ISLAND HILLS GOLF COURSE RETURNS TO FORM
THE ENTRANCE TO ISLAND HILLS GOLF CLUB IN CENTREVILLE
MICHIGAN, NEW OWNER BOB GRIFFIOEN & FAMILY HAVE
RESCUED THE COURSE AND TURNED IT BACK INTO A TOP
GOLF DESTINATION IN THE GREAT LAKE STATE.
In a state that is loaded with great golf, the picture has just gotten
a little more crowded. For Chicago area golfers that don't want to
make a six hour drive north to explore Northern Michigan golf.
Island Hills is just the course for you.
For all golfers that are heading up north in the state of Michigan,
Island Hills makes a great starting point. Or place to hit on the
way home for that final 18 holes. Centreville is only a few miles
into Michigan, and just a short drive heading northeast from
Elkhart or Southbend Indiana.
Island Hills opened in 1999, billing itself as the course with two
island greens. Hence the name. But the original ownership
sold off some of the property and made changes to the course.
Those changes forced original architect Ray Hearn to walk
away from the course.
Times changed and the first owners ran into money problems,
the course fell on hard times and headed to an auction. Enter
Bob Griffioen a local businessman and avid golfer. Griffioen
played the course and liked it, his son Christian plays the
course as a member of his high schools golf team. Griffioen
heard about the auction and a rumor of someone buying the
course to put a farm on it.
That was something Griffioen couldn't stomach, he told his family
he'd better go and see if he could save Island Hills. While some
friends thought he needed mental help, when he talked about
buying a golf course in the current economy. Griffioen moved
forward and then did the hard part, convinced his wife that this
was the right thing to do. Once she signed on, and agreed to
help him do things the right way. Bob Griffioen was on his way
to owning a golf course, to go along with his manufacturing
business.
ISLAND HILLS HEAD PRO MIKE SULLIVAN (L) WAS ONE
OF GRIFFIOEN'S, FIRST NEW HIRES. SULLIVAN A FORMER
ASSISTANT AT NORTHSHORE IN GLENVIEW, IS A CLASS
ACT. HE EVEN TOLERATED 18 HOLES WITH THE GOG
BLOG GUY (R).
Griffioen loves the game of golf, and runs another business that
is doing well. Inspite of that, he knew right from the start that he
needed the right people to help put Island Hills back in shape
and to run it right. While he has his ideas, Griffioen was smart
enough to step back and get golf people to run his golf course.
First up Griffioen contacted Hearn and asked him to return to
Island hills, Hearn is now back as the architect and has spent
over a year redoing and rerouting the golf course. The island
greens might be gone, but the course set up is now a much
stronger routing. While the course is back and in good shape,
don't be surprised if Hearn continues to tinker as time goes
on.
Griffioen didn't stop there. He brought in a superintendent with
country club experience who learned his trade at Medinah. A
new chef joined Island Hills after leaving his job at a five-star
restaurant. Mike Sullivan joined Island Hills as the new head
professional, after years at top level country clubs.
With his team in place, the full scale improvements at Island
Hills began. In just over 18 months they have come a long way.
The golf course is now maintained by all new golf equipment
that Griffieon bought, he made that one of his first priorities.
GRIFFIOEN HAS MADE CLUBHOUSE IMPROVEMENTS, WITH MORE
ON THE WAY. INCLUDING AN OUTDOOR DINING AREA AND BAR,
THAT OVERLOOKS THE SCENIC PAR 5 18TH HOLE.
Hearn's recent work has given the course a new and much improved
look. Including a new hole the par 3 11th, that tighten's up the routing
puts a green near the club's entrance and by the remains of an old
historic farm house.
While improvements jump out at the golfer who remember the old
routing right from the start. The par 4 second hole, and par 3 third
hole flash new looks that say Island Hills is back with style.
The closing holes have a "Amen corner" type finish to them. While
the 640 yard par 5, 14th hole is demanding. The par 4, 348 yard
16th hole can play as a reverse 11th hole at Augusta National, with
the water right instead of left. Seventeen is an 187 yard, par 3 from
an elevated tee box. Golfers might be wise to wait like on the 12th
hole at Augusta, for the wind to be just right.
THE PAR 3, 187 YARD 17TH HOLE AT ISLAND HILLS, AT SUNSET
WITH LAKE TEMPLENE (PRON.TEM-PLANE) IN THE REAR.
Hearn and Griffioen have saved the golfer the best for last. While
most will say the 13th hole, others might say the 15th. Regardless
Island Hills 533 yard, par 5 18th hole, is a dead ringer for one of
the back nine par 5's found at Augusta National.
The plan wasn't really for that to happen, but it just did. The only
thing 18 is missing is the white sand of Augusta's bunkers. Of
course as Griffioen moves forward on his quest for country club
style conditions, it wouldn't surprise anyone to see that type of
sand in all of Island Hills bunkers some day.
In the meantime, Griffioen promises that there will be full size
bathrooms on the course in 2012 (he admits that demand came
from his wife Jojo). Plus a bigger and better food and beverage
operation too.
THE PAR 5, 533 YARD 18TH HOLE AT ISLAND HILLS. YOU COULD
CALL IT AN "AMEN FINISH".
Bob Griffioen has given a golfers a new home to come and play
golf, and golfers would smart to take advantage of Island Hills
getting a second lease on life. Island Hills was built to be a golf
course and thanks to Griffioen and Hearn it still is.
Whether you make Island Hills your first or last stop on your next
golf trip to Michigan, just make sure you do stop. You will be glad
you did. Griffioen wants all golfers to feel at home at Island Hills,
ladies, seniors, juniors. Island Hills is your golf course to enjoy.
Island Hills will remain open in 2011 until weather forces it to close,
so there is still time to visit this year.
ISLAND HILLS..61809 STONEGATE DRIVE CENTREVILLE MICH.
(269)-467-7261, www.islandhillsgolf.com.
TO HEAR RORY'S INTERVIEW WITH ISLAND HILLS OWNER
BOB GRIFFIOEN PLEASE CLICK HERE:
Download | Duration: 00:12:00
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