Hillsdale Golf & Country Club

$10 (cart not included), played on Monday, June 2020 at 8:00 AM

The new name here is "The Hills of Baw Beese Lake" but is still a Private country club. They do however allow Public play prior to June and in the fall for $15 w/o Cart and is worth the walk to play here. This 1904 Tom Bendelow nine (9) hole Par 35 design maybe short on Blue/Tip yardage at 2,937yds / 34.5 / 133 but long on challenges. This lakeside location is very hilly and not only offers views but a variety of hole layouts to keep you from getting bored. All of the Country Club conditions were found from groomed tees, thick 3" rough, tight mowed flawless fairways leading to firm smooth holding smaller sized greens. Green-side sand traps are well groomed and have about one (1) inch of soft top to splash and dash. Starting out on #1 a 351yd dogleg left Par 4 is a 210yd hit to corner leaving a 80' uphill shot to a small awaiting green. If you hit one of the two (2) front traps, ready yourself for a 10' bank to carry onto the green. The #2 is a relaxing 369yd downhill tee shot to a gentle uphill sloped fairway to one of the largest greens, so take advantage of this gift. The #3 is a 373yd Par 4 that is the same layout as #2 (downhill then uphill) but a creek at the 210yd could change your tee selection. The #4 Par 3 at 203yd downhill sounds easy but a creek and very steep face protect Par from those coming up short. The course lowers its guard on #5 a 265yd Par 4 but the elevated and blind green offers tough putts to read. The #6 is a downhill dogleg right 386yd Par 4 with pine trees in the tight corner 200 - 230yds out (stay to LH side) to a large holding, lakeside green. The #7 is another steep faced Par 3 protected green at 136yd with hill on LH side that offers a friendly kick if needed. (I know) Finally a Par 5 on #8 at 480yds, but don't think the course is ready to let its guard down. Its all uphill and if you play for the 80-100yd 3rd shot you might hit the small blind green on top of the hill in front of you on this Hcp 1 hole. The finishing #9 hole is a friendly 374yd straightaway downhill Par 4 with three (3) front sand traps to clear to finish this round off with a Par. Can't say enough of the people I came in contact here today from the greenskeeper, golfer Bill L, Member Steve W and Sandy P the office manager. This is a great small town golf course with big hearted people that make a stranger feel like family member. I ended up playing one (1) loop shooting 38 w/15putts and look forward to return to see if that Par on #8 was luck or skill. As I stood looking around on that #8 green after my 2 putt Par, I realized how lucky that 100yd PW shot up here was. This is one great conditioned 116 year old course that is worth playing if you're in the area.

Member (cart included), played on Tuesday, May 2011 at 2pm

A great 9 hole course!!!