The Michigan Open Championship Returns to Grand Traverse Resort and Spa

 

The Michigan Open Championship Returns to Grand Traverse Resort and Spa

 ACME, Mich., May 30, 2018 — The Michigan Open Championship—the state’s oldest and most prestigious annual tournament—returns to The Bear at Grand Traverse Resort and Spa June 11–14. For the first time, the event will coincide with a special junior clinic put on by the Resort, the Traverse City Junior Golf Association, and the Michigan PGA.

Dates and Details for Spectators

• The tournament begins Monday, June 11, and ends Thursday, June 14, 2018.
• The tournament is open for public viewing at no charge.
• Spectators should follow standard golf course etiquette and dress codes.
• Results for the tournament will be posted here as scores are available.

About the Michigan Open Championship

The Michigan Open was first played in 1916 and won by Leo Diegel, who also played in the inaugural Ryder Cup matches and the first Masters Tournament in Augusta, GA. Many of golf’s most famous have their names listed on the Michigan Open’s James Standish Trophy, including Walter Hagen, Chuck Kocsis, Al Watrous, Horton Smith, Walter Burkemo, and John Barnum.

The 2018 championship is being presented by Yamaha Golf Cars Plus and MercyElite Sports Performance with additional support from Pepsi and Traverse City Tourism.

To learn more about the Michigan Open and the Michigan PGA, visit michiganpgagolf.com.

Tournament Details

The field is traditionally made up of the top Michigan PGA professionals, touring professionals who maintain residency in the state, and the top amateur players. The Championship is a 72-hole stroke play event. A field of 156 starting golfers will be determined after entrants not in the exempt categories play in one of seven qualifiers presented around the state between May 22 and June 3. A special three-spot qualifier will also be held on June 9 at Traverse City Golf & Country Club, which can be used as a first or second attempt. A tie for first place will be decided by a sudden death playoff immediately following the completion of the final round. Purse payout is for those who return a 72-hole score.

About The Bear

The Bear was home to the Michigan Open Championship from 1985 through 2008 and is often described as one of the toughest golf courses in the state. It is an 18-hole, par 72 course which features terraced fairways, tiered greens, deep grassy roughs, moguls and mounds, and deep pot bunkers. A true test for even the finest golfers, The Bear plays to 7,078 yards from the championship tees. It has four lakes, ten holes with water hazards, and only one hole with no bunkers: the 6th Hole. The Bear is a signature design of Jack Nicklaus and officially opened on June 17, 1985.

Michigan Open Junior Clinic

Grand Traverse Resort and Spa will be hosting a junior golf clinic in conjunction with the Traverse City Junior Golf Association (TCJGA) and the Michigan PGA.

• Who: Junior golfers and Michigan PGA Professionals
• What: The clinic will focus on how professionals prepare for a tournament setting and will feature a Q&A as well as demonstrations from the pros
• Where: Grand Traverse Resort and Spa driving range
• When: Sunday, June 10, from 1 to 3 p.m.
• How to Register: Contact the Traverse City Junior Golf Association here

Volunteering at the Michigan Open

The success of the Michigan Open is largely due to the volunteers who help make the event run smoothly providing services such as live tournament scoring, leader boards, shuttle driving, spotting, score verification, and more. The Michigan PGA will be providing volunteer training meetings prior to the event. Volunteers will receive complimentary golf from the Resort and a hat from the Michigan PGA. Those interested in volunteering should contact Kyle Oberstadt at [email protected] or 231-534-6586.

About Grand Traverse Resort and Spa

Grand Traverse Resort and Spa is located near Traverse City, MI, along Lake Michigan’s Grand Traverse Bay. The 900-acre property is one of the Midwest’s finest year-round resorts featuring nearly 600 guest rooms, 54 holes of championship golf including courses designed by Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player, a full-service spa, and upscale dining and shopping. “Michigan’s Premier Resort Experience.” For information about the Resort, lodging packages, and to make reservations, call 800-236-1577 or visit www.grandtraverseresort.com.