Michigan Golf Journal March 2020

building a golf course,” says 96-year- old charter member Roy Fox. “Some of us didn’t even know how to play, but I think we did pretty good. The fact it’s still there says it all.” In 1963 the non- profit corporation paid Marvin Omness $6,000 for his asparagus field across the street from the club house. This time they hired White Lake GC General Manager Ernie Augustin to design the back nine. Tom Kirk was just 10 years old when he was paid to pick up the multitude of rocks and stones that peppered the newly turned earth. “Us kids were given a screwdriver and a bucket,” Kirk said with a chuckle. “I lasted about a week.” In 1964 OGC became the first 18-hole course within a 30-mile radius of Shelby. “My favorite hole is still number 4,” said 6-time Club Champion Kirk. “It’s not long, but the extreme slope of that green is still a fun challenge to land the ball in the right spot and watch it break 15-20 feet down to the hole. It can leave you shaking your head.” New owner Jason Wenk, a pioneer in the financial/ technology field, played the course often as a teenager on the Shelby High School golf team. “This place requires you to make so many different kinds of shots,” Wenk said. “Like the short par 4, 18th hole. Do you dare try to drive the green with that pond sitting right in front?” There’s always been an underlying rivalry between the two proud communities of Hart and Shelby. But for golf they chose to join forces in creating this lasting treasure. “We didn’t think it was a big deal,” Fox said. “But it brought all kinds of people together, not just us, but even people who came up to visit here in the summer. I began to appreciate that after I got older. I don’t think I ever laughed as much as did on that golf course.” Tanner added: “I don’t know what this area would be like if we didn’t have it.” if we didn’t have it.” Now, thanks to Wenk, Oceana Golf Club will be rejuvenated and passed on to future generations. MGJ Editor’s note: this is the second in a 3-part series on the rebirth and rejuvenation of Oceana Golf Club. Oceana Golf Club is Saved