Final Trip Details

Bellaire, MI--The tournament committee is pleased to provide participants with some final trip details for the 2013 James E. Vos Memorial Invitational.

1. We are staying at the Hawk's Eye Clubhouse condos at the Hawk's Eye Golf Resort. I have never been to this location. According to the website, the clubhouse and condos are located at 2620 Hawk's Eye Dr. in Bellaire, MI.

2. PLEASE check this web page regarding accommodations and check in times and location. Web page information can often be incorrect, but according to this web page information the check in center is only open until 6pm. It also shows check-in actually occurs at Shanty Creek's Summit Village Center at 5820 Shanty Creek Rd., in Bellaire. Again, according to the website you can call 888-275-0100 during office hours if you are going to be a late arrival.

http://www.golfbellaire.com/accommodations/checking-in.html

I will try to contact Alana at Hawk's Eye to get this clarified and if I do, I'll post the new information on this website. If I don't, you'll have to just contact the resort number above and make your own arrangements or find out how/when and what time you can check in.

3. Saturday details. Twelve of our group will be playing a warm up down the road at Black Forest. Everyone else is pretty much own your own Saturday until about 9-9:30pm. Many of us will likely end up at the Bellaire Bar or Short's Brewing for supper Saturday after golf.

4. The Gathering. Please plan to meet as a large group for a bit on Saturday night in one of the condos. This has become a nice little pre-tournament gathering where we greet each other, welcome the rookies, pick the pairings for Sunday's rounds. We'll start around 9-9:30pm and try to wrap by 10-10:30pm.

2013 James E. Vos Memorial Invitational Teams Announced

Bellaire, MI--The tournament committee today announced the teams for the 26th playing of the James E. Vos Memorial Invitational, now just days away.

In switch from the 25th anniversary event, which revisited the old Grand Haven vs. The World format for the historic silver anniversary, this year's teams will feature a blended approach, in part because the Grand Havenites far outnumber anyone else in this year's tourney. As successful as last year's nostalgic match up was, the tournament committee felt a change back to a blended format was the right decision for this year's event.

The committee also considered randomly picking teams on Saturday evening before the tourney, as we have done before, drawing names out of hat. Picking teams creates a tremendous gathering event on the eve of first round. Excitement builds as everyone watches and wonders on which team they will land. Randomly picking teams that evening is also time consuming and, given the higher than expected participants in this year's event, the tournament committee made the decision to select teams in advance. Returning players will also remember we randomly select the first day's pairings on Wednesday evening which also takes time.

Care was taken to pair family members and to keep rookies on the same team as those who brought them, while also putting people on teams that haven't traditionally been teammates in the Grand Haven vs. The World format. Care was also taken to match as evenly as possible overall team handicaps and the handicaps of A-level and B-level participants. All in all, things match up pretty evenly on paper with Team A having a slightly lower overall team  handicap that Team B.

Nuff said.

Herewith the teams for the 2013 James E. Vos Memorial Inviational.

Team A/Handicap (final name tbd; see below)
Kyle Vander Wal, +7
Mark Ocshenkehl, +8 (rookie)
Dan Vander Wal, +9
Don Van Zee, +9
Dan Rosema, +10
Brian Van Hall, +13
Chris Grek, +14
Nick Vander Wal, +18
Jim Baker, +23
John Mulder, +24

Team B/Handicap (final name tbd; see below)
Sam Vos, +8
Cam Van Koevering, +9
Jon Vos, +11
Mark Rice, +12
Ken Terpstra, +14
Mike Posby, +15
Jim Warners, +16
Dave Tanis, +17
Jack Vos, +19
Rodg Rice, +25

Team names will be selected at the Wednesday evening Gathering event (approx. 9:30pm Saturday evening, details to follow in another post). It is a tournament tradition the reigning MVP retains the right to select his team's name between either the Fairway Finders or the Recovery Shots. We will wait to see what Ken Terpstra chooses.

Young & Restless: 2013 Handicaps Announced

Bellaire, MI--The youth movement has officially arrived at the James E. Vos Memorial Invitational as the young guns have firmly taken up residence in the low handicap slots. On their heels, however, are the cagey veterans who will not relinquish their positions so easily.

Heading into the 2013 tournament young guns Kyle Vander Wal, Sam Vos, and Dan Rosema make up half the low six handicaps. Kyle has been in single digits since his rookie year and again finds himself the low man at +7 after rounds of 78, 83, 79, and 83. Kyle is followed closely behind by 2012 rookie Sam Vos who comes to the 2013 tourney a +8 after solid scores last year including a scorching 79 on the tough Monarch course at Garland.

Dan Rosema

Dan Rosema fills out the trio at +10 with 2012 rounds of 86, 90, 81 and 81. Most impressive about Dan's handicap is he remains the only 2013 participant who LOWERED his handicap. That's right. Every other player in this year's field of 20 who played last year has a higher handicap. More on that later. Congratulations Dan.

Kyle Vander Wal

Sam Vos

Joining Dan, Sam, and Kyle in the top six are veterans and past MVP winners Dan Vander Wal (+9), Donovan "Dynamite" Van Zee (+9), and rookie Mark Ochsenkehl  whose +8 is an estimate. Little is known about Mark's game but we know the stellar games of Don and Dan very well. Despite their being in the top six, both saw their handicaps soar this year; Van Zee from +5 last year to +9 this year and the elder Vander Wal from +6 to +9.

Don "Dynamite" Van Zee

They weren't the only ones. Every 2012 returnee has a 2013 handicap higher than last year save the young Rosema, a reflection of the difficult, unforgiving Garland courses, home to last year's tournament. The lucky ones only went up a stroke or two. Sam Vos, Kyle Vander Wal, and 2012 MVP, Ken Terpstra, will see only a one stroke increase, followed closely behind by Jack Vos, who went from +17 to + 19, and Chris Grek, going from +12 to +14.

For some it was significant. Tipping the scales on the other end was Jim Baker who went from +15 in 2012 to a mighty +23 going into this year's tournament, an increase of 8 strokes. Dave Tanis went up seven strokes going from +10 to + 17, and both Rodg Rice and Doc Mulder went up five strokes; Rodg from +20 to +25 and Doc Mulder from +19 to +24. BE WARNED: these gents are to be feared in the 2013 tourney.

The always dangerous, Dave Tanis

All this sets up for a terrific 2013 tournament. Indexes are below. Tees indicate tee played in the 2012 tournament to achieve the current handicap index. Rookie handicaps are estimated as are the tees from which they play.

Name, Tee, Index
Jim Baker, blue tees, +23
Chris Grek, white, +14
John Mulder, white, +24
Mark Ochsenkehl, blue, +8 (rookie)
Mike Posby, blue, +15 (rookie)
Mark Rice, blue, +12
Rodger Rice, white, +25
Dan Rosema, blue, +10
Dave Tanis, white, +17
Ken Terpstra, white, +14
Dan Vander Wal, blue, +9
Kyle Vander Wal, blue, +7
Nick Vander Wal, white, +18
Cam Van Koevering, blue, +9
Brian Van Hall, blue, +13
Donovan Van Zee, blue, +9
Jack Vos, white, +19
Jon Vos, blue, +11
Sam Vos, blue, +8
Jim Warners, blue, +16

Ken Terpstra Steamrolls to 2012 MVP

Bellaire, MI—Showing the intense competitive fire long-time tournament participants have come to expect, Ken Terpstra was simply unbeatable, taking no prisoners on his way to winning the 2012 Stoke Saver Trophy at the 25^th playing of the James E. Vos Memorial Invitational. With the win Ken joins Jon Vos, Dirk Van Zee, and Dan Vander Wal as the only multiple award winners. Ken shared the honor in 2006 with Jon Vos. Jon and Dirk are the award's only three-time winners.

It was impressive, to say the least, with all but two of his five matches virtually over by the fourteenth hole, if not sooner. He won going away, as they say in racing, winning 8&7 and 5&4 in the two-man best-ball match play events, and +6 in the 2-man best-ball stroke play event. Along for the ride, and taking nothing away from the talents of these individuals, were Steve Elenbaas, Jeff Stuk, Brian Van Hall, and Dan Rosema all who played well in supporting roles.

Ken’s two toughest matches were his last of the tournament. In the two-man scramble Ken paired with Dan Rosema and faced the tough veteran team of Dave Tanis and Phil Vandenberge who, based on the handicapping system, began with a four-stroke advantage. The battle was waged on the Garland Reflections course and was close the entire way. Team Terpstra/Rosema immediately erased their four-stroke deficit, drawing the match even by the fifth hole with five straight pars to the early erratic play of Tanis/Vandenberge who were 3-over through five with a double-bogey on the tough par 5 fifth. Tanis/Vandenberge would rally, however, playing the next four holes in 1-under with a birdie on the par 5 8^th to regain the 4-stroke advantage through 9 holes while Terpstra/Rosema faltered playing the last four holes on the front in +3.

Four strokes up with 9 holes to play in a scramble format would seem like advantage Tanis/Vandenberge…unless you’re playing against Ken Terpstra. Terpstra/Rosema had them right where they wanted, playing the back nine level par, impressively with birdies on 11, 12 (who birdies Reflections #12?), 15 and 16. Tanis/Vandenberge fought bravely but were no match, relinquishing the lead on hole 16 and losing it for good with a double-bogey 6 on the seventeenth.

Tony Vroon bows to the master, knowing his own defeat is envitable.

Ken’s toughest match came in the final morning singles match play competition against the elusively talented Tony Vroon. Tony combines talent with cunningly good humor to seduce his competition to relax, only to have them laugh their way through the round not realizing Tony is beating their brains in. This strategy works well on the weak-minded (yours truly) and almost worked on Terp, but Terp’s mental toughness ultimately carried the day. This match was tightly contested the entire way on the tough Monarch course with both players never gaining more than a 1-up advantage until the last. Blood was drawn on ten holes with Tony holding on to a razor-thin 1-up lead through seven holes shooting a 45 on the front nine to Ken’s 44. Little did Tony know that would be his last lead of the match. As he had done all week, Terp quickly rallied, winning the 8^th to level the match and winning the narrow par 5 10^th hole to go +1. Vroon nipped at Terp’s heels, winning the difficult 11^th hole with a par (who par’s the 11^th?) to level the match for the fourth time, but again Terp fought back, winning the par 3 12^th with a bogey to Vroon’s double, gaining a 1-up lead he would never relinquish. With Vroon’s spirit crushed and his strategy failed, he battled hard, matching Terp stroke-for-stroke the next four holes and had a chance to tie for a halve on 18 only to double-bogey it allowing Terpstra to close him out with a 2 up win and secure the Stroke Saver Trophy.

Congratulations Ken!

2013 Rooming List Announced

Bellaire, MI--The tournament committee today announced the rooming list for 26th annual James E. Vos Memorial Invitational. Participants in the 2013 tournament will be staying at the Hawk's Eye Clubhouse condos. The two bedroom, two bath condos were built in 2006 and offer panoramic views of the golf course and a short walk to the on-property restaurant, bar, and pro shop--both located in the same building.

Each unit sleeps four and features full kitchens, living areas, 42" plasma TV's, fireplace, outdoor deck, and free wireless internet service. A link to the accommodations webpage is found here:

http://www.golfbellaire.com/accommodations/clubhouse.html

Herewith the rooms and participants assigned. The condo numbers above each set of names do not correspond to actual condo numbers at the resort.

Condo 1
Mark Rice
Rodg Rice
Dave Tanis
Jim Baker

Condo 2
Jack Vos
Sam Vos
Jon Vos
Cam Van Koevering

Condo 3
Dan Vander Wal
Nick Vander Wal
Kyle Vander Wal
Don Van Zee

Condo 4
Jim Warners
Mike Posby
Ken Terpstra
Brian Van Hall

Condo 5
John Mulder
Dan Rosema
Chris Grek
Mark Ochsenkehl

Posby Makes Twenty

Byron Center, MI--The James E. Vos Memorial Invitational tournament committee today announced a full field of twenty participants, the twentieth and final participant joining somewhat last minute and unexpectedly.

Mike Posby, son-in-law of Jim Warners, has accepted an invitation to the tournament. Mike's acceptance completes the field of twenty and enables two teams to evenly divide against each other at ten apiece. Plans are currently underway forming teams in advance of the tournament.

Mike will join Mark Oschenkehl and Cam Van Koevering as the tournament's three rookies. The tournament committee welcomes them all, in particular, Mike, who is one of only two participants in this year's tournament to actually hit from the correct side of the ball--the left. Welcome Mike!

2012 Images

The 25th playing of the James E. Vos Memorial Invitational is over but will long be remembered. It was a special gathering of friends, new and long-lasting, young and old to celebrate the game we love and to honor the one man who epitomized its lasting virtues of honor, love of the game, and deep lasting friendship.

Images compliments of Doc John Mulder who faithfully serves as the tournament's official photographer and whose images have greatly enhanced the tournament. Thanks Doc John!

Discussion ensues on the tournament's first day over "the replay."

Friends are reacquainted at the Gathering, the evening before the tournament.

The incomparable, Uncle Dick. Our tournament's most-loved octogenarian.

2012 MVP Ken Terpstra shows off his form and his legging.

The swing of Phil Vandenberge, still oh, so silky after fifty years.

Reliving Sr.'s Ace.

No one even hit the green but many tried including Thom Anema, attempting the shot and recreating Sr. Vos' form as only he can do.

Brian Van Hall tries to ace Reflections #16.

Eventually we all kissed Ken Terpstra's feet as he dominated matches on his way to the 2012 Stroke Saver trophy.

One of our tournament's well-loved Tall Timbers, Dave Tanis, toasts Jim Vos Sr. on  Reflections #16.

The moving event made us laugh and cry, celebrating one of our now gone co-founders.

The Jim Vos, Sr. honorary tree, planted just to the left of Reflections #16.

The plaque.

The brothers Van Zee.

Friends and tournament co-founders Jack, Mark, and Thom.

Congrats to the winning Recovery Shots team of (back row l-r): Jack vos, Ken Terpstra, Don Van Zee, Jim Baker, Jim Warners, Jeff Stuk, John Mulder; (front row l-r): Bob Warners, Brian Van Hall, Chris Grek, Dirk Van Zee, Sam Vos, Dan Rosema, Jon Vos, Steve Elenbaas (not pictured.)