The James E. Vos Memorial Golf Invitational: Wednesday, June 8 Travel Plans Set

A Buddies Trip...A Lasting Legacy

"When buddie's golf succeeds it resuscitates the soul. We return to our lives as if from a spiritual retreat, reminded by imperfect pastors that we ought to quit chasing perfection and enjoy life." Golf Digest, December 2009.

A lesson like that knows no offseason. In 1988 four friends hatched an idea to spend two days in northern Michigan competing in three two-man events over three different courses--the winning team earning a full-course dinner and bragging rights until next year. It was right after the first 36-hole day, sitting on the deck at Shanty Creek Resort, watching the sun set over Lake Bellaire, reliving shots hit stoney and stone-like, mesmerized by a fervent purple and pink sky, the four friends instinctively knew, "This is perfect."

A trip was born, a lasting legacy begun. Since that first trip, friends and family have gathered each June, bound by the rich traditions of the game and lasting friendships forged in the cathedrals and cellars of Michigan golf: Boyne, Treetops, Garland, Wuskowhan, The Legend, Cedar River, The Chief, Wicked Trick, I mean, Crooked Stick, Bay Harbor, A-ga-ming, Black Forest, Antrim Dells, and countless others.

What began as four friends, 54 holes over two days has grown to as many as 28 golfers, 162 holes over 4 days. We are bound by the very things that make up the pillars of golf: love, honor, and respect.

Saturday, June 4, 2011

Wednesday, June 8 Travel Plans Set

Bellaire, MI--Golf and travel plans for Wednesday, June 8 are set.

By my count nine of the twelve participants in this year's tournament will be headed north for tournament pre-play. Sadly, three of our members will be suffering downstate until after work on Wednesday before venturing to Shanty Creek Resort. Here are the current Wednesday plans as received by the tournament committee. Seven participants in the 2011 James E. Vos Memorial Invitational will be readying their skills Wednesday, all day at Lochenheath Golf Club in Williamsburg, MI, playing thirty-six holes.

Dan VanderWal
Kyle VanderWal
Chris Grek
John Mulder
Jon Vos
Rodg Rice
Mark Rice

Two other participants will join them for the afternoon round at Lochenheath:

Don VanZee

Jim Baker

Lochenheath is a wonderful "rising from the ashes" story of golf in Michigan. Designed by Steve Smyers and opened in 2001, the course caught the tail end of Michigan's golf boom. Striving to become a high end private course and located on the shores of Grand Traverse Bay and in the shadow of Grand Traverse Resort, the course received rave reviews when it opened but never found its niche, or enough equity members to achieve its private club status. The bank seized the property in 2007 and closed the course in 2009. That's when a handful of homeowners surrounding the course stepped up and stepped in and worked, quite literally with their bare hands to not the let course go under. The lovingly, painstakingly spent countless hours pulling weeds, mowing, convincing the electric company to allow them to keep the sprinklers on, and finding equity partners.

The course is back, and under new management. They've hired Mike Husby to serve as general manager. Mike is well-known in Michigan golf circles. He most recently served in the same capacity at Candlestone Golf Club in Belding, MI, overseeing a complete overhaul of that well-known but tired property, redoing all the bunkers, adding needed length and tee boxes, and improving the greens.

I asked Mike if he would answer a few questions for me for this report but I have not heard anything as of this writing.

For the complete reclamation story on Lochenheath, go to http://www.mgolf.net/features/Reclaim.html

For more information on Lochenheath and to see more photos, visit http://www.lochenheath.com/index.html