Grant Haefner

The dream of every golfer is to one day play pro golf's U.S. Open. For Bloomfield Hill's Grant Haefner, the dream was realized this year, when he qualified for the U.S. Open in June at Oakmont Country Club in Oakmont, Pennsylvania.

“It's the first time I've played in the U.S. Open or a PGA-sanctioned event,” Haefner, 27, said. “It felt like a dream I didn't want to wake up from.”

Haefner played the first two days of the Open, but unfortunately didn't make the final cut for the final two days,ending up with a plus-18. Yet no one can ever take the experience away from him.

Haefner grew up attending Bloomfield Hills Schools and Orchard Lake Country Club, where his father played golf, “but he didn't force it on my sister and I. I had more success in soccer and tennis.”

An injury at 14 which meant no more contact sports led to him taking golf lessons, and “I barely made the varsity team my junior year” at Bloomfield Hills High School. Clearly a model of perseverance, Haefner played every match and ended up in the number one position.

“I call myself a late bloomer – or others do – so I missed the college recruiting process,” he recalled, and decided to attend Wayne State University, “where I begged my way on to the golf team.” With COVID, he played for five years, then attended Jacksonville University for his MBA. “I got an extra year of eligibility and took it down to Jacksonville, and I found myself playing against some really talented, notable players. They were fun players and it was fun to test my game against.

“The dream wasn't to be a pro golfer,” Haefner said. “I was fortunate to have a lot of individuals tell me I had put too much effort in to not test out the pro circuit...I found myself turning pro.”

His career as a working golf circuit pro began in the fall of 2022, and it is not all glamour, he emphasized. He noted it takes about $100,000 a year in equipment, nutrition, entry fees, playing time and costs for mini tours – with the goal to win back the cost of the entry fees, an opportunity to test his game and improve, noting that he's won some of the Korn Ferry Tournaments he's played. Two were qualifiers which allowed him to play in the U.S. Open.

He had the support of quite a few Orchard Lake Country Club and Wayne State University friends and colleagues at the U.S. Open.

“I don't know if it's hit yet. I've never been in an environment like this before,” he reflected, noting it was the test of his life so far.

“If you're going to make it in this game you have to dedicate every minute to it,” Haefner explained.

His home club in Michigan is Orchard Lake Country Club, “and through the club and the people there, I have gotten enough sponsorship opportunities that allows me to not worry about the costs,” he said, with John E. Green Co. his primary sponsor.

After the U.S. Open, Haefner is next trying to qualify for the Canadian golf tour, which would help him gain status. He said he's currently sitting at a tie for 22nd – which would gain status.

“I've never had status before. I hope to play golf in Canada all summer,” he said. “I look forward to continuing playing this game.”

Story: Lisa Brody

Photo: Laurie Tennent