Michigan Golf Journal July 2021

Michigan Golf Journal 100 Year Celebration Several miles west of the small town of Sturgis sits a historic site celebrating 100 years of golf this summer. Turning into the driveway at Klinger Lake Country Club recently, I wondered to myself why a group of golfers would want to develop a property in such a remote location of Michigan, almost on the Indiana border, in the first place. I quickly recalled that U.S. Highway 12 used to be the main drag between Detroit and Chicago, before the Interstate highway system was developed. In fact, the route begins as Michigan Ave. in Detroit, goes through Saline, the Irish Hills, Coldwater and Sturgis on the way to the Windy City. Now is the time for Klinger Lake to host a statewide tournament. “People here have a lot of interest in the game of golf… and hosting a tournament like this gives us a great opportunity to make a statement for the game of golf in this area,” said longtime member Don Fox, who also wrote a book about the club’s 100 years. “Golf courses around here are pretty unique. Most events are held around Detroit but it’s great to have something like this, local. “I think people who come here will be amazed by the ‘little course’ we’ve got here, and how well it plays. Some low handicappers come in here and think they’re going to tear the place up (at 6,200 yards from the tips). Usually, they walk away a little more humbled.” The first nine holes were designed by Maurice Wells who was the pro at Kalamazoo CC. World- renowned amateur Chick Evans of Chicago played the course a few months after it opened in 1921 because he was in Europe during the grand opening. In At 100 Years Old, Klinger Lake to Host Women’s GAM Championship By Tom Lang Klinger Lake CC hole 4