Portland Country Club

$21 (cart not included), played on Sunday, April 2020 at 8:30 AM

Good halfway meeting area in Michigan to golf with sons Jeremy and Barry on this windy Spring day. Portland C.C. is located on 100 acres of rolling farm land that opened for play in 1927. Even though it’s short on Back tee yardage at 2,579/2,979yds / 67.3 / 116 for this Par 34/36 scattered tree layout. The smaller sized greens, rolling fairway landscape and constantly blowing SW winds, brings up the challenge factor. We were faced today with 12-15mph constant winds that gusted to 25mph at all the wrong times. The Front 9 #1 a 446yd Par 5 played into the wind on this road/tree lined fairway to a small dirt bunkered green. We were told that new sand is coming later this Spring so pick and drop. The #2 is a 180yd, into the wind Par 3, with a lower side hill small green that was tough to judge all the variables. Number 3 Par 4 at 367yds throws a tree lined, dogleg left fairway with a 20mph crosswinds at you. The #4 a 159yd downwind Par 3 has nice small tipped green to stop your ball and landing short is better than long. The #5 and #6 are back and forth 339/332yd Par 4 that have downhill and uphill fairways so chose your best 2nd yardages off the tee. The #7 is a downhill driveable 272yd Par 4 if you hit the 230yd hill top like Jeremy almost did. But leaving a 30yd flip shot over a trap to a front pin green, was a big mistake. (Two birdies from 80yds) Finishing on #9 a straight forward but downhill 180yd Par 3 was missing that final challenge, but feel good for making to turn. The Back 9 #10 is a 95yd Par 3 with a high lipped front bunker and the road at the rear, tough visual from the tee. Now #11 things start getting tougher with 210yd carry creek on this 385yd Hcp 3 Par 4, to a long uphill located green. The #12 Hcp 1 hole at 435yds is a long, narrow into the wind Par 4, that showed its teeth today. But on #14 the 445yd downwind Par 5, the golf Gods gives back two (2) pars and one (1) two putt birdie for Jeremy. The creek crossing at 200yd carry, challenges you again at #15 on this 292yd Par 4. (We all choose wisely) The #16 a 256yd Par 4 into the 20-25mph gusting wind, had us barely clearing the 180yd creek off the tee. The #17 Hcp 5 being a double creek crossing 393yd Par 4 into the same wind, had double-bogies across the scorecard. The #18 a downwind, double creek crossing 525yd Par 5 has a friendly finish, unless you hit the narrow creek in front of the green. (5’s across the board) New owners are planning sand trap improvements and bringing the greens up to rolling levels, above average golfers look for. Yardages blocks 100-200 are in center of fairway but no blocks on the Par 3’s. Worth playing if you’re in the area for a little tune-up on tighter shots to greens. I ended up with 38/44w/33putts, Jeremy 42/44 w/34putts and Barry’s 37/45 w/30putts had 10 / 1 putt greens that kept him in the game.