April Was Full Of Golf Travel FRED ALTVATER PUBLISHER Back 9 Media Group Also Publishes: Ohio Golf Journal Indiana Golf Journal Back 9 Report We were able to do a little traveling in April. With trips to Jekyll Island, Pinehurst and Scotland, we experienced some of the best golf in the world. We were also able to finally meet longtime friend and co-host of Back 9 Report, Kieran Clark, who lives in St. Andrews. He arranged our tee time for the Old Course and is pictured with me on the Swilcan Bridge. In Scotland, Brian Weis, from GolfTrips.com, and I were able to play The Old Course, Kingsbarns, Crail, Dumbarnie, North Berwick, Dukes Club Elie Golf Links and the Anstruther nine-hole course. All, except for Dukes, are links style. In addition, Brian played, The New course at St. Andrews, Jubilee, Carnoustie, Leven Links and Charleton House. It was a dream golf trip to the ‘Home of Golf.’ Learn more about our adventure and tips for your trip to Scotland in our featured article. The U.S. Open will be held next month in Los Angeles and in this issue we remember Ben Hogan, who won four national championships. but always claimed he actually won five. Finally, the main reason we went to Scotland was for the Team USA versus Team Scotland Amateur Team Championships. This was the inaugural event with five team members on each team. It was a huge success and every competitor enjoyed the experience and competition against five wonderful gentlemen from Scotland. If you dream of playing golf in Scotland, I would urge every amateur golfer to register for a local qualifier in your area. Learn more at: http://www.usascotlandgolf. com/#/ We want to apologize for this issue being distributed later than normal. My wife, Pat our Chief Editor, who works with our design team, had a severe heart attack on April 21st and has been dealing with complications. She is on the mend and will be back at her desk in no time. The weather is still a bit cold in Michigan, but I hope I will see you on the Back 9 soon. Michigan Golf Journal
Bay Harbor Golf Club The Quarry • Hole #9 NORTHERN MICHIGAN BOYNEgolf.com 877.741.6855 TEN COURSES. THREE RESORTS. ONE AWARD-WINNING DESTINATION. 2019 National Golf Course of the Year Awarded to The Heather Best Golf Resorts in America by Forbes.com BOYNE Golf, Pebble Beach, Destination Kohler, Pinehurst, Bandon Dunes, Kapalua Golf Digest 100 Greatest Public Courses The Heather #92 and Links/Quarry #80 Golf Digest Editor’s Choice Best Golf Resorts in the Americas Bay Harbor Golf Club and Inn at Bay Harbor GOLF Magazine | GOLF.com Top 100 Resorts – Double Winner Buddies Trip – BOYNE Golf Luxury – Bay Harbor Golf Club and Inn at Bay Harbor
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 29 FIND INSIDE 06 20 26 34 The Home of Golf Awaits Your Visit Team Scotland Defeats Team USA Did Ben Hogan Really Win 5 U.S. Opens? What’s OLD is NEW, TaylorMade BRNR Mini Is A Throwback Collin Morikawa & Rickie Fowler commit to Rocket Mortgage Classic 06 13 15 24 18 Michigan Golf News USGA Proposes to Rollback Golf Ball 20 26 Our Contributors Callaway’s Big Bertha is BACK! News From the ‘Home of American Golf’ Pinehurst The Pinehurst Area Continues to Grow Square Launcher Xccelerator Makes Golf Simple Again Gulf Shores, Alabama: More Than Beautiful Beaches Our Favorite Videos 38 32 34 35 37 29 39 Michigan Golf Journal
If you are considering a trip to the ‘Home of Golf’ here are a few items that will help you plan your visit. Golf The Old Course Everyone has seen the Old Course when the OPEN Championship is held there and dreams of visiting those hallowed grounds. The OPEN was first held on the Old Course in 1873 and has returned 30 times since. The list of past winners includes the biggest names in the sport, James Braid, Bobby Jones, Sam Snead, Peter Thompson, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods. Both Woods and Nicklaus hoisted the Claret Jug on two occasions. The St. Andrews Links Trust oversees the Old Course, as well as the adjoining courses, The New Course, Jubilee, Eden Links, Strathtyrum, Balgove and The Castle. Publicly owned, St. Andrews residents can pay a relatively small fee to become a member and play all the courses. If you are lucky enough to actually play the Old Course the number of walkers and passers by provide a constant gallery for players trying to avoid the cavernous bunkers and three putts on the massive double greens. Don’t overlook the other courses in the St. Andrews Links Trust. The New, Jubilee and Eden are very enjoyable and require a much lower cost to play for visitors. Beware these courses are walking only and the Castle course is very hilly. The New accepts walk up and the Jubilee accepts tee times 24 hours in advance. Visitors are able to purchase a three-day pass that allows golfers to play unlimited golf on all six Links Trust courses, excluding the Old Course. In season the cost for the three-day pass is £350 ($ 435 USD). The ‘Home of Golf’ Awaits Your Visit By Brian Weis & Fred Altvater Michigan Golf Journal
Brian Weis talked about how to get on the Old Course, places to stay and things to do in St. Andrews on Back 9 Report https://youtu.be/ os7qsMv4d9E Dukes Course The Dukes Course is owned by the Old Course Hotel, sits above the town and provides wonderful views. It is more of a parkland course with wonderful bunkering. It does allow carts to be used and provides a wonderful break from walking. Carnoustie Carnoustie sits 35 miles north of St. Andrews, but is well worth the hour’s drive, or travel by bus from St. Andrews. Regarded as one of the most difficult courses in the world, it has hosted the OPEN on eight separate occasions. It is the site of Jean Van de Velde’s historic collapse, in 1999, Padraig Harrington’s win in 2007 and Francesco Molinari’s 2018 win over Kevin Kisner, Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose and Xander Schauffele. Firth of Forth Coastline The Firth of Forth is technically an estuary at the convergence of four rivers, into the North Sea. Along its northern coastline sits three wellknown links courses, Kingsbarns, Crail and Dumbarnie. Kingsbarns Kingsbarns is universally considered one of the very best courses in the world. Golf actually began at Kingsbarns as early as 1793, but the course was returned to farmland in 1850. In 1922, Willie Auchterlonie laid out a nine-hole course and the old Kingsbarns Golfing Society was re-established. During WWII the course was reverted to pastureland to feed livestock for the war effort. Construction of the current Kingsbarns Golf Links began in November 1997 under the direction of architect Kyle Phillips and opened in July 2000. Back 9 Report captured these views from the Kingsbarns’ 9th fairway, https://youtu.be/ rXhgn5ejW9o Kingsbarns has hosted several major tournaments over the years and annually is one of the three courses used for the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship along with Carnoustie and the Old Course.
is one of only 246 true links courses in the world and though relatively new, golfers feel it will soon rival the Old Course and Kingsbarns as a must play when visiting Scotland. Other Local Courses Kingsbarns, Crail and Dumbarnie are all upscale courses that can stress your travel budget. A good way to stretch your golfing dollar is to add one, or more of these courses to make your average cost more palatable. Leven Links Leven Links dates back to the early 1800’s. With its rolling fairways, sand dunes, fast putting surfaces and pot bunkers it has all the elements of a traditional links course. Over the years it has hosted many national and international competitions, as well as hosting local final qualifying for the Open Championship in 1978, 1984, 1990, 1995, 2000 and 2005. Lundin Golf Club Lundin Golf Club remains largely as it was some 100 years ago. The first five holes are in classic links tradition proceeding from the Clubhouse to the Mile Dyke. Players cross the old railway line and play the newer nine, designed by James Braid, in 1908. The final four holes revert to pure links. Not long by modern standards, Lundin nonetheless presents a thorough test of a golfer’s skills. Crail Crail has two 18-hole championship courses, Balcomie and Craighead. The Balcomie Course is the seventh oldest course in the world and was designed by Old Tom Morris. It sits along the coast on truly unique piece of property. The Craighead course sits slightly higher on land once used for farming. It was designed by Gil Hanse and opened for play in 1998. On a clear day golfers can see famed North Berwick across the estuary and Kingsbarns to the north. Dumbarnie Links Dumbarnie Links is the newest course in the region and has received outstanding reviews. It Michigan Golf Journal
For many years Lundin hosted the Final Qualifying stages of The Open Championship, when it was held in St. Andrews. Anstruther Golf Club Anstruther Golf Club is a nine-hole golfing experience that you will never forget. The par 3 fifth hole is touted as the most difficult par 3 in Scotland. I would wager it qualifies as one of the most difficult in the world. At 240 yards the green is partially hidden between a steep rocky cliff and the Firth of Forth. A shot hit to the middle of the fairway short of the green will ultimately roll sideways and be lost to a watery grave. The sixth and seventh holes are also difficult par 3’s that will challenge any golfer. Back 9 Report filed this video from the tee box at the Anstruther’s difficult par 3 fifth hole. https:// youtu.be/7kNN8TkUAO0 For a true Scottish links golf experience at a lower cost, don’t overlook Leven, Lundin and Anstruther, when you visit Fife. North Berwick Founded in 1832, North Berwick is listed as the fourth oldest course in the world and sits across the Firth of Forth from Kingsbarns, Crail and Dumbarnie. The course has hosted final qualifying for the OPEN Championship on several occasions, as well as the Scottish Amateur. Stone fences, berns and gently rolling topography make this a true test of golf. Along the route when driving to North Berwick from Edinburgh, Musselburgh, Muirfield and Gullane can also be visited. Back 9 Report filed this report from their visit, https://youtu.be/gog_1MK0OUo. How to Travel With two of us on this trip, we rented a car from the Edinburgh airport. Beware driving on the opposite side of the road is challenging, plus the narrow curving country roads add an exciting flair to your golfing adventure.
Scotland has a wonderful bus and rail system that can be used to reach nearly any destination. For a group, a packager can arrange a bus, or other travel arrangements. Tips to Get a Tee Time at the Old Course There are several ways to obtain a tee time for the Old Course starting with standing in line at the starter’s shed in the wee hours of the morning and waiting in line for an open spot. If your group includes more than one player, don’t try to try this method together. Split up into singles, or a twosome to increase your odds of making the first tee. Twosomes can also enter the ballot, but the odds of securing a tee time are extremely low as members and packagers receive priority. If you are traveling with a group, it is advisable to book through a travel packager. There are several of these and are the only real hope to obtain a tee time on the Old Course. Residents of St. Andrews and members of the course can enter a lottery to obtain a tee time 48 hours before the desired date. We were fortunate to have a friend, who is both a resident and member and was able to secure a tee time for our foursome. If you are not playing with someone that is familiar with the Old Course, it is advisable to hire a local caddie. He can help with avoiding the hundreds of pot bunkers hidden around the course and help identify the best putting lines on the gigantic greens. Where to Stay There are several options for accommodations in the St. Andrews area including AirBNB, hotels Michigan Golf Journal
and rentals. On our trip we experienced two very different options. The Old Course Hotel sits beside the famous 17th ‘Road Hole’ on the Old Course. Golfers must hit their drive over a two-story building attached to the hotel to find the best route to the green. Owned by the Kohler family from Wisconsin, everything is first class. Words to the wise, rooms run upwards of $600 per night, so plan accordingly. If you would like to avoid the hustle and bustle of the Old Toon, there are several small villages within a 20-mile radius of St. Andrews that offer various accommodation packages. Charleton House is located just outside of St. Andrews near the coastline at Leven. It has been owned by the same family for 11 generations, dating back to 1749. The old castle still sits on the property, as well as several new eco-lodges that sleep 5-6 people. They include a kitchen, sitting room and back deck that looks down to the Firth of Forth. These provide lodging for golfers visiting the nearby courses, hunters that come for pheasant season and bikers traversing the beautiful Scottish countryside. The property also includes an 18-hole course opened in 1995, that saw former President George Bush on hand to officially open the course. Where to Dine The Old Course Hotel offers the Swilcan Loft that sits on the top floor of the hotel and provides a full panorama of the Old Course. The Road Hole Café serves breakfast and lunch. The Jigger Inn is also attached to the Old Course Hotel and guests dining al fresco are always in peril of a wayward golf ball from the 17th tee finding its way into their repast. The Old Tom Morris Bar & Grill is in the clubhouse for the St. Andrews Links. It is the perfect place for a traditional Scottish lunch between rounds and sits near the first tees of the New and Jubilee Links. Hams Hane Pub & Grill is a short chip away from the 18th green behind the R&A Clubhouse. It offers a variety of sandwiches and delectable treats4, as well as a complete list of adult beverages. These are only a sampling of the enjoyable pubs and eateries to be found in St. Andrews. You can sample the rest when you visit the Home of Golf. Final Word Remember nearly every course is walking only. Push carts and caddies are available. Taking a caddie especially at the Old Course, Kingsbarns, Crail, Carnoustie and Dumbarnie are highly recommended. Brian Weis posts news and information about golf travel at: https://golftrips.com/.
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Team Scotland narrowly edged out Team USA in the inaugural Team USA versus Team Scotland Amateur Golf Championship held at the Charleton Estates Golf Club in Fife, Scotland. Team USA had built a one-point lead after the first round, but was not able to hang on as the Scottish team made a torrid comeback on day two. At the award ceremony and dinner held at the Charleton Castle, the winning team received their trophies from event organizer Randy Tantlinger. “I want to thank everyone that participated in the first ever Team USA vs Team Scotland Amateur Championship. This was a great success as every player involved has made new friends through the game of golf, as well as created memories that will last a lifetime.” This event should be on every amateur golfer’s radar. Team Scotland Defeats Team USA The two teams were comprised of five players each from five separate handicap divisions competing in match play. Each member of Team USA qualified for the event at the National Finals held at Latrobe, Pennsylvania last summer. Team members, their opponents and their handicap flights are as follows: Visit the website, http://www. usascotlandgolf.com/#/, to find a local qualifier near you and start your journey to the National Finals held this year in Gettysburg and on to Scotland in 2024. To learn more watch this video: https://youtu. be/7kNN8TkUAO0. Flight Old Tom Morris Flight 1-5 Jim Lawler, Connecticut Rory Sullivan VS VS VS VS VS Palmer Flight 6-10 Chris Gerard, Biloxi, MS Robert Chadwick Nicklaus Flight 11-15 Tom Connelly, Connecticut James Marshall Prestwick Flight 16-20 Jeff Yoder, Pittsburgh, PA Andy Patterson St. Andrews Flight 21+ Patrick Snow, Texas Jim Lindsey Team USA Team Scotland
Michigan Golf Journal
As we look forward to the 2023 U.S. Open that will be held at the Los Angeles Country Club, June 15-18, we want to look back at 1953, one of the greatest seasons in major championship history. It was 70 years ago that Ben Hogan won three of golf’s four major championships. That year, Hogan captured the Masters, U.S. Open, at Oakmont, and the Open Championship, at Carnoustie. It’s unfortunate that Hogan did not have an opportunity to win the fourth major that year, the PGA Championship, due to an overlap in the scheduling taht did not allow him sufficient time to return from Scotland for the PGA. It was the only time Hogan ventured across the pond to compete in the OPEN. No other golfer won three majors in one calendar year until Tiger Woods in 2000. While the vast majority of people who have read about Hogan or even saw him play never actually Did Ben Hogan Really Win Five U.S. Opens? By Mike May had the chance to meet the legend. Chuck Ludwig, a Royal Palm Beach, Florida resident, currently the sales & service representative in southeast Florida for Nexbelt, did meet Hogan on several occasions at the annual Hogan Company sales conference, for which Ludwig was then a sales representative. When asked if Hogan would ever talk fondly of his competitive days on the PGA Tour, he, unfortunately, did not say too much. “His role during our national sales meetings for the Ben Hogan Company was to introduce the new equipment line and pump us up to go out and sell to the PGA golf professional customers,” said Ludwig. When asked if Hogan ever said much about his peers such as Sam Snead, Byron Nelson and Jimmy Demaret, he would say very little, but he was quick to identify South African Bobby Locke
as the best at match play. Hogan also added that Bobby Jones was probably the most gifted and talented player in golf. “Hogan did say that Bobby Locke was the best player he played one on one. He added if you want to know how good Booby Jones was, try hitting golf clubs with wooden shafts.” Hogan was very involved with the design of the clubs bearing his name, “He was 100% involved with the company’s final product decisions,” according to Ludwig. Another interesting fact about Hogan’s career centers around his U.S. Open victories. Officially, he has four U.S. Open wins, 1948, 1950, 1951, and 1953. During WWII, in 1942, the USGA did not officially host the U.S. Open, but Hogan won the Hale America National Open Golf Tournament, that was held in its stead. The USGA felt it was inappropriate to stage the U.S. Open in 1942. In cooperation with the PGA of America and the Chicago District Golf Association, they hosted a war-time substitute for the U.S. Open, the Hale America Open. It was held at the Ridgemoor Country Club near Chicago. For his win, Hogan received a USGA gold medal and $1,200 in war bonds. The inscription on that 1942 gold medal was the same as it appears on his four official U.S. Open wins, but on the flip side of his 1942 medal, it had different wording, “The Hale American National U.S. Open Championship.” “At some of our national sales meetings, Mr. Hogan would show the sales reps a small box which included five U.S. Open winner medals,” said Ludwig. “They were all the same, except for the one from 1942. He felt that he won five U.S. Open Championships.” Michigan Golf Journal
There are some golf historians and supporters of Hogan who feel that Hogan should be given credit for five U.S. Open wins, since it was conducted just like other U.S. Opens with more than 1,500 entries, local qualifying at 69 sites and sectional qualifying at most major cities. In addition, all of the big names in golf, who were not fighting in WWII, were in the field. To boost local fan interest in the last round, Hogan, who was tied for the lead after three rounds, was paired with the legendary Bobby Jones, who played in the event and was not in contention. Ludwig also remembers Hogan always played with a U.S. Open-mindset. “He told us he felt like every golf tournament he played in was the U.S. Open,” said Ludwig. As talented a golfer as he was, one of Hogan’s finest traits was his ability to respect and honor others, especially PGA teaching pros. “What a gentleman he was and the respect he had for the PGA golf professional,” concluded Ludwig.
The Rocket Mortgage Classic is set to return to Detroit Golf Club, June 27July 2, for the fifth year. Tickets for the 2023 PGA Tour Collin Morikawa & Rickie Fowler commit to Rocket Mortgage Classic time major champion, Collin Morikawa, fan favorite Rickie Fowler and former Rocket Mortgage Classic champion Tony Finau will be in the field. “We’re excited to welcome Collin to the Rocket Mortgage Classic for the first time, welcome Tony back to defend his title and have Rickie join us again as he continues his terrific season. This is just the beginning of what we expect to be another strong field,” said Jason Langwell, Executive Director of the Rocket Mortgage Classic. “The excitement level is high as we get set to celebrate the fifth anniversary of this amazing event right here in the city of Detroit. We encourage fans to buy tickets early, as most reserved areas are likely to sell out.” All Rocket Mortgage Classic tickets are digital and dayspecific. Fans are encouraged to buy tickets early with grounds By Mike May event are now on sale at RocketMortgageClassic.com. Several notable players have already committed. TwoMichigan Golf Journal
tickets starting at $65 per day. The LendingTree Lounge passes start at $110 and Club Ace passe are $300. As a special offer for early ticket buyers, the first 500 tickets purchased for each competition day will include upgraded access to the Sundial Clubhouse Lawn overlooking the practice putting green. The lawn offers upgraded food and beverage for purchase, as well as an upclose view of the players as they prepare for their rounds. Kids 15 and under receive complimentary admission when accompanied by a ticketed adult Thursday-Sunday. No ticket is required for kids to enter. “The Rocket Mortgage Classic continues to be a powerful force for good in Detroit while shining a national spotlight on this great city we call home,” said Bob Walters, CEO of Rocket Mortgage, the Classic’s title sponsor. “We are excited that the Detroit Community Days will again give Detroit residents the opportunity to see the best golfers in the world up close and take part in activations the whole family can enjoy.” The Rocket Giving Fund – the nonprofit host organization of the Rocket Mortgage Classic – in partnership with title sponsor Rocket Mortgage, raised more than $1.57 million through the 2022 Rocket Mortgage Classic to support local nonprofits. In its first four years, the event has invested more than $6.8 million into nonprofit organizations, including more than $3.8 million through the Changing the Course initiative to end the digital divide in Detroit. Make your plans now to attend this year’s biggest golf event in Michigan, The Rocket Mortgage Classic.
GAM Announces Award Winners The Golf Association of Michigan (GAM) is proud to announce its current award winners. These honorees have helped grow and support the game of golf in Michigan and their accomplishments will be recognized at the GAM Annual Meeting on Wednesday May 3rd. Congratulations to all the recipients! For more information on the awards and honorees, please visit GAM.org. GAM Distinguished Service Award – Sara Wold, Michigan Women’s Golf Association GAM Superintendent of Merit Award – Michael Morris, CGCS, Crystal Downs CC James D. Standish Jr. Awards – Owen Brewer (Michigan) and Andrew Hendren (Michigan State) Club Services Representative of the Year – Terri Anthony-Ryan, City of Southfield Courses Course Rater of the Year – Laurie Puscas, Oakhurst G & CC GAM Champion of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion – Kim Moore, Western Michigan University Women’s Golf Team Head Coach Hike at the Hawk for Youth on Course On September 28th, join us for a unique fundraising event on the Little Hawk Putting Course at Hawk Hollow GC. This is a more inclusive version of the traditional 100 Hole Hike that allows those unable to golf 100 holes of Par 3 golf to play 100 holes of “putt-putt” golf on this beautiful, natural grass, putting course. Each fundraiser’s goal would be to raise $1,500 by the end of the 100 holes at Little Hawk. There are limited spots available for this new fundraising event - email Laura Bavaird for additional details or to get registered as a fundraiser - LBAVAIRD@ GAM.ORG. Golf News Michigan Michigan Golf Journal
Island Resort & Casino – Sweetgrass Celebrates 15 years of Golf Excellence Michigan Juniors Compete at Drive Chip & Putt Finals Last month on Sunday before the Masters junior golfers competed in the National Finals of Drive, Chip & Putt at Augusta National Golf Club. Former Masters Champions, Zach Johnson, Jordan Spieth and were on hand to meet the contestants and hand out trophies. In the Boys 10-11 division, Robert Melendez from Ann Arbor busted a drive 214 yards, chipped to one foot four inches and holed out one of his putts to finish tied for fourth. Paige Radebaugh, from Webberville, finished tenth in the Girls 12-13 division. In the Girls 14-15 division, Lyla Hampton from Grosse Park, was tied for 6th. Full results can be found at: https://www.drivechipandputt.com/leaderboard. Island Resort & Casino in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula has experienced exceptional demand for golf since opening the Sweetgrass Golf course 15 years ago and is now one of the top golf destinations in the country. The resort is owned by the Hannahville Band of the Potawatomi Nation. In 2008 the Hannahville Indian Community hired acclaimed Golf Course Architect Paul Albanese to build its first golf course. The course’s name, Sweetgrass, refers to an aromatic herb and sacred plant used in Native American peace and healing rituals that is planted throughout the course. The prairie links-style course meanders to a wideopen vista where many greens and flags can be seen in the distance. The greens are also some of the most fun to putt, featuring Redan, Biarritz, Island, and Double-green.
“It’s my own philosophy and the Native American philosophy that we always try to make the design fit the land, and truly allow it to reflect the principles of Native Americans’ respect for the land,” said Albanese, a Harvard University transplant who now lives in Plymouth, Mich. “This also inspired stories to share throughout the course. We put some wooden posts in the side of a hill along the fairway that represent the remains of a fort from the 1650’s. And the green complex itself worked out very nicely to be a redan-style green. Redan is the French word for fortress.” “Over the 15 years since the Sweetgrass opening, it has been exciting to see how we have grown to become a top golf destination, to see the EPSON Tour evolve and impact our community, and to be named National Course of the Year. It’s a testament to the quality golf experience we offer and the strong team of employees that make things happen,” said General Manager Tony Mancilla, who appreciates the resort’s massive expansion. “You have to start small, make your mistakes, and work to get better. And we add a little more every year. We’re not done growing yet.” The Sweetgrass course has hosted 11 EPSON Tour events, won numerous golf course design awards, and earned the 2022 National Golf Course of the Year from the National Golf Course Owners Association. With the high demand for more golf the resort added a second Albanese-designed course, Sage Run, in 2016. To meet additional demand for accommodations, a new hotel tower was also recently added, bringing the property’s guest room total to 454. The new hotel features golf suites and a steakhouse on its top floor. Sage Run features a rugged terrain with hardwoods, open areas, and a massive ridge, or drumlin with bunkering that reminds golfers of Royal County Down, in Northern Ireland. Golf packages can be customized to fit any budget. The Perfect 4-Some package combines Greywalls in Marquette and TimberStone in Iron Mountain along with Island Casino & Resort’s two courses. For more information on booking 2023 Island Resort & Casino golf packages visit: http://www. islandresortgolf.com/ Michigan Golf Journal
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What’s OLD is NEW, TaylorMade BRNR Mini Is A Throwback By Ed Travis Described as a throwback to 30 years ago, the TaylorMade BRNR Mini driver takes its look from the Ti Bubble 2 from the 1990’s, but combines the latest technology with an update to the 2019 and 2021 Mini Drivers. TaylorMade is the only manufacturer that has had a small headed driver on the market and if you have never hit a mini driver, you are in for a revealing experience. Off the tee it’s longer than a three-wood but doesn’t travel as far as your regular driver. TaylorMade research revealed that better golfers like the idea of a shorter shaft for added control from the tee combined with a lower loft than the normal fairway wood to bring that long par-5 into range. The 304 cc BRNR Mini clubhead is larger than a normal three-wood, but smaller than a driver. The Michigan Golf Journal
Fast Facts TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver Better-player category 304 cc head Changeable sole weights — stock 13g back, 15g front Speed Pocket Carbon fiber crown K-Sole design Twist Face Adjustable hosel +/- 4° Lofts” 11.5°, 13.5° Stock shaft: UST Mamiya ProForce 65 Retro Burner Edition 65 Stock grip: SuperStroke S-Tech MSRP cost: $449.99 43 ¾ inches the shaft is shorter than standard driver, but slightly longer than a three-wood. The K-Sole, found on TaylorMade’s BRNR Mini Driver allows the head to glide over, rather than dig into the turf, for those wanting a driver that can also be hit from the short grass. “The BRNR Mini Driver is a modern interpretation of a classic driver, showcasing our long-standing heritage in the sport,” Tomo Bystedt, Senior Director of Product Creation, Metalwoods & Carbonwood. “While it has retro aesthetics, it’s no showpiece to hang in your office. It has the horsepower to attack golf courses and can be a major asset in the hands of the right golfer. We aimed to balance throwback elements with modern looks, technology and performance.” The BRNR Mini offers golfers a return to a smaller head, shorter shaft and more control like the drivers from a past era. Long off the tee isn’t always the answer. As everyone knows the woods are full of wayward drives. If you want to add a little control to your long game, check out the new/old BRNR Mini from TaylorMade.
travel as far as golf balls that are available today. The proposed change will have no affect on the everyday player, who is trying to get every extra yard he can squeeze out of his ‘Weapon of Mass Destruction.’ Protecting Par “We have attempted to protect par,” is one of the catch phrases heard from USGA officials at every U.S. Open golf course that is set up nearly impossible to negotiate, even for the best players in the world. A better question is, “Should they really need to worry about protecting par?” Isn’t par just a number? With golfers today being much more athletic, technology creating Opinion USGA Proposes to Limit Golf Ball By Fred Altvater In addition to hosting the United States Open, the Women’s U.S. Open, Men’s and Women’s U.S. Amateurs, plus 10 other national golf championships, the United State Golf Association (USGA) oversees and occasionally fine tunes the rules of golf. The USGA, along with The R&A have served notice, that in their vigil to shorten the golf ball for elite players, they plan to amend the Rules of Golf to do just that. USGA Championships would require elite amateurs and professionals to play a ball that does not Michigan Golf Journal
better equipment and courses manicured to perfection, shouldn’t we expect scores to be lower? We have seen several 59’s posted in tournament competition over the past several years and even one 58. Did the world come to an end? Did casual golfers stop playing because they know they could never achieve such perfection? Ben Hogan spent his golfing life chasing the perfect round of 18 birdies and never came close. What could he have done with today’s better equipment, is something to be discussed at length in the 19th hole. Does any golf fan watch a golf tournament on their big screen to see bogies and doubles? I think not. Birdies and eagles are what sells the PGA Tour. Avid golfers rush to their favorite golf shop to buy the exact same set of clubs and balls that the pros use on television before heading to their favorite track to hopefully shoot lower scores. Back 9 Report discussed the pros and cons of the proposed USGA’s Rollback of the golf ball https://youtu.be/rUK7Bw32K_E. Equipment and golf ball manufacturers know this and for that reason pay the big names millions of dollars to use their brand and hoist trophies. In the 1980’s the USGA tried unsuccessfully to ban PING’s square groove irons developed by Karsten Solheim and force PING to stop selling them. After a long and expensive court battle, the USGA agreed to settle out of court with PING ultimately allowed to continue manufacturing and selling square grooved clubs. We will probably see the same gaggle of lawsuits and legal maneuvering over the USGA’s Rollback Proposal. I think it is inevitable that these issues will help increase hundreds of attorney’s bank accounts. The USGA contends that the golf ball for elite players needs to be rolled back to protect aging golf courses and the demands of higher maintenance expenses for a course that is forced to expand to accommodate longer golf balls. Maybe it would be better for everyone if the USGA got away from their flawed perception of par being the rationalization for changing the golf ball and accept the fact that the world moves on. Let the birdies come in bunches and the game more exciting.
Gulf Shores, Alabama: More Than Beautiful Beaches By Len Ziehm Let’s make this perfectly clear, Gulf ShoresOrange Beach, sandwiched between Pensacola and Mobile offers much more than beautiful white sandy beaches and great golf. Gulf Shores is a unique spot for golfers. Not only are its courses good, but they’re not far from each other with a total of 15 courses in the area. “We’ve got an island that is 32 miles long in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach,’’ said Easton Colvin, public relations coordinator for Gulf ShoresOrange Beach Tourism. “There’s 32 miles of pretty, white sand beaches and 20 miles of golf, if you add the yardages of the courses there together. All the courses are public and you can schedule a tee time on your own at every one of them.’’ Three courses on the island, Kiva Dunes, Peninsula Golf & Racquet Club and Gulf Shores Country Club make a tasty trio. Kiva Dunes Over the years Kiva Dunes has earned the most accolades. This links-style layout was designed by Jerry Pate and Jim Edgemon.
In its early years Kiva hosted the second stage of the PGA Tour Qualifying School three times and was named the No. 1 public course in Alabama in 2017. Located on the Fort Morgan Peninsula, the facility has condominiums and beach houses to rent, plus four swimming pools, two on-site restaurants and over a mile of waterfront. doglegs and numerous water hazards, the course make for a challenging test. Craft Farms Across the intercoastal from Gulf Shores, Craft Farms has a total of 45 holes with two Arnold Palmer Signature designed championship courses, Cotton Creek and Cypress, plus a nine-hole par-3 short course. Cotton Creek and Cypress courses are the only Arnold Palmer designs in Alabama. Peninsula Golf & Racquet Club Peninsula Golf & Racquet Club opened in 1995. Earl Stone designed the 27 holes on 800 acres. Peninsula features three nine-hole layouts, the Lakes, the Cypress and the Marsh, plus it has an 8,000 square foot fitness center, eight tennis courts, plus indoor and outdoor swimming pools. Gulf Shores Country Club Gulf Shores Golf Club was the first course to open in the area. It was built by the father-son team of Jay and Carter Moorish in the early 1960’s. They also completed a renovation of the course, in 2005. With its sharp Palmer was just beginning to dabble in course design when he developed a close friendship with Robert Craft Sr and his son Robert Craft Jr. They worked together for the 1987 opening of Cotton Creek and the 1993 debut of the Cypress course. “Gulf Shores in November is as good a place to play golf as you’ll find anywhere,’’ said Dan Michigan Golf Journal
Dorrough, now the head superintendent at Gulf Shores Golf Club after stints as an assistant at Kiva Dunes and Craft Farms. Fun for the Whole Family New attractions are constantly being added to the fun at Gulf Shores. The Gulf Shores State Park has 6,150 acres creating a haven for hikers, cyclists and Segway tours. The Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail spans all of the park’s 28 miles and connects both Gulf Shores and Orange Beach. There’s also a nature center, over two miles of uninterrupted pristine beachfront and a lodge, the 350-room Hilton hotel that was rebuilt in 2018, featuring the Perch Restaurant. Our favorite dinner spot was Big Fish, a great place featuring seafood and a sushi bar but steak, pasta and sandwiches are also available. Lucy Buffett, Jimmy Buffet’s sister and piano player, owns LuLu’s restaurant featuring great food along with live music, a fun arcade, three-story climbing ropes course and children’s activities. Sassy Bass Cookout Tiki Bar has a somewhat hidden location between Kiva Dunes and Peninsula but the food, served in hot iron skillets, was delicious in addition to having a unique presentation. And then there’s the sprawling FloraBama Yacht Club with its world-famous FloraBama Lounge, Package & Oyster Bar, as well as open-air waterfront dining. This legendary entertainment center near Orange Beach appeals to all ages with music, interesting decor and numerous bars. The Flora-Bama remains a must visit no matter the duration of your stay in the Gulf Shores-Orange Beach area. On rainy days there is miniature indoor golf, at the glow-in-the-dark Jurassic dinosaur adventure. It has a unique 5,000 square foot prehistoric setting and was a nice diversion for even the most serious golfers in our group. We really enjoyed the relaxing two-hour sunset cruise on Sail Wild Hearts’ 53-foot open-ocean catamaran. To plan your family vacation to Gulf Shores visit: gulfshores.com.
Big Bertha, the model that launched Callaway to success in the early 1990’s has returned in its latest incarnation as an “innovative super game-improvement’’ family. Plus, the Big Bertha REVA is “precisely engineered’’ for women of all skill levels. The company says Big Bertha is designed with an ultra-low center of gravity for players who want to reduce their slice for a straighter trajectory, more distance and easy launch. The fairway woods are built with forgiving Big Bertha shaping, easy launch, fast ball speeds, and more accuracy. Hybrids were developed with an enhanced offset to limit slices and the irons, are constructed using Artificial Intelligence technology and premium performance materials, such as Precision Tungsten Weighting, to deliver distance, even for off-center hits. Callaway, which also owns Topgolf, Ogio, Travis Mathew and Jack Wolfsking apparel brands, says the REVA drivers are built for maximum forgiveness and distance in an easy to launch package. The fairway woods feature an easyto-launch shape, more loft, and a shallow face. Hybrids launch extremely high from precisely positioned tungsten weightings. More loft makes the hybrids easy to get into the air with models available all the way up to a 9-hybrid. The irons incorporate bespoke lofts, swing weights, shafts, and even tungsten. The new Big Bertha is now available in golf shops with suggested MSRP: Drivers – $499.99, Fairway Woods – $299.99 each, Hybrids – $259.99 each, Steel Irons – $999.99/standard 6-Piece Graphite Irons- $1099.99/standard 6-Piece Graphite Set The Big Bertha REVA pricing: Drivers – $499.99, Fairway Woods – $299.99 each, Hybrids – $259.99 each, Irons with steel shaft – $999.99/standard 6-Piece, Irons with Graphite shaft- $1099,99/standard 6-Piece Callaway’s Big Bertha Is BACK! By Steve Pike Michigan Golf Journal
By Fred Altvater Pine Needles, Mid-Pines & Southern Pines In March, 2020, just as federal and state governments were shutting down golf courses across the country due to the COVID pandemic, Kelly Miller the CEO of Pine Needles and Mid-Pines Golf Clubs completed the purchase of Southern Pines Golf Club. It was a very scary time, but for Miller, but this was the realization of something that he had been working on for several years. Once the sale was completed, Kyle Franz, who had previously Pines and along with Mid-Pines and Pine Needles, these three courses make the perfect triple play for a golfing sabbatical to the Pinehurst area. During our stay in Pinehurst we chatted with Miller about the expansion and future plans for the three courses. Watch the full interview here, https://youtu. be/zGkcogNghoQ renovated both Pine Needles and Mid-Pines went to work to restore the oldest of the three Donald Ross courses to its prior glory. I had played Southern Pines several years ago before the recent renovation and you could see the natural beauty of the property. Although it was overgrown and lacking proper maintenance it was a wonderful Ross design following the natural contours of the rolling sand hills of North Carolina. Franz has done a masterful job with the work on Southern News From the ‘Home of American Golf’ Pinehurst Michigan Golf Journal
Phil Werz, Executive Director of the Pinehurst, Southern Pines and Aberdeen Convention and Vistor’s Bureau has seen this area of North Carolina continue to grow and golf courses filled with golfers. The news that the World Golf Hall of Fame would once again return to Pinehurst gives avid golfers one more reason to visit the ‘Home of American Golf.’ The Pinehurst Area Continues to Grow By Fred Altvater retail areas of Southern Pines and Aberdeen, the area has something for everyone. The USGA has recognized the importance of Pinehurst by committing to hold four additional U.S. Opens on Pinehurst #2. The U.S. Open will be held on #2 next year and will return in 2029, 2035, 2041 and 2047. This is a huge commitment to the Pinehurst area and guarantees that Pinehurst will be a golfing mecca for many years to come. We had the chance to talk with Phil Werz about the growth and future of the Pinehurst area. Watch the full interview here, https://youtu.be/jH0k5dp0J7Y. The Pinehurst Resort is adding a tenth course and the village is preparing for the 2024 U.S. Open that will once again be contested on famed Pinehurst #2. New breweries, distilleries and other retail are constantly opening in either the Village of Pinehurst, Southern Pines, or Aberdeen. From the quaint shops in the Village to the restaurants and
Every golfer has several swing thoughts running through their heads when they hit the first tee. A multitude of swing tips seen in golf magazines and on television only tend to make the game even more complicated. Most golfers want to cut through the clutter and just need one, or two key thoughts on which to concentrate, while trying to connect with a golf ball. The issue being that golfers know they need a square club face at impact, but can’t consistently produce it. A new training aid, the Square Launcher Xccelerator helps reduce those unruly swing thoughts to create a repeatable swing that produces a square club face and makes the game easier. The Square Launcher Xccelerator training aid helps alleviate the four consistency robbers: - Tension - Lack of Feel Square Launcher Xccelerator Makes Golf Simple Again - Improper Rhythmn - Inconsistent Tempo By helping to imitate a natural underhand tossing motion the Square Launcher Xccelerator provides one easy repeatable motion to more consistently produce solid contact and better golf shots. It seems a simple fix, but it is effective and can help every golfer achieve more consistency and accuracy from their shots. The inventors of the Square Launcher Xccelerator tested over 60 different methods of golf improvement aids, but finally settled on this solution. Improve you practice and build muscle memory using the Square Launcher Xccelerator to create more consistency in your game. To learn more watch this short video, https:// www.youtube.com/watch?v=zc-UEks7HXE and visit their website: https://squarelaunchergolf. com/.
Our Contributors This Month Ed Travis Mike May Steve Pike 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 Mike May is a freelance golf travel writer based in Wellington, Florida. As you would expect, he is a “Golfaholic” focused on beating ‘Old Man Par’ each time he steps on a golf course. Contact him at mmaymarketing@gmail.com Steve Pike is a multiple award-winning journalist and author. He has written for Golfweek, Golf World, The New York Times Magazine Group, Golf Digest and as a golf business writer for PGA.com. You can find more from Steve at Spike’s Peeks: The Art of Travel, as well as, Links Magazine, Hotelinteractive.com, Coastal Star Newspaper, NewEngland.golf and Golf-Hound.com 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 Brian Weis from GolfTrips.com talks about St. Andrews and how to get on the Old Course. This video from Randy Tantlinger breaks down the Team USA versus Team Scotland Amateur Golf Championship matches held at Charleton Castle & Estates in Scotland. Brian Weis and Randy Tantlinger talk about Dumbarnie Links and Team USA versus Team Scotland Amateur Golf Championship from Scotland, the Home of Golf. St. Andrews: Where to Play, What to Do & Where to Stay Team USA Amateur Golf Championship Brian Weis & Randy Tantlinger Talk about Scotland & Team USA Amateur Golf Championship. Watch Now Watch Now Watch Now
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