August Notebook: Oakland Hills Prepares for U.S. Amateur

By Jason Scott Deegan,
Senior Contributor

BLOOMFIELD HILLS, MI -- The South course at the storied Oakland Hills Country Club has hosted some of the world's greatest players with its six U.S. Opens.

So there's no doubt the course will stand up to the test of the nation's best amateurs at the U.S. Amateur on Aug. 19-25. But just to be sure, the club has upgraded an already outstanding test of golf in the last two years.

"We, as members, hope the (South) course will hold its own," said Pete Russell, president of Oakland Hills. "And the North course (where the amateurs will play on the first two days) is also an underrated course. We are very concerned about how far the ball goes, but the players better keep the ball out of the rough."

Don McBride, the general chairman of the championship, told the audience of reporters on media day that the club has rebuilt the South's classic Donald Ross bunkers and replaced their sand, and replaced the grass around the greens and bunkers with bluegrass, a thicker, nastier breed of trouble.

Tom Meeks, who sets up all USGA championships, including the U.S. Open, said the South course will play no different in this year's amateur than it did in the 1996 U.S. Open. Both the South (6,988 yards) and North (6,618 yards) will play to a par of 70.

"How would I compare them? Dead even," he said. "The setup is similar with the rough length, the yardage and the green speed."

Nine Michigan residents have qualified for the 312-player field, which will dwindle to 64 after the first two days and then begin match play. They are Russ Cunningham of Dewitt; Eric Jorgensen of Grandville; Mark Kurzynowski and Adam Walicki of Jackson; Ryan Lamond of Portage; Korey Mahoney and Stephen Nichols of East Lansing; Bill O'Connor of Birmingham; and Stephen Polanski of Livonia.

Another player who's geared up for the event is Ryan Moore, who whipped Lee Williamson, 10-and-9, in the final of the U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship at The Orchards Golf Club in Washington, MI, in mid-July to earn a spot in the Amateur.

Moore, 19, of Puyallup, WA, grabbed the lead on the second hole of the 36-hole final at the 7,001-yard course and never let up on Williamson, 23, of Crawfordsville, IN.

Moore strung together 10 birdies in the first 18 holes, including the last four in a row, to finish 6 up at the turn. His 18-hole score was equivalent to 63, breaking his own course record of 65, set in the quarterfinal round. All told, he had 14 birdies on the final day.

Williams is no slouch, either, who was a first-team All-American and Big Ten Player of the year at Purdue.

For tickets to the U.S. Amateur, which are $15 each day, call 248-203-2002. Oakland Hills is located off of Maple Road, but parking is available at Birmingham Marian, Detroit Country Day and Birmingham Brother Rice High Schools.

GOING LONG: You know the baseball phrase "Chics dig the long ball" - well, the same applies for all golfers.

Michigan golf fans will surely be amazed at the long hitters who will strut their stuff at Oakland University in Rochester for the Pinnacle Long Drivers of America (LDA) Tour on Aug. 11.

The event, which carries a $54,000 total purse, with the open division champion walking away with $10,000, is free and open to the public.

After qualifying, the finals will take place at 7 p.m. The first 300 spectators at the finals receive a sample pack of Pinnacle golf balls.

Some of the world's longest hitters -- reigning RE/MAX world long drive champions Sean "The Beast" Fister and four-time champion Jason Zuback, who is often called the "Michael Jordan" of long driving and the subject of several Pinnacle commercials-- are expected to compete.

The elite Pinnacle Distance Team will be conducting an exhibition at Oakland University at 1 p.m. Aug. 9 and that evening at 6:30 p.m. at Carl's Golfland off of Telegraph Road in Bloomfield Hills.

MICHIGAN RESORT HONORED: Crystal Mountain continues to be a favorite of "Golf for Women" magazine. After the publication listed the resort's instructional program as one of the top five in the country, Crystal Mountain's Mountain Ridge course ranked as "one of the 50 best courses for women in the nation" in its July/August 2002 issue.

HUNGRY?: The Cedar River LaVigna, a new 105-seat Italian bistro restaurant recently made its debut at Shanty Creek's Cedar River Village. The dinner-only restaurant stuns patrons with view of the 18th fairway of the nationally acclaimed Cedar River course. Chef Cliff Wilson's menu consists of pastas and veals. La Vigna reservations may be made by calling 231-533-8621, and asking for ext. 4197.

BUICK OPEN UPDATE: Although there was still plenty of work going on outside at the Buick Open media day in June, the newly remodeled clubhouse at Warwick Hills Golf and Country Club looked fantastic in anticipation of this year's tournament on Aug. 8-11.

The $5.2 million renovation is also doing what the membership hoped it would - keep the Buick Open, Michigan's only PGA Tour event, in Genesee County. Officials at Buick recently signed a deal that will keep the event at Warwick through 2006. This will be the 37th year the tournament has been held at Warwick Hills.

"We are very pleased to announce that the Buick Open tournament will remain at Warwick Hills for four more years," said Roger Adams, Buick general manager. "We decided to stay in Grand Blanc because of the positive way the community responded and because the club did such an outstanding job of completely upgrading the tournament facilities.

"In addition to all this, GM Service and Parts Operations, based in Grand Blanc, pledged their ongoing support to make the tournament a success here. Overall, the total package couldn't be matched anywhere else, and as a result, the Buick Open will continue at one of Michigan's finest golf venues in the years ahead."

The Open was rumored to be looking for other possible venues in the Metro Detroit area, but a major effort by the Flint Area Convention and Visitors Bureau and other area businesses has renewed local interest in the event. The recruiting efforts have paid off as the world's top four players - Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Ernie Els and Retief Goosen -- will attend.

Defending champion Kenny Perry was the first pro to get a peek of the new locker room and banquet facilities the players will enjoy.

"This is the most desirable clubhouse in the state of Michigan," said outgoing club president Kevin Ostby. "It has brought our club to the highest standards of golf."

Perry said last year's win resurrected his career.

"I hadn't won in six years," he recalled. "I put things together and it's been a stepping stone for this year. I'm having a great year. I had no aspirations to win again. I figured I'd just enjoy my last few years on the Tour. … It was like 'Hey, I can play golf again.'"

August 5, 2002

Jason Scott Deegan has reviewed more than 400 courses and golf destinations for some of the industry's biggest publications. His work has been honored by the Golf Writer's Association of America and the Michigan Press Association. Click here to read his golf blog.