SOUTH LYON – While Walnut
Creek Country Club’s history dates to 1955 in Farmington, the 27-hole golf
course that will greet the field of the 78th Father & Son/Parent &
Child Championships Monday is the modern signature work of Arthur Hills in
1995.
The Golf Association
of Michigan’s Father & Son and Parent & Child Championships have
history, but feature players of all ages. Generations of families have
participated for 50 years or more on many of Michigan’s best golf courses, and
golfers as young as 10 are introduced to the annual competitions each year.
The 78th editions of the tournaments are presented
by the LPGA Volvik Championship, and Walnut Creek is perfect as host site because
it is as a family oriented club.
The club features three nine-hole courses, as well as a 2.5 acre short
game area. The North nine is the longest of the nines and features some
challenges with water hazards and out-of-bounds stakes. The South nine has
three par 3s, three par 4s and three par 5s, including two new holes that
debuted in 2013. The West nine is the shortest of the three, but has some
challenging undulating greens.
Kevin Frantz is the
general manager at Walnut Creek and his staff includes AJ Partenio, the
head golf professional, and Scott Rettmann, the superintendent.
As for the golf Monday, family tradition is reflected, teams dress in
the same colors and fun is the order of the day. Many of the golfers make a
point to play each year like Gary Adelman of Grand Rapids, who has played as a
grandson, son, father and grandfather for a record 54 consecutive years.
He feels the
tournament celebrates the passing of the game on from parent to child and
allows them to be teammates and compete with others, and is true to the GAM’s
mission of preserving the game.
“Golf is a
wonderful way to get families together,” he has said in previous years. “I love
this tournament. I think golf teaches you lessons, helps you become a better
person and gives you an activity to stay healthy. You want those things,
especially for your families.”
-Greg Johnson, [email protected]
