Written By: Greg Johnson
Cue the bag pipes, Wawashkamo Golf Club of Mackinac Island and Saginaw Country Club, two of Michigan’s oldest golf courses, are celebrating 125 golf seasons this year.
The two clubs, each designed by Scottish/American golf legends, are also working on plans for the future.
“The club, I think, is promoting 125 more,” said Chad Boyce, the head golf professional at Saginaw CC where they have a course with holes originally laid out by Tom Bendelow, a prolific designer often referred to as the “Johnny Appleseed” of American golf.
At Wawashkamo there is similar forward-thinking.
“Wawashkamo had some slow, hard times during the wars and The Great Depression as well as other tough economic times, but it continued to run and serve its members and plans to continue doing that for many more years,” said club historian Phil Porter where they have a course that was designed by two-time U.S. Open winner and golf professional Alex Smith.
Wawashkamo, a nine-hole course with 18 tees of different angles and fondly referred to as Wawa by members, recently had a three-day weekend of events celebrating the anniversary, including a family and junior golf outing, a member event, an exhibition and clinic highlighting PGA Tour Champions four-time winner Scott Parel, who has family connections to the island, and a “Wawafling” dinner celebration.
The theme of the Wawafling celebration was of all things Scottish in honor of course designer Smith, a Scottish/American professional golfer originally from Carnoustie, Scotland. He was just 24 at the time and went on to win the U.S. Open in 1906 and 1910. Several members wore kilts, a piper and dancer from the island, Tom and Abby McCollum, entertained with traditional bag pipe music and dances.
Phil Porter, a third-generation club and board member and historian for the club, said the celebration was well received by members and the Mackinac Island community.
“In talking with everybody the consensus is that it when just about as good as could be expected,” he said. “We had great participation over all three days in all the events, great weather and everything went according to plan. It was a great celebration.”
Chuck Olson, the head golf professional at Wawashkamo, played in the exhibition with his son Charlie, the recent men’s club champion, against Parel and Michelle Stuck, the recent women’s club champion. Olson and son won on the ninth hole of the match.
“It was fun to be part of the celebration that means so much to the members,” Olson said. “Wawa is a special place, really a step back in time to the way golf was when it first came to the U.S. The members here embrace that, celebrate it and are so proud of being part of this club.”
Porter, who penned a book about Wawashkamo’s legendary golf professional Frank Dufina and others who have served the course called The Charming Gentleman of The Game of Golf, said the club is moving forward with a fundraising campaign to create a Heritage Building at the course, which would include housing for staff members, locker room space and historical displays regarding the club and course history, including the property being the scene of battles in the War of 1812.
“The campaign is going well, we’ve raised a significant amount towards our goal, and we will graciously accept donations from others who want to help us preserve the club and our history,” he said.
Meanwhile, in Saginaw the club held its primary celebration In June with an event, dinner, music and more.
“There has been a lot of excitement about the 125 years; obviously not many clubs in our area or anywhere get to that number,” said Boyce, who is in his 12th season at the club. “It was a great party with a great turnout. It has been exciting I think for the members to say that the club made it 125 years, and it is also exciting in a sense that there are plans to announce later this summer a capital campaign to improve things for the future.”
Club members created a Power Point about the club for members to see, and a past-president talked about the club in the 1990s considering a sale of the course property and a possible rebuild in another location by Jack Nicklaus and his design company.
“Luckily, I think the club feels, that fell through,” Boyce said. “The club has a wonderful golf course, a commitment to the community here. I’ve also realized through contact with vendors and things like that just how unique being a club for 125 years is in Michigan. They all react when they see our special logo for this year with things like, you don’t see that number very often.”
The 18-hole course, which plays to a maximum of 6,143 yards, is considered a classic by more than just its membership. The Golf Association of Michigan has selected it to host two recent Michigan Women’s Amateur Championships (2017, 2021). It was remodeled in the 1960s, and the late Michigan golf course architect Jerry Matthews remodeled parts of the course again in 1983. The current clubhouse dates to 1969. A landmark bridge over Gratiot Ave. connects the two nines.
“I think Saginaw Country Club is going to be around for a long time,” Boyce said. “It’s a classic. It might not be long enough for the big hitters, but it’s challenging, fun and a great golf experience. It’s perfect for a club like this one.”
