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
Kalamazoo
2018-07-19
$21 (cart included), played on Thursday, July 2018 at 7:10 AM
I read about this local owned "Links" designed layout about 80 minutes from my house and decided to play and rate it. It's mostly a flat area but with the added hardwood trees this 5,017yd / 69.2 /104 to 6,186yd / 69.2 / 106 Par 36/36 can challenge all levels of golfers.
The front 9 holes are mostly on the inside of the course with the back 9 holes on the outside of the course. The fairways (some weeds) are mostly generous for landing areas with overhanging tree branches to tighten up 2nd shots if you're not near the middle. They have a great yardage book that comes with your $23.50 w/cart senior weekday rate that came in very handy in club selection.
Many of the greens (7-8) are level with the fairways so up/down come pretty easy and found them holding all incoming shots very good. Standard yardage blocks 100 - 200 down the middle with no blocks on the Par 3's.......my pet peeve.
Starting out on #1 hole 415yd and having it be the #1 hcp gets the 5w out of the bag early to the smaller sized green to boot. Then #3 209yd Par 3 has you making another big swing decision so early in your round. The rest of the front 9 finishes up fairly easy and make you feel good about your game.
Now for the back nine. We get to #11 575yd par 5 and #2hcp that is straight away and 200yds to the fairway......don't screw up that drive. A small, tipped to the left green awaits you and they love to put the pin in the upper RH side as I saw many witness marks. The #15 375yd par 4 elevated green is the only tough green to hit and it falls heavily to the left. The tight dogleg finishing hole, #18 455yd Par 5 forces a 7-8 iron 2nd shot over the corner trees to the 100 yd stick to finish off your round. I enjoyed this side by side layout that had nice hole separation keeping the average golfer safe and in their own fairway.
Ending up shooting 37/40 w/31putts on this clear and cool 60 degree Thursday morning and Look forward to returning.
Would travel: 30-60 Miles, Not 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
Condition of Course, Price, Pace of Play, Food/ Bar facilities, Staff, No Houses on Course
$21 (cart included), played on Thursday, July 2018 at 7:10 AM
I read about this local owned "Links" designed layout about 80 minutes from my house and decided to play and rate it. It's mostly a flat area but with the added hardwood trees this 5,017yd / 69.2 /104 to 6,186yd / 69.2 / 106 Par 36/36 can challenge all levels of golfers.
The front 9 holes are mostly on the inside of the course with the back 9 holes on the outside of the course. The fairways (some weeds) are mostly generous for landing areas with overhanging tree branches to tighten up 2nd shots if you're not near the middle. They have a great yardage book that comes with your $23.50 w/cart senior weekday rate that came in very handy in club selection.
Many of the greens (7-8) are level with the fairways so up/down come pretty easy and found them holding all incoming shots very good. Standard yardage blocks 100 - 200 down the middle with no blocks on the Par 3's.......my pet peeve.
Starting out on #1 hole 415yd and having it be the #1 hcp gets the 5w out of the bag early to the smaller sized green to boot. Then #3 209yd Par 3 has you making another big swing decision so early in your round. The rest of the front 9 finishes up fairly easy and make you feel good about your game.
Now for the back nine. We get to #11 575yd par 5 and #2hcp that is straight away and 200yds to the fairway......don't screw up that drive. A small, tipped to the left green awaits you and they love to put the pin in the upper RH side as I saw many witness marks. The #15 375yd par 4 elevated green is the only tough green to hit and it falls heavily to the left. The tight dogleg finishing hole, #18 455yd Par 5 forces a 7-8 iron 2nd shot over the corner trees to the 100 yd stick to finish off your round. I enjoyed this side by side layout that had nice hole separation keeping the average golfer safe and in their own fairway.
Ending up shooting 37/40 w/31putts on this clear and cool 60 degree Thursday morning and Look forward to returning.