Bedford Valley Golf Course

Guest (cart included), played on Sunday, September 2021 at 12:00 AM

When golfers think of Augusta, their first thought in all likelihood is The Masters and Augusta National on a bright sunny day in April. I doubt it’s that small town in Michigan, midway between Battle Creek and Kalamazoo. But maybe it should be because Augusta, Michigan is home to one of the largest golf resorts in the country: Gull Lake View Golf Resort. There are 108 holes within a 12-mile radius of Augusta, Mich., and offers more holes than Bandon Dunes, PGA National, or Pebble Beach Resorts. It is among the five largest golf resorts in the country. Five of the six courses have been certified as Audubon Cooperative Sanctuaries since 1995.

Gull Lake View Golf Club and Resort has been owned and operated by the Scott family for over 50 years. Every day, four generations of Scotts go to work at the resort in one capacity or another. There were no big-name golf course architects called in to build the golf courses; no Tom Fazio, no Pete Dye, no Ron Garl. Gull Lake View is a did-it-themselves golf resort. Except for Bedford Valley – which was purchased by the Scott family in 1988 and with a little help from Tom Doak’s Renaissance Golf Design on Stoatin Brae - the golf courses were designed and built by the Scotts. Renaissance helped out with the bunkering and greens on Stoating Brae, as well as doing some of the labor. The shaping and contouring of the golf course were done by the Scotts.

Darl and Letha are the matriarch and patriarch of the Scott family and were the first generation of Scotts to be involved with the property. Darl used to be the superintendent at nearby Gull Lake Country Club and the couple also owned the Gull Lake Motel. The Scotts sold the motel to get the funds to build their first course, Gull Lake View West, which opened in 1965.

Bedford Valley was the fourth Gull Lake View course and is the only course not on the Augusta property. It’s located about 20 minutes away in Battle Creek and was designed in 1965 by William Mitchell. Bedford Valley was purchased by the Scott Family in 1988 and is known for its fairways lined with majestic oak trees, oversized bunkers, and large, sweeping greens. Since purchasing the property, the Scott family has added a complete practice facility with a full-length driving range and large putting green.

I’ve spoken with several golf pros who are familiar with Bedford Valley, and they all seem to agree that Number 13 is the hole that can make or break a round. In most cases, at least for them, it was break! From the back tees, the hole plays 496 yards; 456 from the White Tees. With water on the left and a large tree on the right, most players will not be able to hit a driver. Longball hitters may have a chance but it’s about a 275 carry over the water from the White tees. To complicate matters, the fairway is only about 10 yards wide where the trees meet the water in the landing area. A “safe” tee shot will leave about 250 yards to the green, which is guarded by a large, deep bunker about 30 tards short of the green as well as another trap front left and a third trap back right. The green slopes left to right so play your approach shot accordingly. Play smart and par or better is a possibility.

Knowing that they needed a place for golfers to stay, Darl and Letha designed and constructed the Fairway Villas, located across the street from the East and West courses. These 2-bedroom, 2 bath villas boast fully equipped kitchens, spacious living areas, and patios overlooking the golf course. They are the perfect accommodations for groups of four to relax and enjoy everything Southwest Michigan’s finest golf resort has to offer. Since then, about 24 2-bedroom, 2-bath villas have been added which has increased the number of lodging options to 67 units.

Although the majority of Gull Lake View’s guests come from Detroit, Chicago, and Toledo, it’s not uncommon to meet golfers from Cincinnati, and Wisconsin, and Canada while you’re there. Golfers may come out to just play Stoatin Brae but once they get a feel for one of the other courses, they’re hooked! And at Gull Lake View, there is something for everyone.

$26 (cart included), played on Tuesday, July 2020 at 7:15 AM

They seem to have a lot of Tournaments played here so calling ahead is advised. Tuesday is "Senior Day" so the $30 18 w/cart is a booked deal for all of us retired penny pinchers. Of the five (5) tees ranging from Blacks at 7,020yd / 73.6 / 138 down to Reds at 5,123yd / 69.7 / 120, I chose the Green at 6,556yd / 71.9 / 136 on this Par 36/36 mixed layout. The first thing you'll notice after the first two (2) Par 4 holes #1 & #2 (380yd,413yd) is the location of large fairway and green side sand traps. Forced carries are normal from the back tees so 150yd to 180yd carries are required. I you're not long off the tee (under 250yd) like I am, shot your landing distances for your safest target areas. The #3 hole is a narrow 350yd uphill finishing hole with a large front trap protecting the large green. These are fairly large greens and being located in this rolling wooded terrain, make them difficult to read the slight breaks. The 543yd Par 5 at #4 will have fairway bunkers at 250yds out and 110yds from the green so plan accordingly. The #5 is a downhill 202yd Par 3 with a "V" shaped green that has large traps guarding both front sides, so the sucker Red flag placement got sand on my ball. This is followed up by the Hcp 3 hole #6 a 430yd straight and narrow fairway to the same designed green and trap protection as #5. The #7 is a short 483yd Par 5 but the elevated green has complete front half sand trap protection for those that under club yardage here. The #8 is a Par 3 that can play from 228yds down to 119yds so all can enjoy, but don't come up short or two (2) large sand traps (like #5) await your arrival. The finishing #9 is a dogleg left 443yd Par 4 with corner traps to keep its Hcp 1 rating intact. The Back 9 starts out with a Hcp 2 rating narrow 402yd Par 4 that finishes to a uphill, front protected, one extra club needed green. Speaking of the smooth rolling greens (9-10), the subtle breaks are very hard to read but roll true. The #11 is a dogleg right to a downhill located green, so enjoy the 2nd shot view. One thing that I'm starting to notice is the common green "V" design and front sand trap protection on majority of these holes. The #12 is another 238-96yd Par 3 with a front sand trap to the downhill large located green. The #13 is a short but narrow, 496yd Par 5 with water down LH side with large landing pockets between narrow marsh inlets. Playing target golf here will be rewarded with a easy Par. The #14 Par 4 plays a sweeping right 427yds that is treelined but is wider than it looks from the tee box. The #15 Par 4 plays 419yds has LH located fairway bunker to a uphill 2nd shot that may need two (2) extra club to carry the front green side bunkers. The #16 is a short 514yd Par 5 but the center fairway trap will grab any tee shots under 215yds and the elevated smaller green with the front sand traps ready to ruin your day. The #17 is a 232yd - 108yd final Par 3 you'll face today BUT the large green has danger if missed. The #18 is a long sweeping left 414yd Par 4 that has a uphill 2nd shot to finish, so don't be short and find yourself on the Beach. Really enjoyed finally playing here and shooting 41/40 w/ 32putts on this well manicured tee to green rolling 1965 William Mitchell layout.

$31 (cart included), played on Monday, September 2010 at 8am

Good course with challenging holes/shots.