Congratulations to Tom.
http://www.worldgolf.com/newswire/browse/81662-Brady-Doak-and-Balmer-enter-Michigan-Golf-Hall-FameEAST LANSING, Mich. -- A player and instructor, PGA Professional Steve Brady of Rochester, a creator, course architect Tom Doak of Traverse City, and a golf executive and rules official, Fritz Balmer of Fenton, talked with emotion about the people who helped them as they earned their spots in the Michigan Golf Hall of Fame.
"It's not really about me, but about the people who helped me along the way," said Brady in setting the tone for the induction speeches Sunday night in ceremonies at the Henry Center at Michigan State University.
The trio joined legends like Walter Hagen, Horton Smith and Chuck Kocsis in raising the number of Hall of Fame members to 101.
Fred Muller, the head golf professional at Crystal Downs in Frankfort, called Doak the greatest living golf course architect during his introduction remarks.
"I've been blessed to do something I really wanted to do in some of the most beautiful places in the world," Doak said.
Doak, 52, has designed courses in 15 states as well as Tasmania, Australia and Scotland. He is currently working on a project in China, but also recently designed a practice area at Marygrove University in the Detroit area and waived the fee.
He credited golf course architect Pete Dye and his wife Alice for teaching him the architecture business, but he has made a name for himself with a traditionalist style that has spawned "bucket list" creations like Pacific Dunes in Bandon, Ore., Mullen in the Nebraska sand hills, Cape Kidnapers in New Zealand and The Renaissance Club in Gullane, Scotland.