Danny Thomas of the Top 50 Junior Tour gives reasons why his Tour is the one to play

   

Danny Thomas, a PGA professional out of Fox Hills has been running the Top 50 Junior Tour for over a decade. The tournaments he runs are very well done with very good competition for players up to 18-years old. His tour is extremely strong for players that are in the 12 to 15 age groups and for select tournaments, players come out in droves. In this 4 minute interview, Thomas explains how his tour works, the college scholarship opportunities and how to get involved with his tour. The interview is stored at the following link. 
http://michigangolfscene.co/mhsaa-jr.-golf.html

To find out more, contact the Top 50 Tour at:
http://www.top50jrtour.com/Tour/Default.aspx

How does the selection process for the all-state and Mr.Golf work?

So you think you know how the voting for the all-state golf teams work. It is complicated yet simple. Only a handful of electors get to select the Mr. Golf and super team. It's a different process for the all-state teams. Is the process slanted over friendly players, seniors and players that play junior golf. The following story and interview tell you how it works. The first link will take you to the Michigangolfscene.co website where quite a bit of content is stored. 

For the video story with player interviews including Kyle Rodes, Reed Hrynewich and player footage at the state finals, click here. 
http://michigangolfscene.co/mhsaa-jr.-golf.html

Jim Sander interview- Sander is the President-Elect of the Michigan Interscholastic Golf Coaches Association (MIGCA) and talks about the process
http://youtu.be/UwRvj5tKbyo

Lim outlasts Hou in playoff for Michigan Women's Open championship at Crystal Mountain

Lim keeps her head down and her follow through strong

  THOMPSONVILLE, Mich. – The 20^th Michigan PGA Women’s Open at Crystal Mountain Resort was an international stop to the very last shot.

  The $40,000 state championship came down to a pair of 25-year-old golfers of Asian descent who live in Australia, and it was Korean Inhong Lim who made a birdie on the first hole of sudden-death Wednesday to turn back hard-charging Corie Hou, who is Chinese.

Inhong Lim holds up her trophy

  Lim, a former Ohio State golfer who went to high school in Melbourne, Australia, rolled in an eight-foot birdie putt on the par 5 No. 18, the first playoff hole, to win the $6,000 first-place check. She finished regulation play with a 71 for 4-under-par 212.

  Hou shot a 4-under-par 68, the low round of the day, to set up the playoff. On the extra hole her approach shot from 100 yards in the rough hopped just over the green. She chipped to just inches to set up a par save, but Lim ended things with the birdie.

  “I had good confidence playing that hole,” Lim said. “I birdied that hole two times out of three, and I know that hole now. I was like, don’t leave it short and don’t leave it low. I hit it perfect.”

   Hou, who was captain of the golf team at the University of Hawaii and had a previous professional win in Spain, said she was happy for Lim, who she has competed against in Australia in both amateur and the professional ranks.

  “If she was going to win in a playoff, I’m glad she did it with a birdie,” she said. “Two Aussies in a playoff in Michigan – it’s not too bad. I’ve never been in a playoff before, and now I have that experience. I was pretty calm, but my (approach) shot was just a few yards too long.”

  Three professional golfers from the United States finished at 214, two shots out of the playoff.  Erica Popson of Davenport, Fla., Rachael Schmidt of Elk River, Minn., and Ashely Tait of Littleton, Colo., each shot 72 for 214.

  Kimberly Dinh of Midland, who will be a junior at the University of Wisconsin, finished as the low amateur and had the best finish of the 41 Michigan golfers in the field of 87. She shot 71 for 215. Michigan State golfer Christine Meier of Rochester Hills shot 74 and was in the group of five golfers who finished at even-par 216 for the 54-hole event.

  Suzanne Green-Roebuck, a two-time former champion, closed with a 71 for 218 to tie for 12^th.

  Lim, who plays on the LPGA Symetra Tour and is headed for that tour’s next stop in Harris, Mich., in the Upper Peninsula (Friday through Sunday), said she had been playing well, and felt something good was going to happen in her game.

  “I was playing very consistent,” she said. “I feel so happy to be here. I turned 25 on Monday, so it was a great birthday present for myself.”

  She planned to call her parents as soon as possible.

“They have no idea,” she said. “They are flying today from Korea back to Australia. I will call them when they land.”

   At one point Hou was 6-under-par in her round, but left a par putt on the edge of the cup on 15 and lipped out a par-save at 17.

   “I suppose I could have held my nerves in the last five holes a little bit better,” she said. “It all comes down to experience. The front nine was so much fun. The confidence was just coming out of my ears. I lost in a playoff to a birdie. I’m proud of how I did.”

MSU golfer one shot off the lead of the Michigan Women's Open Several within one shot of the lead

Milena Savich follows through after missing her first 5 greens

THOMPSONVILLE – Milena Savich of Carmel, Ind., missed the first five greens in her second round of the Michigan PGA Women’s Open at Crystal Mountain Resort Tuesday.

 But she didn’t go missing from the top of the leader board.

 “I held it together,” she said after an even-par round of 72 on the Mountain Ridge course kept her at 4-under-par 140, and one shot ahead of Inhong Lim of Beavercreek, Ohio, who shot 71 for 141. “It easily could have been 75 or something.”

   Those two will be in the final group for the final round of the $40,000 tournament Wednesday. They will tee off at 10:06 a.m.

   Five golfers at 142 and six more at 144 will be giving chase.

   Michigan State University golfer Christine Meier of Rochester Hills is among the five at 142 after shooting a second consecutive 71. She is the low amateur in the field.



Christine Meijer is one of five players one shot back

   Also at 142 are professionals Brittany Bomar of Anchorage, Alaska, who shot 70, Rachel Schmidt of Elk River, Minn., who shot 73, and Ashely Tait of Littleton, Colo., and Erica Popson of Davenport, Fla., who each shot 69.

  The six golfers at 144, four shots off the lead, include professional Elise Swartout of Ann Arbor, a former Western Michigan University golfer who shot 71, and Kimberly Dinh, an amateur from Midland, who shot 72.

   The others at 144 are Corie Hou of Sydney, Australia, Becca Huffer, a former Notre Dame golfer from Denver, Colo., Kristin Walla of Aspen, Colo., and Natalie Gleadall of Stratford, Ontario.

   Savich, 23 and a former University of Georgia golfer with one professional win (Suncoast Ladies Tour), said she is excited about being in the lead heading into the final round. She said the last time she played in a final group she won the 2010 Indiana State Amateur Championship.

  “I’m excited for the opportunity to get to do what I love,” she said.

   Savich, who played her first year of college golf at the University of Michigan before a transfer, said she held the lead for a second consecutive round because she stayed patient.

  “I didn’t hit the ball as well, but every time I made bogey, I came back with a birdie,” she said. “I also made a long snake from above the hole on 14. It was like 30 feet and one out of a hundred of those go in. That helped out. It was a struggle, but I’m in the last group and that’s great.”

   Lim, a 23-year-old native of Korea who went to high school in Melbourne, Australia, and ended up at Ohio State University, said being in the final group is a first-time thing for her as a professional.

  “I will just try to stay in the moment on concentrate on each shot,” she said. “I am going to just focus on my game because I can’t do anything about what the other players do.”

Inhong Lim of Beavercreek, Ohio, who is running second, hits
out of a bunker on the 10th hole

   Bomar, the 25-year-old daughter of golf professional Billy Bomar, left Alaska to play college golf at the University of Hawaii. She said she has never been in the last few groups in a professional tournament, and was elated to see her name on leaderboards in the second round.

   “I’m just trying to stay calm,” she said. “Seeing your name up the first time makes you a little nervous.”

  She turned heads in her round because she putts side-saddle just like her father.

   “That’s the way he putted so that’s the way I learned,” she said. “We have a short golf season in Alaska, but I was born to be pro, and born to putt goofy.” 

Treetops is celebrating the woman golfer with an August weekend of golfing, spa and entertainment fun

Join Us for the First Annual Women's Golf Festival! August 11-16, 2013 This inaugural event is a celebration of women’s golf and is open to ALL females regardless of age or ability. Here are the details: Schedule of Events: Sunday, August 11- Open Golf (call and book your tee times) - $40 for ladies- 2:30pm – Daily Demonstration Clinic (Treetops North) - $10 Monday, August 12- Open Golf (call and book your tee times) - $40 for ladies - 2:30pm – Daily Demonstration Clinic (Treetops North) - $10 - 5pm – Putting Clinic – BEST PUTTING STYLES FOR WOMEN - $10 Tuesday, August 13 - Open Golf (call and book your tee times) - $40 for ladies - 2:30pm – Daily Demonstration Clinic (Treetops North) - $10 - 5pm – Beginner Night – Basic Fundamentals to get started - $10 Wednesday, August 14 - Open Golf (call and book your tee times) - $40 for ladies - 9am Shotgun – Cross Country Scramble Tournament on Tradition (Women Only) - $40 - 2:30pm – Daily Demonstration Clinic (Treetops North) - $10 - 5pm – Bunker Clinic – GET OUT IN 1 SHOT - $10 Thursday, August 15 - Open Golf (call and book your tee times) - $40 for ladies - 2:30pm – Daily Demonstration Clinic (Treetops North) - $10 - 5pm – Consistent Contact – HOW TO GET SOLID CONTACT WITH IRONS - $10 - 6pm – League Night – Enjoy a spot in our weekly Ladies League - $25 to participate (must sign up by Tuesday, August 13 to participate) - Swing Analysis – Those who participate in League Night will have their Swing Videoed and Analyzed by our pros! - Following Golf – Convene to the Sports Bar for BEAT THE PRO NIGHT along with live entertainment from 7pm - 10pm. Clinic Special Pay $40 and you can participate in any or all of the clinics all week long (a $50 savings). Disc Golf Stick around for the Women’s Disc Golf Tournament on August 17, 2013 at 5pm on top of the ski slopes. For more information or to sign up please contact us at 877-724-2156 Option 2 to book your lodging reservations, tee times and clinics. Don't miss out on the fun - Register Today! PS: While You're Here... Relax, Rejuvenate and Enjoy Yourself at the Treetops Spa. We have great spa specials each day during the Women's Golf Festival. Click here to check them out. www.Treetops.com

Michigan Women's Open has a wide variety of players near the lead after day one

INDIANA PRO SETS PACE AT MICHIGAN PGA WOMEN’S OPEN; MSU GOLFER TIED FOR 2ND

Milena Savich leads after day one

Lindsey McPherson of Flushing, a Michigan State University golfer who was tied for second.


  THOMPSONVILLE – Normally the first round is the problem round for Milena Savich of Carmel, Ind., but that wasn’t the case Monday as she set the first-round pace in the 20th Michigan PGA Women’s Open at Crystal Mountain Resort.
  Savich, 23 and a first-year professional, shot a 4-under-par 68 on the Mountain Ridge course to lead Michigan State golfer Lindsey McPherson and LPGA Symetra Tour golfer Rachael Schmidt by one shot through the first round of the three-day 54-hole $40,000 championship.
   “Usually the first round is my Achilles Heel,” said Savich, who in March won a Sun Coast Tour event in Florida for her first professional victory and has conditional status on the Symetra Tour. “So this is a pretty good confidence-builder. I’ve just struggled in the past getting started in tournaments. Today I just was trying to hit some solid shots to get started, and I made a few putts.”
  Savich, who played one year of college golf at the University of Michigan and three at the University of Georgia, was 5-under before a three-putt bogey from 60 feet at No. 17, and then hit what she called maybe her best shot of the day at 18.
  “It was my second chip (fourth shot),” she said of a par save on the par 5 18th. “I had a nasty lie on the first chip, but then hit the second one close.”
  McPherson, who will have junior eligibility in the fall for the Spartans, was beaming after shooting her first career competitive round in the 60s with the 69 she carded.
  “I’m obviously feeling really good,” she said. “I started out and through six holes I was 4-under. So right at the beginning I knew I was having a day. Sometimes you have days where you can’t get anything to fall, and sometimes you can’t miss. Today was one of those days.”
   McPherson has played in the Michigan Open three times previously, but was never in contention or low amateur. She said when she saw her name of a leaderboard in the middle of the back nine if felt incredible.
  “I was left with a little left-to-right four-foot breaker on 18 (for 69), and I was shaking like a leaf, I will tell you that,” she said.
   Schmidt, 26, is from Elk River, Minn., and playing in the Michigan Open for the third time. The former Upper Iowa University golfer carded her best round on the Mountain Ridge layout.
  “I just love it here – that’s why I keep coming back,” she said. “I have been working on my swing at home and on (the Symetra Tour), and today I hit some solid shots and it felt good.”
    Two touring professionals checked in with 70s, two shots off the lead.  In Hong Lim, a former Ohio State golfer, birdied four of the last five holes in her 70.  Amy Anderson, a former North Dakota State golfer from Oxbow, N.D., keyed her 70 with three consecutive birdies to start the back nine.
    Another Michigan State golfer and amateur, Christine Meier of Rochester Hills, shot 71. She was tied with Alexandra Casi, a Symetra Tour player from East Palestine, Ohio, and Erin Misheff, an amateur from Silver Lake, Ohio, who won the 2011 Women’s Ohio State Amateur Championship.
  Five golfers ended up at 72, including Kimberly Dinh of Midland, a University of Wisconsin golfer, and 2008 champion Connie Ross of St. Joseph was among the 14 players who shot 73.
   Just eight golfers shot under par in the field of 87, which plays all three rounds without a cut.
1 Milena Savich Carmel, IN 68 -4 68 T2 Lindsey McPherson(a) Flushing, MI 69 -3 69 Rachael Schmidt Elk River, MN 69 -3 69 T4 Amy Anderson Oxbow, ND 70 -2 70 Inhong Lim Beavercreek, OH 70 -2 70 T6 Alexandra Casi E Palestine, OH 71 -1 71 Christine Meier(a) Rochester Hills, MI 71 -1 71 Erin Misheff(a) Silver Lake, OH 71 -1 71 T9 Carmen Bandea Johns Creek, GA 72 Even 72 Brittany Bomar Anchorage, AK 72 Even 72 Kimberly Dinh(a) Midland, MI 72 Even 72 Natalie Gleadall Stratford, ONT 72 Even 72 Kristin Walla Aspen, CO 72 Even 72 T14 Lindsey Bergeon Sarasota, FL 73 +1 73 Mari Chun Pearl City, HI 73 +1 73 Natalia Ghilzon Windsor, ONT 73 +1 73 Suzanne Green-Roebuck Ann Arbor, MI 73 +1 73 Corie Hou Sydney, AE 73 +1 73 Becca Huffer Denver, CO 73 +1 73 Sarah Johnson(a) Wixom, MI 73 +1 73




 
   

Justin Pahl of Lakeland High School and Clinton Township golfer stays in hunt at Michigan Amateur

Clinton Township golfer stays in hunt at Michigan Amateur

• By TOM LANG MIPrepZoneMD- Updated: Thursday, 06/20/13 08:04 pm

Andrew Chapman of Traverse City took out medalist Tom Werkmeister in a round of 32 match at the Michigan Amateur in Muskegon Thursday.

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MUSKEGON – Brad Bastion led wire-to-wire in his second match Thursday afternoon to reach the sweet 16 of the 102nd Michigan Amateur after a convincing 6-and-4 win over Brody Schiller of Freeland.

Earlier in the day, Bastion, of Clinton Township, cleaned up 4-and-3 over Anthony Keim of St. Johns. Thursday play began with 64 golfers at the Muskegon Country Club.

“Physically I feel pretty good, mentally it’s starting to drain on me very soon here,” Bastion said, happy about not having to go 18 holes in either match. “That’s a blessing to get it over soon.

“A really, really promising, good player that I just beat, Brody Schiller. Very talented; he’s got a lot of these (Amateurs) coming up in his future. He’s awesome.”

At age 28 Bastion should have many state Amateurs in his future too. But for the short term his goal is to improve on his best finish, which came in 2011.

“I’d like to exceed the final 8 from a couple years ago and I’d like to play in the finals; but I’m happy to be here,” Bastion said. “I look forward to this tournament every year.”

In the first two rounds of stroke play Tuesday and Wednesday, a format Bastion prefers to match play, Bastion said he was having trouble with his irons but was putting and scoring well. The same held true for the first two rounds of match play – almost.

“I struck the ball really, really well today,” he said. “My speed on the greens was a little off in spots today, which cost me a couple holes in my first match but I made some clutch 5 and 6-footers in the second match that really helped me out. My speed was off just enough to make me uncomfortable on some putts.”

Former major league pitcher Mike Ignasiak (4 years with Milwaukee Brewers), who was born in Mt. Clemens and played baseball at the University of Michigan, also reached the sweet 16. He beat Mike Nagy (Manistique) 2-and-1 in Thursday’s morning round, then Andrew Yeager (Grand Rapids) 4-and-2 late in the afternoon.

Three others with local ties lost in match play. Stroke play medalist Tom Werkmeister, a graudate of Mott High School in Warren who is now living in Kentwood, was knocked out in the second round after three extra holes exactly one week after winning the prestigious Michigan Open at The Orchards.

“It wasn’t easy out there, but I wasn’t playing like I had been playing,” Werkmeister said.

Austin Kreger of St. Clair Shores was all square going into the last hole with Erik Schleicher of Grosse Pointe Shores in the morning round, but lost on 18. The Lake Shore grad was playing in his fifth Michigan Amateur but had never played in match play before Thursday.

Connor Jones, a senior-to-be at Utica Eisenhower, also lost on the final hole – but he had an uphill climb going against GAM Player of the Decade (for the 2000s), Russ Cunningham.

“I definitely knew (the history) of who I was playing,” Jones said. “I was a little nervous when I first saw the brackets, but it was fun and the nerves settled.”

Cunningham is the golf coach at Oakland University.

“I really don’t know if he was looking at me (with a recruiting eye), but I just played 18 holes with him so I guess he could see what I can do,” Jones said with a smile.

Jones proved his mettle. Down two holes at the turn, Jones won three straight holes to go 1-up after 12. Cunningham won 13 to make it all-square, then went 1-up on 16 and held Jones off the remainder of the way.

“This showed me what I can do and I think I can win it in the next couple of years,” Jones said. “Definitely a positive experience to come out with; it was hard, but fun.”

Brentwood CC in White Lake has matured nicely into an enjoyable cours

The 9th from the staircase

The Gazebo for weddings is a great front drop to the 9th

   Brentwood Country Club in White Lake has a course that has matured over the 15 years it has been in existence. Run by PGA Professional Barry Pearce and staff aims to please. When the course and the subsequent Beacon Hill literally across the street were built, the courses were constructed as part of a residential offering that would be open for daily fee play. The first time I played Brentwood was when the subdivisions that run throughout the front nine and on select holes on the back seemed to be right on top of you and many homes were under construction. That seems like a long time ago as the houses are covered up by select trees that give a nice buffer where you can see each other without most balls coming into play. That is a great thing.  

     Also, some shots you would have tried when the course opened are no longer available as the trees have matured in select areas and it makes no sense to cut corners on some of the layout. The tips play at 6,424 yards and many of the par fives are reachable in two but it makes more sense to place the ball as you will see for a wedge or pitch and run. I played the course from both the green (back tees) and the whites and the difference is noticeable in both club selection and the look you get from both tee box.

   The first hole is a dandy and shows you that on a 404 yard par four, you are tempted to hit driver but perhaps a fairway wood or even an iron is a better club to select.

These tees jut out on the left side

Playing as a slight dogleg left, it is lined with woods to the left with trees coming out in the landing area and water lining the right side.

The first tee box

Any golfer that slices the golf ball to the right needs to find a club that will give you a good vantage of the pin.  You can find your ball in the water if it goes in several feet but once again, the middle of this slightly tight fairway is the way to go and yes, you will have an equally challenging fairway metal or low iron shot into the green. For those that drive the ball about 250 yards, a middle-iron shot awaits you. Sand also is a factor to the right and the deep bunker to a long and down sloping green from front to back is a tough way to earn par. A clump of trees also acts as a buffer to a home that sits adjacent to the green. If the pin is in the front, anyone that goes behind the green could be in for a three putt as any ball struck downhill could be an instant three-putt. This is a very fun way to begin your day but for me, the first has always been one I wish I would see later in the round.

Play it straight from the green tee box.

You have a slight chance of cutting the treeline left

The 4th from 170 yards. The pin is tucked behind the smallest tree to the right

The third is tree

lined both sides

     Skipping to the 4^th hole, this is a hole where danger lurks throughout this par five and it begins on the tee box. Many golfers that play the back (green tees) will find a marsh that seems to go for 150 yards but is much shorter. The hole is framed from the back by a tree line from the left and houses (with trees guarding them). Do not go in the marsh. It’s three off the tee. When the course first opened, skying it with a three wood into the fairway could put you way down the 90 degree angled hole to the left. Now, the trees are up high and I cannot imagine anyone challenging them. The bunkers are a great place to aim the ball but a fairway wood will be the play for many. The 4^th plays at 532 yards and anyone that draws the ball will love the play. If you slice it right toward the houses, the hole will play about 40 yards longer and you basically have no chance of getting it on the green in two. The white tees will make most long hitters play a fairway wood. As you frame your second shot, the woods/marsh juts in from the left and the neighborhood guarded by pines will help guide you down the middle. Two bombed shots will get you close to getting on the green but most will have a pitch anywhere from under a 100 yards to a long iron shot. Yes, anything can happen on the fourth. The green does go back up a hill with a sand trap to the right and moguls surrounding the green. Putting is an experience as a couple of houses could fit on it and putts go for a ride almost anywhere on this hole. Birdie is very possible if you put it to the right spot on the green. For the bombers, getting on in two will most likely still earn you no better than birdie and I bet most golfers will consider par a very good score on the number two handicapped hole on the course.

The eighth from the tee box. The woods come into play in the background

Cutting the bend to the right and trying to cut yardage is suicidal

   The eighth hole is another par five that is reachable at Brentwood. Where the fourth is basically a suckers play to go for it in two, the eighth plays at only 479 yards and demands a tee shot that is not selfish.  The hole is no more than an iron to fairway wood of the elevated tee box as it plays about 220 yards before the woods comes into play. Most golfers want to cut the corner on this hole but it is one dumb way to manage the 8^th. At the right inside corner, there is a pond and anything that slices will cut into the unplayable hill as balls filter into the marsh on most days. For your best success, just hit a good solid tee shot into the middle of the fairway and do not bring the woods into play. You can easily see the green on any tee shot accept a tee shot that snuggles up to the bend in the corner. Bunkers, sand an a wild ride of a green to anyone that goes for it in two. With it being slightly elevated, most golfers will have anything from a pitch and run to a mid-iron shot for their third but for those of you that go for it in two, putting for eagle will be good for your ego but earning one will be an entirely different story. Par is a good score but birdie could be yours with good course management.

9th Hole Tee shots (left A View from behind the tee box)

    Some will say the ninth is the signature hole. This par three is short at 130 yards, is ready for a postcard and is a hole where anything from ace to a nine (with lost balls) coming into play. With the clubhouse overlooking the hole and a wedding gazebo overhanging just left of the tee box, you will have cameras, drama and one crazy golf shot to consider. The green is not very deep and not has a pond between the tee box and green, a second pond sits just behind the green and hitting a line drive will skip on one or two hops behind the flag stick. I have only seen a few people go behind the green but a bunch go into the pond in front. Club selection is essential. You have a one or two shot selection at best and if the wind is kicking up, this par three can become one nasty hole. Most golfers will hit wedge to mid-iron and hitting it high and soft is the recipe to protect par and getting it close will earn someone a skin guaranteed.  Messing up the hole could give you a nine on nine. Ouch!

Brentwood does have a cart person for outings and busy times but like any man, the smell of something cooking on the grill is a treasure. For me, you have to get yourself a beverage and a brat is something that you just have to do.

The green tee box is a tough play

The white tees offer a much better vantage point

   The tenth hole is another place where the trees, marsh and tall grass has grown up. The green tees are almost impossible to play as the fescues are very high and give you virtually no insight as where to hit the ball. The white tee box is listed as only 360 yards from the center of the green. It certainly seems like it plays less than the yardage listed. Playing to the side of the marsh, you can see the pin and much of the trouble on the 10^th. Woods that should not come into play are on the left side and a clump of trees and marsh come into play on the right. There is a depression that runs the right side and a drive of 250 yards from the whites will give you a Pw-7 iron in. Once again, the green has moguls, a sand trap front right and a green where putts will slide around greet you. Par is a good score and birdie is possible.

The chute

I have always enjoyed holes that basically have a chute with  a hill guarding the hole to the left and right and then having a ball sliding back to the center of the fairway in the middle. While that will be an exaggeration, feel free to whale away on the 12^th. A sand bunker could be in your landing area for short hitters to the left and trees and ob awaits shankers to the right. A modest drive will leave you with a wedge shot in. A bombed tee shot will give you a pitch and run on this 339 yard hole. Once again, beware of the putting surface as putting the ball on the wrong spot will turn a birdie into a bogey quickly.

Cutting the hole is not smart unless you are a scratch player

The 13th green

     The hole that has my attention on this course is the very next hole. The 13^th is a par five that is very pretty from the tee box and gives you a sense of being a battlefield commander as you can see every hazard in front of you. The number 3 handicapped hole plays an elongated and sweeping dog leg left. Think of a kid kicking a soccer ball and being only half way through it and it might give you a picture as the hole sweeps on an arc. There are hazards on this hole but because of the lack of trees, any wind playing strongly in your face  will make this 569 yard- par five turn into a hole that plays 700 yards. Because the 14^th plays adjacent to the 13^th, you could the fairway and shave about 50-75 yards from the hole but with a long rough, these virtually unplayable fescue moguls are not worth it unless you are deadly accurate. The fairway is wide on this par five and using it will provide you the best way to go. A fairway wood is demanded for the second shot and if you have to chip it out of the long grass (mostly left) you will be playing this hole as a par six. The fairway is nice and always cut just right so your second and third shots should put you close to or on the green. Three sand bunkers surround the hole and the pin seems to always be placed center cut or right or left center. The greens keeper must be a sympathetic golfer as this hole will be difficult enough without a tough green to consider.

     While the 14^th hole is listed as brutal, to me, the real knockout hole is the 16^th. It only plays 506 yards from the back but with sloping hills, out of bounds right and a blind second shot, the first time you have played it will make you wish you had a second crack at it. At about the 400 yard mark, the hole suddenly and without warning has the fairway cut low and steeply declines into a marsh. This steep gulley is even more penal to the hole. Any well struck second shot seems like it should be by the hole but will go into the valley of the lost ball and if you have a down sloped shot with a large hill to fly your ball over, well good luck with that. I hate laying up on a par five but for best scoring results, do not go for this hole in two unless you can really crush a golf ball and give youself no more than 210-220 to the hole and can put the stripe to a fairway metal. If you cannot for whatever reason, you have no business going for it. This hole is the toughest on the course. Par to bogey is a great score here. A birdie and heck, I will buy you a beer.

The skinny.

The service is outstanding. They workers will make you feel welcome. It is nice to work with a crew that wants you to have a good time. It would be nice to see the ranger more often. On busy days, they cruise around.

  

Course layout- Excellent- This is not a course that is meant to be 7,500 yards. It plays just fine at 1,100 yards shorter. There are a variety of  holes to play from and this includes places where carry, ball placement, draws and fades can be used. I pulled out every club in my bag but one. The course is defensed by undulated greens, well placed sand and greenside bunkers. You could walk this course but I rarely see anyone if any do this so carts use only  might be the policy.

Amenities- The stunning clubhouse is a great place to hold a party, golf outing or wedding. I used to DJ weddings years ago and Dj’d there 3-4 times. They always do a great job and you should call them and give Barry Pearce and his staff a chance to host your event.

Beacon Hill is also an outstanding place to play and sits about ¾ of a mile from Brentwood and the staff will tell you how to get there.

The bottom line is you have to play this course and Beacon Hill at least once per season if not more. You will get good bang for the buck.

Tom Werkmeister leads after second round of the Michigan Open

Werkmeister is a serious player. He won last weeks Michigan Open at the Orchards and is determined to win the Michigan Amateur at the Muskegon Country Club. He is no shrinking violet competing with mostly men half of his age. The 2013 Medalist & 2009 Michigan Am Champion said nerves were not a problem for him. 
"I “Match play, I like it a lot. It’s kind of whoever’s day it is. I gave myself a good opportunity with my finish today, and I feel confident going in.  I’ve played match play in college, and I was a runner-up in the Michigan Junior Amateur so I’m familiar and comfortable with it. ”

Werkmeister is on a roll being the only golfer under par

t was a little more stress free than yesterday, but I did have my bad moments making bogey to start my back nine (the front nine). I had a lot more birdies today to make up for it. I played solid. I played pretty good.” For Otto Black of Pinckney, this 2012 graduate of Pinckney High School is on the heels of Werkmeister although he is three strokes behind entering match play. It turns into a different tournament going into the round of 64.
 

MUSKEGON – Results of Wednesday’s second round of the 102nd Michigan Amateur Championship at Muskegon Country Club:

Tom Werkmeister, Kentwood 70-70-140 (Chuck Kocsis Medalist Trophy)

Otto Black, Pinckney 74-69—143

Mike Ignasiak, Saline 74-70—144

Alex Dombrowski, Gaylord 74-71—145

Reed Hrynewich, Muskegon 72-73—145

Justin Pahl, White Lake 71-74—145

Steve Fedewa, Troy 74-72—146

Mark Foster, Davison 71-75—146

Patrick Colburn, Traverse City 73-73—146

Sam Weatherhead, Grand Rapids 74-73—147

Justin Pahl of Lakeland makes the cut

Russ Cunningham, Dewitt 73-74—147

Brad Bastion, Clinton Twp. 72-75—147

Nick Dennis, Waterford 72-75—147

Tom Gieselman, Commerce Twp. 72-76—148

Peter Farner, Kalamazoo 77-71—148

Mike Brown, Grand Rapids 75-73—148

Nikolaj Brons-Piche, Traverse City 79-69—148

Joe Balaskovitz III, Montague 74-75—149

Steve McKalko, Troy 76-73—149

Sam Stark, Hartland 76-73—149

Jake Losey, Grandville 76-74—150

Dieter Schulz, Fort Gratiot 78-72—150

Nathan Clark, Charlotte 72-78—150

Erik Schleicher, Grosse Pointe Shores 75-75—150

Brody Schiller, Freeland 72-78—150

Jared Dalga, Grand Rapids 76-74—150

Ryan Johnson, New Boston 72-78—150

Casey Baker, Ann Arbor 72-78—150

Spencer Slade, Saline 76-74—150

Andrew Chapman, Traverse City 71-80—151

Brett Hudson, Bloomfield Hills 76-75—151

Kyle Kurant, Muskegon 76-75—151

Blaze Hogan, Big Rapids 77-76—151

Jeff Champine, Rochester Hills 78-73—151

Nick Campbell, Britton 75-76—151

Andrew Yeager, Grand Rapids 75-76—151

Brett Quitiquit, Highland 75-76—151

Tom Sullivan, Grosse Pointe 79-72—151

James Piot, Canton 78-73—151

Evan Bowser, Dearborn 76-75—151

Mason Gorris, Lake Orion 81-70—151

Nate Golomb, Grand Rapids 78-73—151

Greg Davies, West Bloomfield 74-78—152

Anthony Provenzola, Brighton 80-72—152

Bill Zylstra, Dearborn Heights 74-78—152

Blake English, Charlotte 71-81—152

Jud Kotas, Grosse Pointe Farms 77-75—152

Austin Kreger, St. Clair Shores 77-75—152

Trent Davison, Rockford 75-77-152

Bryan Nordquist, Kalamazoo 77-75—152

Derrek Klimek, Ada 73-79—152

Anthony Keim, Holt 74-79—153

Chet Vandenberg, Martin 78-75—153

Connor Jones, Shelby Twp. 79-74—153

Max Kollin, Farmington Hills 80-73—153

Ronnie Coriasso, Grand Blanc 76-77—153

Jordan Weinger, Farmington Hills 79-74—153

Tim Coffey, Midland 78-75—153

Justin Holyszko, Bay City 84-69—153

Charlie Olson, Suttons Bay 80-73-153

Scott Wirth, Grand Blanc 76-77—153

Mike Nagy, Manistique 74-80—154 (birdied first playoff hole to advance)

Kyle Rodes, Plymouth 79-75—154 (birdied first playoff hole to advance)

Carson Castellani, East Lansing 79-75—154 (par the seventh playoff hole to advance)

Pontiac Municipal is good bang for the buck

 Pontiac Municipal Golf Course located on the south side of the city is a course in transition with an undecided destination. This 5,587 yard course that was once owned by the City of Pontiac and is now managed by Torre Management . The course is well maintained with a modest budget and with modest greens fees and is a value for those that want to score and have a good time without draining your wallet. When you come to the course located off of Golf Drive, you will be greeted by friendly people that will wave, greet you with a smile and Torre posts their philosophy about customers situated behind their staff which will bring you a smile.
 

First fairway

     Years ago I did not think they would do a good job with the redesign which spread the holes out to take advantage of the water and to install condos which run on both sides of Golf Drive. I clearly am a fan of the new design by Michael Hurdzan. The old course used to start off with two long and blind par threes which left golfers over par without seeing how to play either fairway wood shot. There are only three sets of tees at this course and there is no need to have more. At 4,450 yards from the reds and 5,587 out the door, unless you have a note from your doctor, there is no need to play anything than the back tees.
   The first hole at the new redesign is a slightly uphill 281-yard par four has almost no danger with a couple of pine trees on the left side in the landing area and a fairway that is fairly wide. While this hole plays longer than 281 yards (for me it’s more like 330 in the era of metal woods) a drive of 250 will still leave you a wedge or pitch and run to the hole.

#1 Green

For me, as much as I appreciate target golf, it is nice to be able to bump up a pitch shot to a green that runs from back to front. The only bunker on this hole is to the left side and is deep but the bunker is well maintained so going into it is better than the sand at many courses in the county. This is a birdie hole and a score of less than par will put you two shots behind the field as bogey just will not get it done.
 

     The fourth hole is one that will test your golf skills. It plays as a 385 yard par four and with the neighbors looking out at you from the right and the woods running along the entire left side, you will need to split the fairway. An unplayable marsh juts in for long hitters and an errant drive will end up there for those pulling the ball to the left. A hook will do you no good either as balls not ending up out of bounds will have to go above a large pine tree.

5th green with water in front and 3 sand bunkers behind

     One hole that should be a birdie hole but often has you pulling a second ball out of your bag is the very short 124 yard par three fifth. With a pond guarding the hole in front, trees to the right and three rear bunkers catching golfers trying to take the pond out of play, this seemingly short hole is one that could give you anything from ace to six in a hurry. This is a hole that will have some wind as there are little in the way of trees to keep it from swirling above. After playing the fourth, it looks easy and playing a wedge into the green will bring a smile to you. One disappointing thing is seeing what seems to be an endless series of unrepaired divots. Whether you have sand available in a green side container or on the carts is a matter of money. For me, have both the staff and golfers repair these is necessary.  
   

There were hundreds of unrepaired divots on the 5th

A current member of the Four Tops is on the tee

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     The sixth hole is one that will test serious golfers. It plays as a 397 yard par four dog leg right and with Lowe’s just over the fence to the left. To the right on this wide fairway is very high grass and acts as a de-facto out of bounds. The course is a right handers dream if you fade the ball toward the dog leg. A pull shot will make the hole longer and could possibly claim your ball in the high grass. While it is unlikely you will out drive the high grass down the fairway, pulling left will put you long and wrong. Approach shots will run into a gulley with a mid to high iron shot for most players. The green slopes from back to front with three sand traps surrounding the green. How it is rated as only the fourth toughest handicap hole is a mystery.

A view from the hill overlooking the 6th

The green is tough and putts can easily get away from you. Par is a good score here and a bogey is not terrible.

   
The eighth hole is the signature hole on the front side and perhaps the entire course. It plays at only 326 yards so distance is not the issue. The trouble is with not respecting the space given you. If you play the back tees (middle distance), you will be tempted with bombing the ball over the middle or even going for the pin which is hidden behind the fescues to the left. A series of sand traps that protect a mound will give errant shots a problem. Playing from the back will most likely give you a landing area that will let you see the top of the flag and well positioned shots a wedge to the green. From the back, most likely the sand bunkers will be out of play but the marsh that is pretty and unplayable will catch seriously misplayed shots. It is considered an environmental hazard so do not walk into them.

Go right and a bunker, tree and fence will steal your birdie

 The eleventh is another short and drivable hole that plays downhill and is frought with danger for those that whale away without any fear of misplaying a shot. The eleventh is another short and drivable hole that plays downhill and is frought with danger for those that whale away without any fear of misplaying a shot. At only 274 yards and running downhill, many players will be tempted to drive it and it can be done but it better be straight. It is a birdie hole for sure but if you hit the large green on the fly, water runs the entire left side of the green and around the back. Any drive that goes long and right has an enormous sand trap around 240 yards and has a fence behind it to protect golfers going off on number 12.

The water is to the left at the 13th

     Skipping to the par five 13th, it is a sloping left experience that will leave most golfers on the fairway as it is wide but some golfers will drive through it into one of the many pine trees on the course. Water will come into play on the left side if you try cutting the bend left and then over pulling it that way.

Beautiful bridge with views of the birds

A long look at the bridge

16th green

A beautiful risk reward hole is the 15th. The tee box is on an island and a long carry of about 180 yards is demanded with an opening cut from trees from the Championship tees. Many golfers will be tempted to go over the trees to the left of the opening and if you hit a lofted club it can be done. Many golfer has lost their ball hitting a nice tee shot but hit on a line. If you do that, you have made a donation to the lake. The trees have matured over the last 15 years since the redesign and there is a generous drop area about 115 yards from the hole.
This review has talked little about the par threes. Heck, they all play short with none being over 176 yards and this is just how I like them. The 250 yard par-three’s are trouble and these have some grit. The 16th is not a troublesome hole with only a bunker left that guards the pin from the middle of the green back. There is s bailout area to the right side of this hole with a fence running along the backside. Most golfers should earn a par at this hole with a green that demands a well-struck putt.
 The skinny-
The course is a good bang for the buck experience with many of the par fours drivable. If you want to show everyone you are a player, take driver out a lot, take a shot at most of the holes and run it up to the hole. The back nine is especially good for this at 10,11,15 and perhaps 18. If you really want to work on your irons, hit these off of the tee. That will make this course seem more like a 6,500 yard layout. The winning high school scores this spring were 65 and yes that is not a misprint.
The service at the course is very good. The people including Mr. Ewing are very nice and so is the rest of the staff.
The maintenance of the course is very good. Mowers are out all day and the course is clean. Golfers and Torre might invest in some sand containers at various tee boxes to fill in divots. Perhaps some of the starters could help fill these in. A hint is they do this at
The design is good for the budget they had at the time. Many of the holes do look the same and have a lack of danger. That is a good thing and draws plenty of average golfers to the course and those that want to play a quick round of golf. On heavy play days, those that want to drive the greens will hold up play but you can’t blame those that want to do just that.
Check out Pontiac Municipal. Many area golfers have played this course over the years and I bet playing there will invoke memories. It did for me as I played this course with my grandfather and perhaps you have played it with someone that you shared some great shots and some laughs with.

  

Make sure you do it.

The opening over the lake on 15

Those that take the back tees can forget this mess but why miss out on the fun. The best thing is those that draw the ball or lefties that fade it can really feel like they have hit a golf shot by watching their golf shots settle a short iron away. The smart play is to simply hit a fairway wood or even a hybrid off the tee and give yourself a mid-iron at worst to the green. There are plenty of ways to play this really fun hole.
This hole has eagle potential with a well struck tee shot and birdie is a pitch and run away for most golfers. Bogey at the 11th will make you shake your head and most likely it is because you goofed up your tee shot in one of the hazards.
Playing at 518 yards, only long hitters will get there in two with most being a short wedge away. There are a series of sand traps that look to keep golfers honest when hitting their second shots to the right and even more surrounding the green with various moguls that will either let your ball sit upright or downward and that is just plain golf. This is a potential birdie hole but after playing 10,11,and 12 you might settle for a par here.

At only 274 yards and running downhill, many players will be tempted to drive it and it can be done but it better be straight. It is a birdie hole for sure but if you hit the large green on the fly, water runs the entire left side of the green and around the back. Any drive that goes long and right has an enormous sand trap around 240 yards and has a fence behind it to protect golfers going off on number 12. This hole has eagle potential with a well struck tee shot and birdie is a pitch and run away for most golfers. Bogey at the 11th will make you shake your head and most likely it is because you goofed up your tee shot in one of the hazards.

It plays as a 397 yard par four dog leg right and with Lowe’s just over the fence to the left. To the right on this wide fairway is very high grass and acts as a de-facto out of bounds. The course is a right handers dream if you fade the ball toward the dog leg. A pull shot will make the hole longer and could possibly claim your ball in the high grass. While it is unlikely you will out drive the high grass down the fairway, pulling left will put you long and wrong. Approach shots will run into a gulley with a mid to high iron shot for most players. The green slopes from back to front with three sand traps surrounding the green. How it is rated as only the fourth toughest handicap hole is a mystery. The green is tough and putts can easily get away from you. Par is a good score here and a bogey is not terrible.

With a pond guarding the hole in front, trees to the right and three rear bunkers catching golfers trying to take the pond out of play, this seemingly short hole is one that could give you anything from ace to six in a hurry. This is a hole that will have some wind as there are little in the way of trees to keep it from swirling above. After playing the fourth, it looks easy and playing a wedge into the green will bring a smile to you. One disappointing thing is seeing what seems to be an endless series of unrepaired divots. Whether you have sand available in a greenside container or on the carts is a matter of money. For me, have both the staff and golfers repair these is necessary.  

Whether you go over the tree or not, any ball on that side will most likely be obstructed. The green is very subtle and will require a firm stroke as putts can tail off. This hole is a good test and par is a good score here. Birdies are possible but with a large green and multiple hazards, this is a hole that will keep you honest.

the Metroparks courses and you rarely find a divot anywhere and if you do, you will not find it the next day.