Long road trips can spark periods of reflection. Ferris State University Golf coach Sam Stark used a return trip from Ohio to consider how to dress up the course for the men’s programs’ B&R Investments Bulldog Fall Classic. 

“It was a random situation. We had competed in a tournament in Findlay, Ohio,” Stark said. “There were tee markers the University of Findlay program had turned out, with the aid of 3-D printers on their campus. As an alumnus of Ferris’ Education program, I was not real familiar with our College of Engineering Technology.” 

That familiarity changed. 

“Some questions got me lined up with Ferris’ MakerSpace, and assistance from Product Design Engineering Technology assistant professor and program coordinator Luke Hedman,” Stark said. 

The tee markers were created and placed as the Bulldog men’s golf squad topped a 16-team field with a four-under-par third round, winning its invitational 16 strokes better than Wayne State. Stark expressed his appreciation for the supportive sponsors and the amenity of campus-created tee markers. 

“Brandi Brooks, owner of B&R Investments, has a real affinity for golf and is excited by any opportunity to collaborate and promote our program,” Stark said. “The tee markers are very nice, and we heard many compliments about them from other teams in the field.” 

Stark said a critical element of the markers is their sustainable design. 

“The centerpieces are interchangeable so that we can have proper years placed on a ring, or if sponsor adjustments come about, those can be addressed,” Stark said. “We are so pleased that these can be kept fresh, with Product Design Engineering Technology students allowed to put their creativity to the test by assisting us.” 

Stark said Hedman and his students responded quickly, but in years to come, he hopes to be more forward about generating the next marker for the event, generally held early in an academic year. 

“There was a tight timeline based on our discovery and request for 2023,” Stark said. “In the future, we want to build on this general concept and continue a great collaboration. It really shows off the excellence of Ferris State to visitors beyond our state and region.”