Aspire North REALTORS® Annual Golf Outing Brings Members Together for a Day of Networking, Competition & Community

08.05.2026

By Heather Sauer

The Aspire North REALTORS® Annual Golf Outing at Grand Traverse Resort & Spa was another tremendous success, bringing together REALTORS®, affiliate members, sponsors, and community partners for a day filled with friendly competition, networking, and fun on the course.

From the morning coffee to the final awards presentation, the event showcased the incredible partnerships that make our association so strong. We are grateful to every golfer, volunteer, sponsor, and donor who helped make this year's outing one to remember.

Congratulations to Our Tournament Winners!

1st Place Team

Dennis Riedel, Tim Frankhouse, Sam Flamont & Trent Sims

With an incredible 14-under-par (58), this team captured first place honors. Along with their championship trophies, they received two rounds of golf with cart courtesy of Elk Rapids Golf Club.

2nd Place Team

TJ Shimek, Todd Jarrold, Matt Hodges & Christina Shimek

Our second-place finishers earned tournament trophies and four rounds of golf with cart at Grand Traverse Resort & Spa.

3rd Place Team

Adrion Meli, JJ Chouinard, Ben Phillips & Blake Burns

Finishing in third place, the team received trophies and two rounds of golf with cart courtesy of The Crown Golf & Country Club.

Skills Competition Winners

Our individual contests added even more excitement throughout the course. Congratulations to all of our winners!

Women's Longest Putt (Hole #2): Jennifer Edson-Rife — Trophy & $50 Amical Gift Certificate
Men's Longest Putt (Hole #11): Alan Jeffries — Trophy & $50 Amical Gift Certificate
Women's Closest to the Pin (Hole #14): Julia Lilley — Trophy & $50 Amical Gift Certificate
Men's Closest to the Pin (Hole #5): Kyle O'Grady — Trophy & $50 Amical Gift Certificate
Men's Longest Drive (Hole #7): Tim Frankhouse — Trophy & One Round of Golf with Cart at Grand Traverse Resort & Spa
Women's Longest Drive (Hole #18): Lauren Tucker — Trophy & Left Foot Charley Barrel Room Experience

Congratulations to each of our winners for some outstanding shots throughout the day!

Thank You to Our Sponsors

Events like this would not be possible without the generous support of our sponsors. Their continued investment in Aspire North REALTORS® helps strengthen our membership and build meaningful connections throughout Northern Michigan.

Event Sponsors

Lunch Sponsors

Lighthouse Title Group
RE/MAX Bayshore

Breakfast & Coffee Sponsor

State Savings Bank

Beverage Sponsor

Five Lakes Lending

Photo & Video Sponsor

Next Door Photos Northern Michigan

Golf Cart Sponsor

BlueLaVaMedia

Happy Hour Sponsor

John Adams Mortgage

On-Course Keg Sponsor

Independent Bank

On-Course Cigar Sponsor

Titleocity

Hole-In-One Sponsor

One Trust Home Loans

Grand Prize Sponsor

Traverse Realty & Development / Alta Vista

Premium Hole Sponsors

RPAC Committee
Summit Point Roofing
FS Roofing
Lake States Title Northwest – ATA
Susan Rauser State Farm
Morse Moving & Storage

Basic Hole Sponsors

Fresh Trippin
Traverse Repro & Supply / Copy Central
Arch Mortgage CrossCountry North
TBA Credit Union
Century 21 Northland
Cherry Capital Airport

We sincerely appreciate every sponsor who invested in this event and our members.

Thank You to Our Prize Donors

Our prize drawings were made possible through the generosity of many outstanding local businesses and community partners.

Special thanks to:

Rippin Drag Charters
Fresh Trippin
Aspire North REALTORS® CEO
Short's Brewing Company
Golden Fowler Home Furnishings
Left Foot Charley
Mercantile Bank
Mundo's Coffee
Nolan's Cigar Bar
State Savings Bank
Mid-American Title
Women's Council of REALTORS®
The Crown Golf & Country Club
Art's Tavern
A-Ga-Ming Golf Resort
Amical
Bay Meadows Family Golf Course
Central Coast Angling LLC
Chef's Inn
Elk Rapids Golf Club
Grand Traverse Resort & Spa
Nauti-Cat
Paesano's Pizza
Silver Spruce Brewing Company
TC Golf & Performance Center

Your generosity helped create an unforgettable experience for our participants.

Building Relationships Beyond the Office

The Aspire North REALTORS® Annual Golf Outing is about much more than golf. It is an opportunity for REALTORS®, affiliate members, and business partners to strengthen relationships, celebrate our industry, and support the association that serves our members throughout Northern Michigan.

Thank you to everyone who participated, sponsored, volunteered, and donated. Your support continues to make this one of our most anticipated events of the year.

We look forward to seeing everyone back on the course next year!

Heather Sauer

Heather Sauer is the Human Resource Manager for Aspire North Realtors, bringing a strong background in human resources, leadership, and business strategy. She began her career in retail management while earning her Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Northwood University, later transitioning into human resources at Target, where she served as an Executive Team Leader of Human Resources. During this time, she earned her MBA from the Northwood University DeVos Graduate School.

After relocating to Traverse City, Michigan, Heather continued her HR career with a Professional Employer Organization (PEO), managing more than 30 client accounts and partnering closely with leadership teams on employee relations, compliance, and organizational development. In the fall of 2023, she expanded her professional experience into business development and entrepreneurship.

In addition to her role at Aspire North Realtors, Heather is also an independent travel agent, helping individuals, families, and groups plan seamless, memorable travel experiences. Her passion for service, organization, and relationship-building carries through both her HR and travel work.