2026 GMGO Recap!

With a tip of the hat to my late sister Mazie, our Down Syndrome Sweetheart, who always assessed events with a hearty and generous 'BEST ONE EVER'!, we believe it perfectly captures this year's GreatMen Outing at Portland Country Club near Portland, MI: BEST ONE EVER! Best number of golfers, best number of hole sponsors, best amount of funds raised for this year's recipient, Cade Hamilton, best registration operation, best host golf course!

Registration began at 8:00 with a mixed weather forecast for the day. Rain greeted the early registrants, but by 9:00 it had cleared enough to breathe a sigh of relief. Dan's wife, Tabitha, and one of the Lyon brothers, Phil, handled registration this year, smoothly getting golfers signed in and to their carts, where they were greeted with a swag bag filled with a logo-embedded golf ball and ball marker. (Thanks to Mom Denise for getting all the swag together; she was relieved of food prep duty for the first time since our beginning, since PCC was providing the after-round meal!)

As the start time approached, MC Chris Lyon welcomed the 21 teams comprising 84 golfers ready to attack the newly renovated PCC course. Chris recapped the event's history: now in our 8th year and having donated over $20,000 to a variety of worthy causes. Chris introduced this year's recipient, Cade Hamilton, who was diagnosed with leukemia and is facing two years of recovery treatments. The crowd roared when Cade gave a big thumbs up and got the scramble started with a hearty "Let's Go!"

With high hopes, the teams raced off to their assigned holes, and the 2026 GMGO began, visions of 1st place dancing in their heads! This year’s first-place prize was a GPS golf cart speaker. 2nd place claimed ¼ Zip pullovers donated by Portland Country Club. Longest Drive and Closest to the Pin Men's & Women’s course contest winners were rewarded with a sleeve of GreatMen Logo Golf Balls and 18 holes w/cart of golf at PCC. Brothers Dan & Brenan were procurers of this year’s prizes. Brenan also designed this year's poster.

          After the first nine holes (the turn), everyone was rewarded with hot dogs (donated by Smith and Sons of Mt. Pleasant, brother Nathan’s in-laws), chips, and beverages (donated by brother Steve). All the Lyon Ladies donated two dozen cookies each, which sweetened the day for sure!

                The Lyon grandkids can be counted on to help as Vanessa, Kylee, Van, Nolan, and Macario took turns

driving around the course selling 50/50 tickets!

After the dust settled and most teams were in the clubhouse awaiting the results of the tournament, the contest winners, 50/50 recipient, and especially the delicious meal of glazed chicken, spicy pasta, and salad prepared by the kitchen staff of PCC, the winners were finally announced.

Course Contest Winners: Longest Drive and Closest to the Pin Men's & Women's winners were rewarded with a sleeve of GreatMen Logo Golf Balls and 18 holes with cart of golf at PCC.​

Final Thoughts: Another, and most important, reason for the name GreatMen is that we want to convey the true meaning of greatness as described by Jesus Christ. "It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant... Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends." True greatness in the things that matter is sacrifice and service! Together we raised $7,000 to help the Hamilton family with Cade's ongoing treatments.

Thanks everyone: golfers, donors, hole sponsors, Portland Country Club and Harvest Grill staff, friends, and especially family, for making the 2026 GreatMen Golf Outing the Best One Ever!