Top 6th and 7th Stories of 2021
All Top 10 Stories Written By: Tom Lang
No. 7
Stoatin Brae Named 2021 National Golf Course of the Year
Stoatin Brae Golf Course at Gull Lake View Golf and Resort in Augusta, Mich., earned the 2021 National Golf Course of the Year by the National Golf Course Owners Association (NGCOA), after earning Michigan Course of the Year in 2020.
The award recognizes a course that epitomizes exceptional course quality and management excellence, makes important contributions to its communities and the game and is a model of operations to its peers.
Stoatin Brae beat out three other regional finalists, including Pinehurst Resort and Country Club.
“The nice things I have heard the most is that we made it a playable golf course,” said Bill Johnson, vice president of Gull Lake View Resort. “That was always John’s and my dream, to make it a destination golf course that is affordable golf, and I think all those things came through this year.” (Note: John Scott is the former family leader and resort president who died unexpectedly in the spring of 2020.)
“It’s a very popular course and so many of the writers and raters gave it higher marks,” Johnson added. “It’s a fun course that is playable. It took a while, but to see Stoatin Brae grow in well and become what it is has just made everything we wanted come to life.”
Stoatin Brae is one of six Gull Lake View courses, making the resort one of the largest family-owned golf resorts in the world. This latest course was developed in 2016 by the Scott family and Tom Doak’s senior associates of Renaissance Design of Traverse City.
The course itself is loaded with challenges but is balanced by a sense of serenity with its wide, wind-swept fairways. There are only a couple tress in play, otherwise the location supplies an elevated view of the surrounding countryside. Whether having a good day or bad day at striking the ball, every golfer should be able to walk off the course and say that was a great way to spend their time.
Number 6
The Whites: Brother and Sister Earn Tour Cards
Sarah White, far right, Brett White second from left
Photo Credit: Craig Hensley
The brother-sister duo of Brett and Sarah White of Caledonia have had breakout years and did well enough in 2021 that they have earned their cards for the 2022 Korn Ferry Tour and Symetra Tour, respectively.
Brett White won the Michigan Open in 2020, which brought more exposure to his back story of just a few years earlier when he had contracted a virus in his brain that was serious enough he had to go through physical rehabilitation just to walk again – let alone try retuning to highly-competitive golf.
Sarah White won her Symetra Tour debut in the summer of 2020 at the Founders Tribute. She got in from an earned exemption at a tournament the week before in a Women’s All Pro Tour event. At the Founders Tribute, she went head-to-head with Sophia Popov who the following week unexpectedly won the Women’s British Open and just recently competed in the Solheim Cup for Europe.
Sarah earned a T8 and T15 on the Symetra Tour in 2021 and kept her card in the qualifying tournament. During mid-December she will be competing in the LPGA Q-Series finals to try earning LPGA Tour starts as well for 2022.
Brett said he has earned a guaranteed 8 starts on the 2022 Korn Ferry Tour via Q-School. If he makes just a couple cuts, after the reshuffle he will be able to play the remainder of the year.
“Everything I came back from I didn’t know if I could accomplish this 4 years ago coming out of the hospital, but once I won in Las Vegas, and getting the Michigan Open win I can see my game has progressed a lot,” Brett said recently. “I can see that it’s attainable and it’s a big step in my career. I’m excited to get it going. I have some work to do but I’ll be ready when the time comes. I’m looking forward to getting out there and getting my feet wet.”
Brett said the best part of his game right now is his wedge play and putting, but he has work to do with the driver. He hits it long but not always in good spots.
“I’m working to turn my driver into my big strength, because you see on Tour hitting it long and straight is a money maker.”
