As Drew Coble reflects on the first 24 years of his life, golf has been a primary aspect of it, over and over again. After all, he’s been golfing ever since he was a child.
During the last two decades, his passion for the game has continuously increased, leading him to play on Grand Valley State University’s golf team. While there, he was named a First-Team All-American, as well as the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Player of the Year for two straight years.
Since graduating from Grand Valley, Drew has remained just as passionate about the sport. In addition to competing in several amateur events, on June 16 and 17, he participated in one of the world’s most prestigious amateur tournaments, The Amateur Championship (also known as the British Amateur).
Although he missed the cut with rounds of 73 and 70, he left England’s Royal Cinque Ports and Royal St. George’s with much to be proud of. But no one was prouder than his father, Jeff Coble, PGA, director of golf at Oakland’s Twin Lakes Golf & Swim Club.
“It’s been awesome to have a child that has an affinity for the game and loves it as much as [I] did,” Jeff Coble says. “I’m really proud of him. He played really well.”
Due to his father’s career in golf, which includes nearly 20 years of employment at Twin Lakes, Drew Coble was well-prepared for his current aspirations. He’s not only interested in becoming a college golf coach, but he’d also like to play in more high-level amateur events. For example, he’ll be competing in the North & South Men’s Amateur Championship and the Trans-Mississippi Amateur Championship this summer as well.
“He definitely helped me when I was growing up a lot,” Drew Coble says. “I was able to [then] take the next step up to propel me into this spot that I am today.”
Twin Lakes Hosts Rocket Mortgage Classic Pre-Qualifier
Much like Drew Coble, Matt Cottone was heavily influenced by his father, too. As the director of operations and owner of Twin Lakes, he has been involved at the course since 1994.
A 14-year-old at the time, he looked up to his father Sam — Twin Lakes’ founder — considerably. Over 30 years later, his father continues to significantly influence Cottone’s life and career.
“He just turned 85, [and] is a wealth of knowledge,” Cottone says. “He’s had a profound effect on me and the person that I have become as a leader.”
Cottone’s father was particularly excited when he learned that Twin Lakes would be hosting the Rocket Mortgage Classic Pre-Qualifier for the second consecutive year. Held on June 19, the Pre-Qualifier features 90 participants, along with dozens of attendees. In fact, attendees view the action completely free of charge.
Aside from positively impacting Twin Lakes, especially from a marketing standpoint, the Pre-Qualifier is also beneficial for Oakland Township, along with adjacent suburbs. In addition to staying at nearby hotels, attendees and participants likely eat at local restaurants and shop in downtown Rochester.
“[My father] loves reading about Twin Lakes,” Cottone adds. “[It] makes him very happy.”
And for good reason. Aside from hosting the Pre-Qualifier for the annual PGA Tour event (held at Detroit Country Club since 2019), Twin Lakes is expanding its kiddie pool as well. Furthermore, the club is creating a new building, which will have its own kitchen. The new building’s location — where the club’s tennis courts used to be — will influence the local area substantially.
“The impact [it] will have in the surrounding community will be unmatchable,” Cottone says.
While contemplating the last two years, he is especially excited to see “the fruits of [his father’s] labors actually paying off.”
“He’s very proud of Twin Lakes,” Cottone concludes.
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