Michael Patrick’s Musings

Golf Professional Dick Stewart called my radio show during his visit to Augusta National golf club Friday morning.

Stewart, 56, has lorded over his “Olde Golf Shoppe,” a true emporium, at KCC for 31 years. Kalamazoo members, and those who browse his shop, have long known he is a true “Sultan of Style.” But last year, the Professional Golfer’s Association of America, an organization with over 30,000 members, named Stewart “Private Club Merchandiser of the Year.”

His tastefully plush shelves and style standards have made his shop Kalamazoo’s premier men’s specialty store of choice.

“I grew up in Harbor Springs, which has a distinct resort tradition and preppy style. Heck, I was wearing Bass & Weejun shoes with no socks when I was 13-years old,” Stewart says, strolling between an aisle of linen slacks and silk shirts. “Then I worked at a clothing store called ‘The Bagpiper’ in East Grand Rapids while I attended Aquinas College. Since then, I have made it my business to observe the best manufacturers, the best stores in the big cities and resorts. It is really not that hard to recognize great quality and great style.”

Michael Kernicki, a past Michigan PGA President who was general manager at Wushowhan Players Club, in Holland, before becoming head professional at Indian Creek Country Club, in Miami, has known Stewart for 35 years.

“Dick was the new freshman recruited for the golf team at Aquinas. I was walking alone to class on a drizzly day under a huge golf umbrella that Dick said could have held a bevy of women,” says Kernicki. “But Dick approached me, and we were both in khaki’s, crew neck sweaters, and wearing black and white saddle shoes, so we were obviously like-minded golfer-types.”

After stints at Lakewood Shores Golf Club in Oscoda and Saginaw’s Bay Valley Golf Club, Stewart upgraded to splitting his time between two very up-market clubs: he summered at Birchwood Farms Golf Club in Harbor Springs and passed each winter away at the ultra-exclusive Jupiter Hills Club in South Florida, where the alligators weren’t only seen on golf shirts.

Of course, there are some who snicker at “golf fashion.” The term conjures up horrifically plaid pants, cardboard collars, garish, plaid knickers and white belts.

“Probably the lowest point of fashion in my lifetime was the polyester leisure suit with platform shoes – never owned by me, by the way,” Stewart insists, squinting through his round spectacles. “The height of golf fashion, in my mind, is a cashmere sweater and khaki pants with shoes slipped on – no socks. We stock cashmere in 28 colors for men and women. Does it cost more than cotton? Yes, but does anything feel better than cashmere? Who doesn’t feel better with cashmere on?”

Stewart sings the praises of the Peter Millar line, just purchased by the Sea Island Company, because they’ve created what’s known as a “lifestyle line.” It’s a style that’s timeless – only the colors change. The ‘hot colors’ could be black and brown one year and pink and green the next, but trust me, they’ll be called any color except for what they really are: blue or any version of it might be called ’sky’ or ‘waterfall,’ or ‘glacier.’ ‘Lilac’ for purple, ‘lime,’ or ‘cobalt.’ You name it – I’ve got it.”

Stewart says men tend to pick more conservative colors.

“But their wives will nudge them ‘out of the box’ and pick brighter colors for them and the man always end up getting a lot of compliments. It takes a confident guy to wear pink!”

Kalamazoo Country Club was founded in 1909, and Stewart is careful to add touches of yesteryear to the presentations in his shop, which makes for great browsing material and conversation. Dick, like his brother Tom Stewart, who operates a famous golf shop “Old Sport Golf Shop,” – now virtually a tourist attraction in Pinehurst , NC – has collected golf memorabilia for a long time.

“I have old, wooden-shafted clubs, books, pictures, and training aids,” says Stewart. “Some early, original Scotty Cameron putters and a picture signed by Bobby Jones have special meaning.”

Stewart also offers discounts, coupons and specials to lure customers to the shop throughout the year.

“It works at any coffee shop or dry cleaners, so why not?” he explains with a shrug.

Though the definition of “appropriate” golf apparel has certainly changed a great deal since Walter Hagen played in top hat and tails and the golden era greats regularly won tournaments in ties and tweed coats, certain tenants of fashion apply when on the golf course or off.

“I personally think people are more often underdressed for an occasion,” says Stewart. “If there is any doubt, khakis, gray flannels, cashmere and tweed sport coat works most of the time. That said, I guess I can understand why wearing a coat and tie at a luau or a tuxedo to a barn dance might be considered ‘overdressing.’”

Stewart has been the Michigan PGA “Private Merchandiser of the Year” four times; he served a term as President of the Michigan PGA; and was elected to the Kalamazoo Golf Hall of Fame in 1998. When the club threw a 25 ^th anniversary party for him, giants of the golf industry, including Arnold Palmer, paid their respects.

“Dick’s personality is gregarious and engaging – people like to be around him and in his shop,” says Kernicki. “He’s well-read, always looks at the light side of life, and enjoys poking fun at himself. A personality like Dick Stewart’s never goes out of style.”