HARBOR SPRINGS – The 23rd GAM Women’s Senior Championship is being presented this week by Sullivan Golf & Travel at historic Harbor Point Golf Club where it has been determined a roughed-out course was in play at the location as early as 1896.
That would make Harbor Point, with its timeless spectacular views of Lake Michigan, one of the oldest golf courses in the state and in the U.S. for that matter.
A field of 65 senior women age 50-plus with timeless golf games will battle in a championship flight and three other flights over 36 holes and two days of stroke play Monday and Tuesday to determine a champion. Gross and net prizes will also be awarded in the flights.
In 1899 Alexander F. Stevenson of Chicago and others formed a stock company to purchase the land and develop the course. The 18-hole course was designed by David Foulis, who was from a famous St. Andrews family of golfers. In 1941, the course was taken over by the Harbor Point Association.
Harbor Point is a semi-private facility offering some public play from opening in early May through June 23 and from Sept. 2 to Oct. 14. It has 18 holes with a maximum yardage of about 5,900 yards and is known for its classic well-maintained greens and the great views of Lake Michigan. It has been recognized as a great walking course because of the course routing and easy rolling terrain.
Shaun Bezilla, the head PGA golf professional, and Superintendent Clayton Novak lead the golf staff. Find more information on Harbor Point at harborpointgolfclub.com.
The field for the championship includes five past champions, including defending champion Shelly Weiss of Southfield, Joan Garety of Ada, who won in 2016 and is a four-time champion dating back to 2006, Susan Campbell of Kalamazoo, who won three times between 2004 and 2008, and two-time champions Maureen Whitehead of Charlevoix (2002, 2003) and Terry Delcamp of Grand Blanc (2014, 2015).
Last year at Manistee Golf & Country Club, Weiss was coming off a hip replacement in December of 2017 and didn’t expect much from her golf game in 2018. The 57-year-old physical therapist shot a final-round 3-over 74 for a 4-over 146 total. She topped Joanne Adams of Detroit, who closed with a 74 for 149.
ABOUT THE GAM: Founded in 1919, the Golf Association of Michigan is the governing body for amateur golf in the state. As a not-for-profit organization, the GAM’s purpose is to promote, preserve and serve the game of golf. The GAM, served by over 250 dedicated volunteers, provides membership to more than 55,000 golfers and more than 470 Michigan golf courses, conducts over 30 amateur championships, oversees 18 USGA qualifying events, administers the GAM/USGA Handicap System and measures and rates almost 70 courses a year for the USGA. Learn more at www.gam.org.
