05/27/2026
Happy Birthday to Mike… The Maverick, The Legend!
What made Mike so special went far beyond golf course architecture.
He had a deep love for animals, nature, adventure, and art. You still feel it woven into Tot Hill Farm. Mike would ride the property on horseback while shaping the course, taking in the land the way an artist studies a blank canvas.
Many longtime fans will remember Happy Dog always nearby during the construction of Tot Hill Farm, and of course Little Man — the horse that became the mascot of Tot Hill Farm. Mike and his partner Forrest Fezler rescued Little Man, and the story goes they didn’t even realize he was white until they finally gave him a bath!
That was Mike. Creative, adventurous, compassionate, and completely original. He didn’t just sketch golf holes. He sketched experiences. He even designed the beautiful Tot Hill Farm logo you see today.
Anyone who knew Strantz was positively impacted by him in one way or another and that impact continues on today as golfers discover his courses.
Happy Birthday to one of golf’s true originals.