March 28, 2003, Vol. 3, No. 13

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Edited by Art McCafferty
__/ __/ __/ __/ __/ __/ __/ __/ __/ __/ __/ __/ __/ __/ __/ __/ __/__/__/
__/ JOHN BEBOW IN IRAQ
__/ MGN ON THE ROAD
Ann Arbor
Augusta
Battle Creek
Gaylord
Golf
St. Joseph
Vicksburg
__/ MICHIGAN GOLFER TV -DAVID GRAHAM-
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE GOLF ASSOCIATION OF MICHIGAN
__/ MGCOA OFFERS SEMINAR ON APRIL 4
__/ GOLF CLUB OF MICHIGAN ON THE BLOCK
__/ THE WIT AND WISDOM OF BOBBY JONES
__/ GOT POA ANNUA?
__/ GOLDEN FAIRWAY-ITS IN THE GAME
__/ QUOTE OF THE WEEK
__/ GOLF CALENDAR

***
JOHN BEBOW IN IRAQ

Monica Bebow has allows us to publish email updates that she has been sending to family and friends. Besides his duties with the Detroit News and Channel 4 in Detroit, John has graced the pages of the Michigan Golfer as one of our fine writers. Ed.

As things have accelerated in Iraq, my contact with John has been less frequent, consisting of a few short conversations. No email from him, except one quick request on Sunday for me to send him daily emails with news articles cut & pasted to give him a larger picture of what is happening. I have been doing that everyday, but given the horrible sandstorms, I don't think that he has been able to look at them. Perhaps he got the chance today, since the storms have abated.

In my last update, I mentioned that John spent some time in a bunker because of missiles flying overhead, and that he would be on Channel 4 that evening. For those of you who weren't able to watch the news, I will tell you that I was very alarmed to hear on that broadcast that the missile flying overhead was no more than 500 feet overhead and blew up only 15 seconds after it flew by his unit. I was also alarmed to hear the anchor say that John and his unit experienced some heavy Iraqi artillery fire later in the day and went on to say that John described it as "terrifying." It has become evident that the supply lines are not "safe." John assured me in a phone call on Tuesday that he is not taking any risks, but that he can't help that sometimes the risks are coming to him.

Because of the sandstorms and the intermittent rain, it has taken the convoy he has been assigned to three days to travel 100 miles. His editor told me that he is now about 100 miles from Baghdad in Central Iraq. He has been going from unit to unit within this supply convoy. Apparently, he has a little further to go, and he will be staying at some supply base that is being established on the way to Baghdad. He has managed to hook up with an old colleague of his , Wayne Wooley. Wayne is now a reporter for the Newark Star Ledger. I am comforted to know that at least he is going through all of this with a friend at his side.

As you can imagine, the physical conditions are extremely rough. Sand and dust continue to be a problem, no showers, MREs for meals, no bathrooms, sleeping on the desert floor, and pretty cold temperatures due to the storms.

Some of you have asked about an address for John, in order to send him cookies and such. I had Tarek call the P.R. people at the military, and at this point, there is no address for John. There probably won't be until things are more secure over there and the military is able to set up some stable posts. I'm sure that he would welcome any packages, so I will let you know as soon as an address becomes available.

A woman from Channel 4 called me today to tell me that she had talked to John. She played a portion of the tape for me that probably won't be aired on tonight's broadcast. In it, he said that when he finally lies down to sleep each night his thoughts are of his wife and his dog, and of all the words of support that he has received from friends and family. Of your messages, he said "they really keep him going, and that he can't thank everyone enough."

I can't thank you enough, either.

Be well,"

We saw golfers everywhere at Huron Hills GC as we cruised down the Huron Parkway in Ann Arbor. The pent up demand for golf after a long winter, certainly triggered an outpouring of eager souls on the course.

The Scott family is gearing up for the 40th anniversary of their move into golf. In addition, they are preparing to sell off some gorgeous lots on the Stonehedge course. The lots will be ready for sale in early June. The lots will be integrated with a healthy dose of open land, thus providing buyers with an open environment.

Battle Creek was bathed in a warm sunshine and the McCamly Plaza Hotel was shining as a beacon. Inside Cameron Wallace, the new Director of Golf, was meeting with others to plan the year's golf packages. Battle Creek golf adds the new Yarrow GC to its arsenal this year.

The Mecca never sleeps. Mike Husby was getting his pro shop ready for the new season. He has also put some resources into the clubhouse with a fresh paint job, new furniture and a new online computer set up. Just down the road, Don White had opened up the driving range and was picking up some business. They will close the Lake clubhouse this year, reroute the course and have both the Pines and the Lake courses play out of the main clubhouse. The Michaywe fortunes have changed for the better under his deft leadership. Sandra Snook, of Pine Cone Accommodations, has moved into her new digs, just off of old 27. In little more than a year, her company has become a major player in providing golf lodging for Gaylord bound golfers.

Scott Head of Treetops is busy with a reorganization plan that is going on under the new leadership of Rick Smith. Ford Motor Company will be one of the major sponsors to the ESPN Par 3 Shootout scheduled for June 30 and July 1.

Golf is the home of the Western Golf Association which was founded in 1899. The first Western Open and Western Amateur championships was held at the Glen View Club that is located there.

The WGA continues to sponsor the tradition-steeped Advil Western Open, Western Amateur and Western Junior championships.

We dropped by to chat with Gary Holaway, the WGA Communications Director. We originally knew Gary when he published the Illinois Golfer. Gary had left the publication, taught a couple of years of college English and then joined WGA.

The WGA sponsors the nationally-acclaimed Evans Scholars Foundation, which administers the nation's largest privately funded college scholarship program. The Foundation, established by famed Chicago golfer Chick Evans, has provided college educations to more than 7,800 former caddies while making tuition scholarship payments totaling more than $75 million.

Thunder Bay Resort had a few cars in the parking lot as they began to tool up for the year. Joe Libby will handle the day to day operations at the club. He has also picked up some teaching business at the resort. He was one of the featured golf instructors at the Ontario golf show.

Craig Peters said that rounds were up last year and that people were really enjoying the new Blackshire course. The resort was not open yet, but I did get a chance to walk around the Blackshire. The last time I was there it had snow all over it. A 20 minute walk allowed me to get an idea why so many golfers are thrilled by the layout. Kevin Aldridge, the architect of Blackshire and the award winning Gailes, has put together a couple of really exceptional courses. Craig indicated that his May and June bookings were strong, but that the following months were a little soft.

The 101st Western Amateur will be held at Point O'Woods on July 30-August 3 this year. Dennis Mitchell, a member and volunteer at the tournament, is looking forward to getting the second century of the Western Amateur off on the right tee. The final round of the tournament will be taped and then televised by The Michigan Golfer Internet Television Show.

There's not a blade of grass on it yet, but the new Angels Crossing golf course in Vicksburg is only waiting for sun, warm soil and rain to kick in to create yet another superb and economical W. Bruce Matthews III designed course. The course is scheduled to open nine of its holes later on this summer.

David Graham dropped by our studio to chat about the upcoming GAM season. One of the highlights is the return of the Michigan Amateur to Belvedere CC in Charlevoix. Join our host Bill Shelton and guest David Graham as they discuss 2002 and take a look at the upcoming season.

Kate Moore of the MGCOA wants golf industry folks to know that they will host the seminar, "50 sure-fire ways to improve your operations and profit". The speaker for the day is John Zaruka of Z-Golf Food and Beverage. The program will be held at the Gordon Food Service building on 333 50th St. in Grand Rapids. For directions call 800-968-7500 (PGA professionals receive 4 continuing education hours)

"The 290-acre Golf Club of Michigan, built by a partnership involving former Detroit Red Wing Lee Norwood, has gone into foreclosure and will be on the block May 7 in Livingston County.

The deal dates from 1996, when Norwood and his partner, Andrew Soley, planned to develop a 376-acre golf course and residential subdivision at U.S. 23 on McClements Road in Brighton. Their company is called Lans Development Corp.

In April 2000, Norwood and Soley sold the residential portion and went on to develop the Golf Club of Michigan under a partnership called the Golf Club of Michigan L.P. That partnership involved Norwood, Soley and businessman John Yates. The course opened in 2000.

The golf course was operating, but the partnership ran out of money before it could build a clubhouse, Goldsmith said."

Valent Professional Products is inviting golf course superintendents to the unveiling of their newest golf course turf product, Velocity® Herbicide. This new chemistry has the potential to change the face of golf course turf management when it comes to controlling Poa annua.

The unveiling will take place on Tuesday evening, May 6 and Wednesday afternoon, May 7, 2003 at the Michigan State University Turf Center in Lansing.

- Valent experts will provide detailed information on Velocity Herbicide

- Ron Calhoun, research extension specialist in turfgrass weed management at Michigan State University, will showcase his work with Valent's newest herbicide

- Attendees will have the opportunity to visit neighboring golf courses and see demonstration trials with golf course superintendents

Mike Hull invites all to play his new online golf game. It is free and it is fun. It was not until the 8th hole that I got my first par, which let me to believe the game is realistic. Nice game and again, the price is right.

Bobby Jones was equally celebrated as the quintessential gentleman of golf and a hero as a human being. Not only was he regarded as the greatest golfer of his era, but also his intellect separated him from others.

Jones's genius is highlighted in a new book, The Wit & Wisdom of Bobby Jones, edited by leading Jones historian Sidney L. Matthew ($14.95, Clock Tower Press) and will be available in bookstores across the country in April.

Sportsmen today continue to marvel that Jones's legacy remains unparalleled in golf history. One of the many secrets why that is emanates from the fact Jones was more than the consummate champion golfer. Well educated with degrees in mechanical engineering, English literature and a law degree, Jones managed to communicate effectively with those whom he communicated.

The collection of Bobby Jones's "Wit & Wisdom" is ample evidence that his philosophy of golf and life is relevant event today. Matthews separates the sayings of Jones into five categories - instruction in golf, psychology of golf, philosophy of golf, humor of golf, and reflections of golf. And who could quarrel with such timeless gems as:

Author Matthew, a trial lawyer in Tallahassee, Florida, has previously published 10 books on Jones including The Life & Times of Bobby Jones (1995).

"I'm working as hard as I can to get my life and my cash to run out at the same time. If I can just die after lunch Tuesday, everything would be perfect."

Tour and Association Calendars

Associations
Golf Association of Michigan http://www.gam.org/champ/schedule.cgi
Michigan Section PGA http://www.Michigan.PGA.com
Golf Course Superintendents Association of America http://www.gcsaa.org

Tours
Canadian Tour- http://www.cantour.com
European Tour- http://www.europeantour.com
Hooters Tour- http://www.ngahooterstour.com
Futures Tour- http://www.futurestour.com
PGA-- http://www.pgatour.com/tournaments/pgatour.html

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