Michigan Golf Journal June 2019

Chris Whitten’s team just got a whole lot bigger. Whitten gave up the men’s golf head coaching job at University of Michigan in early May to move into the new headquarters of the Golf Association of Michigan (GAM) as the newest Executive Director, in replacement of the retiring David Graham. Whitten had good success as the men’s coach, recruiting some wonderful talent to Ann Arbor over the years, including a group that recently took 4th in the Big Ten tournament. But now his team will grow from less than a dozen players each season to nearly 60,000 members of GAM. “Coaching was sort of a crash course Masters class in management; especially in golf management,” Whitten told MGJ about how he’s prepared for the new role. “So, the technique of the game and how to play the course was definitely part of it, but a lot of our day was sorting out personalities, and issues, and all the things that get to happen before we even get to tee it up. Hopefully, too, the people skills (I learned) and understanding different people’s perspectives will help me. “The most obvious difference is the number of golfers I will interact with,” Whitten told veteran golf writer Vartan Kupliean. “The idea of impacting golf on a bigger scale is exciting. I’ve been around the GAM my whole life and I know the dedication of the members and the importance of what they do. I don’t come in with an agenda other than to do my best.” Whitten did however add the notion that his college recruiting work gave him an appreciation for young players that he will tap down the road: “I do want to have a focus on Junior golfers and the people who are going to represent the future, and to By Tom Lang Michigan Golf Journal eet New GAM Executive Director College Golf Coach Becomes New State Leader Chris Whitten takes over the reins of GAM