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
South Haven
2021-05-09
$36 (cart included), played on Sunday, April 2021 at 9:45 AM
If you're vacationing or traveling through this beauitiful South Haven, MI area, this 2006 Bruce Matthew's III designed is a MUST to play. This hidden "Link's" design course has six (6) tee slections that plays from 7,219/74.9/136 down to 4,662/63.2/110 on this Par 36/36 layout. We played the "Hybrid" that mixed the Blue/White tees (All Par 4's under 400yds) for a 3,197/3,179yds / 71.0 / 130 rating for our challenge today, and it was. Every hole had a non-typical layout that had you picking your landing area to avoid waste areas, sand traps and ponds conpounded with long (depending on tee) forced carries. With no GPS on the carts, your score card has great yardage description and layout of everything needed to miss. But download a App or bring that Range Finder because the meandering fairways sometimes need a extra look. The Front 9 #1 starts out with an wide open and straight forward 436-347yd Par 4 to get warmed up on. Returning back on #2 is a 575-353yd Par 5 Hcp 4 hole that introduces you to scattered fairway traps and a 2 club tricked up raised huge green, so hit it close. The #3 324-206yd Par 4 is designed to have your 2nd shot from the 100yd stick with the narrow fairway neck (12 yds) bordered by water and sand trap. The holes 4-6 are all 422-315yd Par 4's that basically have waste areas/sand traps bordering the fairway, tee to green. The #7 Par 3 is a very friendly 225-98yd hole with a raised green that holds those high hit shots as we were at 160 not 225yds out. The #8 Par 5 is their Hcp 2 hole at 578-359yds but more of the target landing areas to miss the many hazards enroute. The #9 Par 3 at 241-155yds (175 Whites) has you hitting over a waste area and into a normal southwest wind that was playing 2 clubs extra. The Back 9 changes many of the waste areas into water with five (5) greens protected by water in some way. The #10 Par 5 a Hcp 3 double dogleg at 600-403yds has seven (7) sand traps protecting your 2nd shot corner landing area, so don't stray. The #11 at 350-253yds is the easiest and straight forward Par 4 so take advantage and relax. The #12 through #14 are Par 4's (398-259yds) that their meandering fairways/greens are bordered by water, sand traps and waste areas. These are not "Grip and Rip" Par 4's as the SW winds are funneling through this area to add to your landing choice. The #15 Par 3 at 213-103yds is like #9, hitting into the wind but with water on Front and RH side of green. Missing short left is not a bad "Up & Down" and miss that sand trap in the RH middle of the kidney shaped green. The #16 Par 5 at 675-350yds is just plain long and into the wind with narrow sand trap infested area around the 246-160yd in area. Saving the Hcp 1 for last on #18 Par 4 is just like "Adding Salt to the Wound" on this straightaway 464-300yd hole. Large sand traps bordering your tee landing area and a pond guarding RH front and side of the green. With the SW winds crossing left to right across the green, that 200yd approach shot needs to stay left. Conditions here today were great from tee to green (9-10) with sand traps a little heavy from overnight rains. For the $40 Senior rate you won't find a better course with conditions and challenge that Beeches can offer you at any tee box selection. I ended up shooting 45/42 w/ 33putts and son Barry had 46/43 w/38putts, as the flat stick was the deciding winner today.
Would travel: 60-120 Miles, Vacation Worthy
Bottom line: I would play again, 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, Ambiance, Staff, Layout, No Houses on Course, Clubhouse
$36 (cart included), played on Sunday, April 2021 at 9:45 AM
If you're vacationing or traveling through this beauitiful South Haven, MI area, this 2006 Bruce Matthew's III designed is a MUST to play. This hidden "Link's" design course has six (6) tee slections that plays from 7,219/74.9/136 down to 4,662/63.2/110 on this Par 36/36 layout. We played the "Hybrid" that mixed the Blue/White tees (All Par 4's under 400yds) for a 3,197/3,179yds / 71.0 / 130 rating for our challenge today, and it was. Every hole had a non-typical layout that had you picking your landing area to avoid waste areas, sand traps and ponds conpounded with long (depending on tee) forced carries. With no GPS on the carts, your score card has great yardage description and layout of everything needed to miss. But download a App or bring that Range Finder because the meandering fairways sometimes need a extra look. The Front 9 #1 starts out with an wide open and straight forward 436-347yd Par 4 to get warmed up on. Returning back on #2 is a 575-353yd Par 5 Hcp 4 hole that introduces you to scattered fairway traps and a 2 club tricked up raised huge green, so hit it close. The #3 324-206yd Par 4 is designed to have your 2nd shot from the 100yd stick with the narrow fairway neck (12 yds) bordered by water and sand trap. The holes 4-6 are all 422-315yd Par 4's that basically have waste areas/sand traps bordering the fairway, tee to green. The #7 Par 3 is a very friendly 225-98yd hole with a raised green that holds those high hit shots as we were at 160 not 225yds out. The #8 Par 5 is their Hcp 2 hole at 578-359yds but more of the target landing areas to miss the many hazards enroute. The #9 Par 3 at 241-155yds (175 Whites) has you hitting over a waste area and into a normal southwest wind that was playing 2 clubs extra. The Back 9 changes many of the waste areas into water with five (5) greens protected by water in some way. The #10 Par 5 a Hcp 3 double dogleg at 600-403yds has seven (7) sand traps protecting your 2nd shot corner landing area, so don't stray. The #11 at 350-253yds is the easiest and straight forward Par 4 so take advantage and relax. The #12 through #14 are Par 4's (398-259yds) that their meandering fairways/greens are bordered by water, sand traps and waste areas. These are not "Grip and Rip" Par 4's as the SW winds are funneling through this area to add to your landing choice. The #15 Par 3 at 213-103yds is like #9, hitting into the wind but with water on Front and RH side of green. Missing short left is not a bad "Up & Down" and miss that sand trap in the RH middle of the kidney shaped green. The #16 Par 5 at 675-350yds is just plain long and into the wind with narrow sand trap infested area around the 246-160yd in area. Saving the Hcp 1 for last on #18 Par 4 is just like "Adding Salt to the Wound" on this straightaway 464-300yd hole. Large sand traps bordering your tee landing area and a pond guarding RH front and side of the green. With the SW winds crossing left to right across the green, that 200yd approach shot needs to stay left. Conditions here today were great from tee to green (9-10) with sand traps a little heavy from overnight rains. For the $40 Senior rate you won't find a better course with conditions and challenge that Beeches can offer you at any tee box selection. I ended up shooting 45/42 w/ 33putts and son Barry had 46/43 w/38putts, as the flat stick was the deciding winner today.