Black Lake Golf Club, Championship Golf Course

$71 (cart included), played on Saturday, August 2020 at 8:00 AM

Been hearing about this course since early 2000's but never get to the East side of the state.......until today. Was told by my friends that have played here, "You'll be challenged from Any tee box selection" and they were correct. The ranger/starter asked us what yardage we normally play ? We all said, "6,100 to 6,300yds " so he told us to play the Silver tees at 5,823yds/126/69 for a Par 36/36 because of the heavy rains last night....Great Tip. Our tee shots varied from backing up to 10' release and roll. With five (5) tees ranging from Gold 7,035yd/143/74.8 down to Green at 5,049yds/131/70.2 this course can protect itself from any distance. There is no shortage of sand traps on any hole and well placed for your future enjoyment. Starting off on #1 is a sweeping left 515-415yd Par 5 with a 180yd pond carry on the inside corner to challenge those getting on in two. The #2 hole is a straightaway 427-322yds Par 4 Hcp 5 with fairway traps LH/RH and a large trap framing the green. The #3 hole at 396-268yds is a shorter Par 4 its narrow fairway and adulating multi-tier green has sharp teeth. The #4 Par 4 is their Hcp 1 hole at 453-342yds and other than being narrow the elevated green with a large LH sand trap will reject or eat up those errant shots. The #5 is a 236-145yds Par 3 and is also the photo inserted here on this page and very playable....from the right tees. The #6 a 375-273yd Par 4 has everyone having a forced carry over a deep ravine with only 150yds needed, but it sure looks longer. This green is also very elevated with missed shots to the left, in big trouble. The #7 is a Hcp 7 sweeping right 421-299yd Par 4 with a series of trap on the inside corner so stay left off the tee and hitting to the green. The #8 is a friendly 179-113yd Par 3....as long as you hit the green and not missing to the left. The #9 is one tough Hcp 3 Par 5 560-389yd hole if you don't like forced carry tee shots and well placed fairway traps positioned on the LH/RH all the way to the green. The Back 9 starts out with a 430-327yd Hcp 6 Par 4 that has a wide tee landing area left of the fairway right trap leaving 150yd shot to the green. The #11 is a short 351-207 Par 4 that has a long fade drive carrying the inside bunker and leaving a short iron to the green. The #12 Par 3 at 174-90yds was very special for our threesome group today as we ALL Birdied it in Pro like fashion. This elevated and hill top green was playing 120yds with a front left pin location on this two (2) tier green. I hit it 3' left of the pin, Craig hit it 12" past and the other Brian hit it 6' above and left leaving a trickling slider that made it into the cup....Happy moment for All. The #13 is a short 373-267yd Par 4 but that slightly uphill and elevated green makes for a tough club selection on picking this yardage. The #14 Par 3 is a easy Hcp 18 if choosing the right tee box between 206-110yds as the green viewed from 206yds is very small. The #15 is a 515-387yd Par 5 Hcp 4 with a narrow fairway leading to a left-side wetland pond protecting long hitters trying to get home in two (2) shots. The #16 at 443-358yds Par 4 needs a straight long tee shot to carry the hill if having a decent look and shot into this "Don't Miss Left" green. The #17 is a 391-287yd Hcp 2 Par 4 that has any shot missing right into the pond from tee to this 8' elevated green. This #18 Par 5 finishing hole at 590-450yds is nothing but a long uphill climb to the green and hitting 2 club more on my approach shot to nail this green. The views from each tee box will give you nothing but a WoW factor with the treelined fairways and well positioned sand traps on each hole. Fairway divots were plentiful and the carts needed more sand jugs than one (1) to fill ours, let alone those left by others. Greens held great and rolled very true in spite of wet conditions. The old repaired ball marks didn't look like they healed very good and made us wonder about the green base here. We all were first time players here today and look forward to returning and playing back at the White Tees 6,391yd/137/71.9 now that we know the course a little better. A little pricey at the $75 but it was a Saturday, though $50 would be a good weekday price. I ended up shooting 42/39 w/ 34 putts on the cool scattered cloudy day with fellow early morning tee golfers Craig and Brian from Rochester, MI That hole #12 today was.....Magic.