Whitmore Lake Golf Links

$31 (cart included), played on Tuesday, May 0201 at 1:30 PM

The Whitmore Lake Golf Links was designed by William Newcomb in 1994 on 254 of marsh/wooded acreage. This make for a interesting golf experience of Front 9 Links and Back 9 tree lined fairways. With the four (4) tees your choice’s range from Blacks at 6,257/69.7/132 down to Yellows at 4,185/64.0/101 on this Par 35/36 layout. Though on the shorter side of yardage, it makes up for it on narrow landing areas at the more aggressive driving distances. Although the well manicured green depths average around 30’-35’ and being raised, are ready to reject those errant shots. That Front 9 is your basic Links design with marsh, heather and water appearing on six (6) of the holes. The #1 Par 5 at 484yds gives you a nice warmup with water on both sides, so play safe. The #2 is a 325yd Par 4 that has 130yd water carry off the tee box and narrows down at 200-230yds out. Number 3 is a Hcp 2 at 228yd Par 3 with three (3) traps protecting left front, missing right is better. The #4 is a narrow fairway 534yd Par 5 with scattered trees adding to the visual tightness. The #6 at 408yds will have you wondering, why are you playing from the Blacks/Tips. It takes 190yd carry to clear the pond and catch the fairway, so just swing and don’t think too much. Number 7 is a great 162yd Par 3 with a pond carry on right hand side, bailout on left side. The #9 Par 4 is a short at 315yds a drive carry between 190-220yds is OB, so choose wisely. The Back 9 #10 starts out with a friendly but straight away 374yd Par 4, enjoy the moment. Number 11 is 351yds of a narrow, sweeping right and tree lined fairway, don’t stray. The #13 Par 5 is the Hcp 1 that has you blind teeing off in cattails, in the middle of a marsh. You’ll need 180yds carry to touch land and 190yds to fairway, while hitting off a artificial grass mat. (Surprise!!). The #15 358yd Hcp 3 is a dogleg right that only allows a 240yd drive with the rest, all carry to green. Number 16 is similar layout only dogleg left with tee shot being a forced 180yd carry to fairway and 190yd to see green. Saving a tree lined, double dogleg 492yd Par 5 Hcp 5 hole for last is just...cruel. The green is well protected by six (6) sand traps from 100yds in, that I failed to respect (2 sand shots) for a double bogey. My son and I enjoyed the layout while he shot 81/34 putts, I had 84/35 putts on this short but challenging layout. The only mark against this course is the 1 mile dirt road to the parking lot and it rained last night, not good.