Old Channel Trail Golf Course
Welcomes Fourth Generation at the Management Tee

Montague, Michigan – Old Channel Trail Golf Course announces new management for 2004 season. Willliam Leeke, 34, moves into a key management role and carries on a family tradition at this 77-year-old course in Western Michigan. His mother, Meriam Bailey Leeke, has owned and operated the facility, which was built by her grandfather, for more than 30 years.

When William ‘Bill’ Leeke’s great-grandfather, H.O. Bailey, founded Old Channel Trail Golf Course in 1927, he worked with a young golf course architect named Robert Bruce Harris, a team of horses and a lot of elbow grease. When Bill returns to his hometown of Montague to assume management of the course, the elbow grease is about the only thing that he will have in common with the founders from 77-years ago.

“It’s still a business where it pays to get your hands dirty.” Leeke says, “Of course, now we have modern irrigation, soil testing technology, satellite weather predictions, lots of advantages. And,” he laughed, “it’s a much more complicated business than it was back then. Now even the tee times are done with computers, instead of just a guy in the starter shed with paper and pencil. We run 27 holes of golf, three practice holes, a driving range, and have hundreds of events and outings. It would be impossible without looking for ways to make it all work more efficiently.”

From its inception, Old Channel Trail Golf Course has been a hard-working course and a local favorite due to its challenging but fair 27-hole course structure and its Lake Michigan-side location.

“In the summer, when it’s hotter than anything in town, we have a lovely breeze,” says Meriam Leeke, co-owner and Bill’s mother. “The lake effect keeps us nice and comfortable. We’re also on a little outlet of land that keeps inclement weather away, too. It can be raining in town and we’re all sunshine, here!”

Meriam Bailey Leeke, a champion golfer during her pre-Title IX college days at Northwestern University, took over management of the course in the 1960s with her husband, Lyle, Bill’s father. The family ran the business together until Lyle’s death in 1990. Meriam carried on and hired outside management help while Bill followed in his mother’s footsteps, playing golf and attending Northwestern. He studied economics, graduated, married, and moved to Chicago, working in computer networking and ultimately founding his own computer consulting practice, Bailey Communications Group.

Last fall, Meriam, Bill and his wife, Heather, came to the conclusion that it was a great time to make the transition to generation number four. But don’t think that Meriam is planning on taking it too easy. She plans on doing more traveling, and as a senior member of the Curtis Cup Team, looks forward to a summer trip to England for reunion match play.

Meriam’s daughter-in-law, Heather, assumes marketing and communications responsibilities. “I wouldn’t count on her (Meriam) to slow down much at all,” the Heather says. “Between her love of travel and her terrific golf game. But we’re lucky to have her experience – on course and in business – to guide us.”

Old Channel Trail Golf Course is a 27 hole facility featuring the Woods, Meadow, and Valley Nines, with a pro shop, driving range, three practice holes and a picnic area on the majestic bluffs above Lake Michigan. Located just 6 miles off of US 31, Old Channel Trail Golf Course was founded in 1926 and offers professional instruction, outings, events and more. More information about the course and its facilities can be found at www.OCTGOLF.com .

To arrange to interview William or Meriam Leeke or to request digital or camera-ready photographs, please contact Heather Leeke at (231) 894-5076 or email heather@octgolf.com .

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