12 REMEMBRANCE ASGCA Past President Jerry Matthews passed away in September on Mackinac Island in Michigan. He was 88. Multiple generations of Matthews have positively impacted golf in Michigan, including Jerry’s father Bruce and nephew W. Bruce. Jerry designed or renovated more than 200 courses, including the Lakes course at Michaywe, Timber Ridge Golf Course and Timberstone Golf Course. He was inducted into the Michigan Golf Hall of Fame in 2005. Jerry passed away just 90 minutes after receiving a standing ovation as the guest of honor at The MGL Grand Golf Getaway. The event, hosted by Michigan Golf Live’s Bill Hobson, took place at Mackinac Island’s Grand Hotel, whose Jewel course was designed by Jerry. Paul Albanese, ASGCA, who worked with Matthews for over 20 years, was at the event. “Jerry’s never been one for the spotlight,” he told Hobson on the Fore Golfers Network podcast. “But that night, the spotlight shone on him, and he was very proud. “Jerry has three times as many golf courses in Michigan than anyone else – no one is ever going to catch him. He was proud of doing golf courses for the masses. Golf is huge in Michigan, and we need those good quality and affordable courses. He has loved this profession for 60 years. He allowed me and his other associates to explore design concepts… that’s what a good mentor does.” Ray Hearn, ASGCA, who worked for Matthews between 1986-96, said: “Jerry was a minimalist. He taught me to respect the natural environment and find great golf holes, versus creating them. “Some of my fondest memories of Jerry were at his fly-fishing cabin on a beautiful trout stream in northern Michigan. My best memory is sitting around the campfire with Jerry, Bruce Matthews III and Ron Whitten from Golf Digest, talking about great golf holes from around the US. He was a great guy and a lot of fun to be around.” ASGCA Past President Jerry Matthews (1934–2022) Albanese and Matthews (centre) at Saskatoon GC in Michigan, one of Matthews' last projects Photo: Carter Sherline
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