HORSE TALES
Golfers Take Horse, Buggy Transportation to the Greens
by Candice C. Dunnigan

The sporting life of Mackinac encompasses bicycling, sailing, tennis, riding, and golf. Soccer, softball, roller-blading, and hiking have their fans here, too. Yet, golfers and golfing have the largest number of seasonal and year-around participants. Mackinac has three beautiful, distinctive nineto 18-hole courses; however, to get to them, one must either go by foot, bicycle, or by horse and buggy. The latter is by far the easiest, and actually the correct term is "horses and buggy," for most equine transportation is served by a team (pair) of horses on the Island.

The oldest and most historic of the three is Wawashkamo Golf Club, and it is also open to the public. Wawashkamo is situated in the center of the Island. The fare costs $6.75 for the taxi (with a minimum of three, or $20.25 for one). Taxis will get you there with your clubs from the heart of town for that rate. The taxi ride is a carriage tour itself as the ride climbs the treelined steep hills and bluffs, goes past the residential "village" of Harrisonville, and takes you on to British Landing Road, past the open access fields of the Mackinac Island Airport, to the club. The shady entrance is a handy turn-around for the taxi. The friendly crew at Wawashkamo often can be found giving the horses an extra drink of water out of a bucket, or a sweet treat after they unload you and your clubs.

John Thompson urges his team, Doug and Roy, past Grand Hotel's Grand Nine golf course. The carriage takes golfers from there to the Woods Nine at Stonecliffe.

Grand Hotel operates two separate courses linked by horse and wagon transport. These are the Jewel (right across from the hotel) on Cadotte Avenue, and the Woods, located in the western interior woodlands of the Island, hence the name. The courses are open seven days a week. The Jewel opens bright and early with a 7:30 a.m. tee off. The Woods opens by 9 a.m.

But this story is really about a way of "going to golf," which is unlike another, before one even puts on their golf shoes. When I think of it, John Thompson summed it up best to me the other day. He said, "There is no other place like this in the world for golfers to play golf." I think he is very close to being correct, and Mr. Thompson, of all people, should know.

John Thompson is a familiar face on Mackinac. He has been driving horses here since 1947, which is before Mackinac Island Carriage Tours actually incorporated. Born and raised in the Upper Peninsula, Mr. Thompson came to Mackinac when he was 17 years old. He farmed, cut hay, skidded logs, and worked with his family and friends, all with horsepower. On Mackinac, Mr. Thompson has done a variety of driving jobs and has had scores of teams of horses over the decades. He knows a lot, has seen a lot of life on the Island, and has handled many a horse.

Every morning Mr. Thompson leaves his "summer place," the Lennox on Market Street, home for many of the carriage drivers. He heads to the old Chambers barn at the corner of Market and Cadotte to start his day. He actually looks forward to seeing everyone, especially Doug and Roy. Those two guys happen to be two amiable gray Percheron geldings. They've been working in partnership with Mr. Thompson for four years. He is responsible for grooming the pair and helps hitch them to his natty wagon. Grand Hotel golf shuttles are modified small taxis that can hold eight people, festooned in wide bright yellow and white striped upholstery, side curtains, and top. The carriage body is a deep green. The shuttle coordinates very well with the flavor and feel of the hotel's green and deep yellow painted Golf Shop and the bright cheery red of the nearby Jockey Club.

When I arrived early one morning, the sun was out, the grass full of dew, and the colors of the planted ageratums near the Pro Shop matched the sky. Mr. Thompson, Doug, and Roy also seemed to sparkle with light and color as they trotted up the road. They all knew their day was beginning. Reaching the entry way to the shop, the horses instinctively surmised they were to wait for early golfers who wanted to head out and play at the Woods. While the clubs were loaded by hotel staff onto the special racks fashioned to hold golf clubs. Mr. Thompson beamed a broad smile as a steaming hot cup of coffee was handed to him by a staffer.

He has been driving the golf shuttle route for 11 years - with whiffle balls on his whip! Many people have passed by Mr. Thompson on his job, and some have asked me about this. Each ball signifies another golf shuttle season for him. The lightweight white balls are held and fastened by golfing tees all in different colors. Each year, before Mr. Thompson leaves for the winter, his whip is put in a special place in the Carriage Tours barn for safekeeping.

Mr. Thompson is assisted by two other sets of teams and handlers to smooth out wait time and logistics for golfers. This year his assistants happen to both be women from Russia, Irena and Regina. They will stay into September, possibly October, for the Jewel to the Woods route. The Woods will be the first of the Grand's courses to close. Both the Jewel and Wawashkamo will be open through the final days of October.

Regina and Irena will leave in the fall, followed by John, Doug, and Roy. The horses, which are owned by Carriage Tours, will return to Pickford. Actually they're not too far from Mr. Thompson and his winter home. We hope to welcome them back in May, 2007. In the meantime, enjoy your Labor Day!

Candice Dunnigan is an active member of the American Equestrian Association, the Waterloo Hunt, and the Mackinac Horsemen's Association. Seasonally she resides at Easterly Cottage.