The Monument

• View all Course Reports

The Monument golf course is a composite of dramatic and challenging golf holes of widely varying character, reflecting the distinct design philosophies of such noted architects as Donald Ross, Dr. Alister Mackenzie, Robert Trent Jones, George Fazio, and Pete Dye.  It is dedicated to great golf course architecture and to those who have left lasting imprints on the game.  Holes are dedicated to these players and contributors to the game of golf, making the monument a one of a kind -playable hall of fame.

0450 Deer Lake Road
Boyne City, MI 49713

The Monument Hall of Fame  

Hole #1 | Byron Nelson
Hole #2 | Melvin 'Chick' Harbert
Hole #3 | Peggy Kirk Bell
Hole #5 | Walter Hagen
Hole #6  | Paul Runyan
Hole #7 | Jim Flick
Hole #9 | J.P. McCarthy
Hole #10 | Kathy Withworth, Glenn Hamilton Johnson
Hole #11 | Gene Sarazen
Hole #14 | Bobby Jones
Hole #16 | Everett Kircher
Hole #17 | Chuck Kocsis
Hole #18 | Sam Snead

Hole #1 - Byron Nelson
Byron Nelson, said to be the finest long-iron player who ever held a club, won five majors -- The U.S. Open in 1939, The PGA in 1940 and 1945, and The Masters in 1937 and 1942.  In 1945, "Lord Byron" established victory records that may never be equaled.  That year, he won 18 PGA tournaments including 11 straight.  He finished first or second in 25 of the 30 events that he entered.  Other records include 113 consecutive finishes in the money, 19 straight rounds under 70, and a 68.33 scoring average.

Hole #2 - Melvin 'Chick' Harbert
Known for years as golf's longest driver, 'Chick' Harbert had the game to match.  As an amateur he won many titles, including the international amateur, low amateur in the 1939 Masters and winner of the 1937 Michigan Open by 18 strokes - one of 4 titles in that tournament.  Professional victories included 6 Michigan PGA's, the Texas Open in a playoff against Ben Hogan and many other U.S. and international championships.  He was a finalist in the national PGA 3 times and won that major in 1954.  He played in 2 Ryder Cups, captaining the victorious 1955 team.  Harbert is a member of the PGA Hall of Fame and the Michigan Golf Hall of Fame.

Hole #3 - Peggy Kirk Bell
As an amateur, Peggy Kirk Bell won 3 Ohio Championships, the North and South, the 1949 Titleholders, the Eastern Amateur, and the International Four Ball with Babe Zaharias.  She was on the USGA Curtis Cup team and a charter member of the LPGA.  She was also recognized by Golf Digest as one of the five most influential women in golf and one of the six best teachers.  A member of the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame and the Ohio Golf Hall of Fame, she has also been LPGA Teacher and Professional of the Year.  She received the 1991 USGA Bobby Jones award, the 1993 Golf Writers of America Richardson Award, and the 1995 NGCOA Award of Merit.  She is the owner of Pine Needles and Mid Pines Resorts in North Carolina. 

Hole #5 - Walter Hagen
Winner of 11 major championships and more than 60 worldwide titles, Walter Hagen was formidable in match play winning 5 PGA Championships between 1921 and 1927.  His other majors include 4 British Opens and 2 US Opens.  Colorful and flamboyant, Hagen played on the first 5 Ryder Cup teams and captained the 1937 team.  He was chosen player of the decade 1918-1927 and was a charter member of the World Golf Hall of Fame.  Hagen retired from competitive golf in the mid 1930's.

Hole #6 - Paul Runyan
Winner of over 50 professional tournaments, Paul Runyan was elected to the PGA Hall of Fame in 1959.  He was PGA champion in 1934 and again in 1938, as well as Senior PGA champion in 1961 and 1962.  Paul led the tour twice in money winnings, won the Radix Cup in 1935 (now known as the Vardon Trophy) and was named 3 times to represent the U.S. in the Ryder Cup.  A superior instructor, Paul has taught for years in the Golf Digest instruction school and is recognized as "The Master of the Short Game."

Hole #7 - Jim Flick
Dedication, great communication skills and a unique teaching style led to recognition of Jim Flick as a premier golf instructor.  A club pro for 22 years, he was named PGA Teacher of the Year in 1988.  By the early 1990's he had taught golf in 23 nations and in more golf schools than anyone including 14 years as Director of the Golf Digest Schools and as co-founder of the Nicklaus/ Flick Golf Schools.  In addition, Flick coached over 150 PGA, Senior PGA, LPGA, and Hogan Tour players, including Jack Nicklaus.  He provided instruction for countless thousands more through video tapes, books and articles.

Hole #9 - J.P. McCarthy
J.P. McCarthy was a true ambassador of Michigan travel, tourism, and the sport he loved on WJR radio in Detroit.  A low handicap golfer himself, J.P. supported the golf industry with informative and entertaining interviews with golfing greats and duffers alike.  He continually promoted golf events, examined equipment and played golf courses around the world.  J.P. dedicated personal and professional time to the benefit of others through golf fund raisers such as his tournament for the police athletic league of Detroit.  His passion for the game was recognized by the golf world and evidenced by the joy that golf brought to him and so many others.

Hole #10 - Kathy Whitworth
Kathy Whitworth, winner of 88 LPGA golf tournaments and the first woman to surpass the one million dollar mark in career earnings, currently holds the all time United States official professional record for career victories.  Her numerous golf achievements include 7 time Vare Trophy winner for low scoring average and 7 time player of the year.  Miss Whitworth is a member of the LPGA Hall of Fame and the Women's Sports Foundation Hall of Fame.

Hole #10 - Glenn Hamilton Johnson
Outstanding amateur golfer Glenn H. Johnson won major golf titles over five decades.  He played in 45 Michigan State Amateur tournaments, winning five times - 1954, 1955, 1956, 1958, and 1961.  He won the 1955 GAM Championship, was low amateur in the 1981 USGA Senior Open, was Michigan Seniors Champion five times and won the Eastern, Western, Great Lakes and American Seniors.  He was named a top-ten senior three times by Golf Digest and was elected to the Michigan Amateur Sports Hall of Fame, the Michigan Golf Hall of Fame, and the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame.  He won fifteen club championships at Grosse Ile Golf and Country Club.

Hole #11 - Gene Sarazen
Gene "The Squire" Sarazen was the first golfer to win the professional grand slam of golf - The US and British Opens, the American PGA, and the Masters where his famous double eagle led to a playoff victory.  He won the US Open twice and the PGA 3 times, winning 67 matches.  Gene played on Ryder Cup teams 6 times, won the PGA Senior's in 1954 and 1958, and was elected to the World Golf Hall of Fame.  In 1973 at the age of 71 he scored a hole-in-one at the British Open.  His invention of the sand wedge was a major contribution to the game.

Hole #14 - Bobby Jones
Robert (Bobby) Tyre Jones Jr. won 13 major championships, including the "Grand Slam" in 1930 which was then comprised of the U.S. Open, the British Open, the U.S. Amateur, and the British Amateur.  He also won the U.S. Open in 1923, 1926, and 1929... The US Amateur in 1924, 1925, 1927, and 1928.... and the British Open in 1926 and 1927.  He played on 5 Walker Cup teams, was runner up in 4 U.S. Opens and 2 U.S. Amateurs.  He was a charter memberof the World Golf Hall of Fame and player of the decade 1928-1937, retiring from competitive golf at the age of 28.

Hole #16 - Everett Kircher
Everett Kircher, founder of BOYNE Resorts, is recognized as the father of resort golf in Northern Michigan.  In 1954 he designed and personally built the 9 hole course at Boyne Mountain, using his father's ancient Ford tractor.  In 1965 he hired Robert Trent Jones to lay out the famed Heather Course at Boyne Highlands, re-routing a number of holes himself.  An avid golfer, Kircher has been a major contributor to the design, hole selection and construction of all of BOYNE's courses.  Kircher is a member of the Michigan Golf Hall of Fame and the recipient os the 1990 Northern Michigan P.G.A. Bobby Jones award.

Hole #17 - Chuck Kocsis
Record holder unparalleled in Michigan amateur golf, he won 6 Michigan Amateurs, and 3 Michigan Opens.  He was Big 10 Champion twice and National Collegiate champion..  Also was runner up in U.S. Amateur, low amateur in U.S. Open twice, Masters, Western Open and Motor City Open.  Kocsis was three time International Seniors champion, Glen-Eagles,Scotland.  He played for the U.S. on three Walker Cup teams and is a member of the Michigan Golf Hall of Fame and Michigan Sports Hall of Fame.

Hole #18 - Sam Snead
Sam Snead, winner of 84 official PGA golf tournaments spanning a period of four decades, is a four -time winner of the Vardon Trophy for low scoring average and an 8-time member of the United States Ryder Cup team.  His career victories include 3 Masters titles, 3 PGA Championships, 3 Canadian Open titles and the British Open.  Mr. Snead is a member of the PGA Golf Hall of Fame and the World Golf Hall of Fame.

Course Tour

• Hole 1

  Par 5
  565 yards

  The opening hole on the Monument is a dramatic par 5 that begins your descent from the top of Boyne Mountain.  Your tee shot will seem to stay in the air forever.  You can play a fade around the corner, but reaching the green in two shots is made increasingly difficult by the railroad ties that face the greenside bunker.  Any shot played into them can be rejected up to 40 yards away.  The best play is down the center, then play a shot to the 100 yard zone and take your chances from there. 
  Dedicated to Byron Nelson

• Hole 2

  Par 4
  369 yards

  A split level fairway will nudge shots that are down the center to the right.  This sets up a shot that will have to curve from left to right in order to avoid the overhanging trees.  The best play is to keep the tee shot down the left side of the fairway which will set up a straight forward iron shot to a well guarded, split level green.
  Dedicated to Melvin "Chick" Harbert

• Hole 3

  Par 3
  168 yards

  A beautiful par 3 that plays slightly down hill.  A gentle slope on the right side can be your friend, but will also bring some trees into play.  Be sure to note where the top of the mountain is when reading your putt on this green.  It can be very tricky to read. 
  Dedicated to Peggy Kirk Bell

• Hole 4

  Par 4
  390 yards

  A fairway bunker and stand of pine trees down the left side will spoil your birdie plans pretty quickly on this hole.  A well positioned drive will gather at the bottom of the hill, leaving you a short iron approach.  The green naturally falls from left to right and front to back, but pay attention to the ridge that runs near the back of the green.

• Hole 5

  Par 5
  529 yards

  Straight down the hill, the 5th can be reached in two by clearing the pine trees on the left.  The problem is, they keep getting taller every year.  For the rest of us, a well played layup to the corner of the dogleg will frame up a nice little wedge that we can try and zip in there close.  A two tierd green will test your creativity.
  Dedicated to Walter Hagen

• Hole 6

  Par 4
  332 yards

  Time to make a decision here.  The green can be reached on the tee shot for the longest hitters but the green complex is one of the most challenging at BOYNE.  Whether you go for it or try and play a precise tee shot that leaves a short iron or wedge in, be very aware of the hole location and play accordingly.  You do not want to play from above the hole here. 
  Dedicated to Paul Runyan
  

• Hole 7

  Par 4
  425 yards

  Bunkers down the right side of the fairway will always see plenty of action here.  Though they can be carried to set up a shorter approach, a tee shot to the left side of the fairway opens up the green a little more.  A false approach will repel any shot that is short and this large green runs from back to front and left to right.
  Dedicated to Jim Flick

• Hole 8

  Par 4
  438 yards

  Relatively blind from the teeing area, the fairway narrows and cuts to the left side of a long, slithering bunker.  The green appears to be tilted from front to back much more than it is.  Notice the entire slope of the hole when determining break here.  Over the green long is very tough to recover from.

• Hole 9

  Par 3
  195 yards

  A testy par 3, the 9th features a greenside bunker that is faced by railroad ties.  It is very tough to judge the wind here because of the narrow chute of trees that the tee is positioned in.  There is plenty of room to the right of the hole, even past the bunker, but left here can be jail.   
  Dedicated to JP McCarthy

• Hole 10

  Par 5
  557 yards

  Fairway bunkers in the landing zone can be somewhat blind off of the tee.  Even for the longer hitters, this green is rarely attainable, even with two mighty blows.  A pond in front of the green has claims any poorly played shots.  Try to leave a nice layup yardage and avoid the bunkers all the way down the right side.
  Dedicated to Kathy Whitworth and Glenn Johnson

• Hole 11

  Par 4
  384 yards

  Perhaps the most difficult tee shot on the Monument, the relativley short eleventh hole requires a precise shot off of the tee that not only carrys the pond in front, but avoids hazards down both the left and right hand sides.  A well bunkered green is also guarded on the front right by another pond.  Make par, sneak away.
  Dedicated to Gene Sarazen

• Hole 12

  Par 4
  449 yards

  After enjoying a sandwhich at the 2/3's house, aim your sights for the left center of this slightly uphill par 4.  There is a pond down the right side that should be considered when choosing your strategy.  A rather large green with plenty of slope on the right side is the holes last line of defense.

• Hole 13

  Par 3
  225 yards

  The first of two long par threes on the back nine of the Monument.  Many woods will be played here.  There is some room to miss here, but getting it up and down can be tricky from many spots around this green.

• Hole 14

  Par 5
  546 yards

  A generous landing area encourages you to let one fly here.  Even a poor tee shot can be found and recovered to safety.  The second shot plays into a 'fairway staircase' sloping in four steps from left to right.  A pair of large trees loom largely over the front left and right of the green leaving only a small alley from which to attack the flag.
  Dedicated to Bobby Jones

• Hole 15

  Par 4
  409 yards

  A blind tee shot here that may remind you a little of Crooked Tree.  Aim to have your ball finish just right of the tallest tree in the distance.  Long hitters will carry the top of the hill and catch a natural speed slot that can add up to 50 yards to an already long tee shot.  The green is very tricky and being on the proper side of tiny ridges that run throughout is critical 

• Hole 16

  Par 4
  351 yards

  A good tee shot here will have to fit in between the bunkers on the left, carry the longest part of the bunker in the middle, or hug the right side of the fairway.  The second shot, though not that long, plays straight uphill.  Take an extra club here... two of them if the wind is at your face.
  Dedicated to Everett Kircher

• Hole 17

  Par 3
  233 yards

  This par 3 is one of the most difficult that BOYNE has to offer.  From the back tees, even the best players will need a long iron or wood to reach the green which is protected from the left by a pond and to the right by a large bunker.  Neither is a bargain.  Pay attention to the wind, which is usually into your face, and just focus on hitting your ball squarely.
  Dedicated to Chuck Kocsis
  

• Hole 18

  Par 4
  438 yards

  A true test of skill and courage, the 18th hole on the Monument has plenty of drama to go around for everyone in your group.  From the tee, play your tee shot at the barn in the distance.  You can cut some of the corner to the right, but if you miss short, you are in the pines; too far to the right and you may reach the water.  A good tee shot will leave a mid iron into the famous island green.   Dedicated to Sam Snead