University Park Golf Club

$10 (cart not included), played on Thursday, May 2023 at 8:00 AM

Stopped by here the previous week, but it was very busy, but today it was fairly open....so we stopped.

The starter informed me that this nine (9) hole course was built/opened in 1968 and operated by Muskegon Community College as long as he can remember. The course was built inside an established wooded area as all the fairways were bordered by 100'-200' high oak trees that canopy the edges of the fairways. This makes for narrow windows when playing from the fairway rough. I paid $12 for walking 9 holes as there was two (2) twosomes in carts in front of me and nobody behind me.

They have three (3) tees from Back @ 3,078yds, Middle @ 2,691yds, and Froward @ 2,451yds on this treelined Par 36 layout. The grass cover is really pretty good BUT with all the shade, cutting everything a little too close, the ball didn't really sit up about 50% of the time. This left a lot of hard pan shots if you hit near the edges of the fairway or under the trees.

The #1 hole at 292 yards Par 4 is a slight dogleg left because of the 200' giant Oak tree about 150 yards out from the tee box. The #2 at 395yds is a slight dog left and a grassy hidden gully in front of the green and is their Hcp 2 hole. The #3 is a narrow 326yd Par 4 to a small tipped forward green, so land short. The #4 is a long narrow 500-yard Par 5 with a hidden gully awaiting your 2nd shot, so check your carry yardage. The #6 Par 4 is their Hcp 1 hole at 422 yards as your tee needs to carry a 180yd gully to another narrow fairway. The #7, a 303-yard Par 4, has high overhanging branches almost all the way to the green with two (2) front traps. The #9 Par 5 at 502 yards protected its Hcp 3 by putting a wide gully to catch your 2nd shot if your back tee shot doesn't roll out over 225 yards, so your 180-yard 2nd shot lands on the other side.

This is a very challenging nine (9) hole layout, with the short/tight grass being the only improvement really needed. Ended up shooting 41 w/15putts today. Pull Carts are FREE (Gas carts extra) when available. Worth the stop for a quick 9-hole round, whether walking or riding.

Do Not Recall (cart included), played on Thursday, May 2017 at 5:00 PM

Great value, nice course, moderately challenging, perfect for a relaxing outing with friend to have fun!

$10 (cart included), played on Sunday, July 2010 at 10am

Fun layout, with many ravines crossing the fairways. Not a championship course, but a worthy challenge for the price.