government enti-ties, by Phil Mickelson and SteveLoy, his former coach at ArizonaState. The renovation includedreversing the nines and addingmore player-friendly features to thedesign. I like this no-fuss, straight-forward course and how it readilywelcomes walkers and cart-pullers.However, I did hit the wrong balltwice here due to terminal careless-ness.

The Boulders Resort stillresides at the top of its game deliv-ering great golf—thanks to design-er Jay Morrish and 12-million-year-old rock formations—and ele-gant rooms in a serene setting. Ihad a ‘Charles Dickens’ experiencehere, however. In the best of times,I shot a three-over par 75 on thedelightful North Course. In theworst of times the next day on theSouth Course, I pulled a rib cagemuscle on my follow-through plac-ing me on the golf DL the rest ofthe trip. Thanks to the kindness (orpity) of Tom McCahan, the affableDirector of Golf Operations, I didreceive a helpful therapeutic mas-sage at The Boulders’ award-win-

ning Golden Door Spa.

Offering an offbeat but fun non-golf excursion is the Desert WolfTours in nearby New River, AZ. Atrio of Golf Road Warriors weretreated to a morning desert self-drive in a Tomcar, a speciallydesigned off-road vehicle used bythe Israeli Defense Forces. It was abumpy, jarring and lively way toexperience the stark beauty of theSonoran Desert and it generatedmuch bantering and laughter. Thehighlight of the tour was a stop atan abandoned turquoise mine,which due to a soft rainfall,allowed the stones to be more easi-ly seen and pocketed.

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TPC of Scottsdale-StadiumCourse, a PGA Tour venue, justtortured me. And not because itwas too tough. It’s eminently fairwith generous fairways and plentyof bailout spaces. No, it torturedme because I couldn’t play it dueto my muscle pull. Instead, I took afew putts and chips and picked thebrain of our caddie, Justin, whowas knowledgeable, efficient, andfull of good stories. It killed meespecially not to tee it up at thefamed par-three 16th, one of mostraucous and party-loving holes ingolf. Wearing my GRW PurpleHeart with honor, I did some credi-ble acting, posing as a lonely fanin the stands already being erectedaround this hole.

Fairmont Scottsdale Princessis located next to the TPC ofScottsdale. It’s a huge yet attentiveproperty with 650 rooms, severalfine restaurants including the ethere-al Bourbon Steak, and six bars andlounges. Nursing my wounded golf

ego, I visited the Willow StreamSpa. (Hey, give me a break, I wasinjured. Honest.) This is an amazingspa and with three levels spread over44,000-square-feet it’s one of the

largest I’ve ever encountered. Notsurprisingly, it’s rated among thetop 10 spas by Conde NastTraveler and me. Here’s a tip: trythe waterfall therapy.

As a reward for your patience inreading this self-indulgent bututterly candid travel diary of myGolf Road Warrior experience inScottsdale, let me encourage youto enter a contest associated withthis trip. Offering much betterodds than any Super Bowl orU.S. Open drawing, there’s a$6000-value sweepstakes thatwill be awarded to one luckyentrant, offering golf and rooms,golf equipment and other greatprizes. Enter at www.golfroad-warriors.com/sweepstakes/

And don’t worry, I’m ineligibleto enter. I pulled a muscle.

- MG -

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