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Brian Clark
Battle Creek
2020-07-09
$26 (cart included), played on Tuesday, July 2020 at 7:15 AM
They seem to have a lot of Tournaments played here so calling ahead is advised. Tuesday is "Senior Day" so the $30 18 w/cart is a booked deal for all of us retired penny pinchers. Of the five (5) tees ranging from Blacks at 7,020yd / 73.6 / 138 down to Reds at 5,123yd / 69.7 / 120, I chose the Green at 6,556yd / 71.9 / 136 on this Par 36/36 mixed layout. The first thing you'll notice after the first two (2) Par 4 holes #1 & #2 (380yd,413yd) is the location of large fairway and green side sand traps. Forced carries are normal from the back tees so 150yd to 180yd carries are required. I you're not long off the tee (under 250yd) like I am, shot your landing distances for your safest target areas. The #3 hole is a narrow 350yd uphill finishing hole with a large front trap protecting the large green. These are fairly large greens and being located in this rolling wooded terrain, make them difficult to read the slight breaks. The 543yd Par 5 at #4 will have fairway bunkers at 250yds out and 110yds from the green so plan accordingly. The #5 is a downhill 202yd Par 3 with a "V" shaped green that has large traps guarding both front sides, so the sucker Red flag placement got sand on my ball. This is followed up by the Hcp 3 hole #6 a 430yd straight and narrow fairway to the same designed green and trap protection as #5. The #7 is a short 483yd Par 5 but the elevated green has complete front half sand trap protection for those that under club yardage here. The #8 is a Par 3 that can play from 228yds down to 119yds so all can enjoy, but don't come up short or two (2) large sand traps (like #5) await your arrival. The finishing #9 is a dogleg left 443yd Par 4 with corner traps to keep its Hcp 1 rating intact. The Back 9 starts out with a Hcp 2 rating narrow 402yd Par 4 that finishes to a uphill, front protected, one extra club needed green. Speaking of the smooth rolling greens (9-10), the subtle breaks are very hard to read but roll true. The #11 is a dogleg right to a downhill located green, so enjoy the 2nd shot view. One thing that I'm starting to notice is the common green "V" design and front sand trap protection on majority of these holes. The #12 is another 238-96yd Par 3 with a front sand trap to the downhill large located green. The #13 is a short but narrow, 496yd Par 5 with water down LH side with large landing pockets between narrow marsh inlets. Playing target golf here will be rewarded with a easy Par. The #14 Par 4 plays a sweeping right 427yds that is treelined but is wider than it looks from the tee box. The #15 Par 4 plays 419yds has LH located fairway bunker to a uphill 2nd shot that may need two (2) extra club to carry the front green side bunkers. The #16 is a short 514yd Par 5 but the center fairway trap will grab any tee shots under 215yds and the elevated smaller green with the front sand traps ready to ruin your day. The #17 is a 232yd - 108yd final Par 3 you'll face today BUT the large green has danger if missed. The #18 is a long sweeping left 414yd Par 4 that has a uphill 2nd shot to finish, so don't be short and find yourself on the Beach. Really enjoyed finally playing here and shooting 41/40 w/ 32putts on this well manicured tee to green rolling 1965 William Mitchell layout.
Would travel: 30-60 Miles, Vacation Worthy
Bottom line: I would play again, Better than average course for the area, Bargain priced based on quality and competitive area pricing, Fair priced based on quality and competitive area pricing, Ranks with the best in this price level, Best course in the area
Condition of Course, Price, Pace of Play, Difficulty, Staff, Layout, No Houses on Course
$26 (cart included), played on Tuesday, July 2020 at 7:15 AM
They seem to have a lot of Tournaments played here so calling ahead is advised. Tuesday is "Senior Day" so the $30 18 w/cart is a booked deal for all of us retired penny pinchers. Of the five (5) tees ranging from Blacks at 7,020yd / 73.6 / 138 down to Reds at 5,123yd / 69.7 / 120, I chose the Green at 6,556yd / 71.9 / 136 on this Par 36/36 mixed layout. The first thing you'll notice after the first two (2) Par 4 holes #1 & #2 (380yd,413yd) is the location of large fairway and green side sand traps. Forced carries are normal from the back tees so 150yd to 180yd carries are required. I you're not long off the tee (under 250yd) like I am, shot your landing distances for your safest target areas. The #3 hole is a narrow 350yd uphill finishing hole with a large front trap protecting the large green. These are fairly large greens and being located in this rolling wooded terrain, make them difficult to read the slight breaks. The 543yd Par 5 at #4 will have fairway bunkers at 250yds out and 110yds from the green so plan accordingly. The #5 is a downhill 202yd Par 3 with a "V" shaped green that has large traps guarding both front sides, so the sucker Red flag placement got sand on my ball. This is followed up by the Hcp 3 hole #6 a 430yd straight and narrow fairway to the same designed green and trap protection as #5. The #7 is a short 483yd Par 5 but the elevated green has complete front half sand trap protection for those that under club yardage here. The #8 is a Par 3 that can play from 228yds down to 119yds so all can enjoy, but don't come up short or two (2) large sand traps (like #5) await your arrival. The finishing #9 is a dogleg left 443yd Par 4 with corner traps to keep its Hcp 1 rating intact. The Back 9 starts out with a Hcp 2 rating narrow 402yd Par 4 that finishes to a uphill, front protected, one extra club needed green. Speaking of the smooth rolling greens (9-10), the subtle breaks are very hard to read but roll true. The #11 is a dogleg right to a downhill located green, so enjoy the 2nd shot view. One thing that I'm starting to notice is the common green "V" design and front sand trap protection on majority of these holes. The #12 is another 238-96yd Par 3 with a front sand trap to the downhill large located green. The #13 is a short but narrow, 496yd Par 5 with water down LH side with large landing pockets between narrow marsh inlets. Playing target golf here will be rewarded with a easy Par. The #14 Par 4 plays a sweeping right 427yds that is treelined but is wider than it looks from the tee box. The #15 Par 4 plays 419yds has LH located fairway bunker to a uphill 2nd shot that may need two (2) extra club to carry the front green side bunkers. The #16 is a short 514yd Par 5 but the center fairway trap will grab any tee shots under 215yds and the elevated smaller green with the front sand traps ready to ruin your day. The #17 is a 232yd - 108yd final Par 3 you'll face today BUT the large green has danger if missed. The #18 is a long sweeping left 414yd Par 4 that has a uphill 2nd shot to finish, so don't be short and find yourself on the Beach. Really enjoyed finally playing here and shooting 41/40 w/ 32putts on this well manicured tee to green rolling 1965 William Mitchell layout.