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
Ypsilanti
2020-11-13
$21 (cart included), played on Wednesday, November 2020 at 9:00 AM
Been wanting to play here for 20+ years but weekend /summer pricing was too busy with Marriott Hotel located here. With Late Fall Senior pricing at $25 18/cart.....this was a no brainer. This Championship course that plays from 7,186yd/75.1/143 down to 5,031yd/64.7/109 was designed by Karl Litten and opened in 1989. It was redesigned later (unkown date) by Jim Lipe to its current Par 36/36 layout and yardages. The lower holes down by the lake have these inner ponds that half of the holes wind around and create challenges for carries and missed fairways. Of the seven (7) tee selections I chose the Green at 3,175/3,246yds / 71.4 / 135 but played two (2) of the 190yd Par 3's at 175yds. The #2 is a sweeping left 426yd Par 4 with O.B. Lake on the righthand side of the green. The #5 is a narrow 522yd Hpc 2 Par 5 with O.B. down the righthand side to a well protected elevated green. The #7 at 346yd Par 4 has a narrow elevated green with a large trap covering the front. Finishing up with a 512yd downwind sweeping right Par 5 felt good, but miss the green long and you're Gone O.B. Back 9 (#10) starts out with hitting to a raised fairway over a deep gulley (190yd) then heading right another 300yds to the green. The #11 is a 362yd Hcp 15 hard dogleg right Par 4 but your 2nd shot to a 40' elevated blind green is two (2) clubs more than you think. The #13 at 384yd Par 4 gets it Hcp 3 from the large pond in front of the undulating green. The #14 Par 3 starts off 80' above the soft large green that's 186yds away. The #16 is a Par 5 and at 488yds has the first 250yds under construction down the lefthand side to the green with a water inlet in front. Ending with a 340yd uphill Par 4 with a green tucked between two (2) hills was a nice finish to a great 2.5hr round. Ended up shooting 37/39 w/34 putts on a great course layout at a fantastic price and with the Touch Screen GPS.........Priceless.
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, Food/ Bar facilities, Difficulty, Ambiance, Staff, Layout, No Houses on Course, Clubhouse
$21 (cart included), played on Wednesday, November 2020 at 9:00 AM
Been wanting to play here for 20+ years but weekend /summer pricing was too busy with Marriott Hotel located here. With Late Fall Senior pricing at $25 18/cart.....this was a no brainer. This Championship course that plays from 7,186yd/75.1/143 down to 5,031yd/64.7/109 was designed by Karl Litten and opened in 1989. It was redesigned later (unkown date) by Jim Lipe to its current Par 36/36 layout and yardages. The lower holes down by the lake have these inner ponds that half of the holes wind around and create challenges for carries and missed fairways. Of the seven (7) tee selections I chose the Green at 3,175/3,246yds / 71.4 / 135 but played two (2) of the 190yd Par 3's at 175yds. The #2 is a sweeping left 426yd Par 4 with O.B. Lake on the righthand side of the green. The #5 is a narrow 522yd Hpc 2 Par 5 with O.B. down the righthand side to a well protected elevated green. The #7 at 346yd Par 4 has a narrow elevated green with a large trap covering the front. Finishing up with a 512yd downwind sweeping right Par 5 felt good, but miss the green long and you're Gone O.B. Back 9 (#10) starts out with hitting to a raised fairway over a deep gulley (190yd) then heading right another 300yds to the green. The #11 is a 362yd Hcp 15 hard dogleg right Par 4 but your 2nd shot to a 40' elevated blind green is two (2) clubs more than you think. The #13 at 384yd Par 4 gets it Hcp 3 from the large pond in front of the undulating green. The #14 Par 3 starts off 80' above the soft large green that's 186yds away. The #16 is a Par 5 and at 488yds has the first 250yds under construction down the lefthand side to the green with a water inlet in front. Ending with a 340yd uphill Par 4 with a green tucked between two (2) hills was a nice finish to a great 2.5hr round. Ended up shooting 37/39 w/34 putts on a great course layout at a fantastic price and with the Touch Screen GPS.........Priceless.