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AMERICA'S VALUE GOLF DESTINATION
Golf Packages From $47.00 Per Day
Santee South Carolina http://www.santeetourism.com FALL GOLF: THE OSPREY COLLECTION OF FINE COURSES
Black Forest, Canthooke Valley, Cutter's Ridge, Ridgewood, The Medalist and Wilderness Valley
http://www.golfospreyonline.com/

FALL GOLF AT THE OTSEGO CLUB & RESORT-GAYLORD
Golf Packages http://otsegoclub.com/allpackages.php

FALL GOLF AT SHANTY CREEK RESORT & CLUB
Falll Golf Packages http://www.shantycreek.com/golf/package.html

FALL GOLF AT "THE NATURAL": A JERRY MATTHEWS COURSE
Video: http://michigangolfer.tv/2005shows/natural/ Golf Packages http://golfthenatural.com

GO TIGERS
http://tigers.com

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__/ MG ON THE ROAD
Birmingham
Gaylord
Grayling
Traverse City
__/ MICHIGAN GOLFER-TV
League Championship Series
Jack Berry's Ireland Golf V
__/GOT GOLF
__/OOPS--
__/NGF AUGUST GOLF ROUNDS DONW, YTD UP, GOLF DATATECH CONCURES
__/ARCHIVES-MICHIGAN GOLFER
__/FALL EDITION: MICHIGAN GOLFER MAGAZINE
__/ 2006-07 MICHIGAN GOLF CALENDAR
__/ ASSOCIATION LINKS
__/ MICHIGAN GOLFER ONLINE RESOURCES
__/ COURSE VIDEOS

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MG ON THE ROAD
Birmingham-Oakland Hills CC
Joe Spurgeon, former running companion and now retired, has picked up a gig on the mowing crew at Oakland Hills. He invited us over to catch some of the new activity on the South Course at the club. Rees Jones and his crew are in to toughen up the course for the British Open qualifier next year and the upcoming PGA Championship in 2008. The course has closed down and work has begun on many of the holes.Basically, they have found another 200 yards to tack on to the course; They will also bring in the fairways, expand the existing ponds and add additional bunkers. This is obviously a labor of love for Rees whose father Robert Trent Jones created Ben Hogan's "monster" for the 1951 Open.

Major tournaments hosted at Oakland Hills CC
* Western Open 1922 - Mike Brady
* United States Open Championships 1924 - Cyril Walker
* United States Open Championships 1937 - Ralph Guldahl
* United States Open Championships 1951 - Ben Hogan
* United States Open Championships 1961 - Gene Littler
* PGA Championship 1972 - Gary Player
* PGA Championship 1979 - David Graham
* United States Senior Open Championship 1981 - Arnold Palmer
* United States Open Championships 1985 - Andy North
* United States Senior Open Championship 1991 - Jack Nicklaus
* United States Open Championships 1996 - Steve Jones
* United States Amateur Championship 2002 - Ricky Barnes
* Ryder Cup 2004 - Team Europe
* PGA Championship 2008

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oakland_Hills_Country_Club

Gaylord-Marsh Ridge, Michaywe
Judy Mason, Michaywe Director of Golf and also a terrific golf instructor, had her Spartan jacket on Saturday. Unfortunately, the Spartans lost to U of M. The recent Don Childs rennovated course was basking in the sunlight on a marvelous fall day. She indicated that she had met with the new owner of The Lakes course and that they will market themselves as a team when it makes sense. The Lakes course was shut down last year.
http://michaywe.org

We also stopped by Marsh Ridge to say hello to Larry Bowden, owner of the lodging properties at the resort. There was some some nice traffic on this Mike Husby layout.
http://marshridge.com

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Grayling-Twin Birch
This town is buzzing and waiting for an announcement out of the Governor's office that a massive new amusement park will be built in the area. Word has it that Michigan has kicked in 25 million to develop the infrastructure for the development. Stay tuned.

Jerry Balms, owner of Skyline Ski Resort and Country Club, will be concentrating on golf and is bagging his ski operation. He said that the cost for implementing new safety legislation has made it impossible for him to make the changes and yet remain profitable. He is selling off some of his ski equipment to Treetops and anybody else who has a need for it.

We also dropped by Twin Birch GC and it too looked radiant in the fall sunshine. Fall is a great time to play golf, but college football and the Tigers late pennant run took its toll on this day.
http://michigantravel.tv/2005grayling/

Traverse City-
We waved at Grand Traverse Resort & Spa on the way into Traverse City, but wound up at a winery for the day. We were following up on our Sip and Chip article in the last Michigan Golfer Magazine. This was Harvest Day at Chantal Chantal winery on Old Mission Point and the place was packed. To be sure, there was not a golf club in sight, but a visit to one of the many wineries in the Traverse City area has become part of the Sip and Chip experience.
http://chateauchantal.com

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MICHIGAN GOLFER TELEVISION CHANNEL
League Championship Series
The weather was cold but the hospitality warm at The Majestic at Lake Walden in Hartland, as golf league players from all over Michigan participated in the 2nd League Championship Series. The tournament, the brainshild of MGCOA and Handicomp, has caught on in Ohio and Iowa areas as well. Bill Fountain, Jim Scott and Kate Moore were the MGCOA hosts for the game, which will move next year to the East course at the Gull Lake complex.

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Jack Berry's Ireland Golf V
We bring you the fourth installment of a five part series on Irish golf, by internationally acclaimed golf writer, Jack Berry. Our final show takes you to the East course of Ireland.
http://michigangolfer.tv/2005shows/golfireland/

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OOPS--
George Klass and Dave Richards took me to task for my failure to identify that the new Firestick course, mentioned in last week's newsletter, is located in Bellaire. It is the third course that John Robinson has designed for Grant Rowe; The Chief being the first, Hawk's Eye the second and now the par 3, Firestick. Thanks and a Tip of the Tam to George and Dave for setting the record straight.As stated, the course has water on 7 out of 9 holes with elevated tees on 8 out of nine holes and greens averaging 8000 to 10,000 square feet. The square footage of tee decks is even greater than the size of their greens. The par 27 plays from 1708 yards down to 983 yards with holes ranging from 250 yards to 130 yards from the Blues.

Thanks and a Tip of the Tam to George and Dave for pointing out the error of my ways.

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NGF AUGUST GOLF ROUNDS DONW, YTD UP, GOLF DATATECH CONCURES
Rounds played slipped 0.8% in August 2006 vs. August 2005, the National Golf Foundation reported. This follows a 2.0% decline in July. Because the summer months account for a large volume of rounds played nation wide, year-to-date rounds played dropped to a 1.4% increase for the first eight months of 2006. Through June, year-to-date rounds played had been up 3%. The reporting is based on data from operators at more than 1,800 golf facilities.

For the full year 2005, rounds played were down 0.1%.

Year-to-date, regions experienced the largest positive swings werethe Southeast (+5.2%), Gulf Coast (+3.9%) and Central/South Florida (+2.8%). Only three regions reported year-to-date declines _ the Southwest (-1.4%), Northeast (-0.6%) and Northwest (-0.5%).

For August, play at both public and private facilities was down an overall 0.8%; year-to-date, up 1.4%.

At all public courses, rounds played were up 0.1% for 2005; year-to-date 2006, up 1.3%. At private clubs, 2005 rounds played were down 1.0%; year-to-date 2006, up 1.6%.

Year-to-date, play at premium public courses (those with peak season weekend green fees with cart above $70) is flat. At value courses (those with peak season weekend green fees with cart below $40), rounds played rose 1.4%. At standard courses ($40-70), play was up 1.7%.

Golf Datatech reported rounds declined were 0.5%compared toAugust 2005, and the year to date is up1.1%. Golf Datatech surveyed 2,510 courses for this report. http://ngf.org

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ARCHIVES-MICHIGAN GOLFER
Michigan Golfer Magazine-1996-Present
http://www.michigangolfer.com/#pastissues

Michigan Golf News-2003-Present
http://www.michigangolfer.com/news.html

Michigan Golfer Television-2001-Present
http://michigangolfer.tv/archives.html

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FALL EDITION: MICHIGAN GOLFER MAGAZINE - NOW ONLINE
http://www.michigangolfer.com/fall06/index.html

Catching Up With Calvin Peete: Motor City Miracle-byJohn Berkovich
Detroit's own Calvin Peete is kicking back in Jacksonville, enjoying his second family and helping out his wife Pepper with the area's First Tee Program. Ontario writer,John Berkovich, caught up with Calvin and brings up this story.
http://www.michigangolfer.com/fall06/index.html

Jud Heathcoat and Idaho Golf-Jason Deegan
Jason Deegan continues his golf travel and brings us a story about Idaho golf and a visit with Sparty, Jud Heathcoat. Jason matches his prose with pictures in this delightful read. You will also encounter a floating island green, just the thing for an aquaphob.

http://www.michigangolfer.com/fall06/index.html Golfing Gaylord-by Dr. Sam Fullerton, Photos by Kevin Frisch
Sam Fullerton, spends most of his time teaching Eastern Michigan University students about his specialty, Sports and Event Marketing. However, Sam is just as comfortable with a putter as a podium. Sam tells the story and Kevin Frisch of Resort and Golf Marketing supplies the photos as we take yet another look at the Gaylord Golf Mecca.
http://www.michigangolfer.com/fall06/index.html

Sip and Chip-by L'Anse Bannon
The American pairing at the Ryder Cup will soon be forgotten. However, there is a new pairing, wine and golf or Sip and Chip that might last a little longer in your memory. L'Anse Bannon checks our the vineyards of the Leelanau Peninsula and Old Mission Point and pairs them up with some great golf destinations.
http://www.michigangolfer.com/fall06/index.html

Tournament Roundup
We have more roundups then Roy Rogers and Gene Autry combined. Everything you wanted to know about tournament golf is brought to you by a stable of writers from the Michigan Golfer, the Michigan Section PGA and Summer Tournament Wrapup-Kelly Hill
v Gregg Davies Wins the 2006 Michigan Amateur-by Jack Berry
Mike Harris Wins the Tournament of Champions-Michigan PGA Staff
Kris Tamulis WinsMichigan Womenıs Open
Scott Hebert Wins his 6th Michigan Open-by Jack Berry
Final Ford-John Wukovits
http://www.michigangolfer.com/fall06/index.html

Our Michigan Television Show also brings you coverage of these tournaments:
Native American Cup http://michigangolfer.tv/2006shows/nativeamericancup/
Michigan Amateur http://michigangolfer.tv/2006shows/boynegolf/
Michigan Women's Golf Association http://michigangolfer.tv/2006shows/mwga/
Michigan Open http://michigangolfer.tv/2006shows/michiganopen/
Michigan Golf Course Owners Association http://michigangolfer.tv/2005shows/mgcoaleaguetournament/

Slice of Life-Terry Moore
Terry Moore takes us through a tour of his golf bag and muses about the decisions he has made in creating an awesome arsenal of worthy weapons for golf's challenges.
http://www.michigangolfer.com/fall06/index.html

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2006 MICHIGAN GOLF CALENDAR
http://michigangolfer.com/calendar.html" ASSOCIATION LINKS
American Association of Golf Course Architects
http://asgca.org
Golf Association of Michigan
http://www.gam.org/
Golf Course Superintendents Association of America
http://www.gcsaa.org
Michigan Section PGA
http://www.Michigan.PGA.com
Michigan Golf Course Owners Association
http://mgcoa.org
Michigan High School Athletic Association
http://www.mhsaa.com/
Michigan Interscholastic Golf Coaches Association
http://migca.com
Michigan Publinx Seniors Golf Association
http://mpsga.net
National Golf Course Owners Association
http://ngcoa.org
National Golf Foundation
http://ngf.org
National High School Golf Coaches Association
http://www.nhsgca.org

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MICHIGAN GOLFER ONLINE RESOURCES
Website: http://glsp.com
Ezine http://michigangolfer.com
News: http://www.webgolfer.com/news.html
Video: http://michigangolfer.tv
Podcast: http://glsp.com/podcasts.html

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