Written By: Greg Johnson
ROYAL OAK – Red Run Golf Club and its classic course will host the Golf Association of Michigan (GAM) vs. Golf Ontario (GO) International Senior Matches, also known as the GAM-GO Senior Matches, Tuesday and Wednesday, June 4-5.
The 11th GAM-GO Matches, which started in 2011, are being conducted for just the second time since 2019 due to pandemic border restrictions in recent years.
Red Run and its 1914 Willie Park Jr.-designed golf course was the home club of Michigan Golf Hall of Fame legend Chuck Kocsis. Architect Bruce Hepner, who grew up near the course, recently led an extensive restoration/renovation of tees and bunkers.
Founded 105 years ago, Red Run has a storied history as a tournament site including hosting the GAM Championship seven times (1921, 1924, 1929, 1949, 1968, 1981 and 2014), the Michigan Amateur Championship twice (1995, 2007) and the Michigan PGA Professional Championship in 1934.
Most notably, Red Run has hosted three PGA Tour events – the 1950 and ‘52 Motor City Opens won by Lloyd Mangrum and Cary Middlecoff, and the 1958 Western Open won by Doug Sanders.
Red Run, which also annually presents the second oldest club invitational event in the state, can be played at six possible tee positions ranging from 5,415 yards to 6,942. The course is known for its classic parkland design, challenging greens, tree-lined fairways and immaculately kept grounds.
Walter Sierakowski III is the PGA professional and Rob Steger is the golf course superintendent. For more information visit redrungolfclub.com.
The matches, designed to promote international sportsmanship among senior golfers from Michigan and Ontario, are played over two days in Ryder Cup fashion with two eight-golfer teams representing their associations. The associations alternate hosting at one of their member clubs. The last competition was a year ago at Essex Golf & Country Club in Windsor.
Representing the GAM Team this year are Chuck Christie, Greg Davies, Mark Eriksen, Mike Ignasiak, Davide LeVan, Randy Lewis, Mitch Wilson and Mike Zoerhoff.
The first round Tuesday consists of four four-ball matches and the teams face off in singles matches for the second round on Wednesday.
Last year, the GAM rallied from a 5 ½ – 2 ½ deficit with four consecutive wins in singles matches to slip past GO 6 ½ – 5 ½.
