| #1 |
A pond on the right and woods along the left require an accurate tee shot to a straight away fairway. The elevated green is large and runs to the front. Great hole to warm up on. |
| #2 |
Tee shots up the right side of the fairway offer the most forgiveness for inaccurate drives. The tree line hugs the left side of the fairway and even those shots that manage to die short of the trees will still be obstructed by the overhang. The green is fairly simple, making birdie an easily achievable score. |
| #3 |
Another straight forward Par 4, the 3rd accommodates driver errors of all types. There are few hazards until you approach the green. The patch of trees runs out from the left side of the fairway and can block approach shots from that side to the footprint green. |
| #4 |
The first of the Par 3's, a short iron will carry to the green guarded left and right by bunkers that can be easily negotiated. |
| #5 |
Straight and longer par 4 with bunkers on the left side of the green. Be careful of the large mature trees and make sure you have your punch shot working, because it might come in handy at some point in your round. |
| #6 |
This par 4 borders a factory on the left side, which is fenced off from the park. It could easily come into play if you are plagued by a hook on your tee shot. Another difficult and fast green awaits you. |
| #7 |
A pedestrian 453 yard Par 5. Few trees to contend with and only two front-side bunkers to navigate. Probably a Par 4 on any other course. |
| #8 |
A challenging Par 3 playing 200 yards on the mark. Hills in the right foreground block your view to the majority of the green. Everything runs to the back on this large green. |
| #9 |
The tree line down the left side of the fairway leads to O.B. beyond where the industrial area encroaches on the course. Play over the bunker on the left for the A Position. You will play downhill to a green heavily guarded by large clumps of trees. |
| #10 |
To the uninitiated, it will seem sensible to play a 200-yard shot short of the water. Don't be fooled. A moderate-length drive can clear the stream, making the approach shot that much easier. The green is elevated, and once again, large groupings of trees block a number of approach angles. |
| #11 |
Your tee shot on this Par 4 is blind to the fairway ahead. Aim dead center to avoid the scattering of trees along the left side. The green is relatively small with well-placed bunkers. |
| #12 |
A legitimate Par 5, playing over 500 yards. We split the fairway, with my tee shot down the left into the pines and House playing over to the right behind a grouping of hardwoods. A pool of bunkers squeezes the neck leading to the green, so your second shot is critical to making GIR. |
| #13 |
A routine Par 3 with little of note with exception of large, inviting green. Do not overshoot the green and land in the thick woods behind. |
| #14 |
Tight fairways are a trademark of munis and this is hole is no exception. Watch out for dogs and runners in little shorts because Palmer Park cuts through the course and on any occasion, you will be confronted with unusual hazards. The right side can be forgiving, but play into the left and you will be hard-pressed to find your ball, let alone make any attempt at forward progress. The green is tucked in tight to the surrounding woods, so distance is absolutely critical. |
| #15 |
The Par 4 15th leaves little room for error off of the tee. Bunkers are strategically placed on either side of the landing area and the few trees along the fairway seem to be planted right where longer drives land. |
| #16 |
This is an extremely forgiving Par 5. The fairway and rough are wide open and allow legitimate approaches from either side. Be cautious of the woods on the left near the green and the shrubs and pines around the back and right. |
| #17 |
Another tough Par 3 (anything over 160 yards qualifies as challenging). Play for the center of the green (as if it needs to be said) regardless of pin placement. Miss to the left and your ball will roll down 20 feet toward the woods. Miss to the right and your ball will pinball out of play. |
| #18 |
Much like the 10th, you have to decide how to play the stream that cuts the 18th fairway. Lay up 200 yards out and you will have to repeat the shot to get to the elevated green. We suggest hugging the left side of the fairway, allowing you to go for the green and take the right bunkers out of play. A nice finishing hole on a nice course. |
| Kaufman is a great course to warm up on for an afternoon 18. We played it early and quickly, in and out in about 3.5 hours. While the county doesn't dress up the clubhouse or practice area, they paid obvious attention to the design and maintenance of the course. About 10 minutes from downtown Grand Rapids, Kaufman is great rallying spot for a weekend outing. |
| 1) |
Fee Factor
|
18
|
| Less than $30 for 18 and a cart. Even at a municipal, this course was worth so much more. |
| 2) |
Friendliness Factor
|
17
|
| You get what you pay for here. While the staff may be avid golfers, they are not golf course professionals. Remember, they work for the county and the golf course is only a small part of the pie. A helpful group overall though. |
| 3) |
Fringe Factor
|
16
|
| We took the earliest tee time available to us. We were so jacked to start the day of 36 holes that we possibly left our third behind. Very limited offerings at Kaufman. The clubhouse is like a rec hall, but you are here for the course. |
| 4) |
From 1st Tee to Handshake Factor
|
18
|
| There were areas that were definitely in need of repair, but overall the course was in excellent condition given the availability of the course to the general public. |
| 5) |
Fun Factor
|
19
|
| A great course in the middle of Grand Rapids. This course offered a little bit of everything that great courses offer, all the while helping you to forget you are in the city. We had a great time with a group of unpretentious golfers behind us. |
