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By House
This self-claimed “Resort of Southeastern Michigan” hosts a fantastic championship course. The Marriott hotel is centrally located to Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti and Metro Airport. The Eagle Crest Golf Club is the home course for the Eastern Michigan University golf teams, strategically placed within the borders of Ford Lake. The clubhouse is a fun place to have a cold one after your round. Many of the staff are EMU students from the hotel and restaurant management program and are eager to make you feel welcome. I have played in numerous outings here and have always felt they were well run and executed.
| #1 |
Big hitters will want to keep your drivers in your bag until the 5th hole. Placement is key on this par 4 to stay out of the drink. |
| #2 |
I call this goose hole #1. Good luck finding a clean spot to tee up! Make sure to bring some coal and shove it up your backside before you attempt your approach shot to this green. If you don't stick it you probably be OB, but you might have created a nice shiny diamond! |
| #3 |
Resist your urge to hit your driver on this blind tee shot. The water is closer than you think! |
| #4 |
Long par 3 with a generous green. Left and long is gone. |
| #5 |
Golf ball meet Ford Lake, Ford Lake meet golf ball. Anything to the right on this wet. Try to stay left on your second shot for the optimal attack angle on the green. |
| #6 |
Par 3 with a tricky green that slopes down to the left. |
| #7 |
One of the few times you can let it rip. Push it right and you are OB. |
| #8 |
Same advice as stated on the 7th hole- only this hole is shorter. This time, if you go right, you will probably hit a car! |
| #9 |
Fun dogleg right around the entrance to the resort. I like to call holes 7 to 10 a right-handed slicer's worst nightmare! Alas, feel comfort that you might be reunited with your ball in the parking lot when you are loading up your clubs. |
| #10 |
Don't get too greedy trying to cut the corner. A nice easy shot to the center of the fairway will set up nicely for the shortest of the par 5s. |
| #11 |
If you can hit your tee shot to the far end of the fairway before it drops off and turns right, you might be able to shoot par on this hole. The oak tree on the front right side of the green will kill any chance you have for par should you go short. |
| #12 |
Long par 4 with a smallish green. |
| #13 |
This two-tiered green that slopes down toward the water is one of the toughest greens on the course. |
| #14 |
Elevated tee to a large green. My Titleist seems to have a love affair with the willow tree to the right. |
| #15 |
Don't let the water intimidate you, though it is closer than you probably think. |
| #16 |
Ah, the signature hole. You will be discussing this hole in the clubhouse afterward- I guarantee. If you can get a good drive, you can go for the green it two. The peninsula green is surrounded by large rocks- should you miss, you will watch your ball carom off rock and into Ford Lake in painfully slow motion. In midsummer, the geese commandeer the green and you will find yourself walking through the landmines. |
| #17 |
The entire right side is your last chance to find water on the course. |
| #18 |
Tough finishing hole- an uphill par 4 that borders the driving range to the right. The green is two tiered. The architect obviously didn't want you to be left with an easy hole to complete your round... |
| Two frustrating things I have found to be true at Eagle Crest: the lack of a Ranger and the back-ups at the turn. The starters are always present and organized, but you will most likely never see another member of the staff until the clubhouse. There is usually always a back-up at the turn with slow players enjoying the grille and not moving along quickly to the 10th tee box. It sets the tone for a frustrating back 9. Once Eagle Crest addresses these issues, they will find me loitering even more on their premises. |
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| 1) |
Fee Factor
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17
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| If you are an EMU student or faculty, take advantage of the discounted rates. Although priced to contend with resort rates, I fell overall it might be a bit high. |
| 2) |
Friendliness Factor
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18
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| The staff is usually very young and friendly. They are used to dealing with guests form the resort and other business professionals. The wait staff in the clubhouse is great! |
| 3) |
Fringe Factor
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18
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| The elevated driving range will make you feel as if you almost can reach the lake. The putting green is great to settle your ties after the round with a putt-off. The greens on the course aren't as difficult as this green! The banquet area located on the second level of the clubhouse has a beautiful view of the course. Afterwards, you can enjoy a drink or two watching the duffers hack away! The resort itself can accommodate any amount of guests. |
| 4) |
From 1st Tee to Handshake Factor
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19
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| This championship course is set up to challenge. It rewards only if you are aware of yardages and hazards. If you start spraying your shots, you will be frustrated. The course is in nice condition. Everyone in the foursome will have a favorite hole. |
| 5) |
Fun Factor
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18
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| Eagle Crest has always been a yearly play for me since I moved back to the area. When you play with guys your skill level, it really ups the fun factor. |
Website: http://www.eaglecrestresort.com/
Check out the Where to section: for places to eat, drink, and stay in southeast Michigan (like Marriott, Aubree’s, Stick’s).
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