This long-time northern event is named after C.E. Tuck Tate, founding member of the Northern Michigan Turfgrass Managers Association (NMTMA) which was one of the four original Michigan Chapters. During the first two years of the NMTMA, Tuck coordinated communication to the members with a monthly newsletter. He continued editing, publishing, and mailing the monthly newsletter of the Northern Michigan Turf Managers Association for eighteen years, until the format was changed in 1990. Tate continued to support the newsletter as an assistant editor from that time.
The Tuck Tate Championship was originally played in 1985 at Frankfort Golf Course. This event continued as an individual low gross event until 2019 at True North Golf Club. Seeing the need to breathe some new life into this event the format was changed post COVID to a two-person team event. The Tuck Tate Shootout was launched on August 30th 2022 at Treetops Resort on the par 3 Threetops course. This year it was again held at Treetops on the Par 3 on August 29th.
The event starts with a 9 hole qualification to determine the 10 teams who would be entered into the shootout.Congratulations to the qualifying first place team of Eric Schutman & Mike Leach shooting a one under 26, second place team of Joe Ettawageshik & Kurt Fisher, our 2023 Champions, with an even par 27 and the third place team shooting a one over 28 of Levi Brindley & Scott Wilkinson. This was a best ball event and all the teams who shot 31 or better (with a putt off for the four teams that shot 3) made it into the shootout.
At 12:30 all 10 teams in the shootout along with the teams who did not make it as spectators went to #1 tee. The shootout was set for 6 holes, two teams would be eliminated on holes #1, #2 & #3 then one team per hole on #7, #8 & #9. As was the same last year there were some terrific shots executed by every player on each hole. When the group arrived at #9 tee the two teams still standing were Chris Burnett & his Assistant at Bay Harbor Drew Daugherty taking on Jim Higgs, The Links At Hunters Ridge & Alex Greenacre, CGCS from Mt. Pleasant C.C. It took two extra playoff holes to determine a winner in a hard fought match in front of a large crowd around #9 green. In the end Chris and Drew won the 2024 Tuck Tate Shootout.
Special thanks to MiGCSA Immediate Past President Doug Hoeh, MiGCSA Board Member Tim Matty along with MiGCSA Members Drew Boike, Matthew Goines, Mark Lauret, Jason Rank, Damon Robinson & Jeff Spreeman. Also a huge thank you to Golf Professional’s Mark Hogan & Nick Lewis for all of their help preparing for the event and for running a smooth shootout competition.
Closest to the pins: #1 – Kevin Haack, #2 – Gene Davis, #3 – Drew Daugherty, #4 – Drew Boike, #5 – Mike Leach, #6 – Eric Schutman, #7 – Joe Ettawageshik, #8 – Kevin Frank & #9 – Alex Greenacre.