Michael J. Strantz,
50, passed away on Friday, June 10, 2005. He was at
home with his family.
Mike was born in Toledo,
Ohio on May 27, 1955 and grew up in Walbridge, Ohio. He
was a star athlete at Lake High School (Millbury, OH),
playing football and hockey, and he was captain of the
baseball team and senior class president.
Mike Strantz was best known as a successful golf course
designer, but close friends knew he was a devoted family
man, gourmet cook, gifted artist, music collector,
collegiate hockey player, and lover of cats, dogs, and
horses.
While his passion for designing and building golf
courses brought him acclaim, he was proudest of his
beautiful daughters, Dana and Andrea. He proudly
attended their school events; and he taught them how to
ride a horse, wash a dog, and be their own person. He
met his wife Heidi when they were college, and they were
married 26 years, life-long devoted partners and
friends.
Mike always loved golf. His dad, Jack Strantz, taught
him the sport when Mike was a youngster. At age 14, he
started working on the grounds crew at Chippewa Golf
Club (Curtis, OH). In the early hours of the morning,
Mike rode his bike to work -- he was too young to have a
driver’s license.
In
college, Mike started as a studio art major at Miami
University (OH), but after two years he transferred to
Michigan State and received his degree in turf grass
management.
While working on the grounds crew for the 1978 U.S. Open
at Inverness Club (Toledo, OH), Mike was tapped by Tom
Fazio to work on his golf course construction crew in
Hilton Head, SC, operating heavy equipment as a “shaper”
of tees, fairways, and greens.
Over time, Mike rose to project supervisor, but living
on the road took its toll, and after eight years he
tipped his hat good bye to golf course construction. For
him, it had been a great experience working with Tom
Fazio, but he was ready to take a break and return to
his artist roots.
However, the golf industry did not forget his talent.
In 1993, Mike was asked to design a small golf course on
Pawley’s Island, SC. Caledonia Golf and Fish Club was a
success, and Mike knew he had found the perfect job.
Nine golf courses show his talent for design and have
his name: Caledonia Golf and Fish Club (SC), True Blue
(SC), Bulls Bay (SC), Tobacco Road (NC), Tot Hill Farm
(NC), Royal New Kent (VA), Stonehouse (VA), Silver Creek
Valley (CA), and Monterey Peninsula Country Club - Shore
Course (CA).
Forrest Fezler, a good friend and golf professional, was
Mike’s project supervisor on more than half the
courses. With the help of Forrest and talented
crewmembers, Jeff and Mike Jones, many courses have
received awards and are known all over the world.
Little known, though, is that Mike could operate every
piece of equipment on the construction site with
expertise and experience. He always knew the name of
every person who worked on his golf courses and any
family concerns. In fact, Mike had a fondness for the
“little guy,” whether it was a laborer or a grocery
clerk. He respected hard work and honesty above status
or money.
Mike was a quiet man with strong spiritual beliefs. He
designed the stained glass cross in the new sanctuary of
Sunrise Presbyterian Church, Sullivan’s Island (SC)
after Hurricane Hugo destroyed the church in 1989.
He
will be missed by his wife Heidi, daughters Dana and
Andrea, parents Jack and Jan Strantz of Perrysburg, OH,
and sister Kelly Baugh of Indianapolis. Other family
members are Barbara Walker of Sylvania, OH, Dave Walker
(Karin) of Sylvania, OH, Greg Walker (Harriett) of Goose
Creek, SC, Laura Bierer (Rob), Raleigh, NC, and David
Baugh of Indianapolis. He was fortunate to have loving
nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents,
and hundreds of friends during his lifetime.
A
visitation will be held Monday, June 13th from 5:00 PM -
8:00 PM at McAlister-Smith Funeral Home,
1520 Rifle Range Road, Mt. Pleasant, SC. Services
will be held Tuesday, June 14th at 2:00PM at Sunrise Presbyterian Church, 3222 Middle
St., Sullivan’s Island, SC.
The
family would like to send a special thank you to the
devoted staff at the Hollings Cancer Center at the
Medical University of South Carolina, and the loving
employees of Charleston Hospice. In lieu of flowers,
donations may be sent in memory of Michael Strantz, Head
and Neck Cancer Research Fund, Dept. of Otolaryngology,
P.O. Box 250550, Charleston, SC 29425 or Hospice of
Charleston, 3870 Leeds Ave, Suite 101, N. Charleston, SC
29405.
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