According to a city press release,
The stakes are high when top golfers come to northern Michigan this month for two fabled championship tournaments. The purses for the Michigan Open at Grand Traverse Resort and Spa and the Michigan PGA Women’s Open Tournament at Crystal Mountain Resort are expected to exceed $100,000 and attract some of the best golfers in the state.
Purse totals will officially be announced closer to the opening of the tournaments but are expected to exceed $100,000 between the two events.
The Bear will host the Michigan Open for an unprecedented 29th time, Monday, June 13th through Thursday, June 16th. The tournament has a new title sponsor and has been renamed The Hall Financial Michigan Open Championship. The tournament is the oldest in Michigan, first played in 1916. Six-time champion Scott Hebert of Traverse City and defending champion Brad Smithson of Grand Rapids head the list of ten former champions who are entered to play.
For the 20th time, the Michigan PGA Women’s Open Tournament will be held at The Mountain Ridge course at Crystal Mountain Resort in Thompsonville, Monday, June 27 through Wednesday, June 29th. The tournament is considered one of the top Women’s Open events in the country. A PGA Pro-Am event precedes the tournament on Saturday, June 25th, where amateur players are teamed up with professional golfers in a four-person scramble. The Pro-Am is a fundraiser to support women’s golf at Crystal Mountain.
Both tournaments are open to spectators at no charge. Guests are expected to follow standard golf course etiquette and dress codes.
“We’ve seen a dramatic increase in golf activity over the past couple years,” said Traverse City Tourism President, Trevor Tkach (Tah-Koch) “These tournaments give everyone a chance to see the best golfers in the state, play on some of the best courses you’ll find anywhere. This region has courses designed by the biggest names in golf.” Tkach adds that northern Michigan has golf courses designed to attract all skill levels, from beginners to professionals.
More golf information in northern Michigan is available at http://www.traversecity.com/. Michigan Open information can be found at Grand Traverse Resort and Spa, while Crystal Mountain Resort has information about the PGA Women’s Open.
