GROSSE ILE – Grosse Ile Golf & Country Club and its storied historic course of 101 years designed by legend Donald Ross will host the GAM Net Stableford Championship, which was presented for the first time a year ago.
The unique tournament for men and women golfers of various abilities will be played over 18 holes on Monday. In a Net Stableford a player’s score for a hole is based on points awarded by comparing the player’s number of strokes (including strokes made and penalty strokes) on a hole to a fixed target score. In this competition the fixed score will be net par for each golfer.
The Net tournaments are designed by the GAM to serve more than just the elite golfers in the state in competitive formats.
Grosse Ile G&CC, established in 1919 by eight Michigan businessmen, is located on Grosse Ile Island 25 minutes from downtown Detroit, and the Donald Ross classic rolls over 300 acres featuring undulating greens.
Legends like Arnold Palmer and Michigan’s own Chuck Kocsis have played Grosse Ile in tournament competition. Hall of Famer Glenn Johnson was a longtime member, and the club has hosted several Golf Association of Michigan and United States Golf Association tournaments for many years, including the 2004 Michigan Amateur Championship won by a former Grosse Ile caddie, Jeff Cuzzort.
Ross designed the club during his heyday, and it took two years of construction in large part because a soil base had to be developed to grow the grass needed for the course. Grosse Ile G&CC was just the third golf course in the United States to have irrigation watered fairways. It plays to a maximum of 6,828 yards.
John Paul is the general manager of the private golf club. Eric Ganzberger is the head PGA golf professional and golf services manager. Todd Probert is the superintendent. Learn more at gigcc.com.
Last year in the tournament’s debut at Polo Fields Golf & Country Club in Ann Arbor, Jason Carpenter of Fremont, a teacher and football coach, won the tournament’s overall division including men and women.
Matt O’Neill of Livonia won the men’s division, Arthur Black of Brighton won the senior men’s division, and Cheryl Grant of Ann Arbor won the senior women’s division. Each of the four winners from last year are returning to this year’s field.
CHAMPIONSHIP PAIRINGS: https://bit.ly/3l4Gykw
-Greg Johnson
