June 16 & 17, 2012

Every year, over 900 teams ascend upon Ludington to compete at Stearns Park, with thousands more in spectators. The popularity of the Ludington Gus Macker is location—-basketball hoops are set up along Lakeshore Drive and Stearns Outer Drive, with Lake Michigan just steps away. The view, the cool breezes, and the expansive beach provide the perfect setting for the heated competition.

The tournament was born back in 1974 in Lowell, Michigan. Scott McNeal (alias Gus Macker) got together with 18 friends and $18 to play a friendly 3-on-3 basketball game in his parent's driveway. The tournament continued to grow, and due to the tremendous interest from outside communities, it took to the road and moved its home base from Lowell to Belding in 1987. Today, Macker is played in outdoor and indoor courts in over 75 cities throughout the country, drawing over 200,000 players and 1.7 million spectators. But even with this growth, it continues to feel like a "hometown" game. The Gus Macker tournament is always a wholesome activity for all ages and talent levels.

Ludington has hosted the Gus Macker tournament for the past 20 years, and in that time, over $300,000 has been returned to the area's schools to purchase uniforms and equipment. These teams donate their time in setting up hoops, fences, and cleaning up. In order to make the tournament run smoothly, nearly 400 other volunteers are needed, from checking-in participants to being a Gus Buster.