Benona Shores – a Classic Short Course
50 years and counting
By Fred Inglis
There’s been a nationwide trend for the past several years to create fun, playable, everyone-friendly, shorter golf courses. Yet dating back 50 years to the domestic farm and fruit orchard of when the Hukill family developed the 18-hole par 60 layout on their property in 1974, Benona Shores has been just such a course.
Benona Shores was already an active and attractive ‘executive’ golf course, but when in the fall of 2020 local native Jason Wenk purchased this hidden gem sitting just a few miles south of Silver Lake State Park and sand dunes, one of his top priorities was to make the entrance area an eye-catching invitation to come play.
“We’ve tried to extend the beauty of the golf course out to the first view you see,” Wenk said. “This summer we’ll add a new sign and more signage on the clubhouse. Tourists are a big part of our business and this should help draw them here.”
The highly successful pioneer in the wealth management and technology industry lives in California, but he grew up in Oceana County. Benona Shores GC and Oceana GC were the two courses where Jason learned to play and fell in love with the game of golf. He now owns both of them.
“You know Oceana Golf Club was fate. It seemed everything developed naturally,” Wenk said. “Benona Shores was more serendipitous. I have no way to explain it.”
Abby Christmas travels from Grand Rapids to play Benona Shores about once a month. “We can see the difference.” she said. “Everything looks fresh. And you can tell the paved cart paths are better now too.”
Sam Mulliken and his wife made the trip from Grand Haven recently to play Benona Shores for the first time. “This is everything that people told me it would be,” Mulliken said. “It’s beautiful. It’s quiet, affordable, and in great condition. Each hole really makes you think.”
While Wenk didn’t want to make changes just for change’s sake when he purchased the property, he knew there were some upgrades that would create immediate impacts even if the average golfer wasn’t aware of them.
No expenses were spared, whether it was adding 66 new gas operated golf carts or purchasing equipment for the maintenance crew.
“Jason is a great boss and owner,” said course superintendent Shawn Pranger. “We have all new pumps and an irrigation system that helps us keep the entire course under control. Not only can we do our job quicker and easier, but I think it translates into a much more satisfying experience for golfers.”
One noticeable addition is the wooden rail fence that surrounds the playing area around the public access area. It’s aesthetically pleasing, but it cost more than $125K to build. It was a necessary concession to the Liquor Control Commission in order to purchase the new liquor license.
“We just sold our first beer last week and it only took about 40 years.” Jason said with a chuckle. “We’ve added two new coolers in the clubhouse and I think it answers some of the customers’ long awaited needs.”
In 2022 Wenk additionally purchased a restaurant that overlooks the golf course at the 17th hole. “Farmhouse” became an immediate hit for year-round locals and summertime tourists alike. This past winter they renovated and doubled the size of the kitchen.
Benona Shores had been family built and owned until Wenk assumed tenure. The converted farmland still has tons of fruit trees throughout the course and still looks very much like the original site.
Rounds of play continue to increase each year at Benona Shores, but Michigan has more than 850 golf courses, and it takes a combination of tradition and innovation to stay ahead of the competition. So Wenk knows, more people discovering this "hidden gem” is the name of the game.
