You left out:

Pine Knob
Oakland University's 2 courses Katke Cousins & R&S Sharf

Indianwood is a great place though.  I forsee joining it sometime in the next 5 years.

In the Oxford area there is Devils Ridge, Copper Hills and Boulder Pointe all public and withind 15 minutes of Indainwood. The Private clubs really close are Paint Creek, Metomora CC and Oakhurst CC. I would skip Bald Mountain (Reid designed) and Oxford Hills.  Up in the Flint area you have Atlas Valley and Flint Golf Club, plus Warwick Hills.  If you hit Google maps for Lake Orion, you can see all your options.

Paul,

Indianwood has two tracks that are both very different but worth seeing.  The only other course of note to see within 10 miles is Wyndgate.  It has 36 holes.  Make sure you see the one with the 10 miles of inlaid brick cart paths.  It is incredibly scenic and a great lesson in how to spend money on all of the wrong things.  It also has the nicest clubhouse in all of Michigan.

So it sounds like Indianwood Old, and then New, and possibly the other closest courses (worth seeing) are:
Shepard's Hollow and Oakland - Sharf

how far apart are these four courses?


(for the record, I've played Oakland Hills, Franklin Hills, Detroit GC, CC of Detroit, Orchards, and Plum Hollow, so I'm trying to hit the 'best of the rest.')

Oakland Katke is a better course than Oakland Sharf (imho).

Jeff

So Oakland has two courses now that are worth playing?

 

Very much so.

The katke course has been there for over 25 years.  (I worked there for 4 years during HS and College).  It has more of a classic feel to it and has some great holes.  I think what I like the most (thinking back) is the variance found in the 5-pars.

7 plays downhill off the tee but the 3rd shot is nearly blind up a steep hill.

9 plays straight away at almost 600 yards going uphill at the green

10 is also straight, but provides a great birdie (or eagle) opportunity as it plays less than 500 and a bit downhill

15 plays as a long dog-leg to the left with water to contend with on the second shot.

It's a solid golf course without any housing (other than the mansion).

The sharf course is nice, I feel it is a bit inconsistent, but does have some great holes with some awesome views (5+6 come to mind).

Jeff

Indianwood Old is brilliant. Indianwood New is a total nightmare. I can't think of a more glaring contrast of Classic and Modern. Wait a minute, I can -- the two courses at Baltimore CC.

I'd suggest The Orchards in Washington Township, an RTJ-Jr. layout from 1994 that has a lot of fescue rough and a wispy back nine -- much more open than the front nine.

Paul, it is because you are on the wrong rating panel.

Paul, don't forget. Golf Digest has Rich Harvest Farm in the top-50 nationally whereas Golfweek ranks it 10th in Illinois. So now which panel do you really trust? Believe me (but find out for yourself). Indianwood-Old is a gem.

I just found an old image the other night of Indianwood (Old) and it look pretty dramatic. I'll post it as soon as I can.

Paul

Art Hills did some touching up getting the course ready to host the Womens Open a few years ago.  I think, not totally sure, most of his work was with bunkering.

Peter

Great photos Tommy.

My impression when I played Indianwood was that this was a very well preserved design, and I still think it is well preserved, but based on these photos it could probably use a touch here and there that might bring it even more alive. Wilfred Reid is an architect I'd like to know more about. Indianwood has a very interesting clubhouse as well which adds to the flavor IMO.