As the last of the storm clouds melted into the approaching sunset and the echoes of a championship toast faded into the evening air across from the bold red grandstand behind what just hours earlier was a jam-packed first tee at Harbor Shores, an odd mix of euphoria and melancholy settled along each of the eighteen fairways replacing the ubiquitous cheers, applause and, to be honest, the frequent groans that are part and parcel to a major golf championship so many have grown to love and respect. At least for now, the final chapter of the storybook KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship has been written, as the last vestiges of the Championship Courtyard, Community Showcase, Makers Trail 19th Hole, and the remarkable Field of Flags disappear from the landscape.
What became the legacy of the Senior PGA Championship on the shores of Lake Michigan was launched on the heels of news in 1989 from the Chicago Tribune that Money Magazine had delivered “a major blow to glimmering hopes” in the city when the publication’s annual survey had ranked Benton Harbor as “the worst place to live out of 300 cities, down from 298th the previous year.” The article helped set the stage, however, by noting, “Yet, amid such desolation there are signs or life, indications that citizens are striving to get their city back on its feet.”
That’s when former Whirlpool Corporation CEOs David Whitwam, Jeff Fettig and like-minded community leaders decided to take the fate of the region into their own hands with bold plans to transform things piece-by-piece, anchored by the conversion of more than 500 acres of blighted property punctuated by abandoned and failing factories to something universally more appealing, a major golf course and resort concept designed to change the trajectory of the entire region through ideation, cooperation and collaboration.
Many know the rest of the story, but by bringing renowned Hall of Fame Golfer and golf course architect Jack Nicklaus into the equation, the future improved visibly (and quickly).
In my role at the then Cornerstone Chamber of Commerce as a partner to Jeff Noel at Cornerstone Alliance, I accompanied Mr. Nicklaus and his design team as they surveyed the sprawling expanse that would become Harbor Shores on multiple occasions and was charged with documenting the conditions before the project began and the demolition of hundreds of thousands of square feet of former manufacturing plants, warehouses, dilapidated homes and more. The change became more striking with every passing month.
In 2010 Chicago Golf Reporter magazine wrote, “How the team from Jack Nicklaus design and a local development consortium was able to turn what was basically 500 acres of neglected waterfront real estate into a blossoming golf course and community is mind-boggling. The result is a truly remarkable golf course and an even more impressive community revitalization that is providing work-force training, youth development as well as the beautification of public parks and beaches that border the property.” That was well before much of the rest of the advancing resort complex had begun to be built out, dramatically enhancing the progress of the project and well beyond.
Since the opening Champions for Change event in 2010 that pitted Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Tom Watson and Johnny Miller against one another in a $1-million Skins Game, Harbor Shores became the “home” of the KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship over the next 14 years on an every-other-year basis until that contract expired here in 2024.
Thousands of volunteers worked diligently to showcase this community to a global television audience, resulting in thousands more who came to visit, vacation, and explore our region. As the clock stops on an incredible run, we stepped out at Moody on the Market to ask the key players in this remarkable success several questions, including “What’s Next?”
Our simple survey asked those community leaders and players these quick queries:
- Thinking back to your first involvement with the KitchenAid SPGA Championship, what did you hope the event would mean for the community and region?
- How much of its intended purpose did the event achieve and what will be the lasting legacy?
- What is your most memorable moment of any KitchenAid SPGA Championship?
- Following the departure of the KitchenAid SPGA, where should community leaders now focus their efforts?
The vast majority concur with the sentiment of Whirlpool Executive Vice President for Corporate Relations & Sustainability Pam Klyn who told the NBC and Golf Channel audience that it was a “Mission Accomplished” for KitchenAid, looking back over the six Championships played at Harbor Shores.
Al Pscholka, a Vice President now for Lake Michigan College, says, “Having worked on the development of the golf course at Cornerstone Alliance and Congressman Fred Upton’s office, I was hoping the event would serve as a springboard for community transformation, and position Southwest Michigan as a destination for a national, even global audience.” He adds, “One of the things we don’t look back on enough are the ‘before and after’ photos of the area. Harbor Shores is a huge project. What were once remnants of the rust belt have been turned not only into a world class golf course, but a housing and mixed-use development that has increased tax base and brought on other opportunities for residents and visitors. Let’s also not forget about the partnerships and friendships that were built – great leaders like Dave Whitwam, Jeff Noel, local bankers Dan Smith, Dick Schanze, and a host of others who had the vision, grit, and determination to see the project through good times and bad. While the physical development may be the lasting legacy, it was great leadership that made it happen.”
Retired Whirlpool CEO Jeff Fettig sums it up this way, “We had a vision where we could showcase Harbor Shores and all of Southwest Michigan to a national audience and make a very positive impression for our entire community,” and adds, “I believe we completely achieved our original goals. Harbor Shores is on most golfers ‘must play’ list and is nationally recognized. Southwest Michigan is becoming the ‘Gem of the Midwest’ for tourism, and the KitchenAid SPGA has helped to promote all of this.”
Former Benton Harbor City Manager Darwin Watson, who serves now as City Manager for the community of New Buffalo says, “Being involved with the KitchenAid SPGA from the very start, I hoped that this event would cast a huge spotlight on the Benton Harbor-St. Joseph area. More generally, I hoped that people who came to the tournament would see the amazing attributes in Southwest Michigan. From there, they would want to return to live, start a business, or tell others about the gem we enjoy every day. In my opinion, the SPGA did just that. Millions got to see what Michigan’s Great Southwest was all about. The exposure has positioned this community to be on the cusp of a revitalization and rebirth.
Wendy Dant Chesser, now working economic development in Southern Indiana, was President and CEO of Cornerstone Alliance throughout the planning and implementation stage for Harbor Shores. She looks back, saying, “I really hoped – and believed – the exposure of the community to a national audience would do as much to boost the morale of residents in the area as anything. Southwest Michigan is a beautiful place with wonderful people deserving of opportunity. Sometimes we all need a little prodding to see the opportunities in front of us.” She notes, “I left shortly after the course opened, but believe it has made a difference.”
Wendy’s predecessor at Cornerstone was Jeff Noel, who would go on to the executive suite at Whirlpool Corporation before retiring to an economic development role with his home state of Kentucky. Answering the first question about expectations for Harbor Shores, Noel says, “I see three areas (of expectation). First to showcase on national television the natural beauty of our community and its people, while being an experiential platform of volunteerism, highlighting the ongoing generosity of an entire community across a myriad of projects and organizations that by every metric most communities can only envy. Second, visually and through storytelling, amplify why the ‘Great’ exists in Michigan’s Great Southwest, for the residents of the community as well as the multitudes of new folks that desire to or now visit the area. Third and most important, the objective to see the results of past work through the lens of over 1,500 volunteers to prospectively inspire more collaboration to take on greater challenges to help others, whether Project T, the Corewell Health Clinic, expansion of the Boys and Girls Clubs, supporting our schools, the Unified Civic Monuments, or New Heights project among so many others shaping a better future for the region.” Noel suggests, “Every other year, when the event is held in much larger markets, our community can see firsthand how successful they are in comparing their work to others. When the event is in Southwest Michigan, you feel the energy and pride of the community, and without fail, when I play golf in California, Kentucky, Ohio or wherever and have my Harbor Shores golf bag, someone says to me, ‘Hey I saw that course on TV, what a beautiful place.’”
Arthur Havlicek, who heads up the Southwest Michigan Regional Chamber, says, “My hope was always that by hosting an event as internationally significant as a SPGA Championship, we could showcase Southwest Michigan’s beauty – and its capability – to the world. Why capability? Because at its heart, hosting the SPGA was a ‘Big Idea’ – particularly for a community our size. That made this a once-in-a-generation opportunity to prove to everyone – ourselves included – that our region is capable of anything it puts its mind to.” He adds, “Thanks to the generosity of Whirlpool and KitchenAid, our region was able to prove itself to the world not just once, but six times over. That’s six times our region has been broadcast to over 150 million households across 70 countries, and six times we’ve seen over $7 million and 600 temporary jobs infused into our local economy. This impactful thirteen-year run has forever changed our community for the better, including the establishment of Harbor Shores itself – which replaced hundreds of acres of abandoned factories and now stands as one of the top ninety golf courses in the country. My heartfelt thanks to Whirlpool Corporation, KitchenAid, and all who made this legacy possible.”
Havlicek’s colleague and right hand at the Chamber, Sarah Spoonholtz echoes him, saying, “My hope was that it would put a massive bullseye on Southwest Michigan as a whole; help break any negative stereotypes or misperceptions; and truly spotlight the beauty of the people, places and businesses that call Southwest Michigan home,” adding, “In the words of Pam Klyn, ‘Mission Accomplished!’ Simply looking at the transformation of the community as a whole, it more than achieved its purpose and can be looked back on as being a catalyst for a new era of innovation and growth in the community.”
Former Whirlpool executive Bill Marohn says, “I remember when I first heard there was going to be a golf course built in that area. For me it was hard to envision how that property could be transformed into a golf course. Later, I remember standing on what is now the 5th hole, near the pond, with Dave Whitwam, Merlin Hanson, Bob McFeeter, Jack Nicklaus, and others as the bulldozer was shaping the contours of the hole and the course. Even later, I remember standing near the green on number ten when Jack sank that historic putt much to the amazement of everyone, including his playing partners Watson, Palmer and Miller. Then, to be a volunteer in the first KitchenAid SPGA event as Chair of the Hospitality Sales Committee, it all seemed to me like a dream come true. The golf course and the event were created and developed to be transformational for our community. My hat goes off to Jeff Fettig for being the leader and creating such a bold vision. I think much of what was envisioned was accomplished. Although, despite the effort, some people locally have felt left behind. If you remember and think about what Graham Avenue and the Ausco property looked like at that time, it has been an amazing transformation for our community. However, it did not lift everyone out of poverty and solve every problem. The event was broadcast to approximately 130 countries globally. The course looked beautiful positioned on the shores of Lake Michigan. Many people have come here to play the course who most likely had never been here before. They ate in our restaurants, stayed in our hotels and shopped in our stores. Most likely, some of them will come back again and will play the course. I believe the event had a short term — and hopefully it will develop into a long-term — economic impact on our community.”
Jerry “JP” Price is an executive team member for Corewell Health and has served as the Chair of the Community Showcase at the Championship. He tells us he first became involved with the championship as a volunteer to help distribute uniforms, and admits, “Honestly, I wasn’t sure what to expect and didn’t realize how BIG this was for our community. However, as the event started to take shape, my greatest hope was that others outside the community would see how wonderful our little slice of the world is.” JP, like Pam Klyn, concludes, “I have two words for you ‘Mission Accomplished.’ The KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship not only highlighted the greatest golfers in the world. It also set its sunbeams on the shores of Lake Michigan and illuminated the beauty of Michigan’s Great Southwest. It enhanced tourism, spurred economic development, and most importantly gave our community a global stage to shine.
Rich Hensel heads up the Downtown Development Authority for Benton Harbor. He tells us, “In 2012 I believed the SPGA Championship Presented by KitchenAid would bring the world to Benton Harbor in ways we had not experienced in our history. Our beautiful lakefront, growing downtown district and arts scene were portrayed in real time and experienced by us anew along with our visitors.” He adds, “Many of us experienced first-hand the genuine pleasure and interest generated by those who came to see the redevelopment of the Paw Paw River front, new homes, Harbor Village and trail systems. We’ve continued to enjoy the public improvements open to our use beyond the times of the championship. The success of volunteer efforts to mount events like this will give confidence in new challenges ahead.”
Retired Lake Michigan College President Bob Harrison, who serves now as a Berrien County Commissioner, says, “From the time it was first announced, I looked forward to a large-scale project that would rehabilitate portions of the community and bring positive attention to Southwest Michigan. Without a doubt, the event met my hopes and expectations.”
John Proos, Former Senator and current Executive Director of the Strategic Leadership Council, notes, “When working for Congressman Fred Upton, I worked with him to secure federal funding to clean up the Superfund site that today is the 14th tee box. Without the support of the federal, state and local funding the 550 acres of Harbor Shores would not be what it is today,” and adds, “The partnership between Whirlpool/KitchenAid and the PGA of America has been a great success. Today the Harbor Shores Golf Course is the 90th ranked public golf course in America which brings more and more visitors to Michigan’s Great Southwest to see and experience what we all know as a hidden gem on the sunset shore of Lake Michigan.”
Regina Ciaravino, who worked for years with the Cornerstone Chamber of Commerce and has served as the Championship’s Division Chair for Administration and Spectator Services Divisions, enthusiastically notes, “The Championship was a catalyst to ensure the success of Harbor Shores and our communities. It’s clear that we have met or exceeded the intent of the original 20-year plan with a major part of it through the 14-year-old Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf course, bringing an enormous amount of attention to Southwest Michigan. Golf Digest ranks the course number 90 of the 100 Greatest Public Golf Courses and being 19th in the Best in State is an almost unheard-of achievement for a property so young, especially with over 800 golf courses in the state.” She adds, “Outside of the golf course, multiple residential developments have been realized such as The Fairways, Hideaways, Enclave, Trailside, and Harbor Village – an enormous boost to our tax base. Additionally, many new hotels have been built in our communities: The Inn at Harbor Shores (St. Joseph), Fairfield Inn (Stevensville), Springhill Suites, Staybridge Suites and Courtyard by Marriott (all in Benton Harbor). All these components provide a long-lasting legacy that could not have been achieved without the vision and planning necessary to accomplish so much in so little time.”
So…what’s next? The central theme across the board is to replicate the cooperative efforts that have gotten us here.
Sam Abdelnour, retired Whirlpool VP, says, “As a community we should all learn from — and focus on — what we did extremely well to deliver six major championships with a combination of hard work and passion while always considering each member of our teams. We have clearly demonstrated that when we have a plan, find the right people and work hard, passion for the project becomes the driving force that delivers world class results. I don’t today know what is next, however believe when the dust settles we will.”
Izzy DiMaggio, Supervisor for Hagar Township, suggests, “Economic development, good paying jobs would continue the momentum that Harbor Shores initiated. Safe, affordable housing with emphasis on job training and youth programs is critical to attack poverty and crime.”
Jamie Balkin, a Coloma City Commissioner, who was a key communicator on the progress of the Harbor Shores project while with Cornerstone Alliance says, “There is still much more work to be done. Though there have been improvements in the area, there are still areas that need to be enhanced and improved. For example, Riverview Drive needs to be revitalized to what it was in its heyday! It would be great to have more opportunities to eat and drink on the water, where currently there are very few.”
Jeff Fettig reminds us, “Continuing to work together does great things for our community! We’ve proven we have great people all over Southwest Michigan. I believe we can do so much more including Harbor Re-Development, housing, area wide transportation, education and creating a great place to live, work, invest and retire!”
Bill Welter, Founder of Journeyman Distillery in Three Oaks says, “Continue to drive tourism by promoting the amazing natural wonders but also promoting all the tourism trade and the local businesses that we love to frequent. SW Michigan has so much to offer.”
Bill Marohn adds, “Harbor Shores was intended to be a community transformational project. It was patterned after East Lake in Atlanta. My hope is that the vibrance and beauty of Harbor Shores continues to be a catalyst to transform the communities that it touches, including Benton Charter Township, Benton Harbor and St. Joseph for the benefit of all people. There is a saying that a rising tide lifts all ships. Hopefully Harbor Shores has created that rising tide.”
Paula Harvey, who originally worked for Harbor Shores and now serves as Property Manager for The Emma J. Hull Flats property in Benton Harbor suggests, “The communities involved with this event should remember it was working together that made this event such a success all these years. Hopefully another well-known tournament will find its way to Harbor Shores and they can work together to make the next one a success as well.”
Jeannie Dieffenbaugher, Retired-Director of Volunteer Operations for the PGA of America, tells us she feels, “With the support that this area has provided over the years for the KitchenAid SPGA, local leaders need to consider bringing other top golf events to Harbor Shores and Michigan’s Great Southwest. The building blocks are there for success – they just now need to be carried forward.”
Al Pscholka encourages, “We need to focus our efforts on collaboration. We have seen and felt the loss of several community philanthropists over the last couple of years. As leaders, we must leave our agendas at the door and get back to building the community through long-lasting partnerships so our area can be competitive in the marketplace.”
Marcy Simpson, Executive Director for Southwest Michigan Tourist Council says, “We should focus on the momentum that has been established with the success of this event. We are in search of the next ‘big idea’ project or event that will have long lasting and positive impact on our community!”
Benton Harbor’s Rich Hensel suggests, “We should develop a multi-venue culinary event highlighting local and international talent and showcasing the amazing produce available in the Heart of the Michigan Fruitbelt!”
Brady Cohen, Managing Partner of The Inn at Harbor Shores, says we should focus on, “Something that will continue to grow our region. Think big, this was huge for our community, so we need to take the next leap and continue to show the world why Saint Joseph and Benton Harbor is an amazing place to live, work and play.”
The visionary Jeff Noel says, “Wherever it is for the focus on what’s next, realizing success comes from great people setting aside whatever differences they may have and rolling up their sleeves for a common purpose is how structural and sustainable good for a community is achieved,” and adds, “I believe the journey of the KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship and what it took to achieve it and present it will be the perpetual realization that experiencing community success is only possible by a shared spirit of support for one another.”
Sarah Spoonholtz reminds everyone, “The possibilities for where we go from here are endless, but I’d ultimately hope that the momentum we’ve been able to gain from 2010 to today as a whole continues. If we’ve learned anything, it’s that we are stronger when we work together, each community, business, and person brings something unique to the table that we can build upon and continue to spotlight Southwest Michigan.”
Perhaps summing it up more succinctly than anyone, the Chamber’s Arthur Havlicek contends, “While some might look back on the KitchenAid Senior PGA Championships as just enjoyable events, the true purpose of hosting was always about community revitalization. The revitalization of Benton Harbor, of Berrien County, and of Southwest Michigan. While I am just one voice, I speak for over seven hundred public, private, and non-profit members when I say I want to see us continue to push that needle. To continue to dream big and achieve big. To build up our local ecosystem and breakdown barriers to broad-based prosperity. Hosting the SPGA Championship proved we could do anything and, while the event itself may be gone, those who made it possible remain. We still have an incredible corporate citizen in Whirlpool, and an incredible community full of dedicated businesses and volunteers who believe in all that Southwest Michigan has to offer. All that to say, our efforts should be focused on that next ‘big idea,’ and I look forward to participating in the collective effort that ensures its success.”
We can, as a collective community, reminisce and sit on our laurels while hoping for lightning to strike once again. Or, we can do everything in our power to work side by side, neighbor-to-neighbor to harness the power necessary to replicate and even soar beyond the greatness that was the KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship at Harbor Shores.
