BOYNE FALLS – Not often do a father and son get to play in one of the top competitive tournaments in Michigan, yet three sets of dad and offspring are doing just that this week at the Michigan PGA’s Tournament of Champions.
This very unique format is made up of winners from past pro and amateur events, pitting male and female, juniors and seniors all in one tournament from varying tees at Boyne Mountain Resort, co-founders of the tournament. It was the first of its kind in the country when instituted 21 years ago.
Want to find all the golf legends in Michigan, from Pete Green to Lynn Janson, or the hottest young players on the mini tours; or some of our best lady golfers? Keep an eye on Boyne Mountain.
East Lansing native Janson, age 64, returned from Florida last year and now owns the Hastings Country Club. He spent almost three decades at Egypt Valley Golf Club in Grand Rapids prior. The veteran has won every golf major in the state over his career.
“I didn’t come here with any delusions of winning this tournament,” he said after scoring even par in the first round Monday. “It’s a nice getaway and I like to stay in touch with competitive golf, see the new kids and old friends.”
That statement can easily describe Boyne Mountain, just one of several Boyne properties across Michigan and the country. Many weddings took place the past weekend and family reunions and business conventions alike have jammed the resort in mid-summer.
Yet golf is still a main attraction at Boyne Mountain and its other properties, part of why it’s ability to think outside the box more than two decades ago to create this event alongside the Michigan PGA was a solid move.
I have always felt that resorts like Boyne that continued to invest in infrastructure even in troubling economic times are a testament to Michigan’s hard-working business economy – and a trait others should emulate.
