Pine View Golf Course, Championship Course

$21 (cart included), played on Friday, November 2020 at 9:00 AM

Decided to put off Christmas shopping and take advantage of this warmer than normal, late November day and go golfing. Found this pine tree infested, 1989 Harley Hodges design open for public play and decided to give it a go. There's a reason sometimes when they pick a name for a golf course, to give you a clue of what to except. Well for "Pine View GC" its because as you stand on the #1 tee box, all you see are Pine trees.....Everywhere. They said you'll find grass conditions a little longer than normal because of getting ready for winter, but I was surprised by how quick and smooth these greens for late November. With five (5) tee box selections you can pick from Blue 6,490yds/71.6/126 down to Red at 5,042yds/70.2/122 and Optional Green at 4,101yds for this Par 36/36 layout. I decided on the Blues for my possible, last golf outing in Michigan and went out to set the pace. Starting out on #1 with a short 456yd Par 5 Hcp 3 that had scattered pine trees, got you warmed up nicely and a chance to see your long fairway clubs in action early. The #3 a 411yd Par 4 Hcp 5 gives you a 2nd chance at that long fairway club you used on #1 for that 2nd shot. I liked that hole layout strategy. The #5 is a 197-113yd Par 3 to a raised green with a sand trap, right front that isn't a bad Plan B landing area. The #6 389yd Par 4 is their Hcp 1 because of the 220yd cut tee shot required on this dogleg right, to have a shorter 2nd shot to he green. There is a big sand trap if you hit a straight tee shot through the corner and also green-side left front of this "Full carry" raised green. The #7 a 373yd Par 4 dogleg left is the opposite of #6 and needs that same draw tee shot around a big tree on the inside corner. Closing out on #9 is a 383yd Par 4 with water coming into play if you miss the fairway left on your tee shot. Starting off on the Back 9 is another Par 5 at 524yds and protects its Hcp 4 by being a "Zig Zag" pine tree lined fairway for those stray shots, so play smart. The #11 374yd Par 4 tightens up the fairway for the back tees with LH/RH fairway traps at 190-220yds out, forward tees are lucky here. (I wasn't) The next three (3) holes #13,#14, #15 are just straight "Narrow" tree lined 376-396yd Par 4's that punish missed fairway shots. The #16 is a short 342yd Par 4 with the 90 degree dogleg left at 190-210yds, long sand trap to catch those through fairway drives, its a easy par for smart players. Closing out on #18 with a 520yd Hcp 6 sweeping right layout, gives those natural fade players a relaxed ending to playing a pine tree lined layout. (no leaves) I ended up shooting 39/39 w/31 putts on this well conditioned course for a late November day.