Michigan Hickory Golf
May 6
Ten players from arond the state visited Calderone Farms Golf Club Sunday, May 6. Well, nine Michigan players and one from our Buckeye neighbor – Tim Stroshine made the drive from the Toledo area to join us. Calderone ambles large over the countryside about seven miles west of Chelsea hard by the Int. 94 corridor. Wide open links front nine with some testy bunkers and a first hole that wakes you up right away. The second nine winds through some woods, but nowhere felt tight or constraining. Tall fescue for rough, but balls were findable. Light winds, not the severe gusts of College Fields, and a somewhat overcast day made for pleasant golf conditions. Roger Hill, Walter Bills and Tim Stroshine made up the flight of low handicappers. Jim Collins, David Ramos and John Slaby formed up our middle. And the sloggers, a foursome of Bob Bieszka, Bob Zizza, Joe Bodnar and Jm Davis were sent off first. That group found all kinds of drama in its round, from chips that went flying into the hole to wild slices and devasting hooks. Long putts were holed and short ones missed. Everything you expect from golf. Dejection and frustration were held at bay, though, thanks to the outgoing Mr. Zizza who placed everything in its proper perspective... Shazzbutt! It's all the ball's fault. Very wise, that. The rest of the field progressed nicely and all felt the Calderone course a fine venue for our second Michigan outing. Look for some Wyandotte fun soon and a West Michigan area course to follow. As always, a tip of the Michigan hickory hat to Roger Hill for orchestrating the outing. (Photos will be posted here soon.)
16 of the 18 who braved a chilly, windy day for an April outing on the College Fields course near Lansing.
Mid April 2012
So, what's a group of hickory players to do when they can't get to the Southern 4-Ball? They meet in the center of the state near Lansing for some golf. Of course, the weather in Birmingham might have been preferable. Our 18 players set forth on a chilly, 50-degree day with wind gusts of up to 45-50 mph. Scores soared, ball were lost, carried away by gusts that would have had a tour player crying foul. Not we Michigan hickory types, though. We braved on. Mighty blows could be nailed with the wind at your back, however; enough to give you heroic thoughts until the next tee that faced into the gale. Any shot that was not low and straight was tossed aside like a mote of dust in a light spring breeze. Still, we had great fun. There were a few birdies among the "others" and some stories to share at the finish. Like taking full irons or even spoons into short par 3's, of losing golf balls – one fellow returning to the clubhouse with but one left from a full bag to start, of wind-burned faces and cold hands, and of scores that mostly topped 90. I think they ranged from 90 to 102. One thing about playing in the wind, though, you really learn some different facets to the game as well as the premium the wind places on a well-struck, well timed shot. Our venue, by the way, was College Fields, a relatively new 2005 track by David Savic, that plays 6,153 from the whites. We played the reds from four different holes whose forced carries were beyond our hickory skills in the teeth of the day's wind. It's a rolling, ranging track with some water, marsh areas and the occasional memorable hole. The lads from Wyandotte were on hand as well as a few from Grand Rapids and elsewhere in the state. Some few were relatively new to hickories, but acquitted themselves well in trying conditions. Some of us, who did not have obligations to hit the road right away, took to an Irish roadhouse in Lansing for a well-earned beer and bit of supper. We're looking forward to the May outing which will likely be somewhere on the east side of our state. After that, the good Bob Caston is checking into a round for us at the Warren Course at Notre Dame. And then there's the Wyandotte 2-man team event in June. The hickory season is well underway. Here's to far-n-sure for everyone!
JD
For information on the Wyandotte-area (just south of Detroit proper, near Grosse Ile) hickory players, contact Ed Ronco at ronco336@gmail.com. The Michigan Hickory Tour connects players through monthly updates from Roger Hill who has coordinated the Tour for the past year or two. The email invites input for the selection of venues and follows-up with dates and tee times for the chosen course. Sites are selected from many locales so that players from all areas of the state might have at least one month where the drive to the course may not prove a long one. This is not always easy to achieve, but we do our best. At least one course for the upcoming season, the Warren Course at Notre Dame, has been nominated for a round. It may be in Indiana, but this Crenshaw/Coore collaboration is worth the trip. The season's highlight is the Belvedere Hickory Open in Charlevoix, in late June. This year, the event has been named one of six in the SoHG's Championsip Series sponsored by Mountain Valley Spring Water. It is a delightful event and whether you are a seasoned hickory player or new to the sport, plan on attending. You will not be disappointed.
We invite your suggestions for courses for the Michigan Hickory Tour. Please send them to Roger at hillgolf@gmail.com.
JD
Keep an eye on this page for updates on fall hickory golf in Michgan. And, if you are interested in hickory golf in the Michigan area, please contact Roger Hill at hillgolf@gmail.com or by phone at 616-450-8763.
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