Indiana Girl’s High School Golf Begins in August As we look forward to another sizzling summer month of golf in August, the girl’s high school golf season begins. After reviewing the Indiana High School Athletic Association’s state finals record books for girl’s golf, I noticed some interesting findings. Freshmen Sensations: Since the first IHSAA girls state golf finals was held during the 1973-74 school year, only two freshmen – Emily Johnson of Warsaw HS and Ava Bunker of Columbus North HS -- have won the individual state title. Johnson won in 2003 when it was held at the Legends Golf Club in Franklin and Bunker won last fall when the state finals were played at the Prairie View GC in Carmel. FYI: Johnson returned in 2006 to win the state individual title again. Bunker hopes to successfully defend her title this year. Three-Peat Princesses. In the history of the IHSAA’s girls state golf finals, only two girls have won three consecutive individual titles, Carmel’s Martha Foyer and Martinsville’s Leigh Anne Hardin. FYI: Prior to her three winning straight titles, Hardin was the state runner-up in 1996 as a freshman. State Record Holder. The player with the lowest 36-hole score at the IHSAA’ s state girls golf finals is Kelly Grassel of Chesterton who shot 137 at the Legends GC in 2012. FYI: The next best 36-hole score is by Martinsville’s Leigh Anne Hardin in 1999. She shot a 139. Forever a Bridesmaid. Since the 1973-74, four girls, Stephanie Ristau, Erica Wicoff, Amber Amstutz and Mary Lidestar, finished runner-up in the state twice, but never won a state title. FYI: In 1983, Marion sophomore Jackie Gallagher was the state runner-up when it was just an 18hole tournament. Fast forward to this year’s Senior LPGA Championship at Sultan’s Run GC in Jasper, Gallagher – now Jackie Gallagher-Smith – finished in a tie for fifth. MIKE MAY EDITOR-IN-CHIEF SUBSCRIBE Back 9 Media Group Also Publishes: Ohio Golf Journal Michigan Golf Journal Back 9 Report Indiana Golf Journal
Indiana Golf Journal is Published By Back 9 Media Group Publisher: Fred Altvater, USGTF Teaching Professional Advertise with Indiana 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 24 FIND INSIDE 06 10 16 33 Covered Bridge Golf Course: It’s Back Home in Indiana The Health of Golf: 2023 Golf Stats from NGF Pictures From The Georgia Golf Trail 06 10 16 Indiana’s Annabelle Pancake Shines on LPGA Tour Kayla Benge Claims Her First IWGA Amateur Victory 20 24 Our Contributors 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? BOYNE Has Become An International Travel Destination Treating Knee Ligament Injuries Our Favorite Golf Videos 42 26 28 31 33 38 43 Indiana Golf Journal
What do you get when you ‘mix’ golf, a historic Indiana landmark, and southern Indiana’s most beloved golfer? Answer: you get Fuzzy Zoeller’s Covered Bridge Golf Course, which is peaceful, tranquil, and serene. If you do some research about life in southern Indiana, you’ll learn about the significance of covered bridges in the Hoosier State. They are mementos from a bygone era. The covered bridge represents the essence of what day-today life was like for years. With so many rivers and streams in southern Indiana, the covered bridge enabled communities to connect with one another. This golf course has evolved into one of the favorite layouts in the state. Today, Covered Covered Bridge Golf Course: It’s Back Home In Indiana By Mike May Indiana Golf Journal
Bridge is as popular as other great Indiana courses such as Brickyard Crossing in Indianapolis, Otter Creek in Columbus, The Fort in Indianapolis, and the two world-class golf destinations in nearby French Lick – The Donald Ross Course and The Pete Dye Course. Upon arriving at Covered Bridge, it doesn’t take long to realize that this is Fuzzy Zoeller’s course. There is one parking space with a sign attached to it which reads ‘Reserved for Fuzzy.’ A statue of Zoeller, plus a plaque chronicle his lengthy list of golfing achievements. Inside the clubhouse a glass-enclosed display case showcases significant memorabilia from his long and distinguished career. Walking to the driving range, the shrubbery has been trimmed into a distinct: F-U-Z-Z-Y, plus the back tees are called the ‘Fuzzy’ tees. Zoeller’s overall goal in building Covered Bridge was to cater to the amateur golfer. He did not want to build a course for the best golfers in the world, but one that would challenge, entertain, and delight all the golfers. The course brochure states, “each hole offers a choice of five separate tees matching the course to the ability of any player.” Covered Bridge accomplished that goal and is fun to play for young and old, male and female, pro and amateur. The practice facilities at Covered Bridge are championship caliber and deserve special
mention. Fuzzy’s design team created a driving range with multiple ‘bays,’ a large practice putting green, and a number of practice sand bunkers. An actual covered bridge sits on the course and is used by golfers on two occasions. The two ‘finishing’ holes – the 9th and 18th – are par fives, paralleling each other with both sharing a double green. Standing on the 9th and 18th tees, the clubhouse offers a beautiful backdrop in the distance. The two par threes on the front nine – the 3rd and the 8th -- have water which is more of a visual concern than a playing concern. The fifth hole offers the most ‘risk/reward.’ The green on this serpentine par five can be reached in two, but the presence of a pond to the right of the green is intimidating. When you play Covered Bridge the peacefulness, tranquility, and serenity confirms that you are, “Back Home in Indiana.” Indiana 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. Indiana 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 Indiana 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. Indiana Golf Journal
Ride the cable car to the top of Stone Mountain, the largest free-standing aboveground granite creations in the world, which is 1,863 feet above sea level. Indiana Golf Journal
Pictures From The Georgia Golf Trail While driving through Georgia earlier this summer, I stopped for golf at four alluring destinations that are part of the Georgia Golf Trail. Stone Mountain Golf Club is just outside Atlanta; Callaway Resort and Gardens is near Pine Mountain; Brasstown Valley Resort & Spa in Young Harris; and the Sky Valley Country Club in Sky Valley, located in the extreme northeast corner of Georgia. Stone Mountain, Callaway Resort and Brasstown Valley have spacious accommodations onsite, while Sky Valley has many housing options in the surrounding area. Each destination offers more than golf, which adds to the appeal of each location. By Mike May
Visitors to Callaway Resort always enjoy watching the many butterflies at the Butterfly Center. Indiana Golf Journal
In addition to golf, one of the more popular recreational pursuits at the Sky Valley CC is croquet. There are no houses surrounding the golf course at Brasstown Valley, just the scenic mountains of North Georgia.
Indiana’s Annabelle Pancake Shines on LPGA Tour By Mike May In July 2022, Zionsville resident and then Clemson University junior Annabelle Pancake teamed up with Clemson teammate Savannah Grewal to play in the LPGA’s Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational (GLBI), held at the Midland Country Club in Midland, Michigan. While Pancake and Grewal played well a year ago, in this two-person LPGA team event, they didn’t play well enough to make the cut, missing by a single shot. Indiana Golf Journal
The Pancake-Grewal team returned to Midland for this year’s edition of the Dow GBLI for another attempt at making the cut and beating the LPGA pros in the field. They did just that! The opening round was alternate shot (foursomes) and the second round was four ball. That sequence was then repeated for rounds three and four, as well. After opening with a one-over-par round of 71 in the foursomes format, the Pancake-Grewal pairing responded with a tremendous round of six-under-par 64 in the second round. At fiveunder-par for two rounds, they made the cut by two shots allowing the Clemson ‘crew’ to play on the weekend with a chance, slim as it was, to win the tournament. During the third round, Pancake and Grewal stumbled to a four-over-par round of 74. They rebounded in the final round firing a five-under-par 65 leaving them at six-underpar for the tournament and a tie for 31st place. For Annabelle -- whose father Tony played college golf at the University of Alabama and her mother Libby, who played at Arizona State University – she was on ‘cloud nine’ the entire week. “I was just excited,” said Annabelle. “I wouldn’t say I had any nerves. I was just pure excited to get to play golf with my teammate against some of the best (players) in golf.” The experience of playing an LPGA event and making the cut answered any questions about the longterm potential of Pancake and Grewal.
“I learned that I can play with the pros,” stated Pancake. “My game is good enough. I just have to keep working to get it more consistent to compete on that high level.” According to Pancake, Grewal was the perfect partner for the team event. “Savannah and I have very similar games and hit the ball about the same distance so we both are able to adjust quickly if someone mis-hits a shot,” added Pancake. Annabelle’s parents enjoy watching her play, but always want her to remember to relish the moment of playing tournament golf. “We encourage Annabelle to work hard in preparation, but to just play and enjoy the opportunity to compete when she gets to an event,” said Tony. “She plays her best golf when she’s having fun and not thinking about results.” “We also encourage her to play her game and try and beat the golf course,” said Libby. “If she can beat the course by shooting under par, then the results will take care of themselves.” Annabelle’s next two events are The French Lick Charity Classic, an LPGA Epson Tour event, at The Pete Dye Course in French Lick and the 123rd U.S. Women’s Amateur at the Bel-Air Country Club in Los Angeles with her father on her bag for both events. After that, it’s back to college for Annabelle and Savannah as they finish their senior years at Clemson. Postscript. As a high school golfer for Zionsville HS, Pancake finished in the top four of the IHSAA’s state girl’s golf finals on three occasions: fourth in 2017, fourth in 2018, and third in 2019. Indiana Golf Journal
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Kayla Benge Claims Her First IWGA Amateur Victory By Santana Shipley The final day of the Indiana Women’s Golf Association’s (IWGA) Amateur Championship at Otter Creek Golf Club ended in a two-person standoff featuring five-time IWGA champion Julie Potter-Bobb and Kayla Benge. At the outset of the final round, Potter-Bobb was at six-under-par and held a three-shot lead over Benge. Things began to change in Benge’s favor when Potter-Bobb found trouble on the 8th and 9th holes. “I didn’t hit a good tee shot on eight and I misjudged the lie. I thought it was going to be a little thicker than it was, and the ball didn’t come out as far as I wanted and then I missed the putt,” said Potter-Bobb. “On nine, I missed it on the wrong part of the green and I went just a little bit long. That was my only three-putt the entire tournament, so it was bad timing but those were really my only hiccups of the day.” Indiana Golf Journal
Potter-Bobb’s lead was cut to one shot and when Benge sunk a 25-foot birdie putt at the 12th, they were tied. “My turning point was my long putt on twelve,” said Benge. “That shift in momentum gave me a little bit more confidence with the rest of my putts coming in and I felt it was really key.” Both women secured birdies on the 15th hole. A birdie by Potter-Bobb at the 16th left the two players tied once again. However, Potter-Bobb had bunker issues on the 17th hole, which resulted in a bogey. Benge rolled in a birdie putt, which was a two-shot swing on the 17th giving her a two-stroke cushion going into the final hole. Benge emerged as the 2023 IWGA Amateur Champion for the first time, after both players parred the final hole. Potter-Bobb had nothing but praise for Benge. “Kayla played amazing, and she hit the ball where she needed to,” added Potter-Bobb. “She really didn’t miss and that’s what you have to do out here. I wasn’t able to do that for the third day.” Benge has been in contention to win the IWGA Amateur a handful of times, but this was times, whether that’s been after round one or two but I’ve never been able to close it out. I feel like such a different person now than the previous times that I have competed. I feel more at ease, more confident in who I am as a player, and I just played to my strengths this week.” her first time finishing in the winner’s circle. “This is really, really incredible. This has been on my list of things I want to win, and I think the only thing left now that I haven’t won is the Indiana PGA Women’s Open,” said Benge. “I’ve led this event a couple of
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, Treetops to Host A Delightful Culinary Experience By Fred Altvater 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 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 October 7 and again on Friday, October 13. What could be better than pairing creative cuisine with 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, Indiana Golf Journal
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 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 Indiana 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. Indiana 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 Indiana 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 Indiana 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.
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) Indiana 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 Indiana 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/ Indiana 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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