Boy, Oh Boyne

Byron Center, MI--The James E. Vos Memorial Invitational tournament committee today announced the 33rd playing of its annual event will be held June 3 through June 6 at Boyne Mountain Resort. This is the fifth time Boyne resorts have hosted the tournament, but only the second time the Boyne City, MI property has served as tournament headquarters. Previous tournaments were held at Boyne properties in 1990, 2006, and 2007 (Boyne Highlands) and in 1991 (Boyne Mt.).

Boyne Mt. Monument Course Hole #18

Boyne, and specifcially Boyne Highlands, has been at the top of most everyone's request list for years. Despite that, and despite obtaining package quotes from them most every year for the last 5-6 years, premium pricing demanded by the resort has made it difficult for Boyne Highlands to host. Price-wise, this year was no different. Boyne came in with an expensive package price. However, during the package negotiation process, the possibility of staying at Boyne Mt. emerged as a more economical way of having the resort host the 2020 tournament. And, while the per person package price will be higher than normal in 2020 (by approx. $100/person), the executive committee made the decision to accept Boyne Mountain's bid to host the 2020 tournament.

Consideration was also given to Pohlcat/Bucks Run in Mt. Pleasant and Grand Traverse Resort in Traverse City. GTR was price restrictive, as usual. Pohlcat/Bucks Run was an interesting option but the committee tabled that option when it became clear Boyne Mt. was becoming a more affordable alternative. Both will be given consideration for hosting in 2021.

A preliminary course rotation has already been established for 2020 tournament. Plans call for the teams to face off Thursday morning, June 4 at 7:10am on the Alpine course, followed by afternoon play at 1:20pm on the Monument course, both at at Boyne Mt. Friday's (June 5) rotation takes place at Boyne Highlands (a 30-minute drive north) and features the Ross course (8:00am) followed by the Heather (2:00pm). The Saturday morning (June 6) finale singles matches will be played back at Boyne Mt. on the Monument course (10:00am tee time).

Note: Thursday and Friday tournament days are unlimited golf, so more golf can be played if desired. Plus work is being done to receive special pricing for any golf played on Wednesday, June 3 before the tournament begins. This still needs to be confirmed but it looks good as of this writing.

Lodging will be in the  Disciples Ridge condos on property at Boyne Mt. Resort.

Disciples Ridge

The tournament committee is anticipating another strong turn out for the 2020 event. The field has been opened to 28 golfers. Invitations will be extended in the coming weeks with participants expected to accept in ASAP with a $100 deposit, payable directly to the resort. Watch this website and your email for future notification and instructions to reserve your spot.

Final 2019 Tournament Details

Gaylord, MI--Looking forward to the 32nd annual James E. Vos Memorial Invitational. Here are some final trip details for this year's participants.

1. Package price is $399. Your $100 deposit was due 3/30 with payment in full due when you arrive at Treetops and check-in. NOTE: check in is at the Lodge at Treetops.

2. Package includes three nights lodging in the Inn at Treetops (NOT the Lodge), unlimited golf with cart for two days (Thursday and Friday) and 18-holes of golf on Saturday morning, use of practice facility and range balls, and all taxes and local fees. (NOTE: additional rounds on the Jones Masterpiece and the Smith Signature require a $20.00 surcharge)

3. Tee times, competitive format, and courses are as follows:

Ryder Cup-style competition. Each competitive match is worth one (1) point. Team with the most points at the end declared the tournament winner.

Thursday, May 30
Morning - Jones Masterpiece
7:16am-8:25am - 2-man best ball (match play)

Afternoon - Jones Masterpiece
1:24pm-2:33pm - 2-man best ball (stroke play)

Friday, May 31
Morning - Smith Tradition
6:50am-7:40am - 2-man scramble (stroke play - handicapped)

Afternoon - Fazio Premier
12:33pm-1:28pm - 2-man best ball (match play)

Saturday, June 9
Morning - Fazio Premier
8:42am-9:48am - Singles (match play)

4. Team Pairings, Matches, and Team Names

Teams have already been selected and sent out In addition, all the matches for the tournament have also already been created. This is being done to save time and create efficiency when we have a group this large. A pairings sheet will be sent directly to all participants in a private email.

The reigning MVP's (Dan Vander Wal and Dick Anema) will select their team's name (either Recovery Shots or Fairway Finders) at the Wednesday night Gathering. Scorecards for day one of the tournament will be handed out on Wednesday night. Every evening, the next day's scorecards will be handed out.

Meals are not included this year. There are several options for dinners and we will figure this out as we go. A group our size is always difficult for any restaurant to handle and we may have to split up. We'll play it by ear from day-to-day. Friday night we will have pizza brought in from the Treetops sports bar. The other nights we typically all end up at a local restaurant/bar for supper in Gaylord. There are also restaurants/bars on property, located to the left of the Inn, up the hill, on top of the ski slopes. Breakfasts are on your own. The restaurant at the top of the hill has a breakfast buffet. I'm told the rooms have refrigerators, but I can't guarantee that 100%.

5. Wednesday Golf, Hotel Check-In, and The Gathering

Wednesday is a non-tournament day. Some of us are playing Forest Dunes on the way up. We have secured four tee times at 11:50am on Wednesday at a rate of $95 per player. Space is limited. Currently, there are ten (13) players signed up for this, leaving three spots open. If you wish to join, let Mark Rice know.

Check-in is officially not until 5pm. However, early arrivals will be accommodated based on availability. Check in is at the LODGE. We are staying at the INN.

The Gathering. If you are able, please plan to meet as a large group for a bit on Wednesday night. The Chalet room at our hotel in the Inn is reserved for us all three nights. The chalet room is on the lower level of the Inn. Those of you that played Treetops three years ago will remember we had this room then as well. This has become a nice little pre-tournament gathering where we greet each other, welcome the rookies (there are none this year), go over the pairings for matches, and go over other tournament details. We'll start this meeting around 9:00pm and try to wrap by 9:30pm. It's important to not miss this. Please do your best to be on time.

NOTE: The official word on the Chalet room is NO ALCOHOL is permitted in this room that is not purchased at the resort. This was the official word three years ago as well. Please be discreet. I'm sure they will send someone down to talk to us about it. Bring whatever you are drinking down in low-key drinking containers like red Solo cups. There were cool about it three years ago. If we don't throw the use of our own alcohol in their faces, they will likely look the other way.

If you have any questions, please call or text Mark Rice. Cell number is 616-826-8232.

See you in a few days!

2019 Handicaps: Down We Go

Gaylord, MI--Certain courses and resorts are just more friendly to golfers. The history of the James E. Vos Memorial Invitational shows player handicap indexes go up after the tournament visits Garland (as they did after the 2017 tournament), and they go down when the players enjoy the friendly confines of Shanty Creek Resort.

Player handicap indexes, which were high after Garland (2017) plummeted after the 2018 tournament. Clearly, Shanty Creek suits the players eyes. Sixteen (16) of the twenty-one (21) players entering this year's tournament who played in last year's tournament saw their indexes drop--some significantly--and over half of those (9 players) saw their indexes drop by -4 points or more. How this effects play in 2019 remains to be seem.

Leading this group is Jim Baker, whose index skyrocketed to +20 after Garland (2017) with rounds of 95-99-94-100.

Jim rectified that quickly in 2018 by scorching the Shanty Creek courses, going 84-85-88-88, dropping his index nine strokes (yes, NINE strokes!). He enters the 2019 tournament +11.

Not far behind Jim, not less than four players lowered their indexes by 5 strokes. Anthony Vroon's index went from +27 to +22, only to be matched by his papa, Anthony Sr., who lowered his from +25 to +20.

A Sr., and A-Dog, Jr.

2016 MVP,Bob Warners, was in the -5 group as well, lowering his index from +22 to +17.

Perhaps most impressive in the -5 group was octogenarian and 2005 MVP, Rodg Rice, who, at 81 years old, never sniffed a round in the 100s at Shanty Creek (he had two in 2017 at Garland) and fired off 97-95-92-and an 88!! Way to go to the ageless one! (P.S. Shhhh, the guys in his golf league call him "The Bomber." No lie!!)

At 81 he turns like he's 20!

Other notables dropping their indexes by four strokes were 2000 and 2015 MVP, Thom Anema (+17 to +13), 1994 MVP, Jeff Tanis (+12 to +8), three-time MVP, Dan Vander Wal (+13 to +9), and 2007 MVP, Jack Vos (+20 to +16).

Bringing up the rear were the ONLY three players whose indexes actually went UP, not down. Perhaps still suffering the lingering effects of a lung transplant surgery and recovery, 2014 MVP Doc John Mulder nudged his index up one stroke to +23.

1995 MVP Mark "Call Me Cybil" Rice continued his typical roller coaster ride play and fired a smooth 89-93-87-92, sending his index from +13 to +15.

And most peculiar was the play of young Dirk Tanis. Perhaps drunk on love, young Dirk quite mysteriously stumbled to rounds of 93-88-95!-82 sending his index up three points from +11 to +14.

Love-drunk, Dirk Tanis

Luckily, Dirk is rectifying his love-sickness. He's getting married on June 14 and will hopefully be back this year with his normal A-game. Congratulations, Dirk!!!!!

All this sets up for a terrific 2019 tournament. Indexes and tee assignments are below. Tees assignments indicate the tee played in the last tournament to achieve the current handicap index.

Name, Tee, Index
ANEMA, DICK, Red, +27
ANEMA, JOHN, White, +24
ANEMA, THOM, Blue, +13
BAKER, JIM, White, +11
ELENBAAS, BEN, Blue, +4
ELENBAAS, STEVE, Blue, +14
GREK, CHRIS, White, +18
MULDER, JOHN, White, +23
RICE, MARK, Blue, +15
RICE, RODGER, Gold, +17
ROSEMA, BEN, Blue, +24
TANIS, DAVE, Gold, +13
TANIS, DIRK, Blue, +14
TANIS, JEFF, White, +8
TANIS, OWEN, White, +15
VANDERWAL, DAN, Blue, +9
VANDERWAL, KYLE, Blue, +9
VOS, JACK, White, +16
VOS, JON, Blue, +11
VOS, MAX, Blue, +9
VROON, ANTHONY, White, +22
VROON, TONY, White, +20
WARNERS, BOB, White, +17
WARNERS, JIM, White, +13

2019 Rooming List Announced

Gaylord, MI--The tournament committee today announced the rooming list for 32nd annual James E. Vos Memorial Invitational. Participants in the 2019 tournament will be staying in standard 2-bed accommodations at the Inn at Treetops.

The Inn at Treetops was completely rennovated in 2017 and now features completely updated rooms and public areas. The Inn at Treetpos sits between the Lodge and the top of the hill restaurants, overlooking the Jones driving range and the ski hill. Offering a heated indoor pool and outdoor pool (in season), hot tub, coin laundry, game room, newly renovated lobby, children’s center, and you can easily walk to the restaurants, the lodge and the convention center. The Inn has interior corridor entrances for all accommodations located on 3 levels with no elevator access. All rooms offer a patio or balcony.

Please note: check-in is at the Treetops Lodge, not the Inn. The Lodge is located across the parking lot and closer to the Jones course pro shop.

Newly Renovated Room at the Treetops Inn

Herewith the rooms and participants assigned. The numbers assigned to each grouping are not actual room numbers. If you wish to switch room assignments from what is below, work that out directly with the resort staff, not with the executive committee.

Room 1
Mark Rice
Rodger Rice

Room 2
Jack Vos
Thom Anema

Room 3
Tony Vroon
Anthony Vroon

Room 4
Dick Anema
John Anema

Room 5
Dave Tanis
Owen Tanis

Room 6
Jeff Tanis
Dirk Tanis

Room 7
John Mulder
Ben Rosema

Room 8
Dan Rosema
JD Rosema

Room 9
Steve Elenbaas
Ben Elenbaas

Room 10
Jon Vos
Max Vos

Room 11
Dan VanderWal
Kyle VanderWal

Room 12
Jim Warners
Bob Warners

Room 13
Jim Baker
Chris Grek