Off the Fringe, “Golf’s best short read.” The award winning newsletter, sent twice monthly, that provides an unconventional perspective on the golf world.
Brian Clark
Arcadia
2018-05-30
$126 (cart included), played on Saturday, May 2018 at 3:10 PM
Wow!! Finally made it up here to one of Michigan's premier golf course....and it was worth the wait. We paid the $130 and went out (4.5hrs) on this rolling, wind swept, bunker infested Par 72 / 75.7 / 146 Links layout with five (5) tee boxes (7,300 yd - 5,024 yd)to test your golfing knowledge. The golf cart "Touch Screen" GPS (w/ fly over) was a stroke saver on managing safe passage to the greens, avoiding the 3' to 15' deep walled traps awaiting your impending arrival. My three (3) boys and myself took our turns in blasting out of these behemoths that awaited you on EVERY shot. Taking two (2) shots to get out was mostly normal if you hit the wall coming in as it would stay on the face. Having lack of rain here had hard rolling fairways / greens waiting for your shot and getting more roll than you wanted ...sometimes. We all struggled on putting the first nine (9) holes (17 - 23 putts) because of the non-typical green placements on the side of hills with breaks going every which way. The fairways were very fair in their landing areas ranging from 75 yds to 150 yds wide if you picked the right tee boxes.....we chose White at 6,389 yards and could haved moved back to the Blues (6,913 yds) on many holes. The 2nd and 3rd shots are where the traps come into play and placement areas narrowing up considerable. I played the round with the same ball and shot 48/42 w/36 putts, Jeremy 45/41 w/32 putts, Kevin 43/47 w/41 putts, Barry 58/64 w/ 39 putts and was our "Sand Trap" winner hitting 14 traps on 7 holes. I would recommend this course to anyone coming to Michigan and wanting to feel what it would be like playing in an Scotland ocean side type layout....without the plane ride. Many holes will test your focus on landing areas, wind yardages and all out carries to safe landing areas...keeping your score/mental sharpness under control. I will be back again soon and you should too.
Would travel: 120-300 Miles, Vacation Worthy
Bottom line: I would play again, Better than average course for the area, Fair priced based on quality and competitive area pricing, Ranks with the best in this price level, Expensive and worth it, Best course in the area
Condition of Course, Price, Food/ Bar facilities, Difficulty, Ambiance, Staff, Layout, No Houses on Course, Clubhouse
$126 (cart included), played on Saturday, May 2018 at 3:10 PM
Wow!! Finally made it up here to one of Michigan's premier golf course....and it was worth the wait. We paid the $130 and went out (4.5hrs) on this rolling, wind swept, bunker infested Par 72 / 75.7 / 146 Links layout with five (5) tee boxes (7,300 yd - 5,024 yd)to test your golfing knowledge. The golf cart "Touch Screen" GPS (w/ fly over) was a stroke saver on managing safe passage to the greens, avoiding the 3' to 15' deep walled traps awaiting your impending arrival. My three (3) boys and myself took our turns in blasting out of these behemoths that awaited you on EVERY shot. Taking two (2) shots to get out was mostly normal if you hit the wall coming in as it would stay on the face. Having lack of rain here had hard rolling fairways / greens waiting for your shot and getting more roll than you wanted ...sometimes. We all struggled on putting the first nine (9) holes (17 - 23 putts) because of the non-typical green placements on the side of hills with breaks going every which way. The fairways were very fair in their landing areas ranging from 75 yds to 150 yds wide if you picked the right tee boxes.....we chose White at 6,389 yards and could haved moved back to the Blues (6,913 yds) on many holes. The 2nd and 3rd shots are where the traps come into play and placement areas narrowing up considerable. I played the round with the same ball and shot 48/42 w/36 putts, Jeremy 45/41 w/32 putts, Kevin 43/47 w/41 putts, Barry 58/64 w/ 39 putts and was our "Sand Trap" winner hitting 14 traps on 7 holes. I would recommend this course to anyone coming to Michigan and wanting to feel what it would be like playing in an Scotland ocean side type layout....without the plane ride. Many holes will test your focus on landing areas, wind yardages and all out carries to safe landing areas...keeping your score/mental sharpness under control. I will be back again soon and you should too.