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[Sean_A]

The only gripe I have is the short four par #3 (?), with the mounding in front of the green offering a blind approach.  Sticks out like a sore thumb with the rest of the course -- just a minor gripe though.

JohnH,

Is the short 4 you mention similar in design to this?

Long Cove Club No. 5 by Pete Dye

I'm guessing that Chris Lutzke designed the hole with influence by Pete Dye with influence by the Dell hole.  I believe this hole, (short 4 , blind approach over mounding) has been built on some of Pete's other courses as well.  There on Hilton Head Island, I think the mounding on this particular hole seems a bit out of scale with the rest of the course, but I really like playing it, it's a cool hole. 

I'm planning to see Eagle Eye next month.  I'll be staying with friends in Fenton for a week of good ole Michigan golf at Tyrone Hills, home of the hardest working junior golf instructor on the planet, JF Hamilton! 

Weather permitting, the four of us are driving over to Eagle Eye on April 2.   - - - JohnH, Brian, David, JC: Why not make it two foursomes?  Four 6-12 handicappers fresh off the plane and before a night at a casino.  It doesn't get any easier than us.  I'll admit that our best player is quite a bit more punishable, thus weakening our foursome's chances, after a day of suffering an intra-cart drubbing and the night's ensuing casino trainwreck  So we can't play you guys after Wednesday...

Another course JFH is taking us to is Hunter's Ridge.  Anyone played it?





 

Tyrone Hills?  That is a blast from the past.  I didn't think anybody knew it.  Its a very serviceable no nonsense sort of place.  Nothing to knock yer socks off, but decent golf at a decent price. 

Hunters Ridge is pretty good, a step or two up from TH.  One really cool hole is the 10th.  There are a few others that are worth a look as well. 

Nearby is Faulkwood Shores in Howell.  Another solid if unspectacular course that is a notch or two above TH. 

Ciao

[George Freeman]

Eric,

not sure if the picture I'm trying to post will work, but the drawing you put up looks to be almost an exact mirror image of the 3rd at Eagle Eye.  The only difference is that at Eagle Eye, a sliver of fairway continues up the left side of the hole (would be right side in your example) and connects to the green.

Very interesting how similar these holes are...

[JC Jones]

I happen to really enjoy hunter's ridge, especially considering its price.

Im certainly up for a round at Eagle Eye.  I've actually never played it.  It opened right before I moved to the east coast and for whatever reason, I havent played it since I've been back.

[George Freeman]

Eric,

not sure if the picture I'm trying to post will work, but the drawing you put up looks to be almost an exact mirror image of the 3rd at Eagle Eye.  The only difference is that at Eagle Eye, a sliver of fairway continues up the left side of the hole (would be right side in your example) and connects to the green.

Very interesting how similar these holes are...

this should work, go to hole 3:

http://www.hawkhollow.com/eagleeye.aspx?page=course

[Eric Smith]

indeed

[JohnH]

Thanks George and Eric, I couldn't get mine to post either.  Eric's find is almost a duplicate.  As stated earlier, one can bail left if driving the green on #3 at Eagle Eye, although I have yet to try.  3-iron, short iron for me... guess I'm a sissy.

Sean,

Tyrone Hills is indeed a blast from the past.  I learned how to play golf there in the late 70's with my dad, who lived in nearby Linden.

[Eric Smith]

Tyrone Hills?  That is a blast from the past.  I didn't think anybody knew it.  Its a very serviceable no nonsense sort of place.  Nothing to knock yer socks off, but decent golf at a decent price. 

Hunters Ridge is pretty good, a step or two up from TH.  One really cool hole is the 10th.  There are a few others that are worth a look as well. 

Nearby is Faulkwood Shores in Howell.  Another solid if unspectacular course that is a notch or two above TH. 

Ciao

Sean,

I try to get up there every year or so to see my friend at Tyrone.  I like the course, it is no nonsense and the price is right.
The first par 3 is very good I remember.

[Eric Smith]

Tyrone Hills is indeed a blast from the past.  I learned how to play golf there in the late 70's with my dad, who lived in nearby Linden.

So JohnH, you aren't my friend Hambone in disguise are you? He's John Hamilton, and he and his family live in Linden. His dad was Dr. Hamilton, an ortho surgeon there.

[JohnH]

No such luck Eric, and I feel sorry for your friend with that nickname....

[Sean_A]

Tyrone Hills?  That is a blast from the past.  I didn't think anybody knew it.  Its a very serviceable no nonsense sort of place.  Nothing to knock yer socks off, but decent golf at a decent price. 

Hunters Ridge is pretty good, a step or two up from TH.  One really cool hole is the 10th.  There are a few others that are worth a look as well. 

Nearby is Faulkwood Shores in Howell.  Another solid if unspectacular course that is a notch or two above TH. 

Ciao

Sean,

I try to get up there every year or so to see my friend at Tyrone.  I like the course, it is no nonsense and the price is right.
The first par 3 is very good I remember.

People don't talk very much about it and if you can't/won't play the UofM course, I highly recommend Leslie Park.  I have always thought this one of the best public courses in southern Michigan and I prefer it to the others I suggested earlier by quite a margin.  Don't let the A Hills talk put you off.  Some of the stuff he did at Leslie is very good (the 10th especially) and some of it is so-so (the 15th & 17th I can't understand at all)  In any case, if you feel like a bit of a road trip - hour tops - try a course that is much more recognized by Michiganders as a lovely course than by the fly in fly out raters hitting the big names. 

http://michigan.twoguyswhogolf.com/se/se_17.html

Ciao

[Brian Cenci]

The only gripe I have is the short four par #3 (?), with the mounding in front of the green offering a blind approach.  Sticks out like a sore thumb with the rest of the course -- just a minor gripe though.

JohnH,

Is the short 4 you mention similar in design to this?

Long Cove Club No. 5 by Pete Dye

I'm guessing that Chris Lutzke designed the hole with influence by Pete Dye with influence by the Dell hole.  I believe this hole, (short 4 , blind approach over mounding) has been built on some of Pete's other courses as well.  There on Hilton Head Island, I think the mounding on this particular hole seems a bit out of scale with the rest of the course, but I really like playing it, it's a cool hole. 

I'm planning to see Eagle Eye next month.  I'll be staying with friends in Fenton for a week of good ole Michigan golf at Tyrone Hills, home of the hardest working junior golf instructor on the planet, JF Hamilton! 

Weather permitting, the four of us are driving over to Eagle Eye on April 2.   - - - JohnH, Brian, David, JC: Why not make it two foursomes?  Four 6-12 handicappers fresh off the plane and before a night at a casino.  It doesn't get any easier than us.  I'll admit that our best player is quite a bit more punishable, thus weakening our foursome's chances, after a day of suffering an intra-cart drubbing and the night's ensuing casino trainwreck  So we can't play you guys after Wednesday...

Another course JFH is taking us to is Hunter's Ridge.  Anyone played it?





 

Eric,
    April 2nd may work.  I think that is a Wednesday right?  I may be able to swing that if it is latter in the day.  That is the day before Dave and I set sail for a Masters trip down the east coast for golf so I know I could use the practice.

-Brian

[Brian Cenci]

Brian and David -

Being that I live in Lansing, I cant figure out how we havent crossed paths before...

I'm obviously in on any GCA golf being played around town and I think we should take any out of town guests to the dome.  I dont think you can really say you are good at golf until you can hit a various flags hanging from the rafters at 75 yards away.  Plus, free clinics with Bruce, how could you want for anything more?

JC,
     I don't want kind of clinic you can get at the dome.  I tend to hit balls for 5 minutes then focus on drilling the ball picker driving back and forth.  Dave and I can usually be found out at Walnut Hills after 4:30 most weekdays and usually 1 day a week out at Timbo Ridge.  On the weekends, we tend to group out and hit whatever Michigian courses are on our radar.  We should definetly get together at some point.

-Brian

[JC Jones]

Brian and David -

Being that I live in Lansing, I cant figure out how we havent crossed paths before...

I'm obviously in on any GCA golf being played around town and I think we should take any out of town guests to the dome.  I dont think you can really say you are good at golf until you can hit a various flags hanging from the rafters at 75 yards away.  Plus, free clinics with Bruce, how could you want for anything more?

JC,
     I don't want kind of clinic you can get at the dome.  I tend to hit balls for 5 minutes then focus on drilling the ball picker driving back and forth.  Dave and I can usually be found out at Walnut Hills after 4:30 most weekdays and usually 1 day a week out at Timbo Ridge.  On the weekends, we tend to group out and hit whatever Michigian courses are on our radar.  We should definetly get together at some point.

-Brian

You mean you dont benefit from a 90 year old sitting in a plastic chair watching you and 10 other people hit 75 yard wedges?

I can typically be found on the range at Timbo as I live 30 seconds from there (my house backs up to the 4th/5th holes) and Im too lazy to drive the extra 5 minutes to Hawk.... 

I heard the Nut is making some decent deals for the under 30 crowd to join.  Do you know what they are?

Jason

[Eric Smith]

Eric,
    April 2nd may work.  I think that is a Wednesday right?  I may be able to swing that if it is latter in the day.  That is the day before Dave and I set sail for a Masters trip down the east coast for golf so I know I could use the practice.

-Brian

Let's plan on it.  I'll IM you closer to April. We land at DTW at 10AM on that Wednesday and plan to drive directly to Eagle Eye, so afternoon will work for us as well. 

[David Neveux]

Mr. Smith,

If you land at 10 that puts you into Lansing / E. Lansing / Bath around approx 1-2 p.m. I would think.  Sounds good to me, my only hope is that the weather is cooperating, as of now we still have a good couple inches on the ground in Detroit but far less in mid-Michigan.  We talking bout practice?  Not a game, not a game, we talking bout practice?  I'm up for a game, i'm sure we can fill a foursome. 

[Eric Smith]

Dave & Brian:

After an afternoon at Eagle Eye, then drinks at PT Omalley's, would you suggest, me and the guys stay overnight and play Hawk Hollow the next day.  Anything better?

[David Neveux]

Eric,

Hawk Hollow is definitely not your best option.  Cetainly there are some good options in the area if you do decide to stay.  Here are my recommendations;

1.  Take the entire next day to play 36 out at Eagle Eye.  ($50) all you can  play.
2.  Play Timber Ridge, a good friend of mine brother manages the place and I have played it nearly 100 times.  A very enjoyable public golf course with a lot of elevation ( a lot of trees too) and some very interesting greens, lots of contour / movement.  Conditioning has been poor out here the last couple years but tends to be pretty good early / late in our season.  Probably can walk for 25 ride for 40.  Just a guess on the rates.  The website if golftimberridge.com
3.  Go over and have a look at College Fields, good golf at a dirt cheap price.  Some very fun stretches of holes!!
4.  Forest Akers West --MSU home track.  A solid GC with decent rates.  Don't confuse with Akers East ala "the beast" even though it can be had for like 15 if you are a student, I would reccomend hitting balls at the DOME!!!
5.  Hawk Hollow  A well conditioned O.K. golf course at probably a similar rate to Eagle Eye (owned by same peeps) for a little cheaper play all day.  As it sits right across the street, you could do 18 EE / 18 HH. 

If your up for a little drive south I would reccomend Angels Crossing in Vicksburg which is down near Kalamazoo.  Also check your PM.

[Doug Ralston]

Eric,

Hawk Hollow is definitely not your best option.  Cetainly there are some good options in the area if you do decide to stay.  Here are my recommendations;

1.  Take the entire next day to play 36 out at Eagle Eye.  ($50) all you can  play.
2.  Play Timber Ridge, a good friend of mine brother manages the place and I have played it nearly 100 times.  A very enjoyable public golf course with a lot of elevation ( a lot of trees too) and some very interesting greens, lots of contour / movement.  Conditioning has been poor out here the last couple years but tends to be pretty good early / late in our season.  Probably can walk for 25 ride for 40.  Just a guess on the rates.  The website if golftimberridge.com
3.  Go over and have a look at College Fields, good golf at a dirt cheap price.  Some very fun stretches of holes!!
4.  Forest Akers West --MSU home track.  A solid GC with decent rates.  Don't confuse with Akers East ala "the beast" even though it can be had for like 15 if you are a student, I would reccomend hitting balls at the DOME!!!
5.  Hawk Hollow  A well conditioned O.K. golf course at probably a similar rate to Eagle Eye (owned by same peeps) for a little cheaper play all day.  As it sits right across the street, you could do 18 EE / 18 HH. 

If your up for a little drive south I would reccomend Angels Crossing in Vicksburg which is down near Kalamazoo.  Also check your PM.

David;

How close is 'The Grande' from there? I have heard some good things about it.

Doug

[JohnH]

Doug,

The Grande, in my back yard, is also a must play and about 40-45 minutes south of Lansing.  I would highly recommend it and the rates are usually somewhere around $50, but don't take that as an exact.  Probably cheaper during the first week of April.

[Sean_A]

Eric,

Hawk Hollow is definitely not your best option.  Cetainly there are some good options in the area if you do decide to stay.  Here are my recommendations;

1.  Take the entire next day to play 36 out at Eagle Eye.  ($50) all you can  play.
2.  Play Timber Ridge, a good friend of mine brother manages the place and I have played it nearly 100 times.  A very enjoyable public golf course with a lot of elevation ( a lot of trees too) and some very interesting greens, lots of contour / movement.  Conditioning has been poor out here the last couple years but tends to be pretty good early / late in our season.  Probably can walk for 25 ride for 40.  Just a guess on the rates.  The website if golftimberridge.com
3.  Go over and have a look at College Fields, good golf at a dirt cheap price.  Some very fun stretches of holes!!
4.  Forest Akers West --MSU home track.  A solid GC with decent rates.  Don't confuse with Akers East ala "the beast" even though it can be had for like 15 if you are a student, I would reccomend hitting balls at the DOME!!!
5.  Hawk Hollow  A well conditioned O.K. golf course at probably a similar rate to Eagle Eye (owned by same peeps) for a little cheaper play all day.  As it sits right across the street, you could do 18 EE / 18 HH. 

If your up for a little drive south I would reccomend Angels Crossing in Vicksburg which is down near Kalamazoo.  Also check your PM.

David;

How close is 'The Grande' from there? I have heard some good things about it.

Doug

Doug

The Grande is alright - nothing worth going out of your way for.  If you are in Jackson I would reco Cascades at about half the price for a course roughly the same quality.  It is generally in the same class as Leslie Park.  Some say its better some say its not. 

A course my mates say is very good is Calderone Farms near Grass Lake in the Ann Arbor-Jackson corridor.  I have never played it though.

Ciao

[JohnH]

Eric,

Hawk Hollow is definitely not your best option.  Cetainly there are some good options in the area if you do decide to stay.  Here are my recommendations;

1.  Take the entire next day to play 36 out at Eagle Eye.  ($50) all you can  play.
2.  Play Timber Ridge, a good friend of mine brother manages the place and I have played it nearly 100 times.  A very enjoyable public golf course with a lot of elevation ( a lot of trees too) and some very interesting greens, lots of contour / movement.  Conditioning has been poor out here the last couple years but tends to be pretty good early / late in our season.  Probably can walk for 25 ride for 40.  Just a guess on the rates.  The website if golftimberridge.com
3.  Go over and have a look at College Fields, good golf at a dirt cheap price.  Some very fun stretches of holes!!
4.  Forest Akers West --MSU home track.  A solid GC with decent rates.  Don't confuse with Akers East ala "the beast" even though it can be had for like 15 if you are a student, I would reccomend hitting balls at the DOME!!!
5.  Hawk Hollow  A well conditioned O.K. golf course at probably a similar rate to Eagle Eye (owned by same peeps) for a little cheaper play all day.  As it sits right across the street, you could do 18 EE / 18 HH. 

If your up for a little drive south I would reccomend Angels Crossing in Vicksburg which is down near Kalamazoo.  Also check your PM.

David;

How close is 'The Grande' from there? I have heard some good things about it.

Doug

Doug

The Grande is alright - nothing worth going out of your way for.  If you are in Jackson I would reco Cascades at about half the price for a course roughly the same quality.  It is generally in the same class as Leslie Park.  Some say its better some say its not. 

A course my mates say is very good is Calderone Farms near Grass Lake in the Ann Arbor-Jackson corridor.  I have never played it though.

Ciao

Wow.  Cascades and The Grande don't even belong in the same sentence.  Completely different atmospheres and course conditions.  Cascades is waaay down in the last three years or so as far as conditioning.  But, it is a deal nowadays on the pocket book.  Just out of curiosity Sean, why no love for The Grande?  Just alright?  To me it's a notch above Calderone and the nicest course in Jackson County.

[Sean_A]

Eric,

Hawk Hollow is definitely not your best option.  Cetainly there are some good options in the area if you do decide to stay.  Here are my recommendations;

1.  Take the entire next day to play 36 out at Eagle Eye.  ($50) all you can  play.
2.  Play Timber Ridge, a good friend of mine brother manages the place and I have played it nearly 100 times.  A very enjoyable public golf course with a lot of elevation ( a lot of trees too) and some very interesting greens, lots of contour / movement.  Conditioning has been poor out here the last couple years but tends to be pretty good early / late in our season.  Probably can walk for 25 ride for 40.  Just a guess on the rates.  The website if golftimberridge.com
3.  Go over and have a look at College Fields, good golf at a dirt cheap price.  Some very fun stretches of holes!!
4.  Forest Akers West --MSU home track.  A solid GC with decent rates.  Don't confuse with Akers East ala "the beast" even though it can be had for like 15 if you are a student, I would reccomend hitting balls at the DOME!!!
5.  Hawk Hollow  A well conditioned O.K. golf course at probably a similar rate to Eagle Eye (owned by same peeps) for a little cheaper play all day.  As it sits right across the street, you could do 18 EE / 18 HH. 

If your up for a little drive south I would reccomend Angels Crossing in Vicksburg which is down near Kalamazoo.  Also check your PM.

David;

How close is 'The Grande' from there? I have heard some good things about it.

Doug

Doug

The Grande is alright - nothing worth going out of your way for.  If you are in Jackson I would reco Cascades at about half the price for a course roughly the same quality.  It is generally in the same class as Leslie Park.  Some say its better some say its not. 

A course my mates say is very good is Calderone Farms near Grass Lake in the Ann Arbor-Jackson corridor.  I have never played it though.

Ciao

Wow.  Cascades and The Grande don't even belong in the same sentence.  Completely different atmospheres and course conditions.  Cascades is waaay down in the last three years or so as far as conditioning.  But, it is a deal nowadays on the pocket book.  Just out of curiosity Sean, why no love for The Grande?  Just alright?  To me it's a notch above Calderone and the nicest course in Jackson County.

John

I don't worry too much about conditioning, but it is a shame Cascades has dropped its never terribly high standards. 

The Grande is ok and its not a bad price either, it just doesn't do it for me.  I don't think its worth the 45 minute drive from AA that is for sure - I would much rather stay in AA and play UofM or perhaps Leslie.  The Grande feels much of a muchness to me in the same sort of way Pierce Lake does (though I prefer Pierce Lake on balance).  Many of the holes seem like if I haven't just seen a similar type shot/look not 30 minutes ago then the same shot/look exists somewhere else nearby.  The course doesn't have any feeling of being about itself.  However, this tends to be a problem with many newish Michigan courses built in the boom of the past 25 years or so- very few are really distinguishable so I spose its being a bit nitpicky.  The bottom line is that I have become spoiled in England!

I haven't seen Calderone and it isn't likely I will unless I move back to the AA-Detroit area or hang around for a few weeks - neither case is likely to happen anytime soon.  My mates like the course, but we don't always agree on what is good and not good.   

Ciao

[David Neveux]

Number 11 was Black Lake for anybody keeping score.  I did not omit the BL for any personal reasons. 

[Brian Cenci]

Number 11 was Black Lake for anybody keeping score.  I did not omit the BL for any personal reasons. 

"Best public course in the state"  - - the Starter out there

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