Lake Forest Golf Club

$26 (cart included), played on Thursday, November 2020 at 10:00 AM

Still trying to play all the golf courses (250) within 60 miles or 1 hour from Jackson, MI and the list is getting shorter. In looking at this 1999 Mark Walley design from the club house you can see about six or seven holes that have generous wide open fairways. This can all change quickly if that SW wind starts blowing , as there's very little to stop it. They have five (5) tee's so you can pick from Black 6,687 / 72.0 / 130 down to 4,207 / 61.1 / 99 on this Par 36/36 rolling Link's and wooded mixed layout. Even though conditions are setting up for Fall/Winter conditions, fairways and greens were cut close and rolling smooth on both. The wooded areas were "Leaf Free" and that's a real plus for Michigan fall golfing as my battery "Leaf Blower" stayed in the cart today. I decided to play from the Blues today (6,337/70.5/127) as the wind was kicking between 1-2 extra clubs this morning. Front 9 starts right off with a Hcp 3 straightaway 509-330yd Par 5 into the wind with your approach shots all uphill. The #2 is a 156-115yd downhill Par 3 and don't go long or right or water awaits you. The #3 Hcp 5 is 423-264yd straightaway and uphill Par 4 to a blind green 2nd shot with fairway/green side traps awaiting that stray shot. The #5 brings in the narrow landing area on this 414-264yd Hcp 7 Par 4 and missed elevated green left/long are lost balls. The #6 Par 3 is a wetlands all 125-95yd carry to the well sloped green, so stay below the cup or your 2nd putt......will be. The #7 at 317-213yd Par 4 is set up from the back tees for a 200yd cut shot, as you want to find the RH side of fairway for this dogleg left layout. The #9 Par 5 is long at 564-343yd and water down the entire right side and left of the green on this Hcp 1 hole. The Back 9 starts out with the wind at your back, downhill tee shot to a uphill green on this 425-265yd Par 4. The #11 is a Hcp 6 very narrow wooded 501-337yd Par 5 with a small green that is unforgiving to missed left/long approach shots. The #12 a 361-250yd Par 4 has a target island fairway that leaves you 130-160yd for your 2nd shot over the wetlands to a very large green. The #16 is a 462-413yd Par 4 Hcp 4 thats only easy if you get that tee shot up into the trailing wind. Finishing on #18 a 584-539yd Hcp 2 Par 5 gives you one last chance to stroke that 3wood so you can have a easier approach shot and stay to the left side of green. Enjoyed the mostly wide open layout but with good separation between fairways so strays could rarely happen. Ended up shooting 40/39 w/33 putts on this well conditioned and easy walkable layout,

$16 (cart included), played on Friday, October 2009 at noon

Great fall rates. The greens here are some of the best in the area - almost always playing fast and true. Front 9 (wide open)and back 9 (hilly and lots of trees)have very different look and feel. Course almost always busy and drivable par 4 (#5) can slow down play. This course is a good bet regardless of ability. Excellent range and practice facility on site.