Michigan is a hotbed for professional female athletes; Meijer donates over $2 million to charity
Now that the sixth annual Rocket Mortgage Classic is in the books, it’s time to catch up on some other news and events from the Michigan golf world.
Epson Tour Events
Our state is becoming a veritable hotbed of women’s professional golf, with two LPGA tournaments – the Meijer LPGA Classic outside Grand Rapids and the Dow Championship in Midland (which, oddly enough, was played at the same time as the Rocket, which I hope never happens again) – and a whole host of events on the Epson Tour, essentially the LPGA version of the Korn Ferry Tour.
In June, the Epson Tour announced that it would bring a tournament to the Boyne’s Highlands course in Harbor Springs. The tournament is scheduled for June 12-15, 2025.
“The Petoskey region is known as a huge golf market and I know our female athletes will be excited to visit the community and take on the challenges offered by The Heather at The Highlands,” Epson Tour COO Jody Brothers said in a statement. “We are confident this event will become an instant favorite for female athletes and help prepare them for their ultimate goal of playing on the LPGA Tour.”
The tournament, called “The Great Lakes Championship,” offers prize money of $250,000, of which $37,500 goes to the winner.
This will be the third Epson Tour tournament in Michigan, joining the long-running Firekeepers Casino Hotel Championship in Battle Creek and the Island Resort Championship in Harris. Additionally, the prestigious Women’s Western Amateur will be played at Red Run Golf Club in Royal Oak in 2025, and Oakland Hills Country Club will host the U.S. Women’s Open in 2031 and 2042.
Travis Pointe in Ann Arbor hosted an Epson Tour tournament in 2022. The tournament was supposed to last two years. But the tournament only lasted one year.
“We are excited and honored to host the Epson Tour’s Great Lakes Championship at The Highlands,” said Mike Chumbler, president and general manager of The Highlands, in a statement. “Hosting this landmark event underscores our commitment to the sport of golf and highlights Northern Michigan as a premier destination for exceptional golf.”
“The beauty of Northern Michigan, coupled with the high level of competition offered by the Epson Tour, will make this event unforgettable for players and spectators alike.”
The Highlands recently hosted the Michigan Amateur.
LPGA Classic
The Meijer LPGA Classic is not only a hit with the players. It also continues to enjoy great popularity in the community.
The LPGA stop in West Michigan met its lofty goal of raising $2 million at this year’s tournament, which was held last month and won by Lilia Vu in a playoff, bringing the tournament’s total fundraising to over $12 million. This was the 10th running of the Meijer, which was canceled in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
All of the money will benefit Meijer’s Simply Give Foundation, which supplies hundreds of food pantries in Michigan and throughout the Midwest.
“Looking back over the last 10 years, it’s wonderful to see how the Meijer LPGA Classic has grown into one of the biggest events on the LPGA Tour, and we are grateful to everyone who has made it a spectacular tournament year after year,” said Rick Keyes, Meijer president and CEO, in a statement. “This tournament goes beyond the golf course and makes a significant contribution to hunger relief through our Simply Give program, helping to keep the shelves of our local food banks stocked for families in need.”
“From the players to our spectators, community partners and volunteers, the impact of this event continues to make a difference for our neighbors in need.”
In addition to the $2 million to Simply Give, Meijer will donate $25,000 to a hunger relief charity of Vu’s choice.
Chips and dents
▶ The class of 2024 Michigan Golf Hall of Fame inductees include Greg Johnson, a longtime golf journalist with Grand Rapids Press and MLive; Stephen Kircher, president and CEO of Boyne Resorts; and Kevin VandenBerg, voted the nation’s top senior player in 2023. The induction ceremony will be held Oct. 27 at Ferris State’s Katke Golf Club, which is home to the Ken Jahnke Sr. Golf Learning Center and the Michigan Golf Club of Fame.
▶ Short courses are all the rage in golf right now, appealing to millennials and young people who don’t want to spend four or five hours on a traditional round of golf. Arcadia Bluffs is on board, and this week began construction on The Dozen, a 12-hole par 3 and par 4 course set to open in 2025. It will be the resort’s third course, along with the nationally known Bluffs and the newer South.
▶ Boyne will also be opening its new short course, Doon Brae, this summer. It is a par 3 course located at the rear of The Highlands main lodge. It is the 11th golf course at Boyne.
▶ Speaking of opening, The Cardinal at Saint Johns Resort in Plymouth is officially open to the public. The resort has eliminated its old 27 holes and respected designer Ray Hearn has built an 18-hole championship course.
▶ In case you missed it, registration is now open for the Detroit News/Golf Association of Michigan’s annual Hole-In-One Contest, which will be held Sept. 9 at Whispering Willows in Livonia. Entry is free for anyone who has ever hit an ace.
▶ The Rocket Mortgage Classic 2025 is scheduled for June 26-29.
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