$16 (cart included), played on Tuesday, May 2021 at 8:00 AM
Found out that Clark Lake GC has been up for sale since July 2020 for $1.5ml and decided to return and play North (2,930yd) and South (3,271yd) tracks on this Par 36/37 layout. These two (2) Link's layouts were completed about 45years ago with only a handful of trees scattered on the South layout. After planting about 1,000 trees in the mid 1970's on both layouts, it now has trees separating each fairway. There is a good mix of pine/hardwood trees framing and blocking views of the other holes. Tee boxes were flat but a little rough on grass conditions that could be improved. Fairways were cut a little too short as some grass areas were very thin that bordered on hard pan conditions. The large and mostly flat greens made it easy to hit, but difficult to judge speed as they varied between 6-9. Yardage sticks (100-200) are found on the sides of the fairways and seem to be very accurate for estimating. The Front 9 North #1 starts out as a 290yd Par4 but with the Green highly elevated, landing at the 100yd stick is recommend. The #2 Par 3 at 143-131yds and a elevated tee make hitting this three (3) tier green easy but tough putting. The Holes #3 & #4 are side-by-side Par 4's 346/354yds with trees narrowing up the fairway, so hit it straight. The #5 is a 90 degree dogleg left 327yd Par 4 that needs a 220yd drive to corner to view the green. Large sand trap, pond and trees are placed in the corner to block those taking the short cut. The #6 is a 406yd 90 degree right Par 5 that needs 230yd drive to the corner 140yd marker and narrow long green. The #8 497yd Par 5 is a up hill fairway with 2nd shot threading through a narrow treelined landing areas. The #9 is a tough 225yd Par 3 that has a narrow flat green and hard to hold. The Back 9 South #10 is a straightaway 355yd Par to one of the largest flat greens I've ever seen, so hit it close. The #11 is a treelined dogleg right 440yd Par 5 with a large tree in the middle of the corner 200yds out, leading to a large narrow green. The #13 sweeping left Par 5 is short at 459yds but narrow on treelined landing areas. The #15 Par 5 at 578yds Hcp 1 is nothing but just long with the seldom used Tournament tees adding a extra 100yds. The #16 Par 3 is a very elevated tee box hitting over a pond to a large green 162 yards away. Enjoyed returning and playing this very improved and changed course from the one that I first played 48 years ago. My friend Mark ended up shooting 46/43 w/32 putts and I had 43/42 w/38 putts as the flat stick was not very friendly to me today.
$10 (cart not included), played on Saturday, May 2021 at 9:30 AM
This 1924 locally designed nine (9) hole course has gone through many transformations since its original owner Albert Knight owned it. It is the cornerstone of Clark Lake GC that offers 27 holes on this rolling 350 acre countryside. Biggest improvements has been taking all of the low areas and digging out eight (8) drainage ponds. This now add challenges, not the eye sores they once caused. Conditions from tee to the typical flat medium round firm greens were very good and well manicured. Sand traps were well defined with heavy sand due to yesterdays rain. Even though the yardage is short at 2,996 yards for this Par 35 layout, mature trees and ponds add to the excitement. The #1 Par 4 is a 365yd over the hill tee shot with a blind RH pond 275 yds away. Fairways are lined here mostly with mature hardwood trees as fairways are side-by-side. The #2 is a 387yd Par 4 slight downhill narrow dogleg right with ponds on the lefthand side and thick trees boarding RH side. This leaves you a slight uphill 2nd shot to a small flat green. The #3 Par 3 plays 195yds with greenside bunkers and a dropoff right/behind the green. The #4 Par 4 at 328yds has three (3) ponds in the fairway but a 200yd drive (leftside) puts you in the middle of them. Be careful on that approach shot as the road is 10yds past the green that makes for a real bad bounce. The #5 dogleg right at 285yd maybe a short Par 4 but tall trees and a pond guard inside corner. Hitting a 180-190yd shot to the corner makes this a easy par. The #6 is now a 294yd dogleg right Par 4 that has a narrow corner so 150-165yd tee shot (leftside) makes this a easy 2nd shot. The next three (3) holes a just back and forth Par 4's at 375-385yds with trees seperating fairways. All in all, this is a real improvement on design and conditions from the course I originally played back in the 1970's. Enjoyed playing here and shooting 36 w/16putts on this cool May morning and a Great breakfast in their resturant here.