The Gailes at Lakewood Shores: Almost A Links

[Michael Whitaker]

I visited Lakewood Shores (Oscoda, Michigan) this weekend and played the Gailes Course a couple of times. It is the closest thing to a UK course that I have ever seen in America. The course features a mix of elements from UK links, heathland, and moorland courses and the "look" of the created features are very authentic.

The front nine offered firmer turf and played mostly as one would expect... but, the back nine was WAY too soft, squishy and green. If they would cut back on the fertilizer and let the course firm up one would be hard pressed to find much to complain about.

There are some really great holes on this course, a good number that fall into the "half-par" category. I would highly recommend the Gailes to anyone who fancies golf in the UK.

My one big complaint is the severity of the primary rough. Too much time is spent by every group playing the course searching for balls in thick, gnarly mess. I know the owners think this makes the course "authentic," but I have rarely seen this type of thick matted rough in the UK. The only courses that come to mind with anything similar are Ballybunion and Royal Aberdeen.

On balance, the Gailes is an excellent experience and I would welcome the opportunity to visit again.

I recently played another "faux" links course... Castle Stuart in Inverness, Scotland. In my mind The Gailes is a much more interesting course. It seems the Americans got one right this time!

[David_Tepper]

"The course features a mix of elements from UK links, heathland, and moorland courses"

Mike -

Sounds like Golspie!

Designed by Kevin Aldridge: http://lakewoodshores.com/gailes.htm

DT

[Sean_A]

I visited Lakewood Shores (Oscoda, Michigan) this weekend and played the Gailes Course a couple of times. It is the closest thing to a UK course that I have ever seen in America. The course features a mix of elements from UK links, heathland, and moorland courses and the "look" of the created features are very authentic.

The front nine offered firmer turf and played mostly as one would expect... but, the back nine was WAY too soft, squishy and green. If they would cut back on the fertilizer and let the course firm up one would be hard pressed to find much to complain about.

There are some really great holes on this course, a good number that fall into the "half-par" category. I would highly recommend the Gailes to anyone who fancies golf in the UK.

My one big complaint is the severity of the primary rough. Too much time is spent by every group playing the course searching for balls in thick, gnarly mess. I know the owners think this makes the course "authentic," but I have rarely seen this type of thick matted rough in the UK. The only courses that come to mind with anything similar are Ballybunion and Royal Aberdeen.

On balance, the Gailes is an excellent experience and I would welcome the opportunity to visit again.

I recently played another "faux" links course... Castle Stuart in Inverness, Scotland. In my mind The Gailes is a much more interesting course. It seems the Americans got one right this time!

Whitty

My favourite 25 from "Whip it Out"

Beau Desert
Brora
Cavendish
Church Stretton
Co Sligo
Donegal
Enniscrone
Harborne
Harlech
Huntercombe
Kington
Lakewood Shores Gailes - CHA CHING
Lederach
North Berwick
Old Town Club
Pennard
Prestwick
Portrush Valley
Rye
St Enodoc
Southerndown
Tenby
Tobacco Road
University of Michigan
Woking

Ciao

[George Freeman]

I recently played another "faux" links course... Castle Stuart in Inverness, Scotland. In my mind The Gailes is a much more interesting course. It seems the Americans got one right this time!

Quite the endorsement for Lakewood Shores!  I have no good reason why I haven't been up to play this course...it just got prioritized a little higher with that statement Michael!

[Peter Pratt]

The Gailes is a perennial favorite of mine, too. Sadly, it has been too wet and soft the last three times I've played it, one time each of the last three years in late July.  The half-par holes--#5 and #13--are fascinating brutes, but the two short par-4s, #9 and #10, are among the best of their kind anywhere.

[Emil Weber]

pics anyone ?

[David_Tepper]

Emil W. -

How about a 4-minute video tour? - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nOnyCp-BgcQ

DT

[Sean_A]

This course was such a bold statement when it was built (early 90s) because it was totally against the grain.  It blew people away and it is one of the few courses of its era that has retained a ranking status so it has survived some time.  My only beef (and I haven't seen the course in many, many years) when I saw was the fairways didn't undulate enough to mimic the mounding/rough, but this is a minor criticism of such a great concept pulled off with flair.  I have a lot of time for this course and would like to see it again someday.  

Ciao

[Jon Heise]

pics anyone ?

Of course!  Taken on a freezing October morning a couple years ago.  I won't remember too much about which hole is which, but they should generally be in order...






























I enjoyed it, actually, I like the neighbor Blackshire a bit more with it's Pine Valley-ish features.  The Gailes seemed like they tried to add all the great features of heathland style courses.  They got most of it, it did play pretty mushy in my one play.  The resort has some nice rooms and some GREAT deals.  Go here then go play Red Hawk and Forest Dunes on the way. 

One of the best features is the little (LITTLE) par 3 course connected to the rooms.  You can walk, or stumble, out and hit some wedges and putts way into the night...

[Jason McNamara]

I was just going to ask if neighboring Red Hawk made sense as a two-fer, or if 36 @ the Gailes was the better play.  Thanks Jon.

[Richard Hetzel]

I played it last summer, and can post summer pics if anyone would like them. Quite honestly, I was fairly disappointed with the Gailes. After seeing it hyped up, once I played it, it just didn't impress me at all. In fact, I'll go one further and note that the Gailes course is quite photogenic and looks much better in photos than in person.

We played all 3 courses there (Gailes, Blackshire and Serrdella) but skipped the tiny short course near the loding. We also played Forest Dunes and RedHawk. I would rank them as such:

1. Forest Dunes
2. Red Hawk
3. Gailes
4. Blackshire
5. Serradella

The Blackshire course might even be better than the Gailes....

[Richard Hetzel]

The Gailes really does shine in pictures...it was a decent course. I agree, it needs more movement in the fairways. The land really deoes feel FLAT and uninteresting most of the time. I hate to use the word contrived, but it is, what it is.

[Michael Whitaker]

I think the creators of The Gailes did a wonderful job of trying to replicate the look and feel of a UK course. The landforms, hills and dunes, while manmade, are the most realistic I have ever seen of this type in the States. For the most part it is very authentic. If you dropped someone from the UK on this course I think they would feel right at home.

The one BIG item that the owners should address is the deep, thick hay that surrounds every hole. Richard's picture clearly shows what I'm talking about:



I know Americans have this idea that UK courses are covered in this thick stuff, but for the most part, it just ain't so. UK golfers hate searching for balls in the worst way and they would never put up with a constant dose of this stuff!!!

I also played Blackshire. It's a fun course that is enhanced by some of the trickiest greens you'll ever putt. If you enjoy "internal contour" on your greens play Blackshire... it has them in spades... they're almost as squiggly as Doak greens!   I don't get the "Pine Valley" reference at Blackshire. There is nothing about it that I could see which is reminiscent of Pine Valley. It is not a difficult course except for the greens, which are almost impossible to read at times.

We finished our trip at Red Hawk. This is a very solid semi-mountainous course. Lots of elevation change and sloping contours. Greens are fairly basic and would make the card & pencil player very happy... not too much to fool you here. While a fun and interesting course, Red Hawk is not "special." I don't mean that in a bad way as it's a very well done modern "formula" course. But, living in the foothills of the Smoky Mountains as I do I've seen this type of course many times. Solid course. Well thought out. Decent challenge. Would definitely like to play it again if I'm in the area. But, it is not "special" and I would not make a special trip to play only Red Hawk.

The Gailes, on the other hand, is "special" and unique. I would definitely plan a trip to play just The Gailes. If they would dry the damn place out and let the turf firm up I would visit often!

[Michael Whitaker]

David,

The Gailes is a bit like Golspie in that respect. It does not, however, have the "meadow" holes that you find at Golspie. I've tried to come up with the course that most closely compares to the look and feel offered by The Gailes and my best comparison is Royal Aberdeen, with its wooly dunes and thick rough.

Royal Aberdeen

[Kris Shreiner]

Michael, Gailes superior to Castle Stuart? Wow, That is a strong statement. I haven't played the Gailes yet, but have walked the ground of CS pre-opening. Minus the cabbage-like rough at the Gailes, which is God-awful from the pictures, the course does have a nice look to it. That density of rough, fertilizer induced, is of a mass I've very rarely seen in Scotland or the UK. The only time I can recall rough of that haymaker abundance was late Fall of '98, at Carnastie when they were "jucing" it up... for the Debacle of '99! Not only was Carnastie the toughest beast I ever played(and I played well), the rough was almost 2 feet high in spots and I saw a farm sized tractor STALL OUT trying to cut the hinterland! Talk about a laugh and a half...it was unreal.

Indulge me, what were your likes and dislikes about CS and did you take a caddie? If yes, what was the experience like?

Cheers,
 Kris

[Michael Whitaker]

Kris - We had an in depth discussion about Castle Stuart recently. Here is the thread: http://golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,44471.0/

Basically, I found CS to be crafted for photos rather than exciting golf. It's too wide, too flat and too "perfect." Beautiful images? Yes! But, playing CS was for me like eating a high sugar dessert... tastes great at the time, but leaves you empty at the end of the day.

[Jon Heise]

I also played Blackshire. It's a fun course that is enhanced by some of the trickiest greens you'll ever putt. If you enjoy "internal contour" on your greens play Blackshire... it has them in spades... they're almost as squiggly as Doak greens!   I don't get the "Pine Valley" reference at Blackshire. There is nothing about it that I could see which is reminiscent of Pine Valley. It is not a difficult course except for the greens, which are almost impossible to read at times.
only Red Hawk.

Straight from the website, http://lakewoodshores.com/blackshire.htm

Blackshire, also designed by Kevin Aldridge, recreates the look and feel of the famous Pine Valley C.C.  Although not a replica of Pine Valley, it offers a similar rugged feel with hardwoods, large sand waste areas, and undulating greens.  Encompassing less than 200 acres, Blackshire has a classic turn of the century feel, and with short walks from green to tees, also provides a classical walking experience if desired.

Here's the deal.  Make a couple calls up at PV and I'll go take a quick look.  Until then, I'll call it Oscoda's Pine Valley

[Michael Whitaker]

I agree that Blackshire has a "turn of the century" feel and provides a "classical walking experience."All good stuff. I liked Blackshire a great deal and would enjoy playing there again.

[Chuck Brown]

These highly-favorable comments toward the Gailes are fully deserved.  What nobody has mentioned yet is that it is also one of the best bargains in Northern Lower Michigan.

The few criticisms are also fully deserved.  The course would do well by a year-long drought, and a ban on fertilizer.

I think most of the GCA membership would regard the Gailes as a hidden gem; if it were located near a larger metropolitan area, it would be mentioned alongside Chambers Bay, Harding Park, or Cobbs Creek.  The area and terrain near Oscoda is more like Carnoustie (minus about 15 mph of wind) than almost anyplace I can think of in the U.S.

[Richard Hetzel]

I think one of the things that detracts from the Gailes course's design is the land upon which it actually sits. It's almost feels like wasteland, and not in the golfing sense (picture links in Ireland and Scotland) either. More than a few holes are bordered by a road with telephone poles and it is routed (not in play however) across railroad tracks (front 9 and back 9). The RR tracks are not necessarily a bad thing however. The course just feels "almost shoehorned" into and onto the land if you will. Almost forced, and not placed by chance which is what makes so many of the real links courses overseas standout. In contrast, I have played Kevin's other course near Detroit called Blackheath and it is REALLY shoehorned into a small piece of property. That being said, both of these courses offer a fun and enjoyable round (and Blackheath is a steal at $25 with cart, less without), but I surely couldn't place The Gailes into a Top 100 ranking. It just doesn't feel "right" if you catch my drift.

[Chuck Brown]

I think one of the things that detracts from the Gailes course's design is the land upon which it actually sits. It's almost feels like wasteland, and not in the golfing sense (picture links in Ireland and Scotland) either. More than a few holes are bordered by a road with telephone poles and it is routed (not in play however) across railroad tracks (front 9 and back 9). The RR tracks are not necessarily a bad thing however. The course just feels "almost shoehorned" into and onto the land if you will. Almost forced, and not placed by chance which is what makes so many of the real links courses overseas standout. In contrast, I have played Kevin's other course near Detroit called Blackheath and it is REALLY shoehorned into a small piece of property. That being said, both of these courses offer a fun and enjoyable round (and Blackheath is a steal at $25 with cart, less without), but I surely couldn't place The Gailes into a Top 100 ranking. It just doesn't feel "right" if you catch my drift.

Rich, one of the reasons I mentioned Canoustie (and I agree with much of what you say) is that I could hear light-machine gun firing from next door at Carnoustie when I last played it years ago.  A lot of the gritty Scottish seaside towns aren't so much different from Oscoda.

[JC Jones]

I can't reiterate this enough, if you like this "look" and feel, please check out Hunters Ridge in Howell, MI.

[Kris Shreiner]

Michael,
Thanks for your insights on Castle Stuart! I had taken a good look at that other thread earlier. Curious, not one word on caddies there from anyone? I believe they have them and understand many chaps don't take them, but ANY high caliber, Scottish links track usually merits taking a local caddie to get a full appreciation of the course and experience.

Has anyone in the GCA gang taken caddies there, and if yes, was it a plus?

Cheers,
Kris

[Michael Whitaker]

Kris,

I did not take a caddy at Castle Stuart and did not feel I needed one. The course is so wide open and the greens are so flat that I really don't see how a caddy could bring much to the table. Castle Stuart s a very straightforward course and it didn't seem to require much local knowledge to get around. Their prices are so high for visitors that I would guess only the well heeled will hire a caddy.

[Michael Whitaker]

I think one of the things that detracts from the Gailes course's design is the land upon which it actually sits. It's almost feels like wasteland, and not in the golfing sense (picture links in Ireland and Scotland) either. More than a few holes are bordered by a road with telephone poles and it is routed (not in play however) across railroad tracks (front 9 and back 9). The RR tracks are not necessarily a bad thing however. The course just feels "almost shoehorned" into and onto the land if you will. Almost forced, and not placed by chance which is what makes so many of the real links courses overseas standout. In contrast, I have played Kevin's other course near Detroit called Blackheath and it is REALLY shoehorned into a small piece of property. That being said, both of these courses offer a fun and enjoyable round (and Blackheath is a steal at $25 with cart, less without), but I surely couldn't place The Gailes into a Top 100 ranking. It just doesn't feel "right" if you catch my drift.

Richard - I couldn't disagree with you more about the Gailes! I thought the land was perfect for the type of course created. As for the roads and telephone poles... you're kidding, right? Neither the roads or the poles have any effect on the course. Train tracks on or near a golf course are a common occurrence in the UK and I thought they contributed to the sense of authenticity.  Man, your standards are high!

As for the course feeling "shoehorned" onto the property... again, I completely disagree. Some holes are narrow, some are extremely wide, but each is appropriate for the style of hole and the challenge required. I thought the course was beautifully routed and provided a fantastic walking experience.

For someone who has all these issues with the Gailes I'm surprised you don't find golf in the UK an immersion in disappointment.