Michigan Golf News

Grand Traverse Resort & Spa near Traverse City will begin opening its golf courses for the season on Wednesday April 15. Spruce Run will be open for play that day. Opening days for The Bear and The Wolverine are yet to be announced, but all three golf courses will be open by the end of April. 

For tee times and information, please call 231-534-6000 or 800-748-0303. For golf course info, golf specials, golf packages, and other information, visit www.grandtraverseresort.com .

On the golf course, a few feet can be the difference between finding a hazard and landing in a safe spot with a good angle to attack the pin, and club selection is often an integral component in reducing distances to the cup if you're able to find the putting surface.

GreenFinder Golf GPS , a system that utilizes already-exisiting global positioning systems on your iPhone or Blackberry to calculate the distance from the golfer to various targets on the course, is a simple, convenient and affordable way to improve your golf game by having the right club in your hand and the information necessary to make the right play.

Home to a classic course annually listed as one of the world’s best and host of multiple U.S. Open championships, the state of New Jersey is no stranger to world-class golf venues.

Featuring more than a dozen upscale public golf courses, Atlantic City is adding another dimension to golf in the Garden State, bringing avid golfers from all over the country with the promise of unmatched “Stay and Play” opportunities.

Michigan, a bastion of the outdoors and winter sports, has a surprisingly lengthy and enjoyable golf season. The Wolverine State sweetens its offerings with the addition of Sweetgrass Golf Club, the newest amenity at the Island Resort & Casino, which is owned and operated by the Hannahville Indian Community.

Unveiled in July 2008, Sweetgrass opens for its first full season in 2009 and draws from the area's Native American heritage, which is seamlessly and subtly incorporated in the championship course's layout. 

TRAVERSE CITY - After spending the last few years in wetland consulting, one of the industries leading golf course consultants, Tom Mead of Traverse City, is returning home to concentrate on the sustainability aspects of the golf industry in Michigan and around the country. As a leading golf course consultant, he brings more than 35 years of experience in all aspects of golf course development, construction, agronomy, and operations. 

A definition of sustainability in relation to golf course development and management is: "Optimizing the playing quality of the golf course in harmony with the conservation of its natural environment under economically sound and socially responsible management." 

EAST LANSING - John Lindert, PGA Professional at Country Club of Lansing in Lansing, has captured the Michigan PGA 2009 Golf Professional of the Year Award.  The PGA Golf Professional of the Year is awarded in recognition of exemplary overall performance as a PGA Professional at his/her facility, level of service to his/her Section and Association, leadership ability and promotion of golf.

Frank McAuliffe, PGA Professional at Ann Arbor Country Club in Ann Arbor, has captured the Michigan PGA 2009 Bill Strausbaugh Award.  Established in 1979, the Bill Strausbaugh Award is presented to a PGA Professional who by their day-to-day efforts, have distinguished themselves by mentoring their fellow PGA Professionals in improving their employment situations and through service to the community.