Golf Is Very Healthy FRED ALTVATER PUBLISHER Back 9 Media Group Also Publishes: Ohio Golf Journal Indiana Golf Journal Back 9 Report A recent report from the National Golf Foundation paints a very exciting picture of the golf industry. Golf Travel, equipment sales and golf course construction are all on the upswing. Plus, women and children are flocking to the game in record numbers. These increases began during COVID and is continuing after the pandemic has receded. Treetops is offering a new dining option for October. Three dates have been set to offer a portable dining experience on the Robert Trent Jones Masterpiece Golf Course. Four courses will be served at various spots around the course with the main entrée being served back in the clubhouse. This is a new wrinkle for golfer who also enjoy unique dining experiences. Get your reservation in now, spots are limited. BOYNE Resorts are busy with golfers and vacationers, but they have also embarked on an unprecedented renovation and building plan. A new Par 3 course, a putting course, along with renovations to the Moor and Ross Courses provide even more reasons to visit BOYNE. Brian Harman is certainly not one of the longer hitters in golf, but his domination of The OPEN Championship at Royal Liverpool makes a good argument to leave the golf ball alone, plus he proves the point that long drives are not the real method to win a golf tournament. We hope you are enjoying a great summer of golf in Michigan and look for us on the Back 9. Michigan Golf Journal
Michigan Golf Journal is Published By Back 9 Media Group Publisher: Fred Altvater, USGTF Teaching Professional Advertise with Michigan Golf Journal, Contact us for more information Be sure to take advantage of the links to social media, videos and other content provided within the articles 32 FIND INSIDE 16 20 27 36 The Ally Challenge Returns to Warwick Hills August 21-27 The Health of Golf: 2023 Golf Stats from NGF Treetops to Host A Delightful Culinary Experience Michigan Golf News BOYNE Has Become An International Travel Destination Lessons from Brian Harman’s OPEN Championship Victory 06 10 20 16 27 22 Golf Tip: Do You Really Need to Hit a 300-Yard Drive? News & Notes 25 32 Our Favorite Videos Our Contributors Treating Knee Ligament Injuries 41 40 36 Michigan Golf Journal
Like every other stop on the PGA Tour Champions, Steve Stricker won the 2022 Ally Challenge at Warwick Hills Golf Club. Stricker posted a winning score of 15-under par to best Brett Quigley by a single stroke last year. This will be the sixth time the tournament has been played in Gran Blanc with past winners, Paul Broadhurst, Jerry Kelley, Jim Furyk and Joe Durant hoisting the trophy. Already committed for this year’s event the field will include Bernhard Langer, Jim Furyk, defending champion Steve Stricker, Jerry Kelley, David Toms and Justin Leornard. As always it will be a close contest with familiar names on the leaderboard. The tournament week begins Monday, August 21, with the second annual McLaren Adaptive Golf Clinic. Together with McLaren Health Care and the McLaren Flint Foundation, the tournament has once again teamed up with the National Amputee Golf Association (NAGA) and the U.S. Adaptive Golf Alliance (USAGA) to put on a clinic featuring trained adaptive golf coaches providing instruction to a group of more than 20 adaptive golfers using a wide array of adaptive golf equipment. Attendees will experience an The Ally Challenge Returns to Warwick Hills August 21-27 Michigan Golf Journal
atmosphere of camaraderie and include McLaren Health Care physical therapy patients and participants identified by NAGA, USAGA, and The Disability Network. Adaptive golf is a rising movement in golf to continue to grow the game and provide people with physical disabilities the tools and training to enjoy the game. “The McLaren Adaptive Golf Clinic clearly underscores the power of golf to bring people of diverse abilities, motivation, ages and backgrounds together for a common purpose,” said Laurie Prochazka, vice president of marketing at McLaren Health Care. “It is so inspiring to watch these coaches interact with adaptive golfers to teach techniques and skills that enable them to continue to enjoy the game they love. Words cannot describe the joy on the faces of participants as they hit their shots on the range and realize they can still play golf, regardless of their physical limitations. With our partners, McLaren is very proud to have taken a leading role in building awareness of adaptive golf as a growing movement in the sport.” There is still space for additional participants in the McLaren Adaptive Golf Clinic. For more information about the Clinic, including how to participate, please contact Tracy Ramin at tracyramin@yahoo.com or Laurie Prochazka at laurie.prochazka@mclaren.org. New this year on Monday at Warwick Hills, the tournament will welcome the PGA JR. League Championship to The Ally Challenge presented by McLaren. This group of youth players form five teams across the Genesee County region and have played competitively all summer. The event will serve as the league’s season-ending Championship round, offering a very special opportunity to play a tournament-ready PGA TOUR Champions course. The PGA JR. League Championship is sponsored by Security Credit Union. The Women of Influence Luncheon presented by Dream Title & The Brokerage Real Estate Enthusiasts returns to tournament week this year and will once again celebrate the power and accomplishments of women on Thursday, August 24 at 12 p.m. in the Beer Garden on Hole No. 17 at Warwick Hills. For more information, including how to purchase tickets to the Luncheon, the public can contact the tournament sales office at rpabreza@theallychallenge.com. The Ally Challenge will hold two concerts with big name entertainers. Hall of Fame member and former Eagles lead guitarist, Don Felder will entertain at the Concert @17 on Friday after the first round of play is completed. On Saturday country music star and 2022 CMA Entertainer of the year, Miranda Lambert will headline the sixth annual Ally Community Concert. The concert will take place on the driving range at Warwick Hills Golf & Country Club with the gates scheduled to open at 5:30 P.M. Access to both concerts simply requires a valid tournament ticket for the day of the concert. Something new for 2023. The Ally Challenge has teamed up with Zehnder’s of Frankenmuth to enhance the complimentary Sunday breakfast for
all fans onsite from 8:30 – 11 A.M. Everyone can enjoy Zehnder’s Chicken & Waffles, between the 9th and 18th greens. There’s something for everyone at The Ally Challenge presented by McLaren thanks to the tournament’s many fan destinations, all open to the public, ranging from live music - to enjoyable ways to view the competition - to fun for the kids - to Birdie Time is Miller Time. See below for the full list. Tickets for the Ally Challenge presented by McLaren are on sale now. The tournament is open to spectators from Thursday (August 24) to Sunday (August 27) and ticket prices start at $10. Upgraded ticket experiences include access to The Porch @ 9 & 18 and Front of Stage tickets for the Ally Community Concert. For a complete listing of ticket options please visit the tournament website at theallychallenge. com. Michigan Golf Journal
The Health of Golf: 2023 Golf Stats from NGF Provided by the National Golf Foundation The National Golf Foundation (NGF) has the world’s largest research team dedicated solely to the golf industry. They provide accurate data to golf centric businesses to help evaluate trends and consumer preferences. The data also provides interesting insight for golfers in general. Michigan Golf Journal
With the debate between LIV, DP World Tour and PGA Tour still making headlines, golf continues to post gains and is getting stronger every day. Golfers are traveling to more resorts, even though some courses have closed, there are plenty of green-grass facilities across the country, as well as internationally, to satisfy every golfing need. A golfer only needs to be willing to pony up Golf-related travel is the ultimate discretionary expense and clearly demonstrates overall demand. A golf trip requires planning, commitment and, for some, intense negotiating with loved ones. In other words, you’ve got to LOVE golf to make this investment. It’s encouraging to see that golf continues its positive trend. NGF polled 40 golf resort and destination properties across the his hard-earned dollars to take a dream golf trip, or play a topranked course. Golfers Continue to Spend Money on Golf Travel With a 10% increase in rounds played for the month of May, it appears the upswing in golf that began during the COVID pandemic, is still continuing to draw more golfers to the game.
United States and reported advance bookings are up 5-7% over 2022. This same group reported that advanced bookings had outpaced 2021 numbers by roughly 12% last year. That is a 19% increase, since the end of COVID with no end in sight. Additional Data Supporting the Golf’s Growth More than 70% of Core golfers have, or expect to take, a golf trip before the end of the year. An indicator that supports this high number, online searches for golf travel bags is running 30% ahead of pre-pandemic. Golf tourism is the second largest sector and a critical component of the U.S. golf economy. Over $31 billion was spent in 2022 on golf trips longer than 50 miles from home, including expenditures for travel, lodging, meals and incidentals during the trip. Golfers spent another $9 billion in green fees, cart costs, range balls and merchandise, as well Michigan Golf Journal
as food and beverages. All told golf travel including additional expenditure associated with travel had a total impact of $40 billion, which is 40% of the golf industry’s overall economic contribution. Equipment Sales trending above 2022 record sales numbers. Golf equipment sales are an obvious measure. If you are going to play you must have the latest and greatest equipment and everyone agrees that golf is a non-essential activity. The money for golf clubs, balls and gloves definitely comes from a family’s discretionary funds. Spending money on golf is not essential, but it sure makes golfers happy. Cumulatively, ball and club sales are up 2% versus a year ago and still running 51% above prepandemic base numbers. While some of that is attributable to pricing increases, a byproduct of demand and rising costs for materials, research & development, shipping and labor, speaks to the sustainability of golf’s post-pandemic lift. Entering June, golf equipment shipments were down about 4% compared to the same mid-year stretch in 2022, but individually golf balls sales were up almost • The number of female golfers jumped 15% compared to only a 2% increase among male golfers. There has never been greater female representation on the golf course than right now, with women and girls accounting for just over one quarter of all golfers. Local golf courses, private clubs and other junior golf programs are leading the charge. Young girls are taking up the game in record numbers with junior developmental programs focused on young women. Girls now represent 38% of all golfers under the age of 18. When NGF first started tracking golf participation by gender, in 1986, the proportion of girls was just 14%. A 24% increase in 37 years is quite dramatic. 18%. Someone is losing a lot of golf balls. Women’s Numbers Continue to Grow Over the past three years (20202022) golf has seen over 1.2 new golfers taking up the game. Of that number 820,000 were women compared to 465,000 men. One of the most notable aspects of the pandemic-driven rise in participation over the past three years: the influx of women and girls. • There are about 6.4 million female golfers, up from 5.6 million in 2019. • The net gain of 800,000+ women golfers is far more than on the men’s side.
Topgolf has helped bring people to golf. Their fun, socially focused and lessintimidating atmosphere helps girls get comfortable and gain confidence. Female participation in off-course forms of the game account for just under 50% of all participants. Greater visibility and support of industry initiatives that make golf more welcoming and inclusive has been vital too. The LPGA Tour unveiled a new line of affordable equipment at Walmart to increase access for female beginners and juniors. And June, which is Women’s Golf Month, kicked off with a Women’s Golf Day global celebration of introduction, promotion, and engagement. Future growth, however, is dependent on this recent rise among female golfers being sustainable. The golf experience needs to continue to evolve and appeal to the younger generation There are more than 37,600 golf courses worldwide. Course closures are on pace with last year, which ended up with the fewest since 2005 – prior to the Great Recession. New golf course development is slowly ticking upward. It’s intuitive that as golf enjoys increased participation and engagement, fewer owners and operators are motivated to sell or shutter courses. At the same time, a small number of operators, owners and developers who have been sitting on the sidelines have clearly decided the time is right for a new golf project. The Bottom Line Golf is stronger than it has ever been. Participation among women and juniors continues to grow. More courses are being built to meet ongoing demand. Golf equipment manufacturers are seeing increases in sales and profits. It’s good to be in the golf business right now. For more statistics and information visit: https://www. ngf.org/. while not taking away from traditionalists. There is Still an Adequate Supply of Golf Courses The United States has, by far, the largest number of golf courses. From Alaska to Florida this country has more courses than the next top 10 nations combined. The game of golf also has remarkable international geographic spread, with at least one course in 83% of countries and territories recognized by the International Standard Organization. In total 207 of 249 countries have at least one golf course. That number will increase to 208 later this year with the opening of a new course in Iraq designed by Cynthia Dye, daughter of Pete and Alice. Michigan Golf Journal
courses designed by the world’s finest golf architects, including Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Robert Trent Jones Sr., Arthur Hills, Tom Fazio, and Rick Smith. “IAGTO is the leader in International Golf Tourism and we are excited to host tour Golf News Michigan BOYNE to Host International Association of Golf Tour Operators The International Association of Golf Tour Operators (IAGTO) will hold its IAGTO’s 2024 North America Convention at BOYNE Resort in Northern Michigan, June 14-21, 2024. The announcement was made by NAC organizer and global golf tourism industry organization IAGTO at Saddlebrook Resort in Florida where the 2023 North American Convention attracted tour operators from all over the world as well as IAGTO member golf destination suppliers from across the Americas. “We are delighted to be taking the 15th North America Golf Tourism Convention (NAC) to Michigan in 2024. This will be a great opportunity to showcase the golf destinations of this Great Lakes state to leading golf travel operators from more than 20 countries,” said Peter Walton, Chief Executive, IAGTO. “This will be the first time that IAGTO has staged the NAC in the Great Lakes region. This event will place BOYNE Golf and the surrounding golf destinations at the heart of the golf tourism industry for the coming 12 months.” Bringing the IAGTO Convention and its more than 350 golf tour operators and suppliers from around the globe to BOYNE was a cooperative effort. BOYNE led the effort, with support from Pure Michigan, the area tourism bureaus in Gaylord, Traverse City, and Petoskey, Cherry Capital Airport (TVC), and America’s Summer Golf Capital (ASGC). The cooperation of all was integral in attracting this one-of-a-kind conference to the idyllic Northern Michigan region. The ASGCA destination features a collection of eight resort properties representing 26 golf Michigan Golf Journal
operators and resorts from all over the world at Boyne Mountain in 2024, stated Stephen Kircher, CEO and President of Boyne Resorts. “Hosting their North American Conference will bring new levels of awareness to the golf vacation opportunities in Northern Michigan. It is unquestionably one of the great summer golf destinations in the United States and we are privileged to showcase the outstanding BOYNE Golf experiences our resorts and courses provide and the limitless summer vacation experiences that exist in Michigan.” control more than 90% of golf holiday packages sold worldwide with annual sales of over €2.5 billion. IAGTO runs annual Asia, Europe, and North America Golf Tourism Conventions, along with regular Destination Conventions. IAGTO established the International Golf Travel Writers Association in 2000, the year in which the first prestigious annual IAGTO Awards also took place. For more information about attending or becoming a member of IAGTO, please visit https://www.iagto.com The IAGTO Convention is open to golf resorts, golf clubs, hotels, DMCs, tourist boards, DMOs, DMCs and other golf tourism suppliers primarily from the USA, Canada, Mexico, Latin America and the Caribbean but also from around the world. Suppliers and buyers pre-schedule appointments with each other for two days of meetings. IAGTO was established in 1997 and is the global trade organization of the golf tourism industry with 2400 members in over 90 countries. The 700 golf tour operator members operate in 61 countries and
Dow GLBI Sustainability The Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational (Dow GLBI) announced the recipients of its first-ever Collaborating for Sustainability Community Grant and opened the application process for 2023. The annual grant program awards up to $20,000 in seed money to businesses and organizations seeking to advance collaborative sustainability initiatives in the Great Lakes Bay Region. 2022 grant recipients were revealed at the fourth annual Dow Sustainability Summit, which gathers leaders at the national and community level during the Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational to discuss collaborative approaches to advancing sustainability. Recipients were: • Midland Children’s Museum and the local chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority for the Throw Shade, Plant a Tree program. The program will establish eight community gardens in Midland, Bay, Saginaw and Isabella counties in urban deserts, helping communities and children learn the importance of reducing negative environmental impact and promoting sustainable agricultural practices. The project will plant 50 trees, eight vegetable gardens and 10 floral gardens, tracking and measuring the collective environmental impact of the planting efforts over four years. • Michigan Sustainable Business Forum for its Great Lakes Bay Sustainable Business Campaign. The Michigan Sustainable Business Forum elevates and promotes sustainable business in Arenac, Bay, Clare, Gladwin, Gratiot, Isabella, Midland and Saginaw Counties. It is utilizing funding for their Great Lakes Sustainable Business Campaign, which aims to create a community of practice for sustainability and sustainable business in the region. “Our Collaborating for Sustainability Community Grant was created to spark partnerships and practices that address important sustainability issues and contribute to the region’s longterm vitality and competitiveness,” said Andre Argenton, Dow’s vice president, EH&S and chief sustainability officer. “In its inaugural year, we were impressed with the number of innovative project proposals that we received. It demonstrates the high level of commitment among businesses and community groups to advance regional sustainability.” Applications for the 2023 Collaborating for Sustainability Community Grant are now open. The grant application must be jointly submitted by two or more organizations with the intent to support the development of a project that will help advance sustainability in any of the following categories: biodiversity and ecology, built environment, climate and energy, food systems and security, waste and circular solutions, and soil and water. Projects must be in one of the four counties in the Great Lakes Bay Region (Bay, Isabella, Midland and Saginaw). Michigan Golf Journal
3962 WILKINSON ROAD GAYLORD, MI 49735 866.348.5249 The view from the top will mesmerize you. Take it all in. Play 81 holes of spectacular terrain with dramatic views, contours, and rolling hills as far as the eye can see. And once you get to that horizon, you’ll see why we’re called Treetops. CALL TO BOOK YOUR TEE TIME | 866.348.5249 Jones Masterpiece, #6
Delicious Dining and Autumn Color Tour on the Jones Masterpiece Course at Treetops in October. Treetops Resort is known for its five premier golf courses, but in October the Treetops culinary team led by Food & Beverage Director Greg Jones is celebrating Michigan’s most colorful season – autumn. Reservations are required for this dining experience that will be offered on three days only, Friday, October 6, Saturday, October 7 and again on Friday, October 13. What could be better than pairing creative cuisine with Treetops to Host A Delightful Culinary Experience By Fred Altvater of Northern Michigan’s Most Spectacular Resort. At each stop guests will enjoy a tasting of a Michigan made beer or wine, as well as a fall themed hors d’oeuvre. Diners will enjoy the four stations on the outdoor golf course tour. –– Hole #6: Artisan Cheese board with fresh herb dip. –– Hole #9: Smashed Acorn and roasted walnut and garlic crostini –– Halfway House: Cauliflower bisque with roasted pumpkin –– Hole #15: Bacon Lettuce Cups The evening will wrap up at Legends restaurant overlooking spectacular Northern Michigan Fall colors? Treetops Resort is starting a new tradition with the first ever Fall Color Tour and Progressive Dinner. The beauty of the Fall colors that adorn the surrounding terrain at Treetops paired with mouth-watering cuisine, along with Michigan beers and wines, should provide a memorable dining experience. Guests will be assigned a golf cart to traverse the four food stations on the Jones Masterpiece Course. There will also be the opportunity to take photos of the beautiful fall foliage across hillsides Michigan Golf Journal
the fall foliage, enjoying live entertainment, and a main course meal and dessert. After the outdoor tour, dinner will be served in the Legends Restaurant. Three options are available to satisfy any appetite. –– Steak Oscar- Angus Filet topped with grilled asparagus, lobster, and a bearnaise sauce –– Michigan Pork Chop with apple, cherry, and rosemary compote –– Wild Mushroom ravioli with lemon thyme sauce –– Legends Airline Chicken breast, served with a rich mushroom, tomato, and shallot sauce over creamy polenta A final dessert course of Pumkin Cheesecake will provide the perfect end to this marvelous dining extravaganza. The Fall Progressive Dinner is priced at $149 per person and includes taxes & gratuity. For those diners that want don’t want to drive home, Treetops is also offering overnight accommodation packages, with, or without golf. Don’t wait seating is limited and this will fill up fast. To reserve your spot visit: www.treetops.com, or call 888-TREETOPS.
Lessons from Brian Harman’s OPEN Championship Victory By Ed Travis The R&A got it right. This year’s OPEN Championship contested at Royal Liverpool proved that when a complete range of golfing skills are tested those with the ability to keep the ball in play, hit reasonable scoring shots and are consistent with their medium range putting can and will win. Journeyman PGA Tour player Brian Harman beat the field comprised of the best golfers in the world at the OPEN Championship by six shots. He made mistakes, but when he did, like when his tee shot on the 5th hole in the fourth round flew into a gorse bush, he limited the damage with smart play to post a bogey. The four days saw changing weather conditions, warm, cold, wind and rain, plus windy, cool, and rainy all at the same time. Harman’s driving distance was not spectacular, especially when compared with the big guns in the field like Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau. He is 144th in driving distance on Tour at just over 293 yards but a credible 8th in accuracy, hitting more than two-thirds of the fairways. Many analysts dismiss Harman as a “one-off,” who putted lights out for a week, the right week, and took home the Claret Jug. He was first in Michigan Golf Journal
strokes gained putting by a sensational margin of almost 12 strokes, had zero three putts and missed only one putt under ten feet in the four rounds. His 106 putts were the fewest in the British Open in the past for 20 years when another journeyman Ben Curtis took his only major. Those analysts are correct, but for the wrong reason. It wasn’t his putting that was superior to the field, it was his whole game. Keeping the ball in play, staying out of the penal bunkering, accepting the changing weather conditions and maintaining his focus throughout the entire 72 holes was key. In short, he was gutsy, smart, and dominant. He did not overpower the course, just his opponents. What isn’t being talked about is how golf’s ruling bodies, the USGA and the R&A, continue to insist the ball goes too far and must be reined in for the sake of golf’s future. You’re familiar with the arguments for and against, but this same discussion has been going on with the same dire predictions for over a century and yet golf and golfers continue to enjoy the game. The governing associations have proposed a Model Local Rule for elite players that when enacted will limit the distance balls can be hit. Not everyone believes there is a problem that needs to be solved. PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan has said the Tour will not go along with the proposed Model Local Rule acknowledging it is not in the best interests of their players or fans. The OPEN Championship held at Royal Liverpool last month demonstrated for the umpteenth time the single biggest factor controlling scoring is course set up. Rough that is actually rough, not just long fairway grass, strategically placed bunkering that can be in effect a one-shot penalty and greens with contours that cause offline approach shots to run away. These are the subtle factors that can drastically affect the scoring at a major event. Set ups, such as The R&A attained at Royal Liverpool, place the emphasis on a complete game, plus the intelligence to manage yourself to success makes the perfect argument against any artificial attempt to restrict the performance of the equipment. Something that has never worked in the past and never will in the future.
Golf Tip: Do You Really Need to Hit a 300-Yard Drive? By Fred Altvater If you watch golf equipment commercials on television, you would think everyone should be able to hit it 300 yards. The OPEN Championship contested last month at Royal Liverpool in England proved that long drives aren’t always the key to winning and posting low scores. While Rory, Jon Rahm and Scottie Scheffler were looking for their golf balls and unsuccessfully trying to extricate themselves from the gorse, Brian Harman was satisfied to stay near the fairway, sometimes as much as 40 yards behind the longer players, playing to the middle of the greens, where he let his putter do the talking.
He putted well that week, in fact he didn’t have a three-putt and led the field handily with his extraordinary putting statistics. That brings me to my point. Stop trying to hit it 300 yards off every tee box. Take what the course gives you and don’t bring trouble into play. Harman intentionally played short of the deadly fairway bunkers and tall grass. He let his chipping and putting do the talking. When I am at the driving range, I see so many golfers reach for their driver and start swinging for the fences. BIG MISTAKE! Driving is important, but not as important as a solid chipping and putting game. How many hours every week do you spend on the chipping green working on your short game? Do you know the exact distances you hit your wedges? Can you routinely hit 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100-yard chip shots to within 20 feet of the hole on a regular basis? If you break down your round, how many fairways did you hit? How many chip shots did you get up and down to save par, or bogey? How many times did you three-putt? Matches and golf tournaments are won from 150 yards in. Do yourself a favor, next time you go to the range to practice, leave your driver at home and just work on short irons, chip shots and putting. You will be amazed at how fast your handicap will begin to shrink. Have fun on the course and if your game needs a little help, give me call and schedule a short game lesson. Michigan Golf Journal
BOYNE Has Become An International Travel Destination By Len Ziehm (pictures by Joy Sarver) Boyne Mountain, the first of three Michigan destinations to open, is celebrating its 75th anniversary. The Highlands, a few miles down the road, is celebrating its 60th and long-time senior vice president of golf operations Bernie Friedrich has been named the winner of the prestigious PGA Golf Executive of the Year by the PGA of America. Bernie Friedrich talked with Back 9 Report about the renovations and new short course at BOYNE Highlands. To view the interview click HERE.
All that is secondary to the recent groundbreaking for the new nine-hole short course and Himalayan-style Putting Course near the Lodge at The Highlands. Described as “fun’’ and “ultra-inclusive,’’ the still unnamed layout will be Boyne’s 11th course in Michigan. “It’ll add an entirely new dimension to our portfolio,’’ said Josh Richter, senior vice president of golf operations for the three resorts. “We have plans to build short courses at our other facilities in coming years as well. Non-golfers and families can enjoy them as an activity while avid golfers can play a few more holes without playing another 18.’’ Back 9 Report talked with Josh Richter. To see the full interview click HERE. Designed by Michigan architect Ray Hearn, the new short course is located on the site of the former Cuff Links nine-hole par-3 course and will be lit to allow for night-time play. “My favorite part of the project are the famous Michigan Golf Journal
enhancements and improvements on every hole on every course at our resorts,’’ said Griffin. Hearn’s first project was to make the Highland’s Moor course more playable. He did that last year and also started upgrades to the Donald Ross Memorial course. One hole was completed last year. A total of five holes have undergone renovations. Often overlooked, the Alpine and Monument courses at Boyne Mountain underwent major upgrades. All green-side bunkers on the Arthur Hills Course received new sand. Fourteen bunkers were removed at Crooked Tree, a course that offers fantastic views of Littler Traverse Bay sitting above Bay Harbor. Over eight miles of new cart paths were installed, plus in BOYNE’s quest to use water more efficiently, five new irrigation pumps were installed at the courses. These renovations and additions are just the tip of the iceberg. Could a Pete Dye design become the 12 course at BOYNE? Dye died in 2020, but before his death had designed a new layout, in 2002. Work on it was approximate green complexes I was able to create, drawing inspiration from some of my favorite greens in Scotland, Ireland and America that I have played and studied over the years,’’ said Hearn. “I was able to create fun, scaleddown versions of the originals and route them along the ski slope with uphill, downhill and sidehill holes creating some thrilling golf shots.’’ Two to three fairway options are available for each hole. Construction began in mid-July and is expected to be completed by the fall of 2023, with the opening planned for the spring of 2024. In reality, though, it’s just the latest in a ton of projects completed or planned around the resorts. “In the 15 years I’ve been at Boyne I’ve never seen as much re-investing and as many golf course improvements as I’ve seen in the last year and a half,’’ said Ken Griffin, Director of Marketing and Sales. To learn more about BOYNE Resort watch this recent interview with Ken Griffin, click HERE. “Ray and Bernie (now focusing on renovation projects) put together a 10-year plan for
halted and the plans put on hold when funds were shifted to build the largest indoor water park in Michigan. Hearns and Friedrich’s 10-year Master Plan includes the funding necessary to complete the new course and it will lay alongside The Alpine and The Monument at BOYNE Mountain. Not all of the recent upgrades been in the golf operation. SkyBridge Michigan, built at Boyne Mountain at a cost of over $10 million, opened last October as the world’s longest and tallest timbertowered suspension bridge. The bridge is 1,203 feet long with a five-foot wide walking surface Michigan Golf Journal
that sits 118 feet above Boyne Valley. Resort guests can enjoy beautiful views by either hiking up a trail, or take a chairlift to the top. Visitors to the new Skybridge can also enjoy a meal at the small restaurant that sits atop the mountain. Newly renovated lodging accommodations were added at The Highlands and Boyne Mountain got a 32-room boutique hotel, Chalet Edelweiss. Guests with access to private planes can fly directly into the newly renovated BOYNE Mountain airport. All of these additions and renovations have drastically changed the perception of BOYNE as just a midwestern destination, the resort now appeals to the international traveler, as well. The Boyne resorts have long been popular for golfers and skiers but now it’s beyond that. Boyne is approaching the same level as North Carolina’s Pinehurst Resort. “We’re the two resorts with the most holes of golf under our control,’’ said Griffin. “It’s not just the holes. It’s the resort golf experience. We’re the two biggest in the U.S. We’ve gone from a national to an international destination.’’ Next June, the Boyne resorts will host 350 tour operators from around the world at the International Association of Golf Tour Operators convention. They’ll see what a great golf experience Northern Michigan offers. I am sure they will be as impressed as we were. To learn more and book your next golf adventure to BOYNE click HERE.
Harbor Shores Breaks Into Golf Digest’s Top 100 List Harbor Shores Golf Club, Southwest Michigan’s Jack Nicklaus Signature designed golf course, has been ranked No. 90 on Golf Digest’s biennial list of “America’s 100 Greatest Public Courses.” It also moved up six spots to No. 19 on Michigan’s Best list. The celebrated 18-hole layout, part of the Harbor Shores Resort, has also hosted the oldest senior major championship, News & Notes “To be ranked among America’s 100 Greatest Public Courses by Golf Digest is tremendous honor, and a testament to the unforgettable design that Jack Nicklaus created and the brilliant playing conditions our team maintains daily,” said Joshua Doxtator, PGA/General Manager. “We are very grateful that Golf Digest course raters appreciate the uniqueness and integrity of this layout and the overall experience we provide our guests.” To schedule your own golf getaway to Harbor Shores, visit www.harborshoresresort.com. Senior PGA Championship presented by KitchenAid, every other year since 2012. The championship will return to Harbor Shores Golf Club in 2024. The publication’s biennial review of America’s top public courses appears in the recent July/August 2023 issue. Golf Digest used more than 1,100 members of its Course Ranking Panel and asked each to submit ballots based on seven criteria including shot values, resistance to scoring, design variety, memorability, aesthetics, conditioning, and ambience. Michigan Golf Journal
Branson and its 10 courses has rapidly become one of America’s finest golf destinations. It also features a wide array of entertainment and after-golf activities to make it a must-visit summer stop. All 10 Branson Golf courses are open to the public and range from luxury resort to daily fee options. Located close to one another, the courses are situated near many lodging options, restaurants, a theme park, museums, and countless other attractions without losing their idyllic settings amid the Ozarks’ natural bounty. Branson is convenient to get to as it is within an 8-hour drive for 33 percent of the U.S. population. Those who prefer flying can choose between Springfield-Branson National Airport (SGF) and Branson Airport (BKG). Five of Missouri’s Top 10-rated courses are in the Branson Golf destination, including the top four. Some of those are ranked among the country’s top 100 public courses by leading magazines. Underscoring how good the golf is here, the American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) conducted a tournament at Buffalo Ridge Golf Course. The 54-hole event featured 78 of the world’s top junior golfers. The AJGA has an annual junior membership of more than 8,000 junior golfers from 50 states and 60 foreign countries. Separating Branson from most golf destinations are the countless other leisure choices it offers. With dozens of restaurants, 50 live entertainment theaters, three lakes, award-winning theme park (Silver Dollar City), and family friendly options at every turn, there’s something for everyone. Click Here to plan your next golf getaway to Branson. Branson Has Great Golf PLUS More Entertainment Options
BOYNE Golf is one of North America’s largest golf and resort destinations, is proud to announce that construction is underway on a Ray Hearndesigned 9-hole short course and an adjacent Himalayanstyle putting course near its Main Lodge at The Highlands resort. This fun short course design, the 11th course at the Northern Michigan based resort, will help meet the resort’s needs for BOYNE to Open New Short Course Next Year more golf entertainment for its guests. Golf’s blossoming popularity over the past few years has brought experienced golfers out more often, brought back many who have left the game, and attracted many newcomers. As a result, many popular golf destinations around North America have introduced upscale short courses, to complement the championship courses already on property. “Short courses have been gaining in popularity since they increase the opportunities to enjoy the game for everyone. Non-golfers and families can enjoy it as an activity while avid golfers can play few more holes without playing another 18, since fun is paramount to the experience,” says Josh Richter, Senior Vice-President of Golf Operations for Boyne Resorts. “The new short course at The Highlands will add an entirely new dimension to our Michigan Golf Journal
portfolio. We have plans to build short courses at our other facilities in upcoming years, as well.” Hearn, a renowned Michigan golf course architect, was a natural fit to work with BOYNE Golf teams on the design for this new golf experience. Over the past several years, he has worked closely with BOYNE Golf and developed a trust modernizing its classic course designs while respecting the original architect’s philosophy and making them more enjoyable golf experiences. “Designing and building the short course with Stephen Kircher, Bernie Friedrich, Furness Golf and the BOYNE team has been an exciting project to be a part of and it will be fun to watch all the varying skill levels of golfers having fun playing the game on this unique course built into the side of the ski hill,” said Hearn. “My favorite part of the project are the famous approximate green complexes I was able to create. Drawing inspiration from some of my favorite greens in Scotland, Ireland, and America (Eden, Punch Bowl, Short, Redan, Reverse Redan, Partial Volcano, Steep Slope, Postage Stamp, and Biarritz) that I have played and studied over the years. I was able to create fun, ‘kinda-sorta’ scaleddown versions of the originals and route them along the ski slope with uphill, downhill, and sidehill holes creating some thrilling golf shots.”
Treating Knee Ligament Injuries The knee is the largest joint in the body and one of the most easily damaged. Knee ligament injuries are common, especially sprained knees. While knee injuries often happen among athletes, a twist, or unfortunate hit to the knee can injure a ligament, too. Franciscan Health Indianapolis orthopedic surgeon Sean Calloway, MD, talks about common causes of knee ligament injuries and how knee injuries are treated, often without the need for surgery. What Are Ligaments In The Knee? The ligaments in the knee help control motion by connecting bones and bracing joints against abnormal impact. “When we’re talking about ligaments of any part of the body, a ligament is what connects bones together,” said Dr. Calloway. “This is a little bit different than when we talk about tendons, because tendons connect muscle to bone.” There are four main ligaments in the knee – two collateral ligaments and two cruciate ligaments. By Robbie Schneider (Franciscan Health) Michigan Golf Journal
Collateral ligaments are the ligaments on the inside of the knee (medial collateral ligament, aka MCL) and outside of the knee (lateral collateral ligament, aka LCL). “These prevent shifting in and out of the knee,” said Dr. Calloway. Possibly more well-known are the cruciate ligaments, the two main ligaments on the inside part of the knee, behind the knee cap. “The anterior cruciate ligament, also known as the ACL, prevents the shin bone from moving forward on the thighbone, and it also prevents some rotation of the knee,” said Dr. Calloway. “The PCL, the posterior cruciate ligament, prevents the shin bone from moving backward as compared to the thighbone.” What Are The Most Common Knee Ligament Injuries? The ACL in front of the knee and the MCL, connecting the tibia and femur bones inside the knee, are common injury sites while less common is damaging the PCL behind the knee. “When we look at all four of those ligaments of the knee, the most commonly injured ligament is called the ACL,” said Dr. Calloway. “It’s very common Dr. Calloway cautions that nonathletes can also be at-risk for knee ligament injuries. “Even outside of the world of sports, these types of injuries can happen,” said Dr. Calloway. “Types of (injured) patients that I’ve seen in my clinic are things like tripping over a garden hose or slipping on ice. With the MCL, it could be the dog running through the house and hitting the outside part of the knee, making the inside part be injured. So while we always talk about sports and that’s the type of thing that we think about, there are a lot of things around the house and around the yard that can also cause issues.” Who Is Most At Risk For Knee Ligament Injuries? “Young women are actually at most risk for these types of injuries, especially when talking about the ACL,” said Dr. Calloway. Although musculoskeletal injuries are usually not genderspecific, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons notes that women appear to be more susceptible to ACL injuries than men. Women basketball players are twice as likely as their male counterparts to experience this kind of ligament injury. Women soccer players are four times as likely as men to experience an ACL tear. in athletes. These types of injuries are most caused by what in our field we call non-contact injuries. If you’re watching an athlete running on the field, especially in football, you can see they plant their leg, their knee twists and they fall to the ground. So, a lot of times these types of non-contact injuries happen that way.” The second most injured knee ligament is the MCL, located on the inside of the knee. MCL injuries can sometimes happen if someone or something hits the outside part of the knee. “The other two ligaments, the PCL and the LCL, are a little bit more rarely injured,” said Dr. Calloway. “Those can sometimes happen with things like motorcycle wrecks.” What Are Main Causes Of Knee Ligament Injuries? Many knee injuries happen from contact or accidents, but knee ligament injuries can also happen without contact to the knee, such as from twisting or turning.
“In young female athletes, especially high school basketball players or high school soccer players, the problem is that the body’s changing and muscles are changing at different rates,” added Dr. Calloway. “And a lot of times with how physical and how quick these sports are now moving, the body isn’t ready for that. So, young women whose hips tend to be a little bit wider than the knees already put the knee in a risky position for this type of twisting injury.” What Are Symptoms Of Knee Ligament Injuries? If you injure a knee ligament, you may hear a popping noise or feel your knee give out from under you. You may feel excruciating pain and be unable to walk. But after some types of knee injuries, you may not feel the pain right away. Within two to 12 hours, you’ll probably experience pain and swelling. “When we think about the larger types of injuries to the minutes every two hours to reduce inflammation and pain. Anti-inflammatory medications, such as ibuprofen, can be very helpful as well. Wrap the affected area with an elastic bandage to provide compression and reduce swelling. Elevate your leg. These steps also will help take down swelling. “We always want to think about what happens during the injury, but also what happens immediately after,” added Dr. Calloway. “Whether you are an elite athlete, a weekend warrior, or trip over your dog, right afterwards, your adrenaline is flowing and you’re not really thinking about what just happened. You’re thinking about getting up, maybe saving yourself the embarrassment of falling somewhere.” First, give the injury time to see what happens. Sometimes ligament injuries, sprains, or strains improve after 24 to 48 hours. As you start putting more weight on the knee later, either when you get home, or after sitting in the car for 30 minutes, will give you a better idea of what overall treatment will be necessary. When Should You See An Orthopedic Specialist For Knee Pain? Feeling a ‘pop’ or having swelling in the knee are signs knee, the main thing that we get concerned about as orthopedic surgeons is when you feel a pop,” said Dr. Calloway. “If you have swelling in your knee right after an injury or if you feel a pop, that’s when we talk about more of the severe symptoms and severe types of injuries.” Symptoms of minor sprains and strains of the knee ligament are less severe, he added. “So, it’s a small twist of the knee that gives you a little bit of a twinge of pain, but it doesn’t necessarily completely send you to the floor or send you to the emergency room,” said Dr. Calloway. What Should I Do For A Minor Knee Injury? For minor knee injuries, doctors often recommend following the RICE method of rest, ice, compression, and elevation for the first 24 to 72 hours after the injury. Try to take it easy immediately after you injure yourself. Ice your knee for 15 Michigan Golf Journal
Anti-inflammatory medications, such as ibuprofen and Aleve, may be part of the treatment plan, as well as a brace to support the joint. “The middle ground, so specifically talking about things like the medial collateral ligament, you can have a partial tear of that ligament but still not require any surgery,” said Dr. Calloway said. “That’s when we talk about wearing a brace to help support the knee. There is no magical brace that will take away all of your pain, or cure your symptoms, but a brace after a knee injury can really be helpful to get you back on your feet and allow your body to heal itself.” Surgery For Knee Ligament Injuries For some more serious knee ligament injuries, surgery may be needed to repair a tear or reconstruct the ligament. If you have lingering knee pain that doesn’t resolve with rest, reach out to your medical professional, or a Franciscan Health’s orthopedic specialists to create a plan of care to get you back to enjoying the activities you love. that you should see a specialist for your knee injury. “I think the biggest factor in those, what we would consider tweener cases where it’s maybe not a severe injury, but also not just something you can walk off, is swelling of the knee,” said Dr. Calloway. “When you start seeing swelling and it’s not going down or it’s lessening your ability to walk, that’s when you go and see an orthopedic surgeon.” “Some people will feel a ‘pop’ in their knee at the time of the injury, and they may have trouble with knee stability afterward. They may report that their knee seems to be ‘giving way’ underneath them,” said Dr. Callaway. “You don’t necessarily have to go to the emergency room, but you would want to call your orthopedic surgeon and obviously let them know.” How Are Knee Ligament Injuries Treated? Most of the treatment options for knee ligament injuries do not include surgery. Many common knee ligament injuries, such as knee sprains or knee strains, do not need to be treated with surgery. Minor sprains and strains can be treated with RICE (Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation) and time. “The delay in you being able to take care of yourself can make this last much longer than it needs to,” said Dr. Calloway.
Our Contributors This Month Ed Travis Ed Travis is a national award winning golf journalist and has had a lifelong love affair with the game. He has competed in tournament golf both as an amateur and as a senior professional and though his competitive days are behind him, he still plays regularly and carries a handicap of 2. https://www.facebook.com/ed.travis.98 Len Ziehm Len Ziehm spent 41 years as a golf columnist for the Chicago Sun-Times. He now free lances golf travel pieces and posts for http://lenziehmongolf.com/. Find Len on Facebook: https://www.facebook. com/lenziehmongolf/ Michigan Golf Journal
VIDEOS PGA Tour veteran BrianHarman was the most consistent and focused at RoyalLiverpool to capture the 151st OPENChampionship. https://youtu.be/4W5MaKm2ziE GlobalGolfPost Senior Writer RonGreenJr talks about the memo that PGATour Commissioner JayMonahan sent to tour members concerning rolling back the golf ball, how players will be compensated that stayed loyal to the PGA Tour, how LIV players will be reinstated and former tour player #JasonGore’s new position with the PGA Tour. https://youtu.be/adV38_9d2MI Bernie Friedrich, PGA Golf Executive of the Year, talks about current projects underway at BOYNEResort. https://youtu.be/5Zv0At5-_I4 Brian Harman Wins the OPEN Championship Ron Green Jr. Breaks Down Jay Monahan’s Memo to PGA Tour Players Bernie Friedrich Explains Current Projects Underway at BOYNE Resort Watch Now Watch Now Watch Now
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