Michigan Golf News

HARRIS, Mich. - The Island Resort & Casino recently announced that course and slope ratings for the brand new Sweetgrass Golf Club have been determined. Owned and operated by the Hannahville Band of the Potawatomi Nation, Sweetgrass opened for play in July.

The United States Golf Association determines the slope rating as a measurement of the difficulty of a course for bogey golfers relative to the course rating, which tells scratch golfers how difficult the course will be. Slope does not relate specifically to strokes played at a course, while rating does. The minimum slope is 55 and the maximum is 155. The slope rating for a course of average difficulty is 113. 

STANWOOD, MI. - Tullymore Golf Club , the award-winning Jim Engh design located at St. Ives Resort in Stanwood, Michigan will open its new $7 million clubhouse on August 22. The opening of this new clubhouse marks a major step in the development of the residential Villages of Tullymore.

The beautiful 13,000 square foot stone, glass, and wood clubhouse is the centerpiece of a new $50 million residential recreation community, which will eventually bring up to 600 new residents to the Stanwood area. The new Residence Club at Tullymore is an enclave of four gracious homesteads on the 18th fairway at Tullymore Golf Club, which includes a golfing membership at Tullymore and St. Ives. Classically styled, they're reminiscent of what a second home truly should be - complete with all the features, comforts and quality of the 21st century. From hardwood floors, stainless steel appliances, granite counters and beautiful furnishings. 

THOMPSONVILLE, Mich. - Crystal Mountain Director of Golf Brad Dean is about to realize a lifelong dream as he plays in the 90th PGA Championship at Oakland Hills Country Club. Brad will open the Championship by hitting the first ball off of the first tee at 7:30 a.m. on Thursday morning with Briny Baird and Alastair Forsyth.

Dean qualified for his first major championship, which just happens to be his first PGA Tour event, with a fifteenth place finish at the PGA Club Professionals National Championship at Reynolds Plantation in late-June. The 42-year-old has played in the Club Professionals National Championship five times, exceptional considering most of his time is spent managing Crystal Mountain's two championship courses, retail operations, and an award-winning golf school. 

BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP, Mich. - With the eyes of the world turning to Michigan this week for the 90th PGA Championship at Oakland Hills Country Club, results of an independent study were recently released highlighting the importance of golf to the economy of Michigan.

As a leader in the country for golf, the study found that in 2006, golf in Michigan generated 56,977 direct and indirect jobs and over $1.3 billion in golf-related hospitality and tourism spending. The independent study also established that the state's golf industry generated $4.2 billion of direct, indirect and induced economic impact, along with providing multiple areas of positive economic impact on the state. The state ranks first in the nation in number of public golf facilities and third in the nation in the number of 18-hole equivalent courses. 

Benton Harbor, Mich. – New Zealand’s Danny Lee showed why he is among the world’s top-ranked amateurs Sunday, delivering a pair of 4 and 2 match play wins to claim the 2008 Western Amateur Championship at Point O’Woods Golf & Country Club in Benton Harbor, Mich.

Lee became the first winner since Bubba Dickerson in 2001 to take both medalist and match play honors, joining an elite group of dual winners that includes Phil Mickelson (1991), Scott Verplank (1985), Curtis Strange (1974) and Ben Crenshaw (1973). 

Scott Hebert of Traverse City, Mich., where the legendary Walter Hagen spent his final years, capped the 41st PGA Professional National Championship with a back nine charge that the Haig would have applauded.

The 39-year-old Hebert, a PGA head professional at Grand Traverse Resort & Spa in Acme, Mich., rallied from a three-stroke deficit with birdies on five of his first seven holes of the back nine. It was the momentum he needed for a closing 4-under-par 68 and a one-stroke victory over Sonny Skinner of Sylvester, Ga., in the showcase event for PGA Professionals.