FARMINGTON HILLS – For the third consecutive year the Golf Association of Michigan (GAM) participated in the 100 Hole Hike fundraiser for Youth on Course, and with expanded efforts raised over $21,000.
“The Michigan 100 Hole Hike exceeded all expectations this year,” said GAM Executive Director Chris Whitten who with other members of the GAM staff and volunteer GAM member hikers and friends played over 100 holes of golf at Boyne Highlands Resort’s Cufflinks Par 3 course in Harbor Springs on Monday Sept. 27, and then did it again at Country Club of Detroit’s Par 3 course in Grosse Pointe Farms on Wednesday, Oct. 6.
“More Hikers took on the challenge and we spread out to two new locations,” Whitten said. “We had a lot of fun and raised some great awareness for Youth on Course Michigan. I can’t thank these golfers enough.”
The GAM staff and others walked the more than 100 holes at each site toting their own golf bags so young golfers get more opportunities to play. The GAM Foundation’s Youth on Course support program, which is part of the national Youth on Course non-profit grow-the-game initiative, allows kids ages 6-18 to play golf for $5 or less at participating courses around the state.
The golfers via the GAM Foundation raised money through pledges with all proceeds going to the implementation of the program, which includes subsidizing the participating Michigan courses.
The GAM has over 6,000 Youth on Course members and in 2020 over 28,000 rounds were played and over $225,000 were paid out as subsidies to participating courses.
Whitten, Ken Hartmann, senior director of competitions for the GAM, Charlotte Sypula, USGA Boatwright Intern for the GAM, golf professionals Corey May, Scott Pussehl and Patrick Wilkes-Krier, Ann Arbor philanthropist Michael Nisson and GAM Governor Janina Jacobs were among the hikers, and some were involved in a competition to raise money. Hartmann made a hole-in-one while playing at Country Club of Detroit.
Those interesting in helping the cause with a donation, or to check out the leaderboard for funds raised can: CLICK HERE!
The GAM Foundation has also received $10,000 from a generous donor and that has pushed the amount raised to over $31,000.
