SPONSORED BY:

AMERICA'S VALUE GOLF DESTINATION
Santee, South Carolina
Web: Golf Packages http://www.santeetourism.com
Videos: http://michigangolfer.tv/2007shows/santee/ & http://youtube.com/watch?v=dm3zpL46pYk

LONDON GOLF SHOW-HELENIC COMMUNITY CENTRE-LONDON, ONTARIO
Web: http://golf-show.com
Video: http://michigangolfer.tv/2007shows/londongolfshow/

MICHIGAN GOLF SHOW
Web: http://michigangolfshow.com
Video: http://youtube.com/watch?v=vHlMO3Cqrx8

WEST MICHIGAN GOLF SHOW
Web: http://westmichgangolfshow.com
Video: Preview of 2008http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BlrqggvtKdc

Edited by Art McCafferty
artmccaf@glsp.com
http://glsp.com

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__/ MGN ON THE ROAD
Farmington Hills- Don Childs
__/LABELLE FAILS TO MAINTAIN TOUR CARD AT Q SCHOOL- ByTerry Moore
__/ WE'VE GOT MAIL
__/PAR 3 AT THE MASTERS
__/ BOOK REVIEW: "LISTENING FOR THE BUGLES" By Denny Spencer
__/WHAT DOES A TYPICAL 18-HOLE COURSE LOOK LIKE?
__/DOAK AND NICKLAUS SEBONACK GC BEST NEW PRIVATE COURSE IN AMERICA
__/MICHIGAN GOLF COURSE SUPERINTENDENTS UNITE
__/PATRIOT GOLF DAY PRODUCES MORE THAN $1.1 MILLIONFOR FALLEN WARRIORS
__/DANCIN DOGG DONATES SHOT MAKING SIMULATOR TO FIRST TEE OF DETROIT
__/RANDOM THOUGHTS
__/ANN ARBOR MUNICIPAL GOLF COURSES ROUNDS PLUMMET
__/ BOB CHARLES SETS RECORD IN NATIVE NEW ZEALAND- ByTerry Moore
__/NEW MICHIGAN GOLFER TELEVISION SHOWS
__/ MICHIGAN GOLF CALENDAR
__/ ASSOCIATION LINKS

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MGN ON THE ROAD
Farmington Hills- Don Childs
We have been putting together a Michaywe Pines Golf Course video with Don Childs the past couple of weeks and have had the opportunity to get to know him a bit better. Childs designed Michaywe in the early 70's and was invited back to modernize it a few years ago. Childs also was part of the team that designed the entire Michaywe project. Besides Michaywe, Childs designedMarysville Golf Course, the Glen Course at Creekside Golf Course and Training Center in Indiana, theFarmington Hills Golf Cluband most recently,a golf and housing project near Cleveland that will open in June.

Like most Michigan based architects, Childs finds himself creating opportunities for his work. His current project involves the development of a golf learning center in the State Fairgrounds, located around 8-mile and Woodward in Detroit. There have been a number of folks involved in developing the property that is usually only busy 2-3 times a year. Mike Illich has brought hockey to the fair grounds and Joe Dumars has developed a youth center. You will also find an equestrian center and horse barn on the property.

The new teaching center would be built as soon as the investors have a chance to beta test the impact of some golf activity at the Fairgraounds. Childs indicated that they will be setting up a proshop in one of the existing buildings, starting in February, that will also have space for some hitting nets and golf simulators. One of his partners in the venture isButch Rhodes, the Director of Instruction at Gateway Golf Club.

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WE'VE GOT MAIL
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Art --

I think some of your viewers/readers might remember John Davis who covered golf at the Traverse City Record-Eagle from 1974-86. He moved to Phoenix and the Arizona Republic and covered the Suns ("I covered dan Majerle in high school and then with the Suns") and golf. He had a hemorrhagic stroke (bleeding in the brain) in August, after returning from covering the PGA Championship in Tulsa. He still is a ways from returning to work and walks with a cane and said he gets a little wobbly or off-balance at times but friends in Phoenix told me he's making remarkable progress.

The Phoenix golf community put on a fund-raiser for Davis on Monday at the champions course at TPC Scottsdale. The goal was to raise $15,000 and they raised $45,000. John -- goes by J.D. -- was there and gave a very nice thank-you talk. He said some of the money will go to a scholarship and some to the health center where he's getting therapy.

The event was a sellout at $100 per person and they had two foursomes on every tee. The PGA Tour donated the course for the day, there was a silent auction with terrific items (set of PINGs, set of Callaways, two four nite vacations (for two) in Cancun) and I was very impressed with the whole event.

And acknowledging his background, we had Michigan weather -- rain and cold! In Scottsdale! The three people I played with were
ready to quit after nine holes...but we did two more. They said they never play in that kind of weather.
Jack

A Tip of a cold, wet and soggy Michigan Tam to Jack Berry for passing on this news to us.
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LABELLE FAILS TO MAINTAIN TOUR CARD AT Q SCHOOL- ByTerry Moore
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Two weekends ago Mt Pleasant’s Doug Labelle II faltered over his last two rounds and failed to crack the top 25 in the grueling PGA Tour Qualifying Tournament at Winter Garden, Fla, thus denying him his Tour card for 2008. By finishing at a 4-under total of 428 (68-70-70-71-73-76) Labelle also didn’t earn a fully exempt status on the Nationwide Tour either, which required an 8-under finish. However, by Labelle finishing inside the Top 150 Tour money winners (138th) this year, he does earn conditional status on the PGA Tour next year which should get him 12-15 starts…..Lots of heartache at the Q school, arguably golf’s most stressful and pressure-packed event. Leading off must be Miguel Carbello’s ruinous finish of double-bogey, bogey, bogey in the last three holes which resulted in him missing out on the top 25 by a single shot….Also first-round co-leader Brendon de Jonge who shot 62 missed the top 25 by 3 shots with his last round 74. Meanwhile Tour veteran Frank Lickliter II captured medalist honors (29-under) after opening with 62-62…A crowd favorite was former Big Break contestant Tommy “Two Gloves” Gainey (yes, who literally wears gloves on both hands) who earned his Tour card in spite of a last round 77. And some familiar names regained or retained their cards including Duffy Waldorf (who’ll undoubtedly mark his ball with “Relief!”), Jim McGovern and Carlos Franco.

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PAR 3 AT THE MASTERS
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Perhaps, the decision for ESPN to televise the Wednesday Masters par 3 tournament, will awaken more sponsor interest in the Treetops Par 3 Shootout. As we continue to lose our tournaments, the only national golf left in Michigan now is the Buick Open and on the amateur level, the Western Amateur. We are, of course, in the national spotlight next year with the PGA Championship coming to Oakland Hills.

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BOOK REVIEW: "LISTENING FOR THE BUGLES"- By Denny Spencer
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I first met Denny Spencer during an opening for a Jerry Matthews course, Hidden Oaks, in St. Louis, Michigan. Since then, we have corresponded from time to time, once when he left Natural Course Design to set up his own architectural firm. other times when he was working on courses and now his launch of his first novel.

Spencer has solid credentials as a golfer, both on the amateur and professional level. He captained the University of Toledo's first Mid-American Conference championship team in 1964 and followed that up with five appearances in the U.S. Amateur. When he turned 50, he gave the Senior Tour a try as well as the European Seniors Tour. He cashed a few checks during his five years devoted to senior golf, but finally the tour up and joined the Matthews firm. After a number of years with Natural Course Design he set up his own firm, Spencer Golf Concepts http://www.spencergolfconcepts.com/.

Obviously, being a golf architect these days, can leave a little time on your hands. Denny Spencer has taken that time and written his first novel, "Listening for the Bugles".

The story, as the book jacket relates, is "about champions, tragedy, and triumph". The major setting for the book is Inverness Country Club, a familiar territory for Spencer and golfers in Ohio and Michigan.

"Listening for the Bugles" is well written and has an interesting plot that continues to keep your attention. Spencer's authenticity in his description of golf courses, tournaments and other elements of a life spent in golf, gives the reader a comfort zone."Listening for the Bugles" is a quick read, primarily due to its short length and brisk pacing. In addition, Spencer's love and understanding of the game are clearly felt by the reader during the journey through its pages.

I enjoyed the book. For a first time novelist, Spencer has qualified for the writers' tour. If he continues on, he will face the same challenges that he did in the golf world, but he seems up to the task.

Spencer, having lived in the Toledo area for most of his life, is now experiencing his first winter in Florida. He has seven grandchildren, most of them in the Toledo area, that he can spend his royalties on.

The book is published by Wilderness Books http://wildernessbooks.org For those who want to correspond directly with Denny Spencer, he can be reached at spencergolf@buckere-express.com

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WHAT DOES A TYPICAL 18-HOLE COURSE LOOK LIKE?
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An article that appears in the December 2007 edition of Golf Course Management magazine gives a full report of a study that answers this question. http://www.eifg.org/programs/GCRPfullreport.pdf

Highlighting the report are the following:
The total acreage of an average 18-hole golfcourse in the U.S. is 150 acres, of which 100acres (67 percent) is maintained turfgrass.
The remaining acreage includes:
• Non-turfgrass vegetation (16 percent)
• Water bodies (7 percent)
• Buildings (4 percent)
• Bunkers (3 percent)
• Parking lots (3 percent)
Cool-season grasses are grown on 66 percent ofall maintained turfgrass acreage of golf courses,while warm-season grasses comprise 34 percent.Approximately 44 percent of golf courses haveincreased their non-turfgrass areas by nearly 10acres over the past decade.In that time period, an average of five environmental improvements were made on 18-hole golf courses.At courses involved in voluntary environmentalprograms, an average of seven environmentalimprovements were made from 1996 to 2006.

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DOAK AND NICKLAUS SEBONACK GC BEST NEW PRIVATE COURSE IN AMERICA
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Sebonack Golf Club, the collaborative masterpiece of Jack Nicklaus and Tom Doak, has been rated America’s Best New Private Course of 2007 by Golf Digest. The publication’s annual review of America’s Best New Courses appears in the January 2008 issue. Sebonack’s design is called “a showcase of American golf,” and the Long Island course is praised for its subtle “nuances and illusions.”

“For Sebonack Golf Club to be recognized by Golf Digest as America’s Best New Private Course of the year is a distinction that validates the exceptional commitment that Jack and Tom gave us when they agreed to team together to produce this classic,” said owner Michael Pascucci. “We have a golf course that blends Doak’s hallmark minimalistic and natural approach to design with Nicklaus’ extraordinary strategic skills as history’s greatest golfer and also one of its finest designers. Everyone associated with Sebonack is very proud to receive this most special recognition.”

“Someday, maybe sooner rather than later, Sebonack might join neighbors Shinnecock and the National Golf Links in that pantheon of course architecture, America’s 100 Greatest,” prophesies Ron Whitten, Golf Digest’s Senior Editor, Architecture.
Taken and edited from a Sebonack release.

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MICHIGAN GOLF COURSE SUPERINTENDENTS UNITE
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Four golf course superintendent association chapters in Michigan have officially merged, forming the Michigan Golf Course Superintendents Association (MiGCSA). The new chapter will focus efforts on membership benefits, advocacy, environmental stewardship and providing services necessary to educate the golf course superintendent on the latest technological advances.

The four chapters, including the Northern Michigan Turf Managers Association, the Western Michigan GCSA, the Greater Detroit GCSA and the Mid Michigan TMA have been discussing merger possibilities for nearly six years. These talks escalated over the past year and a half, resulting in the formation of the MiGCSA Board of Directors who completed the work necessary to put the merger up for vote among the membership.

The individual memberships overwhelming supported forming a single chapter and approved the proposal by 90 percent. The former chapters, now districts, will be influential in developing leadership, facilitating educational programs and services, along with maintaining a network of regional superintendents and relationships vital for information exchange.
Taken and edited from a MiGCSA release
http://www.migcsa.org

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PATRIOT GOLF DAY PRODUCES MORE THAN $1.1 MILLIONFOR FALLEN WARRIORS
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The inaugural Patriot Golf Day, inspired by Capt. Dan Rooney, a PGA Professional and USGA member from Broken Arrow, Okla., has resulted in donations of more than $1.1 million to support the families of veterans who have been injured or perished in the line of duty in Iraq or Afghanistan.

The nationwide campaign, conducted on Sept. 1, was originated by Rooney, founder of the Fallen Heroes Foundation. Patriot Golf Day is jointly supported by The PGA of America and the United States Golf Association. This past year, contributions were received from more than 3,200 golf facilities nationwide. On Patriot Golf Day, golfers at public facilities added an extra dollar to their greens fee, and private facilities asked for donations.

Patriot Golf Day will be renewed in 2008 during the Labor Day weekend, Aug. 29 - Sept. 1, with Rooney, once again at the front to lead the mission before he reports in the fall for his third tour of Iraq as an F-16 pilot in the 125th Fighter Squadron of the Oklahoma Air National Guard.
Taken and edited from a Jamie Carbone, PGA release

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DANCIN DOGG DONATES SHOT MAKING SIMULATOR TO FIRST TEE OF DETROIT
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Dancin’ Dogg President Russell Edens has donated the highly-regarded simulator along with a computer to The First Tee in hopes of keeping young Detroit area golfers interested in the game during the winter months.

“It’s a great feeling knowing the kids of Detroit who have participated with The First Tee will have a chance to have this kind of golf experience during the cold weather months,” said Edens. “The Shot Making Simulator is a realistic and fun golf simulation and is also a valuable learning resource for young and new golfers.”

First Tee Executive Director Lisa Woodcox says the donation of the computer and simulator by Dancin’ Dogg will be a great way to stoke interest among young golfers whose development is sometimes hampered by a winter lay-off. “The kids who are so full of enthusiasm during the season can get frustrated when they’re unable to swing a club or practice over the winter. We’re grateful to Dancin’ Dogg Golf and Russell Edens for this donation and for what it will mean to our aspiring young golfers here in southeast Michigan.”
For more information on Dancin’ Dogg Shot Making Simulator, visit http://www.dancindogggolf.com.

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RANDOM THOUGHTS
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The closest I ever got to a 4.0 in college was my bloodalcohol content.
I live in my own little world but it's OK, everyone knows me here.
If life deals you lemons, make lemonade . . . if it deals you tomatoes, make Bloody Marys.
No one ever says "It's only a game!" when their team is winning.
How long a minute is depends on what side of the bathroom door you're on.
Isn't having a smoking section in a restaurant like having a peeingsection in a swimming pool?
Snowmen fall from Heaven unassembled.

Thanks and a Tip of the Tam to Jack Minzey for these random thoughts.

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ANN ARBOR MUNICIPAL GOLF COURSES ROUNDS PLUMMET
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Consultants to the City of Ann Arbor indicate, that unless steps are taken to lessen the slide, Leslie Park and Huron Hills will lose four million in the next six years. When the golf building finally subsided, area golfers had more than 27 courses within the immediate vicinity. As a result, the rounds that had peaked at 85,342 in 1998, fell to 34,770 last year.

One of the major solutions offered is for the courses to get a liquor license. It was also felt that the courses should do more marketing to attract golfers.
Taken from an article by Tom Gantert in the Ann Arbor News.

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BOB CHARLES SETS RECORD IN NATIVE NEW ZEALAND- ByTerry Moore
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Unless you were watching The Golf Channel that same weekend, you may have missed out on one of the best record-breaking performances of the year. 71-year-old Bob Charles became the oldest player to make a cut in a professional tour event at the New Zealand Open. The ’63 British Open champion Charles finished in a tie for 23rdwith a two-under four-round total of 284 (75-68-71-70.) Charles age-defying scoring beat the previous record held by Sam Snead who made a Tour cut at age 67 in 1979. First winning the New Zealand Open in 1954 as an amateur at age 18, the now knighted Sir Charles won 6 times on the PGA Tour and 23 times on the Champions Tour. A regular at Senior Tour events in Grand Rapids and Dearborn, Charles was always a polite and agreeable interviewee and a steadfast proponent of good diet and exercise. He was a Gary Player without all of the bombast and hype. In the PGA Tour Guide, Charles credits his longevity to alternative medicine and diet supplements which included “deer velvet.”Question: Hey Sir Charles, can you spare some deer velvet?

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GLSP TELEVISION NETWORK EVENT COVERAGE FOR 2008
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JANUARY
Walt Disney World Marathon-Orlando, Florida

FEBRUARY
Amazing Race, Treetops Resort, Gaylord, Michigan
West Michigan Golf Show-Grand Rapids, Michigan

MARCH
Michigan Golf Show-Novi, Michigan
St. Patrick's Corktown Run, Detroit, Michigan

APRIL
Gina Relays, Hillsdale College, Hillsdale, Michigan

MAY
The Great Race-Elkhart, Indiana

JUNE
Michigan Open-Grand Traverse Resort & Spa, Traverse City, Michigan
Tournament of Champions-Boyne Mountain, Boyne Falls, Michigan

JULY
Steve's Run & Road and Trail-Dowagiac, Michigan

AUGUST
Crim Festival of Races
Western Amateur, Benton Harbor, Michigan

SEPTEMBER
Mackinaw Bridge Run, Mackinaw City, Michigan

OCTOBER
Niagara Falls International Marathon, Niagara Falls, Ontario

NOVEMBER
Thanksgiving Turkey Trot, Detroit, Michigan

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2008 MICHIGAN GOLFER CALENDAR
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JANUARY
16-19 55thPGA Merchandise Show, Orlando County Convention Center, Orlando
http://www.pgamerchandiseshow.com/
19-20 London Show -Helenic Community Centre, London, ON
http://golf-show.com
Video: http://michigangolfer.tv/2007shows/londongolfshow/
28-2/2 NGCOA Annual Conference & Golf Industry Show, Orlando
http://ngcoa.org/conference

FEBRUARY
2-3 Hamilton Golf & Travel Show
http://golf-show.com
22-24- 20th Anniversary West Michigan Golf Show, Grand Rapids, DeVos Center
http://westmichigangolfshow.com

MARCH
7-9 Michigan Golf Show, Rock Financial Showplace, Novi
http://michigangolfshow.com
14-16 Lansing Golf Show, Lansing Center, Lansing
http://michigangolfshow.com

JUNE
6-7 Michigan High School Boys State Championship
12 Michigan Open Championship GTR (Wolverine / Bear)
17-21 97th Michigan AmateurThe Moors Golf Club
24-25 Club Car Michigan Senior Open , Bedford Valley GC

JULY
7-11 92nd Michigan Women’s AmateurWalnut Hills CC
7-8 E-Z-GO Shanty Creek Classic presented by Page & Tuttle Shanty Creek Resort (Cedar/Schuss)
12 Michigan PGA Women’s Open Pro Am ,Crystal Mt. Resort
14-16 Michigan PGA Women’s OpenCrystal Mt. Resort(Mountain Ridge)
18-19 Tournament of Champions Pro Am ,
21-23 Tournament of Champions ,Boyne Mountain / Bay Harbor , Boyne Mountain (Alpine)
28-29 Michigan PGA Sr Champ / Sr. CPC Qualifying , Forest Dunes Golf Club
28-31 30th Mi Junior State AmateurForest Akers - West
28-8/3 Western Amateur, Pointe O'Woods, Benton Harbor

AUGUST
1-3 Western Amateur, Pointe O'Woods, Benton Harbor
4-10 , PGA CHAMPIONSHIP , OAKLAND HILLS CC,
11-12 87th GAM ChampionshipOrchard Lake CC
24 Michigan PGA Championship Pro Am Eagle Eye GC
25-27, Michigan PGA Professional Championship, Eagle Eye GC / Hawk Hollow GC,

SEPTEMBER
TBA 22nd GAM Senior ChampionshipPoint O’Woods G & CC
15-18 Michigan PGA Match Play presented by Boylan Sales/ProLink, Polo Fields Golf and Country Club
28-30 21st Annual Pepsi Fall Charity Invitational
Web: http://treetops.com
Video: http://michigangolfer.tv/2007shows/treetops_pepsi/

OCTOBER
TBA GAM Chrysler Club ChampionshipIndianwood Golf & Country Club
12 Michigan PGA Fall Merchandise Show Eagle Eye Golf Club
13 Fall Meeting / Michigan PGA Fall Merchandise Show , Eagle Eye Golf Club

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ASSOCIATION LINKS
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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 Golf Foundation
http://michigan-golf-foundation.com
Michigan Golf Course Superintendents Association
http://www.migcsa.org
Michigan High School Athletic Association
http://www.mhsaa.com/
Michigan Interscholastic Golf Coaches Association
http://migca.org
Michigan Publinx Seniors Golf Association
http://mpsga.net
Michigan Women's Golf Association
http:// www.mwgolf.org.
National Golf Course Owners Association
http://ngcoa.org
National Golf Foundation
http://ngf.org