By Bill Hobson, guest writer
When the email first arrived, there was still snow on the ground, temperatures were in single digits and golf was still months away. The message received was from a Michigan Golf Live viewer, encouraging us to shine the TV spotlight on courses that offered great value and a quality golf experience.
It was a fantastic idea, and we immediately began assembling a plan that would be shaped by your social media votes leading to a road trip covering more than 1,000 miles, and the blessing of discovering the “Top 10 Under $50 Courses In Michigan.”
The original plan was to roll a series of short features together and include all 10 courses in a single 30-minute edition of MGL TV. It quickly became apparent we would need a different strategy. The stories were far too compelling to hastily breeze through.
The courses, the families, the experiences all deserved more time for the narrative to breathe…which is why for the first time in MGL TV history, we produced a 2-piece special, with five courses being featured in each program.
What was it about this journey that caught my attention and heart in such a powerful way?
Family – whether it’s the ownership and staff structure or the sense of family that permeates each of our featured courses, the most consistent characteristic of the “Top 10 Under $50” tour is the family feel and connection that guests enjoy.
History – when Arnold Palmer designs the course (Coyote Preserve), you’re over 100 years old (Manistee GCC), or a nearby high school alum rescues the course and breathes new life into it (Oceana GC), there are rich storylines woven throughout these wonderful places. Without exaggerating, a compelling book could be written that would roll in elements from all 10 of these special courses.
Quality – do not be fooled by the “Under $50” part of the story. These are really good courses. Our TV crew has seen hundreds of courses over the years, and every one of us found ourselves frequently expressing a degree of surprise at how good the conditions and overall quality was throughout the production tour. The greens were smooth and fast, the fairways striped and inviting, bunkers were in excellent condition, and the “edges” cared for beyond our expectations.
Pride – with a state so richly blessed with hundreds of courses, it’s not often the “small guys” (as the initial viewer email put it) get to enjoy some attention. Each place we went, the host course membership, staff, and guests really embraced the concept. In some cases, a small parade of carts followed our production team around the course to see how we “did TV.” They were beaming with well-deserved pride that their home course was in the spotlight.
My hope is that golf lovers will watch both parts of the TV special, not just as a casual viewer but as one who appreciates the work, pride, value, and invitation each featured course demonstrates…and then add them to your “must play” list this fall or next spring.
When you call to schedule the tee time, be sure to add an extra word of praise for the small team of family and dedicated staff working so hard to present a great golf experience at such a remarkable value.
Debuting The Weekend of August 28th on Bally Sports Detroit
Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4hgkMTjiRM
Coyote Preserve
Ubly Heights
Interlochen GC
Pigeon Creek
Oceana GC
Debuting The Weekend of Sept 5th on Bally Sports Detroit
Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9kXKAEXoE-Q
The Quest
Verona Hills
Manistee GCC
Calderone GC
Lakes of Taylor
