Michigan Golf Journal January 2021

win,” said Bill Johnson, vice president and treasurer at Gull Lake View. “All the different qualities of the course are some of the factors that won it. We didn’t move much dirt, we just laid the course on top of the land that was there. The different grasses all work together, and the bunkering and the layout gives you a lot of variations in hole lengths and challenges to give you a little bit of everything. And the course has probably five of the best pars 3s you’ll ever play.” Stoatin Brae is one of six Gull Lake View courses. It was developed in 2016 by the Scott family and senior associates of Renaissance Design of Traverse City. Johnson added how winning the national award was very surreal considering 2020 was when the Scott family lost family patriarch and third generation owner Jon Scott in April to an untimely death. “It’s been a long year for all the family members, and the staff,” Johnson said. “With Covid challenges all over golf and losing John all in the same year. We go back over 50 years of golf history for the Scott family and they’re all very grateful for this award, and filling John’s vision.” Playing Stoatin Brae: The course itself is loaded with challenges but is balanced by a sense of serenity. Whether having a good day or bad day at striking the ball, every golfer should be able to walk off the course and say that was a great way to spend their time. Right off the bat, Hole 1 is the first of several with the green complex lower than the end of the fairway, causing a blind tee shot in some cases. Hole 7 is a long Continues on next page >> 7 January 2021 www.michigangolfjournal.com