Photo by Andy Hu on Unsplash.com

Gus Macker 3-on-3 Charity Basketball Tournament

June 14th-15th, 2025

Mancino's Pizza & Grinders

History of the Ludington Gus Macker

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.

2020 would have marked the 29th anniversary of Gus Macker in Ludington but, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the tournament had to be canceled. The tournament has also been cancelled for 2021 due to restrictions still in place.

Because of its longevity and beautiful location, the Ludington Gus Macker Committee and the Ludington & Scottville Chamber of Commerce were inducted into the Gus Macker Hall of Fame in 2018.

In 2023, the Chamber Alliance of Mason County announced that it would not be renewing it’s contract with Gus Macker. That fall, Dr. Andrew Riemer, owner of Riemer Eye Center and Stix Bar; and Chris Nicholas, owner of WMOM Radio; petitioned the Ludington City Council to allow them to take over the event. The Council approved and the group has been running the tournament since.

AJ's Party Port

Gus Macker Community Donations

In the 28 years of Macker in Ludington, 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.

Stay tuned for information on the 2025 Gus Macker!

For more information on the Gus Macker, please contact the event organizers:

Ludington Gus Macker  

(833) 448-7657

ludingtonmacker.com

What's going on now in Ludington?

Discover more to do in Ludington!

Scroll below for more articles about the Ludington area activities and attractions.
 

Experience the Activities and Attractions of Ludington!

Disc Golf Courses

Disc golf is a big deal here in the Ludington area, with up to 20,000 people per year visiting one of our six courses.

Ludington Skate Plaza

The Ludington Skate Plaza is a popular spot for kids with skateboards or in-line skates, and also draws spectators to Stearns Park.

Fishing

There are many places for anglers to try their luck, and Ludington has such a great variety of fish. The area also has great charter captains.

Beaches & Parks

Ludington has many beautiful beaches and parks to explore. Enjoy a day on the shores of Lake Michigan or take in the scenery at a local park.

Ludington Art Scene

Ludington is alive with an array of artistic events that take place throughout the year. There’s music, photography, art galleries, and more.