Michigan Became Part of Golf World Record
Patrick Koenig played nine golf courses in Michigan on his way to world record
By Tom Lang
On Labor Day, I had the pleasure of joining golf course photographer Patrick Koenig for 18 holes at Gull Lake View’s Stoatin Brae – the 396th course he had played in 2023. That’s right, almost 400 courses in under 9 months.
Koenig was making his way around the highly-ranked links course near Battle Creek as part of his world record jaunt to play as many 18-hole courses as he could in one year. Without doubt, many days he had to play two for 36, as only complete rounds would count for the Guiness Book of World Records.
About six weeks later, on October 17, Koenig played round number 450. It took place at Omni Interlochen in Broomfield, Colorado. It remains unofficial until Guinness verifies all the information, about a 12-week process, but Koenig tracked every hole (including my poor score on September 3) on the Golf Game Book, a digital scorecard and social golf app. From April 2008 through March 2009, former record holders Jonathan and Cathie Weaver played 449 golf courses in 365 days.
He’s utilizing the tour, traveling from course to course in a specially outfitted RGV (Recreational Golf Vehicle), to raise money for The First Tee in Seattle. As of mid-November he played his 500th course to essentially put the record out of reach – and the year isn’t even over.
“Anyone that has ever set a goal and accomplished it knows what it feels like to achieve something,” Koenig told me. “The intensity of the feeling is always enhanced by the amount of time and energy that goes into that achievement. A grand sense of satisfaction.”
I found Koenig to be very pleasant, funny, and a talented golfer – the type of relaxed person you’d enjoy in your Tuesday night beer league. He has averaged about 77 per round during the world record grind, with an all-time best 67. He didn’t seem worried if the playing partners that randomly joined his effort were good or bad golfers, as long as they kept pace. Two other local golfers who follow Koenig on social media joined us to make a foursome that day that finished in a fraction over four hours.
“Nothing too wild or completely unpredictable has happened on the tour yet,” he told me when we caught up in late October. “What is always the most surprising is the passion and generosity of the people that join.
“Time away from friends and family has been challenging,” Koenig added. “I have sacrificed a lot with my relationship, but that has turned out for the better with an increased level of commitment and communication.”
In an 8-day span, taking one day off, Koenig played nine courses in Michigan: Detroit Golf Club, Fieldstone Golf Club, Copper Hills, The Loop Red, The Loop Black, Forest Dunes, Kingsley Club, Belvedere Golf Club and Stoatin Brae. On the latter course, Koenig told me: “I loved the links feel to the golf course. The course was challenging but not very penal. There was always a chance to recover.”
Stoatin Brae has always been one of my favorites. It’s challenging, but it won’t kill you. It’s aesthetically beautiful and despite being a wide-open links course, it offers good variety from the front to the back nine.
The course itself is loaded with challenges but is balanced by a sense of serenity and calm. Whether having a good day or bad day striking the ball, every golfer should be able to walk off the course and say that was a great way to spend their time.
Over the last few years, grass on the course has grown in beautifully since its 2017 opening (which was soon followed by being selected 2021 National Golf Course of the Year).
Right off the bat, Hole 1 is the first of several with the green complex lower than the end of the fairway, causing a blind tee shot in some cases. Conversely, hole 7 is a long par 3 that is uphill but with bunkers and a ridge still hiding (from the back tees) most of the huge green. The flag is visible, but it plays much farther away than it looks to the naked eye due to more fairway than can be seen between the bunkers and green, so trust the published yardage and then hit up one club at least.
Making the turn to the back 9 is an eye-opening experience.
The front nine for the most part is level, and all laid out in front of the golfer with no tricks, but after stopping for a treat at the hallway house (The Bunker, you’ll see the name makes sense) you climb the small hill to the 10th tee to the left and the 14th tee to the right. Both are elevated and open up to the more rolling hills portion of the property.
Holes 10 and 11 are possibly the most attractive back-to-back holes in that region of Michigan. No. 10 is a shorter par 4 that with a big drive and a helping wind, golfers can flirt with the small, elevated green. But stay left because the entire fairway slopes right and balls going right will have a tougher climb to the green.
No. 11 is a medium-length par 3 with a perched green that plays farther away than it looks (but note; all references to playing distance is predicated on that day’s wind strength and direction, a main feature of Stoatin Brae). On a clear day downtown Battle Creek can be seen in the distance across the valley – from No. 2 and 11.
No. 13 is a cool dogleg left through a valley formed by the tall hills left and right, and 14 is a gorgeous par 3 downhill.
Holes 16-18 are wonderful closing holes (par 5, par 3, par 5) that will test but delight most golfers with their challenges and looks – the latter two heading into a setting sun at day’s end – the best way to end any round.
