The James E. Vos Memorial Golf Invitational: January 2015

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 22, 2015

The Homestead Resort to Host 28th 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 Leelanau Peninsula and The Homestead Resort, overlooking Lake Michigan and Sleeping Bear Dunes National Park.

www.thehomsteadresort.com

Until recent years the tournament had almost exclusively been held in northern lower Michigan's big resorts--Treetops, Boyne, and Garland Resort. Things began to change in 2009 as tournament planners began exploring new options and lower package prices. Since then, the tournament has been hosted by several "firsts" including A-ga-ming and, most recently, Lakewood Shores. But the tournament has never been held in the Leelanau Peninsula.

In playing host, The Homestead will be the tournament's lodging headquarters. The actual tournament will be played on three different courses in and around the area, none of which has ever hosted a JEV tournament round until this year. The courses are:

Manitou Passage Golf Club (www.manitoupassagegolfclub.com)
Mistwood Golf Club (www.mistwoodgolf.com)
The Leelanau Club at Bahle Farms (www.leelanuclub.com)

Manitou Passage is a 20-year old Arnold Palmer design originally opened as King's Challenge. It fell on hard times and into disrepair until The Homestead purchased it in 2009 and asked The King back for full rennovation. Mistwood is an early 1990's Jerry Matthews design with 27-holes. The Leelanau Club is a little known but well regarded and relatively new Gary Pulsipher design.

The tournament will be held from Wednesday evening, June 3 through Saturday morning, June 6. The tournament executive committee is sending tournament invitations this weekend.