Michigan Golf Journal October 2021

What’s Inside: Cover story: Bahle Farms on Leelanau Freeways and Fairways: The Emerald Golf ball buyer’s guide 14 16 18 Top premium courses found in Michigan GAM Tournament wrap ups Great golf in Ireland on a Budget 22 28 34 Letter From the Editor The month of October begins the slowing down of the golf season in Michigan, but also seemed to be the perfect time to bring you one of the most significant stories I have every tried to tell. It starts on page 4 and introduces you to Bennett Lewis. Bennett is a great kid, and one who taught me more about Asperger’s Syndrome (a form of Autism) in one day than I knew in the prior decades of my life. The number one thing he taught me was how anyone else like him can accomplish a TON in life despite facing such challenges and using golf to do it could be one of the best ways. I also took time to revisit a wonderful course in northern Michigan I never heard about until June, when I stopped in for an hour. This time there is room to give you much more of the background of Bahle Farms and its new owner, the youngest course owner in Michigan and maybe the country at age 25. Plus, Carlos Monarrez of the Detroit Free Press and my media friend Tony Dear from the west coast bring us great reviews on Michigan award-winning, high-value courses – and golf in Ireland on a budget, respectively. Enjoy and thanks for coming back every month. Tom Lang Publisher/Editor Michigan Golf Journal ichigan Golf Journal