Stonebridge Golf Club Honored as 'Best of the Best' By Saline Chamber

The public golf club with a country club feel was honored as being the best of the best Saline businesses Thursday night.

Stonebridge Golf Club, located at 1825 Clubhouse Drive in Pittsfield Township, was named Business Enterprise Award winner by the Saline Area Chamber of Commerce in the 20-employee and under category. Iott Insurance won in the 21-employees and over category.

Stonebridge owners Doug Mervis and Jim Roland were honored by U.S. Rep. Tim Walberg, State. Rep. Mark Ouimet and Saline Mayor Gretchen Driskell at Thursday night’s banquet, held at Stonebridge.

Driskell listed many of the ways Stonebridge has given back to the community, including use of the course for the annual chamber golf outing, hosting the annual awards night, and taking leadership roles in community organizations such as the chamber of Commerce.

“It’s a great privilege to have the opportunity to thank and recognize Stonebridge Golf Club for all they’ve given back to the community,” Driskell said before presenting Mervis and Roland with a resolution from the city and chamber of commerce.

Ouimet said he still finds the golf course challenging, but said Stonebridge is about a lot more than golf.

“It’s a focal point for a community. Time and again, your organization steps forward to help others be successful, like the schools or the chamber and all the charities that have events here,” Ouimet said before presenting a resolution that was read into the state record. “And that’s what separates you from the others. It was a privilege and honor to have this tribute read into the records on the house floor.”

Walberg said the course provides much to the community in terms of recreational opportunities and a place for fellowship and friendship. Walberg keyed in on one paragraph highlighted in a tribute he presented to Mervis and Roland.

“Over the years, Stonebridge has received a number of prestigious awards because of the quality of what it has to offer. More importantly, it is recognized for the support it gives the community by serving many Saline area organizations,” Walberg said.

Mervis was presented the Business Enterprise Award from Jill Durnen, owner of Hartman Insurance, a past winner of the award.

Mervice said the award was humbling and unexpected. He said Stonebridge owes a lot of its business to the Saline chamber.

“It’s the people of the chamber that have been so positive for our business. They really helped our business grow,” Mervis said.

He singled out the help of recently retired chamber director Larry Osterling.

“He helped us get the word out that we’re a public course. I could call him and bounce ideas off him or call him when I needed to find employees,” Mervis said, also thanking current director Art Trapp, special projects director Mary Alice Smith, and chamber volunteer Bill Mangold.

Mervis thanked the Stonebridge employees, general manager Rod Snyder, his parents, and his wife Kim, who he said is the brains behind the weddings and banquets held at the golf club.

Stonebridge Golf Club was designed in 1991 by world famous golf course architect Arthur Hills. In 2001 two old University of Michigan college friends and fraternity brothers, formed a partnership and purchased Stonebridge from the original owner and developer of the Stonebridge community. Jim Roland and Doug Mervis changed the model of the operation to a pure Public Golf Course that offers all of the amenities of a country club, without the monthly fees. Stonebridge is open to the public with an 18-hole championship golf course, a driving range, practice putting greens, full service bar & grille and a unique banquet facility seating up to 200 guests. The banquet room features breathtaking floor to ceiling windows overlooking the 18th hole, outdoor patio, covered tent and outdoor Tiki Bar. Stonebridge is a popular venue for outdoor wedding ceremonies and indoor receptions, golf outings, corporate events and fundraising parties.

Stonebridge has earned numerous awards, including: 

• Top 10 Public Golf Course Ranking in Southeast Michigan by the Detroit Free Press  & News
• Best Public Golf Course in Washtenaw County by AnnArbor.com
• Runner-Up Best Golf Course Detroit A List
• 2012 Pick: The Knot Best of Weddings, Reception Venue
• Channel 4 Detroit: 2012 Vote 4 the Best.  Voted  Runner up Golf Course in Detroit

To win a Business Enterprise Award, businesses must be a chamber member, have a substantial history as a successful business, contribute to the overall health of the Saline area, follows ethical and fair business practices.

Chamber board President Karen Ragland said she was happy to be honoring both Stonebridge Golf Club and Iott Insurance.

“I am really delighted with who we’re honoring tonight,” Ragland said. “I’ve worked with both businesses who we are honoring, so it’s a great pleasure.

The event was sponsored by Key Bank. Branch manager Christine Houk congratulated Stonebridge Golf Club and Iott Insurance.

“I’m proud to be part of a community a community that supports their businesses and where other businesses acknowledge and honor their peers for high standards of business,” Houk said.

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