The James E. Vos Memorial Golf Invitational: Lakewood Shores to Host 27th Annual James E. Vos Memorial Invitational

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.

Thursday, January 30, 2014

Lakewood Shores to Host 27th Annual James E. Vos Memorial Invitational

Byron Center, MI--The James E. Vos Memorial Invitational tournament committee made an unprecedented announcement today. For the first time ever it will bring the tournament to Michigan's sunrise side--to the Lake Huron town of Oscoda and Lakewood Shores Resort. Until today's announcement the tournament had almost exclusively been held on the Lake Michigan side of the state and primarily in and around the northern lower's resort towns of Gaylord, Bellaire, Petosky, and Charlevoix.

In making this announcement the tournament committee extends it thanks to all who took part in the survey process. The information gleaned through these surveys was very helpful to the committee in making its final decision.

The tournament committee had been keeping an eye on Lakewood Shores ever since its Gailes course opened and garnered Golf Digest's best new course award in 1992.

Designed by Kevin Aldridge, The Gailes' sod wall bunkers, double greens, and fescue grasses harken back to a wee bit o' Scotland. The course has continued to receive high praise since it opened and is on many golfer's "must play" lists.

Lakewood opened its Blackshire course three years later. Its huge waste areas, dense trees, and undulating greens are said to give it a Pine Valley feel. It too has received high praise since it opened.

Combine these two strong courses with a third, older traditional parkland resort course--the Seradalla--and an inspiring par-3 short course set right next to the lodging facilities, and suddenly Lakewood Shores was on the map.

But its distance from West Michigan (close to four hours by car), had always knocked Lakewood Shores out of contention, especially when there were so many other high caliber options nearby. That is, until recently. In 2008, after fourteen consecutive years of playing northern Michigan's big resorts (including five-in-a-row at Garland) the tournament committee began trying some of Michigan's smaller, less popular but no less enjoyable options. The tournament stayed close to home in 2008 (Hawkshead, The Ravines), then spent 2009 at A-ga-ming and liked it enough to return in 2010.

A new era had begun. In fact, all five host clubs--including one in northern Indiana--under consideration for the 2014 tournament had never hosted the JEV. Welcome Lakewood Shores Resort.

In related news, the tournament committee confirmed the 2014 tournament will be played on the originally announced dates of Saturday, May 31 through Tuesday, June 3.

Specific tournament information including pricing, lodging details, and deposit information will be forthcoming in a later post.