Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational has the Most Unique Format of the Michigan Pro Tournament Lineup
By Tom Lang
As The Masters comes and goes on our early April calendars, every Michigan golfer knows it marks the unofficial start of a new golf season.
And in more recent years, Michigan’s golf season also includes a special lineup of all the great professional golf tournaments that have taken place here in the Great Lakes State throughout the summer months on multiple national tours – the PGA and LPGA Tours, the PGA Tour Champions – and even two Epson Tour events, in Battle Creek and at Sweetgrass in the U.P.
Of all the options for fans, the Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational is no question the most unique format of any. In the Midland tournament, LPGA Tour players match up in team play, which is only found elsewhere in the Solheim Cup.
At the Dow, the players golf all four rounds as a team, in best ball and alternate shot formats, and the winners both get credit for a Tour victory. The 2023 tournament takes place July 17-22, with the final round ending on a Saturday at the Midland Country Club.
“I think you see a different side of golf, a lot more fun, a lot more risks being taken, and a lot more emotions as well,” LPGA Tour pro Maria Fassi told me. “The women’s (professional) side might be a little more calm than the men. We maybe don’t show as much excitement as the men do sometimes.
“But I think the Dow is kind of the rule breaker in that regard where you see a lot more emotion. Of course, the team aspect of it brings all that out of the players.
“It’s also a fun, easy walk for the spectators,” Fassi added, as she imagined placing herself in the fans’ shoes. “You can see several holes from one spot, so the environment that creates is phenomenal. There’s lots of activities for kids, and activities outside of the golf course as well, like food and drinks. I think it’s a very cool, well-rounded event for families to come and enjoy.”
Team Format Allows More Fan Favorites:
In 2022, Hall of Famer Annika Sorenstam came out of ‘retirement’ and played in Midland (with partner Madelene Sagstrom) as the team format allowed her entrance that other qualifying options might not. DeWitt, Michigan native Liz Nagel has also played in the Dow tournament twice before, with Natalie Gulbis, who no longer has full status on the LPGA Tour.
“Dow and everyone in Midland goes over and above to make the event fun for the fans and fun for the players,” Nagel told me. “The two years I’ve played I thought we had more opportunity to interact with fans than most events. It’s so inviting for kids and very family friendly and we love it that way!
“It’s also great from a players’ perspective because the unique format brings out some unique and legendary players; Karrie Webb, Annika, and Natalie. You can’t ask for much more than a sponsor and a format that brings out some of the best players we’ve ever had in the women’s game.”
Fassi might be best known for her amateur play. She won the 2019 NCAA Championship while at Arkansas, and that same year battled shot-for-shot down to the wire with eventual winner Jennifer Kupcho at the inaugural Augusta National Women’s Amateur. Speaking of Kupcho, she also turned pro and is currently the defending champion of both Michigan LPGA tournaments – the Meijer LPGA Classic and at Dow with 2022 teammate Lizette Salas.
They initially paired up at the Solheim Cup in Toledo and went 2-0-1 at Inverness. Then they recorded a 5-shot victory at the 2022 Dow GLBI. Their closing 61 put them 26-under 254, within one stroke of the tournament record.
“I think we just have a lot of faith in each other,” Kupcho told the media last year. “We make each other comfortable.”
The Dow tournament promotes team nicknames that fans have a lot of fun with on social media, and the players say they enjoy the ‘walk up’ music Dow plays at the 18th tee. Last year the Korda sisters, Nelly and Jessica, played as a team, as did the 2021 champions, Ariya and Moriya Jutanugarn. Lexi Thompson has been a regular at the tournament. Fassi played with Solheim Cup captain Stacy Lewis and plans to again this summer.
Inclusion and Diversity are Big Goals:
Fassi has been an Inclusion and Diversity Ambassador for Dow for serval years. She is a native of Mexico, and created her Fassi’s Friends Foundation in honor of her cousin.
“I’ve wanted to make golf more accessible, especially for people with special needs, and under-privileged households,” Fassi said. “A cousin of mine has (Dystonic) brain paralysis and we are the same age and grew up doing life together, and golf was one of the things I did growing up and so she tried it around age 13-14. It was a very hard sport for her to pick up, not necessarily because of the sport itself, but because of the lack of opportunity for kids like her to be able to get on the course, and it was very tough to find a coach.
“I thought it was wrong and it was something we wanted to do and share together. That is a main reason behind the foundation and wanting to make sure we can provide a space for kids of all abilities and different backgrounds to come play and learn the game of golf and fall in love with it.”
This commitment by Fassi has translated into working with The First Tee as often as possible, including when she is in Midland.
Another phase of inclusion is Dow partnering with both the Meijer LPGA Classic, and the Rocket Mortgage Classic by utilizing the 3rd annual The John Shippen Invitational as a qualifier for the Dow GLBI. The John Shippen gives black golfers more opportunities to reach their professional golf goals. A male winner of the event in Detroit gets to play in the RMC, June 29 – July 2.
The women’s division of The John Shippen will be played at Blythefield Country Club (host site for the Meijer LPGA) June 6-7, and the winner earns exemption into the Meijer tournament the following week, then gets to pick a partner to join her at the Dow.
Fassi also enjoys the knowledgeable golf fans in Michigan, for both LPGA Tour events in the state, which also offer some of the largest purses on the entire Tour:
“We always have such good crowds, and we feel so welcomed. They’re passionate – they really do love golf, they are unified and they always show up. I know for the Dow the crowds always get bigger and better. They are always having to add bigger grandstands and more activities. As the years go by it just shows how much the fans want us there. It’s always such a pleasure and a treat to get to come play golf in Michigan.”
Food for Thought and Golf Tickets:
One of the great aspects of professional golf tournaments is the food, and oh boy do they have lots of that in Midland. The Eat Great Trail is a set up featuring three observation decks/tents in different parts of the golf course. It’s an upgraded hospitality experience offering unique culinary pairings from various local restaurants, complimented by the tasting of regional beer and wines.
The Eat Great Trail decks give fans cool views of golf featuring five different holes. Eat Great Trail tickets grant access to all three locations (Wednesday, Friday and Saturday) as well as general admission access to the golf tournament. Tickets are $60 per day, but for attendees between the ages of 13-20 are available for purchase for $20 at the Dow GLBI’s main admissions gate.
Military members are also well taken care of. All military personnel and veterans will receive one free daily admission ticket each day to the Veterans Hospitality Suite presented by Kelly. An additional complimentary Veterans Ticket for a guest is also included. The guest comes with a General Admissions ticket and access to the Veterans Hospitality Suite. Veteran tickets can be reserved online for each day of the tournament, but veterans will be required to show a valid military ID and driver's license at the Dow GLBI’s main admissions gate to receive access to the special suite.
Each Veterans Hospitality ticket includes one hot dog or hamburger, and one soft drink from Wednesday through Saturday.
Daily & Weekly Tickets on Sale Starting April 17:
Daily Tickets ($10 each day): Tickets are valid any one day, Thursday through Saturday. Admission is free for all spectators on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of tournament week. Free parking at Dow Diamond with shuttles.
Weekly Tickets ($25 for the week): Weekly tickets are valid all week, Monday through Saturday.
More information and details at: https://www.dowglbi.com/tickets
