The James E. Vos Memorial Golf Invitational: 2018 Teams Announced

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.

Tuesday, May 29, 2018

2018 Teams Announced

Bellaire, MI--The tournament executive committee today announced the teams for the 31st playing of the James E. Vos Memorial Invitational, now just a week away. The executive committee made the decision to select the teams in advance to save time and create event efficiency in what will be a very busy weekend with tight schedules.

In announcing the 2018 teams the executive committee made a bold, somewhat unprecedented, and perhaps even controversial decision to move away from the tradition of keeping families together and having complete family units play together against other complete family units. Instead, the 2018 teams break some family units apart, putting them on opposite teams, facing off against each other. Vos' will now play against Vos'; Tanis' against Tanis', and so on. How interesting it will be to see Dave Tanis and his grandson, Owen, face off against his son, Jeff and other grandson, Dirk. This year, we will get to find out.

In another rarity, it is also the first year in quite some time where the three remaining founding members--Thom Anema, Jack Vos, and Mark Rice--and several of their college roommates and friends will play together as teammates--a reunion of sorts.

Pre-tournament round at Chase Hammond Golf Club
(l to r: Thom Anema, Jack Vos, Mark Rice, Tony Vroon)
circa May 1989

As usual, very few strokes separate the team handicap totals, but as we've seen in the past, that rarely matters. Grit, determination, who's playing well that week, and luck play a huge role in determining the winning team. Who will it be this year?

Herewith the teams for the 2018 James E. Vos Memorial Invitational.

Team A/Handicap (final team name tbd; see below)
Anema, Dick, +28
Anema, Thom, +17
Baker, Jim, +20
Elenbaas, Ben, +6
Elenbaas, Steve, +15
Rice, Mark, +13
Tanis, Dirk, +11
Tanis, Jeff, +12
VanderWal, Dan, +13
Vos, Jack, +20
Vroon, Tony, +25
Warners, Bob, +22

Team B/Handicap (final name tbd; see below)
Anema, John, 26
Mulder, John, +22
Rice, Rodger, +22
Tanis, Dave, +13
Tanis, Owen, +18
Terpstra, Ken, +18
Topliff, John, +16
Vos, Jon, +10
Vos, Max, +9
Vos, Sam, +13
Vroon, Anthony, +27
Warners, Jim, +15

Team names will be selected at the Wednesday evening Gathering event (approx. 9:00pm Wednesday 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. Alas, the 2017 MVP, Cam Van Koevering, is unable to participate in this year's tournament. We will have to devise another method for choosing this year's team names.