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
Kendallville
2018-01-26
$21 (cart included), played on Friday, January 2018 at 11:30 AM
Its January, 52 degrees, sun shining, no snow in northern Indiana and I'm going golfing. What a great surprise to find this caliber of course open (cart path only) and in surprisingly good shape, as the snow just melted. Just went in to check it out for future play and Alan Moyer (PGA Professional) over heard me saying "No Clubs Today". With that he said, "You Can Use Mine and enjoy your round". I put down $25 and out I went on this rolling, sand trap infested 3,566yd / Par 36 Back 9 "Links" layout for my first round of 2018. (Front 9 is 3,439yd / Par 36 w/ 73.2 / 130 for the complete layout) The back 9 had generous landing areas but fairway traps lingered for those that strayed or taking short cuts like on #15. Even though the fairways were soft in places, the ball sat up nice and the course drainage was leaving the fairways nice and dry, for the most part. All of the greens I played were raised and still had some shaved front aprons, getting ready for those July/August front pin placements. Yardage markers on the cart path would have been helpful, when taking clubs across the fairway. Par 3 yardage blocks for the various tee boxes always is helpful for first timers, and speeding up the range finder geeks. I only played the Back 9 (Shooting 37 w/16putts) but the front 9 looks a little tighter with more tree lined fairways. This is a "Must Stop" if you're in this area for price and golfing experience as you won't be disappointed. (Golf Digest: America's Best New Course in 1999)
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
Price, Pace of Play, Food/ Bar facilities, Difficulty, Staff, Layout
$21 (cart included), played on Friday, January 2018 at 11:30 AM
Its January, 52 degrees, sun shining, no snow in northern Indiana and I'm going golfing. What a great surprise to find this caliber of course open (cart path only) and in surprisingly good shape, as the snow just melted. Just went in to check it out for future play and Alan Moyer (PGA Professional) over heard me saying "No Clubs Today". With that he said, "You Can Use Mine and enjoy your round". I put down $25 and out I went on this rolling, sand trap infested 3,566yd / Par 36 Back 9 "Links" layout for my first round of 2018. (Front 9 is 3,439yd / Par 36 w/ 73.2 / 130 for the complete layout) The back 9 had generous landing areas but fairway traps lingered for those that strayed or taking short cuts like on #15. Even though the fairways were soft in places, the ball sat up nice and the course drainage was leaving the fairways nice and dry, for the most part. All of the greens I played were raised and still had some shaved front aprons, getting ready for those July/August front pin placements. Yardage markers on the cart path would have been helpful, when taking clubs across the fairway. Par 3 yardage blocks for the various tee boxes always is helpful for first timers, and speeding up the range finder geeks. I only played the Back 9 (Shooting 37 w/16putts) but the front 9 looks a little tighter with more tree lined fairways. This is a "Must Stop" if you're in this area for price and golfing experience as you won't be disappointed. (Golf Digest: America's Best New Course in 1999)