SueErtl.com

Happy Holidays! We just wanted to share a few photos, a couple of videos, and send “good tidings to you” during this holiday season.

I continue to enjoy my position as the Head Teaching Pro at University Park Country Club. It is such a beautiful place to work and for members to live and play. Recently, ABC Channel 7 chose UPCC’s #5 as one of Sarasota’s “Dream 18” holes. I joined two local media personalities in playing this picturesque par-3 from the new tee box on the upper tier, built in November 2011.  Click the video below if you’d like to watch it.

Val continues to live on the electronic “cutting edge”. She assists clients in solving their computer/electronics concerns and problems, and is really enjoying working on her website, the Golf Rangefinder Shop. We both love our iPhones, the iPad and DVR and it is fun helping our parents move further into the digital age as well.

A big honor for Val – she was inducted in November to the Quincy (IL) High School Sports Hall of Fame for golf.  “Back in the day”, she was the individual runner-up at the Illinois HS State Championship and had a decorated junior and amateur golf career, including being a quarter-finalist in the U.S. Women’s Amateur. Kudos, Val!

During the summer, I’m grateful for the opportunity to travel and compete. It was a treat playing in the Legends Tour events: In Reno, NV at Hidden Valley Country Club (thanks Patty Sheehan); In Jackson, MI at the Country Club of Jackson, the Wendy’s Charity Challenge (thanks Elaine Crosby); In Plymouth, MA, the BJ’s Pro-Am at Pinehills Country Club (thanks Ted Ellis & Gail Schaeffer for hosting me at your home club).

Additionally, I competed in two state Opens this summer. Thanks to Barb Inbody’s sister, Zibby Damm and Gary Milam for hosting us at their home club Stonehenge CC at Fairfield Glade during the Tennessee Women’s Open. The Michigan Women’s Open at Crystal Mountain is still one of our favorite events – a beautiful and peaceful venue.

It was an honor to be invited to play in the Inaugural Big 10 Athletic Director Challenge at Eagle Eye Golf Club near Michigan State. Our MSU team pulled out a victory on the 1^st extra hole, giving our Athletic Director, Mark Hollis, bragging rights for a year over Michigan’s AD, Dave Brandon. Being one of four Spartan Alumni to pair with Mark was a highlight of the summer!

We had a great year seeing family as well in Grand Rapids, MI and Quincy, IL. Watching nieces and nephews grow up, play sports and develop into young adults is a great joy to share.  We are so proud of all of them: Kate, Justine, Claire, Ben, Ally, Sean, Laurel, Jake, Emily & David. Click here for some family photos!

We love the excitement and challenge of playing new courses around the country, and this year got to enjoy Branson, Missouri. Not only did we play two great golf courses there, our hearts skipped a few beats as we experienced several zip lines, including the 170-foot, 50 mph, ½ mile ‘Vigilante’.  Enjoy the ride with me by clicking on the video below. Our love for fast rides and roller coasters was satisfied too at Disney World, Universal Studios and Michigan’s Adventure.

Other fun 2011 memories include a visit to Lake Winnepesaukee, NH to see Beth and Lori Salzman, a visit to Hogsmeade & Hogwarts at Universal Studios Orlando (Harry Potter fans should not miss this), and Thanksgiving on Siesta Key Beach.

We’re looking forward to the New Year’s Eve progressive dinner party and will be going to the Outback Bowl in Tampa on January 2^nd to cheer for MSU.

Thank you to all of you who enjoy this life with us, and make it even more FUN! May your New Year to come be one of Happiness and Good Health. We offer our gratitude for all we have and to all we love.

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Three University Park couples met Sue & Val after Tuesday’s practice round to help Sue kick-off the BJ’s Charity Classic Pro-Am at Pinehills Golf Club in Plymouth, MA.  Pinehills residents Ted Ellis & Gail Schaeffer arranged to have Bruce & Lynn Wallin (Cotuit, MA) and Walter & Sue Hughes (Mattapoisett, MA) come for a cocktail party to wish Sue well before the pro-am & charity fundraiser.  Sue will play Wednesday Sept. 9th, with three amateurs while competing individually against 23 of her fellow Legends Tour professionals at the Rees Jones course at Pine Hills. Twenty-four other professionals and pro-am teams will be on the Nicklaus course in a separate competition. 

Thanks to everyone for the great food, many laughs and wonderful support.  Thanks to Gail & Ted for arranging such a fun evening.

Val Brennan, Sue Hughes, Lynn Wallin & Bruce Wallin, Sue, Ted Ellis & Gail Schaeffer, Walter Hughes

Connie Tuley, Sue, Val, and Dick Tuley at Walnut Hills Country Club, East Lansing, MI

Wednesday we commuted from Grand Rapids to East Lansing as guests of Dick and Connie Tuley, University Park CC members. I had worked at Walnut Hills for Bill Mory, who is the current Club Manager, and with whom we had a nice reunion. Bill’s son Chris is on MSU’s Men’s golf team.

Walnut Hills was in beautiful shape, and I had not played it since the bunkers had all been revamped  – deeper, long grassy edges, a true challenge for all. The greens have many undulations and it is important to be below the hole as usual. What a pleasure to make the drive, see the Tuleys, and Connie says we brought her good luck! She played great! Val’s highlight was consecutive birdies, I played very steadily, and Dick got up and down from tough spots on both #5 and #17.

They are on their way to Mackinaw Island with their grandchildren for the weekend – should be a fun trip! Thanks again for the good golf, lunch, on the most beautiful summer day in Michigan!

Jackson fan club: Karen and Sean Wing, Miff Griffin, Sue, Ben Ertl, Carol Ertl, UPCC members Beth and Jerry Mumaw, Val (not pictured: UPCC members Janice and Mike Jowett)

Thanks to my family and University Park Members for coming to Jackson and watching my 74 – T-11 finish in the Wendy’s Charity Challenge. Tomorrow is the pro-am, I will play with the two Glick families – Sponsored by Alro Steel. The pro-am dinner and silent/live auction had the theme “Northern Exposure”, so as you can see in the photo, some of us dressed the part!

Michelle Estill, Denise Lindman, Sue, Gail Graham, Val in our "Northern Exposure" get-up. Do we look like we are ready to HUNT???

Here’s a shout-out to my friends back home at the University Park Pro Shop: Ashley, Bill, Pam, Doug, Ann, Liz and Peter. Just thinking of you, wish you were here…..

Sue, Zibby Damm, and Val Brennan

I never know who we will meet at the course, and today we had the chance meeting of University Park CC Member Barb Inbody’s sister Zibby Damm. Small world as we had met her friend the day prior walking her dog at the golf course. So today, who walks up but Zibby! So hello to Barb Inbody from your sister VIA Sue E. What a nice sister you have! Amazing!