Lake Orion

Indianwood vice president says U.S. Senior Open a success

By Christian Davis
C & G Sports Writer

» click to enlarge « Photo by Patricia O’Blenes England’s Gary Wolstenholme tees off during the U.S. Senior Open July 12-15 at Indianwood Golf and Country Club in Lake Orion. The course drew positive reviews from players. Photo by Patricia O’Blenes England’s Gary Wolstenholme tees off during the U.S. Senior Open July 12-15 at Indianwood Golf and Country Club in Lake Orion. The course drew positive reviews from players.

It’s been a week since some of the best golfers in the world teed up in the U.S. Senior Open July 12-15 at Indianwood Golf and Country Club in Lake Orion.

The fairways are quiet now, but club Vice President/General Manager Keith Aldridge believes the message sent from Indianwood was loud and clear.

“I feel a real sense of pride, not only for Indianwood and my family, but I think NBC made the community look fantastic on TV and talked it up great,” Aldridge said.

He added that the players talked up the course, as well.

“The players absolutely loved the golf course,” Aldridge said, adding that one national commentator said he could play the course every day. “You couldn’t get any better comments than that, to be honest with you.”

There were 62,223 spectators over the week, with the daily number increasing each day of the tournament.

“Overall, I think the operation plan went fantastic,” Aldridge said. “From the busing to the organization on the ground, it was just a great event from start to finish.”

The USGA agreed.

“Overall, it was a very successful week. At the USGA, we look for a challenging golf course, and it certainly lived up to that,” Senior Director of the U.S. Senior Open Tim Flaherty said. “(Indianwood) showed it could test some of the best golfers in the world.”

Flaherty added that many of the golfers spoke of the course as a test off the tee and really a “second shot course,” putting an emphasis on accuracy.

Flaherty remembers visiting the course for the first time and appreciating it for its uniqueness in the area.

“I expected it to look like a Midwest course, being tree lined,” he said. “I really felt like Indianwood looked like it was on eastern Long Island. It’s a great looking course, especially with the fescue blowing in the wind.”

Aldridge said he would consider hosting another tournament, even on a regular basis if the conditions were right.

“If a sponsor came to us to host an event, we would entertain hosting a tour stop,” he said.

You can reach C & G Sports Writer Christian Davis at cdavis@candgnews.com or at (586)498-1062. Follow Christian on Twitter.