GAM Senior Player of the Year: Jackson’s Steve Maddalena

Steve Maddalena of Jackson plays smarter, understands his limitations, practices as much as his body will allow and continues to learn by watching others.

“I try to give myself every advantage and every opportunity to win when I go play somewhere,” he said. “I want to be competitive as long as I can. I don’t see the point in playing if I’m going out there and getting my brains beat out. As long as I compete and there is a remote chance I can win once in a while I’d like to keep playing. I enjoy competitive golf and don’t particularly get much of a thrill out of recreational golf.”

Maddalena, 62, has been named the GAM Senior Men’s Player of the Year for the third time in the last four years. Maddalena, a Country Club of Jackson member, won the GAM Senior Match Play Championship early in the season to score key points. He also played in five other GAM tournaments, won the Senior Division at the GAM Mid-Amateur Championship and topped the points list with 418 points.

“I didn’t expect to be (Senior Player of the Year) this year after I didn’t qualify for the (U.S. Senior Amateur),” Maddalena said. “Those are big points and that was a big disappointment. I think I put too much pressure on myself to play well that one day (in the qualifier).”

He called the Senior Match Play win at Muskegon Country Club the highlight of the summer. He tied Tom Gieselman of Commerce Township at No. 17 with a 25-foot birdie putt and then won it at No. 18 with a 50-foot shot using his putter from the fringe of the green.

The three-time Michigan Amateur champion and Michigan Golf Hall of Fame member has played significantly on the national senior level in recent years and said he continues to learn. The practice regimen he has always followed has been tweaked, especially because some health issues and age have forced him to cut back on the amount of time he practices.

“Practice is kind of therapeutic for me,” he said. “I enjoy it. I wish I could practice more.”