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2026 Recap

The 25th LaFontaine Golf Outing Recap

The 25th annual LaFontaine Golf Outing was a fantastic success, with 23 teams enjoying their time at the Coyote Preserve Golf Club, which was in excellent condition. The event wrapped up just as the rain started to fall—perfectly timed!

Event Highlights:

Michigan Turfgrass Foundation President, Scott Rettmann, kicked off the reception following the golf event by recognizing the MTF board members present, including Diane Michel, Adam Palmatier, Christian Koval, Ben Keeler, Robert Bywaleck, Doug Ware, and former board member Jeff Holmes.

He also recognized the members of the MSU turf team who were present: Jesse Sholl, Ryan Bearss, Nancy Dykeman, Dr. Jackie Guevara, Dr. Kevin Frank, and Mike Rabe.

LaFontaine Golf Outing Chair, Christian Koval, expressed gratitude to every attendee and extended a special acknowledgment to the Coyote Preserve staff. This included the Osburn family, General Manager Jason Raney, Superintendent Eric Briel, Chef David, and the entire team.

Mike Rabe provided an update on the recent social media developments from the Hancock Turfgrass Research Center.

Dr. Jackie Guevara shared news about the MSU Turf Club and their recent interactions with the MTF.

Gordie LaFontaine expressed gratitude to everyone present and gave a brief overview of the Vargas Endowment and the MTF's purpose. He introduced Dr. Ruying Wang, an MSU Turfgrass Pathologist.

Dr. Wang thanked the attendees, the MSU Turf Team, and the MTF.

Golf Awards

LaFontaine Flight Winners: -14 Brett Roberts, Scott Micher, Tyler Cooper, Kris Kalil

Vargas Flight Winners: -8 John Borak, Dan Bywalec, Robert Bywalec, Jeff Thomas

Ladies Flight Winners: Nancy Dykema, Jackie Guevara, Diane Mischel, Ruying Wang

Closest to the Pin: #6 Nick Wessner, #8 Erwin Mac, #12 Dale Simpson, #14 Colin Giles, #17 Brett Roberts

Longest Drive: Men - Kevin Peck, Women - Diane Mischel

Skins - #16 Faria group, #17 Roberts group

View the 2026 LaFontaine Golf Outing Photo Gallery

LaFontaine Flight Champions

Vargas Flight Champions

Ladies Flight Champions


LaFontaine Golf Outing 

June 17, 2026

The Gordon LaFontaine Endowment for Turfgrass Research was created to establish a solid source of funding for basic research in the field of turfgrass science. Donations to the LaFontaine Endowment create a legacy to fund research long-term, as these donations work in perpetuity to generate interest for fundamental research projects to help solve tomorrow’s problems today. The LaFontaine Golf Outing is an annual event held to generate income for the LaFontaine Endowment.

Registration/Breakfast 8:00 am
Shotgun 9:00 am

SPONSORSHIPS AVAILABLE:

Corporate Sponsorship – $1,100.00
Includes one foursome of golf and your name or company name acknowledged on a placard on a tee location.

Lunch Sponsor – $650.00 Includes one foursome of golf, lunch signage and acknowledgement at lunch.

Tee Sponsorship – $250.00

includes 1 golfer and tee sign

Tee Sponsorship without Golf - $200
Includes Tee Sign

Breakfast Sponsorship – $275.00
Includes 1 golfer

Reception Sponsorship – $325.00
includes 1 golfer and reception sign



  Thank you to Coyote Preserve Golf Club for hosting this event.
  9218 Preserve Drive
  Fenton, MIchigan 48430


Details:


Cost: 

$160 Per Golf Registration (includes continental breakfast, box lunch and awards/cocktail hour after golf)
$625 Per Foursome Registration
$1,000 Corporate Sponsorship (includes foursome)
$150 Tee Sponsorship

$1,250 Lunch Sponsorship (includes foursome)
$250 Breakfast Sponsorship
$500 Cocktail Hour/ Prizes Sponsorship


Format: Scramble with Skins

Schedule:



8:00 a.m. Registration & Continental Breakfast
9:00 a.m. Shotgun Start
Box Lunches provided
3:00  - 4:00 (approx.) Social Hour comments by Mr. Gordon LaFontaine and members of the MSU Turf Team


2025 Recap


LaFontaine Golf Outing - June 18, 2025

The LaFontaine Golf Outing, a MTF Fundraiser for th MSU Turfgrass Program, took place Wednesday June 18th at Coyote Preserve Golf Club in Fenton, Mi. Despite less-than-ideal weather forecasts, participants managed to play at least half of the planned holes. At the award ceremony following golf, Gordon LaFontaine thanked everyone for their support and highlighted the significance of the Michigan State University Turf Program, calling it the best turfgrass school in the world!

LaFontaine was pleased to introduce both Dr. Thom Nikolai and Dr. Kevin Frank who had significant updates from the MSU Turf Team.  Dr. Frank informed the attendees that the MSU Turf Team was pleased to announce that Dr. Ruying Wang had accepted the Joe Vargas Professor in Turfgrass Pathology Position at MSU.  As the selection committee chair for this position Dr. Frank was particularly proud to make the announcement to this group of individuals.  Many of the participants were in that same room 4 years prior when Mr. LaFontaine announced the MTF would provide a leadership pledge of $1 million to MSU in honor of Dr. Vargas and the Pathology position.  More information is available on Dr. Wang in this notice.  The MTF welcomes Dr. Wang and looks forward to her contributions to the MSU Turf Program. Dr. Nikolai also spoke to the attendees on his new function with the Turf Team as he takes on the online World of Turf class.  Dr. Dave Gilstrap will retire at the end of the year and the class will be in the good hands of Dr. Nikolai and his innovative thoughts. Dr. Nikolai was also pleased to inform the group that he has invited and coordinated the USGA to be in attendance for the MSU/MTF Field Day to be held August 13th. He and all the Turf Team encourage all those interested in what the USGA has to say about the game of golf to attend.

MTF Executive Director Carey Mitchelson and President Emeritus Dan Mausolf recognized the winners of the rain-shortened event. The LaFontaine Flight was won by the team of Wojtyniak, Priebe, McKinley, and Jackson, while the Vargas Flight was claimed by the team from Osburn Industries. Closest to the pin winners included Scott Douglas, Robert Bywalec, Brent Wojtyniak, Alex Wise, and Dr. Billete. Alex Wise and Kelsey Schultz won the Long Drive for men and women, respectively, with Andrew and Gina Bey taking the LaFontaine Long Drive #10 honors for men and women.

View LaFontaine Golf Outing Gallery

Vargas Flight Champions
(L-R) Randy Blackman, Frank Hurksman, Tim Osburn, Jason Williams

LaFontaine Flight Champions (L-R) Mark Jackson, Marck McKinley, Jim Priebe, Brent Wojtyniak



Thank you to our 2025 LaFontaine Golf Outing Sponsors!

2025 Corporate Sponsors
Osburn Industries
SavaTree
MiGCSA
Advanced Turf Solutions
Syngenta 
D&B Landscaping
LaFontaine Automotive Group

Breakfast Sponsors
Nufarm

Lunch Sponsors
Merrill Lynch

Reception Sponsors
Envu
C.W. Architecture

2025 Tee Sponsors
Helena
Isidore Automation
Dave Herman
Target Specialty Products
Rhino Seed
Spartan Distributors
Nutrien
Weingartz
Harrell's
Debucks Sod
Hills•Forrest•Smith Golf Course Architects
Paul Rieke
Atticus
Steve Hammon - Traverse City Country Club
Justin & John Kirtland
Golf Association of Michigan
Michigan Golf Course Association


2024 Photo Gallery
(Click image for photo gallery.  Free to share, please tag @miturfgrass)


2024 Recap

It was a perfect day for the LaFontaine Golf Outing! Thank you to everyone who played or participated, the staff at Coyote Preserve Golf Club and all the event’s sponsors (listed below). The funds raised from this annual event fund The Gordon LaFontaine Endowment for Turfgrass Research, which was created to establish a solid source of funding for basic research in the field of turfgrass science.

LaFontaine Golf Outing
June 19, 2024
Coyote Preserve Golf Club

The MTF recognized Dan Bywalec of D&B Landscaping for his continued participation at the LaFontaine Golf outing and support of the MSU turf program.

The MTF also recognized Doug Ware and the City of Livonia for registering multiple teams every year at this event.

Closest to the pin winners: Gordon LaFontaine #6, A. Wise #8, Jesse Sholl #12, Danny Bo #14, Jason Toffalo #17.

Longest Drive Winners: Men - Holmes #4, Women Julie Schweihofer #18

LaFontaine Flight:

Winning Team - Holmes Group -12 (scorecard tiebreaker)

2nd place team - Forrest, Bearss, Perkinson, Wilcznski, Sholl -12

A new flight was created this year, in honor of Dr. Joseph Vargas and those competing for the prize are the corporate sponsorship teams.

Vargas Flight:

Winning Team - Bywalec Group -9

2nd place team - Shaver Group -8

Tee Sponsors:

Dr. Paul Rieke
Golf Association of Michigan
Jon Maddern
Target Specialty Products
Executive Golf Search
John & Justin Kirtland
Rhino Seed
NuFarm
Spartan Distributors
Nutrien
Weingartz
MTESP
Harrell’s
Helena
Dave Herman & Associates
Michigan Sports Fields Managers Association

Breakfast Sponsor:
Helena

Reception Sponsors:

Michael Kuhn and Associates
Envu Environmental Science
Healthy Turf Plus
Simplot

Corporate Sponsors:
Advanced Turf Solutions
Atticus
MiGCSAA
D&B Landscaping
LaFontaine Motors
Syngenta


Michigan Turfgrass Foundation is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. P.O. Box 27156, Lansing, MI 48909

The Michigan Turfgrass Foundation exists to promote safe, healthy turf surfaces for all Michigan residents.

Call or E mail Us

Office: +1 517 392 5003

E Mail miturfgrass@gmail.com


Address:

PO BOX 27156

LANSING, MI 48909

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