Swing and Save: Good news for bargain hunters

By Jason Scott Deegan, Senior Staff Writer

FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich. - Golf coupons are a dime a dozen in this slumping economy, especially in Michigan, which boasts the nation's most public courses (more than 800).

Bargain hunters can head on-line to Web sites of individual courses, the local newspaper or purchase any number of local course guides with coupons to find some cheap golf.

But often, these coupons are for courses that couldn't attract players if the golf was free (if you catch my drift).

The Golf Association of Michigan has come up with a solution to save you some money on some great courses - a "Swing and Save" program. This idea has been in the works for several years as the nonprofit organization tried to find ways to increase its membership and bring in a few bucks.

Even the state's best courses are fighting harder to attract your business, so the program became a natural fit.

For $25, golfers can become an associate member of GAM, and save at more than 120 courses across the state. An associate membership doesn't allow for GAM's handicapping services, but it does provide some great deals.

For example, players can get 2-for-1 green fees at good tracks like Michaywe Pines in Gaylord, Pheasant Run in Canton and The Pohlcat near Mt. Pleasant.

"We have been trying to expand member benefits (since I took office in 2001)," said GAM executive director David Graham. "One of our objectives is to redefine what it is to be a member. The 'Swing and Save' program is a tremendous value. It's a win-win proposition. The golfer gets great value and the golf facility gets more players at their course, hopefully at off-peak times."

The major savings will come if you love to play golf in northern Michigan, which is traditionally ultra-expensive during the peak summer season. Players can get 25 percent off at the Grand Traverse Resort near Traverse City and the spectacular Blake Lake Golf Club in Onaway and a whopping 30 percent at the Otsego Club in Gaylord. Michigan's biggest and best resorts -- Treetops, Garland, Shanty Creek and Lakewood Shores - also have savings programs. The card should pay for itself after two rounds.

For more information, visit gam.org or call (248) 478-9242.

Hall of Fame

The 2003 class of the Michigan Golf Hall of Fame has quite a mix of personalities and talents with its two male and three female inductees. The five-some will be inducted at a ceremony on May 18 at Indianwood Golf and Country Club in Lake Orion.

The headliner is Jack Berry, a former Detroit news golf writer and past president of the Golf Writers Association of America. Greg Reynolds won the 2002 U.S. Senior Amateur to highlight his amateur career after playing in five U.S. Amateurs.

Current LPGA player Cindy Figg-Courier, former LPGA player Joyce Kazmierski and Sara Wold, a lifelong official, are quite a trio of contributors to the women's game. Figg-Currier, a Mt. Pleasant native who won state titles in 1977-78, has been a member of the LPGA since 1984 and has won $1,738,702 to rank 60th on the career list. Her lone win is the State Farm Rail Classic in 1997 in a playoff.

Kazmierski, the president of the LPGA Tour Division in 1984, joined the LPGA in 1967 and when she retired in 1986 was among the top 50 all-time money winners.

Shepherd's Hollow honored

Golf Digest recently selected Shepherd's Hollow No. 54 on its list of "America's 100 Greatest Public Courses" in the May 2003 issue. The 27-hole Arthur Hills design is truly a golf gem in the metro Detroit area. The Detroit Province of the Society of Jesus (a.k.a. the Jesuits) owns the 420 acres of land that seemed destined for golf greatness. For more, visit TGM's review at http://www.michigangolf.com/departments/coursereviews/shepherds-hollow-club. htm.

Red Hawk gets even better

Entering its fifth season, Red Hawk Golf Club, in East Tawas, continues to add improvements to stay ahead of its competitors. Red Hawk, which was named as the course with "The Best Service in the Midwest" by one golf publication, has added a new ladies tee to No. 2 and a fairway approach shot to the tough par-3 14th hole. The Art Hills design has also extended cart paths, added new irrigation heads and enlarged tees. General Manager Kevin Whitmore believes these changes have helped Red Hawk thrive in this tough economy.

Leigh Thurston Greenscape Designs has been busy with three projects, including a complete renovation of Redford's Glenhurst Golf Course, a municipal course that gets lots of local play.

The company is modifying three holes and building three new greens to improve the layout and lengthen the course, which tended to be a shooting range with balls flying every which way. Some tees are being renovated, while new ones are also being built.

Chelsea's Pierce Lake Golf Club and Sterling Height's Plum Hollow also used the company to improve their products. To improve irrigation during drought periods at Pierce Lake, a great county-owned facility, a small pond on the property was enlarged and deepened. The extra dirt was used to build mounding, new tees and a large bunker in front of No. 6 green. Cart paths are also being installed one section at a time. For more, visit michigangolf.com/pierce1.htm.

May 15, 2003