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.

Monday, May 13, 2019

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
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