Vasilios6580212

Jack Nicklaus designed an absolute GEM in TPC Michigan. From whichever tee you choose, you have a serious challenge in front of you. Every hole has trouble, but presents a risk/reward profile that's unmatched. Every shot requires thought, and you really have to be accurate to have any chance at par. Tee-to-green this is easily more difficult than Oakland Hills (South and North), and if the greens firm up, "fuggetaboutit". When greens are "slow", they roll at about a 10.5. Watch out for hole 14; this has to be one of the hardest par 4s I've ever encountered. It's a fair course overall, and most DEFINITELY one of the funnest tracks in golf. I'm baffled as to how this stopped showing up on Michigan's "Best Courses" lists. Perhaps because it's fully private and small membership numbers? A hidden gem for sure, that lives up to and exceeds the expectations of a TPC course.
Amenities are plentiful, even a sauna and small steam shower if you're lucky enough to pass through Jack's Loft. The food is incredible. A little pricey for some options, but well worth it. Course conditions are exceptional - I've heard they went down in recent years but I can tell you that this year they are as good as it can possibly get, with the exception of my dislike of relatively hard bunkers rather than soft fluffy sand. Not really a course condition moreso than a fact. They seem to be slowly adding the fluffy stuff to some of the bunkers, so I'm assuming (hoping) all will be filled shortly. Surprisingly, no GPS systems in the carts either. Range and practice facilities are perfect, with a hidden members' range in the back.

If you can get on, PLAY THIS COURSE. Come early, take advantage of the range/bunkers/putting area, eat, and then eat again after your round. Well worth every penny.

Being a member of another (private) TPC course, I had very high expectations. I had read the reviews prior to golfing TPC Eagle Trace, but chose to play the course on my golf trip anyways. Let me confirm that the reviews are correct in that the course conditions are simply embarrassing. By no means unplayable, given that our only job as golfers is to hit a ball in grass with a metal stick, but for the price that my guests had to pay, I don't think any would go back again even though it was an enjoyable round.

The clubhouse is nice, keeps its very old character, though I wouldn't mind seeing some updates. Range balls are not provided which isn't a big deal, but again for this type of "prestigious" course it would have been nice. The range did not allow hitting of drivers as it is only 200-ish yards long (what??). The conditions of the range were horrifying; hitting off of dirt and weeds more than any grass. Thankfully the actual course was mildly better. Tee boxes were rough, but space could be found to set the ball up nicely. Fairways were riddled with weeds and some overgrowth. The rough was like a schmorgesborg of whatever type of grass/weed decided to thinly grow there. Greens were not kept well as there were tons of ball marks, divots, and bare spots, but when you did happen to have a free line, rolled true at about a 9. Not fast, but not slow per say.

The layout is simply fantastic. The challenge of the course is definitely enticing to try this at least once if you have not. The play of water, bunkers, and carefully placed approach shots made the course difficult without any wind, but adding in the 25mph gusts we had the day we played made it an impossible scratch course.

It's just a shame that maintenance has seemingly taken a long, LONG vacation, because the course could be great but is instead outshines by most public courses that could be played for a fraction of the cost. PLEASE hire someone to clean this place up, because I'd love to visit again, but won't be doing so in the near future given the disrespect to the TPC name.