Michigan’s Century-Old Courses tesy of Harbor Point Photo cour

Harbor Point Golf Club

By Art McCafferty, Publisher and Kelly Hill, Managing Editor here is a most interesting Michigan map on the wall at Mission Pointe Resort on Mackinac TIsland. The map highlights Michigan’s develop- ment and also lists the population of the state in is ear- lier days. At least two of the top-five population areas were in the north. Perhaps that is why many of our early golf courses were established there.

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It was during an era when cruise measure just 5,034 yards and passed. "Now I am down to about boats plied the Great Lakes and the championship tees stretch to 60 . The reason is other brought vacationers from Chicago only 6,003 yards. jobs. Kids are looking for other to Harbor Springs or Mackinac This club opens up to the jobs, not caddying. The boys are Island. Detroit vacationers were public after 1:30 p.m. daily, dur- getting younger and smaller every taken to Mackinac Island, the Les ing the summer months. year," he said. Cheneaux islands or Sault Ste. In his 25 years, Moulton Marie. In the Upper Peninsula, served under three golf pros, start- Michigan mines were in full pro- Wequetonsing Golf Club ing with Cliff Booth, then Lee duction and places like Houghton- (1896) Kosten and then with Frank "Red" Hancock and Mountain were Wilson, who was the pro in 1972. densely settled. In 1888, New York's St. John J. Wilson is now the What better way to spend Andrews opened. Six years later it head professional at one’s vacation time in beautiful provided the site for the nation's Wequetonsing. Northern Michigan than on the first invitational amateur champi- “He still trains new caddies on the ? Here is a quick look at onship. 1894 also was the year 18th green, next to the caddymas- Michigan’s courses that were when some pioneering Michigan ter’s shop, and the instruction is established during that era, over a golfers teed it up at Roaring based on 25 years of experience,” century ago. Brook Course in Harbor Springs. the Harbor Light story read. “I Roaring Brook Course is gone have enjoyed my 25 years here at now, but Harbor Point and the course. The most memorable Harbor Point Golf Club Wequetonsing Golf Club remain. things I can remember is a hole in (1896) According to Nancy Duray of one on hole 10 by Ernest Breech, Harbor Point and ‘Red’ Wilson of and the day that Red Wilson tied This course was listed on Wequetonsing, these two Harbor the record. Those 's 1995 list of Springs courses opened for play in would have to be the things I “The First 100 Clubs in 1896. remember best,” Moulton said. America.” One of the more colorful “There hasn’t been too many Located on South Lake Shore character’s in Wequetonsing’s sto- changes in the course in 25 years, in Harbor Springs, Harbor ried history is former caddy mas- mostly just the enlarging of the Point is a classic course that is ter Ford A. Moulton. In 1972, tees. This is a very beautiful challenging but not overwhelming Moulton was featured in the course,” he concluded. and meticulously maintained. It is Harbor Light, the weekly newspa- A private course, semi-private from late June per of Harbor Springs. Wequetonsing also is not particu- through the first week in “When the majority of larly long, given today’s stan- September and fully public in the summer residents arrive in the dards. Wequetonsing usually plays spring and fall. Harbor Springs area and start to 5,201 yards from the front and Two ponds come into play play golf, those playing at 6,150 yards for the average club on three holes. The fairways are Wequetonsing Golf Course will member. narrow and were built on rolling undoubtedly say hello to a man terrain. The greens are undulating who is starting his 25th year as and some of them are elevated. caddymaster at the course, Ford Les Cheneaux Club & Originally designed by David A. Moulton.” the Harbor Light Golf Links (1898) Foulis, course architect David story read, in 1972. Gill added three new holes and “Now 67, Ford, as every- Located in Cedarville, in redesigned the other 13 in 1972. one called him, remembers when the eastern Upper Peninsula, Les Harbor Point is a relatively short he had 175 caddies under his Cheneaux is traditional links in test of one’s game, as the forward direction. Those times have its essential features. The nine-

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hole Les Cheneaux Golf Club was second nine was designed by Tom laid out and chartered by the early Bendelow . members of the Les Cheneaux Club and was ready for play in Washtenaw Country May of 1898. Club (1899) Play is from the water and back to the water, sand In the fall of 1898, and water are both natural two young, entrepre- hazards, as are forest and neurial Ypsilantians, rock, and the design of Cora (Cornwell) the grounds is dictated by Henry, having just the land, not imposed on returned from a it. By 1900, the club had summer vacation posted both a profes- on Martha's sional nine-hole record Vineyard, and I. score of 38 (by W.V. Newton Swift, a Hoare) and an amateur student at Yale, record of 41. introduced their Though there have friend, Daniel L. been some changes since Quirk, Jr., to “a won- the very early years, such derful game” being as lengthening some holes, played on the East the essential character of the Coast. links has changed little. Many Convincing a of the hazards are overgrown friendly farmer on the piles of the fieldstone cleared west edge of Ypsilanti to Tom Bendelow from the original fairways and the allow them to sink three top- perpetual hazards of the forest less tomato cans in his freshly-cut and rock outcrops remain chal- Island hay field, the threesome invited lenging. during the friends to join them for the new Les Cheneaux is open to times when the Island was under game of golf. Enthusiasm for the the public and plays 2,852 yards attack. game was infectious. from the middle tees. For more On July 11, 1899, a group information, visit: www.lesche- of 15 Ypsilanti and Ann Arbor neaux.org/recreation/golfing.html. residents met and officially Saginaw Country Club formed Washtenaw Country Club. (1899) Signers of the Articles of Wawashkamo Golf Club Association included A.A. Van (1898) A Saginaw businessman, Charles Cleve, S.E. Dodge, R.W. Davis, noticed the growth of golf Hemphill, Jr., E.C. Cornwell, J.B. Wawashkamo Golf Club is on many of his travels to the Colvan, H.S. Platt, Charles D. a semi-private club on Mackinac Eastern part of the United States in Church, Henry W. Douglas, Island. The course was designed by the late 19th century. Upon return- William Gardam, David B. Alex Smith in 1898. This nine hole ing from one of his trips, he staked Dodge, D.L. Quirk, Jr., I. Newton gem has been pretty much out a nine hole course on his prop- Swift, W.L. Pack, Duane untouched in its lifespan. One of erty in 1898. In 1899 the Saginaw Spalsbury and David R. Morford. the bunkers on the course was Country Club was formed.. In On July 18, 1899, the club was actually dug by soldiers on the 1909 the nine hole course was pur- incorporated. chased and a few years later a

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For More Information Visit http://www.sullivangolf.ie or Call 011 353 69 77377 y Club tesy of Saginaw Countr Photo cour

Saginaw Country Club

While it has been stadium. As indicated by their the past century there have been acclaimed “the second-oldest golf website, the actual date of the many stories that have evolved club in Michigan,” Washtenaw Club's formation cannot be veri- concerning the course. Among the actually is the third. Detroit fied but it is generally thought to more interesting historical notes Country Club was started as a be between 1890 and 1903. The is that former club pro John nine-hole layout in about 1889, club has nine holes of golf that Rueter designed the original while Saginaw Country Club play to a little over 2500 yards. "Bulls eye" while working opened its course in early 1899, a Facilities include a clubhouse at the Sault Country Club. He few months ahead of Washtenaw. with dining rooms and a tennis sold the patent rights to Acushnet, For more information, house with two courts. They do and the "Bulls eye" went on to visit: http://washtenawcc.com. sell a book of their hundred years become the best-selling putter of of golf in the clubhouse. all-time under the Titleist brand name. Ann Arbor Golf and The Sault course has also Outing Club (1890) Sault Ste. Marie Country had its list of prominent players. Club (1906) One that stands out is former club The Ann Arbor Golf and Outing member Vonnie Colby, who won Club is a small private club in Ranking among the oldest the Upper Peninsula women's Ann Arbor located on 38 acres golf courses in the state, the Sault championship in 1949 and 1951 just south of the University of Ste. Marie Country Club will turn and went on to play on the LPGA Michigan's football 100 years old this summer. Over Tour. Golfers have the option of

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Washtenaw Cou8ntry Club joining the Country Club or just Matthews designed the new lay- to be aggressive and times when paying greens fees to play this pub- out. you need to be conservative," lic course. The daily rates are $16 Enjoy a casual round of Sipes said. "Knowing the situa- for 9 holes and $25 for 18. Annual golf, and watch a freighter cruis- tions to employ that theory is the golfing memberships are available ing through the St. Mary's River only way to be successful. You starting at $420. Past members may while you putt on the 17th green. can't overpower this golf course." rejoin the country club for an Or take on a serious round on the While challenging the anniversary special of $100. challenging layout. To post the course, Sipes suggests to jump on Once a private club found- lowest scores possible, a success- the -5 first, fourth and 17th ed by a group of Union Carbide ful golfer has to play "aggressive, holes, and try not to get more employees, the Sault golf course but conservative," according to than bogey on Nos. 9 or 10, has been a 9-hole layout for most fifth-year Sault club pro Jim which can make or break a of its existence. But in the mid Sipes. The course has many round. The 360-yard ninth hole is 1980s, the course was expanded to wide-open fairways which can a long par-4 which features a 18 holes, all of the ponds were favor long ball hitters. However, green guarded by a bunker on the added and three of the old holes "postage stamp" size greens put a left, while water and out-of- were also redesigned. A fund-rais- premium on approach shots, and bounds loom on the right. The ing project was spearheaded by a 60-degree pitching is a 355-yard, par 4 No. 10 features a club member Roger Paris; well- prized club to have in your bag. shot over a pond. Most will known Michigan architect Jerry "There are times when you need lay up which leaves a difficult,

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long approach shot of around 180 members here are more friendly by a beautiful dining room over- yards to a narrow green. than anywhere else I've been." looking the lake, a grill room for The country club offers its The biggest annual event that after-round drink, and a ban- members use of the clubhouse, is the 36-hole, medal play Lock quet room that can be rented for dining area and banquet room, bar City Open men's tournament, meetings. An expansive deck and pool. A fine dining menu which draws around 180 golfers. overlooking the lake is often used includes dishes ranging from sev- The club hosted the U.P. Men's for the club's varied social calen- eral seafood specialties to prime championship last year and the dar filled with fun events. rib and steak. The current club women's championship the previ- Bendelow designed the membership of 302 features 74 ous year. This year there will be a challenging 5,775-yard course percent American and 26 percent 100th anniversary, two-person, with emphasis on the short game. Canadian, although the percent- member-guest scramble on June The course is known for excellent age of players is nearly the oppo- 2. Men's and women's club cham- greens and course conditions site ratio. pionships as well as a junior tour- geared with the player in mind. The country club has nament and the annual Old-Grand With a PGA professional approximately 44 employees, Dad event are other marquee always available, one’s golfing manager Laura Kempfort said. events. For a complete list of experience will be more than "It's a team effort to keep every- tournaments contact the pleasant with opportunities for thing running smoothly from mid- at (906) 632-7812. lessons, club fitting, and mer- April to mid-October," Kempfort chandise. Tee times are readily said. "It's like being with a sec- available, and leagues and tourna- ond family. We're lucky to have a ments are scheduled throughout very good staff." Hillsdale Golf & Country the summer. The club membership Club (1907) After a round, whether you includes many longtime golfers, choose the Baw Beese Dining as well as a influx of second gen- Hillsdale Golf and Room for an elegant dinner, the eration members and new mem- Country Club was formed in 1907 Grill Room for the casual social bers. Lifetime members (50 years by Hillsdale citizens who con- after golf, or the outside deck ter- or more) include Ken Bailey, tracted the Spaulding Company of race overlooking magnificent Baw Larry Brownlee, Don Findlayson, Chicago, Illinois to design a nine- Beese Lake, the facilities may Harold Stevens and Cora Lee hole golf course. native exceed your expectations. The club Gustafson. Thomas Bendelow laid out a very can accommodate a luncheon for There are four leagues which play challenging design with emphasis 10, a casual barbecue for 50, or a at the club. The Elks League on the short game. The 5,775- gourmet banquet for 100. plays Monday nights, followed by yard course has humbled many a The recently remodeled the Ladies League on Tuesdays, fine golfer over the years. The clubhouse, overlooking the lake, Men's League on Wednesdays and clubhouse opened in 1910 and is central to the social events of Seniors on Thursdays. has been an institution in the area the club, which include theme Superintendent Michael ever since. parties, live entertainment, bridge Smith and his staff spend approx- Located on the west side groups, a euchre club, wine-tast- imately 90 hours per week keep- of Baw Beese Lake in Hillsdale ing club and private parties. ing the course in finely-tuned County, the Hillsdale Golf and Additional amenities include a condition. "Mike Smith and his Country Club is a one-of-a-kind lakefront swim area, great sled- crew keep the course in great establishment. A challenging ding , boat-slip rental, and reci- shape," Sipes said. "They really nine-hole course with beautiful procity with other Golf do a great job. As far as the mem- views of the 420-acre lake pro- Association of Michigan clubs. bership, this is the fifth golf vides for a relaxing round of golf. For more information, visit: course I've worked at and the The course is accompanied http://hillsdalegolf.com. MG

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