James E. Vos Memorial Invitational 2016

James E. Vos Memorial Invitational 2016

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.

Sunday, March 2, 2014

Nostalgia Sunday - The James E. Vos Memorial Invitational 2004

Byron Center, MI--The James E. Vos Memorial Invitational executive committee is pleased to look back ten years at the 2004 playing of the James E. Vos Memorial Invitational (not called that at the time).

Hole #6: the signature hole on the Jones Masterpiece.
The 2004 tournament was played at Treetops Resort, and staged over four different courses: the Jones Masterpiece course, the Smith Tradition, Smith Signature, and Fazio Premier. It featured one of the smallest fields in the history of the tournament. Only fourteen participants joined the event in 2004, split into two teams of seven. They were:

Team Grand Haven
Thom Anema
Don Van Zee
Jim Warners
Brian Van Hall
Jack Vos
Bob Warners
Dick Anema

Team Grand Rapids
Jon Vos
Mark Rice
Steve Elenbaas
Joel Nieuwenhuis
Rodg Rice
Dave Veldink
Doug Gulker

The event was played Wednesday through Saturday, June 2-5. Cost of the event was $482 and included three nights lodging, unlimited golf, taxes, gratuities, use of practice area, but no meals.

The 2004 tournament and event featured several oddities. Fourteen golfers left a gap in the ideal number for pairings and forced the executive committee to adjust the pairings in odd ways. On two of the days a singles match went out first before any of the twosomes. And, due to another golfer's departure later in the week, the Saturday morning singles match featured Mark Rice paired against Thom Anema in one singles match, and simultaneously against Jim Warners in another--perhaps fittingly, both matches ended up dead even after 18 holes.

The other oddity was the committee's decision to prepare all evening meals on site and eat together. Dave Veldink, longtime Gordon Food Service veteran, willingly agreed to buy all the food in advance. Grills were brought in and meals were cooked and enjoyed outside the Treetops condos. While this made for great camaraderie, it was also a ton of work for Dave and a few others. That experiment ended after two years.

Despite the complications, the tournament was tightly contested as usual and featured one of the great team comebacks in history. While not as significant as the record-setting comeback of 2010, it was memorable nonetheless. After winning only 1 1/2 points the first day, Team Grand Haven found themselves down 6-9 and in a sizable hole going into the singles matches.

The incomparable, tough as nails, Uncle Dick.
Led by their MVP Dick Anema, Team Grand Haven rolled over the Fazio Premier course and their opponents winning four matches outright and tying three others, never actually losing any match, and coming back from a 6-9 deficit to win 11 1/2 to 10 1/2.

In what is hardly a footnote, septuagenarian Dick Anema led Team Grand Haven, going 3 1/2-1 1/2, and nosing out his son, Thom (who went 3-2), to claim the 2004 Stroke Save Trophy. In all the Anema's played a role in half their team's wins that weekend. Dick Anema holds the record for being the oldest Stroke Saver Trophy winner--something James E. Vos, Sr. would be very proud of, and rightly so.

Also memorable, Jon Vos blitzed the Treetops courses that weekend shooting:

77 - Jones
79 - Jones
80 - Rick Smith Signature
82 - Fazio Premier

for an average score of 80, sending his handicap plummeting 5 strokes from 11 to 6. No one else--not even Don Van Zee--was even close. Despite the low scores, Jon's record that weekend was 2-3 showing once again it's important to play well AND be paired well.

The tournament would return to Treetops in 2005 which would mark the last time the tournament was held there.
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