August 2021 Ohio Golf Journal

Michigan’s LochenHeath is on the Rebound By Len Ziehm L ochenHeath Golf Club offers beautiful views of East Grand Traverse Bay, near Traverse City, Michigan. Although beautiful, it has had a rocky past. Forced to close, it was rescued due to the extraordinary efforts of a few former members and some very dedicated employees. Together they have converted LochenHeath into one of the best public courses in this golf-rich state. Built by the well-respected designer, Steve Smyers, on what was previously a 300-acre cherry orchard, LochenHeath opened as a public course in 2002, went private in 2004, but reverted to a daily fee operation in 2008. The end result led to bankruptcy and a shutdown that lasted over two years. Eleven members bought the club out of foreclosure in the spring of 2011 and their passion for the project made all the difference. “Really quite a story,’’ recounted general manager Kevin O’Brien. “The members didn’t sit by during the shutdown. They came out and kept the course alive – mowing, weeding bunkers, whatever they could do.’’ At one point the grass in the fairways was knee-high, and one of the bunkers required 65 man-hours of hand labor for it to survive. Joe Ettawagiac, who had been the assistant superintendent, was brought back as the head man. Another former employee, chef Joseph George, was re-hired and in May, 2011 a celebratory reopening was held. O’Brien, who joined the effort in 2013, had worked at some other top golf resorts in Michigan. He ran the highly-acclaimed Tullymore Resort for 20 years. Ohio Golf Journal