Michigan Golf Weekly (CBS-Detroit)

Course of the Week

by Janina Jacobs

Jun 19, 2006 8:24 am US/Eastern
When I think of Western Golf and Country Club, an oasis in the middle of the metro Detroit metropolis comes immediately to mind. Drive down Beech Daly Rd. north of I-96 (The Jeffries) and you’ll quickly travel form concrete to parkland, urban noise to nature’s noise in a matter of minutes.

Western’s property lies on both sides of Beech Daly Rd. While the rest of the world suffers through yet another rush hour, you, not even 100 yards away on the busy thoroughfare, can unwind in the shade of mature trees, well manicured fairways, and ponder where to place your next drive and not how to survive the afternoon drive.

Join Western G&CC and you are gaining almost 80 years of history and good times, an historic Albert Kahn pool clubhouse, and last but certainly not least, a course layout created by the legendary architect, Donald Ross, of Dornoch, Scotland.

Donald Ross designs are prevalent at Detroit area clubs: Detroit Golf Club, Oakland Hills, Grosse Ile Golf and CC, Rackham Golf Club (that is, if the Detroit City Council doesn’t sell it for development), Redford (Rogell), and the Country Club of Detroit. This par-72 layout is typical of Ross designs which include superb use of existing land and smaller subtle greens; noticeably, little has been changed over the years and the course remains a relatively pure and playable Ross design. The Rouge River creates a bit of elevation which Ross put to good use on a number of holes. You may not think you are up north but you’d surely never guess you were in the middle of a city.

Western CC quickly became a tournament venue hosting the Michigan Open, Motor City Open, and Western Open all prior to 1960. In 1927, the year the club was founded, a series of inaugural matches was instituted, sporting some pretty big names in head to head competition with other great peers of the time: Walter Hagen, Gene Sarazen, Leo Diegel, Bob Rosburg, and our recently departed dear friend, Michigan golf icon, and perennially decorated amateur, 93-year-old Chuck Kocsis, who died in May.

Today, no tour or national events are held but the club hosts many USGA, GAM, and PGA sectional and regional qualifiers, which is a testament to Western’s staying power as a championship course.

Western also maintains a first rate caddie program. As you know, I am a die-hard walker and refuse carts even in outings. Many courses today are not walker friendly, but this one is; so do yourself, your heart, and your legs a favor by taking a caddie and while you’re at it, helping to support some nice young men and women on their way towards an Evans Scholarship.

As a member of a private club, you can have as much or as little camaraderie as you wish. Club activities are plentiful. Check out this list of published events in 2001 from the 75th Anniversary commemorative book:

A Season’s Golf Events at Western:

Spring Scramble
Golf & Steak
Monthly Mixed Twilight
Spring Best Ball
Memorial Day Mixed Event
Ladies’ Member/Member Best Ball
Ladies 9 Hole Invitational
Men’s Invitational
Junior Golf
July 4th Mixed Event
Ladies’ Invitational
Ladies’ Club Championship
Men’s Medal Play Tournament
Labor Day Mixed Event
Labor Day Shoot-Out
Ladies Fall Best Ball
President’s Day
Men’s Club Championship
Men’s Club Championship Finals
Ladies Closing
Fall Best Ball

Wow! That’s a lot of fun times!

On the day we taped the show, the club staff could not have been more kind and accommodating.  Membership Director Chuck Smith, stars of the show Ladies Club Champion Maria Malone and hubby Kevin, and Head Professional Kevin LaFramboise (The Raspberry!) treated us as members du jour with no indication that they’d treat anyone else with less graciousness. LaFramboise, a former Florida Mini-Tour player, took over for long time veteran professional Ray Bolo in 1991. I had played in many Women’s District championships with Ray’s daughter Andrea, who has competed on the European Tour. Kevin enjoys the people of Western CC and looks forward to many more years of serving his members who, in his words, are ‘very down to earth and friendly’. And, if the rest of the members are like our playing partners Maria and Kevin Malone, you will feel welcome immediately. You may learn something too: Maria is an 8-handicap and Kevin is a ‘stick’ and was ‘only’ a runner-up in the Men’s Club Championship – unlike Maria, who captured the Ladies’ crown. By the way, we never did find out who wins when the husband and wife duo tee it up together…….but my money’s on Maria! OK Kevin, you ARE really good too………Kevin also informed me that this show will air the Saturday of the Men’s Invitational and all I can say is it’s a good thing you made par on No. 12 to match Maria’s par on No. 7. You would have never heard the end of it with about 300 men watching and critiquing your every move…….
The staff at Western orchestrated an MGW first: an on camera gourmet meal which we didn’t need to pretend to enjoy: it was fabulous…… what’s not to like about herbed shrimp over rice? The only negative with the entire experience had to do with a minor lack of communication: I was not informed we’d be dressing for dinner……..that meant my hat had to come off. Yipes! Maria and Kevin Malone were looking dishy (to coin a Bermudian term)…….and here, I had to try and fix my hat hair that had become sweaty and flattened after 85 degrees of heat and humidity from shooting outdoor scenes all morning. Oh well, please don’t tell Jose Eber!

Membership Director Chuck Smith would like nothing better than to receive your phone call inquiring about the numerous amenities, programs, membership benefits etc. that Western CC has to offer. Cooking classes, ‘dusk in the gazebo’, tennis, swimming events, children’s play area, as well as a brand new opportunity: membership in Detroit Society, which is an upgrade giving you access to even more benefits, golf, concierge and ticket services to concerts, plays, and sporting events around town. Detroit Society is part of the Club Corp family of private clubs located all over the world; you may be familiar with their flagship club: the revered Pinehurst. You can call Chuck at 313-531-1240 ext. 135 for Western CC information or Carolyn Ciungan, Detroit Society Manager, at 313-259-4872. I have served on the Detroit Society Board of Directors for years and can honestly say it is the best kept secret around for those who like to enjoy life at a reasonable price.