Mr. Golf Michigan: Michael Houtteman
By Tom Lang
The biggest golf award in Michigan high school golf goes to a new graduate of the smallest competitive division in the state – Michael Houtteman.
Houtteman won the Div. 4 state title for Maple City Glen Lake High School, located at the lower end of the Leelanau Peninsula, just east of Sleeping Bear Dunes. In the two-day final played at Ferris State, Houtteman shot a sizzling 6-under par (70-68-138).
Houtteman closed out the season with the best scoring average across all four divisions at 71.7. He was medalist at four tournaments and was runner up five times. He made 54 birdies in 17 contests of both 9 and 18-hole events.
“Coming into this year I set my goal that I wanted to be the best and play at the highest level and get the Mr. Golf Award, and I was fortunate enough to win it,” Houtteman told me. “And it’s such a prestigious honor to win especially because the competition is the entire state as a whole, all age groups and not just your division. It’s mostly golf, but also not just all about golf. They judge your extracurriculars and what you do off the course, and in the community.
“Playing a lot of competition in the north doesn’t give as much clout as the schools down south (in Michigan) and probably rightfully so, but I was able to travel down and play in a lot of big invitationals… and I was able to separate myself from some other top players.”
Unlike a lot of top players who specialize in one sport, Houtteman stayed competitively busy all school year. In the fall he won the state tennis title in No. 3 singles, and then was a starting guard on the basketball team.
His next stop is the U.S. Air Force Academy, and he said part of what pointed him in that direction was his grandfather.
“My grandfather was a big role model for me. He was a Naval aviator and that intrigued me to fly,” he said. When Houtteman went on his recruiting visit he loved the Colorado area and could sense a really strong brotherhood with the other men he met there.
“It’s something I always wanted to be a part of. It’s always great to fight together through the adversities in life. The job opportunities are amazing (in the military) and I get to play some high-level golf, that I’m excited for,” he said, while noting that he is looking forward to returning to Michigan for the annual Folds of Honor Collegiate at American Dunes hosted by Michigan State. Houtteman finished runner up (even par) in a high school event at American Dunes early in the spring season against most of the top teams in Michigan.
“It’s a very special tournament to me, especially now that I’m going into a service academy, he said of the Corporal B. Invitational played in April. “It allowed us to not just play golf, but to play for something bigger. Being able to play against most of the top teams in the state and post a solid round definitely helped my chances of winning Mr. Golf.
“First, the course is simply stunning. It’s a different style course,” he said about playing American Dunes. “You listen to Taps (at 1:00 pm), you see the absolutely monstrous American flag. Then entering the golf course, you take your hat off and get to show your respect to the ones who unfortunately passed away serving and protecting our country. It’s a very amazing experience, especially for the fact high school kids get to participate in that, and see the reality of the sacrifices that Veterans give to our country, and for our freedom.”
Just like the Veteran he will also be one day.
All-State Super Team:
Conner Fox, Lake Orion
Michael Houtteman, Glen Lake
Ian Masih, Okemos
Will Pollack, Forest Hills Northern
Cooper Reitsma, Grand Rapids Christian
Julian Sinishtaj, Warren DeLasalle
Parker Stalcup, Clarkston Everest Collegiate
Brian Tillman, Chelsea
