Taming of the Monster

DBusiness asked Oakland Hills members to recount their experiences playing the south course, aka ‘The Monster,’ site of the 2008 PGA Championship

Photograph by Brian Walters

Michael Mihalich
President and CEO,
MJR Theatres, Oak Park

Best shot? A hole-in-one on No. 17. I used a 5-iron.
Worst shot? There’s been a lot of those, but hitting out of bounds on No. 1.
Why I like Oakland Hills? It’s a tough course, especially with the changing winds.
PGA champ? Tiger Woods

Rick Bayliss
COO, Oakland Hills Country Club,
Bloomfield Township

Best shot? A 3-wood to 2.5 feet above the hole on No. 9, but I missed the putt.
Worst shot? Same hole. I hooked it onto the No. 10 tee and nearly hit some members.
Why I like Oakland Hills? It tests every club in your bag.
PGA champ? Tiger Woods

Cindy Fudalla
Media Center Chairman, 90th PGA Championship

Best shot? Reaching No. 2 on my second shot.
Worst shot? Hitting the halfway house out of a bunker on No. 18.
Why I like Oakland Hills? It’s a hard, traditional golf course.
PGA champ? Tiger Woods

Ed Myles
President, J.E. Myles Inc.,
Troy

Best shot? Landing my approach on No. 18 close to the pin with a 5-wood.
Worst shot? I hit a couple onto Lahser Road on No. 5.
Why I like Oakland Hills? It’s a golfer’s golf course, plus it’s great for hosting clients.
PGA champ? Phil Mickelson

Ron Marcinelli
Executive Vice President, Comerica Bank, Detroit

Best shot? Hit the pin on No. 17 for a tap-in birdie.
Worst shot? Putting the green on No. 9.
Why I like Oakland Hills? The greens are some of the toughest and best in the country.
PGA champ? Tiger Woods

Peter Kupelian
Partner, Kupelian, Ormond & Magy, Southfield

Best shot? Landing three inches from the pin on No. 9, and I made the birdie.
Worst shot? Knocking it out of bounds on No. 18.
Why I like Oakland Hills? It provides a real test every time you play.
PGA champ? Tiger Woods

Bill Larkin
President, Next Tee,
Bingham Farms

Best shot? A pair of holes-in-one on No. 3.
Worst shot? A shot off one of the tees which ended up 5 yards behind the tee.
Why I like Oakland Hills? Membership; golf at its finest.
PGA champ? Padraig Harrington

Donald R. Kegley Jr.
President, Cunningham-Limp, Farmington Hills

Best shot? My approach on No. 18 went in, for the club’s first double eagle there.
Worst shot? Went way left on No. 1 and clipped the bleachers before the Ryder Cup.
Why I like Oakland Hills? The course is an oasis.
PGA champ? Adam Scott

P. Jeffrey Trimmer
Retired Executive,
Chrysler LLC, Auburn Hills

Best shot? Holed out on No. 11 with a 5-iron.
Worst shot? As a kid I popped my drive on a long-ball contest, but still made the fairway to win it.
Why I like Oakland Hills? It’s never boring, after 50 years.
PGA champ? Tiger Woods

Kenneth G. Myers
President, CRA,
Bloomfield Hills

Best shot? Scored a two on No. 11.
Worst shot? There’s plenty of those, but I did put three in the water once on No. 16.
Why I like Oakland Hills? I love all of the history here.
PGA champ? Tiger Woods