Saturday, June 2 Travel and Golf Plans Set

Lewiston, MI--Golf and travel plans are set for Saturday's pre-tournament rounds. Eleven participants will play 36 holes at Garland with an additional nine joining in the afternoon. Five participants are not playing Garland on Saturday--either slaving away downstate or choosing to play somewhere else on the way north. Three are undecided. Here is the final list.

Garland - All Day
Rice, Mark
Anema, Thom
Vos, Jack
Vos, Sam
Vander Wal, Dan
Vander Wal, Kyle
Van Zee, Don
Grek, Chris
Stuk, Jeff
Elenbaas, Steve
Vroon, Tony

Garland - Afternoon Only
Rice, Rodger
Anema, Dick
Vandenberge, Mark
Van Hall, Brian
Vandenberge, Phil
Topliff, John
Baker, Jim
Mulder, John
Rosema, Dan

AWOL
Klunder, Ken
Tanis, Dave
Tanis, Jeff
Tanis, Owen
Terpstra, Ken

Undecided
Warners, Jim
Warners, Bob
Vos, Jon

Securing pre-tounament tee times was more difficult this year because the "warm-up" day occurs on a Saturday instead of the typical Wednesday when most northern courses are fairly open. Tee times were secured, however. The All day-ers are scheduled with this rotation:

9:30am-9:50am - Swampfire
2:00pm-2:20pm - Reflections

The afternoon-only participants:

1:30pm-1:50pm - Monarch

Cost is $45 for the first round and $35 replay rate. Arrangements are being made through Garland to have these directly billed to your individual accounts.

Garland--A Trip Down Memory Lane

Lewiston, MI--The James E. Vos, Sr. Memorial Invitational and its history will be forever linked to Garland Lodge and Resort. With the 2012 staging, the grand resort has hosted the tournament a record nine different times in its twenty-five year history beginning in 1992 including six consecutive: from 1992 to 1997, followed by a two-year stint in 2002-03 before returning again this year.

There has always been something very special about Garland. Its courses, while decent in their own right, are not preferred by the tournament participants over the likes of Treetops, Boyne, or even Shanty Creek. It is, however, the whole package that consistently ranks Garland as the tournament's perennial favorite. It is the people, the service, the grand log lodge (largest built east of the Mississippi), the ambiance, the food, four courses all at one's doorstep, and the fact that literally everything is within walking distance. Upon arriving, one parks their car, drops off their clubs, and never needs worry about them until departure.

The tournament actually played its first round at Garland in only its second year of existence: 1989, at the early stages of the Michigan golf boom and when Garland's courses were vastly different from what we know today. That tournament was hosted at Treetops (then called, Sylvan Resort) and only the Jones course existed then. The 1989 tournament consisted of 36 holes on day one at Garland East and then Michaywe Lakes--brand new at the time--followed by the 18 hole finale at the Treetops Jones course--only three years old in 1989.

In 1989 Garland boasted an East and West course along with a 9-holer called Herman's Nine. The East was actually a hybrid of what is now Monarch and Swampfire and, if one knows the original routing, could still be played in that order. Monarch holes 1-6 and 16-18 made up the front nine of the East Course and Swampfire holes 1-3 and 13-18 made up the back nine. An original East scorecard is below. Those of you who have been to Garland before may be able to envision this original routing.

Garland and its courses have been instrumental in forging the legacy that has become the James E. Vos, Sr. Memorial Invitational, and each course carries its own memories, some of which will be reanacted for the 25th anniversary.

Thom Anema may be asked to return to #1 Monarch and replay the events leading to seven consecutive 3-wood shots in the water fronting #1 green until the eighth finally cleared. Ask Rodg Rice on precisely what tree on Swampfire #14 he bludgeoned his putter into oblivion requiring an emergency purchase in the Garland pro shop. And, we'll all have the opportunity to duplicate James E. Vos, Sr's legendary ace on Reflections #16.

And memories abound beyond the golf course. Be sure and ask Steve Elenbaas about his experience with a freshly lit cigar on the veranda overlooking the putting green one evening. Ask Jack Vos about his strategic notes to his players the night before the singles matches, and inquire with Jim Warners about "peaking." You will for sure get a story and a chuckle.

Six days to go. Welcome home, friends.

Let the Games Begin--2012 Tournament Pairings

Lewiston, MI--The James E. Vos, Sr. Memorial Invitational executive committee today announced the final pairings for the 25th anniversary tournament to be held next week Sunday through Tuesday, June 2-5 at Garland Lodge and Resort.

Creating tournament pairings is usually reserved for the night before each day's play. Doing this (selected by lot) creates anticipation and excitement for the next day's pairings. It does, however, take up considerable time.  Because of the record number of participants for the 25th anniversary event (28), the executive committee agreed it would be necessary to create and and publish the tournament pairings in advance in order to save time each evening, create some unique pairings (e.g. family's playing together), and ensure participants play with as many other participants as possible.

Even with a group of twenty-eight it is impossible to eliminate any doubling-up of people playing together multiple times. The executive committee's pairings ensures this has been minimized, however. Only eleven participants play with or against the same person twice.

The executive committee did agree, however, that Monday's singles matches would be selected by lot on Monday evening--on the eve of the singles matches.

Herewith, the pairings. Morning tee times begin at 7:30am Sunday and Monday are are spaced ten minutes apart. Afternoon tee times begin at 1:30pm and are also spaced ten minutes apart.

A full spreadsheet with each pairing and specific tee times will be emailed to all participants later this week.

In related news, and in keeping with tradition, Team Grand Haven will be the Recovery Shots team for the duration of the tournament. Team World will be the Fairway Finders. For those new to the tournament, these long held team names derive from beloved and oft-repeated phrases spoken by the tournament's namesake, James E. Vos, Sr.

Sunday, June 3 - Monarch course, morning round (match play)

Recovery Shots  vs. Fairway Finders
1. Brian Van Hall/Don VanZee vs. Tony Vroon/Dave Tanis
2. Jack Vos/Sam Vos vs. Dan VanderWal/Kyle VanderWal
3. Ken Terpstra/Steve Elenbaas vs. Thom Anema/Dick Anema
4. Jon Vos/Jeff Stuk vs. Ken Klunder/John Topliff
5. Jim Warners/Bob Warners vs. Mark Vandenberge/Phil Vandenberge
6. Dan Rosema/Chris Grek vs. Jeff Tanis/Owen Tanis
7. John Mulder/Jim Baker vs. Rodg Rice/Mark Rice

Sunday, June 3 - Swampfire course, afternoon round (stroke play)

Recovery Shots vs. Fairway Finders
1. Sam Vos/Jon Vos vs. Tony Vroon/John Topliff
2. Don Van Zee/Jim Warners vs. Dan VanderWal/Dick Anema
3. Dan Rosema/Jack Vos vs. Thom Anema/Mark Vandenberge
4. Bob Warners/Brian Van Hall vs. Dave Tanis/Owen Tanis
5. John Mulder/Chris Grek vs. Phil Vandenberge/Jeff Tanis
6. Jim Baker/Steve Elenbaas vs. Mark Rice/Kyle VanderWal
7. Jeff Stuk/Ken Terpstra vs. Ken Klunder/Rodg Rice

Monday, June 4 - Swampfire course, morning round (match play)

Recovery Shots vs. Fairway Finders
1. Dirk VanZee/Jack Vos vs. Mark Vandenberge/Jeff Tanis
2. Chris Grek/Jim Baker vs. Dick Anema/Phil Vandenberge
3. John Mulder/Dan Rosema vs. John Topliff/Mark Rice
4. Brian Van Hall/Ken Terpstra vs. Dan VanderWal/Ken Klunder
5. Jim Warners/Jon Vos vs. Dave Tanis/Rodg Rice
6. Sam Vos/Jeff Stuk vs. Thom Anema/Tony Vroon
7. Don Van Zee/Bob Warners vs. Owen Tanis/Kyle VanderWal

Monday, June 4 - Reflections course, afternoon round (scramble)

Recover Shots vs. Fairway Finders
1. Jon Vos/Dirk VanZee vs. Dan Vander Wal/Mark Rice
2. Ken Terpstra/Dan Rosema vs. Phil Vandenberge/Dave Tanis
3. Jack Vos/John Mulder vs. Dick Anema/Rodg Rice
4. Jeff Stuk/Jim Baker vs. Owen Tanis/Mark Vandenberge
5. Sam Vos/Don Van Zee vs. Thom Anema/Kyle VanderWal
6. Brian Van Hall/Jim Warners vs. John Topliff/Jeff Tanis
7. Bob Warners/Chris Grek vs. Ken Klunder/Tony Vroon

2012 Tournament Handicaps Posted

Lewiston, MI--The James E. Vos Memorial Invitational executive committee today announced the starting handicap indexes and tee box determinations for its field of twenty-eight. 


Leading the field with an index of an astounding -5 from the blue tees is last year's "bridesmaid," Don "Dynamite" Van Zee. The 2008 MVP, Van Zee shot rounds of 76-75-79-81 on the Cedar River and Legend courses at Shanty Creek, lowered his handicap by four full strokes, and yet failed to win the coveted Stroke Saver MVP award. As luck would have it, the majority of his matches failed to fall in his favor sending his 2011 competitive record to 2-3 despite his 78 average score for the tournament. Van Zee was by the far the biggest handicap index mover of the group.

Van Zee fully turned as Grek observes the power about to be unleashed.

Right behind the senior Van Zee, team Vander Wal--son Kyle and father Dan--are just a stroke back at -6 apiece. Always a threat to go low, both began last year's tournament at -7 and managed strong consistent scores no lower than 77, no higher than 82. The Vander Wal's will once again be a force to be recognized in 2012, especially with the senior VanderWal's replacement hip fully functioning.

Right on their heels are the remaining non-rookie single-digits: the younger Van Zee and three-time MVP Dirk (-6), three-time MVP Jon Vos (-8), and 1995 MVP Mark Rice (-9). The always consistent Vos started the 2011 tournament -9, going to -8 with scores of 79-84-84. His last day singles match in 2011 was reduced to 9 holes and not recorded for handicap purposes. Returning after a five year absence, Dirk Van Zee's -6 is based on the scores he shot the last time he participated in the tournament (2007). The competition committee welcomes him back and hopes he can sustain his blistering play five years later. The perpetually inconsistent Mark Rice had his handicap inch up one stroke from -8 to -9 due to three strong scores in 2011 and one forgettable one: 77-81-92-81.

No one from the 2011 tournament moved their handicap index more than +/- 1 in either direction other than Van Zee who's index fell by a mammoth +4 strokes going from -9 to -5 heading into the 2012 tournament.


Rookie handicaps are always estimated and then adjusted immediately following the first round. All other participant handicaps are adjusted after each day's play and based on that day's scores. This year's crop of rookies make an interesting set of handicap indexes beginning with young Sam Vos at -7. Vos played on his high school team and is currently playing at a collegiate level. Can his game hold up to the intensity of The Invitational's 25th anniversary? Little is known about the games of Ken Klunder (-10) and Dan Rosema (-12) but they are rumored to be "players" who know a little something about the pressures of competition. We shall see. The most dangerous rookie of the group could be Owen Tanis sporting a -22. Length is not an issue for the young Tanis and his game has the potential for going low as well as going high. He is one of those young guns that could take the -22 and run.


Indexes are below. Tees indicate tee played in 2011 tournament to achieve current handicap index. As mentioned earlier, rookie  handicaps are estimates as are the tees from which they will play.


Name, Tee, Index
Dick Anema, white, -26
Thom Anema, blue, -12
Jim Baker, blue, -15
Steve Elenbaas, blue, -18
Chris Grek, white, -12
Ken Klunder, blue, -10 (rookie)
John Mulder, white, -19
Mark Rice, blue, -9
Rodg Rice, white, -20
Dan Rosema, blue, -12 (rookie)
Jeff Stuk, white, -17
Dave Tanis, white, -10
Jeff Tanis, white, -10
Owen Tanis, white, -22 (rookie)
Ken Terpstra, white, -13
John Topliff, blue, -15
Mark Vandenberge, blue, -17
Phil Vandenberge, white, -20
Dan Vander Wal, blue, -6
Kyle Vander Wal, blue, -6
Brian Van Hall, blue, -10
Donovan Van Zee, blue, -5
Jack Vos, white, -17
Jon Vos, blue, -8
Sam Vos, blue, -7 (rookie)
Tony Vroon, white, -17
Bob Warners, blue, -15
Jim Warners, blue, -12


In related news the executive committee announced the tournament stroke differentials between tee boxes for both Monarch and Swampfire:


Monarch
Black-Blue: 517 yards, +/- 5 strokes
Blue-White: 392 yards, =/- 4 strokes


Swampfire
Black-Blue: 432 yards, +/- 4 strokes
Blue-White: 314 yards, +/- 3 strokes

2011 Images

Lewiston, MI--The 2011 trip is gone, but not forgotten. The images in our memories will remain forever. A few  here demonstrate once again the special bond that is the James E. Vos Memorial Invitational. The below photos come with permission from and thanks to Dr. John Mulder.

Grand Garland

Lewiston, MI--The James E. Vos Memorial Invitational reconnaissance team spent two and a half days in northern MI last week conducting a site audit of Garland Lodge and Resort as well as other area courses. They found Garland glowing, its courses in superb shape and more the ready for the tournament's twenty-eight participants.

Of some concern had been the lodging arrangements. The 2011 tournament lodging facilities will be Garland's villas, just off the main lodge. These stand alone complexes feature two bedrooms, each with two double beds and a common room. While a tad outdated, the reconnaissance team found the villas clean and very comfortable.

While the villas do not house kitchens (like the cabins), the common room is spacious and features a gas fireplace, TV, coffeemaker, two sofas, and a small refrigerator. Built of the familiar Garland knotty pine logs, the villas also carry the legendary Garland charm.

Pleasantly surprising were the villa's spacious outdoor decks complete with brand new gas grills.

And located right next to the lodge, they will provide an easy walk to breakfast each morning.

The team's tour of Swampfire and a few holes on Reflections showed the courses are in terrific shape, having opened just two weeks ago--the latest they have ever opened. The spectacular morning trip through the Swampfire course only heightened the team's anticipation for what would occur just two short weeks later, and showed the "old girl" still had some bite. There are low scores waiting to be had on Swampfire if one carefully navigates its twelve holes with forced carries and its treacherous greens, most of which are Ross-like inverted bowls.

New to the property is a 9-hole grass putting course complete with doglegs and sand traps. There is rumor of a putting contest, possibly held on the new putting course.

Swampfire #9

Early Dawn on Swampfire #1

Swampfire #6

Early Dawn on Swampfire #2, 3rd shot

Finally, food-wise, the Garland breakfast buffet, included in our package, is quick, yummy, and loaded with most every hot or cold breakfast goodie one could want. Lunch on the patio with the Cowboy burger and an Oberon doesn't get much better.

There are also multiple dinner options in addition to the fine dinner dining at Herman's on property. A short drive into Lewiston is Tally's Log Cabin Bar featuring the best $4 burger in the Norther Lower and Amber Boch on tap.

The trip report was received by the executive committee with thanks and appreciation for a job well-done.

Tee Box Policy Reminder

Lewiston, MI--Participants in the 2012 James E. Vos Memorial Invitational are reminded of the new tee box policy, newly instituted at last year's tournament.

Participants will be asked and expected to declare each evening the tees the expect to play the next day. It will be strongly encouraged for participants to declare before the tournament and no later than Saturday evening's opening ceremonies the tees they expect to play for the duration of the tournament. Players will be encouraged to play from the same set of tees the entire week. Exceptions will be made in cases where health or other extenuating circumstances make it very difficult for a player to play the next day from previously declared tees.

With the new requirements came a change in policy regarding strokes given or taken away by moving tees. Previous methodology allocated 200 yard to be equal to approximately 1 stroke. A change from blue tees to white tees of 400 yards, for example, would be a handicap change of +/- two strokes.

While a player may, in fact, take one stroke to hit a ball 200 yards, the tournament committee also recognizes 400 yards constitutes a par 4 hole on most golf courses. The new policy roughly translates into one stroke for every 100 yards and four strokes for 400 yards. The specific stroke allocation between tees for the Garland courses will be announced when handicaps are announced. That announcement is expected this weekend.

The selection of tees and the corresponding stroke allocations have been the subject of spirited debate for years among the tournaments participants. Intended to encourage participants to play from the tees from which they get the most enjoyment, and to give some golfers who's game is "between tees" the opportunity to move during the week depending on each course's length, the previous system allowed players to switch anytime before a round, requiring they either give up or receive additional strokes, depending on whether they move up or move back a set of tees.

Despite its intent, it received criticism for making it too easy for players to move up or back, and it created the opportunity for players to more easily switch during a tournament--sometimes right before a match--depending on the course length and on which tees gave them the greatest stroke advantage during a match. In some cases, a player could move up tees, gain 400-500 yards and only give up 2 strokes in their handicap.

As always, the goal is for the spirit of the game and the values the tournament's namesake embraced to remain: friendship, honor, and love of the game.