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SPRUCING UP
Mahoning Valley’s top courses get ready for Greatest showcase
By Greg Gulas
Players aside, the Greatest Golfer of the Valley is also a time for area golf operations to shine.
And as the 7th annual event gets under way this week, last-minute preparations are the norm.
The Lake Club once again will play host to Sunday’s final round, with Avalon Lakes, Mill Creek’s North and South courses, Oak Tree Golf Club, Tippecanoe Country Club and Youngstown Country Club also on display.
“We’re very proud to have been a part of the Greatest Golfer of the Valley from the beginning and to once again host the finals,” said Ed Muransky, Lake Club president. “The fun part is having been able to watch this tournament grow over the years and continue to watch it grow.
“It just keeps getting better and more competitive.”
Dennis Miller, Lake Club director of golf, added that the tournament is a great time for competitive golf, not just for players but for fans from across the Mahoning Valley as well.
“We’re certainly glad to be a host once again and you can bet that we’ll make the course as challenging as possible on that final day,” Miller said. “Since its inception, this tournament has brought competitive golf back to the forefront. [Editor] Todd [Franko] and The Vindicator need to be commended for the way that they have grown this event.”
On Thursday at 6 p.m., Tippecanoe will play host to the highly competitive and hotly-contested Long Drive competition. It’s an event that launches golf balls just before launching Friday’s first-round play.
“We have participants in both the longest drive competition and tournament, so not only does this showcase the top golfers from our area, it also showcases our club,” said Michael Spiech, Tippecanoe’s head PGA golf professional. “This is one of the top events that we will host this year and we take pride in making sure that the condition of the course is absolutely perfect.”
The addition of a new patio ensures viewing pleasure to those in attendance.
“Our new patio on the backside of the clubhouse, complete with fireplace areas, has been well-received,” Spiech said. “We’ll play at 6,500 yards and make it a challenge, but won’t trick the course up.
“It plays itself up and the greens remain a real challenge so you’ll have to use every club in your bag. We want everyone to have fun.”
Mill Creek’s North and South courses get the action under way on Friday at 8 a.m.
Exposure from the tournament is helpful in a variety of areas, so says Brian Tolnar, Mill Creek PGA Director of Golf.
“This is huge for us from a player development standpoint. We are home to seven high school teams with YSU’s men’s and women’s programs also playing here, so staging events like this is right down our alley,” Tolnar said. “There is no better tie-in with the community for amateur golf.”
According to Tolnar, using both courses on opening day is a challenge Mill Creek readily accepts.
“With 36 holes, we have the capability of hosting the entire field that very first day and can handle both a morning and afternoon wave,” he said. “From Junior golf to the collegiate level, it helps us develop amateurs while the tournament is great for all levels of play.”
Avalon Lakes, while new to the adult version of the event, is no stranger to the Greatest Golfer having hosted junior finals the past three years.
“We’ll play [Saturday’s] Men’s Open at approximately 7,000 yards and that definitely gets their competitive juices flowing,” said Corey Pagliarini, Avalon Lakes’ director of membership and golf sales.
Mike Porter of Canfield, the Greatest Champ in 2010, calls Avalon Lakes a great area course as well and one that will present a new, challenging wrinkle this year.
“Pete Dye was the architect at Avalon Lakes and he has the reputation of making grown men cry with his layouts,” Porter said. “The greens are tough and everything around the greens are tough with lots of water.”
Scott Sundstrom, a former assistant at Oakmont Country Club (1987-92), is in his 16th year at Youngstown. He’s pleased that the event is able to showcase his course.
“We’re always pleased to promote the game of golf in general, yet just as pleased to expose our course to those who wouldn’t ordinarily have an opportunity to play here,” Sundstrom said. “The tournament has really grown over the past six years and continues to do so each and every year.”
Oak Tree will host the 5-8 handicaps and Super Seniors.
“We are hosting the second round for the fourth time and it has been our pleasure to provide a challenging, yet fair test to some of the area’s most avid golfers,” Oak Tree head golf professional Kevin Vanoverbeke said. “This is an event that we love hosting and look forward to every year. It’s an important event for the entire Mahoning Valley.”
For player Glenn “Uncle Milty” Milton of Struthers, it’s tough to choose a favorite course.
“We’re lucky and blessed to have so many great golf courses in Northeastern Ohio, it’s so tough to zero in on just one course,” Milton said. “All are great, highly competitive and a challenge for everyone that competes.”