I eventually had the chance to visit Grand Rapids a few weeks back, playing Meadows, Mines, Kaufman, Pilgrim's Run, and Diamond Springs over three days.
Meadows was okay, but not particularly interesting. I feel grateful that I played it before the rough grew in, as my playing partners said that it gets out of control during the summer. Friendly enough people, which actually reflects Grand Rapids as a whole.
Mines was good fun, and I ended up playing with someone who now works with a former ND colleague! The routing is a challenge, and I don't think you could walk it, but I'd go back. It felt like three courses: 1-4 over the road; the Scrubland holes to the south; and and the remaining, more parkland-style holes on the north of the property. I particularly enjoyed the par-3 8th, which reminds me of photographs I've seen of PVGC.
Golf needs more places like Kaufman. Sure they could thin out the trees in places on the back nine to improve the turf behind the greens, but I could play there every day while walking. It seemed to have a culture of golf, which brought together older, trash-talking GR-ites, high-school players, and bros to name but three demographics I had the pleasure of encountering. All seemed to coexist.
Pilgrim's Run proves the idea that rather than rank courses, one should judge them on whether you'd go out immediately for a second round. The weather prevented that, although I considered taking a hit and getting utterly soaked for the price of a second round. I wonder about 18 as a suitable hole. I don't think it provides much in the way of strategy, compared to other shorter par-4s I've played or seen. You have an obvious reward for driving the green, with any other decent drive leaving in a half-shot, but I don't see it as a shot that someone would take on all that often. Other than that, I found it great fun, and just the correct side of cerebral without lacking in fun.
I played Diamond Springs my final day. I didn't much discussion of the course from my searches, other than suggestions that folk play it. If I hasn't seen much play from the Treehouse, I happily served as your guinea pig! I found it minimalist (rustic, even) to say the least, but lacking in very little. I loved the single cut presentation that sees the tees, while slightly elevated, run into the fairways. It had received some significant rain the previous afternoon (see previous paragraph) but still played F&F, especially as the temperatures warmed up to the high-80s as the day went on.
I had only two criticisms: (1) While I appreciated the two or three tee options available, I wondered whether a hybrid card would help golfers like myself who want to play a longer course than 6,100 yards, but for whom 6,800 yards is too long. (I don't have the card to hand, but those sound about right.) (2) I wonder whether 14, a par-3 over a ravine, actually makes the most of the terrain. You don't see the ravine from the back tees, so I wonder if it would play better at a shorter yardage. I didn't know about the carry until I realized I'd hit (an admittedly awful shot) into it short-right. It does benefit from a *wild* green that might suit a short template hole, but I can imagine the fun of hitting a 4-iron into those contours and watching the ball does as gravity demands.
Those comments aside, I'd go back there given the opportunity. Wide fairways promote fast play after a bad tee shot - the three balls I lost (6, 14, and 18) came as the result of swings that deserved their fate - but they don't give up easy pars unless you think your way around. I particularly enjoyed 13, which has two bunkers guarding the dog-leg that you can either carry or avoid short and/or left. I had sprayed the ball from the tee all day, but figured out my alignment on that tee. I wasted it with a tugged 9-iron into the left greenside bunker which left a challenging (read, "fun") recovery which I didn't quite pull off.
I also met a great dog, possibly a Bernese Mountain, named Pebble in the pro-shop. I'd go back for his sake, but also for a great day of golf.
Thank you all for your suggestions since the start of this thread. I'd love to hear your thoughts on these courses!