Tippecanoe joins Greatest Golfer lineup
Michael Spiech, golf pro at Tippecanoe Country Club, stands by the sign at the Canfield course, where Round 2 of the 2012 Greatest Golfer of the Valley tournament will take place Saturday.
Canfield club will host second round on Saturday
By Ryan W. BUCK
Canfield
The third year of The Vindicator’s Greatest Golfer of the Valley, presented by Farmers National Bank, will see the tournament’s expansion not only with approximately 250 golfers, but in the addition of Tippecanoe Country Club as one of the five host sites.
Tippecanoe golf chairman Michael Guerrieri saw firsthand how the club would be a perfect fit.
“I played in the event last year with a couple other members and it was just a fantastic experience,” said Guerrieri, who competes in the men’s 10-14 handicap division. “The competition was great. You got to meet a lot of good guys that had similar interests. It was just something that I felt would showcase our club to the community and the people that know golf.”
Discussions with head professional Michael Spiech, Tippecanoe general manager Stacey Owen and club leadership proved easy.
“I brought it to our pro, our club manager, and our board and everybody kind of felt the same way,” Guerrieri said.
Guerrieri, a lifelong Mahoning Valley resident, sees the Greatest Golfer of the Valley as a unique opportunity to put Tippecanoe’s Canfield facilities on display in Saturday’s second round.
“I think there’s going to be a lot of people that have never had an opportunity to play this course because we’re a private club,” he said. “They’re going to really enjoy it and hopefully we get a lot of spectators to come out and just walk the course. I think they’re in for a nice treat.”
The course is a Donald Ross design. Renovations in 2001 and 2002 included changes to certain holes, additional water hazards, and improvements to the driving range and short-game area. Owen’s management team has maintained the club’s member operations, which Saturday’s guests may take advantage.
Spiech, at his post for nine years now, believes players will enjoy the 6,900-yard, par- 72 layout for its challenges and beauty.
“I think when you pull up the driveway and you get to the first tee, it’s a great starting hole,” he said. “[It’s] 430 yards uphill, par-four. Out of bounds right, a tough starting hole. Here, you’re going to use every club in your bag for sure. Also, I think our par-threes are absolutely phenomenal. I think that’s what makes our club also great.”
After Day 1 at Mill Creek, Saturday’s action will also take place at repeat hosts Trumbull Country Club and Youngstown Country Club.
Trumbull, site of the Greatest Golfers Juniors competition finals, will not play into the hands of big hitters. The par-70, 6,300-yard layout demands control and precision.
“You need to drive it straight here and the greens are very small so you have to have a pretty good iron game to be able to hit the greens,” head professional John Diana explained. “People that can march their way around the golf course and position the ball, they have a bigger advantage than someone that can blast it and not know where it’s going.”
Youngstown is the oldest local golf club, built in 1898, and dedicated to sustaining the game’s notoriety.
“Being that the Greatest Golfer of the Valley is such a widespread event in our community and we like to support the community as best we can, Youngstown Country Club would be a good venue for this type of event,” head professional Scott Sundstrom said.
Sundstrom, with more than 20 years experience as a PGA professional, identifies Youngstown’s lasting course layout as its defining feature.
“We’re fortunate to have Walter Travis, the original designer, which was 1911 when the golf course was built,” Sundstrom said. “We also have some re-design work by Donald Ross. Players who play the golf course for the first time always say what great character the course has.”
Saturday’s rounds lead into the final day at The Lake Club, the tournament’s third-year host.
Owner Ed Muransky has been instrumental in the tournament’s growth in three years as his club has had its share of changes. The well-known Valley businessman takes great pride in seeing his new venue host the final day.
“We have so many golf courses and great golfers to put forth,” Muransky said. “To culminate at The Lake Club allows us to be viewed and grow familiarity.”
For continuing tournament coverage, visit vindy.com/golf and follow the tournament on Twitter @vindygreatest.