MGCOA dots the Eye

Photography by Michael Buck
and courtesy Eagle Eye

Anyone who has played the 2006 Michigan Golf Course Owners Association Golf Course of the Year can attest that Eagle Eye Golf Club in East Lansing (Bath) is a world-class golf course with exceptional management and facilities. Owner Daryl Kesler and his staff of golf and hospitality professionals earned the highest marks in the criteria of exceptional course quality, quality of ownership and management, outstanding contribution to the community and significant contribution to the game.

Kesler called on Chris Lutzke, a long time protégé of Pete Dye, to handle the course design at Eagle Eye. Lutzke had been instrumental seven years earlier supervising the construction of Hawk Hollow, Eagle Eye’s equally dramatic sister course. It was he who wanted to replicate Dye’s famous 17th hole island green at the TPC Tournament Course at Sawgrass. Every hole of Eagle Eye is rich with challenge and beauty, from the subtlety of the opening par 4 through the demanding par five 18th. Water is in play on 12 of the 18 holes.

Hawk Hollow Golf Properties (HHGP) — the umbrella company under which Eagle Eye Golf Club operates — consists of the award-winning 18 holes at Eagle Eye; Hawk Hollow Golf Course, a 27-hole complex rated 4 stars by Golf Digest; The Falcon Golf Course, a nine-hole walking course; and Little Hawk, an 18-hole all-natural grass putting course; as well as three multi-tiered driving ranges, four practice putting greens and an exceptional short game practice area.

Overriding everything in the course design, maintenance and operation is the leadership of Kesler and his family who guide management of the course, as well as Michigan’s most dramatic and beautiful banquet facility that provides seating for up to 1,000 guests. That leadership has established a “customer first” approach.

The golf course staff is dedicated to providing an experience that exceeds customer expectations in a professional and friendly manner. Employee retention rates above 87 percent indicate that the work atmosphere is both enjoyable and rewarding.

Annually, three officiated and well-organized junior tournaments are held throughout the summer. High school and college teams are allowed to use the facilities and courses for practice and certain events — usually at no cost to the team or school.

HHGP hosts tournaments for the above groups and the Greater Lansing Amateur Golf Association. These include U.S. Open qualifiers, Michigan Open and Michigan Amateur qualifiers, GAM special events and city tournaments. This year and next, HHGP plays host to the Michigan PGA Championship. The Michigan Publinx Senior Amateur was also contested at Hawk Hollow and Eagle Eye in 2006, an event that will return in 2007. The PGA of Michigan’s new headquarters is located immediately off the first tee at Eagle Eye.
A major contribution to the good of the game has been “responsible pricing.” Kesler remains committed to providing meaningful “value for dollars spent.”

“ By supporting this basic philosophy, more customers are exposed to the joy and reward we all receive from the game,” said Kesler.
Be sure to check Eagle Eye on the web at www.hawkhollow.com.