ANN ARBOR – The Golf
Association of Michigan’s Father & Son and Parent & Child Championships
have a rich history, and generations of families have participated for 50 years
or more on many of Michigan’s best golf courses.
The 77th tournament
presented by OptiShot will take to the high-profile course at Travis Pointe
Country Club on Monday, which has been the celebrated host club of the LPGA
Volvik Championship the last two years.
Built in 1977 by Michigan golf architect, Bill
Newcomb, Travis Pointe features six sets of tees to fit golfers of all skill
levels. The course can be played from 5,264 yards to a difficult 7,326 yards.
The 2016 LPGA Volvik Championship was won by
Ariya Jutanugarn of Thailand, and the 2017 champion was Shanshan Feng of China.
Travis Pointe had hosted several Golf
Association of Michigan championships in recent years, including the Michigan
Amateur Championship, as well as several Michigan PGA tournaments and USGA
qualifiers.
Previously known as Omega Farms, the private
club was constructed in 1976 and opened in 1977. Guy Guarino is the general
manager, Mike Areddy the head golf professional and John Seefeldt the golf
course superintendent. See travispointe.com for more information.
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
53 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 said at last year’s tournament at
Western Golf & Country Club in Redford. “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.”
