Back to the Future

Lewiston, MI--The tournament executive committee today announced the teams for the 25th playing of the James E. Vos Senior Memorial Invitational. Harkening back to the tournament's earliest days the 2012 teams will bring the return of "Grand Haven  vs. The World" with just a few slight alterations.

The tournament changed to its current Ryder Cup format in 1994 and shortly thereafter moved to a Grand Haven vs. The World team format creating a long-standing fun but intense and sometimes heated rivalry lead by captains Jack Vos (Grand Haven) and Mark Rice (World). Strategery, gamesmanship, and competitive tactics to create mismatches during this period are part of the lore and fabric of this tournament, from Captain Vos slipping encouraging notes under his team's doors at night, to last minute player announcements of moving tee boxes, to comments about certain player's games "peaking"--anything to get an edge.

The intensity erupted in 1999 at Boyne Highlands after the tournament ended in a tie for the first and only time in its history. With Team Grand Haven holding the Senior Cup after winning it in 1998, they made the understandable assumption a tie would result in their holding the trophy another year. Team World had other ideas and reminded their competitors no rules had been previously established concerning matches ending in a tie, stating that a tie should be a tie--no one holds the Cup. Emotions and frustrations boiled over. Alas, it was perhaps this intensity that drove players like Van Zee, Vos, Tanis, and Vandenberge to play on in a cold, drenching rain at The Chief in 2001 and, perhaps drove others to depart the tournament altogether.

The Grand Haven vs. The World team format would continue for six more years until 2007 when Captains Vos and Rice decided, as fun and competitive as the format had been, a change was necessary in order to restore some of the tenants of the tournament that perhaps were in danger of being lost: friendship, camaraderie, and a love of game. Most would agree the change to picking new teams each year has been necessary and successful. Most would also agree, however, there was something special about the old format and the spirited rivalry it brought.

Interestingly, in thirteen years of playing a Grand Haven vs. The World team format, the matches have ended with six wins each and a tie. With this year's return to the old format, one team finally have an edge.

This year's teams are as follows:

Team Grand Haven

Baker, Jim

Elenbaas, Steve

Grek, Chris

Mulder, John

Rosema, Dan

Stuk, Jeff

Terpstra, Ken

Van Hall, Brian

Van Zee, Dirk

Van Zee, Don

Vos, Jack

Vos, Jon

Vos, Sam

Warners, Bob

Warners, Jim

Team World

Anema, Dick

Anema, Thom

Klunder, Ken

Rice, Mark

Rice, Rodg

Tanis, Dave

Tanis, Jeff

Tanis, Owen

Topliff, John

Vandenberge, Mark

Vandenberge, Phil

VanderWal, Dan

VanderWal, Kyle

Vroon, Tony

Dirk Van Zee Joins 25th Anniversary Tournament

Garland, MI--The James E. Vos Memorial Invitational executive committee today announced the return of long-time participant and three-time MVP, Dirk Van Zee.

Mr. Steve Elenbaas circa 1999

Mr. Dirk Van Zee circa 1999

Dirk's invitation came shortly after the executive committee was informed that participant Steve Elenbaas would not be able to participate in this year's tournament in its entirety. Mr. Elenbaas' vacation time schedule, and other important family commitments forced him to cut his tournament participation by 3/5's. Steve and Dirk will now together fill the 28th slot with Steve playing in Sunday's matches and Dirk playing in Monday and Tuesday's matches. Steve will also participate in Saturday's pre-tournament play which is open to all but not part of the tournament package.



While the committee expresses understanding with sadness over Steve's schedule change (Steve is a long-time participant himself), it welcomes Dirk's return. Dirk has played in numerous tournaments dating back to its early years and has been the tournament's MVP or co-MVP three times, holding it solo in 1996 and sharing the honor in 2003 with Chris Grek and again in 2007 with brother-in-law, Jack Vos. 2007 was Dirk's last time in the tournament until this year.

The tournament executive committee is sympathetic to Steve and is pleased to try to oblige the inevitable schedule changes due to conflicts, which are nothing new to the tournament and are bound to occur. However, it strongly encourages all participants to commit to the tournament in its entirety at all times.

2012 Rooming List Announced

Lewiston, MI--The tournament executive committee today announced the tournament's rooming list. Players will be staying four to a unit in the Garland Lodge villas. Located a short walk from the main lodge the villas feature a mutual sitting area with a gas log fireplace and two separate bedrooms, each with its own bathroom and shower.


Overall the executive committee is pleased with the lodging foursomes with the exception of villa three. Concerns have already been expressed about this foursome staying up all night and missing tee times. Extra curfew times may be imposed for villa three.


http://www.garlandusa.com/explore/lodging/villas


Villa 1
Mark Rice
Ken Klunder
John Topliff
Chris Grek


Villa 2
Jack Vos
Sam Vos
Jeff Stuk
Jon Vos


Villa 3

Dave Tanis

Dick Anema

Phil Vandenberge

Rodger Rice

Villa 4

Brian Van Hall

Don Van Zee

Jim Baker

Bob Warners

Villa 5

Dan VanderWal

Kyle VanderWal

Jeff Tanis

Owen Tanis

Villa 6

John Mulder

Dan Rosema

Jim Warners

Ken Terpstra

Villa 7

Thom Anema

Tony Vroon

Steve Elenbaas

Mark Vandenberge

Executive Committee Announced

Byron Center, MI--The James E. Vos Memorial tournament committee today announced the formation of an executive team to assist in the planning, preparation and staging of the 25th anniversary invitational tournament. Co-founders Mark Rice, Jack Vos, and Thom Anema will be joined by longtime tournament participant Jim Warners to form this year's executive committee. The tournament has always been well supported by helpful participants, encouragers, consultants, math-wizzes, and wise counselors, but this is the first time such a team has officially been recognized and appointed.

This is a big year for the invitational with a record turnout, making the planning and staging all the more complicated and time-consuming. The formation of an executive team allows for more people to be involved in the planning and brings more and broader voices into the decision-making process--all pluses. It also brings some helpful relief to tournament stagers Rice and Vos who will now have a team of four to aid in dealing with tournament details, decisions, the inevitable surprise, as well as rules interpretation which, at times can be fraught with complexity and emotion.

The committee has already been at work planning a rooming list and will soon concentrate on forming tournament teams and daily pairings. While historically teams are chosen with all participants present the evening before the tournament, and daily pairings chosen each evening of the tournament, the number of participants at this year's event (28) makes doing that impossible. Teams and pairings will be made in advance and announced prior to the tournament. There are even rumors surfacing that, in honor of the tournament's 25th anniversary, teams may revert back to the old "Grand Haven/Lakeshore vs. The World" format. Stay tuned.

Kudos to Robert Warners and others for suggesting the formation of an executive team. Throughout the tournament and after its conclusion the executive team encourages your feedback on the idea.

Twenty-Eight is Great

Garland, MI--The tournament committee today announced the field of twenty-eight spots for the silver anniversary playing of the James E. Vos Memorial Invitational is completely full. What started on January 24 with Chris Grek's deposit, ended today with Ken Terpstra's. Invitations are closed--the earliest the field has ever been full.

With the announcement the tournament recognized a new attendance record. The 2012 playing of the James E. Vos Memorial Invitational will field the largest and strongest field ever in its twenty-five years. The previous record, set in 1999 at Boyne Highlands, carried a field of twenty-four participants.

Tournament namesake and co-founder, James E. Vos, Sr. would be proud. Vos Sr. or Senior Smoke as he was affectionately called, was one of four men who, in 1988, tasted northern Michigan golf for the first time in their lives and were smitten, returning every year in early summer for the love of friends, fellowship, competition, honor, and the game itself.

Now, twenty-five years later, the field of twenty-eight represents not only the largest, but one of the strongest fields in its history. Led by three-time MVP Jon Vos (1997, 2006, 2011), this year's field boasts no less than thirteen previous Stroke Saver MVP award-winners including the trophy's first winner: Jeff Tanis (1994), and its most recent: John Mulder (2011). In between and returning this year are such rock-solid Stroke Saver MVP winners like Thom Anema (2000), Dan Vander Wal (2002 & (2009), Chris Grek (2003), Dick Anema (2004), Rodger Rice (2005), Ken Terpstra (2006), Jack Vos (2007), Don Van Zee (2008), and Kyle Vander Wal (2010).

Rookies have always played an important role in the tournament. This year, no less than four rookies will make their debut: Ken Klunder, Owen Tanis, Dan Rosema, and Sam Vos will become part of tournament lore making the grand 25th their first. Also back are last year's rookies, Jeff Stuk and Jim Baker.

Perhaps the heartiest welcome goes to those who chose to return after absences--however brief or prolonged--and those who return every single year and without whom the tournament would simply not be the same. The tournament eagerly anticipates the returns Jim Warners, Brian Van Hall, Mark and Phil Vandenberge, Dick and Thom Anema, John Topliff, Robert Warners, Tony Vroon, Dave and Jeff Tanis, and Steve Elenbaas.

The field is set. Let the games begin. Herewith are the final participants for the 25th Anniversary James E. Vos Memorial Invitational:

Mark Rice

Chris Grek

Dave Tanis

Jeff Tanis

Owen Tanis

Jeff Stuk

Dick Anema

Thom Anema

Jim Baker

John Topliff

Brian Van Hall

Ken Klunder

Don Van Zee

Steve Elenbaas

Rodger Rice

Dan Vander Wal

Kyle Vander Wal

Robert Warners

Jon Vos

John Mulder

Dan Rosema

Tony Vroon

Jim Warners

Jack Vos

Sam Vos

Phil Vandenberge

Mark Vandenberge

Ken Terpstra

2011 MVP Announced

Byron Center, MI--The James E. Vos Memorial Tournament Committee today announced Jon Vos and John Mulder as co-MVPs of the 2011 tournament and will jointly hold the coveted Stoke Saver trophy.

Vos is now a three-time MVP, winning it outright in 1997 and sharing the honor in 2006 with Ken Terpstra. This is Mulder's first MVP.

The 2011 Stroke Saver, given to the player or players most instrumental in their team's win, was heavily contested with any one of five different participants vying for the honor. In the end, it was Vos' unbeaten record--despite a tiny asterisk--and Mulder's timely wins that gained them the co-MVP.

Vos played brilliant team match-play golf the entire tournament which is exactly what it takes to win the MVP. His scores weren't the lowest of the week, nor did he lower his handicap significantly. He just won, baby. His lowest score came in the opening round. Paired with Mark Rice, Vos was part of history, playing in the only recorded tournament match where the entire foursome posted sub-80 scores. Even there, his 79 was the highest score of the foursome, but true to his mindset of caring only for the "w" he made crucial contributions on the back 9, propelling his team to a 2&1 win over Team Vander Wal. The pattern would continue. Paired with John Mulder in the second round and Chris Grek in the third round, Vos would card solid 84's and make crucial contributions when it mattered down the stretch. He would pair with his brother in the fourth round scramble for a one-stroke victory to 4-0.

His only asterisk was the last round: singles. Weather delayed the start of the singles match forcing some matches to be cut to 9-holes. Perhaps it was the weather; perhaps the 9-hole format. Neither Vos nor his competitor, Jeff Stuk, played well with Vos winning 3&1 and carding an ugly 47. While this may have bumped others out of contention for the Stroke Saver trophy, Vos' key intangible is how he inspires others. Always the coach, Vos has a knack for relaxing his playing partners and bringing out their best. It is perhaps for this reason alone he has now won more MVPs than any other James E. Vos Memorial Invitational participant.

Equally impressive, but for different reasons, was John Mulder's Stroke Saver-winning 2011. Mulder's 3-2 2011 record is deceptive, proving again it is not always the unbeaten record or the low scores that earn the MVP. Mulder won in all the right places, playing his best golf ever in any previous JEV tournament, and considerably lowering his scoring average. His victories with co-MVP Jon Vos, Chris Grek, and Mark Rice were things of beauty. His scores of 88 (w/Vos) and 90 (with Grek) were tournament career-lows for him, and his pairing with Rice in the scramble resulted in a runaway victory against the formidable duo of Dan Vander Wal and Jim Warners. The scramble win was so decisive, rumor has it celebratory cigars were pulled and lit by the 16th hole.

Even more amazing, Mulder manages to play golf and serve as official team photographer. His lens is never out of reach and he's often seen pulling the trigger on his golf swing immediately followed by pulling the trigger on his camera shutter. Indeed, Mulder deserves his own MVP for the gorgeous photo histories he provides of each tournament.

The tournament committee heartily congratulates this year's Stroke Saver winners.

25th Anniversary Tournament Filling Up

Byron Center, MI--The 25th playing of the James E. Vos Memorial Invitational is still three months away and available spots are filling up.

The tournament committee today announced half of the tournament's available 28 spots are filled. The committee is pleased to accept the following fourteen players into the 2012 tournament including two rookies.

Mark Rice

Rodger Rice

Chris Grek

Dave Tanis

Jeff Tanis

Owen Tanis (R)

Jeff Stuk

Dick Anema

Thom Anema

Jim Baker

John Topliff

Brian Van Hall

Ken Klunder (R)

Don Van Zee

The strong early response combined with many applications still unreceived from veterans like the Vos brothers, Warners brothers, the Vandenberge's, Ken Terpstra, and the VanderWal's suggest a full field of twenty-eight participants is likely. The tournament committee would like to remind everyone that applications will be accepted on a first come, first served basis.

Two rookies are already in the field of twenty-eight along with several who are returning after multi-year absences. Ken Klunder hails from Moline, MI and is a friend of tournament co-chair, Mark Rice. Owen Tanis is the son of tournament veteran, Jeff Tanis, and the grandson of Dave Tanis, a tournament legend who's historic singles matches against Jon Vos have become part of the tournament's lore. Dave and Jeff have been absent from the tournament since 2010.

The committee heartily received the applications from Thom and Dick Anema of Englewood and Westminster, Colorado, respectively. The Anema's are tournament veterans with Thom being one of the tournament's four founders. His father--Uncle Dick as he is affectionately known--joined a year later. The Anema's have been absent since 2009.

The committee is also delighted to welcome back Brian Van Hall from a 1-year absence, last year's rookies, Jeff Stuk and Jim Baker, and tournament veteran, Donovan "Dynamite" Van Zee. The tournament is simply not the same without the likes of Brian and Don.

Rumors are surfacing that applications will soon be received from Bob Warners who was also absent last year and who is a longstanding and well-loved participant.

Due to the strong early response, the reservation deadline has been extended to March 30, 2012. Invitees are strongly encouraged to send their applications in to the tournament committee no later than that date. Applications will be accepted with a deposit of $100.