Event Calendar
The Homestead - Sharecare of Leelanau Golf Outing - August 19, 2010
Categories: Events, Featured, The Homestead, Traverse City
Join us on Thursday, August 19th for a round of golf at Mountain Flowers, The Homestead’s Par 3, nine hole golf course. All proceeds benefit ShareCare of Leelanau. $27/person. 9am to 9pm.
Thank you to all who participated in this event in the past. ShareCare of Leelanau is a unique, non-profit corporation founded in 1993 by a group of retirees who wanted to overcome the problems that so often force seniors to leave their home prematurely. Their efforts provide Leelanau County residents comprehensive, affordable assisted living services in their own home.
Companies and organizations interested in hole sponsorship or prize donations, contact Neil Kalee at 231.334.5555.
2009 Hole Sponsors:
- Wicksall Distributors
- Glen Craft Marina & Resort
- Bahle’s of Suttons Bay
- Becky Thatcher
- Alpers Excavating
- Cherry Republic
- Mitchell Graphics
- King’s Challenge
- Northwestern Bank
- Bluebird
- Hurst Industries
- Bev & Merrill Almquist
- The Bill Wise Family
2009 Prize Donations:
- Brilliant Books
- Village Inn in Suttons Bay
- Cherry Republic
2009 Event Prize Winners:
- Hole #5 - Closest to the Hole: Craig Ardery
- Hole #7 - Closest to the Hole: Carol Chambers
- Hole #9 - Longest Putt: Tracy Van Raalte
Congratulations! We’re looking forward to this year’s event!
For more information or tee times, call 231.334.5555.
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Manitou Passage Golf Club Becomes A Destination Course
Categories: Featured, Golf Courses, The Homestead, Traverse City
Arnold Palmer’s “Signature Course” King’s Challenge is reborn in Leelanau County as Manitou Passage Golf Club
Over the past two decades some of the most distinguished new golf courses in America have opened in northern Michigan. Perhaps that’s because the nationally acclaimed golf course architects who designed those courses were inspired by the beauty of region’s hills, forests and waters. Nowhere is that beauty more pronounced than to the northwest of Traverse City in Leelanau County.
This sparsely populated decidedly rural county is made up of 348 square miles of land and 2,184 square miles of water. It is the home of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, which is considered by many to be the State’s number one attraction. Its unmatched beauty with a climate tempered by the water made it a perfect setting for an Arnold Palmer Signature Course - the course that King’s Challenge was meant to be.
When a group lead by Bob Kuras, president of The Homestead, purchased King’s Challenge last year they knew it had not been what it was meant to be. They also knew it could be a signature course and, with dedication, could become a destination course featuring exceptional playing conditions and unmatched service. When the group adopted a goal of becoming a destination course they decided that the course needed a new name that would tie it to Leelanau County and portray the unique high-end experience it would offer.
“While working on the new tee boxes for No. 8 we discovered a view of Lake Michigan’s Manitou Passage. Immediately, we realized that name was the tie to Leelanau County. We also realized that the grandeur of the passage would portray what we are doing here: creating a world-class golf experience on a course designed by one of the greatest golfers to play the game”, said Kuras.
To create that experience the new ownership group reestablished a relationship with Palmer and brought in other experts. One was Wadsworth Golf Construction, the most respected golf course contractor in the country with over 800 projects to its credit. The other was Peridian International, a leader in land planning and landscape architecture for resort destinations throughout the world. Together, Palmer, Wadsworth and Peridian envisioned scores of changes, some minor, some major, that would be made to bring the course and facility up to the championship level experience that an Arnold Palmer “Signature Design” is noted for.
Wadsworth worked from early spring until early winter to make the majority of the recommended changes. Renovations included the repositioning, adding and squaring off of tee-boxes, widening of fairways in key landing areas, renovating bunkers, lengthening some holes, restoring areas with native grasses and clearing of trees and brush to open vistas to the area’s natural beauty.
Complimenting the golf course work was a complete renovation of the entry drive, parking area, cart storage, starter’s plaza and clubhouse. The new clubhouse features a tastefully detailed stone and cedar shake exterior. Inside, the newly created library and trophy alcoves, club room, grill and golf shop feature stone fireplaces, luxurious furnishings, oriental rugs, warm rich woods and original art. New patio doors lead to a multi-level patio that affords stunning views of the 18th hole and offers guests’ outdoor food and beverage services.
“We adopted a very high goal and are delighted with the contributions that Palmer, Wadsworth and Peridian made toward our achieving our goal of becoming a destination course. We are looking forward to completing the work and providing the playing conditions and service discerning golfers desire and deserve,” said Kuras.
For more information visit: www.manitoupassagegolfclub.com (under construction), www.thehomesteadresort.com, www.sleepingbeardunes.com and www.nps.gov/slbe.
Location: Cedar, MI 20 minutes northwest of Traverse City
Address: 4600 Club Drive
Yardage: 6,734 from back tees
Architect: Arnold Palmer Design Company
Year Opened: 1998, Reopened 2010
Phone: 231.228.6000; 888.656.7572
For More: Jamie Jewell, Senior Manager, The Homestead, 231.334.5524>
Visit Manitou Passage Golf Club on Facebook >>>>
The Homestead - Dave Pelz Scoring Game School
Categories: Featured, Instruction, Schools, The Homestead, Traverse City
The Dave Pelz Scoring Game School applies a practical, yet scientific approach to golf instruction inside of 100 yards from the hole. Pelz, the physicist turned golf researcher and teach, has helped golfers of all ability levels lower their scores. Countless amateurs attest to that. So do leading professionals Beth Daniel, Lee Janzen, Phil Mickelson, Se Ri Pak, Vijay Singh, Annika Sorenstam and Mike Weir!
| Session Dates | Session Day(s) | Session Type | Tuition | |
| May 27 | Thu | 1 Day Clinic | $425 | Enroll |
| May 28 - 30 | Fri - Sun | 3 Day Scoring Game School | $2,545 | Enroll |
| Jun 2 | Wed | 1 Day Alumni Tune-Up | $725 | Enroll |
| Jun 3 | Thu | 1 Day Clinic | $425 | Enroll |
| Jun 4 - 6 | Fri - Sun | 3 Day Scoring Game School | $2,545 | Enroll |
| Jun 8 | Tue | 1 Day Clinic | $425 | Enroll |
| Jun 10 - 11 | Thu - Fri | 2 Day Short Game School | $1,750 | Enroll |
| Jun 12 | Sat | 1 Day Clinic | $425 | Enroll |
| Jun 15 - 17 | Tue - Thu | 3 Day Scoring Game School | $2,545 | Enroll |
| Jun 19 | Sat | 1 Day Clinic | $425 | Enroll |
| Jun 22 | Tue | 1 Day Clinic | $425 | Enroll |
| Jun 23 - 25 | Wed - Fri | 3 Day Scoring Game School | $2,545 | Enroll |
| Jun 28 | Mon | 1 Day Clinic | $425 | Enroll |
| Jun 29 - 30 | Tue - Wed | 2 Day Short Game School | $1,750 | Enroll |
| Jul 2 | Fri | 1 Day Clinic | $425 | Enroll |
| Jul 3 | Sat | 1 Day Clinic | $425 | Enroll |
| Jul 7 | Wed | 1 Day Clinic | $425 | Enroll |
| Jul 8 - 10 | Thu - Sat | 3 Day Scoring Game School | $2,545 | Enroll |
| Jul 13 | Tue | 1 Day Clinic | $425 | Enroll |
| Jul 14 - 16 | Wed - Fri | 3 Day Scoring Game School | $2,545 | Enroll |
| Jul 19 - 20 | Mon - Tue | 2 Day Short Game School | $1,750 | Enroll |
| Jul 23 - 25 | Fri - Sun | 3 Day Scoring Game School | $2,545 | Enroll |
| Jul 27 | Tue | 1 Day Clinic | $425 | Enroll |
| 2010 School & Clinic Schedule The Dave Pelz Scoring Game School is in session from May 27 to July 27 offering 1 Day Clinics and 2 or 3 Day Schools. |
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Schools
1 Day Clinic, $425
2 Day Short Game School, $1,750
3 Day Scoring Game School, $2,545
To register for a Dave Pelz Scoring Game School or Clinic call 800.833.7370 or visit http://www.pelzgolf.com/pelzgolf.aspx.
Visit The Homestead Website >>>>
King’s Challenge Golf Course Opening Friday, July 10!
Categories: Events, Openings, The Homestead, Traverse City
King’s Challenge, the Arnold Palmer golf course located north of The Homestead will re-open on Friday, July 10th for the first time this season since a group of local investors purchased the course on May 1st.
Since acquiring the course, significant changes have been made to the course’s entrance, parking areas and club house. And, with the help of Arnold Palmer’s Design folks and Wadsworth golf construction a few of the changes to the course which were originally planned for later this fall or early next spring are being done now.
Completion of a new cart barn is also underway. This new home for the carts will not only keep them safe from the northern weather, it will provide a venue for special events and private parties in the future.
As the first rounds are enjoyed by guests and local residents this next week, you can be sure that we are working to create some value-added packages which will include accommodations and meals at The Homestead with golf at King’s Challenge.
For now, rates are $70 per person for 18 hole with a cart. Twilight rates begin at 3pm when 18 holes with a cart will be $49 per person. Call 231.334.5900 for tee times.
Visit King’s Challenge Website >>>>
GLEN ARBOR, MI — A deal has been struck. Papers have been signed. The King’s Challenge Golf Course in Cedar is now under new ownership and promises to become one of the top golf destinations not only in northern Michigan but in the entire United States.
“The course is now owned by a group of local investors with a profound interest in having exceptionally high quality golf in Leelanau County,” says Bob Kuras, president of The Homestead in Glen Arbor and the man named to head the new operation.
Set amidst green meadows and the rolling, hilly hardwoods forests typical of the county, this Arnold Palmer “signature course” was already regarded by local golfers as secluded, scenic, and as serenely beautiful as it was challenging and rewarding to play. Those who played the old King’s Challenge and thought it a good course are going to be delighted with what’s coming, according to Kuras.
Right now there are only three other public golf courses remaining in Leelanau County: the Dunes Golf Club in Empire; the old course at Sugar Loaf course; and The Leelanau Club at Bahle Farms.
Investors in this project are not simply looking to add another course to the roster. The goals, according to Kuras, are to create nothing less than a golf course that can compete on a national level, which should serve to boost tourism in Leelanau County, employment opportunities for local residents, and increase revenue for local businesses.
A long and ambitious list of improvements is under way, starting with a thorough upgrade of the already beautiful course with help from the Arnold Palmer Design Company and Wadsworth Golf Construction Company, two of the most respected firms in the business.
“The quality of Palmer’s work is known throughout the world. And, Brent Wadsworth is a friend and seasonal neighbor who has built 800 golf courses including those at some of the most prestigious clubs in the world. We are fortunate to have Brent as an adviser, and contractor,” says Kuras.
In addition to the work on the course, substantial interior and exterior renovations to the clubhouse will go hand-in-hand with plans to provide food and beverage services featuring local products. A cart pavilion, staging area, and new maintenance building will also be constructed.
In keeping with a long tradition of responsible environmental stewardship and protection of the region’s natural resources, all of the improvements are being planned, built, and managed to qualify for the Audubon International’s Cooperative Sanctuary Program and the LEED (the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification for Existing Buildings: Operations and Maintenance, according to Kuras.
“We’re anxious to open the course,” says Kuras. “Construction will begin May 1, 2009.” The work will be done in stages to allow the course to reopen as soon as possible this year.
Visit King’s Challenge Website >>>>
