Black Lake Conference Center

I have played this course now I think about a half dozen times and it never ceases to impress me. Played on Tuesday, October 10, 2023 started out about 9 o’clock mid 40s temperature threatening rain and I was the only one there needless to say. I was in all my glory of the petit or two to the silver with still plays out at 5700 yards or so in the store for a 65-year-old a good test. The greens are lightning fast even though they were aerated but you could not tell it was so good job. Score of the deal for $33 so I jumped on it and I called ahead and the lady blonde hair lady so that she had a threesome going out at 8:20 which is the tea. She only started at 8:30 so I don’t know what that was all about but there was no tracks or foot prints ahead of me so I don’t know what she was thinking or what happened I got wrong and all the teetimes were disappearing on tee off in Golf now once I told her I was going to book it online, so maybe she was playing games I don’t know The truth but anyway got done in 2 1/2 hours met a nice guy working on the course they Matt from Detroit semi retired blowing off the leaves and what not super nice guy Matt great job. Hopefully you can get a raise like the rest of the UAW people Anyway yeah Matt I hope your coffee business goes well. Great worker there.

I played Grandview in and Kalkaska The day before under very windy, kind of rainy conditions. I had the weather gear for it and that was a great track to I played it last year once and it’s not quite a Reese Jones but for 15 bucks it was awesome. I had that place to myself also but if you have not played Black Lake you want to get up there it was just the way I liked it because there’s nobody in front of me took my time and still got done record time and got home from up there to Grand Rapids in the afternoon.

Yeah the greens are still lightning fast fair worries we’re just snow the silk Teebox is awesome and plate appropriate to because the sand traps will eat you up speaking of sand traps probably the best condition sand I’ve ever seen a little firmer so the ball does not plug little easier to hit Out of and the foliage was still only about 50 to 70% called about a week early but they’re gonna close here in a couple weeks I believe so get up there now

I enjoy the course, the layout and the nature. I wish #1 would start off with a little more space to land and less trouble to ease one into the round. Any errant shots will put you in big trouble on a lot of the holes. One thing I’d like is for the staff to add reflectors to the pins so it’s easier to use a range finder.

It's a shame what has happened with this once top 10 in the state golf course 😥
The course conditions are abysmal, there is not a single green out of the 18 that does not have some sort of damage due to lousy maintenance and add to that the numerous ball marks that are not repaired by the golfers and not to mention the sunflower seeds spit out on the greens....idiots!
Other noted problems:
1. Numerous divots that not repaired, and sand traps not raked out by the golfers.
2. Lack of staffing, inside and out, especially with maintenance which the condition of the course indicates, and you
never see a Ranger to fix the slow play problems.
3. Length of rough and pin placements could help with pace of play problems, especially on busy weekends. Why no
secondary cut that transitions from fairway to rough?
4. Not enough golf carts on the too busy weekends, carts dying on the course. Golfers driving the carts wherever they
please.
5. Some sand traps and waste bunker not kept up like they once were, Poa grass taking over the bent grass greens,
weeds in the fringe. I'm certain Rees Jones would be saddened to see what this once pristine course has become.

Bottom line...I guess it's all about the bottom line...would rather see higher prices with fewer rounds for this caliber of a golf course. Come on UAW step up your game and take care of this wonderful asset!

We love this course and have a cottage on the lake 2 miles from the course. We have played it for years. The course is always in amazing condition, HOWEVER the service and pace of play is terrible on weekends.

This was especially true on Saturday, Aug 26. There was no ranger to be found. Our first 9 took 3 1/2 hours. Unacceptable! Luckily we were paired with a very nice couple and the time was enjoyable. HOWEVER, it was their first experience and will likely never come back.

At the turn, I mentioned this to the lady in the pro shop (who was absolutely delightful) and she profusely apologized and offered that we could play the first 9 again vs. struggling through the back 9 with slow play.

For us this was a great option, however for the couple that wanted to experience the full course, this was frustrating.

Evidently there were two groups ahead of us that were not experienced golfers.
1) they were playing in jeans (signal #1 - problem)
2) we happened to finish at the same time and they were completely trashed (problem #2)
3) they spouted off about how they lost a whole box of balls on the course (problem #3)

Evidently the ranger left early and felt that the course "police's itself". (AKA - I don't want to deal with a bunch of drunk guys that all play from the blue tees and think they are amazing.)

Seriously, the rest of us suffer when there is no accountability.

Every hole could be on a post card. The holes are lined with trees, but fairways are wide enough to be fair.

I wanted to leave a bad review so no one would come up and play….the course is well maintained and absolutely gorgeous. Course is tough but playable. Woman’s tee placement were excellent. Staff was super friendly.