Tips For A 4-Day Pinehurst Golf Trip Michigan Golf News Treetops Announces New $30 Million Investment October 2026
FRED ALTVATER PUBLISHER Back 9 Media Group Also Publishes: Ohio Golf Journal Indiana Golf Journal American Golf Journal Back 9 Report As we enter the final quarter of 2026, golf season is winding down in Michigan, but in Pinehurst the season is much longer, plus the quantity, as well as the quality of courses in America’s Home of Golf has something for every golfer. There is such a plethora of golf that more than just one trip to Pinehurst will suffice. Check out our 4-Day Golf Trip to Pinehurst. If you haven’t been to Pinehurst lately, you need to book a return trip now. Gambling on sporting events has become a huge business, but we wonder if professional golfers have been affected by disgruntled fans shouting at inappropriate times. Scotland realizes how important golf is to their economy and Jekyll Island, a stop on the Georgia Golf Trail, makes the perfect fall golf getaway. The USGA’s National Development Program for junior golfers is in its infancy and Michigan has chosen two coaches to help get the program started in our state. If you have a junior golfer and want to receive the best teaching and coaching check out the article on page 24. The Folds of Honor Collegiate was held last month at American Dunes Golf Club with some of the top college golfers competing. It was yet another success for American Dunes and collegiate golf. With the weather turning cooler, I hope I see you on the Back 9 of a southern golf course. THE 2026 GOLF SEASON IS WINDING DOWN Michigan Golf Journal
28 06 22 24 35 Tips For A 4-Day Pinehurst Golf Trip New Eligibility Requirements For 2028 PGA TOUR Do PGA TOUR Pros Earn Enough? Is Gambling Affecting Pro Golfers? Folds Of Honor Collegiate Results 06 12 16 18 22 Michigan USA Team Coaches Announcedd Review Of Mizuno’s New S-4 Irons Treetops Announces $30 Million Investment Words Of Wisdom: Be More Positive PGA Championship Returns To Texas Next Year Pete Dye Created A Masterpiece At Harbour Town Relax & Golf On Georgia’s Jekyll Island 24 26 27 32 35 28 30 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 FIND INSIDE Michigan Golf Journal
Four Days. One Unforgettable Pinehurst Area Golf Trip Planning a golf trip to the Pinehurst, Southern Pines and Aberdeen area presents an unusual problem: There may actually be too many good choices. Nearly 40 courses are concentrated within a remarkably compact area of the North Carolina Sandhills, including U.S. Open venues, restored Donald Ross classics and acclaimed modern designs. Add three distinct downtowns, dozens of restaurants and an expanding collection of short courses, and a group can spend more time debating the itinerary than playing it. The solution is simple: Pick one home base, group courses geographically and minimize time in the car. For a four-day trip, there is no reason to change hotels. Pinehurst, Southern Pines and Aberdeen are close enough that most drives between lodging, golf and dinner can be measured in minutes rather than hours. Here is one way to put it all together. Day 1: Arrive, unpack and start in Southern Pines Golf: Southern Pines Golf Club Start the trip with one of the Sandhills’ great comeback stories. Donald Ross originally designed Southern Pines Golf Club in the early 1900s. Architect Kyle Franz restored the course in 2021, removing hundreds of trees, reopening long views across the property By Brad King Michigan Golf Journal
and restoring Ross’ greens and bunkering. It also makes logistical sense on arrival day. Southern Pines is convenient for groups approaching from Raleigh or traveling north on U.S. 1, and the course provides a memorable introduction to the sandy terrain and strategic golf that define the region. Groups arriving early can make Southern Pines their first full 18. Those arriving later have another option: check in first and save the full round for the following morning. Not feeling the full 18? Then Overhills at Southern Pines Golf Club is your answer. Enjoy this large putting green with enormous hills and undulations reminiscent of the Himalayas at St. Andrews. Bonus golf: If daylight and energy remain, make the first day an introduction to the Sandhills’ growing short-course scene. Bottlebrush at Longleaf Golf & Family Club is a six-hole par-3 course with holes ranging scene has expanded well beyond traditional resort fare, particularly in downtown Southern Pines. Day 2: Make Pinehurst the centerpiece Golf: Pinehurst No. 2 If there is one day around which to build a premium Sandhills golf trip, this is it. Pinehurst No. 2 remains the centerpiece of the Home of American Golf, Donald Ross’ masterpiece and the first U.S. Open anchor site. It hosted its fourth U.S. Open in 2024, with additional championships from 50 to 100 yards and can be played in about 30 minutes. Dinner: Head into downtown Southern Pines, where Chapman’s Food & Spirits makes an easy post-round choice. Groups looking to turn the first night into an occasion can opt for Southern Prime Steakhouse, Chef Warren’s or Ashten’s. The area’s dining
scheduled in 2029, 2035, 2041 and 2047. Make this the day nobody has to hurry. Allow time before the round to explore the Pinehurst clubhouse and practice areas, taking your picture with the iconic Payne Stewart statue, and a visit to the Pro Shop to grab your Pinehurst keepsakes. Afterward, there is no need to go anywhere. The Deuce overlooks No. 2’s 18th green and was created specifically as the gathering place the course once lacked. Grab lunch or a post-round drink and watch the groups behind you finish. Switch it up with a trip to the North & South bourbon bar at The Manor. Enjoy lunch or dinner, craft cocktails, cozy fire pits, and nearly 150 styles of Groups returning to Pinehurst — or those looking to experience the resort’s newest chapter — should also strongly consider Pinehurst No. 10. Tom Doak’s design opened in 2024 as Pinehurst’s first new course in nearly three decades, unfolding across the rugged Sandmines property about four miles south of the main resort clubhouse. Native wiregrass, rolling terrain and dramatic remnants of the land’s former sand-mining operations give No. 10 a character distinctly different from Nos. 2 and 4. For groups with another day or round to work with, it offers an ideal complement to the historic Pinehurst experience rather than simply more of the same. Another option is to make 18 holes enough and enjoy the rest of the Pinehurst experience. Bonus golf: Play The Cradle, Pinehurst’s nine-hole par3 course, or settle some bets on the sprawling Thistle Dhu bourbons, whiskeys, ryes and Scotch. Premium second round: Pinehurst No. 4 Groups intent on 36 holes can pair No. 2 with neighboring Pinehurst No. 4, Gil Hanse’s acclaimed redesign. Because the courses share the main Pinehurst campus, there is virtually no transportation problem between rounds. Michigan Golf Journal
putting course. Both are steps from the clubhouse and turn the afternoon into more of a golf playground than another serious round. Dinner: Stay in the Village. Pinehurst Brewing Company is an excellent casual group option, while Elliott’s on Linden, Villaggio or the 1895 Grille can turn the trip’s marquee golf day into its marquee dinner. Day 3: Double up on Donald Ross Golf: Pine Needles and Mid Pines This is the most natural 36-hole pairing of the trip. Pine Needles and Mid Pines sit virtually next door to one another on Midland Road, the historic corridor connecting Pinehurst and Southern Pines. Both were designed by Donald Ross, but each offers a distinct experience. spend the afternoon exploring Southern Pines — or add a few holes on The Loop, Pine Needles’ four-hole short course. Dinner: Return to downtown Southern Pines. The Bell Tree Tavern and Sly Fox offer relaxed pub atmospheres, while Ironwood or 195 American Fusion provide more elevated alternatives. Enjoy variety at Red’s Corner, where the food truck and beer garden options have something for everyone. At this point, nobody should need a car for anything other than getting back to the hotel. Day 4: Finish with something completely different Golf: Tobacco Road Save Mike Strantz for last. Located northeast of Pinehurst, Tobacco Road provides a Pine Needles has hosted four U.S. Women’s Opens and represents championship Ross at its finest. Mid Pines offers a more intimate journey across rolling Sandhills terrain and has been restored by Kyle Franz to recapture the character of Ross’ original design. Play one in the morning, break for lunch and play the other in the afternoon. The minimal transfer between courses is exactly the sort of routing that makes a multi-course Sandhills trip work. Groups that prefer 18 holes can choose either course and
dramatic departure from the Ross golf that dominates much of the Sandhills. Built across an old sand quarry, the course features enormous waste areas, bold elevation changes, blind shots and some of the most visually intimidating — and entertaining — holes in American golf. Its location also makes it particularly useful as a finalday course for groups heading north or northeast after the round. Play in the morning, have lunch and begin the Pines, Woodlake or another course positioned toward their departure route. The objective on Day 4 is not simply squeezing in one more round. It is avoiding an unnecessary backtrack before a long drive home. Where should the group stay? For most groups, there are four logical approaches. Premium: Stay at Pinehurst Resort. Groups building their trip around Nos. 2, 4, 8 or 10 get the complete Pinehurst experience and the convenience of resort lodging, dining and transportation. Donald Ross stay-and-play: Pine Needles and Mid Pines offer another particularly attractive option for groups, combining lodging with easy access to three historic Donald Ross courses — Pine Needles, drive home rather than returning to Pinehurst simply to pack the car. And the experience is growing. Tobacco Road is adding The Matchbox, a 12-hole par-3 course on seven acres near the 12th and 13th holes. Traveling another direction? This is where the itinerary should be flexible. Groups whose route home makes Tobacco Road inconvenient can use the final round to play Country Club of Whispering Michigan Golf Journal
Mid Pines and Southern Pines. Pine Needles offers traditional lodge rooms as well as private course-side lodges accommodating groups of eight to 20, while the Mid Pines Villas are designed for groups of six or more and sit directly across Midland Road from Pine Needles. For groups planning to make the three Ross courses a major part of the trip, staying here can turn Day 3 — or an entire multiday rotation — into an especially convenient experience. Golf-package option: Talamore Golf Resort provides multibedroom villa accommodations and a natural golf rotation involving Talamore Golf Club, neighboring Mid South Club and Legacy Golf Links. For a group prioritizing golf, shared accommodations and convenience, it is an especially practical home base. Independent option: Choose a hotel, condo or vacation rental in Pinehurst, Southern Pines or Aberdeen and build the golf separately. This works particularly well for groups mixing resort golf with independently operated courses. Getting around A rental SUV is sufficient for a foursome, although four golfers plus travel bags and four sets of clubs can make a larger SUV Cradle as the group’s bonus round. A group looking for greater value doesn’t have to sacrifice quality. Talamore, Mid South and Legacy create a readymade three-course rotation. Southern Pines, Whispering Pines, Woodlake and other area layouts can extend the trip, while a condo, villa, hotel or vacation rental can reduce lodging costs. There is also no rule requiring 36 holes every day. One full round followed by The Cradle, Bottlebrush, The Matchbox or another short-course experience can produce a more relaxed trip — and often a more enjoyable one. That may be the greatest advantage of planning four days in the Home of American Golf. The hard part isn’t finding enough good golf. It’s deciding what to leave for the next trip. or passenger van worth the upgrade. For larger groups, consider a van or local transportation service rather than a convoy of cars. It keeps the group together, eliminates the daily “who’s driving?” discussion and makes post-round dinners considerably easier. Most importantly, don’t change lodging during a four-day stay. The concentration of golf around Pinehurst, Southern Pines and Aberdeen is one of the destination’s greatest logistical advantages. Premium or value? Build the trip your way A premium itinerary can center on Pinehurst Nos. 2, 4, 8 and 10, with Pine Needles, Mid Pines or Tobacco Road filling out the rotation. Stay at Pinehurst Resort and use The
2028 PGA TOUR Eligibility Criteria Explained By George McNeilly The PGA Tour has reimagined professional golf, replacing its current competitive structure with a two-series system that makes every tournament, every cut, and every spot on the leaderboard even more meaningful. PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp sees the new format as an important milestone for the future. “The players were extremely active in every aspect of it, from looking at the data to coming up with ideas to debating, and the staff really facilitated a lot of that discussion. But it was a very indepth, collaborative process.” At the center of the overhaul are the PGA Tour Championship Series, home to the game’s leading stars, and the PGA Tour Challenger Series, “From the beginning, we set out to preserve the meritocracy that makes our sport unique by creating a system where performance dictates opportunity,” Rolapp said. “Through new eligibility criteria and supporting pathways into the PGA Tour, the new competitive model is designed to reward excellence and ensure there is always a clear path for top performers a 144-player proving ground that will include relegated players, former winners, recent college standouts, Korn Ferry Tour graduates and established players seeking to regain their place in the sport’s upper echelon. The two series will run concurrently, with annual promotion and relegation determining who advances and who must claw their way back. Michigan Golf Journal
at every stage of their career. For fans, this means a clear understanding of what is at stake during each PGA Tour competition, whether that is at an event or across a season.” In the Championship Series, the top 90 players will retain membership each year, joined by the top 20 from the Challenger Series. Other routes to Championship Series membership include players who win twice during a Challenger Series season, tournament-winner exemptions, medical extensions, PGA Tour University, and a new fall “last chance” series. Players who win twice during the Challenger Series season will earn Championship Series membership, creating an immediate path for a breakout performer to reach the highest level before the following season’s promotion cycle. While tournament winners will remain protected, the new model sets firmer boundaries on that status. Winners of Championship Series events— including THE PLAYERS Championship and any of the four majors—will receive membership for the season of their victory and the following two seasons. Multiple wins in a single season will not extend that Championship Series exemption beyond the twoyear window. Additionally, the No. 1 player in PGA Tour University after the NCAA Championship will earn Championship Series eligibility for the rest of that season and the following year. Three additional spots will be available through this new “last chance” series, a minimum four-event sprint for players who narrowly miss promotion. The last-chance series in the fall could become one of the most dramatic elements of this reimagination. Eligible competitors include Relegated
Championship Series players, Challenger Series finishers ranked Nos. 21 through 90, the 20 Korn Ferry Tour graduates, PGA Tour University players ranked Nos. 2–5, and the top five Q-School finishers (expanding to the top 10 during the 2027 transition), all competing for just three Championship Series berths. No alternate list will be available, and players must compete in every event unless the PGA Tour grants a medical exclusion. The Challenger Series, meanwhile, will become the sport’s primary competitive bridge. Its 144-player field will include relegated Championship Series players, retained Challenger Series players, Korn Ferry Tour graduates, eligible winners, PGA Tour University and Q-School entrants, designated exemptions and players on medical extensions. The Korn Ferry Tour will remain the primary developmental path, with details of the broader structure expected to be finalized at the PGA Tour’s Nov. 16 board meeting. The Tour is also preserving routes for former winners. For example, those who have won Challenger Series events will receive status for the current and next two seasons. Championship Series winners from the previous four years will be exempt into the Challenger Series as a safety net if they are no longer eligible for the top tier. Players with exceptional PGA Tour careers— currently recognized on the Career Money List— will be eligible for a one-time Career Milestone Exemption starting in 2029. To use it, a player must have held Championship Series membership the previous season and must use the exemption immediately after losing that membership. The transition into 2028 will make 2027 particularly consequential. Players who had already earned exemptions through 2028 or later by the end of the 2026 season will retain their Championship Series access for the duration of those exemptions. That includes tournament winners and players who earned two-year status by finishing in the top 30 of the 2026 FedExCup Points List. For all others, the 2027 standings will serve as a defining test. The top 70 on the final 2027 FedExCup Points List, locked after the TOUR Championship at East Lake, will qualify for the 2028 Championship Series. The top 95 on the final 2027 FedExCup Fall Points List will also earn Championship Series membership, while players ranked Nos. 96–175 will receive Challenger Series membership. The Korn Ferry Tour will offer an unusually direct path during the transition: Its top 10 players in 2027 will advance directly to the Championship Series, and the next 30 Michigan Golf Journal
eligible players will receive Challenger Series membership. The top-ranked player in PGA Tour University will join the Championship Series. Players ranked Nos. 2–10 will receive Korn Ferry Tour membership, and the top five on the 2027 PGA Tour University totalpoints list will earn Challenger Series membership. The leading player on the PGA Tour Americas points list will also earn Challenger Series membership. For the 2028 transition, eligible players in the top 25 and top 50 of the Career Money List at the end of 2027 may elect a one-season Championship Series exemption, provided they play at least 15 PGA Tour events in 2027. The top-level points system is changing, too. Beginning cuts and posting consistently good finishes matter more because players will compete only against others in their own series for points. A non-member’s finish will not displace points from a Championship Series member, although a non-member who wins a major—or a Challenger player promoted after two victories—can begin earning Championship Series points once membership is secured. in 2028, all Championship Series events, including THE PLAYERS and majors, will use the same distribution formula. A win will be worth 300 points, 200 for second, and 150 for third. The curve then flattens sharply, with 125 points for fifth, 100 for 10th, and 30 for 65th. The stated intention is that winning will still carry the greatest reward, while making
Do PGA TOUR Players Receive Too Much Compensation? By Fred Altvater In team sports players receive guaranteed salaries and benefit packages. Golf professionals are independent contractors, plus they cover their own costs for travel, caddies and training, which can run into millions of dollars annually. A superstar, at the top of the Official World Golf Ranking, gets massive payouts, while a With golf at the local level experiencing increased participation, as well as higher incomes, there is massive interest in the game. Major sports leagues MLB, NFL and NHL spend approximately 50% of their annual revenues to their players. PGA TOUR players only receive 28% of annual revenues from golf tournaments. Michigan Golf Journal
lower-ranked player’s income potential is quite a bit less. Ben Griffin, who had a breakout year in 2025, disclosed that playing on the PGA TOUR can easily cost up to $50,000 per week. Multiply that number by 25-30 events played each year the annual cost can reach $1-$1.5 million per year. Remember professional golf is an entertainment business. Fans want to see the top names, Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy and yes even Bryson DeChambeau. When they are not in the field of a particular event, television ratings and fan support decrease, lessening tour revenue. It also leaves the sponsor, who paid up to $30 million, with less bang for their buck. Given the increased costs for the sponsorship of PGA TOUR tournaments, several long-time corporate partners, Honda, Farmers Insurance, Wells Fargo and Rocket Mortgage recently dropped their support. The initiation of the LIV Golf League, with its huge guaranteed salaries enticed top-name professionals to jump to the rival golf tour and forced the PGA TOUR to restructure its purse structure and institute the Signature events. Now with the LIV failing, the PGA TOUR is still stuck with higher purses and is asking sponsors to carry even more of the burden. Professional athletes only have a short window to accumulate wealth. Each shot could be their last. Professional golfers cover their own expenses and depend solely on their performance to earn a living. In 2026, Scottie Scheffler earned over $30 million in prize money, plus another $32 million in bonus payments from the FedEx points standings. On the other end of the spectrum, Billy Horschel finished 2026, ranked No. 100 on the FedEx Cup standings, earned $1.3 million in prize money, barely enough to cover his costs for the year. While the money and bright lights of the PGA TOUR seem lucrative and exciting, it can be a struggle for the lower-ranked players. To reach the top of the money list is financially rewarding, but only a few of the very best can become wealthy.
Is Betting On Golf Affecting Play? Should professional golfers be better protected from gamblers? This summer’s U.S. Open victory by Wyndham Clark should be remembered for what it was: a player who held his composure amid the long, mounting pressure of a major championship. Instead, another story followed him out of the ropes this summer. Spectators heckled him, and the noise became a defining part of the tournament’s vibe. It reminded everyone that golf’s relationship with legal sports betting has entered a more complex phase. Betting is now regulated, visible, and woven into how many people watch sports. It can give a fan a reason to care about a Thursday tee time, a Friday cut line, or a player far down the leaderboard on Sunday afternoon. That is not necessarily a bad thing. Golf is a long game, and four days can be a lot for any casual viewer. A wager on a matchup, a three-ball, a first-round leader, or whether a player makes the cut can turn an otherwise quiet stretch of the tournament into something worth watching. By George McNeilly Michigan Golf Journal
But betting changes the temperature around the player. The golfer is no longer just someone to admire, cheer for, or doubt. For a small number of fans, he becomes the man standing between them and a payout. I was at TPC Deere Run when Jordan Spieth put it plainly before the John Deere Classic, a few weeks after Clark’s win. He did not argue that rude galleries were new. Golfers have heard bad things from spectators for years. But he recognized the new force that betting can bring. “I do think that betting in golf is something that’s going to have to be tackled here soon,” Spieth said. He wondered how much of the Clark episode had been fueled by wagers against him on Sunday. The scenario is easy to imagine. Someone has $100 riding on the field. Someone else has $10,000. Most bettors will watch, win or lose, and go home. But golf does not need many people willing to turn a financial stake into rowdy anger. “In golf it’s tricky because you could actually impact the outcome if you wanted to,” Spieth said. “It may not last very long, but you could impact a shot if you wanted to.”
That is where golf differs from most other major sports. In football, basketball and baseball, fans can be loud, cruel and disruptive from a distance. In golf, they can stand only yards from the player. They are there in the midst of silence before a tee shot, beside the green as a player settles over a six-footer, close enough that a single shouted word can break concentration. A fan who yells during a backswing may be more than obnoxious, and the PGA TOUR recognizes the risk. Andy Levinson, senior vice president of tournament administration, met with a handful of us before the recent TOUR Championship and said that golf is especially vulnerable because of spectators’ access. “Golf is certainly not immune to it,” Levinson said. “We are a sport where the fans can get expanded its betting-focused telecasts. The point is not that gambling should become the main attraction. It really should not. At the same time, betting can give viewers more ways to engage with a game that sometimes loses them before the final round. A fan whose favorite player misses the cut may still watch a matchup. Someone with no interest in the tournament favorite may stay for a three-ball wager, a hole prop, or the first birdie of the final round. Golf has always been a game of small moments. Betting can make those moments matter to more people. Warfield was careful not to claim a direct correlation between wagering and television ratings. But he argued that a longer-engaged audience closer than just about any other sport.” The answer is not to wish away legal sports wagering, because that’s not happening. The landscape shifted after the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2018 decision, which opened the door for states to legalize sports betting. The choice is no longer between betting and not betting. It is between a legal market that can be monitored and an underground market that cannot. For the PGA TOUR, the benefit is clear. Betting holds attention. Scott Warfield, vice president of gaming for the TOUR, said the betting handle has risen 30 percent this year and doubled since 2023. Bettor participation and the number of wagers are also up. FanDuel and DraftKings now offer more golfspecific bets, and ESPN has Michigan Golf Journal
benefits the sport, a point that is difficult to refute. Still, the TOUR must protect the conditions that make professional golf work. It is already revising its fan code of conduct, training volunteers to spot concerning behavior, and encouraging players to report harassment immediately. It is also monitoring online abuse, where hostility can begin before it reaches the course. Gambling is not the cause of every ugly outburst. Golf should not use it as an excuse to ignore the broader decline in public behavior we see everywhere. But one deliberate attempt to distract a player is more than enough. Golf’s intimacy is among its greatest appeals. Fans can walk the fairways, stand near the greens, and feel the tension of a tournament in the quiet before impact. Legal betting can add excitement, attract new viewers, and keep people watching longer. It must not make players targets. A betting ticket should make us pay closer attention. It should not give any fan permission to believe they own the next shot or the outcome. The TOUR monitors betting activity through integrity partners and uses ProhiBet to help prevent players, caddies, employees, and other stakeholders from placing prohibited wagers. The rule is simple: if you are inside the ropes, you cannot bet on what happens there. The data is also enlightening. Warfield said that fewer than five percent of fan ejections this year were betting-related.
Florida State & Georgia Tech Grab Titles At Folds Of Honor Collegiate Hammond’s tie for first and her teammate, Katie Li’s T-3, helped the Duke Blue Devils to capture third place. Ohio State’s Sophie Eppelstun also finished tied for third and OSU was sixth in the team competition behind fourth-place University of Arizona and Kansas University who finished in fifth place. Teams from Michigan State, Kentucky, Oklahoma State, Findlay, Navy and North Carolina A&T also competed in the event. Women Florida State came from seven shots back on the final day to win the women’s team title, while Haruhi Nakatani and Mia Hammond shared the medalist honors. Nakatani, from Florida State, led the Seminoles to overcome the deficit for the team victory. Three of Texas A&M’s women placed inside the Top 12 to finish runner-up. Fifteen men’s collegiate golf teams and 12 women’s teams competed in the fifth annual Folds Of Honor Collegiate held at American Dunes Golf Club last month. The Folds of Honor Collegiate features some of the best collegiate golfers in the country, in a team and individual format. By Fred Altvater Michigan Golf Journal
Men Georgia Tech’s Max Emberson finished the 54 holes at 11 underpar to win the Men’s Division of the Folds of Honor Collegiate last month. Daniel Bennett, University of Texas, was runnerup, Kansas’ William Baker was third, Ohio State’s Vaugn Harber was fourth and Jacob Modleski from Notre Dame was fifth. Emberson led Georgia Tech to the team title. His teammates, Albert Hansson was T-6, Carson Baez finished T-25, while Andrew Ferworn and Kale Fontenot both tied at T-31 to grab the team title. Notre Dame finished second in the team standings followed by Texas, Cincinnati, Alabama, Ohio State and Michigan State, who both tied for sixth. Kansas, Northwestern, Grand Valley State, Florida A&M, Army, Air Force and Navy rounded out the field. About American Dunes Golf Club American Dunes Golf Club was designed by Jack Nicklaus and annually donates over $1 million to the Folds of Honor providing scholarships to families of fallen or disabled military personnel.
Team Michigan Selects Coaches By: Greg Johnson The Team Michigan selections process for the boy and girl golfers, ages 13-18, is underway and the 2026 team members will be announced at the close of the current golf season. A points system and tournaments and qualifiers where junior golfers can earn the points were selected by a committee of Golf Association of Michigan (GAM) and the Michigan PGA Professionals Patrick WilkesKrier of Kendall Academy in Ypsilanti and Jimmy Wisinski of Kent Country Club in Grand Rapids were selected as co-head coaches for Team Michigan, a part of the U.S. National Development Program (USNDP) initiative created by the United States Golf Association (USGA). Michigan Golf Journal
Michigan Section PGA leaders earlier this year. The 2026 golf season marks the first selection of junior golfers to Team Michigan. The team will consist of eight boys and eight girls that will represent the state in the USNDP program designed to expand the pipeline for elite local junior golfers to the National Team. The USGA has asked state junior programs to focus on creating a developmentally appropriate, aspirational pathway for athletes within each state to compete at higher levels of the game. The USGA’s goal is to establish a team in every state by 2033, working in partnership with allied golf associations, the PGA of America sections, and local junior golf programs. Wilkes-Krier and Wisinski are both award-winning instructors who will work with the support personnel to help the Team Michigan players in camps and training sessions with competition preparation, course management, mental To be eligible for the Michigan Team a junior golfer must be 13 years old by January 1, 2027 and not reach their 19th birthday by July 19, 2027. Candidates must be a Michigan resident and have an established GHIN handicap. To learn more about the Michigan Team visit: https://gam.org/juniors/teammichigan/. performance and goal-setting, as well as provide guidance and college golf perspective to athletes and families, among other duties.
Mizuno Introduces New Pro S-4 Irons By Ed Travis Forged from mild carbon steel with a copper underlay and their well-known Triple-Cut Sole, Mizuno’s new S-4 series irons cavity back design offers added forgiveness. The previous Mizuno Pro S-series irons, S-1 blade and S-3 players cavity back, now have a companion in the S-4. The finish, head profile and lofts are consistent throughout the three models, mixing and matching sets is easy. Chris Voshallm Mizuno Director of Golf said of the new model, “The S-4 has been developed for players who appreciate the feel of a traditional forged iron but want greater confidence through increased forgiveness. By repositioning mass lower in the head and refining the head geometry, we’ve created Fast Facts Mizuno Pro S-4 Irons • Better player category • Cavity back design • One-piece forged carbon steel • Copper underlay • CNC milled • Triple-Cut Sole • Progressive offset & topline thickness • Satin brush finish • Stock lofts” 5-iron 27°, pitching wedge 46° • Stock shaft: Dynamic Gold Mid 115 • Stock grip: Golf Pride Z-Cord • MRSP: $215 per club an iron that launches higher, offers more stability and inspires confidence without sacrificing the precision expected from Mizuno Pro.” Michigan Golf Journal
By Fred Altvater Treetops Announces $30 Million Investment Treetops Resort announced late last month that they are partnering with Redstone Homes Real Estate Group to build 17 new homes that will feature fractional ownership. Barry Owens, General Manager of Treetops Resort told us, “This groundbreaking marks an exciting new chapter for Treetops and our first major residential development in nearly 30 years. We are especially excited to bring The Irons at Tradition and The Cottages at Fazio to life, in partnership with Redstone Homes. Together we are creating a distinctive Treetops Resort is well known around the country for its four championship courses. The Masterpiece by Robert Trent Jones was his final design and one of his crowning achievements. It brought big time golf to northern Michigan and opened the door for the millions of golfers that visit the Gaylord Golf Mecca and Treetops every summer. The Tom Fazio-designed Premier course is the only Fazio design in Michigan. Rick Smith designed the Smith Course, as well as, the Tradition. In addition to these challenging championship courses, the par3 Threetops is one of North America’s best short courses. This new investment in additional lodging at Treetops demonstrates their commitment to providing the best for their guests. opportunity for golf-side living, with fractional ownership, a lifetime Treetops membership, plus year round access to golf, skiing, dining and resort amenities. These homes will allow owners to become part of the Treetops community and enjoy everything that makes this destination so special.” Ten cottages are being built along the par-5 12th hole of the Fazio Premier Course and seven homes will be built on the 2nd, 3rd, 6th and 7th holes of the popular Tradition Course. Click HERE to view an interview with Gaylord Golf Mecca Executive Director, Paul Beachnau about the importance of Treetops Resort and their newly planned expansion.
Pete Dye Created A Lasting Masterpiece At Harbour Town Golf Links By Brian Sommer The Harbour Town property at The Sea Pines Resort on Hilton Head, South Carolina, did not offer the obvious ingredients of greatness. It was low, wet, heavily wooded, and almost completely flat. technical intervention was necessary. Yet, Dye wanted the finished course to remain lowprofile and connected to the land which ran contrary to the dominant fashion in American championship golf. Accounts of its construction suggest that the site contained only about four feet of natural elevation change. Drainage canals had to be cut and water had to be consolidated into lagoons. Considerable Michigan Golf Journal
Robert Trent Jones Sr., the period’s most powerful architectural figure, was known for long courses, elevated tees and greens, expansive bunkering, and visible hazards. His courses projected importance through scale. Dye moved in the opposite direction at Harbour Town. Tees were small, greens were tiny, the fairways curved rather than turning through crude doglegs. Instead of elevating the golfer above the problem and displaying the whole thing in advance, Dye kept the player close to the ground. He demanded interpretation of partial views, narrow windows, overhanging branches, and uncertain angles. This is one reason my admiration for Dye fits so naturally beside my admiration for Donald Ross. I have played Ross courses at Pinehurst No. 2, Seminole, the Country Club of Asheville, and Grove Park Inn. Ross often asks the same essential questions in a quieter vocabulary. His contours, slopes, green complexes, and approach angles make position meaningful without always announcing the demand. Dye is more provocative. Ross is more understated. But both respect the intelligence of the golfer. Neither man’s best work can be reduced to a formula. Neither provides one answer that remains correct in every condition. Wind, firmness, flag position, ability, intention, and execution continually revise the problem. Mastery is not seeing less because one has seen the hole before. Mastery is seeing more because one has learned that reality does not repeat itself. Only our descriptions do. Harbour Town was masterfully renovated in 2025 by Davis Love III. The mature live oaks and pines were retained not merely as scenery, but as strategic actors. A golfer could find the fairway and still be blocked from the direct route to the flag. Position within the short grass could matter as much as whether the short grass was found at all. Dye also used contrasting turf, sand, lagoons, timber edges, waste areas, and crushed shells to define the nearly level land. His most dramatic decision came near the finish. Earlier routing concepts had kept the closing holes inland. Dye turned the course toward Calibogue Sound with material dredged from the harbor used to form the 18th fairway. The decision created one of golf’s most famous finishes. It also demonstrated one of Dye’s defining gifts. At later courses, he would manufacture enormous landscapes. At Harbour Town, he manufactured complexity without making the landscape appear manufactured.
The Jekyll Island Club Resort Is Historically Charming If you’re searching for a resort that has charm, character, and a fascinating historical past, as well as being appealing and affordable, look no further than the Jekyll Island Club Resort, located on the southeast Georgia coastline. Their roots date back to January 1888, though the island was first colonized by General James Oglethorpe in 1733. In the late 1800s, the resort was a winter retreat for rich and ever-changing sightseeing opportunities along the nearby Intracoastal Waterway; firstclass croquet courts; and a sun-soaked on-property pool. At night, visit The Bar for a nightcap and a story about this resort’s storied past. During the day, visit the white-porch rocking chairs located on the veranda to enjoy the spectacular views of the riverfront, croquet lawn, and pool while relaxing with a cool drink. influential families such as the Vanderbilts, Rockefellers, Morgans, Pulitzers, and the Goulds. Now, the Jekyll Island Club Resort -- a member of The Georgia Golf Trail -- is firmly established as a family-friendly resort destination. At the Jekyll Island Club Resort, overnight guests have access to many on-site dining venues; By Mike May Michigan Golf Journal
The Jekyll Island Club Resort also offers additional accommodation options, three Cottages, the Sans Souci, Cherokee, and the Crane Cottage. Sans Souci was constructed in 1896 as a sixunit apartment building. It was owned in part by J.P. Morgan and features 24 Victorian style guest rooms. The Cherokee Cottage, built in 1904, is a grand, Italian Renaissance cottage. It features a breathtaking view of the Faith Chapel, as well as Crane Cottage and has ten guest rooms. Renowned for its sunken garden and elegant fountains, Crane Cottage is considered the most lavish of all the Island Cottages with Italian Renaissance-inspired architecture and 13 recently refreshed guest rooms. Guests of the Jekyll Island Club Resort – ranked by USA Today as the #2 Best Destination Resort in 2024 -- also enjoy access to the facilities at the nearby Ocean Club. The Ocean Club, which opened in 2017, is an all-suite, oceanfront, boutique hotel which includes beach access, a pool, and a hot tub. “The Jekyll Island Club Resort and the Ocean Club are perfect places for a rest-and-relaxation getaway at any time of the year,” said Doug Hollandsworth, founder of The Georgia Golf Trail. “In fact, Jekyll Island is one of the most popular destinations for families and golfers in Georgia throughout the year.” Jekyll Island also has three golf courses, Pine Lakes, Indian Mound, and Great Dunes. In 1924, the USGA selected Jekyll Island as a testing ground for golf, replacing hickory shafts with new steel clubs, and testing ball performance. In 1999, Robert Redford’s golf-themed movie Legend of Bagger Vance was shot on Jekyll Island. Either before or after playing golf, enjoy a meal at Tribuzio’s Grille, located in the clubhouse at the golf club. In addition to enjoying the Jekyll Island Club Resort’s many amenities, visitors to Jekyll Island enjoy bird watching, bike riding, swimming in the surf, playing tennis, shopping at the Beach Village, seeing the turtles at the Georgia Sea Turtle Center, taking guided fishing and crabbing expeditions, and visiting the Jekyll Island’s many historical structures. Georgia’s Jekyll Island Club Resort – which is accessible via private aviation -- and its historic past await your arrival. For more information visit https:// georgiagolfandtravel.com/georgia-golf-trail/
Words Of Wisdom Flip The Script, Be Thankful! Having played hundreds of rounds of competitive golf - from junior tournaments all the way to an event on the PGA Tour - I have experienced firsthand what has been described by ABC’s Wide World Of Sports as “The Thrill of Victory, and the Agony of Defeat”. In every golf tournament, it would appear that there is only ONE winner... The player with the lowest score. That may be “true on paper”, but I have found that it doesn’t have to be viewed that way. The game changer for me came when I realized that I am “THE NAMER”. I give meaning to everything in my world! I get to “make up” whatever story I choose about a golf tournament or for any life experience. I found this quite fantastic, because I was no longer a victim, I was a CREATOR! By Jeff Johnson, Golf With Dad Michigan Golf Journal
Here’s a great example of that mindset in action. French professional golfer Jean van de Velde suffered one of the most famous collapses in sports history at the 1999 Open Championship at Carnoustie, needing only a double-bogey on the final hole to win the Claret Jug. He made a triple-bogey 7, losing the major title in a playoff. His initial disappointment was quickly replaced by being THANKFUL, as he reminded himself that he was privileged to make a living playing professional golf. Instead of allowing one challenging outcome to destroy his career, he went on to win an event on the European Tour, plus he competed in a Ryder Cup. Today, the Frenchman looks back on the experience with humor and zero regret. He is not living with a scar of deep regret from his past failure, but revels in the fact that he got to play professional golf for a living and was quite good at it. I would suggest that although the scoreboard may say otherwise, he CHOSE to see a different outcome, and lives in the power of that choice every day! Impossible Is Nothing! “Impossible is just a big word thrown around by small men who find it easier to live in the world they’ve been given than to explore the power they have to change it. Impossible is not a fact. It’s an opinion. Impossible is potential. Impossible is temporary. Impossible is nothing……..Muhammad Ali.” That quote perfectly describes the remarkable resolve, vision and determination of 12-time PGA TOUR winner, Calvin Peete. Peete first touched a golf club at age 23. He had never watched golf on television, or attended a tournament in person. For context, Tiger Woods started hitting balls before his second birthday, Scottie Scheffler was 6, Jack Nicklaus was 10, and both of them had instructors and country club memberships. Calvin dropped out of school after the 8th grade to help support his family (he was 1 of 19 children). He picked beans, cotton, and harvested sugar cane in Pahokee, Florida. It’s almost unthinkable to imagine that any person with this upbringing could become a champion golfer. But there is more to this story. At age 12, Calvin fell out of a cherry tree and broke his left arm in 3 places. The break was set incorrectly, and his arm became permanently bent. (So much for “keeping
your left arm straight”!). But sometimes, what “appears” as a setback can actually become a superpower. Peete’s relentless work ethic grooved his self-taught golf swing so well that he led the PGA Tour in Driving Accuracy for 10 consecutive years. In 1983, he found the fairway 85% of the time with his driver, a record that still stands today, 40 years later, as a testament to his amazing accuracy. For example, this season, Rory McIlroy only found the fairway 55% of the time. In addition, in more than 1.200 competitive rounds on the PGA Tour, Peete only hit 1 golf ball out of bounds! The life of Calvin Peete can remind us that no task is too daunting, and that we are all able to accomplish anything we set our mind and heart on. Never give up on your passions, and remember... IMPOSSIBLE IS NOTHING! Michigan Golf Journal
After 64 Years, The PGA Championship Returns to Texas! By Art Stricklin With the 2027 major championships being held on iconic venues, Augusta National, Pebble Beach and the Old Course at St. Andrews, the PGA Championship will be held at a relatively new course, the Gil Hanse designed Fields Ranch East Course at PGA of America’s Headquarters, in Frisco, Texas. “Who doesn’t want a home game for a major?” said 2002 PGA Champion Rich Beem, who has lived in Central Texas for more than two decades and can’t wait for a chance to reclaim his PGA title, perhaps for the last time. “To be able to jump in my car and travel 3 ½ hours will be great,”
said Beem. “ I know I will have a lot of people there who will be watching.” Texas has nine living PGA Championship winners, (14 overall) by far the most of any state. Dallas resident and World ranked No. 1 Scottie Scheffler will certainly be a favorite next May for the PGA Championship. “The Omni PGA Frisco Resort & Spa is spectacular, just a phenomenal place. Everything you need is right there or just one to two blocks away. You can practice more, sleep in more, even disappear into all the facilities they have,” said Beem. After opening in May 2023, the Senior PGA and KPMG Women’s PGA Championships have been held on the course to serve as test runs. “I don’t know any better facility for the PGA anywhere, it’s massive,” said 1974 and 1984 PGA Championship winner Dallas’ Lee Trevino. “I think PGA Frisco will cater directly to the fans. The restaurants throughout the property are superb, the resort is incredible. I went to Trick Rider and that is as good as I’ve eaten anywhere. They have some of the best BBQ anywhere in Texas at Ice House. It will be easy for people to get in and out with the entrances they have there. You have State Highway 121 leading directly to the airport. It’s really great.” “I think it’s just a magnificent piece of property for North Texas,” added 1977 PGA Championship winner Lanny Wadkins, also from Dallas. “There is a lot of movement on the grounds. The resort is magnificent and Omni Hotels & Resorts did a great job with the presentation.” It will be the first PGA Championship held in North Texas since the 1963 PGA Championship, where Jack Nicklaus dueled a power-packed field during triple figure heat at Dallas Athletic Club to claim the first of his five PGA Championship titles. Michigan Golf Journal
It will also be the first major championship to be hel in Texas, since the 1969 US Open at Champions Golf Club in Houston. The May 2027 PGA Championship at Fields Ranch East comes 100 years after Walter Hagen captured his four straight PGA Championship at Dallas’ Cedar Crest Golf Club. “It’s great a major is coming back to Texas. It’s long overdue,’ said 1983 PGA Championship winner, Hal Sutton who currently lives in the Texas Hill Country.” “It’s a proud moment for Texas golf. We haven’t had a major in a long time and I’m glad it’s in the spotlight where it belongs on Texas golf,” added 1996 winner Mark Brooks, a Fort Worth resident and native. Jimmy Walker, the 2016 Championship winner who has lived most of his life in the San Antonio area, said where the pros miss at the 2027 PGA Championship will be as important as where they have success. “I’ve played at PGA Frisco before and one of the bigger factors will be the Bermuda rough. It’s a lot more difficult than rye grass rough. They play some of that at the Colonial and Byron Nelson tournaments, but it’s still a lot tougher. The tight rough and the wind will be a big factor. I think Texans can use it to their advantage for those who live and play in Texas.” Dallas residents Scheffler and Jordan Spieth are especially happy to have the PGA come to their hometown. Spieth needs only the PGA Championship to become the seventh professional golfer to complete the career grand slam. “If we’re at PGA Frisco, I might have a big advantage,” added Spieth, who has two top three finishes in the PGA Championship. “The course is interesting, said Scheffler. With two par 5s in the first three holes, you’re really going to be able to get off to a fast start here.” Brooks said players will need two areas of their game to be sharp to have success in May. “First, get your sight lines right. Depth perception can be a problem there with
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