(golf ball thuds) - My dad just didn't start golf till later in his life.

So I just happened to go to the golf course and ride in the cart, and then drive the cart, and then eventually started hitting golf balls, and then it just went from there.

- [Adam] That's how 2023 Michigan Golf Hall of Fame inductee, Doug LaBelle II remembers getting introduced to the game on the fairways and greens in Mount Pleasant.

- I think the Mount Pleasant Junior Golf was a key component of teaching all of us kids the game.

And there was lots of kids at the time, I mean, 300 plus that would sign up.

And Roy Gunderson ran it.

So we were out there with everybody else just trying to learn, that's kind of how things got started.

I always kind of felt at each level, I was like, "Okay, I've had success at each of these levels."

I kind of felt like I was pretty good till I went to the next level, and then realized maybe I wasn't as good as I thought I was.

But I think that only just instilled the determination to try to get better, to be able to compete at that level.

And then the whole sequence starts over again as you get to the next level, to high school, to college, to the professional level - [Adam] With a regular PGA Tour stop about 100 miles from Mount Pleasant, Doug could catch a glimpse of some of the premier players of the time.

And that experience fueled his imagination, and sparked a dream to one day join the touring pros.

- It was probably in that eight to 12 range that my dad had kind of taking me down to the PGA Tour event that was held at Warwick Hills in Grand Blanc, Michigan.

And I just remember just really following the players, just the whole setting, people watching these really great players.

I kind of felt like I'd like to do that.

And so that's kind of where the professional aspirations really kind of first were ignited.

- [Adam] After a successful high school career as a Mount Pleasant oiler, Doug challenged himself to become a more complete player.

The path he chose took him to the University of New Mexico, where he'd learned to navigate the whipping winds of the Southwest.

But as his college career was nearing completion, Doug wasn't sure he still wanted to pursue a career as a professional golfer, but a familiar location offered him a chance to reignite his passion.

- I think every golfer at times gets frustrated with how they're playing, because most of the time you're not succeeding, you're failing.

So how do you have the inner strength to forge ahead when you just kind of wanna give up?

In 1997, the summer before my senior year in college, I was burned out, I was ready to kind of like, "Yeah, this is it, I'm probably not gonna play professional golf."

And I was home during the summer before I go back to school, and I went down and tried to Monday qualify for the PGA event at Warwick Hills, and I qualified.

So here I am playing in the Buick Open in 1997, a tournament that I came to watch as a kid.

Kind of really reinvigorated my love for the game and the determination to wanna get there.

So I think that experience was placed in a very, very timely part of my life.

Because if that wasn't there, I may not have ever turned pro.

I don't know.

- [Adam] As a professional, Doug competed in some of golf's most prestigious events, including the US Open and the British Open, but a couple of other tournaments also stand out.

- It was 2006, and I had some seconds and some thirds and played well in some tournaments, but I just hadn't broke through to win.

And to kind of get your PGA Tour card, you really need to win.

This was the closest level to the PGA Tour, the biggest level that I've ever won on.

And I mean, what an awesome experience.

I mean, just, it was really special.

I mean, my dad and my brother flew down, and some of my dad's friends.

I think I was two shots back going in the final day, but played really well the last day to end up winning by two.

And then the 2012, here I am now married.

As a father, it was pretty emotional.

The sacrifice that my wife makes to kind of handle things at home while I'm on the road, I mean, it's just, it really does take a significant other that's willing to do that.

Kind of pre family and then family were the two wins, so much different.

- [Adam] In the realty business now, Doug still hits the links on late nights.

But on a brisk late October afternoon, former superintendent at Saginaw Country Club, Jerry Faubel, legendary player and coach, Jean Murray, and Doug LaBelle II were inducted into the Michigan Golf Hall of Fame.

- Just an honor to be included with those great players from Michigan.

I mean, Mount Pleasant Country Club, right here where we are right now, is where I grew up.

I mean, that's pretty special.

I mean, it means a lot, but by no way do what I expect to be there, it's really whether they, based on their criteria, whether they deem me to be in there.

And they did, so I'm grateful.

- And look who's joining me right now.

Doug, you have had quite the career on the links that's taken you to, really all corners of the world.

What an accomplishment.

And I wanna know, what kind of advice do you have for somebody who might be watching, dreaming of going pro in golf?

What would you tell them?

- Well, first of all, I would say they need to love the game.

You gotta love the game if you're gonna do something that much, that often.

But I mean, I'd say the key components of that is they have to be self-motivated, they gotta be disciplined.

I mean, you've gotta work hard, you've gotta have a thick skin, but you've gotta be willing to put the time in.

- Absolutely.

- But if you don't love the game, then it's gonna be difficult to do that on a regular basis.

Those are my probably key components that I would say to do that.

- [Stefanie] Got it.

Well, good advice, thanks for being here.

- [Doug] No, thank you for having me.