Minnesota Golfer - Fall 2017 - 27

QUICK F A C T S
MGA Annual Meeting October 30
Brackett's Crossing Country Club in
Lakeville will host the MGA's Annual
Meeting and Awards Banquet Monday,
Oct. 30. Social hour starts at 5:30 p.m., followed
by presentations recognizing the six
MGA Players of the Year, the Evans Scholar
of the Year, the MGA Volunteer of the Year
and the Warren J. Rebholz Distinguished
Service Award winner.
Also to be honored are three inductees
into the Minnesota Golf Hall of Fame:
Carol Ellis, Tim Herron and Charles Erickson
(posthumously).
Ellis, 78, of Roseville,
Minn., has been a
part of Minnesota golf
since the 1960s. Calling
University Golf Club
her home, Ellis won
the 1963 Minnesota
Women's Public Golf
Association's Public Links Championship,
finished runner-up in the 1966 Minnesota
Women's State Amateur Championship
and participated in eight USGA Women's
Opens from 1964 to 1977, including a 43rd
place finish in 1966 at Hazeltine National
Golf Club. Turning professional in 1966,
Ellis was a successful golf instructor, giving
lessons in St. Paul at Harkins Range, the
Minnesota State Fairgrounds and at the
University Golf Club into the early 1980s.
Nearing 50 later that decade, Ellis reapplied
for her amateur status and went on
to win three consecutive Minnesota State
Senior titles in 1989, 1990 and 1991. She
also qualified for three USGA Women's
Mid-Amateur and nine USGA Women Senior
Amateur championships, including a
13th place finish at Pine Needles in 1991.
Herron, 47, grew up
in Wayzata, Minn., in a
golf family and quickly
became one of the
most decorated Minnesota
amateur golfers.
The 1988 MGA Junior
Player of the Year,
Herron went on to attend the University of
New Mexico where he won five times and
became an All-American.
Herron continued his winning ways
in Minnesota capturing the 1992 MGA
State Amateur Championship and went
undefeated in matches in the 1993 USGA
Walker Cup held at Interlachen Country
Club. Herron turned professional following
the Walker Cup, winning four times
on the PGA Tour; the 1996 Honda Classic;
the 1997 Texas Open; the 1999 Bay Hill
Invitational; and the 2006 Colonial. Herron
continues to play professionally on the
PGA Tour and ranks 70th on the all-time
money list with more than $19 million in
earnings.
Erickson was hired
away from the Minneapolis
Park Board
in 1899 to become the
first head greenkeeper
at The Minikahda
Club, and by July of
40
%
The percentage of golf
courses reporting an
increase in nine-hole
rounds in 2016 due
to the USGA's Play 9
campaign.
that year the first ball was hit from the
first tee by the club president. Affectionately
known as the " General " by the club
membership, Erickson's practical and innovative
approach to the challenges of turf
and arbor management is best captured
in his summation to fellow greenkeepers:
" We are doctors of the green. " Among his
mechanical contributions to the industry
during his early tenure at Minikahda was
" The Sea Serpent " -the first golf course
irrigation system in the United States. He
also cultivated bentgrass at Minikahda and
was instrumental in converting many of
the golf courses in Minnesota from sand
to bentgrass greens.
Erickson was also very active in the
formation of the Minnesota Golf Course
Superintendents Association, and in 1928
was elected its first president.
As an MGA member, you are welcome to
attend the awards banquet. For more details,
contact Anne Colehour Mullen at 952-3453969.
Pinehurst
Opens New Short Course
Pinehurst Resort, located in Pinehurst, N.C. and home to the historic No. 2 course by
Donald Ross, announced the opening of a new short course, The Cradle. The historic
resort hired Gil Hanse to build the new course on the same footprint as the original first
holes. Holes range from 56 to 127 yards, with the scorecard topping out at 789 yards.
The layout incorporates the native sandscape and wiregrass common to the original
holes. " The beauty of golf at Pinehurst is that it is very natural, traditional and classic.
That Pinehurst character, we believe, permeates through The Cradle, " Hanse was quoted
in the statement. Designed for players of all ages and abilities, The Cradle will offer $50
green fees this fall; kids 17 and under can play for free with a paid adult.
For more information, visit pinehurst.com.
www.mngolf.org
Fall 2017 MINNESOTAGOLFER
27

http://www.pinehurst.com http://www.mngolf.org

Minnesota Golfer - Fall 2017

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