Detailed description of Wawashkamo Golf Club
Wawashkamo Golf Club is a Semi-Private, 9 hole golf course located in Mackinac Island, Michigan.
Wawashkamo Golf Club first opened for play in 1898. The course was designed by Alex Smith.
Wawashkamo Golf Club is the oldest continuously played golf course in Michigan. The golf course retains many of the features of a nineteenth-century golf links, including a relatively treeless layout, comparatively short holes, and very long rough. Smith, a native Scotsman from Carnoustie, was familiar with the links courses of his boyhood home. Wawashkamo was laid out on a farmer's field that had been the site of the 1814 Battle of Mackinac Island. Separate historical markers commemorate both the golf links and the battlefield.
If one plays a double loop 18-holes at Wawashkamo Country Club, the course will play to 5,949 yards and a par-72.
The name of the club and course comes from the Anishinaabe Indian word for the act of 'walking a crooked trail'.
Latest Golf Course Reviews
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by Brian Clark 2023-10-08
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by soundhar G 2023-10-07
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$36 (cart included), played on Friday, October 2018 at 9:10 AM
This is the toughest course I've ever had to review and rank. I had to keep telling myself "It's 120 year old" 9 hole Link's layout that's unlike any course I've played, to date. It's an Alex Smith "Link's" layout designed in 1898 that's built on 1814 battlefield with all the imperfections still showing and causing tough lies.
The clubhouse sits on the highest point of the area with the course traveling down, across and back up the hill where you started. The nine (9) hole course is laid out for 18 hole play with three (3) different tee groupings, Green/White 5,949yds or Blue/Yellow 5,183yds and Red 4,7650yds on the Par 36/36 layout. I chose to take the back tees on each hole and played 3,146yds for a Par 37 because of three (3) Par 5's. So I paid my $40 for 9 w/cart and away I went.
The fairways are full and green in most areas but are very bumpy with humps and uneven stances everywhere. The soft lush round greens will be the only flat surfaces you can count on during your round. Again, 120 year old course that has let nature sculpt the imperfections where your ball lands.
#1 is a 511yd Par 5 being OB right and lined with bunkers will be the toughest hole even though its a 7 HDCP on the card. #5 is an uphill 512yd par 5 ad is the 31 HDCP. This hole plays long if you hit the rough. All of the holes are straight away with the exception of #9, a 461yd Par 5 LH dogleg to an uphill green protected by a deep pot bunker. #3 a 336yd Par 4 has pot bunkers, hardpan awaiting your tee shot and you will find one of these on your journey to the green.
I learned a long time ago that being a true good golfer, you need to adapt to EVERY condition and not to criticize the course with your lack of adjustment to conditions. I ended up shooting 41 w/13 putts as those small round greens aren't easy targets from tough lies. If you don't bring your clubs you can rent regular or Hickory stick clubs ($40) to make your round more memorable on Michigan's Oldest continuously played golf course.
I've played North America's oldest course built in 1875, Niagara-on-the-Lake but its been greatly improved over the years.