Top 50 Junior Tour has four dates remaining for the southeastern Michigan region and many of Michigan's finest prep players are in the mix. Play resumes on Saturday as players turn their attention to Mystic Creek in Milford. Jamie Cattran of Troy, a 2011 graduate leads the boys 16 to 18 age division. He won the latest Fieldstone event in July and will play the course again later this month in the final event of the season. James Van Noord, also of Troy is third and chasing him. Nathan Zoulek, (Sr.) from Commerce Township is 5th and quite a few golfers are chasing them. Cattran has a huge lead but in golf it truly is not over until the points are clinched and Cattran is on the way to doing just that.

     In the girls age 16 to 18 division Shannon Fraser (2001) of Saline is leading and by a comfortable margin. Jordyn Shepler of Livonia is third and other key notables are Amanda Graham (Sr.) of Rochester Hills and Sarah Dilts (Sr.) of Lake Orion.
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1	--	Jamie Cattran	Troy, MI	2011	10	581.50
2	--	Patrick Miller	Howell, MI	2012	8	445.00
3	--	James Van Noord	Troy, MI	2011	7	383.50
4	--	Andrew Lange	Clarkston, MI	2012	6	337.00
5	--	Jon Woo	Troy, MI	2012	6	280.00
6	--	Nathan Zoulek	Commerce Township, MI	2012	6	264.00
7	--	Amir Jairazbhoy	Farmington Hills, MI	2013	7	249.00
8	--	Tyler Viney	Marine City, MI	2011	4	247.17
9	--	Joshua DuPrie	Westland, MI	2011	5	237.50
10	--	David Smith	Highland, MI	2013	5	230.50
11	--	Drew White	Auburn Hills, MI	2012	5	200.67
12	--	Mitchell DeFrain	Wixom, MI	2012	5	194.50
13	--	Aidan ORourke	Troy, MI	2013	3	191.00
14	--	Jason Wang	Troy, MI	2012	4	190.17
15	--	Joseph Lepkowski	White Lake, MI	2012	4	187.50
16	--	Connor Sexton	South Lyon, MI	2011	3	171.00
17	--	Andrew Brownlee	Howell, MI	2012	4	169.00
18	--	Andrew Bozimowski	Commerce Township, MI	2011	4	167.50
19	--	Michael II Collins	White Lake, MI	2012	4	163.00
20	--	Philip Dubiel	Shelby Township, MI	2012	4	160.50
21	11	Brad Divilbiss	Clarkston, MI	2013	4	152.50

September 10, 2011	Mystic Creek Lakes/Meadows (Fall Event)	$55.00	View Details
Mystic Creek Golf Club - Milford, MI
Registration Deadline: September 9, 2011 | Boys Ages: 12 - 18 | Girls Ages: 12 - 18
FALL EVENT: Single Day 18 Hole Tournament, Scholarship Points, TourZone Cup, 1:30pm Tee Times

Players will play on Saturday the 10th, then move on to Twin Lakes in Oakland Township, Fox Hills in Plymouth and finish up at Fieldstone in Auburn Hills to finish up the 2012 season.

Say Eye Eye to the Captain's Club

    

The Captain’s Club in Grand Blanc sits in the shadows of Warwick Hills but as a golf course, it is a very challenging course on its own merit. Also known as a Raymond Floyd signature course, the Captains Club was coined during the namesakes run as he led the Ryder Cup team in the 1990’s.

   This course is simply a challenging test of golf and between the combination of long carries, target golf and various tee boxes gives golfers different looks to challenge the 14 clubs in your bag. Located off of Baldwin Road in Grand Blanc, the course sits in the middle of a large real estate project that mixes affordable and luxurious housing that was all the rage during construction in its inception. The course plays from 5,047 (red tees) to 6,765 yards from the blacks. During my time there, I played a combination of both black and blue tees to challenge myself for the round.

   While the first hole plays up to 473 yards as a par four, moving to the blues saved me quite a bit of yardage as it played at 408. My review begins at the second hole  (367 yards)and this near severe dog leg left is lined with woods on both sides of the tee box and fans out and the fairway is cut short and a drive of 250 yards including roll will leave you with a distance of about 120 to the pin. Long bombers can drive through the fairway into the woods and you may need a three wood but most will have a good angle to the pin. A decent size tree sits left side and can block some shots but it is a ditch about 20 yards in front of the green that will frustrate you more. It basically is a ball eater and a visit to the ditch will most likely keep a souvenir before you finish your hole. The green is very undulated and if you are behind the pin, you are most likely lag putting. Below the hole and you can take a stab at making your putt but a lag is almost as likely. Par is a good score here but with a short iron shot knocked stiff, you could earn a birdie here.

   The third hole is one where you must really study before hitting. Long drivers will have to determine if the cluster of ‘dragon bunkers’ that go up and down are worth driving over (they are) or you want to bring a pond into play that runs the length of the hole. The pond juts in around the 250 yard mark and any balls smashed will go in unless you can carry about 280 yards. Driving safely is important and then the second portion of the fairway begins and the carry is about 200 yards and if you have hit a super drive you can make it but a cluster of bunkers to the right side of the green will have you hitting for eagle out of the sand. For those that have to layup their second shot and a less than stellar tee shot will basically make you do just that. Your third shot will give you a good chance to the green but the green is slightly elevated and the pin is often obscured depending on its placement. The green is very undulated and could be a certain two putt depending on where you leave it. Still, longer hitters will have chance for eagle or a sure birdie. Those that do less than that will have fewer expectations than that.

   Another hole that golfers will put on their thinking caps is the 383 yard dogleg par four. More than one issue of golf course management is the expectation here. There is a pond right and if you fade the ball you may have a problem and unless you hit it 330 yards off of the tee, a second and much larger pond will give you a two stroke penalty. Also, woods are beside it left side and you have that problem. The smart thing to do is to hit a long iron or fairway wood and put it down the middle and leave yourself a similar shot without the tee. For those that say the heck with it and pull the ball left, you have left yourself with a self-imposed penalty of a much longer club in which to select from. A landing area that allows golfers some chance to bounce the ball up to the green was a nice touch by Floyd. The green will require you to study your shot but the greens roll true here.

The seventh hole is one that is one of my favorites. This is a true target hole and if you are a bomber and in my younger days, going for it on my tee shot was mandatory. Now, homes are located to the right of the tee box and a natural brush is located about 270-280 yards out.  A sign now instructs golfers that causing damage to the homes will cost you some dough and that the hole is now a three shot hole. For me, it basically is and for most players it is as well. For those that drive it over this natural hazard into a second fairway, that is the ultimate target golf that has gone well for those on the tee box. If you have to pitch over the hazard, you can go to the edge of the second hazard (up to 200) yards before another ditch begins. I hit it to within 20 yards of the first hazard on my tee shot and hit hybrid smoothly out to the second fairway but the ball hopped and missed some sand bunkers that are protecting the woods. Darned if that ball did not roll over a bridge and settled on the wood resting there. I had to go back and chip over the hazard but it was pretty funny. Your third shot over the bridge and natural bunker at the ditch is not hard to execute but getting it close to the flag could be as the green rises from front to center and then back down with plenty of undulation everywhere. Birdies are possible but unlikely as there is so much trouble and a temperamental green to deal with. 

   One of my favorite holes on this course (and there are plenty) is the par five 518 yard par five. This hole begins in the woods with several hundred of your favorite mosquitoes and a short carry over fescues onto a very wide fairway. A sand bunker sits in the landing area in the middle of the fairway but most people will drive over it. Being in it will make this a three shot hole for sure. The fairway is very wide but pulling your drive left will leave you with a long carry over a ditch that sits about 70 yards in front of the green. A nice long drive will give you a chance to put a fairway wood in front of the green or on but the woods sit there right side and that is no fun. Once again, iron placement is important as this green can be a three-putt if you put it in the wrong place and anyone on in two will most likely find one. Earning a birdie or par is most likely for those who play this hole well but it could be a double bogey if you find the ditch on your second shot or you dub your drive.

Coming off of a tough stretch of holes on the front nine and holes 3, 5 through nine all qualify, Raymond Floyd also chose to start off hole ten with a ‘chi-bang. ‘

   It plays as a 444 to 501 par five and looks like a drivers delight. You have a series of sand bunkers that guard the left side of this par five and you can reach them or if you can’t you can use them as a marker in which to drive your ball towards. Woods will jut in from the right on this tenth hole. Because it is a short par five many golfers will go for the green and many will have some sort of attempt from on or around the green for eagle. Still, the green is slightly elevated and narrows quickly for those that want to pitch it on this fairly undulated green. For those golfers that need three shots, you will have a good chance to pick your spot on the green unless you are just happy to be on. I eagled this hole the first time I played it smashing my second shot about eight feet to the pin and then being clutch. This is the first eagle I have had this season.

The eleventh hole is very interesting. It only plays 354 yards from the tips and just over 300 for most but this hole is almost a par five if you do not hit a very solid drive. The reason is that the woods on both sides not only make it a tight shot but for those that do not hit it past the opening on the left side have no chance to get it on in two. The trees are mature, a pond guards the green short and to the left and chances are you will not have a good lie. The green is very tricky and as you might be able to tell, is not my favorite hole. It is a good hole, just do not dub your drive or you will make this hole a difficult one.

   One hole that is one of my favorites is to skip commentary on twelve and thirteen and go right to the par four 14^th hole. A series of tee boxes give golfers much different looks over the fescues but really plays open. It looks after dropping your tee into the ground that right side is no good but if you hit it good that is just where you want to be if you can carry the bunkers. Going left will find golfers with a cluster of left side landing bunkers that are elevated and hole killers for golfers. This dog leg right is fairly tame as a green goes but it does slope off the back and going long will possibly leave you with a chip. The fairway does bounce fairly well and this could be a pitch and putt hole as it plays from 338 to 378 yards on the black and blue boxes.

The 17^th hole is another very good driving hole. The neighbors might not think so but most golfers have a nice dog leg left to shoot at and a wide fairway in which to shape your shot. Go right over the bunkers and you will hit your ball into a field and way right and you will go into the neighborhood. Still, a large stake is in the fairway and makes a good target and golfers should try to be in the vicinity as you will have a good chance to shape your 372 to 439 yard shot. Yes, this hole plays much different depending on your tee box. The difference is a short iron becomes long and the green is another tough one. Put your ball around the pin and a birdie is very possible but most likely a two-putt is in order.

The 18^th hole is a hole where local knowledge is what you need in order to score well. It plays from 601 yards to 564 and both require a shot over cattails and other vegetation and if you have not played this hole and should drive or walk to give yourself some satisfaction. A drive short or right is no fun. The cattails will get you or the woods will. You also will have no chance to crush a three wood over fescues in front of the green. Go left on this hole if you can as the elongated dogleg right opens up. There is a bunker in the landing area left side but there is much more room to drive it and then choose how you want to shape your second shot. The bunkers are not easy on the left side after you get around the corner and most golfers will have a wedge to fairway wood depending on your first two shots. Once again the pin will require you to study your shot and if you play smartly, you could be putting for bird but the green is large and most likely a par is a good score here.

Here's the Skinny

Customer Service- 10.0 They have a friendly staff overall and this includes the golf course maintainance people. 


Course Markings- 8.0 - Good.  No suggestions on playing the course as for individual holes with the exception of not hitting into houses on the 7th. Course marked at 100, 150 and 200 yards.

Conditions -7.5 - Course in good shape. Some of the asphalt cart paths are crumbling. The summer heat has taken some toll on parts of the course and a couple of greens but by and large its in good shape.

Playability 8.0- This is a fair scoring track. The course plays different depending on your tee box played. The greens are very readable and there are many subtlties to it. Lots of places for target golf.    

Course Design- 10.0 - Course laid out with the  advanced golfer in mind that likes to think their way around the golf course. For you to get into trouble on this course you will find it just about every hole.

The bottom line. I give it a 9.0/10.0.The course is enjoyable with plenty of memorable holes and I would come on out and play it at least once per summer and more if you live in the area. My thanks to Bay and the rest of the fine folks at the Captain's Club.

Click the link below to book a tee time or call them.

http://www.captainsclubatwoodfield.com/features-mainmenu-27.html

The AJGA Junior Players Championship Claims Henry Do

Last week, Henry Do of Ypsilanti hit two critical iron shots at Warwick Hills under pressure to within a couple of feet and made bird both times. Yesterday he shot a 74 which is not too shabby on the Pete Dye Valley Course. Unfortunately, he had to withdraw leaving the State of Michigan with no golfers to play in this prestigous AJGA tournament in Ponte Verda, California. The report by the AJGA is filed below.  

Hall sprints to three-shot lead at The Junior PLAYERS Championship presented by TaylorMade-adidas Golf
Hall’s second-round 64 included nine birdies on Dye’s Valley Course

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. — Gavin Hall of Pittsford, N.Y., celebrated his 17th birthday Saturday by firing a 6-under-par 64 on Dye’s Valley Course during the second round of The Junior PLAYERS Championship presented by TaylorMade-adidas Golf. His 6-under-par total is three shots better than first-round co-leader Jim Liu of Smithtown, N.Y., while three players are even-par and will begin Sunday’s final round tied for third.

In cooperation with the PGA TOUR, the American Junior Golf Association has brought 78 players, ages 12-18, from 21 states and 15 foreign countries to TPC Sawgrass for a special junior golf experience. For the second straight year, the 2011 champion will be given a sponsor's exemption to the Nationwide Tour's Winn-Dixie Jacksonville Open Presented by Planters, which will be played Oct. 17-23. Saturday’s second round was played on Dye’s Valley Course, and the 6,864-yard, par-70 layout matched the set-up used for the Nationwide Tour event.

Hall re-injured his surgically-repaired wrist in June and is playing in his first AJGA event since the Thunderbird International Junior in May. He has returned with a vengeance, as his round of 64 is the best in his four-year AJGA career.

“It means a lot. It was a tough summer to find things to do, but I’ve worked really hard since I was cleared to come back,” said Hall, who returned to competition last month at the Junior PGA Championship. “I don’t take it for granted anymore and I come out here more hungry and motivated to play.”

During the 2010 Winn-Dixie Jacksonville Open Presented by Planters, only three players matched or bettered Hall’s score on Dye’s Valley Course. Though a Nationwide Tour exemption is on the line, Hall said that’s not his primary focus.

“That’d be a great opportunity for me, but at the same time I have one more day left and I want to look ahead to the Stadium Course and what I need to do there before I start thinking about the Nationwide Tour,” said Hall, who competed in the PGA TOUR’s 2010 Turning Stone Resort Championship.

For Liu, four front-nine birdies were offset by four back-nine bogeys, which resulted in an even-par 70. Liu and Hall have met once before in the junior golf spotlight, as Liu prevailed in a quarterfinal matchup during his championship run at the 2010 U.S. Junior Amateur.

“On the Stadium Course, three shots is almost nothing. If you don’t stick to it, it could go really quickly, either way,” Liu said. “I had it at 7-under at one point so I know I can do it, but Gavin played great today and 6-under is an incredible round on the Valley Course.”

Lorens Chan of Honolulu, Jacob Fair of Monett, Mo., and Nicolas Echavarria of Medellin, Colombia, are tied for third at even-par, while Ireland’s Gavin Moynihan is sixth at 1-over-par.

Final-round tee times will run from 8 – 10 a.m. off the Nos. 1 and 10 tees of THE PLAYERS Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass. For more information, please contact Tournament Headquarters at (770) 601-8922.

About the PGA TOUR     
The PGA TOUR is the world’s premier membership organization for touring professional golfers, co-sanctioning more than 100 tournaments on the PGA TOUR, Champions Tour and Nationwide Tour.

The PGA TOUR’s mission is to entertain and inspire its fans, deliver substantial value to its partners, create outlets for volunteers to give back, generate significant charitable and economic impact in communities in which it plays, and provide financial opportunities for TOUR players. In 2011, the three Tours collectively have tournaments in 29 states and in 12 countries and territories outside of the United States. PGA TOUR tournaments are broadcast to approximately 500 million households in 224 countries and territories in 29 languages.

Virtually all tournaments are organized as non-profit organizations in order to maximize charitable giving. In 2010, tournaments on the three Tours generated more than $120 million for local charitable organizations, bringing the TOUR’s all-time total of charitable contributions to more than $1.6 billion. The PGA TOUR’s web site is PGATOUR.COM, the No. 1 site in golf, and the organization is headquartered in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL.

About TPC Sawgrass
TPC Sawgrass opened in 1980 as the first Tournament Players Club, conceived by then-PGA TOUR Commissioner Deane Beman to provide a TOUR-owned, world-class tournament facility that would offer fans the ultimate viewing experience, as well as give golfers an opportunity to play where the pros play. It became the permanent home of THE PLAYERS Championship in 1982, and today is recognized as one of the great venues in championship golf. THE PLAYERS Stadium Course, designed by Pete Dye, annually is ranked among the world’s top golf courses. Dye’s Valley, designed by Dye in collaboration with Jerry Pate and Bobby Weed, opened in 1987.

TPC Sawgrass underwent a major year-long renovation that was completed in November 2006. In addition to the installation of a state-of-the-art drainage and irrigation system on THE PLAYERS Stadium Course, an elegant 77,000 square-foot Mediterranean Revival-style clubhouse was built to accommodate the growing needs and stature of THE PLAYERS, as well as those of a world-class resort. TPC Sawgrass also features the state-of-the-art TOUR Academy teaching facility, which opened in 2007. For more information, please visit www.tpc.com/sawgrass.

About TaylorMade Golf Company, Inc. dba TaylorMade-adidas Golf Company
TaylorMade Golf has led the golf industry’s technological revolution since the company was founded in 1979. TaylorMade metalwoods, irons and putters have been used to win hundreds of professional golf tournaments around the world. In 1998, TaylorMade became a wholly owned subsidiary of the adidas Group. adidas Golf creates high-performance, technology-infused golf apparel and footwear worn by hundreds of professional golfers around the world. Ashworth, which became a brand of the TaylorMade-adidas Golf Company in 2008, creates relaxed, lifestyle-oriented golf apparel synonymous with authenticity and quality. Learn more about TaylorMade-adidas Golf and its brands at (866) 530-TMAG (8624) or www.taylormadegolf.com, www.adidasgolf.com, www.ashworthgolf.com, and www.tmag.com.

About the adidas Group
The adidas Group is one of the global leaders within the sporting goods industry offering a broad range of products across the three core brands adidas, Reebok and TaylorMade-adidas Golf. Headquartered in Herzogenaurach, Germany, the Group has more than 39,000 employees and generated sales of EUR 11.990 billion in 2010.

About the AJGA
The American Junior Golf Association is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to the overall growth and development of young men and women who aspire to earn college golf scholarships through competitive junior golf. The AJGA provides valuable exposure for college golf scholarships, and has an annual junior membership (boys and girls ages 12-18) of approximately 5,000 junior golfers from 49 states and more than 40 countries. To ensure scholarship opportunities for all junior golfers who have the skill, the AJGA created the Achieving Competitive Excellence (ACE) Grant program to provide financial assistance to young players in need.

Titleist, the AJGA’s National Sponsor, has been the catalyst and driving force behind the Association’s success since 1989. Rolex, which is in its third decade of AJGA support, became the inaugural AJGA Premier Partner in 2004. In 2007, after 12 years of support, Polo Ralph Lauren became the AJGA’s second Premier Partner.

AJGA alumni have risen to the top of amateur, collegiate and professional golf. Former AJGA juniors have compiled more than 500 victories on the PGA and LPGA Tours. AJGA alumni include Stewart Cink, Matt Kuchar, Hunter Mahan, Phil Mickelson, Tiger Woods, Paula Creamer, Cristie Kerr, Inbee Park and Morgan Pressel.

#AJGA#

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PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. -- Second Round results from the The Junior PLAYERS Championship presented by TaylorMade-adidas Golf conducted by the American Junior Golf Association at TPC Sawgrass - Dye's Valley Course.
Boys Par: 35-35--70. Yardage: 6864. Rating: 74.1. Slope: 137

Gavin Hall, Pittsford, N.Y.  72-64—136
Jim Liu, Smithtown, N.Y.  69-70—139
Lorens Chan, Honolulu, Hawaii  74-68—142
Jacob Fair, Monett, Mo.  73-69—142
Nicolas Echavarria, Medellin, Colombia  69-73—142
Gavin Moynihan, Maynooth, Ireland  71-72—143
Branson Davis, Mckinney, Texas  73-71—144
Jonathan Garrick, Atherton, Calif.  73-71—144
A.J. Crouch, Jacksonville, Fla.  72-72—144
Connor Black, Katy, Texas  72-72—144
Donald Stimble, Shell Knob, Mo.  69-75—144
Yi Keun Chang, (South Korea) Walnut, Calif.  77-68—145
David Lee, Houston, Texas  75-70—145
George Cunningham, Litchfield Park, Ariz.  75-70—145
Beau Hossler, Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.  73-72—145
Robin Goger, Neudauberg, Austria  71-74—145
Matt Gilchrest, Southlake, Texas  71-74—145
Chris O'Neill, Glen Allen, Va.  76-70—146
Robby Shelton, IV, Wilmer, Ala.  76-70—146
Emilio Maurer, Puebla, Mexico  75-71—146
Taylor Moore, Edmond, Okla.  75-71—146
Brad Dalke, McKinney, Texas  71-75—146
Corey Carlson, Green Cove Springs, Fla.  76-71—147
Cody Proveaux, Leesville, S.C.  76-71—147
Doug Ghim, Arlington Heights, Ill.  77-70—147
Jonathan Sanders, Chatsworth, Calif.  75-72—147
Max Rottluff, Meerbusch, Germany  75-72—147
KK Limbhasut, Loma Linda, Calif.  74-73—147
Scott Scheffler, Dallas, Texas  80-67—147
Daniel De La Garza, (Mexico) Monterrey, Mexico  77-71—148
Thomas Detry, Brussels, Belgium  76-72—148
Sawyer Shaw, West Palm Beach, Fla.  76-72—148
Michael Pisciotta, Alpharetta, Ga.  76-72—148

College Recruiters and Prep Golfers Talk About the Recruiting Process

     If you want to know how the college recruiting process works, check out this video story on the Oakland Press that was shot at the AJGA event at Warwick Hills the last week of August.

http://www.miprepzone.com/oakland/

Whatever the sport…  arguably and the argument is a short one, parents want their student athletes to  have exposure in front of college scouts. The world of golf is no different and while players could be scouted at high school matches… it really is not cost productive for most colleges to recruit a player. Basketball has the AAU and other sports have their methods but in golf a primary recruiting method  is  to visit top notch competition in the American Junior Golf Association also known as the AJGA. The AJGA has been in business since the 1970’s and they have a primary focus. Chris Richards gives his take in the interview piece. Interviews are included on players including freshman University of Michigan golfer Lauren Grogan. Grogan is from of all places, Columbus, Ohio. Grogan is committed to arch rival Michigan and gives advice to golfers going through the recruiting process

What players and parents believe and what college recruiters are looking for are often two different things. Many NCAA coaches will not go on the record to tell you what they are looking for believing they will be under the watchful eye of big brother and will trigger an investigation. Off the record they say that while going low on the golf course is great, academics also works but that is not the deciding thing. The clincher is how a player conducts them selves on the course and how they fit in with their teammates makes all the difference.

One coach…. University of Indiana Asst Coach Jaime Broce checked with his compliance officer before agreeing to this interview and said this is what makes a future Hoosier golfer and character counts more than you know. .

Golfers who want to receive a college scholarship whether partial or full must have the entire package of game… grades and personality. Some might not see it as fair but with all of the golfers who go can low… college recruiters can be picky and those missing one or more elements on the sidelines.

http://www.miprepzone.com/oakland/

Experience a Golfing Day at White Lakes Golf Course

    

     White Lake Oaks has been a part of the County parks system for years and while playing the course plenty, it has been more than a decade since I have paid a visit. All of the County parks are very well maintained and are short courses as yardage goes but provide a challenging round of golf for most golfers. The yardage is short 5,703 yards at this course and long bombers can overpower it but WL Oaks has its defense mechanisms to keep golfers honest. White Lake Oaks has plenty of activities for golfers and for those golfing in leagues, seniors and junior golfers will find a vast array of activities to keep you coming back. Recently renovated in the 2000’s, the course hosts weddings, parties and outings and is a multi-purpose facility.

Yes, this hole is tight. Drive it over the slope for your best results.

Below the slope is not much fun.

     The course has plenty of interesting holes and the first serious challenge starts at the second hole. Golfers can play the course from back, middle and forward tees and if you want to challenge yourself, play the back as the course barely averages 310 yards per hole. The second tee is slightly elevated and this may be the only time you will see the flag.  Just off the tee box you walk in a valley and the fairway abruptly rises in the landing area for many golfers. Drive it over the landing area on the rising elevation and your chances of earning par improve significantly. Woods guard the hole to the right and Williams Lake Road serves as an out-of-bounds left and a huge fence keeps golfers from smashing balls onto oncoming traffic. The hole plays at 384 yards and hit it 250 and you will need a short to mid iron to finish the hole. The greens roll slow and true at WLO and you might try hitting some putts at the practice green before  beginning. Par is a good score here but birdies are very possible if you knock it on the green in two.

 

Third Hole from the left side.

The third hole from the tee box

     The third hole is a salivating 280 yard par four. It is salivating because while trees line the left side helping the neighbors from taking direct hits from golf balls, the short distance and the huge bailout area on hole number six and the rough allow golfers to whale away with only a small cluster of trees to obscure your shot. This is definitely a pitch and putt hole unless you really mess up your drive. Putts here do tend to drift on this hole but knock it stiff and you should at least earn par. Leagues should produce several birdies if you have decent players so go for it.

The fifth tee Box

When standing at the tee box on number five you see a cluster of trees down both the left and right side of the fairway but you have plenty of distance between the pipes on this hole.

This is yet another bombs away experience for golfers that hit a fade or draw. If you are a duck hook kind of golfer, you certainly need to hit it left side bringing in that big overhanging tree into play. A drive of 250 yards gives you a second shot of 65 yards or less (if playing the white tee boxes) but you can hit a controlled chip or a loft wedge into the green. This green has always been a good green to putt on and certainly gives up its share of pars and birdies. Only golfers who hit it off of multiple trees will have trouble here.

   The number two handicapped hole on this course is the 353 yard number seven. This is a hole where bad things can happen quickly and it starts on the tee box and you do not use your best golf course management strategies. On the left are just enough trees to make you think twice about just whaling away. Go right and you could make a big number or double bogey or worse. There are trees on the right side of the fairway and what you cannot see is a valley that prevents you from seeing the green and very soggy grass and woods who hit it seriously offline. Depending on your lie, you may have to chip it once or twice depending how you hit it in the sog bog. Hit it well here on this hole and you will have a pitching wedge to mid-iron shot depending on how you hit it. This is a near premium driving hole for this course.

Speaking of serious driving accuracy, number nine demands it. You have a nice elevated tee box to overlook the 386 yard par four ninth but plenty of trouble awaits golfers that hit an errant shot. A beautiful bog or pond awaits poor shots struck right.



A more serious look at the Pond.

Got Pond.

Woods line the left side and the rough is very rough and a lost ball is most likely in store here. In the old days, you could go left of the fairway but not in the woods and it would be soggy but playable. The hole has been given some tough love and now you must hit a much better shot. Your second shot will be hit up a slope and a recommendation is to club up one here.  The green is lethal and getting it on in two is no guarantee of par It is subtly undulated and you could three putt it if your first putt is not struck properly. If you get on in three or four, you might add two or three strokes if you are not careful. Par is a good score. Birdie this hole and you have a good chance to win a skin.

The hole opens up big time just over the tree line on the right side.

Number ten is one of my favorite holes at WLO. The length is only 323 yards and is an elongated par four. You can drive it right side and the ball will land in the middle of the fairway and you can really look like a pro here. You can also go in the very soggy woods on the right side and do the same on the left so long bombers may elect to hit a fairway wood or long iron here. I like to walk on the wild side and aim it right up the middle choosing a tree to help me line up. Your second shot will be less than 100 yards if you hit it 250 and while the green is slightly elevated, it is large. Watch missing it here as woods nestles tight on both sides and the cart path could make your golf ball take a big hop into the woods.

13th Tee box. Pond is on the right.

The pond and the long Carry.

This green is not your friend.

The 13^th hole is the number one handicap hole at WLO and requires superb strategy. It is a right turn hole that is guarded by a pond. Golfers have some serious decision making here. In the old days you could try to fly the trees and go to the other side of the pond. Now those trees are all grown up so play the hole the way it was meant to be played. Smart golfers will hit a long iron or five wood down the middle. You could hit it on the left side of the fairway and have a 200 plus yard shot to the green. Yes you could bite off some yardage and snuggle up to a huge pond that most golfers have to shoot over and your shot of 180 to 190 yards will be your reward. Of course, the risk is you will bring the pond into play. If you hit driver, sitting at the end of the fairway before the right turn are woods. You then have a testy second shot over the water onto a green that slopes severely from back to front and the pin always seems to be in the front third of the green. Most golfers will be hitting long iron to fairway wood to the green on the second shot so pull out a par here and you have done your job. A birdie will give you a skin almost every time.

15 from the Tee box. I dare you not to go left side. The right is bad and I mean very bad.

The 15^th hole is a very deceptive 481 yard par five that plays much longer than it looks. The tee shot is basically blind for golfers and a ladder is provided to make sure you do not hit someone playing their second shot. The fairway slopes downhill and if you hit a drive of 225 or better you will catch it and ride it toward the bottom of the hill. Go right and you will have a date with two sand bunkers right side. Don’t get frustrated because the slope of the hill leads to the woods and a serious case of hard pan. The strategy for most golfers was to take it left side but the County put a huge sand trap down the left side. The sand is easy if you go in it but will undoubtedly make this a three shot hole. For golfers that escape the calamity described, a tee shot down the middle and a nutted second shot of a long iron to fairway wood will get you on in two. If it takes three shots, the green can be temperamental but largely rolls true and this is a real birdie chance for golfers that are looking to mark a four on their scorecard. Eagles are possible here but those are for two great shots on this very elongated and sloping dog leg right.

  



The trees here demand golfers hit a good shot. The fairway slope is much more severe than this picture can detail.



Number 17 is a hole where many years ago I bought a club and put it in my bag just for this hole. It has a double hill and sloping experience for golfers on this 392 yard par four. A huge tee guards the fairway left side and some golfers may try to fly over it but sometimes it best to just go down the middle. The right side has plenty of mature tree clusters and a golfer could chip it into the fairway if you catch any one of the holes or you could hit a seven wood that pops a ball into the air with some punch if struck correctly. That is what I did. A huge fence and yet another cluster of trees guard the green right side. The fence is to protect golfers on the 18^th tee box. A driver that hits it down the middle could rest their ball  for a down sloping second shot.  Some golfers could smash it here and have a downhill lie for their trouble. The green appears straight but many times the ball will trail away for most putting.  Par is a good score. Earn one here and you have done a super job. Buy a beer will you!

     The finishing hole is one of the most unique golfing holes I have ever played. How often will you have a 437 yard par five and after playing it know whoever laid out the scorecard got it right? This hole is a crazy  shaped hole and most golfers will tee off on the far right side of the tee box. You really cannot see what you are in for on the tee box because it is an optical illusion. Move off the tee box by 20 yards and you can see everything but the flag but golfers will be best served by driving it down the center of the fairway. For those who can hit a draw or very straight you can go along the tree lined left side. Drive it over the trap on the left and hitting it about 225-250 and you can get a hint of the pond and maybe a peek at the pin. Drive it down the middle of the fairway or right side and this is a three shot hole for sure. By the way, woods do come into play as the fairway is wide driving it 200 yards or so but longer than that and you might have a lost ball. For those that need a third shot, just take an iron and put it where you have a third shot. A series of Weeping Willows frame the hole and you can use one to use as a target. The pond in front of the green is not huge but keeps you from bumping and running the ball and most golfers will put it in the air on their third or fourth shots if you have a blow up. The green can be tricky but hit it firm and you should be all right.  

Customer Service- 10.0- Very nice people here and they did their job. 


Course Markings- 8.0 - Good.  No suggestions on playing the course as for individual holes. Plastic fairway markers and some sprinkler heads were marked. The course is short so more markings could be on cart paths but are fine.  

Conditions -8.0 - Course in good shape. Oakland County courses are always in very good shape. Number 17 was the exception. Standing water was on the second valley. The course is immaculate in most places with a few areas that need to be seeded. I am nitpicking but the County has pretty high standards. The areas around the green are always a treat. Few ball marks as golfers help to take good care of it and the  maintainance workers are very nice on the course. Remember golf course owners, they are part of the staff and our interaction with them is as important as the staff at the starters tent and in the pro shop.   

Playability 9.5- This is a good scoring track. The course plays different depending on your tee box played. The greens are very readable and there are some subtlties to it. If you need to work on your short game or irons and you want some challenge or play some fun golf games such as skins, this is a good place to do it.   

Course Design- 8.5 - Course laid out with the  beginning to average average golfer in mind. For you to get into trouble on this course you will find it in on the back especially as the woods really tighen up.  It is not the tough track many Oakland County public courses are. It is designed for the beginning  or league golfer that wants to have fun without the stress of having to hit it over long carries, bunkers in the landing areas and so forth.  

The bottom line. I give it a 8.5/10.0.The course is enjoyable and allows you to work on your game or play with an inexperienced player where you can have the challenge of hitting plenty irons.

County courses are worth playing so take friend. 
White Lake Oaks does not take tee times except weekends and holidays but has plenty of leagues and heavy play so call ahead anyway. 

http://www.destinationoakland.com/parksandtrails/golf/whitelakeoaks/Pages/default.aspx

Oakland County always has tournaments, leagues and good deals and I would contact them. Here is the website and you can find the course you want to play.

The number nine Green.