Contestants can expect firm, fast greens when the 96th Michigan Amateur visits Red Run Golf Club in Royal Oak this June 19-23. Designed by former British Open champion Willie Park Jr. and opened in 1914, Red Run is one of the founding GAM member clubs.

“We like to go back to our founding clubs and support them and have them support us,” explains Ken Hartmann, the GAM’s director of rules and competition. “It’s exciting that one of our original members is willing to give up a week in prime time season to do this for us.”

Exciting, yes, but certainly not surprising. When it comes to giving back to the game, Red Run has a long history. It boasts high participation in PAR Club memberships — a program where individual members pledge direct support for college scholarship opportunities for deserving caddies through the Evans Scholars program.

Support for amateur golf has also been evident through the years. The club has hosted several GAM men’s and women’s events, and last hosted the Michigan Amateur in 1995, when Steve Maddalena claimed the title.

“We have a commitment to the game of golf, and we demonstrate it repeatedly through our support of caddie programs and tournaments, and we feel it is incumbent on us to host the best amateurs in the state,” says Red Run Past President Dave Robinson.

The club has had its share of top golfers over the years. Former Champions Tour player Agim Bardha is a longtime member, and current Champions player D.A. Weibring was once Red Run’s assistant pro.

Red Run also boasts five current or former Michigan Golf Hall of Fame members. Walter Hagen was a member from 1943-1956. Other Hall of Famers are Bob McMasters, Tom Draper, Bob Babbish, and most notably, Chuck Kocsis — the six-time Michigan Amateur winner widely regarded as the greatest amateur golfer in Michigan history. At one time Kocsis and Byron Nelson shared the course record of 64 — Al Mengert has since broken it with a 63.

Red Run is planning an amateur event to honor Kocsis, who died in 2006 (see sidebar). The Michigan Amateur already honors him: The stroke-play medalist is awarded the Chuck Kocsis Trophy.

Always known for its pristine conditions, Red Run — which played host to the Motor City Open in 1950 and 1952, and the Western Open in 1958 — has received great reviews from some notable guests. When Michael Jordan was in town to watch the Ryder Cup in 2004, he also managed to get a few rounds in at four area courses. WDIV-TV reported that Jordan told several people that Red Run was his favorite. When the club hosted a qualifier for the 2005 U.S. Amateur, the medalist was Ryan Blaum. The two-time All-American at Duke University walked away a big fan, especially of the greens. “I love them,” he said. “They’re just perfect. If you miss a putt here, it’s your own fault, they just roll so true.”

A traditional tree-lined course with many subtle doglegs, Red Run completed a total bunker renovation in 2003. White sand was brought in; every bunker was widened and deepened; and the fairway bunkers were moved to account for the modern game.

“They’re intimidating, they’re deep, and they’re in the way,” says Head Professional Wally Sierakowski.

Typical of a Willie Park Jr. design, there are five par 3s and five par 5s. The par 72 course will play to 6,850 yards for the Michigan Amateur. According to Sierakowski, the course doesn’t have one signature hole, but expect a lot of matches to be decided on the back corner holes, 14, 15 and 16 — all par 4s.

Still, when you talk about Red Run, it always comes back to the greens.

Park was famous for his ability to putt, and he believed skill with the flatstick to be the most important aspect of the game. He took that into consideration when designing Red Run.

While the breaks are more subtle than severe, Golf Course Superintendent Gary Thommes will most likely have Red Run’s greens roll at 10.5 on the Stimpmeter for the qualifying rounds, and get as high as 12.0 for the final matches. The greens at a PGA Tour stop typically roll at around 11.5.

Sierakowski credits Thommes for the course conditions, including setting up a program that allows the greens to be sped up “without turning them brown and killing them. He knows how far he can push them.”

By no means a paradise for long hitters, Red Run places an emphasis on ball placement. “The guys who are going to score will be the ones who keep the ball below the hole,” Sierakowski says. “The course isn’t that long, it’s right in front of you. Just keep the driver in play and stay below the hole and you’ll score well. If you get above the hole on this course, you’re going to have a long day.”

The mind games of match play may be omnipresent as well. “You’re not going to concede many putts because if your opponent is above the hole, I don’t care if he’s only two feet away, you’re not going to give it to him,” Sierakowski says. The GAM’s Hartmann thinks the young bombers may get a run for their money from some of the veteran players this year.

“Length isn’t the key. Patience is what it’s going to take on those greens.” Sierakowski believes it will take a complete game to win the Michigan Amateur.

“This course is not going to allow you to hit only seven or eight greens. I don’t care how good a chipper you are, if you’re having to chip from the side or behind the green, you’re done.”

Freelance sports statistician and writer Joe Abramson has had many scary — and some happy — moments on Red Run’s greens.

Contestants can expect firm, fast greens when the 96th Michigan Amateur visits Red Run Golf Club in Royal Oak this June 19-23. Designed by former British Open champion Willie Park Jr. and opened in 1914, Red Run is one of the founding GAM member clubs.

“We like to go back to our founding clubs and support them and have them support us,” explains Ken Hartmann, the GAM’s director of rules and competition. “It’s exciting that one of our original members is willing to give up a week in prime time season to do this for us.”

Exciting, yes, but certainly not surprising. When it comes to giving back to the game, Red Run has a long history. It boasts high participation in PAR Club memberships — a program where individual members pledge direct support for college scholarship opportunities for deserving caddies through the Evans Scholars program.

Support for amateur golf has also been evident through the years. The club has hosted several GAM men’s and women’s events, and last hosted the Michigan Amateur in 1995, when Steve Maddalena claimed the title.

“We have a commitment to the game of golf, and we demonstrate it repeatedly through our support of caddie programs and tournaments, and we feel it is incumbent on us to host the best amateurs in the state,” says Red Run Past President Dave Robinson.

The club has had its share of top golfers over the years. Former Champions Tour player Agim Bardha is a longtime member, and current Champions player D.A. Weibring was once Red Run’s assistant pro.

Red Run also boasts five current or former Michigan Golf Hall of Fame members. Walter Hagen was a member from 1943-1956. Other Hall of Famers are Bob McMasters, Tom Draper, Bob Babbish, and most notably, Chuck Kocsis — the six-time Michigan Amateur winner widely regarded as the greatest amateur golfer in Michigan history. At one time Kocsis and Byron Nelson shared the course record of 64 — Al Mengert has since broken it with a 63.

Red Run is planning an amateur event to honor Kocsis, who died in 2006 (see sidebar). The Michigan Amateur already honors him: The stroke-play medalist is awarded the Chuck Kocsis Trophy.

Always known for its pristine conditions, Red Run — which played host to the Motor City Open in 1950 and 1952, and the Western Open in 1958 — has received great reviews from some notable guests. When Michael Jordan was in town to watch the Ryder Cup in 2004, he also managed to get a few rounds in at four area courses. WDIV-TV reported that Jordan told several people that Red Run was his favorite. When the club hosted a qualifier for the 2005 U.S. Amateur, the medalist was Ryan Blaum. The two-time All-American at Duke University walked away a big fan, especially of the greens. “I love them,” he said. “They’re just perfect. If you miss a putt here, it’s your own fault, they just roll so true.”

A traditional tree-lined course with many subtle doglegs, Red Run completed a total bunker renovation in 2003. White sand was brought in; every bunker was widened and deepened; and the fairway bunkers were moved to account for the modern game.

“They’re intimidating, they’re deep, and they’re in the way,” says Head Professional Wally Sierakowski.

Typical of a Willie Park Jr. design, there are five par 3s and five par 5s. The par 72 course will play to 6,850 yards for the Michigan Amateur. According to Sierakowski, the course doesn’t have one signature hole, but expect a lot of matches to be decided on the back corner holes, 14, 15 and 16 — all par 4s.

Still, when you talk about Red Run, it always comes back to the greens.

Park was famous for his ability to putt, and he believed skill with the flatstick to be the most important aspect of the game. He took that into consideration when designing Red Run.

While the breaks are more subtle than severe, Golf Course Superintendent Gary Thommes will most likely have Red Run’s greens roll at 10.5 on the Stimpmeter for the qualifying rounds, and get as high as 12.0 for the final matches. The greens at a PGA Tour stop typically roll at around 11.5.

Sierakowski credits Thommes for the course conditions, including setting up a program that allows the greens to be sped up “without turning them brown and killing them. He knows how far he can push them.”

By no means a paradise for long hitters, Red Run places an emphasis on ball placement. “The guys who are going to score will be the ones who keep the ball below the hole,” Sierakowski says. “The course isn’t that long, it’s right in front of you. Just keep the driver in play and stay below the hole and you’ll score well. If you get above the hole on this course, you’re going to have a long day.”

The mind games of match play may be omnipresent as well. “You’re not going to concede many putts because if your opponent is above the hole, I don’t care if he’s only two feet away, you’re not going to give it to him,” Sierakowski says. The GAM’s Hartmann thinks the young bombers may get a run for their money from some of the veteran players this year.

“Length isn’t the key. Patience is what it’s going to take on those greens.” Sierakowski believes it will take a complete game to win the Michigan Amateur.

“This course is not going to allow you to hit only seven or eight greens. I don’t care how good a chipper you are, if you’re having to chip from the side or behind the green, you’re done.”

Freelance sports statistician and writer Joe Abramson has had many scary — and some happy — moments on Red Run’s greens.