Long Sunny Days Make the BEST Golf in Michigan FRED ALTVATER PUBLISHER Back 9 Media Group Also Publishes: Ohio Golf Journal Indiana Golf Journal Back 9 Report The long sunny days with pleasant temperatures in Michigan have golfers flocking to our state. Just as we snowbirds head south in the winter, golfers stuck in the hot muggy southern areas of the country head north to enjoy cooler temperatures and our fantastic golf courses. The airports in Traverse City, Grand Rapids and Detroit daily welcome thousands of golfers that will walk Michigan fairways throughout the summer months. Leona Maguire won the LPGA Meijer Classic last month and contended the next week at the KPMG Women’s PGA. Meijer and Grand Rapids are to be commended for once again bringing the best women golfers to southwest Michigan. Also in June, GAM held several amateur championships. We congratulate all the participants. We highlight the winners in this month’s feature article. Phyllis Barone tells us why The Gaylord Golf Mecca has been providing the best golf for travelers for many years and Len Ziehm breaks down some of the golf around Daytona Beach. This issue has pieces on the fantastic vineyards in the Traverse City area, as well as an update on a rules situation. We hope you enjoy the July issue of Michigan Golf Journal and we look forward to seeing you on the Back 9. Michigan Golf Journal
Book Your Package Now HomeofGolf.com/packages Plan Your Pinehurst Area GOLF GETAWAY
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 20 FIND INSIDE 06 10 14 32 GAM Amateur Titles Decided in June Gaylord Golf Mecca (Magnificent, Extraordinary, Calming, Captivating & Amazing) Michigan Golf News Ping Introduces New G430 LST Three-Wood Daytona Beach Is Not Just For Spring Break & NASCAR 06 10 14 28 16 Golf News & Notes Callaway’s New CB Wedges Hit Golf Shops This Month 20 30 Our Contributors Traversing Wine in Northern Michigan Golf Rules: The Embedded Ball Issue Our Favorite Videos 36 32 34 37 Michigan Golf Journal
Timpf Wins Michigan Junior Girls Championship Again Weather and air quality issues interrupted the play in the Michigan Girls Junior Championship last month at MSU’s Forest Akers Golf Club. In the final match Lauren Timpf, from Macomb defeated Grosse Ile’s Lily Bargamian 2 & 1 for her second Michigan Junior Girls Amateur title. Timpf, previously won the Wright Trophy in 2021, but the senior-to-be at Macomb Lutheran North said this one means a little more. “Back when I won the other one I was on top of my game and then I kind of went through a little slump last year and I wasn’t playing my best,” she said. “So coming out here and proving to myself that I can win and compete again feels amazing.” Timpf, who is committed to the golf program at Purdue University after completing high school, closed the match out on the par 5 No. 17 hole with a par. “I’m definitely disappointed because I had opportunities, but happy that I made it this GAM Amateur Titles Decided in June By Greg Johnson, GAM.org Michigan Golf Journal
far,” said Bargamian, who is headed to Oakland University for college golf. “Neither of us played our best, and there were some rough breaks, but Lauren played better than I did.” Esther Zhang Wins Under 15 Junior Girls Championship The 15-and-under Michigan Girls Junior Championship bracket was decided when Esther Zhang of Ann Arbor won the title with a 4 and 3 win over Madilyn Sheerin of Grand Blanc. “It means, I’m not so bad at golf,” said Zhang who noted she was shooting in the 80s last summer, but this summer she shoots 70s and wins trophies. “I feel very proud of myself. I’m playing the best of my life. I was very glad I even made it to the finals. I surprised myself and now I’m feeling very tired.” Zhang was also the 15-and-under stroke play medalist, but was forced to go 20 holes in semifinal match to slip past Tula Puzzuoli of Washington Township to make it into the final match. Meekhof Wins Michigan Amateur Title August Meekhof, a Michigan State University golfer from Eastmanville, lost in the Michigan Amateur Championship semifinals in both 2020 and 2022, but came back this year determined to win it all. He accomplished his goal by topping Will Anderson, a University of Michigan golfer from Portage, 2 and 1, to win the 112th Michigan Amateur Championship presented by Carl’s Golfland on the North Course at Oakland Hills Country Club. “It feels really good,” Meekhof said. “This field is one of the greatest fields we play against and obviously match play is really hard and it’s a long week for sure. This is something that I have wanted to win for a while now. I’ve been
close the past couple of years, but never got it. It feels good to finally be the Michigan Amateur champion.” Meekhof said the pair acknowledged the MSU vs. UM rivalry before the final match, but talked more about the fact that have known and competed against each other since they were eight years old. “It was a little bittersweet beating a friend,” Meekhof said. “You want your friends to do well, but then when you’re playing them, you want to beat them.” Meekhof and Anderson each have one more year remaining at their schools, and they both plan to try professional golf in the future. Immediately after his win, Meekhof drove to Pinehurst to play in the prestigious North and South Amateur. Golf Hall of Fame member, Greg Davies. “Those last eight guys in the bracket, any one of them can win this tournament easily,” he said. “Then to go up against Greg in the final – he’s a Hall of Famer who never gives up. He’s never out of a hole. I don’t care where he hits it. He always seems to chip in or make a long putt. He does things that are kind of ‘hey, don’t forget about me. I’m still here.’” Ignasiak made a critical par save on hole 16 to maintain his 1-up lead and then won the 17th hole with a par to hold off Davies 2 and 1 in the title match of the 15th GAM Senior Match Play Championship presented by Stifel Investment Services Friday at Flint Golf Club. “I was playing so good coming in and I was feeling really confident because this course suits me,” said Ignasiak, a 57-year-old former Major League Baseball pitcher who “This is a great confidence boost for me going into that national tournament, and the golf course this week was tough, one of the best country club courses I’ve ever played,” he said. “I do like match play. It was a long week but I enjoyed it.” Ignasiak Takes GAM Senior Match Play Title Mike Ignasiak of Saline called the championship match a grind, playing against Michigan Michigan Golf Journal
as an amateur golfer is a former GAM MidAmateur champion (2007) and runner-up to Andrew Chapman in the Michigan Amateur Championship (2013). John Morgan Wins Super Senior Match Play John Morgan of Novi, who has played very little tournament golf since 1996, celebrated his return by topping defending champion Bill Zylstra of Dearborn Heights 3 and 2 in the final match. “I’m back,” said Morgan, a 66-year-old nowretired auto sales executive who was the GAM Golfer of the Decade in the 1980s after winning the 1985 Michigan Amateur Championship, the 1983 and ’84 GAM Championship and the first two of his three GAM Mid-Amateur titles (1985, ’88 and ’96). “I feel fantastic. It’s such a great honor to get my name on a trophy again. To come out for the first time in however many years and have a special week feels really good.” The champion bested 2013 champion Mike Raymond of Jackson 2-up in the semifinals. He trailed Zylstra, early in the final match, but battled back for the win. Morgan said he has maintained flexibility and it is critical to his golf swing. “I can still move it and playing in the Super Senior I’ve got a little bit of advantage in hitting it out there and hitting shorter irons in,” he said. “I was swinging good all week, too. I didn’t putt that well, but it was a good ball-striking week. You hit it in the middle of these greens and you are going to have some birdie putts.”
The definition of the word Mecca is a place regarded as a center for a specified group, activity or interest. The Gaylord Golf Mecca means golf and plenty of it! For golfers experiencing the area, it is likely to become their “Sacred Ground.” Why? Simply stated- the golf is magnificent and extraordinary. The quaint city is calming, with captivating and amazing Gaylord Golf Mecca (Magnificent, Extraordinary, Calming, Captivating & Amazing) both the East and West Courses at Garland, the Gaylord Golf Club, Michawaye Pines, the Classic at the Otsego Club and Wilderness Valley. Twenty years later, The Midwest’s Golf Capitol now has 17 courses and more than 20 hotel properties all within a 45-minute drive. The properties have changed over the years, with additional courses, redesigns, more lodging choices, as well as constant Phyllis C. Barone (Queen on The Green) landscapes on 17 stellar course collections. It’s a player’s paradise. It just doesn’t get much better than this! According to Paul Beachnau, Executive Director of the Gaylord Golf Area Convention and Tourism Bureua, the golf mecca started as a simple idea in 1987 to promote seven area courses. The founding members included the Robert Trent Jones’ Masterpiece at Treetops Resort, Michigan Golf Journal
renovations to maintain the quality of the sacred grounds. New ownership at the Garland Resort has enhanced the entire golf experience with bunker renovations, comfortable accommodations and exceptional dining. The Fountains Course is cited as their Premier course, of the four championship layouts, featuring bent grass from tee to green, creating a most pristine appearance. The Tamarak Dining room and Antler’s Bar and Grille present top-notch appetizers and entre’ choices. The bone marrow crusted filet garnished with succulent pieces of Northern Michigan’s seasoned asparagus deserves a five-star rating and is a great alternative to those that prefer Michigan’s popular Walleye! For dessert, the strawberry brownie sundae is a decadent choice. A short walk to the Tiki Bar, after dinner, provides the ideal place to catch up with friends, while discussing the best shots of the day, or settling wagers. The Gaylord Golf Mecca also gets five stars for its ability to offer golf courses that appeal to any golfer’s palette. Treetops, considered the crème dela crème, attracts the player looking to experience some of the best architects in the region. The Jones Masterpiecethe first Treetops Golf Course is most scenic with dramatic drops and lush greens, The Signature is a Rick Smith favorite with slick bentgrass greens and visually majestic landscapes, The Premier, the only Fazio designed course in the state of Michigan, is player-friendly with wide open fairways and challenging breaks on the greens. Threetops, a bucket list Par 3 Thriller, is the first of three Rick Smith designed courses at Treetops. Frequently ranked as the number one Par 3 course in America, it is famous for the shot heard around the world, when Lee Trevino made a hole in one
on the 7th hole in 2001. The Rick Smith designed Tradition began restoration in 2022 to bring the course back to a modern links-style walkable course as it was originally intended. The new chalets located near the courses at Treetops and adjacent to the ski slopes elevate your golfing experience to yet another level. Each contains two bedrooms with two full bathrooms, a living room, kitchen and televisions in each room. They provide a comfy, convenient stay when visiting this acclaimed Resort. Only a six-minute drive from Treetops is Otsego Resort, with The Tribute, a Robbins/Koch design that provides a 1,100 acre tour of the stunning Sturgeon River. Elevation changes on every hole are breathtaking and memorable. The course does not return to the clubhouse after nine holes and this is not just another four-hour round. Be sure to stock up on snacks and beverages at the clubhouse before hitting the first tee. If you have a large group and prefer to stay together, Hilltop at Otsego Resort is an excellent option. The kitchen is located in the center with a comfortable family style setting for all to gather. Otsego Resort offers several lodging options with packages to suit your wallet. Lakes of the North, The Pines at Michaywe, Gaylord Golf Club, Indian River Golf Club, Black Lake and The Natural are independent courses central to the quality and quantity of golf at Gaylord Golf Meca. Multiple price points, to fit every budget, and community cooperation are the hallmarks of the ‘Mecca.’ When you add these six courses to the four at Garland Lodge, the five at Treetops and two at Otsego Resort, these 17 member courses in Gaylord provide a unique quality and quantity of golf not found anywhere else in the world Independent, or resort, Beachanu’s mantra is “a rising tide raises all ships.” “You can take any one of our independent courses and compare them to resort properties anywhere else and they offer as good or most of the time a better golf experience.” Twenty-one lodging partners offer accommodations ranging from shiny new hotel rooms to rustic cabins. Once golfers determine what courses they want to add to their itinerary. The Gaylord Golf Mecca partners can package and arrange the accommodations and tee times to provide a fresh and memorable fit for an individual, or golf group. In addition to the spectacular golf, the Alpine Village, enjoys a long standing tradition of independently owned shops, restaurants and 90 inland lakes to experience and appreciate, when visiting the area. Bennethum’s Northern Inn is a local favorite that offers quality cuisine in a comfortable atmosphere. Michigan Golf Journal
In 2022, the GAM Foundation distributed 13 grants to Michigan juniors to help offset GAM, or USGA tournament expenses. If you’d like to learn more or complete the application for grants, please visit the junior section of GAM.org, or click HERE for a direct link. Golf News Michigan GAM Junior Tournament Player Grants GAM Junior Tournament Player Grants are again available to GAM juniors. The GAM Foundation has already provided 11 of the 36 available grants to juniors and their families this year, but there are still grants available to deserving Michigan junior golfers. If your family has a financial need and your junior is competing in at least one GAM event, you are eligible to receive at least one $275 grant to relieve the financial burden created by tournament expenses for junior golfers. Hike at the Hawk Scheduled for September The 2nd Annual ‘Hike at the Hawk,’ hosted by the GAM Foundation, will be held Wednesday, September 27th. Continuing the format established last year, this event will be on the Little Hawk Putting Course at Hawk Hollow Golf Course. The fundraisers will play 100 holes of golf on the putting course to help the GAM Foundation reach their goal of raising $15,000.00. This fun and inclusive event requires less physical demand than walking 100 holes of golf on a regulation course and provides a fun day golfing, while helping the GAM Foundation. Click on this link to view the list of participants, or to register for this event. Michigan Golf Journal
Youth on Course Needs Your Help Youth on course is experiencing tremendous growth in 2023. With this increase in junior golfers, the cost to support the efforts of Youth on Course have also increased making your donations even more important. April and May 2023 were banner months for Youth on Course in Michigan, with more than twice the amount of rounds played compared to the same time period last year. Double the rounds means double the amount of subsidies already paid to Michigan golf courses who participate within Youth on Course. The summer is only starting and the bulk of the rounds played are yet to happen. On average, it takes only $20 to support one YOC member for their entire year of playing $5 or less golf. In Michigan YOC has over 5,600 members and it is anticipated that membership will grow to over 7,000 by the end of the year. Your donations are very important to bring junior golfers into the game at an affordable price. Consider donating to the GAM Foundation general fund, which supports not only Youth on Course but the many other benefits for GAM junior golfers. Make your donation here.
In addition to great beaches and the Daytona Speedway, greater Daytona features 20 golf courses. Since 1994, Daytona has been the home of the LPGA, and annually hosts the final stage of the Qualifying School each year. Its two courses were designed by two of the game’s best architects, Arthur Hills and Rees Jones. Three other courses have withstood the tests of time and are included in the 50 facilities on the Florida Historic GolfTrail. One of the oldest collection of courses in the country, it honors courses built between 1897 and 1949, that still remain open for public play today. Riviera Golf Club, in Ormond Beach, is the home of The Riviera Daytona Beach Is Not Just For Spring Break & NASCAR By Len Ziehm died in 1948 before the first nine opened in 1949. The full 18 holes were not completed until 1956 and Bobby Weed did a complete renovation in 2006. Side Note: Jim “Bones’’ McKay, the well-known caddie for Phil Mickelson, Justin Thomas, as well as part-time NBC television analyst, grew up on New Smyrna Golf Club. Another golf course not to be missed is Spruce Creek Country Club in Port Orange. It was an airport before it was a golf course and is part of the largest fly-in community in the country. The golf course opened in 1972 and home-building started after several retired pilots decided to live in the area. Open, the longest-standing mini-tour event in the United States. Both New Smyrna Beach and the Daytona Beach Club were designed by the legendary architect Donald Ross. Ross designed the first nine holes of Daytona Beach South in 1921 and completed the rest of the course in 1923. He re-designed the course in 1944 and in 1945 it hosted an exhibition match with Sam Snead, Byron Nelson, Ben Hogan and Jug McSpaden. The next year Jimmy Demaret replaced McSpaden and he bested the other three Hall of Famers, by shooting a 63. New Smyrna is one of Ross’ last creations, and he only completed the front nine. His work began in 1947, but he Michigan Golf Journal
“People can fly right in and drive their airplanes right into their garages. We have a lot of hangar homes and a whole lot of roadways for airplanes to drive on,’’ said Jason Pomroy, Spruce Creek’s head golf professional. “It’s quite a unique environment. Aviation is first, and golf is always second here.’’ As far as a golf destination goes at Daytona, it will always play second fiddle to Daytona’s biggest attractions, the white sand beaches and the Daytona International Speedway, home of the Daytona 500 auto race. “We have a wide group of courses,’ said Andrew Booth, director of communications for the Daytona Beach Area Convention & Visitors Bureau, “but we offer a lot of different things. We’re a great destination. There’s lots of ways you can plan your visit.’’ Big things have been happening around the Speedway. A $400 million renovation was initiated in 2014, which greatly upgraded the motor sports aspect. More recently One Daytona, a shopping and entertainment area across the street from the Speedway, has enhanced tourism options.
“The renovation transformed the area into an arena experience,’’ said Booth, “and that was a real game-changer.’’ The family of Bill France, founder of NASCAR, opened the Speedway in 1959 and he had a big vision for the area. One Daytona now includes The Daytona Hotel, a variety of restaurants and shops surrounding a play area for youngsters willing to get wet in the fountains. Daytona is also home for the Tortugas, a minor league baseball team. The ballpark is historic as it opened in 1914, but was renamed the Jackie Robinson Ballpark, after Robinson made his professional baseball debut there in 1946. Jackie went on to break Major League Baseball’s color barrier the following year playing for Branch Rickey’s Brooklyn Dodgers. Another interesting Daytona attraction, Ponce Inlet Watersports offers boat tours to catch glimpses of manatees and dolphins, as well as kayaking, or parasailing for the more adventurous visitors. The Atlantic Ocean provides fishermen a great day on the water and Tomoka State Park is an ecological masterpiece for those into cycling, botanical study, paddling, hiking, boating, or wildlife viewing. The Museum of Arts & Sciences has a diverse collection of art, history and science exhibits. If you are into Pickleball 49 courts will soothe your itch. The USA Pickleball Diamond National Championships were contested here, in 2022. The golf is great in Daytona, but with the Daytona Speedway, beautiful beaches and One Daytona there is plenty to keep you occupied off the golf course, as well. While the dining is excellent at One Daytona, one other area restaurant that’s not to be missed is Rose Villa Southern Table, in Ormond Beach. It was established as a bed and breakfast in 1901, but has evolved into an upscale restaurant serving a wide variety of cuisine with a Southern hospitality atmosphere. In addition to One Daytona, the Speedway itself is welcoming more than motor sports enthusiasts. Soccer matches were played at the racetrack last year and a rock music festival drew a huge crowd this year. The NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars, are considering playing several home games at the Speedway, while their stadium undergoes renovation. Michigan Golf Journal
Caledonia & True Blue Among South Carolina’s Top 5 Courses Caledonia Golf & Fish Club and True Blue in Pawley’s South Carolina were designed by Toledo-native Michael Strantz. Both courses have long been favorites in the Myrtle Beach area and are some of the best representatives of Strantz’s impressive works. Golfweek Magazine recently ranked both courses inside the top five of “The Best South Carolina Courses You Can Play 2023.” The Myrtle Beach area is loaded with great golf, thus the high rating for these sister courses is something to be proud of. Caledonia was Strantz’s first solo design and was an immediate hit with golfers when it opened in 1994. Built on just 120 acres, the course is News & Notes renowned for its creativity and is a stunning Lowcountry beauty. Annually a consensus top 100 public course, Caledonia plays through soaring live oak trees draped in Spanish moss and is always immaculately maintained. Caledonia is a treat to play from beginning to end. Caledonia and True Blue sit within one mile of each other. While Caledonia normally is ranked slightly higher than True Blue, it offers a delightful challenge for players with its sweeping fairways, sprawling waste bunkers, and large multi-tiered greens complexes. When you are planning your next golf trip to Myrtle Beach be sure to add CaledoniaGolfandFishClub.com and TrueBlueGolf.com to your itinerary. Michigan Golf Journal
The Anchor at Shangri-La Resort Named “Best New Attraction in Oklahoma” If your travels take you to the mid-west this summer you may want to check out the award-winning Shangri-La Resort. Sitting in the far northeastern corner of Oklahoma near the convergence of the Kansas, Arkansas and Missouri state lines, it has received rave reviews and numerous awards from the travel industry. Most recently it received the Oklahoma Travel Industry Association’s (OTIA) Redbud Award for its new indoor-outdoor activity park, The Anchor. The RedBud Awards represent the highest honor in the tourism industry in Oklahoma. Shangri-La has previously been honored as “Best Lodging in Oklahoma” in 2018, plus it was named “Best Attraction in Oklahoma” in 2022. The Anchor, which opened in June 2021, was named “Best New Attraction” at the 2023 Awards Banquet. Built on less than seven acres, The Anchor features tennis, pickleball, basketball, cornhole, sand volleyball, plus a mini-Fenway WIFFLE®Ball park. The 11,000 square foot indoor facility features a sports bar, food service, simulator bays with Trackman Golf and LaserShot shooting simulators, as well as a complete arcade with a variety of games including virtual reality games and rides. More traditional games such as ping-pong, pool, shuffleboard, darts, and foosball are also featured at the facility which has served to make Grand Lake O’ The Cherokees a true year-round destination. The Anchor is just one of many amenities offered at Shangri-La. The features 27 holes of Championship Golf, a 119-room hotel, medical spa, indoor pool, expansive outdoor resort pool and pool bar as well as a variety of dining options at Doc’s Bar & Grill, The Monkey Grind, The Summit Restaurant, and Eddy’s Lakeside Bar. Boat and personal watercraft rentals, yacht charters,
and Oklahoma’s only parasailing adventures are also offered at Shangri-La Marina. The Battlefield, Shangri-La’s all-new 18-hole Par 3 golf course is also open and will be officially dedicated at a special Grand Opening and Dedication Ceremonies at the end of June. The Battlefield honors Oklahoma heroes of World War II as well as all veterans and military personnel. To learn more about this unique mid-western resort visit shangrilaok.com. BMW Owners Can Stream Ryder Cup While Driving If you just can’t get enough Ryder Cup coverage, BMW has signed an agreement that will allow BMW drivers to watch coverage of this year’s event from inside their cars, albeit in the back seat only. BMW 7 Series owners will be able to follow every shot at the 2023 Ryder Cup live in the second row of seats on the BMW Theatre Screen. The live broadcasts and other on-demand content can also be accessed on the BMW Curved Display in the front row of seats when the car is stationary. The APP will be available in multiple markets around the globe, as well as many other BMW models. “The Ryder Cup is associated with unique emotions and great prestige – there is no other golfing event like it,” says Stefan Ponikva, Vice President BMW Brand Communication and Brand Experience. “The same is true of BMW vehicles, particularly the BMW 7 Series. The exclusive opportunity to combine sheer driving Michigan Golf Journal
pleasure with the emotions of the Ryder Cup combines all this with the BMW Group’s aspiration to rethink the digital experience both inside and outside the car and to create innovative worlds of experience.” The BMW Theatre Screen transforms the rear of the new BMW 7 Series into an exclusive private cinema. The 31.3-inch display screen offers firstclass entertainment with Amazon Fire TV built-in. The Ryder Cup isn’t scheduled until October, so there is still time to get your new BMW, hire a driver and watch all the action while tooling down the expressway. Michigan’s Rick Smith Becomes Brand Ambassador for GolfForever GolfForever, one of the world’s leading golf fitness companies, reached a new milestone last month. Rick Smith, a renowned expert on golf instruction has become a brand ambassador for their groundbreaking golf fitness mobile APP. Smith’s enthusiasm for connecting fitness training with swing performance comes through brilliantly and makes the benefits of using GolForever relatable for golfers of all abilities. If you are serious about taking strokes off your golf game and getting in better shape check out GolfForever’s APP with videos by Rick Smith. McLemore, Sweetens Cove to Host ‘Where the Valley Meets the Sky’ Golf Tournament Acclaimed McLemore, Golf Club which sits atop Lookout Mountain is partnering with Sweetens Cove Golf Club, one of the South’s most renowned clubs, to host ‘Where the Valley Meets the Sky’, golf tournament Sept. 2-4, 2023. The two-player, net best-ball event will feature two rounds of stroke play competition with the tournament field split evenly between McLemore’s Highlands Course and Sweetens Cove on Sept. 3-4. Players of all skill levels are welcome to form their own teams that will compete in both a gross and net-score division. All participants must have a GHIN Handicap Index and register with their partner at https:// www.valleymeetsthesky.com/.
Along with the competition, participants will enjoy evenings of music, food and drinks, with a kickoff party at Sweetens Cove to open the event on Saturday, and a post-round celebration at McLemore on Sunday. Following the conclusion of play on Monday, live scoring will be broadcasted at both venues with an awards ceremony to celebrate the champions. The entry fee for the inaugural “Where the Valley Meets the Sky” tournament is $900 / per player and includes both rounds of golf plus access to McLemore’s short course, evening shuttle transportation between evening events, as well as all food and beverage costs beginning with the kickoff party on Saturday evening. The entry fee does not include travel or accommodation costs; however, on-site lodging at both McLemore and Sweetens Cove can be reserved exclusively for players who have registered for the tournament online on a firstcome-first-served basis. Reynolds Lake Oconee Offering Dream Grand Prize Package Reynolds Lake Oconee is home to six (soon to be seven) of the most elite golf courses in the country, as well as diverse lodging and dining options on a stunning lakefront location. The residential community is a premier golf and lakefront destination, located just one hour east of Atlanta. Michigan Golf Journal
The entry period for Reynolds Lake Oconee’s “Three for Four Sweepstakes” closes Thursday, September 28. The lucky quartet will receive a dream trip worth over $15,000.00 including: • Two rounds of golf at two of their six courses, with one round to be played with Blake Adams, a PGA Tour professional, who serves as the director of player development and instruction at The Kingdom at Reynolds Lake Oconee • Club fitting at The Kingdom at Reynolds Lake Oconee with a $500 credit toward TaylorMade golf clubs • Shooting experience at the Sandy Creek Sporting Grounds hosted by British Olympian trap shooter Justin Jones • Culinary experience with Zouhair Bellout, executive chef at Reynolds • Four tickets to the sixth annual Rhythm & Brews Festival on Saturday, October 21 Other highlights include domestic round-trip airfare arriving at and departing from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), ground transportation to and from Reynolds Lake Oconee, meals at selected restaurants in the community, plus lodging in the National Club Cottages. Entry forms are available at www.reynoldslakeoconee.com/reynolds-insider-sweepstakes. There is a limit of one entry per person, plus entrants must be residents of the United States and at least 21 years of age. The winner and three guests must be available to travel together from October 19-22 to claim the grand prize; no alternative dates are available.
Ping Introduces New G430 LST Three-Wood By Ed Travis Complimenting PING’s current G430 fairway woods, SFT and MAX, the company announced the G430 LST for high swing-speed players looking for low-spin and added distance in low profile tour-type head. LST stands for Low Spin Technology and this beefy 3-wood is designed for Tour players and elite amateurs so don’t look for it in the bag of a guy in your Saturday foursome. It fills out the fairway wood line for Ping who introed the MAX (game-improvement category) and the SFT Straight Flight Technology (super game-improvement) models in January. Note the titanium alloy face wraps into both the crown and sole which improves distance by additional flex at impact. The use of a carbon fiber crown and a tungsten sole lowers the center of gravity and moves it towards the rear for higher launch, low-spin hits. The crown is an 8-layer 8.5-gram composite and saves 5.5 grams versus the more usual titanium crown and partially wraps the heel and toe parts of the head’s rear or skirt. The saved weight was moved to lower the center of gravity even further. John K. Solheim, PING CEO & President said, “We’re excited to bring this score-lowering technology to golfers during the heart of the Michigan Golf Journal
golf season to give them a long and versatile three-wood to help them lower their scores and raise their enjoyment on the course. The lightweight properties of titanium and the density of tungsten open a lot of possibilities to improve performance. The results are phenomenal. The G430 LST 3-wood goes forever and sounds amazing. It’s already in the bags of Tour players around the world. We look forward to getting the new fairway wood in the hands of golfers who want the best of multi-material technology.” Fast Facts Ping G430 LST Fairway Wood Better player category 169cc low profile head Variable roll radius, less bulge radius Variable thickness 2041 beta-titanium face 8-1-1 Titanium body 80-gram tungsten sole Carbonfly Wrap crown Stock loft:15°, adjustable +/- 1.5° Stock shafts: Alta CB Black 65, PING Tour 2.0 Chrome 65/75, PING Tour 2.0 Black 65/75 Stock grip: Golf Pride 360 Tour Velvet Price: $600
By Ed Travis Callaway Golf’s new CB Wedges for 2023 are designed for recreational players and feature forgiveness without sacrificing spin control and feel. Finally, a club average golfers can play to help with those touchy-feely shots around the green. Hopefully, they will help alleviate those awkward skulls, shanks and fat shots. These wedges feature a slightly larger head with a rounded leading edge to decrease digging, plus the higher sole bounce adds forgiveness. The CBs are the first Callaway wedges to have urethane microspheres inside the head, to improve both the sound and feel of the cavity back design. The grooves are the company’s familiar aggressive pattern and in the 54° to 60° lofts grooves are full face. Fast Facts Callaway CB Wedges –– Game-improvement category –– Larger head with rounded edge and cavity back –– Interior filled with urethane microspheres –– Jaws grooves with added face roughness for added spin –– Stock shafts: True Temper Elevate 95, Project X Catalyst 65g –– Stock grip: Golf Pride –– At retail shots: July 7, 2023 –– MSRP: $159.99 each Callaway’s New CB Wedges Hit Golf Shops This Month Michigan Golf Journal
Traversing Wine In Northern Michigan By Kurt Wieneke It had been several years since I visited Traverse City and the Leelanau wine region in northern Michigan. My daughter and I revisited this area last fall and discovered some beautiful scenery and wines in two days of touring and tasting. There have been a lot of new wineries pop up in this area over the past 10 years. The Leelanau Peninsula AVA (American Viticultural Area) was established in 1982 and the Old Mission Peninsula AVA in 1987. These northerly grape-growing regions in Michigan benefit from their ‘great’ lake effect in important ways. In general, lakes retain heat and thus warm the surrounding land. But, unlike southern Michigan, the Leelanau and Old Mission areas are buffered by both Lake Superior and Lake Michigan when the extreme -20 F to -40 F freezes of the Canadian polar vortex dip to the southeast. This double-lake buffering prevents severe trunk damage and death of the vines. A combination of both white and red vinifera grapes are planted throughout the Traverse City area, leaving consumers with several great choices. White wines, like Riesling and Auxerrois, shine best up here due to the amount of bright acidity, which is retained. Michigan Golf Journal
The sparkling Rieslings can be a revelation. Red wines are a bit more temperamental with their zippy berry flavors. But, in the right winemaking hands, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Marquette can be wonderfully fragrant, supple, and complex. My favorite wineries of this area for high quality winemaking and winery experience are Brys Winery, Aurora Cellars, Bel Lago Winery, and L. Mawby. Next time you head to northern Michigan, check out the great selection of vineyards and wineries in the Leelanau and Old Mission Peninsulas.
Golf Rules: The Embedded Ball Issue By Mitch Moon, LPGA Rules Official A common theme in this year’s first two men’s major championships, the PGA Championship and the U.S. Open, has been the controversial relief procedure for an embedded golf ball. First and foremost, the golf ball must be embedded in the general area to get relief under this rule. The general area is the entire golf course except for all penalty areas, bunkers, putting greens and the teeing area. The ball must be embedded in its own pitch mark from the player’s previous stroke. It is not embedded if someone steps on it, the ball is dropped after taking relief, or the ball goes straight into the ground, without becoming airborne. When it is determined that relief has been granted for an embedded ball, the reference point is the area directly behind where the ball is embedded. The player then has one Michigan Golf Journal
club-length relief in either direction from that point to drop the ball, but it must not be closer to the hole and must stay in the general area. One distinction that many golfers may not realize is that a ball is embedded if it is below the level of the ground, even if the ball is not touching the soil. This was the scenario for Rory McIlroy, when he was granted relief last month at the U.S. Open. The major golf associations, the USGA, the PGA of America, The R&A could avoid this controversy in the future. Under Model Local Rule (MLR) F-2.1, the Committee can restrict embedded ball relief to only be granted when a ball is embedded in a part of the general area cut to fairway height or less. In the situations referenced above, those players would have had to play from their spot or chose a different option to get out of their unfortunate scenario. Will they change it for next year? It would shock me if these associations implemented this MLR, but they do have the option. Know the Rules of Golf. They are there to help you and make the game more enjoyable for everyone.
Our Contributors This Month Ed Travis Kurt Wieneke 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 KurtWieneke, akaWineGuyKurt, a freelance wine writer who grew up in Seymour and is now based in Indianapolis. Kurt, an avid wine taster, enjoys sharing his 30 years of experience in collecting and tasting fine wines. 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 Randy Tantlinger talks with competitors in the 2023 Team USA vs Team Scotland Championship. https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=T1WTs3PaLlI There has been news of a Player Revolt, while PGA Tour Commissioner, JayMonahan recuperates from a medical issue, plus the Senate will investigate the proposed merger between the PGA Tour and Saudi Investment Fund PIF https://youtu.be/zZhQhvlZUxg In this video Back 9 Report talks with Bandon Dunes General Manager, Jeff Simonds about the courses and amenities at Bandon Dunes. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=swxK322PNE&t=52s Player Testimonials From Team USA vs Team Scotland Tour Players Revolt, Monahan Laid Up & Senate Investigates PGA Tour Bandon Dunes: Golf the Way it was Meant to BE! Watch Now Watch Now Watch Now
MICHIGAN GOLF JOURNAL ALLRIGHTS RESERVED; COPYRIGHT 2023 www.michigangolłournal.com Michigan Golf Journal
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTQ2Nzk4