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Brian Clark
Ann Arbor
2020-11-30
$36 (cart included), played on Thursday, November 2020 at 8:00 AM
Finally got a chance to get the 1st Tee time on this "Warmer" than normal (56 degrees) on this beautiful Fall morning and course to match.
This 1991 Arthur Hills is a great layout intertwined with nature, gorgeous homes that linger in among the bordering trees. There seems to be a lot of low areas that the designer has dug out ponds and drainage streams that show up on about eleven (11) holes, to alter your course management. Having five (5) yardage choices from Blue 6,932yd/74.2/131 down to Red at 5,198yd/65.3/112 will give everyone a chance to enjoy this challenging Par 36/36 layout.
I chose the Whites this morning as they were very balanced at 3,245/3,236yds / 71.5 / 128 because a local regular, John H, said "Enjoy the course First, Then Challenge it Later"........Wise Words.
Starting out on #1 a 397yd Par 4 Hcp 3 that's a dogleg right with a wide creek crossing in front of the Green, forced me into my first of four (4) layups. TiP: play to the RH side fairway corner for a shorter 2nd shot, LH center cut is 200 in.
The #2 409yd is the same RH dogleg layout so stay to the inside corner. Even though #3 Par 5 is short at 473yds your dogleg right with inside traps and creek in front of the green, catches those short 2nd shots, trying to get home in two.
The #4 Par 3 Hdc 7 plays 179-109yds with pond carry from tee to green, having bailout to the LH side or long.
This sounds strange, but the #6 Par 3 that plays 210-127yds is the Hcp 1 for both Men and Women and is NOT an island green. The completely elevated (5'-6') green is 37' long and 10' wide which rejects everything 15' away from this narrow green and needs no sand trap/water to make it harder.
#7 is a 352yd Par 4 dogleg left has a 150yd sand trap guarding the inside corner and marsh creek on the right.
#9 is a friendly straightaway 378 yds Par 4 that will give you a good feeling making the turn.
#10 is a dogleg right 356 yds Par 4 and if you miss the green right, a thick marsh awaits your errant shot.
#11 is another 356yd dogleg right But, if you hit a 190yd down the righthand side to a small landing area that's 130-140yds in, with a better angle. The fairway layout wants you to hit to the 150yd marker but is a tougher angle with water short and right having bailout to the left. (Thanks John for the tip)
#14 Par 5 at 478 yds has water left coming into play on 2nd and approach shot with greenside traps guarding the RH /front side.
#15 Par 4 has a target landing island that receives a 160-200yd tee shot leaving the rest to a 24' deep/round green, a marsh carries in front with water right and long if missed.
#17 Par 5 is a 509yd dogleg left that has a completely elevated green to reject miss shots and "Long is Gone".
You finish on a 401yd dogleg right Par 4 with a stream in front of the elevated green seems fitting for this Hcp 4 Arthur Hills course.
Great conditions from tee to green (rolling 9-10) and the GPS on the carts was a big time saver for a twosome playing 18 holes in 2hrs 30 minutes. I ended up shooting 37/41 w/31 putts with a lot of help from a seasoned regular player here....Many Thanks John.
Would travel: 30-60 Miles, Vacation Worthy
Bottom line: I would play again, Better than average course for the area, Fair priced based on quality and competitive area pricing, Ranks with the best in this price level
Condition of Course, Pace of Play, Difficulty, Staff, Layout
$36 (cart included), played on Thursday, November 2020 at 8:00 AM
Finally got a chance to get the 1st Tee time on this "Warmer" than normal (56 degrees) on this beautiful Fall morning and course to match.
This 1991 Arthur Hills is a great layout intertwined with nature, gorgeous homes that linger in among the bordering trees. There seems to be a lot of low areas that the designer has dug out ponds and drainage streams that show up on about eleven (11) holes, to alter your course management. Having five (5) yardage choices from Blue 6,932yd/74.2/131 down to Red at 5,198yd/65.3/112 will give everyone a chance to enjoy this challenging Par 36/36 layout.
I chose the Whites this morning as they were very balanced at 3,245/3,236yds / 71.5 / 128 because a local regular, John H, said "Enjoy the course First, Then Challenge it Later"........Wise Words.
Starting out on #1 a 397yd Par 4 Hcp 3 that's a dogleg right with a wide creek crossing in front of the Green, forced me into my first of four (4) layups. TiP: play to the RH side fairway corner for a shorter 2nd shot, LH center cut is 200 in.
The #2 409yd is the same RH dogleg layout so stay to the inside corner. Even though #3 Par 5 is short at 473yds your dogleg right with inside traps and creek in front of the green, catches those short 2nd shots, trying to get home in two.
The #4 Par 3 Hdc 7 plays 179-109yds with pond carry from tee to green, having bailout to the LH side or long.
This sounds strange, but the #6 Par 3 that plays 210-127yds is the Hcp 1 for both Men and Women and is NOT an island green. The completely elevated (5'-6') green is 37' long and 10' wide which rejects everything 15' away from this narrow green and needs no sand trap/water to make it harder.
#7 is a 352yd Par 4 dogleg left has a 150yd sand trap guarding the inside corner and marsh creek on the right.
#9 is a friendly straightaway 378 yds Par 4 that will give you a good feeling making the turn.
#10 is a dogleg right 356 yds Par 4 and if you miss the green right, a thick marsh awaits your errant shot.
#11 is another 356yd dogleg right But, if you hit a 190yd down the righthand side to a small landing area that's 130-140yds in, with a better angle. The fairway layout wants you to hit to the 150yd marker but is a tougher angle with water short and right having bailout to the left. (Thanks John for the tip)
#14 Par 5 at 478 yds has water left coming into play on 2nd and approach shot with greenside traps guarding the RH /front side.
#15 Par 4 has a target landing island that receives a 160-200yd tee shot leaving the rest to a 24' deep/round green, a marsh carries in front with water right and long if missed.
#17 Par 5 is a 509yd dogleg left that has a completely elevated green to reject miss shots and "Long is Gone".
You finish on a 401yd dogleg right Par 4 with a stream in front of the elevated green seems fitting for this Hcp 4 Arthur Hills course.
Great conditions from tee to green (rolling 9-10) and the GPS on the carts was a big time saver for a twosome playing 18 holes in 2hrs 30 minutes. I ended up shooting 37/41 w/31 putts with a lot of help from a seasoned regular player here....Many Thanks John.