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Home , Denis Watson, Greg Norman, John Daly (golfer), Justin Leonard, Lionel Hebert, Mike Souchak

Berklich on the Buick By Jack Berry

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Nick Berklich was a long-time Warwick Hills CC Professional.

This interview with Nick Berklich The Augusta National began Club, five formed Warwick Realty was first published in the August, hosting the in in 1955. Those five — Chuck 1998 issue of the Michigan Golfer. 1934, Colonial Country Club in Kelly, Homer Strahle, Bill Gregor, Fort Worth, , began hosting Ed Titus and Vic Ryden — put ichigan’s big-time PGA the Colonial National Invitation down $2,500 each and convinced , the (now Mastercard Colonial) in 60 others to invest the same , celebrates 1946, and Pebble Beach began amount. They bought 320 acres of the 40th anniversary of its rollout hosting the Bing Crosby Clambake mainly farm land south of Flint, in Mat Warwick Hills & Country (now AT&T National Pro-Am) in Grand Blanc and most of the 65 Club, August 6-9, and only three 1947. bought a lot for another $3,000. courses have been a part of the professional tour longer than Feeling Flint needed another Then they sold memberships for Warwick Hills. private club besides Flint Golf $1,650 and hired James Gilmore

10 S P R I N G 2 0 0 8 • M I C H I G A N G O L F E R M A G A Z I N E Harrison, a Pennsylvanian who Michigan Golfer: Size up War- play aggressively back there. It’s worked as a teamster and then as a wick Hills as a tournament test. probably one of the biggest foreman for Donald Ross from swings on the Tour, where a play - 1921-27. Warwick Hills is the only Berklich: It’s great for competi - er can make up a lot of ground in course Harrison designed in tion. Even if a player has a four nine holes. A lot of people Michigan and it opened in June, shot lead going into the back nine, around the country I talk to say 1957. he’s not safe. If he doesn’t play it’s one of the most interesting to aggressively, someone could shoot watch because of that. And the Nick Berklich, Warwick’s golf 30, 31 back there, maybe even 29 television ratings reflect it; it’s professional ever since the 1965 — that’s been done seven times on one of the highest rated outside model Buick and honored by the back. (The non-tournament of the majors. Warwick members with a lifetime record for the back nine is 28 by Denis Watson in the 1988 pro-am) membership in the club, sat down Michigan Golfer: Where does the with Michigan Golfer’s contribut - attack start? On the short par 4 ing editor Jack Berry to talk about A lot of guys have lost the 12th (335 yards)? the Michigan “home” for the tournament because they didn’t world’s best golfers.

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Tiger Woods in the tournament was pure magic at the ticket office.

M I C H I G A N G O L F E R M A G A Z I N E • S P R I N G 2 0 0 8 11 Berklich: No, it starts as soon as than people give them credit for. they make the turn. The 10th (401 We have pro-ams with the best The board asked Mr. Kelly, who yards) is there for the taking. The pros in the state and if someone was a member at Pine Tree (in green faces the player and he has a shoots 70 or 71, they usually win and had a house on relatively short in there. Our it. And I don’t set the course even Warwick’s 16th hole) to serve on 11th (190 yards) is not a real tough close to all the way back, it’s 6600 the committee. He was a very good par 3. I would say just about every to 6700 yards. The Tour players friend of Joe Lee and persuaded hole on the back side is a birdie are typically playing 7100 yards, Joe to come up and look at our hole. That’s why the numbers are back to 7150. They are head and . so low. They can tuck the pins but shoulders above everyone else. if the players hit the shots and Comparing it to some other sports, I was the young pro at the time they’re aggressive, the greens are we are kids among giants, we’re and went along with Mr. Kelly and so good that the players just mar - like high school basketball players Mr. Lee when they looked at the vel at their condition. to the NBA. golf course. Chuck asked him if he Michigan Golfer: Early in the could do anything with it and Joe Michigan Golfer: At the time, Buick history, Warwick Hills was said “Oh, this has fantastic possi - Robert Wrenn’s 26 under par 262 known as a long boring walk. Now bilities. All it takes is money? in 1987 was one shot off the all- players like , the Chuck said “That’s one thing we time PGA Tour record for low 1994 champion, and Peter don’t have.” score, held by and Jacobsen, the 1980 champion, have 12 , and Wrenn won by compared Warwick Hills to the But we proceeded to do every - seven shots. Low scores are a tra - courses they grew up playing. thing and it cost $180,000. I dition at the Buick but how do you What happened? recently talked to Joe Lee and explain that? asked what it would cost today to Berklich: Berklich: Those things happen. He It was in the later 1960s do what he did then. He said you was in a zone that particular week and we had a young aggressive probably couldn’t get out of it for and that’s how good these Tour board of directors. They were con - $4 million. players are. He played extremely cerned because they’d heard aggressive from the get-go. He had through the grapevine that our golf He built all the greens to USGA a feel for the course and a feel for course, even though the purse was specifications, changed the loca - the game which has never been right, needed a little tweaking. The tion of some greens, expanded the repeated in his career. condition of our greens wasn’t real tees, and put in big Augusta-type good. They were very, very hard bunkers. Architectually we have and they were all shaped the same one of the real hidden gems in Michigan Golfer : What is the best way — two bunkers in the front Michigan. It’s not only good for single round you know of by one and a narrow entrance and then PGA Tour play, it’s good for mem - of your members? they fattened out like a pear with a ber play. We have tees for ladies, bunker in the back. seniors, juniors, regular member - Berklich: We have some young ship and PGA Tour play and not members who played on college Every one was the same and many courses can say that. teams but none have done better they were straightaway holes with than 68 or 69. And that’s in regular no doglegs. It was a very, very Joe also has been back several play, not championship play. long monotonous golf course and times and told us where to plant the greens wouldn’t receive a ball. trees and that’s so much help. Michigan Golfer : What does that You had a lot of bad things going We’re really happy with everything tell the golf fans? for you. The board decided that Joe has done. changes were needed to not only Berklich: It tells them that profes - impropve the course for the tourna - Michigan Golfer: What is your sional golfers are so much better ment but for the club as well. favorite hole?

12 S P R I N G 2 0 0 8 • M I C H I G A N G O L F E R M A G A Z I N E 13 In the old days, before Joe Lee, a player could into the ninth fairway to stay away from the out of bounds on the left of the 18th. And there was only one splash bunker between the ninth and 18th. Now there’s a big fairway bunkers and a lot of trees. The hole proba - bly was 30 yards longer originally because the tee was back farther and so was the green and there weren’t any pine trees. It’s a much better hole now.

Michigan Golfer: The Buick and big galleries are synonymous. How did that begin?

Berklich: When Buick started the 14 tournament, it wanted it to be a community event so tickets cost only $1 and parking was free. We were one of the first tournaments to draw big, big galleries. Whole families came. And we had beer sales in cans, not in cups. I remem - s o i ber players saying they’d never d u t S

seen anything like it; they were e c n i

r ankle-deep in cans going through P

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o the grove (where the 10th, 11th, r F

/ eighth and 17th holes converge). e n i l r

e The cans were constant noise but h S

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e players learned to block that out. A t r a C

lot of players said they’d played in y b

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t National Opens and not seen that o h

P many people. I’d estimate we were drawing 20,000 to 25,000 people. was super impressive in his first Buick, hitting a driver and a 5- iron to the 7th green, a par 5 584 yard hole. Michigan Golfer: How about ’ crowds last year? In the old days it was kept much Berklich: I never thought we’d be Berklich: The 18th. I think it’s one softer. The new technology has able to handle the crowds that of the great finishing holes in golf. given the players a lot of length Tiger brought. I’d seen big crowds You can see everything from the and the grasses are much better with but they were tee, every possible problem you than the old days and don’t need as nothing like Tiger Woods. We had might have. You must drive the much water. Everything is better, a different type gallery. We had ball in the fairway and you get an much better. The ball and the clubs people who wanted to see Tiger extra 50 yards because it’s so firm. are so much better.

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The 18th is Berklich’s favorite hole and one of ’s as he putts out for his 2003 win.

Woods who knew nothing about indicated that. I set a record the community lost it. It was very golf. I had ladies coming through Thursday and broke that record depressing for this club. We got the golf shop wearing high heels Friday and broke that record down to 80 members. and long skirts. I said where you Saturday. Then I ran out of mer - going? “I’m going to see Tiger chandise. That was fun. It was a very, very tough period. Woods.” I told them they’d better We had 5-6 years where it was get some different shoes or take off Michigan Golfer: There was a touch and go. We survived that and the high heels because they would - dark period after won we’re very, very strong today. n’t be able to walk very far. And the 1969 Buick. General Motors When we came back, it was won - I’m not talking about a few people. ordered the Buick Division to drop derful because Warwick Hills A lot of people had never been to a the tournament and it didn’t return became a growth organization. We golf tournament before. And we until 1978. What was that time built a new clubhouse, we didn’t cut off our gate sales. like? improved our greens, we improved our irrigation, we improved our We had the biggest galleries I Berklich: I don’t know the politics practice area, we improved every - had ever seen. In fact, we had the but whoever was in charge didn’t thing to do with golf and added a biggest galleries on Thursday and think they were getting their whole lot of capital improvements Friday that I’d ever seen for any money’s worth through golf and and there is such a demand today weekend round. My sales (hats, they dropped it. And we lost it. that we have 32 people on the caps, shirts and other souvenirs) The Tour lost it, the club lost it and waiting list with a $25,000 mem -

16 S P R I N G 2 0 0 8 • M I C H I G A N G O L F E R M A G A Z I N E bership fee and I never thought I’d isn’t that far apart. The scores have see that. Michigan Golfer: gone down. collected $9,000 from the then Michigan Golfer: It takes behind- record $52,000 purse for winning We’ve seen what’s happened the-scenes people to make tourna - the first Buick. This year’s winner here. The course hasn’t changed ments successful, too. Who have will take $324,000 from the $1.8 that much, maybe two shots. But I the major Buick players been? million pot. How else have things remember several times having a changed? chance to make the cut myself Berklich: Jerry Rideout and Bob back in the 60s if I broke 150. Coletta have been big. Jerry was Berklich: Everything is a business Now if you aren’t under par, (144) Buick’s Director of Public today. Players want to go out and you don’t make the cut. That’s Relations and was the General have a quiet dinner. There are what the quality of the field has Chairman of the tournament for exceptions but in the old days gone to. years. He was a master at public everyone was out on Dort relations and had the vision to Highway. If they weren’t at the Michigan Golfer: Your thoughts bring in celebrities for the pro-am. Shorthorn of The Embers, they on some players — , The celebrities, like Perry Como, were over at the Karasel on Grand , Greg Norman, Fred George Gobel, Ray Bolger, the Fan Traverse. used to Couples, Tiger Woods, David Fare cartoonist Walt Ditzen, Tom play his horn there. George Karas Duval, , John Daly. Harmon and Alan Hale Jr., attract - would buy their dinners and every - ed people other than golfers. Those one in Flint would try to be there Berklich: Sam was always special 17 people saw how much the stars that week. It was the players’ sec - to us here at Warwick. He is very loved the game and that in turn got ond home and all the Buick people good friends with one of the those non-golfers interested in the would be there too. The players founders of our club, Chuck Kelly, game. Jerry got the Buick a lot of went out in groups but today, if and came here other than playing national publicity. When Doug you see anyone out, they’re by in the tournament, just to play with Ford was in the field, Jerry had the themselves or with their families. Mr. Kelly. You hear all these sto - caddie bib read DOUG BUICK They want private dining; they ries about being tight but Sam is and that picture got a lot of play. don’t want to be bothered. But in very good to the club professionals those days, they were just regular and the tour players. He came here When the tournament was trans - people. back in the 60s and a fellow who ferred from Buick public relations used to caddie for him in the North to the sales department, Bob Michigan Golfer: Are you sorry to & South tournament at Pinehurst Coletta did a study as to what see those days go? wired him here and said he had sports people watched on televi - fallen on hard times, that he’d bro - sion and how that segment related Berklich: Yes and no. Nowdays ken a leg, couldn’t and wondered if to buying automobiles. It showed the public is so demanding, not Sam might be able to help him. that 90 percent of the people who only in golf but other sports too watched golf tournaments were and they need their quiet time. I Sam came into the pro shop and candidates to buy Buicks. Buick think today’s golfers are much bet - said “Do you have anyone going was sponsoring different events ter athletes than they used to be. down to Western Union. I have to then and decided to concentrate on They really work at it. They’re in wire some money.” I took it down. golf. Now there are four Buick that fitness trailer, they have sound It was $250. And back in the 60s, tournaments, in , New eating habits, no cigarettes or alco - $250 was like $1,000 today. York, Callaway Gardens, Ga., and hol. They are trained athletes and here. And Buick is the official car they have to perform that way or Another time his nephew, J.C. of the PGA Tour. It’s done wonders they won’t be out there that long. was on the putting green here for sales and Coletta has gone from The difference between making the before the Buick, complaining sales to the head of Buick. cut, making money and winning about his game. This was in the

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Tiger and his 50th win.

60s and he’d just come out on Tour Norman was here and was signing grandson wanted the memento. So and wasn’t doing good. He was autographs as he walked from the I telephoned Greg’s office in barely making cuts and wasn’t range to the putting green. He’d Florida and explained it to the making enough to support his fam - take a hat, sign it and hand it woman who answered. She said to ily. He was really down on him - behind him as he kept walking. A write a letter, that Greg liked to self. Sam said “C’mon, you have man brought his grandson to the take care of that himself. I did and to keep playing and playing and tournament and bought one of I didn’t think anything of it after playing. You’re a good player, those Greg Norman hats. The that and then one blustery fall day, you’re going to make it out here.” grandson handed it to Norman but this man came into the golf shop And Sam reached in his pocket and when Norman signed and handed it and introduced himself, introduced pulled out a whole wad of money, behind him, someone else grabbed me his grandson and said Greg had gave it to J.C. and said “Keep it. The grandfather came in after written the nicest letter to him, sent playing.” the tournament and asked if we him an autographed hat and said could do anything, that it wasn’t he’d see him at next year’s Buick A couple years ago Greg the price of the hat as much as his Open. All these players are like

18 S P R I N G 2 0 0 8 • M I C H I G A N G O L F E R M A G A Z I N E that. They’re very dedicated to golf and what the PGA Tour stands for.

Tony Lema (two-time winner) was a Damon Runyon character. He had the game to win many, many major tournaments and it was just tragic that he was killed. Everyone liked him.

Tiger Woods has probably done to the game what said Nicklaus did — played a game with which he was not familiar. I’ve never seen anyone generate so much power in the . Will it hold up over time? I don’t know. I’ve also watched , another of the Young Lions, and I’m very impressed with him. He gets the job done and he is 19 sneaky long. And he has a little arc compared to Woods, a lot of rhythm and balance.

Justin Leonard has the heart of a lion — he’s one guy you sure s o

wouldn’t want to get cornered by. i d u t

More nerve than Willie Sutton — S

e c n he could rob the bank. It’s unfortu - i r P

nate that has had g o r F

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isn’t much difference in the top e h S players. It’s who wants it more that r e t r a week and it all boils down to put - C

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ting. o t o h P John Daly played here and missed the cut the week before he Justin Leonard won the PGA Championship in but he didn’t leave ball on the ninth green (413 yards)! over the green and almost into the without making a big impression. C’mon, you gotta see it!” halfway house. I said I’m going in One of our members, Harvey Harvey, I’ve seen enough. Shaprow, came in the pro shop on So I got a cart and we went to Thursday or Friday and he says the 13th hole (par 5, 548 yards). Michigan Golfer: Nick, you’ve “Nick! You’ve got to see this! You He hit the ball 40 or 50 yards by seen it all. won’t believe it, He hit a driver the tree and hit a 7-iron to the and 5-iron to the seventh hole (par green. The next hole (322 yards) Jack Berry has been covering the MG 5, 584 yards). He almost drove the he takes out a driver and drives it Buick Open since 1958.

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