Grand Haven Mens Golf Assoc.

Gene Holland has been selected as our newest “Spotlight Golfer”.  Gene has been a stalwart MGA participant and Board member, and designated joke teller.  He’s helped to create an easy, social relationship within the membership and is a deserving recipient of this recognition.

Gene began his golfing career at Pine Hills CC in Manorville, NY, where he won numerous (some) tournaments. His handicap went from a lot to a 10, and when he moved to Palm Coast, was 11 - not too terrible for a 65 year old guy.  He has had many interesting golfing experiences. On one trip to Myrtle Beach with 7 others, his best buddy, who had a propensity for breaking clubs, broke his entire set of Ping Clubs and threw them in some bushes.  Gene retrieved the bits and pieces and hid them under the front seat of his friend’s car.  The friend found the pieces and shipped them to Gene.  With typical Gene humor, he very carefully wrapped each shaft and club head, and sent them back to his club-breaking friend for Christmas - he was shocked to get them back.

Gene was born a very long time ago in Bay Shore, NY, and graduated from Blair Academy in Blairstown, NJ, where his football and wrestling accomplishments were good enough for him to get an athletic scholarship to the University of Delaware.   In his sophomore year, he was awarded the Outstanding Wrestler Award.  Unfortunately, both his athletic and academic pursuits were abruptly interrupted when he received a letter from Uncle Sam saying, in great big letters “GREETINGS.  You have been selected……” - you know the rest.  After training he served in the Army of Occupation in Germany.

Upon separation from service, he went into the insurance business where he concentrated efforts in commercial and public school insurance, acting as both an insurance agent and consultant. He gave many lectures to groups of insurance agents and brokers on the how to’s of school and auto dealers insurance. After 20 years, he sold the business and did many other things, many of which were legal.  As a general contractor, he built a number of high-end custom homes, did mortgage brokerage, owned and operated a motel and at age 45, he retired.  After a divorce, he moved his 36-foot sport fishing boat to Hampton Bays, NY, and entered the charter fishing business.  The movie Jaws had just come out and everyone wanted to go shark fishing.  He tired of this and then restricted his chartering to tuna fishing. This involved trips to “The Canyon” 100 plus miles from shore.  The business developed rapidly as he was the only charter captain anywhere to offer a guarantee: “No fish…..No pay”. He never had to pay off on that guarantee and he stated that if there were no fish to be caught, he would still be out there trying.  But after 14 years of chartering, he decided that enough was enough, sold his boat and devoted his time and energy to golf.

Upon Dawn’s retirement, the Holland’s purchased a house in PC where they lived for 6 years, and then moved to The Crossings at Grand Haven. He has developed many good friends both at The Crossings and across Colbert Lane in the real Grand Haven.  Gene moved here because he loved the golf course - he has won the Presidents Cup Tournament at Grand Haven and has had a hole-in-one on the third hole at Matanzas.

Gene and Dawn have been together for 31 years (she must be a saint!).  Gene has a son in California, a daughter in New Hampshire and four grandchildren.  Dawn has 3 children and 10….that’s right, ten grandchildren.  He refers to them as “the little darlings”.  There are so many of them that when they are in his presence he makes them wear nametags so he can tell them apart.  He says his life has been great and if he could, he would not change any part of it.

CONGRATULATIONS GENE!!!