Ohio Holds Inaugural Adaptive Tournament The United States Adaptive Golf Alliance (USAGA) began hosting tournaments for golfers with impairments in 2014. USAGA’s coalition started and grew from the desire of several parathlete golfers and adaptive golf organizations who were collectively frustrated by failed efforts to form one voice to speak and act nationally to bring adaptive golf to the disabled population and as a Paralympic sport to the Olympic Games. The USGA monitored the USAGA’s progress and when Para-Golf became an Olympic Sport they decided they needed to organize a national adaptive golf tournament. The USGA held their first adaptive event in 2022 and it was a huge success. Ohio Golf Journal applauds the USGA, the USAGA and Northern Ohio Golf Association for brining more focus to adaptive golf and creating the series of tournaments. Also in this issue, the National Golf Foundation is reporting that golf is very healthy right now. Rounds are still increasing and the growth among juniors and women playing the game is quite impressive. Len Ziehm tells about changes at BOYNE, plus for golf health, Franciscan Medical talks about knee injuries and when surgery is necessary. It has been a wonderful golf season in Ohio and we look forward to a beautiful fall season as we move into September. I hope I see you on the Back 9 in the near future. FRED ALTVATER PUBLISHER Back 9 Media Group Also Publishes: Michigan Golf Journal Indiana Golf Journal Back 9 Report Ohio Golf Journal
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Ohio Golf Journal is Published By Back 9 Media Group Publisher: Fred Altvater, USGTF Teaching Professional Advertise with Ohio Golf Journal, Contact us for more information Be sure to take advantage of the links to social media, videos and other content provided within the articles 32 FIND INSIDE 06 16 27 36 Inaugural Ohio Adaptive Open Crowns Winners 06 Treetops to Host A Delightful Culinary Experience Lessons from Brian Harman’s OPEN Championship Victory Golf Tip: Do You Really Need to Hit a 300-Yard Drive? Ohio Golf News The Health of Golf: 2023 Golf Stats from NGF BOYNE Has Become An International Travel Destination News & Notes Treating Knee Ligament Injuries 27 32 36 20 22 25 16 10 Our Contributors 38 Our Favorite Golf Videos 39 Ohio Golf Journal
The Ohio Adaptive Open was held earlier this month at Cleveland Metropark’s Seneca Golf Course with several winners recognized. The U.S. Adaptive Golf Alliance (USAGA) has been holding regional, national and international tournaments for several years. The United States Golf Association (USGA) studied their format and last year held the first-ever U.S. Adaptive Open at Pinehurst. Since then, several states have held Adaptive Golf Tournaments. Ryanne Jackson is the reigning U.S. Adaptive Open champion and continued to dominate the women’s categories in the Ohio Adaptive Open. In the Women’s Overall category, she held the lead after the first round and didn’t allow a rocky start in the second round to discourage her, firing a one-under par 35 on the back side to seal the victory. “Today started off kind of rough”, Jackson said. ”I had a really bad front nine and after nine holes I figured I just need to be able to come back around and be proud of the round I shot, and I ended up shooting my best nine-hole competition score on the back nine. Mentally being able to get out of some tough spots I put Inaugural Ohio Adaptive Open Crowns Winners By NorthernOhio.Golf Ohio Golf Journal
Jarrett Fultz’s solid play was rewarded with wins in both the Men’s Overall title, as well as the Men’s Neurological Impairment categories. His first round two-over par 74 combined with another two-over par total in the second round left him at four-over par for the tournament, good enough to claim both titles. “It was great”, said Fultz. ”I feel like I got a lot out of not entirely knowing where I was going off the tee. I had a couple penalty strokes and ended up hitting some good shots to make up for those. For the way I was hitting the ball off the tee, I played really well, that was my saving grace these last two days. It felt really good to make a lot of putts to keep me in there. It was awesome, I love the course, nice and tight, not great for hitting bad tee shots but the course was in great condition. The staff was amazing, they were super helpful and nice, I loved it, it was so much fun.” Jonathan Snyder took home the top spot in the Men’s Arm Impairment category. His two rounds of 84-81. Kellie Valentine bettered her first-round score by eight shots the second day to claim victory in the Women’s Arm Impairment category. Andrew Berglund took home the trophy for the Intellectual Impairment category. In the Leg Impariment category, Brandon Williams came out victorious. His second round wasn’t quite as good as his first-round 76, but he prevailed over Kyle Erickson and Tracy Ramin to win the division. WOMENS DIVISION 1 Ryanne Jackson 2 Kellie Valentine 3 Jennifer Wesolowski 77-79=156 94-86=180 113-107=220i myself in and still make no worse than bogey, other than one bad hole, was the key. I wasn’t hitting my driver very well which isn’t very common for me. I usually drive the ball pretty well, but I only hit four or five fairways all day. I really enjoyed the course; it was very different playing here than back home in Florida and the tournament was great.”
Men’s Final Results 1 Jarrett Fultz 2 Joakim Bjorkman 3 Brandon Williams 4 Kyle Erickson 5 Tracy Ramin T6 Rick Oldach T6 Jonathan Snyder T6 James Lawson 9 Andrew Berglund 10 Charles Lippincott 11 Jason Hasty 12 Jason M Rose T13 Christopher Critchfield T13 Matthew Landcastle 15 Michael Gegick 16 Brian Warner 17 Michael Haggard 18 Tom Rechin 19 Sean Collins 4 13 14 16 18 21 21 21 25 26 28 34 39 39 43 49 52 59 61 74 82 76 78 84 85 84 84 85 91 83 86 86 91 93 101 97 106 101 74 75 82 82 78 80 81 81 84 79 89 92 97 92 94 92 99 97 104 148 157 158 160 162 165 165 165 169 170 172 178 183 183 187 193 196 203 205 WD Aidan Horan Christopher Critchfield didn’t play his best golf in the tournament, but still came away victorious in the Seated Player. Joakim Björkman came in runner-up at the U.S. Adpative Open, but wanted an outright win in Ohio. Not only did he finish first in the Short Stature category, but he also finished second in the Men’s Overall division. On day two he fired an impressive three-over par 75. We applaud the efforts of the USGA and the USAGA to bring adaptive golf to the forefront and help everyone enjoy competing in organized events. Ohio Golf Journal
The Health of Golf: 2023 Golf Stats from NGF Provided by the National Golf Foundation The National Golf Foundation (NGF) has the world’s largest research team dedicated solely to the golf industry. They provide accurate data to golf centric businesses to help evaluate trends and consumer preferences. The data also provides interesting insight for golfers in general. Ohio Golf Journal
With the debate between LIV, DP World Tour and PGA Tour still making headlines, golf continues to post gains and is getting stronger every day. Golfers are traveling to more resorts, even though some courses have closed, there are plenty of green-grass facilities across the country, as well as internationally, to satisfy every golfing need. A golfer only needs to be willing to pony up Golf-related travel is the ultimate discretionary expense and clearly demonstrates overall demand. A golf trip requires planning, commitment and, for some, intense negotiating with loved ones. In other words, you’ve got to LOVE golf to make this investment. It’s encouraging to see that golf continues its positive trend. NGF polled 40 golf resort and destination properties across the his hard-earned dollars to take a dream golf trip, or play a topranked course. Golfers Continue to Spend Money on Golf Travel With a 10% increase in rounds played for the month of May, it appears the upswing in golf that began during the COVID pandemic, is still continuing to draw more golfers to the game.
United States and reported advance bookings are up 5-7% over 2022. This same group reported that advanced bookings had outpaced 2021 numbers by roughly 12% last year. That is a 19% increase, since the end of COVID with no end in sight. Additional Data Supporting the Golf’s Growth More than 70% of Core golfers have, or expect to take, a golf trip before the end of the year. An indicator that supports this high number, online searches for golf travel bags is running 30% ahead of pre-pandemic. Golf tourism is the second largest sector and a critical component of the U.S. golf economy. Over $31 billion was spent in 2022 on golf trips longer than 50 miles from home, including expenditures for travel, lodging, meals and incidentals during the trip. Golfers spent another $9 billion in green fees, cart costs, range balls and merchandise, as well Ohio Golf Journal
as food and beverages. All told golf travel including additional expenditure associated with travel had a total impact of $40 billion, which is 40% of the golf industry’s overall economic contribution. Equipment Sales trending above 2022 record sales numbers. Golf equipment sales are an obvious measure. If you are going to play you must have the latest and greatest equipment and everyone agrees that golf is a non-essential activity. The money for golf clubs, balls and gloves definitely comes from a family’s discretionary funds. Spending money on golf is not essential, but it sure makes golfers happy. Cumulatively, ball and club sales are up 2% versus a year ago and still running 51% above prepandemic base numbers. While some of that is attributable to pricing increases, a byproduct of demand and rising costs for materials, research & development, shipping and labor, speaks to the sustainability of golf’s post-pandemic lift. Entering June, golf equipment shipments were down about 4% compared to the same mid-year stretch in 2022, but individually golf balls sales were up almost • The number of female golfers jumped 15% compared to only a 2% increase among male golfers. There has never been greater female representation on the golf course than right now, with women and girls accounting for just over one quarter of all golfers. Local golf courses, private clubs and other junior golf programs are leading the charge. Young girls are taking up the game in record numbers with junior developmental programs focused on young women. Girls now represent 38% of all golfers under the age of 18. When NGF first started tracking golf participation by gender, in 1986, the proportion of girls was just 14%. A 24% increase in 37 years is quite dramatic. 18%. Someone is losing a lot of golf balls. Women’s Numbers Continue to Grow Over the past three years (20202022) golf has seen over 1.2 new golfers taking up the game. Of that number 820,000 were women compared to 465,000 men. One of the most notable aspects of the pandemic-driven rise in participation over the past three years: the influx of women and girls. • There are about 6.4 million female golfers, up from 5.6 million in 2019. • The net gain of 800,000+ women golfers is far more than on the men’s side.
Topgolf has helped bring people to golf. Their fun, socially focused and lessintimidating atmosphere helps girls get comfortable and gain confidence. Female participation in off-course forms of the game account for just under 50% of all participants. Greater visibility and support of industry initiatives that make golf more welcoming and inclusive has been vital too. The LPGA Tour unveiled a new line of affordable equipment at Walmart to increase access for female beginners and juniors. And June, which is Women’s Golf Month, kicked off with a Women’s Golf Day global celebration of introduction, promotion, and engagement. Future growth, however, is dependent on this recent rise among female golfers being sustainable. The golf experience needs to continue to evolve and appeal to the younger generation There are more than 37,600 golf courses worldwide. Course closures are on pace with last year, which ended up with the fewest since 2005 – prior to the Great Recession. New golf course development is slowly ticking upward. It’s intuitive that as golf enjoys increased participation and engagement, fewer owners and operators are motivated to sell or shutter courses. At the same time, a small number of operators, owners and developers who have been sitting on the sidelines have clearly decided the time is right for a new golf project. The Bottom Line Golf is stronger than it has ever been. Participation among women and juniors continues to grow. More courses are being built to meet ongoing demand. Golf equipment manufacturers are seeing increases in sales and profits. It’s good to be in the golf business right now. For more statistics and information visit: https://www. ngf.org/. while not taking away from traditionalists. There is Still an Adequate Supply of Golf Courses The United States has, by far, the largest number of golf courses. From Alaska to Florida this country has more courses than the next top 10 nations combined. The game of golf also has remarkable international geographic spread, with at least one course in 83% of countries and territories recognized by the International Standard Organization. In total 207 of 249 countries have at least one golf course. That number will increase to 208 later this year with the opening of a new course in Iraq designed by Cynthia Dye, daughter of Pete and Alice. Ohio Golf Journal
Centerville Lady Elks Golf Team, the Ohio champions, competed last month at the PGA High School National Invitational at the new PGA facility in Frisco, Texas. The competitors toiled under very hot conditions and finished tenth. Four members of the team have graduated high school and three are playing collegiately. Morgan Rogers for Ohio University, Leeann Harker at Ashland University and Alana Rae Miller is attending Ohio Dominican University. The final two members of the team are Sanjana Reddy and Brigid Nickell, a sophomore in high school. Dublin’s Bob Sowards won the Ohio Senior Open for a fifth consecutive year. His final round 68, at Firestone Country Club, gave him a cumulative score of five-under par for the two rounds. Mike Thomas finished two shots back. OhioGolf News Centerville Women Compete in PGA High School National Invitational Bob Sowards Wins Ohio Senior Open for 5th Consecutive Year Sowards, the Director of Instruction at Kinsale Golf and Fitness Club, is making history. No one in the 38-year history of the event has dominated like he has. He has been eligible to play in this event for five years and he has won every time. “I wish every event I played was played on this course,” he said. “This course suits me perfectly. I love the sight lines. I’ve never played bad here. It’s just perfect. It’s always in great condition. It’s just a great event at a place I really like.” The win was worth $2,500 and qualifies Sowards for the U.S. Senior Open. Ohio Golf Journal
Belmont Country Club’s Mike Stone will be making his second trip to the Senior PGA Professional Championship in the last three years, but this time he is going as a champion. The 2023 Senior PGA Professional Championship will be held October 24-29 at PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, Florida. “There are tournaments that you point to on your calendar and say, ‘This is one I really want to win,’” said Stone, who earned $1,200 in winning the event after a runner up finish in 2022. “This is one of those tournaments.” Stone, PGA Assistant Professional at Belmont Country Club, opened with a 71 on the Lima Shawnee Country Club track and finished strong with a tournament-best 68 for a 36-hole total of 5-under 139, three shots clear of his nearest competitor. Mike Stone Captures Trip to Senior PGA Professional Championship Adding to his motivation, Stone finished runner-up last year in this event, plus he had a disappointing second round in the Ohio Senior Open at Firestone earlier this summer, after holding the first-round lead. “I think I learned something from both events, but especially at Firestone,” he said. “You just have to stay patient and let the game come to you. If you hit a bad shot just roll with it and go on to the next shot.” Steve Parker, former PGA Director of Golf at Portage Country Club, and PGA Life Member Gary Trivisonno, tied for second. Fourth place went to Tom Atchison. Dan Sutton, Steve Mulcahy, Gary Rusnak and Steve Stone will serve as alternates.
Michael Balcar, PGA Assistant Golf Professional at Brandywine Country Club, won the 102nd Pyramid Treating Ohio Open at Westfield Country Club. The Cleveland State graduate, received texts of encouragement from CSU coach Steve Weir, and rallied with a final round fiveunder par 65 to win the tournament by one shot over Kent State graduate student Cade Breitenstine, who led the tournament for 53 holes. Wittenberg University assistant coach Nick Carlson finished third and Akron Hoban senior and Ohio State commit Jack Vojtko finished fourth. Balcar’s three rounds of, 66-65-65, set a scoring record for Ohio Opens held over Westfield’s two courses since the event Michael Balcar Wins 102nd Ohio Open returned seven years ago. The previous record 198, was set by 2013 winner Colin Biles. “I have had trouble staying in the present,” said Balcar, who earned $10,000 for his victory. “I have been working on fighting against excitement or disappointment, no matter the situation. It has been a real issue for me.” Former Ohio Open winners include, Denny Shute, Byron Nelson, Frank Stranahan, Jack Nicklaus and Tom Weiskopf. Balcar said the win accomplished a long-time goal. “It’s been a goal of mine since high school,” he said. “Jack Nicklaus and so many other names have won this prestigious event. There are so many good players from around Ohio. I think if you win this tournament you can play anywhere.” Ohio Golf Journal
Delicious Dining and Autumn Color Tour on the Jones Masterpiece Course at Treetops in October. Treetops Resort is known for its five premier golf courses, but in October the Treetops culinary team led by Food & Beverage Director Greg Jones is celebrating Michigan’s most colorful season – autumn. Reservations are required for this dining experience that will be offered on three days only, Friday, October 6, Saturday, October 7 and again on Friday, October 13. What could be better than pairing creative cuisine with Treetops to Host A Delightful Culinary Experience By Fred Altvater of Northern Michigan’s Most Spectacular Resort. At each stop guests will enjoy a tasting of a Michigan made beer or wine, as well as a fall themed hors d’oeuvre. Diners will enjoy the four stations on the outdoor golf course tour. –– Hole #6: Artisan Cheese board with fresh herb dip. –– Hole #9: Smashed Acorn and roasted walnut and garlic crostini –– Halfway House: Cauliflower bisque with roasted pumpkin –– Hole #15: Bacon Lettuce Cups The evening will wrap up at Legends restaurant overlooking spectacular Northern Michigan Fall colors? Treetops Resort is starting a new tradition with the first ever Fall Color Tour and Progressive Dinner. The beauty of the Fall colors that adorn the surrounding terrain at Treetops paired with mouth-watering cuisine, along with Michigan beers and wines, should provide a memorable dining experience. Guests will be assigned a golf cart to traverse the four food stations on the Jones Masterpiece Course. There will also be the opportunity to take photos of the beautiful fall foliage across hillsides Ohio Golf Journal
the fall foliage, enjoying live entertainment, and a main course meal and dessert. After the outdoor tour, dinner will be served in the Legends Restaurant. Three options are available to satisfy any appetite. –– Steak Oscar- Angus Filet topped with grilled asparagus, lobster, and a bearnaise sauce –– Michigan Pork Chop with apple, cherry, and rosemary compote –– Wild Mushroom ravioli with lemon thyme sauce –– Legends Airline Chicken breast, served with a rich mushroom, tomato, and shallot sauce over creamy polenta A final dessert course of Pumkin Cheesecake will provide the perfect end to this marvelous dining extravaganza. The Fall Progressive Dinner is priced at $149 per person and includes taxes & gratuity. For those diners that want don’t want to drive home, Treetops is also offering overnight accommodation packages, with, or without golf. Don’t wait seating is limited and this will fill up fast. To reserve your spot visit: www.treetops.com, or call 888-TREETOPS.
Lessons from Brian Harman’s OPEN Championship Victory By Ed Travis The R&A got it right. This year’s OPEN Championship contested at Royal Liverpool proved that when a complete range of golfing skills are tested those with the ability to keep the ball in play, hit reasonable scoring shots and are consistent with their medium range putting can and will win. Journeyman PGA Tour player Brian Harman beat the field comprised of the best golfers in the world at the OPEN Championship by six shots. He made mistakes, but when he did, like when his tee shot on the 5th hole in the fourth round flew into a gorse bush, he limited the damage with smart play to post a bogey. The four days saw changing weather conditions, warm, cold, wind and rain, plus windy, cool, and rainy all at the same time. Harman’s driving distance was not spectacular, especially when compared with the big guns in the field like Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau. He is 144th in driving distance on Tour at just over 293 yards but a credible 8th in accuracy, hitting more than two-thirds of the fairways. Many analysts dismiss Harman as a “one-off,” who putted lights out for a week, the right week, and took home the Claret Jug. He was first in Ohio Golf Journal
strokes gained putting by a sensational margin of almost 12 strokes, had zero three putts and missed only one putt under ten feet in the four rounds. His 106 putts were the fewest in the British Open in the past for 20 years when another journeyman Ben Curtis took his only major. Those analysts are correct, but for the wrong reason. It wasn’t his putting that was superior to the field, it was his whole game. Keeping the ball in play, staying out of the penal bunkering, accepting the changing weather conditions and maintaining his focus throughout the entire 72 holes was key. In short, he was gutsy, smart, and dominant. He did not overpower the course, just his opponents. What isn’t being talked about is how golf’s ruling bodies, the USGA and the R&A, continue to insist the ball goes too far and must be reined in for the sake of golf’s future. You’re familiar with the arguments for and against, but this same discussion has been going on with the same dire predictions for over a century and yet golf and golfers continue to enjoy the game. The governing associations have proposed a Model Local Rule for elite players that when enacted will limit the distance balls can be hit. Not everyone believes there is a problem that needs to be solved. PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan has said the Tour will not go along with the proposed Model Local Rule acknowledging it is not in the best interests of their players or fans. The OPEN Championship held at Royal Liverpool last month demonstrated for the umpteenth time the single biggest factor controlling scoring is course set up. Rough that is actually rough, not just long fairway grass, strategically placed bunkering that can be in effect a one-shot penalty and greens with contours that cause offline approach shots to run away. These are the subtle factors that can drastically affect the scoring at a major event. Set ups, such as The R&A attained at Royal Liverpool, place the emphasis on a complete game, plus the intelligence to manage yourself to success makes the perfect argument against any artificial attempt to restrict the performance of the equipment. Something that has never worked in the past and never will in the future.
Golf Tip: Do You Really Need to Hit a 300-Yard Drive? By Fred Altvater If you watch golf equipment commercials on television, you would think everyone should be able to hit it 300 yards. The OPEN Championship contested last month at Royal Liverpool in England proved that long drives aren’t always the key to winning and posting low scores. While Rory, Jon Rahm and Scottie Scheffler were looking for their golf balls and unsuccessfully trying to extricate themselves from the gorse, Brian Harman was satisfied to stay near the fairway, sometimes as much as 40 yards behind the longer players, playing to the middle of the greens, where he let his putter do the talking.
He putted well that week, in fact he didn’t have a three-putt and led the field handily with his extraordinary putting statistics. That brings me to my point. Stop trying to hit it 300 yards off every tee box. Take what the course gives you and don’t bring trouble into play. Harman intentionally played short of the deadly fairway bunkers and tall grass. He let his chipping and putting do the talking. When I am at the driving range, I see so many golfers reach for their driver and start swinging for the fences. BIG MISTAKE! Driving is important, but not as important as a solid chipping and putting game. How many hours every week do you spend on the chipping green working on your short game? Do you know the exact distances you hit your wedges? Can you routinely hit 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100-yard chip shots to within 20 feet of the hole on a regular basis? If you break down your round, how many fairways did you hit? How many chip shots did you get up and down to save par, or bogey? How many times did you three-putt? Matches and golf tournaments are won from 150 yards in. Do yourself a favor, next time you go to the range to practice, leave your driver at home and just work on short irons, chip shots and putting. You will be amazed at how fast your handicap will begin to shrink. Have fun on the course and if your game needs a little help, give me call and schedule a short game lesson. Ohio Golf Journal
BOYNE Has Become An International Travel Destination By Len Ziehm (pictures by Joy Sarver) Boyne Mountain, the first of three Michigan destinations to open, is celebrating its 75th anniversary. The Highlands, a few miles down the road, is celebrating its 60th and long-time senior vice president of golf operations Bernie Friedrich has been named the winner of the prestigious PGA Golf Executive of the Year by the PGA of America. Bernie Friedrich talked with Back 9 Report about the renovations and new short course at BOYNE Highlands. To view the interview click HERE.
All that is secondary to the recent groundbreaking for the new nine-hole short course and Himalayan-style Putting Course near the Lodge at The Highlands. Described as “fun’’ and “ultra-inclusive,’’ the still unnamed layout will be Boyne’s 11th course in Michigan. “It’ll add an entirely new dimension to our portfolio,’’ said Josh Richter, senior vice president of golf operations for the three resorts. “We have plans to build short courses at our other facilities in coming years as well. Non-golfers and families can enjoy them as an activity while avid golfers can play a few more holes without playing another 18.’’ Back 9 Report talked with Josh Richter. To see the full interview click HERE. Designed by Michigan architect Ray Hearn, the new short course is located on the site of the former Cuff Links nine-hole par-3 course and will be lit to allow for night-time play. “My favorite part of the project are the famous Ohio Golf Journal
enhancements and improvements on every hole on every course at our resorts,’’ said Griffin. Hearn’s first project was to make the Highland’s Moor course more playable. He did that last year and also started upgrades to the Donald Ross Memorial course. One hole was completed last year. A total of five holes have undergone renovations. Often overlooked, the Alpine and Monument courses at Boyne Mountain underwent major upgrades. All green-side bunkers on the Arthur Hills Course received new sand. Fourteen bunkers were removed at Crooked Tree, a course that offers fantastic views of Littler Traverse Bay sitting above Bay Harbor. Over eight miles of new cart paths were installed, plus in BOYNE’s quest to use water more efficiently, five new irrigation pumps were installed at the courses. These renovations and additions are just the tip of the iceberg. Could a Pete Dye design become the 12 course at BOYNE? Dye died in 2020, but before his death had designed a new layout, in 2002. Work on it was approximate green complexes I was able to create, drawing inspiration from some of my favorite greens in Scotland, Ireland and America that I have played and studied over the years,’’ said Hearn. “I was able to create fun, scaleddown versions of the originals and route them along the ski slope with uphill, downhill and sidehill holes creating some thrilling golf shots.’’ Two to three fairway options are available for each hole. Construction began in mid-July and is expected to be completed by the fall of 2023, with the opening planned for the spring of 2024. In reality, though, it’s just the latest in a ton of projects completed or planned around the resorts. “In the 15 years I’ve been at Boyne I’ve never seen as much re-investing and as many golf course improvements as I’ve seen in the last year and a half,’’ said Ken Griffin, Director of Marketing and Sales. To learn more about BOYNE Resort watch this recent interview with Ken Griffin, click HERE. “Ray and Bernie (now focusing on renovation projects) put together a 10-year plan for
halted and the plans put on hold when funds were shifted to build the largest indoor water park in Michigan. Hearns and Friedrich’s 10-year Master Plan includes the funding necessary to complete the new course and it will lay alongside The Alpine and The Monument at BOYNE Mountain. Not all of the recent upgrades been in the golf operation. SkyBridge Michigan, built at Boyne Mountain at a cost of over $10 million, opened last October as the world’s longest and tallest timbertowered suspension bridge. The bridge is 1,203 feet long with a five-foot wide walking surface Ohio Golf Journal
that sits 118 feet above Boyne Valley. Resort guests can enjoy beautiful views by either hiking up a trail, or take a chairlift to the top. Visitors to the new Skybridge can also enjoy a meal at the small restaurant that sits atop the mountain. Newly renovated lodging accommodations were added at The Highlands and Boyne Mountain got a 32-room boutique hotel, Chalet Edelweiss. Guests with access to private planes can fly directly into the newly renovated BOYNE Mountain airport. All of these additions and renovations have drastically changed the perception of BOYNE as just a midwestern destination, the resort now appeals to the international traveler, as well. The Boyne resorts have long been popular for golfers and skiers but now it’s beyond that. Boyne is approaching the same level as North Carolina’s Pinehurst Resort. “We’re the two resorts with the most holes of golf under our control,’’ said Griffin. “It’s not just the holes. It’s the resort golf experience. We’re the two biggest in the U.S. We’ve gone from a national to an international destination.’’ Next June, the Boyne resorts will host 350 tour operators from around the world at the International Association of Golf Tour Operators convention. They’ll see what a great golf experience Northern Michigan offers. I am sure they will be as impressed as we were. To learn more and book your next golf adventure to BOYNE click HERE.
Harbor Shores Breaks Into Golf Digest’s Top 100 List Harbor Shores Golf Club, Southwest Michigan’s Jack Nicklaus Signature designed golf course, has been ranked No. 90 on Golf Digest’s biennial list of “America’s 100 Greatest Public Courses.” It also moved up six spots to No. 19 on Michigan’s Best list. The celebrated 18-hole layout, part of the Harbor Shores Resort, has also hosted the oldest senior major championship, News & Notes “To be ranked among America’s 100 Greatest Public Courses by Golf Digest is tremendous honor, and a testament to the unforgettable design that Jack Nicklaus created and the brilliant playing conditions our team maintains daily,” said Joshua Doxtator, PGA/General Manager. “We are very grateful that Golf Digest course raters appreciate the uniqueness and integrity of this layout and the overall experience we provide our guests.” To schedule your own golf getaway to Harbor Shores, visit www.harborshoresresort.com. Senior PGA Championship presented by KitchenAid, every other year since 2012. The championship will return to Harbor Shores Golf Club in 2024. The publication’s biennial review of America’s top public courses appears in the recent July/August 2023 issue. Golf Digest used more than 1,100 members of its Course Ranking Panel and asked each to submit ballots based on seven criteria including shot values, resistance to scoring, design variety, memorability, aesthetics, conditioning, and ambience. Ohio Golf Journal
Branson and its 10 courses has rapidly become one of America’s finest golf destinations. It also features a wide array of entertainment and after-golf activities to make it a must-visit summer stop. All 10 Branson Golf courses are open to the public and range from luxury resort to daily fee options. Located close to one another, the courses are situated near many lodging options, restaurants, a theme park, museums, and countless other attractions without losing their idyllic settings amid the Ozarks’ natural bounty. Branson is convenient to get to as it is within an 8-hour drive for 33 percent of the U.S. population. Those who prefer flying can choose between Springfield-Branson National Airport (SGF) and Branson Airport (BKG). Five of Missouri’s Top 10-rated courses are in the Branson Golf destination, including the top four. Some of those are ranked among the country’s top 100 public courses by leading magazines. Underscoring how good the golf is here, the American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) conducted a tournament at Buffalo Ridge Golf Course. The 54-hole event featured 78 of the world’s top junior golfers. The AJGA has an annual junior membership of more than 8,000 junior golfers from 50 states and 60 foreign countries. Separating Branson from most golf destinations are the countless other leisure choices it offers. With dozens of restaurants, 50 live entertainment theaters, three lakes, award-winning theme park (Silver Dollar City), and family friendly options at every turn, there’s something for everyone. Click Here to plan your next golf getaway to Branson. Branson Has Great Golf PLUS More Entertainment Options
BOYNE Golf is one of North America’s largest golf and resort destinations, is proud to announce that construction is underway on a Ray Hearndesigned 9-hole short course and an adjacent Himalayanstyle putting course near its Main Lodge at The Highlands resort. This fun short course design, the 11th course at the Northern Michigan based resort, will help meet the resort’s needs for BOYNE to Open New Short Course Next Year more golf entertainment for its guests. Golf’s blossoming popularity over the past few years has brought experienced golfers out more often, brought back many who have left the game, and attracted many newcomers. As a result, many popular golf destinations around North America have introduced upscale short courses, to complement the championship courses already on property. “Short courses have been gaining in popularity since they increase the opportunities to enjoy the game for everyone. Non-golfers and families can enjoy it as an activity while avid golfers can play few more holes without playing another 18, since fun is paramount to the experience,” says Josh Richter, Senior Vice-President of Golf Operations for Boyne Resorts. “The new short course at The Highlands will add an entirely new dimension to our Ohio Golf Journal
portfolio. We have plans to build short courses at our other facilities in upcoming years, as well.” Hearn, a renowned Michigan golf course architect, was a natural fit to work with BOYNE Golf teams on the design for this new golf experience. Over the past several years, he has worked closely with BOYNE Golf and developed a trust modernizing its classic course designs while respecting the original architect’s philosophy and making them more enjoyable golf experiences. “Designing and building the short course with Stephen Kircher, Bernie Friedrich, Furness Golf and the BOYNE team has been an exciting project to be a part of and it will be fun to watch all the varying skill levels of golfers having fun playing the game on this unique course built into the side of the ski hill,” said Hearn. “My favorite part of the project are the famous approximate green complexes I was able to create. Drawing inspiration from some of my favorite greens in Scotland, Ireland, and America (Eden, Punch Bowl, Short, Redan, Reverse Redan, Partial Volcano, Steep Slope, Postage Stamp, and Biarritz) that I have played and studied over the years. I was able to create fun, ‘kinda-sorta’ scaleddown versions of the originals and route them along the ski slope with uphill, downhill, and sidehill holes creating some thrilling golf shots.”
Treating Knee Ligament Injuries The knee is the largest joint in the body and one of the most easily damaged. Knee ligament injuries are common, especially sprained knees. While knee injuries often happen among athletes, a twist, or unfortunate hit to the knee can injure a ligament, too. Franciscan Health Indianapolis orthopedic surgeon Sean Calloway, MD, talks about common causes of knee ligament injuries and how knee injuries are treated, often without the need for surgery. What Are Ligaments In The Knee? The ligaments in the knee help control motion by connecting bones and bracing joints against abnormal impact. “When we’re talking about ligaments of any part of the body, a ligament is what connects bones together,” said Dr. Calloway. “This is a little bit different than when we talk about tendons, because tendons connect muscle to bone.” There are four main ligaments in the knee – two collateral ligaments and two cruciate ligaments. By Robbie Schneider (Franciscan Health) Ohio Golf Journal
Collateral ligaments are the ligaments on the inside of the knee (medial collateral ligament, aka MCL) and outside of the knee (lateral collateral ligament, aka LCL). “These prevent shifting in and out of the knee,” said Dr. Calloway. Possibly more well-known are the cruciate ligaments, the two main ligaments on the inside part of the knee, behind the knee cap. “The anterior cruciate ligament, also known as the ACL, prevents the shin bone from moving forward on the thighbone, and it also prevents some rotation of the knee,” said Dr. Calloway. “The PCL, the posterior cruciate ligament, prevents the shin bone from moving backward as compared to the thighbone.” What Are The Most Common Knee Ligament Injuries? The ACL in front of the knee and the MCL, connecting the tibia and femur bones inside the knee, are common injury sites while less common is damaging the PCL behind the knee. “When we look at all four of those ligaments of the knee, the most commonly injured ligament is called the ACL,” said Dr. Calloway. “It’s very common Dr. Calloway cautions that nonathletes can also be at-risk for knee ligament injuries. “Even outside of the world of sports, these types of injuries can happen,” said Dr. Calloway. “Types of (injured) patients that I’ve seen in my clinic are things like tripping over a garden hose or slipping on ice. With the MCL, it could be the dog running through the house and hitting the outside part of the knee, making the inside part be injured. So while we always talk about sports and that’s the type of thing that we think about, there are a lot of things around the house and around the yard that can also cause issues.” Who Is Most At Risk For Knee Ligament Injuries? “Young women are actually at most risk for these types of injuries, especially when talking about the ACL,” said Dr. Calloway. Although musculoskeletal injuries are usually not genderspecific, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons notes that women appear to be more susceptible to ACL injuries than men. Women basketball players are twice as likely as their male counterparts to experience this kind of ligament injury. Women soccer players are four times as likely as men to experience an ACL tear. in athletes. These types of injuries are most caused by what in our field we call non-contact injuries. If you’re watching an athlete running on the field, especially in football, you can see they plant their leg, their knee twists and they fall to the ground. So, a lot of times these types of non-contact injuries happen that way.” The second most injured knee ligament is the MCL, located on the inside of the knee. MCL injuries can sometimes happen if someone or something hits the outside part of the knee. “The other two ligaments, the PCL and the LCL, are a little bit more rarely injured,” said Dr. Calloway. “Those can sometimes happen with things like motorcycle wrecks.” What Are Main Causes Of Knee Ligament Injuries? Many knee injuries happen from contact or accidents, but knee ligament injuries can also happen without contact to the knee, such as from twisting or turning.
“In young female athletes, especially high school basketball players or high school soccer players, the problem is that the body’s changing and muscles are changing at different rates,” added Dr. Calloway. “And a lot of times with how physical and how quick these sports are now moving, the body isn’t ready for that. So, young women whose hips tend to be a little bit wider than the knees already put the knee in a risky position for this type of twisting injury.” What Are Symptoms Of Knee Ligament Injuries? If you injure a knee ligament, you may hear a popping noise or feel your knee give out from under you. You may feel excruciating pain and be unable to walk. But after some types of knee injuries, you may not feel the pain right away. Within two to 12 hours, you’ll probably experience pain and swelling. “When we think about the larger types of injuries to the minutes every two hours to reduce inflammation and pain. Anti-inflammatory medications, such as ibuprofen, can be very helpful as well. Wrap the affected area with an elastic bandage to provide compression and reduce swelling. Elevate your leg. These steps also will help take down swelling. “We always want to think about what happens during the injury, but also what happens immediately after,” added Dr. Calloway. “Whether you are an elite athlete, a weekend warrior, or trip over your dog, right afterwards, your adrenaline is flowing and you’re not really thinking about what just happened. You’re thinking about getting up, maybe saving yourself the embarrassment of falling somewhere.” First, give the injury time to see what happens. Sometimes ligament injuries, sprains, or strains improve after 24 to 48 hours. As you start putting more weight on the knee later, either when you get home, or after sitting in the car for 30 minutes, will give you a better idea of what overall treatment will be necessary. When Should You See An Orthopedic Specialist For Knee Pain? Feeling a ‘pop’ or having swelling in the knee are signs knee, the main thing that we get concerned about as orthopedic surgeons is when you feel a pop,” said Dr. Calloway. “If you have swelling in your knee right after an injury or if you feel a pop, that’s when we talk about more of the severe symptoms and severe types of injuries.” Symptoms of minor sprains and strains of the knee ligament are less severe, he added. “So, it’s a small twist of the knee that gives you a little bit of a twinge of pain, but it doesn’t necessarily completely send you to the floor or send you to the emergency room,” said Dr. Calloway. What Should I Do For A Minor Knee Injury? For minor knee injuries, doctors often recommend following the RICE method of rest, ice, compression, and elevation for the first 24 to 72 hours after the injury. Try to take it easy immediately after you injure yourself. Ice your knee for 15 Ohio Golf Journal
Anti-inflammatory medications, such as ibuprofen and Aleve, may be part of the treatment plan, as well as a brace to support the joint. “The middle ground, so specifically talking about things like the medial collateral ligament, you can have a partial tear of that ligament but still not require any surgery,” said Dr. Calloway said. “That’s when we talk about wearing a brace to help support the knee. There is no magical brace that will take away all of your pain, or cure your symptoms, but a brace after a knee injury can really be helpful to get you back on your feet and allow your body to heal itself.” Surgery For Knee Ligament Injuries For some more serious knee ligament injuries, surgery may be needed to repair a tear or reconstruct the ligament. If you have lingering knee pain that doesn’t resolve with rest, reach out to your medical professional, or a Franciscan Health’s orthopedic specialists to create a plan of care to get you back to enjoying the activities you love. that you should see a specialist for your knee injury. “I think the biggest factor in those, what we would consider tweener cases where it’s maybe not a severe injury, but also not just something you can walk off, is swelling of the knee,” said Dr. Calloway. “When you start seeing swelling and it’s not going down or it’s lessening your ability to walk, that’s when you go and see an orthopedic surgeon.” “Some people will feel a ‘pop’ in their knee at the time of the injury, and they may have trouble with knee stability afterward. They may report that their knee seems to be ‘giving way’ underneath them,” said Dr. Callaway. “You don’t necessarily have to go to the emergency room, but you would want to call your orthopedic surgeon and obviously let them know.” How Are Knee Ligament Injuries Treated? Most of the treatment options for knee ligament injuries do not include surgery. Many common knee ligament injuries, such as knee sprains or knee strains, do not need to be treated with surgery. Minor sprains and strains can be treated with RICE (Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation) and time. “The delay in you being able to take care of yourself can make this last much longer than it needs to,” said Dr. Calloway.
Our Contributors This Month Ed Travis Ed Travis is a national award winning golf journalist and has had a lifelong love affair with the game. He has competed in tournament golf both as an amateur and as a senior professional and though his competitive days are behind him, he still plays regularly and carries a handicap of 2. https://www.facebook.com/ed.travis.98 Len Ziehm Len Ziehm spent 41 years as a golf columnist for the Chicago Sun-Times. He now free lances golf travel pieces and posts for http://lenziehmongolf.com/. Find Len on Facebook: https://www.facebook. com/lenziehmongolf/ Ohio Golf Journal
VIDEOS PGA Tour veteran BrianHarman was the most consistent and focused at RoyalLiverpool to capture the 151st OPENChampionship. https://youtu.be/4W5MaKm2ziE GlobalGolfPost Senior Writer RonGreenJr talks about the memo that PGATour Commissioner JayMonahan sent to tour members concerning rolling back the golf ball, how players will be compensated that stayed loyal to the PGA Tour, how LIV players will be reinstated and former tour player #JasonGore’s new position with the PGA Tour. https://youtu.be/adV38_9d2MI Bernie Friedrich, PGA Golf Executive of the Year, talks about current projects underway at BOYNEResort. https://youtu.be/5Zv0At5-_I4 Brian Harman Wins the OPEN Championship Ron Green Jr. Breaks Down Jay Monahan’s Memo to PGA Tour Players Bernie Friedrich Explains Current Projects Underway at BOYNE Resort Watch Now Watch Now Watch Now
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