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By VW
It is a daunting task to write an objective review of a course that has served you lunch and dinner year after year. However, Lake Michigan Hills deserves just that. As a qualifying course for the Western Amateur, one of the premier events within the Western Golf Association, Lake Michigan Hills has established a tradition as one of the top courses in southwest Michigan. Like a supermodel, the course is long and tight, with enough curves to throw you off your game. Locals catch a break on rates, but even to the everyday visitor, Lake Michigan Hills is an affordable option that will satisfy nearly every golfer that stops by.
| #1 |
You will get a good look at the front from this par 4. Tee shots from the elevated tee box can boost confidence. Trees line both sides and there is a fairway bunker near the landing zone. Favor the center of the green on approach shots to avoid the marsh on the left and the encroaching forest on the right. |
| #2 |
A routine par 4, drives should favor the edge of the left tree line to play through the slight dogleg left. A mid to short iron will take you to a large green guarded by front side bunkers. Follow the signs going to the 2nd or you will be on the green before you realize you are playing the 9th. |
| #3 |
The first of the par 3's, this is a chip shot for most golfers. The tee shot is from an elevated tee box to a massive green with bunkers front right and lining the left side. |
| #4 |
Like the 1st and 3rd, the tee box is perched above the fairway. Long ball hitters will love this par 5. If you are going to miss the fairway, miss left to play from the 2nd fairway. Monster drives will still require a long iron or hybrid into a green guarded on the front left by low-hanging limbs and matching front side bunkers. Count par an excellent score. |
| #5 |
Bag the driver on this short par four. You will trade distance for accuracy. OB along the left with several opportunities to lose a ball long or right. A 3 or 5 wood will carry your tee shot down the hill, leaving a short uphill approach to a deep green. |
| #6 |
You will have options off the tee given the slight dogleg left. Play out to the right and expect a longer approach and the tree line or cut the corner over the left side fairways bunker. The green opens up at the back, but approach shots short will have little room to negotiate the front of the green. |
| #7 |
The tee shot on this par 5 requires as much accuracy as distance. You have to clear the corner to have a decent shot at the green. At 441 yards from the whites, this is a green easy to reach in two. The green is heavily guarded by front and back side bunkers. Miss the green long and you are down into the pond beyond. Take a good look around before sinking your eagle putt. The 10th shares this green. |
| #8 |
Similar to the 3rd, this par 3 really only requires correct distance. The green, while fronted by bunkers, is accommodating. Don't short change your tee shot because the front falls away in a hurry. Take a little extra to land the top shelf for a makeable birdie. |
| #9 |
If you didn't follow the signage, you may have played this par 4 as the 2nd, so repeat your efforts or repair your mistakes. Tee shots to the right are much more forgiving than any played to the left. There is a small pond that approaches the green on the left side and the hard-packed soil tends to carry errant tee shots toward this hazard. Following the theme, the green has moderate undulation and is easily reached with even a mediocre approach. |
| #10 |
Back to the top for this legitimate par 5, playing just over 500 yards. The landing area is wide open, so pick a spot and fire away. Even significant tee shots will require a longer approach to a slightly elevated green. There is deep woods to the left and a pond to the right that frame in the green. Bunkers front right and left are the recurring theme. |
| #11 |
One of the fun par 4's at LMH, big sticks have the chance to roll one close to the green. The trick is to thread the needle that is the tree line, which creates a bottle neck 150 yards from the tee. Play up the right side toward the pines to avoid the creek on the left. A short iron should put you close for one of the rare scoring opportunities on the back. |
| #12 |
Follow up one of the fun holes with one that produces nightmares for any golfer who has the tendency to push or pull a drive. This par 4 is all uphill and as tight as any hole that I have played. There is room on the left to navigate through the trees, but the right is as good as gone. Approach shots play to a narrow but deep green, which slopes severely from back to front. |
| #13 |
This hole will always stay with me throughout my life. Not because it possesses any refined character, but because this was the sight of the most undeserved ace I have ever encountered. In an outing several years back, we had a husband and wife team in front of us. The wife had scored an ace the previous day and as we approached the tee box, the husband rolled a shot from 167 yards right up and into the cup. He took home a new Dodge truck and we pounded shots. Tip here is to be certain of the distance. While playing 167 yards, the box is elevated so take one less club to get to the center of the green. |
| #14 |
This is the first of three interconnected holes. The tee shot from this par 4 can be played to the corner of the dogleg left (nothing slight here) or played over the hillside on the left. Make the corner and the hole becomes a routine up and down. |
| #15 |
If you play a slice, push, or fade, you will set up to reach this par 5 green in two. You have to clear an apple orchard and ditch on the right, but that is the lesser of two evils. Hooks, pulls, or draws will take you into the trees on the left at the 105-degree dogleg right. Again, approach shots will target a pear-shaped green that expands to the back slopes toward the front. |
| #16 |
This par 4 mirrors the 14th without the hill. The apple orchard from the 15th is in play on the right and a large willow blocks most attempts to cut much off of the dogleg left. The green is fairly level with the requisite greenside bunkers. |
| #17 |
By our standards, this par 3 is considered long at 187 yards. Factor in that you are driving the ball severely uphill, and most of my friends play a knock-down driver. The green is huge, again narrow but deep. Par on this hole is to be celebrated! |
| #18 |
The finishing hole, while enjoyable, has always been somewhat of a letdown. This par 4 plays short at less than 340 yards and the only jeopardy is to the right. There is a large waste bunker near the landing zone. The left side is open beyond the tree line an additional 35 to 40 yards before hitting OB. The tee shot is blind, so take careful aim right of center. The green is substantial, but guarded by a large front left bunker and a huge tree on the right. If you have played this course like I have, you cannot wait to head into the clubhouse to buy a round to soothe the agony of defeat. |
| Despite the shameful rounds that I have posted at Lake Michigan Hills, I find myself here time and time again. It could be the fact that when you strip away personal perspective and take the course for what it is, you discover what a great course it really is. With club pro, Wayne "Gooch" Yamaguchi around to welcome you and the always friendly staff on hand, it is no reason that this is the course of choice for so many events. And to be honest, Lake Michigan Hills is my white whale, and I will continue to return each spring and summer until I have driven the proverbial spear through it. |
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| 1) |
Fee Factor
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19
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| $40 on weekdays and $55 on weekends is a great price for a great course. An added discount for local residents makes it even more affordable. |
| 2) |
Friendliness Factor
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20
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| Gooch and the rest of the group here make you feel at home and at ease. From top to bottom, a first-rate staff. |
| 3) |
Fringe Factor
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17
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| Since development began a few years back, the range has suffered. That is just one person's opinion. The pro shop is small but well-stocked with local favorites. The bar is open and inviting. |
| 4) |
From 1st Tee to Handshake Factor
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15
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| The grounds crew has come a long way. Years ago, the fairways and greens were nearly killed. You almost can't tell today. Other than that, the bunkers need work. |
| 5) |
Fun Factor
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17
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| I have had some great rounds here that didn't involve a scorecard. Otherwise, you have to come here ready to play some of your better golf. |
Website: http://www.lakemichiganhills.com/
Check out the Where to section: For places to eat, drink, and stay around southwest Michigan and Benton Harbor and St. Joseph area.
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