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Brian Clark
South Riding
2020-06-22
$61 (cart included), played on Friday, June 2020 at 9:45 AM
This is a 1997 Dan Maples designed layout that takes advantage of the rolling wooded and marsh area. You find yourself on fairways winding between treelined and marsh bordered that have sand trap protected landing areas awaiting you. Sculpured cut fairways challenge your distance to those landing zones so choose wisely. The rough depth varies between 2" and 4" depending on topical location. Greens are well maintained to rolling/holding but could use some divot repair help from the players. Having five (5) yardage slections from 7,148yd / 74.9 / 143 down to 5,001yds / 69.5 / 120 lets everyone pick their Par 36/36 challenge for the day. Yardage markers are a mix of blocks, sticks and some sprinkler heads but elevation changes need GPS assistance. We all chose the Tournament/Blue tees today that play 3,289/3,184yds / 71.9 / 136 and headed out on our golfing adventure. The Front 9 starts out with a marsh lined 542yd Par 5 tight LH dogleg that requires 210-225yd shot to sit in the corner and view the elevated greens 300+yds away. The #2 a straightaway 373yd Par 4 has a generous landing area at 180yds, tightens up 190-220yds and opens up at 240yds w/traps on the RH side. The #3 is a 501yd Par 5 thats layout is similar to #2 but for the marsh lined fairway, so don't stray. The #4 is a 392yd challenging Par 4 that protects it's Hcp 2 by forced 180yd carry, marsh lined fairway that finishes to a uphill located green. The #5 Par 3 is a beautiful downhill looking Hcp 8, all carry 195yd shot to the mostly flat green with a 15yd apron short left as your bailout. The #6 a 366yd Par 4 lowers its guard in offering a easy trip to Par if your tee finds the straightaway fairway. The #7 is a strange Par 3 that plays well to a 188yd cut shot as a draw has no bailout coming up short. The #8 Hcp 18 is a short 328yd Par 4 but if you hit over 240yds from the Blues, Deep grass awaits you. Play for the 100yd stick and a easy par is yours. The #9 a 404yd Par 4 is a Hcp 4 sculptured mowed, sand trap protected fairway thats leads to a elevated small green. The Back 9 views itself as being more narrow with no straightaway viewed looks to the promised land. The #10 is a 494yd Par 5 with two large landing areas that allow a easy par to start the back with. The #11 a 153yd Par 3 that plays to the draw shaped shot but don't hit the large sand trap left that I did. The #12 is a 370yd Hcp 3 Par 4 that has your landing pad at 170 - 230yds out, hitting to a elevated narrow green. Unlucky #13 a 375yd Par 4 their Hcp 1 hole that has a split narrow walking fairway at 220yds out. The marsh in the middle should be given respect as landing short is a Very wise choice that I didn't choose today. The #14 a 189yd Par 3 is the opposite of #7 (cut shot) as the draw follows the fairway around the left-side located pond. The #15 a 524yd Par 5 is a very narrow fairway that has traps located at your prime landing areas all the way to home base. The #16 is a slight RH dogleg 376yd Par 4 with tight protected landing area 200-230yds out. The green has two (2) large traps located on the RH side to catch those short shots. The #17 is a sharp dogleg left 308yd Par 4 with tall trees and marsh stopping any thoughts of cutting the corner unless a high 270yd carry is in your bag. The fairway is short straightaway so a 180-200yd is all that's required to look at the green from the 100-130yd corner. Finishing on the narrow straightaway uphill 395yd Par 4 requires staying in play and landing short offers a friendly chip to a one (1) putt par to close out the round. I ended up shooting 42/45 w/34putts as having three (3) OB's on the Back 9 took its toll. Though the course was located in a housing area, the homes were well hidden from the course as we played. I thought that the price of $65 18/cart was $10-$15 on the high side for weekday golf, but that's based on Michigan pricing. The pace for the four (4) of us was a steady 4.5 hrs that didn't seem bad for a packed course today.
Would travel: 20-30 Miles, Vacation Worthy
Bottom line: I would play again, Fair priced based on quality and competitive area pricing
Condition of Course, Pace of Play, Difficulty, Layout
$61 (cart included), played on Friday, June 2020 at 9:45 AM
This is a 1997 Dan Maples designed layout that takes advantage of the rolling wooded and marsh area. You find yourself on fairways winding between treelined and marsh bordered that have sand trap protected landing areas awaiting you. Sculpured cut fairways challenge your distance to those landing zones so choose wisely. The rough depth varies between 2" and 4" depending on topical location. Greens are well maintained to rolling/holding but could use some divot repair help from the players. Having five (5) yardage slections from 7,148yd / 74.9 / 143 down to 5,001yds / 69.5 / 120 lets everyone pick their Par 36/36 challenge for the day. Yardage markers are a mix of blocks, sticks and some sprinkler heads but elevation changes need GPS assistance. We all chose the Tournament/Blue tees today that play 3,289/3,184yds / 71.9 / 136 and headed out on our golfing adventure. The Front 9 starts out with a marsh lined 542yd Par 5 tight LH dogleg that requires 210-225yd shot to sit in the corner and view the elevated greens 300+yds away. The #2 a straightaway 373yd Par 4 has a generous landing area at 180yds, tightens up 190-220yds and opens up at 240yds w/traps on the RH side. The #3 is a 501yd Par 5 thats layout is similar to #2 but for the marsh lined fairway, so don't stray. The #4 is a 392yd challenging Par 4 that protects it's Hcp 2 by forced 180yd carry, marsh lined fairway that finishes to a uphill located green. The #5 Par 3 is a beautiful downhill looking Hcp 8, all carry 195yd shot to the mostly flat green with a 15yd apron short left as your bailout. The #6 a 366yd Par 4 lowers its guard in offering a easy trip to Par if your tee finds the straightaway fairway. The #7 is a strange Par 3 that plays well to a 188yd cut shot as a draw has no bailout coming up short. The #8 Hcp 18 is a short 328yd Par 4 but if you hit over 240yds from the Blues, Deep grass awaits you. Play for the 100yd stick and a easy par is yours. The #9 a 404yd Par 4 is a Hcp 4 sculptured mowed, sand trap protected fairway thats leads to a elevated small green. The Back 9 views itself as being more narrow with no straightaway viewed looks to the promised land. The #10 is a 494yd Par 5 with two large landing areas that allow a easy par to start the back with. The #11 a 153yd Par 3 that plays to the draw shaped shot but don't hit the large sand trap left that I did. The #12 is a 370yd Hcp 3 Par 4 that has your landing pad at 170 - 230yds out, hitting to a elevated narrow green. Unlucky #13 a 375yd Par 4 their Hcp 1 hole that has a split narrow walking fairway at 220yds out. The marsh in the middle should be given respect as landing short is a Very wise choice that I didn't choose today. The #14 a 189yd Par 3 is the opposite of #7 (cut shot) as the draw follows the fairway around the left-side located pond. The #15 a 524yd Par 5 is a very narrow fairway that has traps located at your prime landing areas all the way to home base. The #16 is a slight RH dogleg 376yd Par 4 with tight protected landing area 200-230yds out. The green has two (2) large traps located on the RH side to catch those short shots. The #17 is a sharp dogleg left 308yd Par 4 with tall trees and marsh stopping any thoughts of cutting the corner unless a high 270yd carry is in your bag. The fairway is short straightaway so a 180-200yd is all that's required to look at the green from the 100-130yd corner. Finishing on the narrow straightaway uphill 395yd Par 4 requires staying in play and landing short offers a friendly chip to a one (1) putt par to close out the round. I ended up shooting 42/45 w/34putts as having three (3) OB's on the Back 9 took its toll. Though the course was located in a housing area, the homes were well hidden from the course as we played. I thought that the price of $65 18/cart was $10-$15 on the high side for weekday golf, but that's based on Michigan pricing. The pace for the four (4) of us was a steady 4.5 hrs that didn't seem bad for a packed course today.