The Buick Open may not have been affiliated with the Professional Golfers Association at the time.
Nonetheless, Jim Naugler had the chance to compete against some of the top pro golfers in that tournament 35 years ago.
Today, Naugler is the golf superintendent at Goodrich Country Club, 10080 Hegel Road, Goodrich. Back in 1970, though, Naugler played in what was then known as the Little Buick Open at The Elks in Grand Blanc.
Naugler said a couple of people, Larry Mancour and Jim Applegate, helped him get registered as a professional with the Michigan Professional Golfers Association so he could compete in the tournament.
Despite shooting a 79 on the first day and an 81 the second day, Naugler did not make the cut. However, he competed against some golfers who went on to become some of the top names in the sport, such as Fred Couples, Gary Hoch, Jim Thorpe, Tom Weiskopf, and Fuzzy Zoeller, as well as Rod Sumpter, who was one of the top area golfers at the time.
Naugler said The Elks was a ‘very challenging? course, and said the fourth hole, even though it was a par-3, stood out as a particularly difficult hole.
Nonetheless, he has fond memories of playing in the Open. ‘It was really exciting to play in that, because not everybody gets to take part,? he said.