CLARKSTON – Oakhurst Golf & Country Club, an Arthur Hills-designed course built in 1998 that has hosted several Golf Association of Michigan tournaments, is hosting the first stage of a popular get-a-partner of any gender and play tournament – the 31st GAM Net Team Championships Monday.
A field of 82 teams, or 164 golfers, including some family duos, will play 18 holes with net four-ball scoring. At least eight teams emerging from play on Monday will advance to the final day of the championship on Tuesday, Aug. 17, at Red Run Golf Club.
The Oakhurst course, which can play as long as 7,054 yards, weaves through oak, pine, and maple trees and over and around protected wetlands.
Hills incorporated significant risk-reward factors, but also provided some bailout areas for conservative play. The course demands accurate and well-placed tee shots, especially on the shorter par 4 holes.
Among the many tournaments Oakhurst has hosted are the 2010 Michigan Amateur Championship and the 2019 GAM Senior Match Play Championship, and earlier this summer the GAM Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship.
George Bowman is the host professional and has been at Oakhurst since it opened in 1998. Adam Hosler has been the superintendent since 2014.
Defending champions and the only three-time winners, Jack and Mike McHale of Macomb are returning. The brothers were back in the winners’ circle 18 years after they had back-to-back wins in the tournament (2001, 2002).
Also back are the 2019 champs, Lake Orion’s Ron Blackmore and Sylvan Lake’s Kevin Renaud.
Other past champion teams are also entered, including 2017 winners Tom Hollandsworth and Ishmeal Picklesimer of Chelsea and 2011 winners Rich Rachner of Brighton and Rick Rachner of Commerce Township.
Learn more about Oakhurst at Oakhurst Golf & Country Club (clubcorp.com)
