By Tom Lang
A new golf tour in Michigan is designed for golfers who like competition yet want to play in a fun, two-person team setting, using a variety of scoring formats.
“I think the benefit of a two-person tournament is that they are more competitive than a four-person corporate scramble and a lot more fun than competing on your own,” said founder and Grand Rapids resident David Sukenik. “Most people who tried us out in 2018 have had very positive things to say.”
The tour had three events in last year’s first season. Ten teams came to the inaugural tournament in August in west Michigan, and that grew to 30 teams for the final event at Shepherd’s Hollow in Oakland Co. 
A typical tournament will go 27 holes. Golfers play 18, then break for lunch when flights are established for the final 9 holes. An aggregate score of the 27 holes determines flight winners. Formats per nine holes of play range from ‘shamble,’ to scramble to best-ball. The average cost in 2019 should be $125-150 per player for 27 holes; which covers greens fees, cart, range, prize money, donations to First Tee – and in some locations, food. There is no annual fee and no handicap required.
“I don’t think our Tour is for the really low handicapper that’s looking for a tournament with a huge payout,” Sukenik said. “But for those golfers who want to compete against players of similar abilities in their flights, with a good opportunity to win something, I think they really appreciate this format.”
Sukenik played high school golf for East Grand Rapids and it’s there he felt the benefits of team play in golf’s ‘individual’ environment. He said that some money from the tour events is donated to First Tee, and that last year a pair of kids from First Tee of West Michigan played and took third place in their flight.
“It’s a neat thing to support them through donations, and getting their golfers some fun, tournament exposure as well,” he said about First Tee.
In 2019, four standard events are planned in each of west Michigan and eastern Michigan (8 total), leading into a tour championship based on points earned in each geographic division. A Ryder Cup-style event is also in the works.
The Mitten Golf Tour hopes to add some one-off events that could be played at shorter courses like Maple Hill in Grandville (www.maplehillgolf.com) with a twist such as playing with only three clubs. Sukenik wants to add some variety in tournament styles, format, courses and various price points.
The 2019 season kicks off with a special event on March 3 – Mitten Madness @ TopGolf of Auburn Hills.
More information can be found at: www.mittengolftour.com.
