Michigan Open Heading to Oakland University
By David E. Bassett
Katke Cousins Golf Course will join the University of Michigan’s noted Alister Mackenzie-designed course as only the second university facility in the state to host the Hall Financial Michigan Open Championship, coming June 12-15. The U-M course previously hosted the event in 1978-1980.
At first glance, Katke – located on the campus of Oakland University in Rochester Hills – seems fairly benign. Sure it’s long – nearly 7,300 yards from the tips – but water can be a factor on only a handful holes, there are no lengthy forced carries and only one hole has an out-of-bounds threat. The course’s gently rolling terrain, with creeks and marshlands, many small copses of trees and several larger forested areas looks like a pleasant walk in the park.
But hold on! Katke’s fairways are narrow, doglegs are sharp and the greens have breaks that are very subtle and difficult to read. To affirm its challenge, Katke carries a course rating of 76.2 with a 143 slope.
“Katke definitely isn’t a bomb-and-gouge track,” according to Katke’s veteran director of golf, Bill Rogers. “Several par 4s are sharp doglegs that make club selection and shot execution very challenging, especially under tournament pressure. The 5th and 14th holes, for instance, bend right at 45 degrees. The 9th bends left at nearly 45 degrees and the landing area is only about 25 yards across.”
The Michigan Open is one of the country’s largest state events and one of only a few four-day tournaments. It was played at the Grand Traverse Resort & Spa’s Bear course near Traverse City the previous five years, and 33 times overall at that location since 1981. The purse for this year’s event is expected to be the largest ever.
Jake Kneen, an OU graduate and mini-tour player from White Lake, is the defending Open champion. Kneen also won the event in 2018 as an amateur.
David Hall, CEO and founder of Hall Financial in Troy, says he’s delighted to have the Open held at a classic parkland-style course.
“It’s a gorgeous facility, and one that requires lots of thought and strategic shot planning, which poses wonderful challenges for an important event like the Michigan Open. I’ve played it many times over the years, and there are some shots that only very smart, patient players can pull off in competition. The winner is going to hit lots of fairways and putt very well,” Hall added.
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While this is the first time the Oakland University course has hosted the Michigan Open, it has been a go-to for a number of USGA and PGA Tour qualifiers, the Michigan PGA Professional Championship and conference championships for the school’s women’s and men’s golf teams.
Rogers, a former Michigan PGA president, has been the general manager of the Oakland University Golf & Learning Center since Katke Cousins opened its first nine holes in 1976. In addition to Katke, OUGLC includes the R&S Sharf course, designed by Michigan Golf Hall of Fame member Rick Smith and opened in 2000, as well as a state-of-the-art practice facility. Rogers calls the courses “the front porch to the university.”
Ora Hirsch Pescovitz, OU president since 2017, agrees with Rogers.
“Whether it’s attracting students, donors or business partners, our golf facilities provide a welcoming, relaxing, friendly introduction to Oakland University. A round of golf on Katke or Sharf can break the ice and build strong relationships that last for decades,” she said.
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The Hall Financial Michigan Open/Oakland University partnership is a two-year host agreement with an option to extend. Presenting sponsors include Brighton Ford, Make The Turn digital marketing firm in Troy and Copper Craft Distillery in Holland.
The Michigan Open is run by the Michigan PGA. Executive Director Kevin Helm said his organization has seen a definite uptick in corporate interest in the event with the move downstate. Helm attributes that partly to the venue and partly to Hall Financial’s interest in growing the event.
“David Hall is very candid about wanting to make this the biggest and best state open in the country,” Helm said. “He’s a very successful business owner and competitive golfer, and he isn’t shy about getting on the phone and asking others to support this event. We couldn’t ask for a more committed, involved and dedicated title sponsor.”
Hall, who graduated from Grosse Pointe South High School, was a member of the University of Michigan golf team before graduating in 1993. Hall Financial’s sponsorship of the Open is in the second year of a three-year pact.
What’s next for the Michigan Open? Hall cautioned about looking too far ahead, but pointed out that the site “has tremendous upside.”
“For instance, Katke abuts Meadowbrook Hall, OU is in the heart of Automation Alley, and the stature of the championship can yield tremendous value to sponsors and advertisers. Lots and lots of potential for growth,” he added.
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The Michigan Open is the state’s second oldest major, first played in 1916, 10 years after the Michigan Amateur began. Its winners include Walter Hagen, Leo Diegel, 6-time champion Al Watrous, amateur legend Chuck Kocsis, Horton Smith, and more recent local stars Randy Erskine (5 times) and Traverse City Golf & Country Club head professional Scott Hebert (6). Recent PGA Tour winner and MSU grad Ryan Brehm of Mt. Pleasant has won the event 3 times.
