14. Point O' Woods 6.6 (6 votes)- The mile drive from Roslyn Road leads you to the Frank Lloyd Wright inspired clubhouse reminiscent of the Ina Morris Harper house in nearby St Joseph. Home of the Western Amateur for 30 years, the largest attended amateur golf tournament in the nation, it hosted many future tour players and the list of champions is much more impressive than that of the US Amateur. A list that includes, Ryan Moore, Tiger Woods, Justin Leonard, and Phil Michelson, and even a couple guys the GCA crew knows like, Ben Crenshaw and Tom Weiskopf.
It starts out with a benign two shooter with a huge fairway no one should miss, it gets your round started and gets play moving. After that, it's a back ad forth battle with RTJ stepping on your throat with narrow demanding tree shots, huge bunkers, and huge greens separated into segments demanding an accurate approach shot. Occasionally RTJ takes his foot off your throat so you can grab a quick breath by giving you a short hole where you feel you can score, like the short 8th after playing the demanding 6th and 7th.
The course is a great walk where you can use every club in your bag. The features are on a grand scale, the 12th green is over a quarter acre and the 13th tee is 150 yards long! Technology has changed the Point over the years, not only golf equipment but Turf equipment and technology making even a course built on horrible soil play more firm and fast so there are more Eagle opportunities than ever before. Overall its a spectacular golf course that you can play day after day and not tire of it. They need to keep the chainsaws running.
15. Barton Hills 6.54 (14 votes)- Like many courses in SE Michigan, it's another Donald Ross Gem (1919), highlighted by a diverse set of undulated greens uniquely fitting the holes they lay on. I consider the course largely a 2nd shot golf course as the fairways are generous and hazards generally not in play off the tee. It's a course where angles into greens really means something if you want to score as just hitting the green doesn't always equate to good scoring opportunities. While the course has a series of long Par 4's from the back tee, I consider the short Par 4, 4th and 12th to be the most enjoyable and interesting holes. They can be easy birdies if played correctly, sometimes with only a long iron and wedge, but often times a misplaced approach ends in 3 putts or impossible up and downs. The course has been much improved in recent years with a Ron Prichard ''Restoration'' with tree removal programs that is opened up the views of the course as well as improved Turf and play-ability.
16. Belvedere 6.43 (10 votes)- Is classy, but not up-tight. Laid-back, but not sloppy. From the opening elevated tee shot to the putts on the home hole, it's a GREAT walk. Suitable for all kinds of players and equipment. Stand-out holes are the excellent Par 4 7th, the Par 3 8th with its infinity green and lone tree, the short Par 4 11th and it's model green, the 12th with its rolling fairway, and the raised but shallow-greened 16th. Sleeper holes are the half Par 4th, the dog legged 6th, and the bunkerless Par 3 17th. Three (three!) of Belvedere's holes were featured in George Thomas' ''Golf Architecture in America'' book. There should be more courses and clubs like Belvedere. Simply put, Belvedere is what's good about Golf!
17. Bloomfield Hills 6.21 (10 votes)- Is one of only 2 Harry Colt courses left in North America! The strength of BH is the set of par 3's. The 9th, 11th, and 17th are really great one shooter and can match any in the city! The course has done a semi complete restoration with Keith Foster a few years back removing over 700 trees and re-grassing the greens. The course sits on beautiful rolling terrain. The 10th and the 15th are very strong drive and pitch holes. The 10th gives a golfer many options off the tee due to the change in elevation throughout the hole, while #15 temps the long ball hitters to drive the green. Due to technology many ignorant flat bellies may overlook BHCC, but it gives a good test to most and its architecture is very good!
18. Oakland Hills (North) 6.11 (15 votes)-
Although clearly the second ranked course on the property, the North Course at OHCC (built in 1923 six years after the South) had hosted several top tier Michigan tournaments, including the State Amateur, prior to acting as the second qualifying course for this year's US Amateur. If resistance scoring rings a bell it stayed within a stroke and a half margin of the south, mostly due to the greens, but if played at full length the North would have been the equal, or a little longer, than the South. The course aesthetics today are mainly those of the Jones family as Trent redid it shortly after his work on the South for the '51 Open, think aircraft carrier tees and high lipped bunkering. He and Rees have made changes to it over the decades since, mostly for drainage as well as the use of the course as the practice, parking, and commercial staging areas for the big tournaments on the South. The combination of the 1st and 10th tees on the highest point of the property to make a mega practice tee for the Majors is a striking tee platform and allows for expansive views over the property. The drainage solution to the swampy areas of the back nine, along the north side of the property, have an unmistakable Medinah #2 feel and were completed recently at several million dollars of expense.
That said, the original 1923 Ross magic in routing a course on a tight (tighter than the expansive South) property is well in evidence and still shines today. Despite several back and forth parallel holes on relatively flat land, where the land rolls it is well used, with several holes in the excellent category. I include the par-3 4th, and especially the par-4 17th and 18th holes, as first class on very interesting land. The 4th is an uphill shot to a terraced green situated on one of the high points of the property where the wind blows free. The one tree on the hole is a large specimen oak out of play to the left, but it beautifully frames the view. The hole would fit well at Braid's Gleneagles Kings Course. The 17th is a strong uphill par-4 beautiful bunkered against a natural hill on the left in the landing area with OB right. The second shot is to another plateau green back on the higher end of the property. The hole was considered tough enough by the USGA that the new back tee was not used during the tournament, however even the big hitters had to contend with the single fairway bunker. The 18th hole is a shorter par-4 fitted in a saddle between two more natural hills. It allows the long hitter an opportunity to hit driver while the average golfer playing from the member tees has a chance to hit a mid to short iron to the well bunkered green.19. Eagle Eye 6.1 (4 votes)- Is bold and brutal--but a bit less brutal with each playing. Chris Lutzke worked with Pete Dye and the influence is everywhere, especially on the exact replica of the 17th at TPC Sawgrass. After 20 plays, though, I find the width and angles plentiful and exciting. The 9th hole is, in my limited experience, a unique strategic Par 5, with a center-line bunkers, a blind 2nd shot if you play conservatively off the tee, and a green nestled below the fairway against a giant pond. On the back nine, the three long Par 4's (11, 13, and 16) offer distinctive challenges. I wouldn't play it every day, but I love playing it 2-3 times each Summer!
20. Birmingham 6 (10 votes)- BCC was originally routed and designed by Tom Bendelow and recently renovated and polished by Bruce Hepner. New fairways, greens, and native areas have grassed. Over 1,000 trees were removed as part of the renovation process. BCC now deserves a spot among the elites of Metro Detroit Golf. BCC has been blessed with great rolling land, a perfect variety of Par 3's (#7, #11, etc.), outstanding brute but beautiful Par 4's (#9), strategic short Par 4's (#5 and #16) and a really fun set of Par 5's (#14 and #18).
Some highlights are the short Par 5 14th and the short Par 4 16th. #14 is great short Par 5 that is reachable in two from the correct tee. The 2nd shot is semi blind and downhill to one of the best green complexes on the course. The green has great front to back to front movement with some neat little shelves. #16 is a short dogleg right Par that brings the golfer gradually up a large hill. The golfer will need to make a decision off the tee as the cross bunkers on the edge of the dogleg present a few options. Do I hit out to the left or do I take on the grouping of bunkers to leave a shorter approach? The approach is then straight uphill into a green and approach area that slopes from back to front. If the golf course is playing firm and fast, an approach shot hit short with spin will come back down toward the golfer. The green complex has some nice movement and makes for a devilish little hole late in the round. The staff and golf ocurse are top notch and as BCC new grasses mature and grow, it is sure to receive the recognition it now deserves.
21. Muskegon 5.9 (7 votes)- The land at Muskegon is to die for. The course sits on around 100 acre sand dune with a lake below the property. The fairways have beautiful micro undulations in them. On a sunny fall day the course has a majestic feel to it. The 10th green is the only original Ross green left but the others do a great job of blending in or resembling a Ross green. There are some nice dome shaped greens such as the 1st and 18th holes. The course needs more tree removal still. It has beautiful fescue areas throughout the property. The club has done a nice job of showcasing early club photos throughout the clubhouse. I'd really love to see this gem restored and tweaked. The course is now owned by a couple of members and is doing well in a very rough area.
22. Radrick Farms 5.87 (13 votes)- Built in the early 60's UM's other course is one of Pete Dye's first designs. A laid back Ann Arbor vibe and tucked away is a great big piece of rolling property makes for an unexpected pleasure on what is a demanding test. On their first visit most people remark "I can't believe this place is here''. The elevated fall-away tee shots on #9 and #15 were thrilling when I first encountered them even though they eventually became a cliche in Northern Michigan. The 8th and 9th are fun short holes, but you had better make your move before you get the 13th- hold on from there to the finish. I love the secluded setting of the last 3 holes down in the valley.
23. Grosse Ile 5.75 (13 votes)- This gem located on an island in the Detroit River is not to be missed. The best green complexes in the area IMO and there is some stiff competition. The bold ridges and spines running through the greens make 2 putting a task. Ross simply outdid himself on the greens and these should be studied. The downfall is the course plays soft most days and it could benefit greatly by some drainage and sand capping work. The soil is heavy but the routing makes great use of the rolling terrain. Greens sit on beautiful natural shelve on many holes. Tree removal is desperately needed as DZ field goal driving is common for most tee shots as a means to protect old man par. In any city these are the gems I look for, if ever in the Detroit area give this one a go!
24. Wuskowhan 5.64 (5 votes) Write up coming later
25. Plum Hollow 5.62 (9 votes)- A classic urban course with tournament history ('47 PGA) from the post-war years, Plum Hollow is defined by the ravine that runs throughout the property. Holes play through it (#1 and #13) around it (#14) just short of it (#2) and over it (#5 and #9) to name just some of the creative encounters. Holes (#15 and #16) fell like big old-school US Open holes to me and the love/hate (#18) finishes in a great natural amphitheater. So happy that the club has survived the great recession and the loss of surrounding demographics, it takes a compelling course to do that and Plum fits the bill. Not to be missed in the Detroit area!
The 2016 list was made by 16 Michigan GCAers (Ben Cowan, Dan Dingman, Tony Gholz, Peter Pratt, Brian Sleeman, Dustin Ferrell, Dave Wigler, Mike Boehm, Aaron McMaster, Jeff Bergeron, Matt Bielawa, Jim Dales, Terry Poley, Ryan Taylor, Russ Arbuthnot, Brian Schwei). There was no parameters set on voting other then playing a certain amount of courses form 2015 list. Each course had to be played 3 times to count. We used averages and no scores were thrown out this year. This list encourages our own group to play more courses in Michigan they might not have given a thought too. It's just as fun to start at the bottom and work your way up. 16 courses had significantly more plays then the following year which is a positive. The more plays the better the list turns out.
2015 list-
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