GROSSE ILE – Grosse Ile Golf & Country Club and its classic Donald Ross-designed golf course will welcome 44 two-person teams competing in the 7th GAM Net Chapman Championship presented by Play Away Membership Monday.
The 88 golfers will play 18 holes of net stroke play in the unique Chapman format. The format calls for each player on the two-person teams to play from the teeing ground and then play the teammate or partner’s ball for the second shot. After the second shot the partners select the ball with which they wish to score and play that ball alternately to complete the hole.
Grosse Ile G&CC, established in 1919 by eight Michigan businessmen, is located on Grosse Ile Island 25 minutes from downtown Detroit, and 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.
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 at Oakhurst Golf & Country Club in Clarkston, Garden City’s Dustin Ross, an airline pilot, and William Dietz of Livonia, a realtor, teamed up for a net 10-under 62 and topped the field by five shots.
They are returning to defend, and also back are 2019 winners Neil Nelson of Northville and Jerry Talcott of Brownstone Township, 2018 winners Steven Marques of Richmond and Greg Fisher of Chesterfield, and 2015 champions Joseph Laforges of Rochester Hills and Steve Nimer of Wolverine Lake.
