Donald Ross Memorial Golf Course Review – Boyne HighlandsSeptember 22, 2017Donald Ross Memorial Golf Course Review The Donald Ross Memorial Course At Boyne Highlands Grade: A Teacher’s Comments: Not just a “greatest hits” course, but one that stands on its own. I have never thought much of the idea of a “tribute course.” A collection of eighteen holes assembled from other courses — however great — strikes me as contrived, at best. I envisioned tribute courses as the golf equivalent of a “Greatest Hits” collection for a band known for its concept albums. Individually, each of the songs are fine, but are diminished without the surrounding tunes. That turns out not to be the case at all with The Ross Memorial Course at Boyne Highlands. The Donald Ross Memorial stands on its own, and would be an excellent golf course even without the Ross connection. Architect Bill Newcomb did a terrific job of combing through Ross’ vast catalog of holes (400 courses x 18 holes = 7, 200 to pick from) to find ones which fit the Northern Michigan landscape. Just as importantly, Newcomb’s selections flow naturally from one to the other, creating a seamless and unified whole. I have played just one of the courses whose holes are emulated at the Ross Memorial: Oakland Hills. That legendary club has two holes represented: The Memorial’s third mimics Oakland Hills’ seventeenth; the finishing hole at the Donald Ross Memorial channels Oakland Hills’ sixteenth. You can see in the photo below how the bunker placements and curve of the green are similar. The rock facing on the pond at Oakland Hills is a more recent development, coming after the Boyne Highlands’ course was constructed. Comparing the photos for Oakland Hills’ sixteenth, and the Donald Ross Memorial’s third, you can also see the resemblance. The difference in perspective distorts the image somewhat (at Oakland Hills, we were playing the brutal championship tees ahead of the US Amateur), but the similarity is there. Slight visual differences in the bunkers can be accounted for in this, and also in that both courses naturally have change over the years. It is also worth noting, however, that in general, while the Ross Memorial holes are quite similar, they are not slavishly identical. From the back tees, the Ross Memorial Course at Boyne Highlands stretches to 6, 814 yards and plays at a 73.9/143. I played the middle tees, at 6, 233 yards and 71.1/136. In all, the Ross Memorial has five tees: Brown, Purple, Orange, Green and Silver. The unusual tee colors are deliberate. The feeling at Boyne Highlands is that without the “stigma” of playing from Blues, Whites and Reds, players will more likely play from an appropriate yardage. On a similar note, Caledonia Golf and Fish Club in South Carolina uses species of ducks to mark the tees. My favorite hole was the 339 yard par four eleventh. Emulating the thirteenth at Salem Country Club in Peabody, Massachusetts, it is a dogleg right that turns slightly downward before heading back up again to the green. That green complex is notable because Ross said it was the finest he had ever designed. A bunker on the inside right is 180 from the tee. On the first shot, players must decide how much to cut off the dogleg to shorten the hole, while avoiding that trap. There are, however, eighteen really good holes here. That is as you would expect, given that each of the holes has been specifically selected from the catalog of holes from the legendary Donald Ross. The courses from which the Donald Ross Memorial borrows 14 US Opens, 11 PGA Championships, eight US Amateurs, and three Ryder Cups. Conditions on the day I played were terrific — exactly what you would expect of a high-end resort course. An nice amenity to the course (and indeed all of the Boyne Courses) is a specialized phone app, which offers a variety of services, including on-course GPS and a really nice 3D hole flyover function. Play the flyover before teeing off on each hole the first time you play. It will put your mind at ease over any potentially unseen pitfalls. The app also has scoring, weather, tee times and other useful information. The Donald Ross Memorial is one of ten courses belonging to the Boyne Resorts, which include Bay Harbor, The Heather, The Moor, The Alpine, The Monument and Crooked Tree Golf Course Review (reviews at the links). Boyne’s ten courses are spread across three properties (Bay Harbor, Boyne Highlands and Boyne Mountain) within a short drive of one another. The resort actually offers transportation between the resorts. With tons of lodging and food options, Boyne would be an ideal stop for a golf trip. While time is running a bit short now (although there still are some great fall options), you should start planning next summer’s buddy or family trip now. Boyne’s Director of Golf Sales and Marketing, Ken Griffin explained some of the golf-lodging-food-recreation options that had me scratching my head as to how Boyne actually manages to turn a profit. One item for avid golfers to put on their activity list is a trip to the Boyne Golf Center’s Gears facility. There, the tour-and-manufacturer-grade body tracking system combined with a Trackman system can help to fine tune the contents of your bag, or offer a fix for a long-standing issue. Prices again seemed quite reasonable, even for this school teacher. In addition to golf, Boyne has tennis, fishing, hiking, biking, zip lines, carriage rides, spas and other great things to do. Northern Michigan also has other things on the agenda such as wine tours, excellent dining, boating and other lake activities. It would be very easy to convince the family to take an adventurous trip to Northern Michigan as cover for a series of golf outings. The Donald Ross Memorial Golf Course Review was first published on GolfBlogger.Com on September 21, 2017 from a round played in September 2017. More photos and a Donald Ross Memorial Golf Course Review Tour follow:...Read More & CommentThe Golfing Dead Card GameSeptember 22, 2017 The Golfing Dead Card Game Ridiculous Golf Item of The Week...Read More & CommentHow Many Calories Do You Burn Playing Golf?September 21, 2017How many calories do you burn playing golf? It is hard to say, because the number of calories burned playing golf depends upon body weight, whether you’re riding or walking, carrying clubs or pulling a cart. If you’re walking, your pace is a factor. Depending upon the course, a walk can cover between three and eight miles. Consider: a 6,800 yard course is 3.5 miles from tee to green. Factor in distances from green to the next tee, and the fact that you are not likely to be playing straight down the middle. Various “fitness experts” have estimated walkers burn around 1,500 calories per round. Riders, the same experts say, may burn as many as 800. A University of Edinburgh study found that golfers usually burn at least 500 calories over 18 holes. Walkers, in their study, tread four to eight miles. My own fitness trackers tell an uncertain story. One that I have used in the past indicated that I’m burning between around 550 – 600 calories on my 18 hole rounds. Based just on the one snapshot in the image to the left, that works out to 126 calories per mile of golf walked. My current tracker, a Microsoft Band 2, seems to indicate twice as many calories burned per mile. It gives consistently higher numbers than my previous device. The math on the screen capture for my Microsoft Band says that I’m burning 240 calories per mile. That course, however, is much more rugged than the first. One thing seems clear, though: Playing golf can extend your life. From the University of Edinburgh: We know that the moderate physical activity that golf provides increases life expectancy, has mental health benefits, and can help prevent and treat more than 40 major chronic diseases such as heart attacks, stroke, diabetes, breast and colon cancer. Evidence suggests golfers live longer than non-golfers, enjoying improvements in cholesterol levels, body composition, wellness, self-esteem and self-worth. Given that the sport can be played by the very young to the very old, this demonstrates a wide variety of health benefits for people of all ages. Dr Andrew MurrayLead researcher – Golf & Health Project, Physical Activity for Health Research Centre at the University of Edinburgh ...Read More & CommentAntigua Full Zip Golf JacketSeptember 21, 2017 Antigua Full Zip Golf Jacket The Angigua full zip golf jacket features:100% polyester Interlock face with bonded brushed back Water resistant long sleeve full zip jacket with dyed to match taping detail at collar, shoulder, sleeve, and hand pocket flap Zip hand pockets and open cuff and bottom hem Embossed logo at back neck...Read More & CommentWVU Golf Team Wins Janney VCU ShootoutSeptember 20, 2017WVU Golf Team Wins Janney VCU Shootout MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (Sept. 19, 2017) – Scoring a record-low 22 under par with five players in the top 20, the West Virginia University golf team took home the team title at the 2017 Janney VCU Shootout on Tuesday at the Country Club of Virginia in Richmond, Virginia. It marks the second win for the Mountaineers since resuming varsity competition in 2015. The team won the 2017 East Carolina Intercollegiate in April of 2017. After posting a record team-low round of 275 on Monday, the Mountaineers finished seven under par in the third round with a 281. WVU’s three-round total of 286-275-281=842 bested the program’s 54-hole team total by seven strokes, while their 22 under par is also a seven-stroke improvement. “It’s a great way to start the season,” coach Sean Covich said. “We finally have a lot of depth and I think that showed this week. Even our true freshman who played as an individual, Mark Goetz, had a very solid week. I’m extremely proud of all the guys. Max (Sear) fought hard each day after rough starts – that kid has grit. Etienne (Papineau) and Tristan (Nicholls) played great and our other new guys, Matthew (Sharpstene) and Philipp (Matlari) were outstanding. I can’t say enough about my assistant coach, Jay Woodward. He’s made all the guys better and he’s made me a better coach. We’re looking forward to a weekend off, then back at it with some preparation for our only home event of the season, The Health Plan Mountaineer Invitational, at Pete Dye Golf Club.” Virginia Tech took second at 14 under par (840), while Maryland was third at 13 under (851). Coastal Carolina finished fourth at nine under par with a total of 855. Sophomore Philipp Matlari led the way in his Mountaineer debut. Matlari used a birdie on No. 9 to finish even par with a 72 on the day for a three-round total of 70-68-72=201. He tied for eighth place at six under par. Junior Max Sear also finished even par, carding five birdies on his way to a 72. After tying his own program record with a 66 in the second round, Sear finished tied for 10th place with a tally of 73-66-72=211 and five under. Fellow junior Tristan Nicholls jumped three spots on the final day of action, shooting two under with a 70. Nicholls recorded a 54-hole total of 69-73-70=212 for four under par. Sophomore Etienne Papineau was two strokes back of Nicholls, tying for 19th place. Papineau’s scorecard showed 74-71-69=214 for two under par. In his collegiate debut, Matthew Sharpstene recorded a top-20 finish with a tie for 19th place. Highlighted by an eagle on No. 4, Sharpstene shot two under with a 70 in the final round. He recorded a total score of 74-70-70=214 for two under par. Playing as an individual, freshman Mark Goetz tied for 40th in his collegiate debut. Goetz used a trio of birdies to shoot one over with a 73 in the final round, scoring 75-72-73=220 for four over par. Next up for the WVU golf team is The Health Plan Mountaineer Invitational, which the team will host at Pete Dye Golf Club in Bridgeport, West Virginia, on Oct. 9-10. Follow @WVUSports and @WVUGolf on Twitter VIA WVU Sports...Read More & CommentIn The Mail: Aline FootbedSeptember 20, 2017 Aline recently sent a pair of their golf-specific footbeds for testing. The footbeds feature a “Patented Suspension Zone,” which is said to align the lower body for balance and stability, as well as “dynamic ribs” which are supposed to flex and rebound for a more powerful swing.” Aline’s internal testing shows that 89% of golfers do not have their feet, knees, hips and backs in the proper alignment. Aline footbeds are currently being used on Tour by Ken Duke, DA Points, Kevin Na, Kelly Kraft, Rick Lamb, Fred Funk, Caroline Westrop and DJ Trahan. I’ll have a review after thorough testing....Read More & CommentExplanar Swing Plane TrainerSeptember 20, 2017Explanar Swing Plane Trainer This full sized device trains you to swing the club along the optimal plane, eliminating such errors as an over-the-top move, casting, et. al. I need one of these....Read More & CommentMichigan Golf Course ReviewsSeptember 19, 2017Michigan Golf Course Reviews Here’s an updated list of the 147 Michigan courses I have played and reviewed. GolfBlogger’s Michigan Golf Course Reviews are based on my impressions of the course on the day(s) I played, and it should be noted that conditions and on occasion even the layout may have changed since I played. If you think that an update is needed, please leave a comment. I’d appreciate it. All of the Michigan Golf Course Reviews are from the perspective of a bogey golfer, and I place a premium on fun. I love courses that make you think a bit, and that don’t rely solely on length for their defense. Also important to me is the ability to walk the course. I have found few courses where walking really was not practical. Too often, I believe, courses ban walking to pick up extra profits from the carts. Finally, I look for value. A course that sets a high bar by claiming “championship” status and charging a premium price had better be very good. A course that offers good golf at a bargain price gets good marks for meeting or exceeding their own standards.Angels Crossing, Vicksburg, Michigan Ann Arbor Country Club, Ann Arbor, Michigan Arbor Hills Country Club, Jackson, Michigan Arcadia Bluffs Golf Course, Arcadia, Michigan Bald Mountain Golf Course, Lake Orion, Michigan Bay Harbor Golf Course, Petosky, Michigan Bay Pointe Golf Course, West Bloomfield, Michigan Bedford Hills Golf Course, Temperance, Michigan Bedford Valley Golf Course, Battle Creek, Michigan Bella Vista Golf Course, Coldwater, Michigan Belvedere Golf Course, Charlevoix, Michigan Binder Park Golf Course, Battle Creek, Michigan Black Bear Golf Course, Vanderbilt, Michigan Black Forest Golf Course, Gaylord, Michigan Blackheath Golf Course Review, Oakland Township, Michigan Boulder Pointe Golf Course, Oxford, Michigan Brae Burn Golf Course, Plymouth, Michigan Brookside Golf Course, Saline, Michigan Bucks Run Golf Course, Mt. Pleasant, Michigan Calderone Golf Course, Grass Lake, Michigan Captain’s Club At Woodfield, Grand Blanc, Michigan Carleton Glen Golf Course, Carleton, Michigan Carrington Golf Course, Monroe, Michigan Cascades Golf Course, Jackson, Michigan Cattails Golf Course, South Lyon, Michigan Cedar River Golf Course, Bellaire, Michigan Chandler Park Golf Course, Detroit, Michigan Chemung Hills Golf Course, Howell, Michigan Clark Lake East Golf Course, Brooklyn, Michigan College Fields Golf Course, Okemos, Michigan Concord Hills Golf Course, Jackson, Michigan Copper Ridge Golf Course, Davidson, Michigan Coyote Golf Course, South Lyon, Michigan Coyote Preserve Golf Course, Fenton, Michigan Crooked Tree Golf Course, Petoskey, Michigan Dearborn Hills Golf Course, Dearborn, Michigan Demor Hills Golf Course, Morenci, Michigan Devil’s Lake Golf Course, Manitou Beach, Michigan Dunham Hills Golf Course, Hartland, Michigan Dunmaglas Golf Course, Charlevoix, Michigan Eagle Crest Golf Course, Ypsilanti, Michigan Eagle Eye Golf Course, Bath, Michigan Eldorado Golf Course, Mason, Michigan Elk Ridge Golf Course, Atlanta, Michigan Faulkwood Shores Golf Course, Howell, Michigan Fellows Creek Golf Course, Canton, Michigan Forest Dunes Golf Course, Roscommon, Michigan Forest Dunes Golf Course, Roscommon, Michigan Fox Creek Golf Course, Livonia, Michigan Gauss’ Green Valley Golf Course, Jackson, Michigan Giant Oak Golf Course, Temperance, Michigan Golden Fox Golf Course, Plymouth, Michigan Green Oaks Golf Course , Ypsilanti, Michigan Greywalls Golf Course, Marquette, Michigan Gull Lake View East Course, Augusta, Michigan Gull Lake View West Course, Augusta, Michigan Harbour Club, Belleville, Michigan Harbor Shores Golf Course, Harbor Shores, Michigan Hartland Glen Golf Course, Hartland, Michigan Hawk Hollow Golf Course, Bath, Michigan Hawk Meadows Golf Course, Howell, Michigan Hickory Creek Golf Course, Canton, Michigan/a> Hickory Sticks Golf Course, Ann Arbor, Michigan Hills Heart of the Lakes Golf Course, Brooklyn, Michigan Hilltop Golf Course, Plymouth, Michigan Hudson Mills Golf Course, Dexter, Michigan Huntmore Golf Club, Brighton, Michigan Huron Meadows Golf Course, Brighton, Michigan Idyl Wyld Golf Course, Livonia, Michigan Indian River Golf Club Course, Indian River, Michigan Indian Springs Metropark Golf Course, White Lake, Michgian Inkster Valley Golf Course, Inkster, Michigan Kensington Metropark Golf Course, Brighton, Michigan Lake Doster Golf Course Review, Plainwell, Michigan Lake Erie Metropark Golf Course, Rockwood, Michigan Lake Forest Golf Course, Ann Arbor, Michigan Lakeland Hills Golf Course, Jackson, Michigan Lakes of Taylor Golf Course, Taylor, Michigan Leslie Park Golf Course, Ann Arbor, Michigan Links at Gateway, Romulus, Michigan Links At Lake Erie Course, Monroe, Michigan Links At Whitmore Lake Golf Course, Whitmore Lake, Michigan Links of Novi Golf Course, Novi, Michigan Lyon Oaks Golf Course, Wixom, Michigan Evergreen (formerly McGuires) Resort Golf Course, Cadillac, Michigan Michaywe Pines, Gaylord, Michigan Michigan States’ Forest Akers West Golf Course, East Lansing, Michigan Moose Ridge Golf Course, South Lyon, Michigan Mulberry Hills Golf Course, Oxford, Michigan Mystic Creek Golf Course, Milford, Michigan New Rogell Golf Course, Detroit, Michigan Northville Hills Golf Course, Northville, Michigan Palmer Park Golf Course, Detroit Pierce Lake Golf Course, Dexter, Michigan Pilgrim’s Run Golf Course, Pierson, Michigan Pine View Golf Course, Ypsilanti, Michigan Raisin Valley Golf Course, Tecumseh, Michigan Reddeman Farms Golf Club Course, Ann Arbor, Michigan Red Hawk Golf Course, East Tawas, Michigan Riverview Highlands, Riverview, Michigan Rolling Meadows Golf Course, Whitmore Lake, Michigan Rouge Park Golf Course, Detroit, Michigan Rush Lake Hills Golf Course, Pinckney, Michigan Rustic Glen Golf Course, Saline, Michigan Salem Hills Golf Course, Salem, Michigan Sandy Creek Golf Course, Monroe, Michigan Shenandoah Golf Club, West Bloomfield, Michigan Shepherd’s Hollow Golf Course, Clarkson, Michigan St. Clair Golf Club, St. Clair, Michigan St. Ives Golf Course, Stanwood, Michigan Stoatin Brae, Augusta, Michigan Stonebridge Golf Course, Ann Arbor, Michigan Stonehedge North Golf Course, Augusta, Michigan Stonehedge South Course, Augusta, Michigan Stony Creek Metropark Golf Course, Shelby Township, Michigan Sweetgrass Golf Course, Harris, Michigan Tanglewood Golf Course, South Lyon, Michian Taylor Meadows Golf Course, Taylor, Michigan The Emerald Golf Course, St. Johns, Michigan The Fortress Golf Course, Frankenmuth, Michigan The Gailes Golf Course, Oscoda, Michigan The Heather Golf Course, Boyne Highlands, Michigan The Loop at Forest Dunes, Roscommon, Michigan The Majestic Golf Course, Hartland, Michigan The Medalist Golf Course, Marshall, Michigan The Natural Golf Course, Gaylord, Michigan The Nightmare Course, West Branch, Michigan The Orchards Golf Course, Washington, Michigan The Woodlands of Van Buren Golf Course, Van Buren, Michigan Thornapple Creek Golf Course, Kalamazoo, Michigan Thorne Hills Golf Course, Carleton, Michigan Timber Ridge Golf Course, East Lansing, Michigan Timber Trace Golf Course, Pinckney, Michigan Timberstone Golf Course, Iron Mountain, Michigan Travis Pointe Country Club, Ann Arbor, Michigan Treetops’ Fazio Premier, Gaylord, Michigan Treetops Masterpiece, Garylord, Michigan Treetops Tradition Golf Course, Gaylord, Michigan True North Golf Course, Harbor Springs, Michigan Tullymore Golf Club, Stanwood, Michigan University of Michigan Golf Course, Ann Arbor, Michigan Warren Valley Golf Course, Dearborn Heights, Michigan Western Golf and Country Club, Redford, Michigan Whiffletree Hill Golf Course, Concord, Michigan Whispering Pines Course, Pinckney, Michigan Willow Metropark Golf Course, New Boston, Michigan Wolcott Mill Golf Course, Ray, Michiganand 25 not in Michigan:Barefoot Landing Norman Course, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina Eagle Ridge East, Galena, Illinois Eagle Ridge North, Galena Illinois Eagle Ridge South, Galena Illinois Eagle Ridge The General, Galena, Illinois Glen Dornoch, Little River, South Carolina Grande Dunes, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina Indiana University Golf Course, Bloomington, Indiana Lake Buena Vista, Walt Disney World Mazagan, Mazagan Resort, Morocco Musket Ridge, Marysville, Maryland Myrtlewood Palmetto, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina Omni Barton Creek Coore & Crenshaw Cliffside, Austin, Texas Omni Barton Creek Fazio Canyons, Austin Texas PB Dye, Ijamsville, Maryland Pine Lakes, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina Royal Dar Es Salam, Rabat, Morocco Royal Palm Golf Course, Marrakech, Morocco The Links at Wild Dunes Resort, Charleston, South Carolina The Meadows, Dubuque, Iowa Turning Stone’s Atunyote Golf Club, Verona, New York Turning Stone’s Kaluhyat Golf Club, Verona New York Turning Stone’s Sandstone Hollow, Verona New York Turning Stone’s Shenandoah Golf Course, Verona, New York Whiskey Creek, Ijamsville, Maryland...Read More & CommentHarbour Club Golf Course ReviewSeptember 19, 2017Harbour Club Golf Course Review Harbour Club Golf Course Belleville, Michigan Grade: E Teacher’s Comments: If there was a grade lower than “E,” this course would get it. Harbour Club is an appalling excuse for a golf course, with the worst conditions I have ever encountered. Any potential merits from a design point of view (and there are a few), are made completely irrelevant by Harbour Club’s maintenance. Throw in the routing of the first half of the course between rows of apartment buildings, and Harbour Club is a course to be avoided at all costs. There are thirty five golf courses in Wayne County. Play one of the others. Harbour Club is a nine-hole affair stretching to 3, 281 yards and playing at a 35.3/123. The white tees are in at 3, 017 yards and play to a 34.6/121. From a design point of view, Harbour Club is actually pretty good. The double-dogleg par five first is interesting. So too is the par five fourth, which begins with a carry over water and a marshy area, then makes a big sweeping downhill curve to the green. Four of the five par fours are interesting doglegs. The finishing par 4 ninth is a straight shot, but the approach is to the top of a hill. But I just can’t get around the execrable conditions. This is a golf course layout without an actual golf course. More photos below. The Harbour Club Golf Course review was first published September 19, 2017 from an August 2017 playing. ...Read More & CommentSun Mountain Leather Stand BagSeptember 19, 2017 Sun Mountain Leather Stand Bag This gorgeous leather golf bag is made from durable Yak leather and features:9 in 4-way top – Four full-length dividers – Leather-wrapped top protects club shafts Single strap – Adjustable shoulder strap Five pockets including a full-length cloting pocket, a deep velour-lined valuables pocket and three accessory pockets Crafted with the finest Yak leather available Lift-assist handles built in to the top and bottom of the bag...Read More & CommentPGA Tour Championship Winners and HistorySeptember 18, 2017The final event of the PGA Tour season the Tour Championship has since 2007 been the final event in the FedEx Cup playoffs. When it debuted in 1987, the PGA Tour Championship featured the top 30 players from the year’s money list. The tournament took place in November, just after the corresponding event on the European Tour. The event finalized the money list for the season. Since 2007, the Tour Championship has been staged in September as part of the four tournament FedEx Cup playoffs. Thirty players still qualify for the event, but qualification is based on FedEx Cup points accumulated during the regular season. The math of the event is rigged to ensure that a top-five player who wins the final event also wins the FedEx Cup. Still, it is mathematically possible for one player to win the tournament and another to win the season title. In 2008, the Tour Championship was won by Camilo Villegas, while Vijay Singh won the FedEx Cup. In 2009, Phil Mickelson won the Tour Championship, while Tiger Woods won the FedEx Cup. In 2013, with the new wrap-around season, the Tour Championship marked the end of the PGA Tour season. What used to be the “fall” and “silly seasons” now are the beginning of another PGA TOUR season. A complete list of PGA TOUR Championship Winners follows:...Read More & CommentIn The Mail: Galvin Green Dash Insula PulloverSeptember 18, 2017In the mail just in time for the coming colder weather here in Michigan is a long sleeve Galvin Green Dash Insula pullover. Galvin Green is a manufacturer of high-performance golf-specific clothing. The company prides itself on producing clothes for golfers “designed by golfers.” The Dash Insula pullover is a quarter zip, fitted pullover designed to both keep you warm and dry. Galvin Green says that bodymapping technology was used to locate Primaloft padding on exposed areas, while optimizing breathability to prevent perspiration build-up. As a walking golfer, that’s something I appreciate. It is bad enough being cold. But being cold and wet is a death sentence (literally, with hypothermia). Galvin Green says that featured in the Dash pullover is “INSULA® technology” combined with soft polyamide fabric and light padding around shoulders and elbows I will have a full review soon. After all, Winter Is Coming. ...Read More & CommentJamieson, Ly Are Champions At GAM Junior InvitationalSeptember 18, 2017Park Jamieson of Lansing, Jasmine Ly of Windsor, Champions at GAM Junior Invitational EAST LANSING – Parker Jamieson of Lansing and Jasmine Ly of Windsor, Ontario, each shot 3-under 69 scores and emerged as the overall winners of the 5th GAM Junior Invitational Championship presented by Pepsi Sunday at Forest Akers West Golf Course. Jamieson’s 69 gave him a two-day total of 141 and a one-shot win over Nick Krueger of Spring Lake, who closed with the day’s low round of 68 for 142 in the boys competition. Ly’s 69 gave her a two-day total of 143 and an eight shot win in the girls competition over Danielle Staskowski of Clarkston, who shot 75 for 151, and Mikaela Schulz of West Bloomfield, who shot 79 for 151. A field of 86 golfers played to determine the boy and girl overall champion as well as winners in the 15-and-under division. The players were invited by the GAM based on performances in a variety of state and national competitions in 2017. The 15-and-under boys winner was Justin Sui of Lake Orion, who shot 75 for 145, and topped runner-up Murphy Kehoe of Traverse City, who shot 75 for 152. It was the second consecutive 15-and-under invitational title for Sui. The 15-and-under girls winner was Jacque O’Neill of Harbor Springs, who shot 80 for 161. The runner-up was Kit Schaefer of Kalamazoo, who shot 82 for 170. Jamieson, 17 and a Lansing Christian High School golfer who won the Division 4 individual state championship two seasons ago, said he came into the tournament just wanting to do his best. “I didn’t know what the field would look like, but once I got here I saw the field was strong, and this means a lot,” he said. “This is probably my biggest win, right there with the state championship. It was a strong field out there and I played solid today.” Jamieson, who also won a Callaway junior tournament this summer and made the round of 16 in the Michigan Junior State Amateur, was tied for the lead with four other golfers when the final round started. “I made a lot of putts and was hitting my driver solid,” he said. “I hit a lot of fairways and gave myself a lot of chances.” He made five birdies in his round against two bogeys, and late birdies on Nos. 16 and 17 proved crucial. “I won my state championship here (Forest Akers West), so I’ve played some good golf here,” he said. Patrick Sullivan of Grosse Pointe was third with a 71 for 143, and Coalter Smith of Grosse Pointe Farms as fourth after a 72 for 144. Ly, 16 and a junior at Holy Names High School in Windsor, won her first Golf Association of Michigan title and called it her biggest win. “It really means a lot,” she said. “I made some good putts and I hit some good iron shots as well.” She also made six birdies on the day, three on par 5 holes, to overcome one bogey and one double-bogey. “I tried not to think about the score and just tried to think about the process and give myself a chance to hit the best shot possible,” she said. “I kind of knew where I was out there, but I just tried to block it out and play each shot.” Ly’s high school play in Windsor starts this week. “It’s fun to end the summer with this,” she said holding the championship trophy. SCORES: Complete results can be found at gam.org under the Championships tab VIA Greg Johnson...Read More & CommentBMW Championship Winners and HistorySeptember 18, 2017The third leg of the PGA Tour’s FedEx Cup playoff, the BMW Championship replaced the venerable and much respected Western Open on the schedule in 2007. The Western Open was played nearly continuously since 1899 and at one time would have been considered one of golf’s Majors. In 2017, the BMW Championship will be played at Conway Farms, in Lake Forest, Illinois. The BMW Championship is a limited field event, open to the top 70 players in the FedEx Cup standings, following the Deutsche Bank Championship. The top 30 following the BMW go on to the Tour Championship. The late, lamented Western Open was played from 1899 – 2006. The tournament was run by the Western Golf Association, which continues to run the BMW Championship. The Western Golf Association, also founded in 1899, is the administrator of the Evans Scholar program. Interestingly, the Western Golf Association was formed because western golf clubs (midwest and points further) thought they were being ill served by the USGA. It was a rules making body for twenty years in competition with the USGA. The past winners of the BMW Championship follow:BMW Championship Past WinnersYear Winner Country Scores To Par Margin Course State2017 Marc Leishman Australia 62-64-68-67=265 -23 5 Conway Farms Golf Club IL2016 Dustin Johnson United States 67-63-68-67=265 -23 3 Crooked Stick IN2015 Jason Day Australia 61-63-69-69=262 -22 6 Conway Farms Golf Club IL2014 Billy Horschell United States 68-63-66-69=266 -14 2 Cherry Hills Country Club CO2013 Zach Johnson United States 64-70-69-65=268 -16 2 Conway Farms Golf Club IL2012 Rory McIlroy Northern Ireland 64-68-69-67=268 -20 2 Crooked Stick Golf Club IN2012 Justin Rose England 63-68-69-71=271 -13 2 Cog Hill Golf & Country Club IL2010 Dustin Johnson United States 68-70-68-69=275 -9 1 stroke Cog Hill Golf & Country Club IL2009 Tiger Woods (2) United States 68-67-62-68=265 -19 8 strokes Cog Hill Golf & Country Club IL2008 Camilo Villegas Colombia 65-66-66-68=265 -15 2 strokes Bellerive Country Club MO2007 Tiger Woods United States 67-67-65-63=262 -22 2 strokes Cog Hill Golf & Country Club IL...Read More & CommentOgio 2018 Cirrus Golf Stand BagSeptember 17, 2017Ogio 2018 Cirrus Golf Stand Bag Features:9″ 7-way holster performance top with size putter pit and integrated handle Fit Disc four point, equalizing, self-adjusting strap system Lightweight fabrics and materials Rapid access pocket Walking accessible insulated water bottle holster ...Read More & CommentMichaywe Pines Golf Course ReviewSeptember 16, 2017Michaywe Pines Golf Course Review Michaywe Pines Golf Course Grade: A- Teacher’s Comments: A pleasant walk in the park. Michaywe Pines Golf Course is part of a four-season Northern Michigan recreational and residential community near Gaylord. Michaywe includes more than nine hundred homes, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a spa, sauna, tennis courts, a lake beach and beach house house, groomed cross country ski trails, nature areas and a restaurant, Inn The Woods. The Pines is a parklands style course with fairways lined by the eponymous pines. Unlike many Northern Michigan courses, Michaywe Pines has very gentle terrain, and easily walkable. In fact, the course has a caddy program — something rarely seen these days. Call ahead to check on availability.Michaywe Pines consists of two loops, with each nine beginning at the clubhouse and heading outward for four or five holes before returning. While some of the holes are parallel to each other, these always are headed in opposite directions, and usually are substantially separated. Architect Donald Childs’ 1973 design offers a lot of shot variety. Just two holes (other than the par threes) offer straight lines from tee to green. The remainder curve left or right; three present enough bend to be true doglegs. All of the greens are open in front, inviting players to try an easy running approach. However, bunkers usually located toward the front left and right mean that the tee shot needs to be well placed to take advantage of the opening. Michawye’s fairways are on the generous side, but fairway bunkers are well situated to catch the unwary. As Michaywe Pines is a development course, vacation cottages are visible along many holes. However, the fairways are wide enough, and intervening trees thick enough that my mind was at ease as I teed off. There was no chance of ever landing in someone’s yard. Visually, Michaywe Pines is pretty. While it lacks the stunning vistas and drama of many other Northern Michigan golf courses, Michaywe Pines has its own charms. Michigan’s state motto comes to mind: Si Quaeris Peninsulam Amoenam Circumspice: If You Seek A Pleasant Peninsula, Look Around. With its tree-lined fairways, well-tended grounds (even under the trees), and wide green expanses, Michaywe’s motto should be something like Si Quaeris Hortulus Amoenam Circumspice: If You Seek A Pleasant Golf Course, Look Around. (Ok. My Latin is bad. Hortulus is a pleasure garden or park. I think.). From the back tees, Michaywe stretches to 7, 040 yards and plays at a 74.2/136. The middle tees are at 6, 078 and play at a 69.9/127. I played the middle tees and had a great time. My favorite hole was the par 5 seventeenth. Measuring 535 from the tips and 485 from the middle, the hole curves ever so gracefully to the right and slightly downhill. At the bottom, the fairway is interrupted by a creek and marshy area. Past this is another ten yards of fairway and the green. Complicating the calculations, fairway bunkers are perfectly positioned to catch drives on the outside curve. A good drive needs to be wide enough to avoid being stymied by the trees right while staying out of the bunkers left. The second shot also needs to be well-considered. For the big hitters: do you go for it and risk falling short in the marsh? For shorter hitters (like this Golf Blogger): how do I set up a well-positioned approach shot that avoids both the marsh in front and the bunkers on either side of the green. The distances are such that an average ball striker just might need to give up on the idea of reaching the green in regulation and add an extra lay-up. I sometimes compare that sort of thinking to the football coach who calls a sideways play on third down to put the kicker on the other hash mark. Conditions on the day I played were terrific. Michaywe takes good care of the place. I started the round in the rain, but the Michaywe Pines drained well. I would love to play Michaywe Pines again. Northern Michigan has more dramatic courses, and more challenging courses, but few, I think, that are as relaxing and pleasant. Michaywe Pines’ walking friendly layout and the existence of a caddy program give it extra points toward the final grade. If you are in the area, this member of the Gaylord Golf Mecca deserves your business. And be sure to arrange for your foursome to get caddies. The Michaywe Pines Golf Course Review was first published September 20, 2017 from a round played in August 2017. See the list of all of GolfBlogger’s Michigan Golf Course Reviews. More photos of Michaywe Pines follow:...Read More & Comment
