noahjurik

The Warren Golf Course at Notre Dame captured my attention; it traverses some underwhelming land in a fun way. It lacks elevation gain but has excellent green complexes. Reminiscent of some century-old courses, it’s lenient on the tee box but challenges around the green.

It feels like it was designed with competition in mind; home-field advantage could be a real factor at Warren. I wanted another shot at almost every putt I hit.

As much as I don’t want to admit I like something associated with the Fighting Irish, I have to say this golf course is cool. The Coore & Crenshaw crew has this architecture thing pretty ironed out.

The Inverness Club has history spilling from its seams, which are tight and barely noticeable. Its ostentatious clubhouse is decorated with a century of golf memorabilia and filled with flourishes around every corner. The staff is incredibly gregarious and treats everyone like royalty. Glimpses of the course appear on the walk to the pro shop, creating a little excitement before stepping on the first tee. It’s as if you’ve left Toledo and stepped into a fantasy where the world operates differently. ⁠⁠
⁠⁠
The term “championship golf course” has been thrown around to the point of being diluted, but the Inverness Club has one that fits the bill. It looks like the club could host a major golf tournament tomorrow. It’s a great test of skill and mental stamina. If you don’t play the holes as intended, you can expect some form of punishment in varying degrees of severity. The greens aren’t ridiculously severe, but their subtleties ensure your heart rate never dips. ⁠⁠
⁠⁠
It was eerily peaceful being on the course before the first group, wandering among the lingering skeleton of the Solheim Cup. The tents and stands forced a sense of perspective that was foreign to me. Despite recently hosting enough people to pack Michigan Stadium, every square inch of the course was precise and manicured exactingly. I can’t even imagine how complicated the maintenance battle plan is. It was a joy knowing the feel of the turf wouldn’t differ from swing to swing; pristine is an understatement. ⁠⁠
⁠⁠
In some ways, I think the club takes itself a little too seriously; in others, it exceeds some very lofty expectations. The details mentioned above make it a little less welcoming than other private clubs I’ve visited. There were opportunities for creative golf shots, but I wish fun was a more prominent focus. Not every golf course needs to cater to my needs or desires, but I’m not used to this level of uptight. Nevertheless, it’s one of the very best golf courses I’ve played and an exhilarating adventure. Walking in the footsteps of champions is not something everyone can say they’ve done.

Flint Golf Club far exceeded my expectations. Its routing superbly navigates some gently undulating land hidden near Thread Lake. Friendly people and cool, old-school facilities made me feel like I was right at home.

It’s also home to some of the coolest green complexes I’ve had the pleasure of navigating. Each one fits its setting and has contours that make for the perfect amount of unpredictability.

I’m thankful the club knows how lucky they are to have one of the most original Willie Park Jr. layouts around. They’re working hard to restore this gem to its former glory. I’ll definitely be making a return trip (if I’m invited).

Kent Country Club sits on a great piece of property on one of East Grand Rapids’ hillsides. The clubhouse and 18th green tower 150 feet above the lowest point on the course, which meanders along a classic midwest city street. Some recent changes are beginning to uncover what rested beyond the old clumps of trees. Like most pre-World War I courses, there have been a lot of changes (for good and bad). I’m happy to see the club taking some restorative efforts. The tumbling landscape and frightening greens make it a pretty special round.

Hemlock Golf Club has its share of fireworks, but some fizzle a little too quickly. ⁠⁠
⁠⁠
The course is briefly routed over some of the most incredible ground I’ve seen but could use a little softening to capture it adequately. The south edges of the property launch you over an imposing dune and gently push you down a ridge near Ludington’s Lincoln River. I only wish those features were a little more apparent while you plod your way through crowded pine thickets.⁠⁠
⁠⁠
I recognize not every course can be perfect, so each round pushes me closer to one that is.

There are endless fun golf shots to hit on the bootlegger. You can really let your creativity flow and use your imagination on your way to holing out. It's a great walk, has a wide array of green complexes, and takes the award for the best views on property. Once it matures a little more, it'll easily be one of the best short courses around, and it's well on its way.

TCCC makes you feel like you're out in the woods of Northern Michigan while you're right near the heart of downtown. The staff is very welcoming and the amenities are spectacular. The course is in fantastic condition and plays a little firmer than other parkland courses. Its land is wonderful but the course makes poor use of it in some spots. If they did a mass tree removal and moved some things around, I think it could reach its full potential. There are plans for a restoration/renovation and I think if they chose to pursue that option, the course could be one of the best in the area.

I know praise of Milwaukee CC has been repeated ad nauseam, but I’d be remiss if I didn’t say that my experience there was simply sublime. The elements, rolling topography, and deceptive golf holes conjured memories of the Irish Co. Kildare. I played well into dusk, marinating in the club’s history and the lingering feeling that I was somewhere that holds weight in the world.

No two holes are alike on this small property, but they all share a feeling. The outward nine winds pleasantly around the west side of the exquisite clubhouse like a garden snake enjoying the sun. The inward nine braids itself with the Milwaukee River, creating shot opportunities that border on exhilarating. The routing leaves nothing to be desired; it’s beautiful and free-flowing like the river it sits on. I wouldn’t hesitate to play another round at Milwaukee (even in the pouring rain).

You know that feeling you get when you’ve been looking forward to something for a long time and it turns out to be a big letdown? Well, that wasn’t the case at Blue Mound Golf and Country Club. It exceeded my expectations in a big way. You’d think I might even be a little jaded with this being my 103rd round of the year, but the experience was rejuvenating. ⁠⁠
⁠⁠
The clubhouse is grand enough to fit in on Long Island, but it works just as well in the Midwest. While walking to the first hole, you pass a bust of the architect: an apt start to the day. The tried and true golf holes are always a blast to play. The templates at Blue Mound are no exception to that rule. In fact, some call it one of the purest iterations of the style. It’s definitely a little out of the ordinary in Wisconsin, but it works spectacularly. ⁠⁠
⁠⁠
The first hole offers a welcoming handshake and introduces you to a theme that repeats throughout the day: the fairways are easy to hit, the greens are bold, and the course allows creativity to run rampant. The fantastic putting surfaces are its defense against par (and they defend it well). In my opinion, it’s golf at its most fun. Any shot you can envision is fair game. I wish there were more places like this. ⁠⁠

Eagle Springs Golf Resort is as much as about the experience as it is the quirky golf. You drive through rural WI for miles and miles until you happen upon a little lakeside resort on a narrow road. The clubhouse is unassuming; it feels like you might’ve pulled into the wrong parking lot but the signs say otherwise. The people are welcoming and will walk across an entire fairway to ask how you’re enjoying the place. It’s surprise after surprise. ⁠
⁠
The first golf shot of the day is completely blind. My tugged three iron turned out to give me the perfect angle to a green that gave an eye-opening welcome. I don’t think it could be built today without people complaining, but that’s part of what makes this place so cool. The first two holes hit you hard right out of the gate and then it mellows out a little bit. It has a good mixture of solid golf and completely insane shot requirements. In my case, it was the perfect spot to stop between the Quad Cities and Milwaukee. It’s worth going out of your way to see; for the golf and the experience. ⁠

I traveled over seven hours to see Davenport Country Club and I would do it again in a heartbeat. It’s not at all what I expected to see in Iowa; rolling hills, rock walls, and bodies of water are abundant. Crossing the Mississippi and pulling up to DCC’s elegant clubhouse gave me that little kick of energy I needed after a long drive.⁠⁠
⁠⁠
Midwest hospitality was on full display at Davenport. A few members asked for my name when I arrived and prodded me with questions about how much I was enjoying their club at least five times throughout the day. I’ve never felt more welcome as an outsider. For once, it actually felt like they wanted me at their private oasis. ⁠⁠
⁠⁠
The course exceeds expectations. Each hole challenges you to find the green in a different way. You can feel its varied terrain make the transition from field to former riverbed. Its par threes are unique and never ask you to pull the same club as the prior. The greens might make you feel like you’re having an off-day, but it's probably just rare that you’ve seen putts this engaging. You’re asked to look at the tilt of the entire golf hole to get a sense of how much a putt will break. It’s often about twice as much as your eyes tell you, but I can promise you it’s hard to find greens this fun. ⁠⁠
⁠⁠
⁠⁠

The good doctor and his friend Perry sure knew what they were doing with this beautiful nightmare.

I knew the topography of Crystal Downs was different when a hawk flew feet from my head while we were putting on 17 (a green that feels like the edge of the world). The landscape is hard to wrap your mind around. The course is big enough for everyone to have their own little golf experience while still enjoying the day as a group. It sits on a massive, heaving piece of property sandwiched between two lakes in one of the most beautiful places in the world. Your playing partners are always above or below you. I don’t think there’s a hole on property where people of the same height see eye to eye. It seems like you’re in a park but you’re really in a stadium.

The course is not manicured beyond perfection like I expected it to be. It’s real, raw, and does justice to its setting. It’s how I like it; focused on making the golf ball roll. Balls don’t simply come to a stop; there’s always some kick, hop, or ricochet on their path to the green.

The greens, however, are a different story. They roll incredibly true but make you question everything you know (about reading greens and otherwise). You don’t just look at what’s around the cup; you need to take in your surroundings to properly predict your golf ball’s path. I can’t think of a more fun way to play.

These aren’t the best photos I’ve ever taken and my play was certainly not record-breaking, but I’m so incredibly happy I got to experience Crystal Downs and start my journey to understanding its nuances.

Lawsonia Links has incredible scale and visual deception is everywhere. It's amazing how well it holds up to the modern game. Despite being manufactured, it fits very well with the land and tests you around every corner. The conditions were a little soft and the pace of play was a little slower than I'd like, but I still had a blast and would definitely return. It's a pretty special golf course.

No golf course has ever made me feel like Mammoth Dunes did. I pride myself on a great sense of direction, but I was completely lost while traversing Mammoth’s incredible landforms. Some courses make you feel like you’re separated from the rest of the world, but here, you feel like you’re on your own planet. I have never been as excited to hit golf shots in my life. The variety of landscapes and shot requirements are out of this world. There’s nothing like watching a golf ball bound, ricochet, and tumble on these enormous golf holes. You have a stadium all to yourself and it’s hard not to smile. It’s a routing masterpiece. Sand Valley is a really special place and Mammoth Dunes just might be the best (and most fun) course I’ve ever played. I’m already planning my next trip.

I don’t normally go on vacation to get my teeth kicked in by a golf course, but that’s what happened at Sand Valley (and I still had a blast). Not much can compare to that anxious feeling I got while standing on Craig’s Porch, waiting for the starter to call me over. It’s hard to take everything in while mentally preparing for what lays ahead.

The course is immaculate, views are surreal, and shot requirements are unmatched. The incredible routing makes for a surprisingly easy walk, despite the massive inland dunes you traverse. It’s one of those courses that you need to feel your way around; you can throw your normal golf game out at the door (thankfully, the Sandbox prepares your short game).

Each hole throws you a new problem to solve and you won’t find yourself pulling the same clubs very often. The magnitude of this golf course paired with the resort experience made for some incredible fun. Sand Valley is a pretty unforgettable golf course.

If you’re looking for endless fun, look no further than the Sandbox. It’s so good that my group was rushing to play it after a 36 hole, 12-mile day. The masterminds at Sand Valley know not everyone enjoys golf in the same way and the Sandbox serves as a place to let loose and play the game your way. We hit shots on this short game playground until the pitch-black night sky overtook us both days we were there. I don’t think there’s a better metric for success than that. The food truck and hang-out space by the 1st tee is a nice touch as well. I could play the Sandbox every day for the rest of my life and not run out of ways to enjoy myself (and sharpen my short game).

Sitting in the shadow of the Big House and the Crisler Center is the University of Michigan golf course. Its greens are wild and roll as much as the course itself does. The routing is so good that it’s easily walkable, despite being draped over a massive hill overlooking Ann Arbor. ⁠⁠
⁠⁠
The rough is no joke, creating difficult up-and-down scenarios (if you miss as many greens as I do). There are views for days and the new clubhouse is one of the coolest I've seen. This MacKenzie/Maxwell gem is a spectacular asset for Michigan. ⁠⁠
⁠⁠
I can’t help but imagine how much more spectacular it could be with a true restoration. Tree removal and some expanded greens would really launch UofM into a whole different category. Even if it needs some TLC, it's still one of the best I've played. The University has a really special pair of courses. ⁠⁠

Radrick Farms sits on a flowing piece of property that I wasn't expecting to be hidden in East Ann Arbor. It's difficult, but manageable if you aren't thrown off by the deception, railroad ties, and undulating greens that wait around every turn.⁠⁠
⁠⁠
Despite its difficulty, Radrick is a surprisingly peaceful spot for a round (rivaling some courses in Northern Michigan). I love how big the walking culture is here; I only saw a few groups in carts. I'm not sure what I was expecting, but I came away with a good feeling (despite my round spiraling out of control on the 12th). ⁠⁠

It may be a little tough to spot driving by, but once you get up on the course, you can really see how cool it is. They're making a lot of positive changes and I can tell it has come a long way. There are some really cool golf holes out here and the views are great as well. Its setting in Bear Lake is tough to beat. Give this course a shot and I bet you'll be pleasantly surprised.

Leland CC has two completely different halves: one with that century-old feel and one that feels much newer and bolder. It's all very unpretentious and relaxed. The clubhouse and pro shop are really cool and filled with history. There are blind shots around every turn. Flat lies are few are far between. I won't say it's the greatest golf course I've ever played, but there's something about it that puts it pretty high on my list.