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Brian Clark
Bowling Green
2023-03-19
$21 (cart included), played on Thursday, March 2023 at 10:15 AM
We still got snow on the ground in Michigan but Bowling Green, OH is clear at 42-52 degrees today so I'm heading south 1.5 hrs. Great early Spring price of $25 18/cart to play this 1998 Arthur Hills "Links" style course from Golds @ 7,064yd / 74.2 / 133 down to Reds @ 4,993yd / 69.4 / 121 from one of their five (5) tees on this Par 36/36 layout. Even though its still shaggy from its last cutting in October, it shows it has some great bones once the mowers can be cut loose. Conditions were very soft on the fairways but the ball sat up very well on the tight grass. Great mix of grass/sand bunkers throughout the course and well placed around the fairway and greens. The course moves through some housing areas but they far enough back to not cause any viewing problems seeing where you need to go. The starter gave me one tip on playing here that took me about six (6) holes to understand, "The SW wind will always be in your Face or blowing across the fairway execpt #5, #10 and #12" and he was right on this 12-20mph wind today. Played from the Blues today at 3,268/3,259yd / 71.6 / 128 and in hind sight the Whites @ 5,983yd / 68.6 / 117 would have been a better choice with the soft conditions. The Front 9 starts right off with a 429yd sweeping right Par 4 to a elevated green and a middle left sand trap guarding the Hcp 2 on this hole. The #4 Par 5 at 608yds Hcp 6 is dead into the SW wind on this narrow treelined fairway that snakes to the small elevated narrow green, with all carry your last 110yds. The #5 Par 3 plays 186yds from the Blues and with the "Tee to Green" pond carry on the middle/left, bailout is RH greenside trap. The SW wind swirls into the trees behind the green and shuts the ball down 15-20yds early. The #9 Par 4 at 423yds has a 180yd pond carry off the tee to a uphill green and large sand trap LH side with a left to right wind. The Back 9 is a downwind 411yd Par 4 with water on the RH side tucked up the RH front of the green. The #11 is a 471yd Par 4 Hcp 3 that plays into the wind that is just a long grind uphill. The #12 Par 5 at 542yds has water down the entire fairway and green RH side, so stay left. The #18 Par 4 at 453yds is their Hcp 1 and is a great sweeping left with tee to green water on the left side. I played my 2nd shot 50yds short of the RH greenside bunker for a 60yd safe chip on, and just missed my 6' putt for a safe bogey. Would love to come back here and see this track in the prime condition I know they can make it. Ended up shooting 42/41 w/29 putts as the wind and soft conditions made it play a lot longer than tthe posted yardage.
Would travel: 60-120 Miles, Vacation Worthy
Bottom line: I would play again, Better than average course for the area, 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, Difficulty, Staff, Layout
$21 (cart included), played on Thursday, March 2023 at 10:15 AM
We still got snow on the ground in Michigan but Bowling Green, OH is clear at 42-52 degrees today so I'm heading south 1.5 hrs. Great early Spring price of $25 18/cart to play this 1998 Arthur Hills "Links" style course from Golds @ 7,064yd / 74.2 / 133 down to Reds @ 4,993yd / 69.4 / 121 from one of their five (5) tees on this Par 36/36 layout. Even though its still shaggy from its last cutting in October, it shows it has some great bones once the mowers can be cut loose. Conditions were very soft on the fairways but the ball sat up very well on the tight grass. Great mix of grass/sand bunkers throughout the course and well placed around the fairway and greens. The course moves through some housing areas but they far enough back to not cause any viewing problems seeing where you need to go. The starter gave me one tip on playing here that took me about six (6) holes to understand, "The SW wind will always be in your Face or blowing across the fairway execpt #5, #10 and #12" and he was right on this 12-20mph wind today. Played from the Blues today at 3,268/3,259yd / 71.6 / 128 and in hind sight the Whites @ 5,983yd / 68.6 / 117 would have been a better choice with the soft conditions. The Front 9 starts right off with a 429yd sweeping right Par 4 to a elevated green and a middle left sand trap guarding the Hcp 2 on this hole. The #4 Par 5 at 608yds Hcp 6 is dead into the SW wind on this narrow treelined fairway that snakes to the small elevated narrow green, with all carry your last 110yds. The #5 Par 3 plays 186yds from the Blues and with the "Tee to Green" pond carry on the middle/left, bailout is RH greenside trap. The SW wind swirls into the trees behind the green and shuts the ball down 15-20yds early. The #9 Par 4 at 423yds has a 180yd pond carry off the tee to a uphill green and large sand trap LH side with a left to right wind. The Back 9 is a downwind 411yd Par 4 with water on the RH side tucked up the RH front of the green. The #11 is a 471yd Par 4 Hcp 3 that plays into the wind that is just a long grind uphill. The #12 Par 5 at 542yds has water down the entire fairway and green RH side, so stay left. The #18 Par 4 at 453yds is their Hcp 1 and is a great sweeping left with tee to green water on the left side. I played my 2nd shot 50yds short of the RH greenside bunker for a 60yd safe chip on, and just missed my 6' putt for a safe bogey. Would love to come back here and see this track in the prime condition I know they can make it. Ended up shooting 42/41 w/29 putts as the wind and soft conditions made it play a lot longer than tthe posted yardage.