Matt Morse knows how to recycle things. When he came across some refurbished golf course signage during a casual round in the late 90s, a light bulb flickered on. Soon after, he started his own business creating assorted products (like tee makers) from recycled milk jugs. 

So it’s no surprise to hear that when Morse moved some business to Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, a decade later, he bought what was left of a struggling Lac La Belle and made something of it. Using nearby found land, Morse, alongside his son Tyler, have restored both the architectural and historical significance of LLB through forward-looking design consultants and old-fashioned research. 

While initially looking into his new property’s origins, Morse discovered the club’s first head professional was none other than Alex Smith—a two-time U.S. Open champion who spent the majority of his career teaching in the U.S. after learning the game in Carnoustie. The pipeline didn’t stop there. He also discovered that Willie Anderson, a four-time U.S. Open winner who’s still the only person to win three straight (1903-1905), was giving lessons at Lac La Belle just three years prior to his historic run.

Soon, Morse was on the phone with Carnoustie’s historian, piecing together a long-lost connection between long-distance relatives. Today, Lac La Belle members enjoy privileges at their new sister course in Scotland whenever they happen to be across the pond. 

Oh, and that company Morse started in 1998? He called it Prestwick Golf Group. Is it all starting to make sense now?