ROYAL OAK – Red Run Golf Club and its classic course with recently renovated and restored bunkers and tees will host one of the most popular tournaments of the golf season when it welcomes the 36th GAM Senior Championship presented by Garland Lodge & Golf Resort Monday and Tuesday.
A field of 156 golfers ages 55-plus, many of them multiple-time champions of various tournaments over the years, will play 36 holes of stroke play to determine an overall Senior champion and a Super Senior winner for those over age 65.
Red Run and its 1914 Willie Park Jr.-designed golf course have hosted several championships for professionals and amateurs and was the home club of Michigan Golf Hall of Fame legend Chuck Kocsis. Architect Bruce Hepner, who grew up near the course, led the extensive restoration/renovation of tees and bunkers.
The golf course, founded 105 years ago, has a storied history as a tournament site including hosting the GAM Championship seven times (1921, 1924, 1929, 1949, 1968, 1981 and 2014) and the Michigan Amateur Championship twice (1995, 2007). Current PGA Tour player Ryan Brehm of Mount Pleasant won in 2007.
Most notably, Red Run has hosted three PGA Tour events – the 1950 and ‘52 Motor City Opens won by Lloyd Mangrum and Cary Middlecoff, and the 1958 Western Open won by Doug Sanders.
Red Run, which also annually presents the second oldest club invitational event in the state, can be played at six possible tee positions ranging from 5,415 yards to 6,942. The course is known for its classic parkland design, challenging greens, tree-lined fairways and immaculately-kept grounds.
One of the club’s great traditions is that many members started out as caddies at the club and became involved in building an elite caddie program. The national Evans Scholarship program has aided several Red Run caddies in college since its first recipient from Red Run, Michigan Golf Hall of Fame golfer and former GAM President Bob McMasters.
Walter Sierakowski III is the PGA professional and Rob Steger is the golf course superintendent. For more information visit redrungolfclub.com.
Six former GAM Senior champions, including defending champion Steve Maddalena of Jackson, are in the field.
The former champions joining Maddalena, who also won in 2019, are 2020 champion Gregg Bonamici of Grosse Ile, 2018 champion David Bartnick of Livonia, five-time winner Bill Zylstra of Dearborn Heights, who despite being over 65 is still competing in the Senior division, 2016 winner Tom Rex. Jr., who is playing this year in the Super Senior competition, and 2007 winner Mike Fedewa of Canton, who is also playing in the Super Senior competition.
Last year, Maddalena, a Michigan Golf Hall of Fame member, didn’t miss a green in regulation in the final round at Barton Hills Country Club. He won by three shots over Mitch Wilson of Portage and Randy Lewis of Alma.
