West Ottawa Golf Club

$16 (cart included), played on Saturday, April 2019 at 11:45 AM

I was passing through the Holland area and decided to stop in and check out this Bruce Matthews designed layout.

Having three (3) nines to choose from make it easy for courses to have 9 & 18 hole loops separated for options to players. Today the Pines 3,029yd Par 35 and Willows 3,213yd Par 35 were the 18 hole loop and wide open. This is mostly a flat, scattered tree separation with narrow meandering fairways layout. Nothing really is hidden from the tee box views and landing areas very pleasing to the eye/distance. Yardage blocks of 100-200yd in the center of the fairway and easy to find. Greens survived to winter with not much damaged (Good by June) and rolling smooth but slow at 7-8.

Starting out #1 520yd Dogleg Par 5 will get you warmed quickly if you fade right and don't make the corner.

Practice that 133 yardage because #2 Par 3 is just that.

The #3 472yd Par 5 if played short (190 fairway) off the tee will play to an easy par because of narrow and thick rough.

The #4 448yd Par 4 is one tough Hcp 1 throwing the same layout as #3 only 24 yards shorter, thanks for Nothing.

Finishing hole #9 408yd Dogleg left has a stream on the inside corner for those trying to cut the corner so stay center-right.

The Willows layout is more wooded and starts out 10 - 12 hole being easy Par 4's and then #13 231yd Par 3 w/ all carry will wipe that smile off your face quickly.

The last four (4) finishing holes #15 190yd Par 3, #16 550yd Par 5 w/ creek, #17 375yd Tight Par 4 and #18 425yd Dogleg Par 4 with a creek carry in front of the green. Yardage is short here but narrow fairways guarded by thick rough awaits your stray shots. Most greens have 1-2 sand traps guarding the sides so the fronts are open to most short approach shots.

I enjoyed my 2.5hr $20 w/cart round shooting 40/38 w/ 28putts as my green-side chipping was "Spot On". Located right off US-31 and on your way to other great golf adventures.