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Brian Clark
Whitehall
2022-10-07
$26 (cart included), played on Thursday, September 2022 at 9:00 AM
Heading up to Pentwater, MI and decided to stop and see if I could get in a quick 18 holes before noon. Had a short frost delay so it gave me time to talk to Family members that keep this 36 hole track going. It seems that Malcom Jackson built the Gold (2,825yd Par 36) course first in 1966 and then came the Red (3,143yds Par 34) in 1972. With this success the Blue (3,087yd Par 36) followed in 1985 and the White (3,068yd Par 36) added in 1991 making the 36 hole facility complete as it is today. Son-in-Laws, family members and good friends are doing a great job of keeping Hickory Knoll GC a local favorite golfing destination. Good grass can be found throughout the course with friendly widths for the fairways and 2"-3" rough cut. Mostly flat layout but with scattered trees it breaks up and defines the hole separation. Greens are in great shape and are on the smaller side rolling to a 7-8 for these fall conditions. I decided to play the original 18 hole layout of Gold 1st and then Red 2nd from the Mens tees (Only 2 tees, Men & Womens) at 2,825/3,143yds for a Par 35/34. The Gold (Front 9) starts out with its Hcp 2 Par 4 @ 343yds thats a slight dogleg left to a small raised green. The #4 Par 5 @ 471yds has a hidden pond protecting the left front side of the green so miss right. The #6 is sweeping right 535yd Par 5 Hcp 1 with scattered trees on the inside corner at 200-230yds so stay to LH side up to the elevated green. The #8 is a uphill Par 3 that plays all of its 183yds+ into the SW winds. The Reds (Back 9) #1 starts out with a slightly downhill 201yd Par 3 to a small round raised green about 10yds wide and its the Hcp 9 hole....Good Luck. The #4 is a uphill/downhill 401yd Par 4 Hcp 1 to a raised green with all round steep sides that reject missed shots. The #6 is a 419yd Par 4 that has trees hugging the RH side of fairway to a small green on this Hcp 5 hole. The #8 Par 3 at 184yds has a Hcp 8 rating but with the very steep front its all carry to the small green with trees back and right, not a friendly view. The #9 is a 375yd dogleg right with a big uphill 2nd shot that is 2 clubs extra because of the West wind you can't feel until you're up on the green. Really enjoyed playing here today (2hrs 15 minutes) and shooting 37/38 w/28 putts on this Par 69 enjoyable layout. Look forward to returning and playing the White (3,068yd Par 36) and Blue (3,087yd Par 36) similar layout and meeting more friendly Family members.
Would travel: 30-60 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
Condition of Course, Price, Pace of Play, Staff, No Houses on Course
$26 (cart included), played on Thursday, September 2022 at 9:00 AM
Heading up to Pentwater, MI and decided to stop and see if I could get in a quick 18 holes before noon. Had a short frost delay so it gave me time to talk to Family members that keep this 36 hole track going. It seems that Malcom Jackson built the Gold (2,825yd Par 36) course first in 1966 and then came the Red (3,143yds Par 34) in 1972. With this success the Blue (3,087yd Par 36) followed in 1985 and the White (3,068yd Par 36) added in 1991 making the 36 hole facility complete as it is today. Son-in-Laws, family members and good friends are doing a great job of keeping Hickory Knoll GC a local favorite golfing destination. Good grass can be found throughout the course with friendly widths for the fairways and 2"-3" rough cut. Mostly flat layout but with scattered trees it breaks up and defines the hole separation. Greens are in great shape and are on the smaller side rolling to a 7-8 for these fall conditions. I decided to play the original 18 hole layout of Gold 1st and then Red 2nd from the Mens tees (Only 2 tees, Men & Womens) at 2,825/3,143yds for a Par 35/34. The Gold (Front 9) starts out with its Hcp 2 Par 4 @ 343yds thats a slight dogleg left to a small raised green. The #4 Par 5 @ 471yds has a hidden pond protecting the left front side of the green so miss right. The #6 is sweeping right 535yd Par 5 Hcp 1 with scattered trees on the inside corner at 200-230yds so stay to LH side up to the elevated green. The #8 is a uphill Par 3 that plays all of its 183yds+ into the SW winds. The Reds (Back 9) #1 starts out with a slightly downhill 201yd Par 3 to a small round raised green about 10yds wide and its the Hcp 9 hole....Good Luck. The #4 is a uphill/downhill 401yd Par 4 Hcp 1 to a raised green with all round steep sides that reject missed shots. The #6 is a 419yd Par 4 that has trees hugging the RH side of fairway to a small green on this Hcp 5 hole. The #8 Par 3 at 184yds has a Hcp 8 rating but with the very steep front its all carry to the small green with trees back and right, not a friendly view. The #9 is a 375yd dogleg right with a big uphill 2nd shot that is 2 clubs extra because of the West wind you can't feel until you're up on the green. Really enjoyed playing here today (2hrs 15 minutes) and shooting 37/38 w/28 putts on this Par 69 enjoyable layout. Look forward to returning and playing the White (3,068yd Par 36) and Blue (3,087yd Par 36) similar layout and meeting more friendly Family members.