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By House
I have driven by this course many times on I-94 and wondered how it was. Like other courses on the highway, the holes you see as you pass by are only slightly indicative of how good it really is. Usually, I am too busy scratching my head wondering how many annual visitors the Whitetail Museum has next door. When my golf professional friend asked if I wanted to play this course outside of Jackson with the chef from his country club, I had to accept. It isn’t everyday you get to mix albino deer, steady rain, a culinary genius, and a PGA pro in one round. Having had such a good time, I had an opportunity not a week later to play this course again with a few local golfing authorities and Calderone course architect Bill Newcomb.
Bill is a very humble, friendly, and personable guy. He was quick to answer questions and offer his thoughts about this wonderful course he designed. I was surprised to hear him tell Lon (columnist/ photographer for the soon expiring Ann Arbor News) that this was his favorite course he designed. That is a strong statement considering he created such gems as The Medalist, Thornapple Pointe, Spruce Run, Polo Fields, and Travis Pointe just to name a few. I asked him what made this project so unique. He explained to me that because he was given such a large parcel (over 220 acres!) of land to work with it made the job easier to create. Although we played in June, he told us October is really the time this course flourishes. It is not every day you get to play with the course architect. Although he had to leave at the turn for a meeting back in Ann Arbor, it was great to pick his brain and meet the man who has designed so many of my favorite courses!
| #1 |
Take aim at the far left bunker on this interesting par 5. If you play your second shot too far left, you will find yourself next to the fence line of the whitetail museum. Exchange pleasantries and get back to focusing on the makeable birdie on the green |
| #2 |
The highway is a PW away from you on this par 3. The traffic is somewhat distracting, but I would much rather get it out of the way now than have to deal with it later in the round. |
| #7 |
Stay left over the mound with your tee shot because the fairway bunker on the right side is large and inviting. The bunker placement by the green makes this short par 4 all the more difficult, not to mention the severely sloping green. Depending on pin placement, you could be in for a ride! |
| #9 |
This is a tough driving hole with water along the left side of the fairway. You want to be further right than you think you need to be because we saw a few balls kick hard left down by the water. The narrow fairway is your best attack angle- too far right will leave a difficult shot to an elevated green. Beautiful hole to look at, not all that fun to try to negotiate. |
| #10 |
At some point, they flipped the front with the back. This originally was the 1st hole and I think I would have liked the original layout better. This par 5 is the longest hole but pretty straight forward and would have been a nice hole to start with. Play your drive to the right side of the fairway for a great look at the green. |
| #14 |
Severe dogleg right requires a place out 240 yards from the tee. The green is small but fair and even par is respectable on this par 4. |
| #16 |
This deceptive par 4 hole is short, but maybe not short enough. Beyond the tall trees on the right, you will see the green. Do not let the testosterone and prior successful drives convince you that you can clear the water beyond the tall trees. The risk/reward is so lopsided that it becomes laughable to even consider. Take the ball to the left of the trees along the right side of the fairway. Then you will be left with a little chip shot over an enormous bunker to the green and a certain chance at par. The green is two-tiered but not nearly as difficult as others here. |
| #17 |
Stunning par 3 with tee boxes cut into the woods. The tricky green is large, as is the welcoming bunker in the front left side. |
| #18 |
Nice finishing hole par 4 with water on the right side. Place your shot to the left side of the fairway for the best approach angle to a relatively flat green. |
| The links style course on the front has more of a Northern Michigan feel to the back nine. I really enjoyed both my rounds with James (the chef) and Adam (PGA pro), then with Bill, Lon, and Paul (Ann Arbor Golf Association advocate). I could write an article on my playing partners alone because all of them have deep roots in this game. The one thread is that the love for this game was clear to all of us and we all gushed about this splendid course next to the highway (and the deer museum). |
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| 1) |
Fee Factor
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19
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| The fee is so affordable that you will feel obligated to buy something in the pro shop or snack bar just so you don't feel like you robbed the place. |
| 2) |
Friendliness Factor
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18
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| They had a lot of cute young girls working there. Because there seems to always be a steady stream of older golfers, you can't help wonder if this is a hangout for dirty old men. All kidding aside, everyone was very friendly. |
| 3) |
Fringe Factor
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16
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| The practice green was hilarious. It had more hills and bumps than a miniature golf course. The course has a driving range and a couple of chipping holes. A new pro shop is in final stages of completion; once finished it should be really nice. Currently, they are working out of a trailer that is serviceable until the construction is complete. |
| 4) |
From 1st Tee to Handshake Factor
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19
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| Well-designed course. We said that throughout the first round before I had met Bill and continued it throughout the second round all the way to the car. Greens are fast and mostly fair. The bunkers had a few rocks in them, but luckily not near my ball. Overall, this is a wonderfully challenging course on a gorgeous bit of land. |
| 5) |
Fun Factor
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18
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| I had a great time during both rounds! Everyone was challenged from the pro, scratch golfer, course architect, Weekend Warrior, and the chef. |
Website: http://calderonegolfclub.com/index.htm
Check out the Where to section: for places to eat, drink, and stay in southeastern Michigan.
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