(More information can be found at the course website, Q Ken, I understand you have a unique story to share about the construction of Pilgrim’s Run and its design process.Tell me about it. Here’s what Ken told me about this interesting approach to getting not only superintendents, but others who work in course management, involved from the start in a project that successfully created a new place for top-quality, yet affordable, public golf, while preserving the natural surroundings. Pilgrim’s Run Superintendent Ken Hunt was happy to get back on solid ground-and turf equipment-after helping with a lot of the heavy construction for the new course For the rest of the story of how the Pilgrim’s Run course was built out of less than half the acreage, and how its 120 acres of turf are now maintained, I spoke with Course Superintendent Ken Hunt, a member of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America and acting board member for its Western Michigan chapter.Ī 1992 graduate of Michigan State University, Ken was Assistant Superintendent at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail Oxmoor Valley Course in Birmingham, Ala., before getting involved from the outset with the Pilgrim’s Run project, starting as Assistant Superintendent for four years before being promoted to Superintendent in 1999. It was clear that this parcel of rolling terrain-made up of wetland, ponds, forests, and natural grasslands-would make for a great golf course that would highlight and preserve the land’s natural features. Seeking a parcel of land where a course could be built for use not only by members of their family, but also company employees and other area residents, the Van Kampens purchased 830 acres east of Muskegon and north of Grand Rapids. Owned by Chicagoans Robert and Judith Van Kampen, who made their fortune in the mutual fund and securities markets, Pilgrim’s Run got its start after the Van Kampens retired from active involvement in their company (Van Kampen Investments) and relocated to western Michigan. Open Qualifier.īut from a superintendent’s point of view, the real story at Pilgrim’s Run is the unique way in which course and grounds professionals contributed to its original design and construction, and how they now help to maintain it. And in 2007, Pilgrim’s Run will host a U.S. Since its inception a little more than 10 years ago, Pilgrim’s Run Golf Club, in Pierson, Mich., has already earned a ranking by Michigan Golf magazine as a top-10 public facility, as well as accolades from Golf Digest and other publications as one of the country’s best, and most affordable, new public courses.
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