KLAA North and West Title Champions

Video stories posted. Here is the link. http://www.theoaklandpress.com/
Story and standings below. vvv

Wind was the extra club in the bag at the KLAA golf championships at Tyrone Hills Golf Club in Livingston County. Eight of the twelve schools participating in the championship are from Oakland County but it was too teams along the I-23 corridor that finished first and second respectively. Walled Lake Northern is well represented with this par along the par four 13^th but they finish well back in the pack 24 shots behind the winners. Lakeland was expected to be in the top three and perhaps a surprise is in store but all four golfers had poor days on this day and they finished 27 strokes behind the days best. Waterford Kettering ‘s Alex Spurlock shot 85 as the Captain’s one seed but all four counted scores were in the eighties. Grand Blanc showed some super form as they had two golfers in the 70’s including Mike Engelman with 72 and Kyle Cooper with a 78. There 301 total was only three off the winning total of 298 shot by Pinckney. Pinckney had two golfers with the days best totals including Otto Black with a sizzling 68 and his team mate Jordan Andres not far behind with a 71. The team totals were all over the place with a range of 298 to 350. To put it in perspective… Pinckney averaged less than 75 while the last place team averaged an 88 for eighteen holes. Jordan Andres said Pinckney is in great shape going into the predistricts. All of the scores are being rolled here.

Video stories will be posted on MyPrepZone on the Oakland Press online edition later this evening.

Team Scores

Pinckney 298

Grand Blanc 301

Hartland 316

Walled Lake Northern 322

Howell 322

Brighton 324

Lakeland 325

Milford 331

Walled Lake Central 342

Wateford Mott 350

Individual Medalists

Otto Black -68- Pinckney

Jordan Andrus- 71- Pinckney

Mike Engelman 72- Grand Blanc

Andrew Brownlee 73- Howell

Andrew Bozimowski- 78 WLN

Kyle Cooper- 78 Grand Blanc

Blake Hunter- 78- WLW

Nick Morthew - 79- Pinckney

Walled Lake Western 336

Waterford Kettering 339

Copper Hills GC Course Review

Copper Hills in Oxford, Michigan looks tame enough from Lakeview Road with the trailers and the non descript sign inviting you in but from the time you tee off until you leave the course, it is one wild ride.

This 27 hole course is just over 6,400 (Hills and Marsh) yards from the copper tees and it places a premium on both shot making and tee shots and my advice to you is…. well you will have to wait for my final comments.

Virtually every hole on this course is amazing and every time you think you are going to get a breather such as a par 3 you will find that your wild ride continues and one better struck shot is required. Before you think that I am impressed with every course I play consider this, Golf Digest rated this as the 16^th best course that you can play back in 2005 and number nine on theHill course is as diabolical as a par four comes.

Now for the course.

I should have known that I was in for a Scooby Doo mystery on the way out to the course as there was no fog until I reached Lake Orion heading north and the fog became worse and I played the first two holes not knowing where to hit the golf ball. You will really need your scorecard because the course does have holes that jog around and intertwine in several  locations but is well-marked and the signage faces the cart paths so you do not pull up to the wrong hole.

The Hill Course

The first hole is a 553 yard par five and you will drive over not one but two ponds during your adventures on this hole. The first pond should not be a problem. The second one will be if you miss either your driver or metal wood shot.  Teeing off on the blues 536 yards will not solve your problem. It guards the green and is a good 30 yards wide. You dub either the tee or second shot and you will have a good 180+ shot and while the green can hold a long shot, the chances of you going into the pond or chipping down a sloping green are not desirable. This hole is a good test of golf and I recommend hitting the driving range before playing this eye opening hole.

The 410 yard par four third is also a hole that places a premium on a well hit tee shot. You will fire the ball over water but it does not come into play. I hit my drive right and there are a series of huge moguls that separate this hole from the second and I was hitting on an extremely wet day and had a huge crevasse where my ball would most likely land. It played up hill and with the impediment and a sidehill shot, I hit an iron shot and then played my birdie from over a hundred yards and promptly hit it on another hill with a poor lie. I chipped down and two putt and had a double bogey. All was not lost as a deer that was all by itself popped out of the woods and was not afraid of me. He must have appeared three different times and I saw him dart out on the jungle course later on during the day.

One of the best features of Copper Hills is the housing. The houses are beautiful and overlook the golf course on some holes without being a part of the course. The owners can watch the action but no shots you strike will end up on their properties unless you are aiming in the wrong direction. This is much better than housing neighborhoods where they are on top of the action and golf balls can go in their yards and they will not put up a fence but will yell at someone who quickly picks up their ball and leaves. That is not the case at Copper Creek. 

The par three sixth hole is your first chance to hit an iron off the tee. A wet lands area is in front of the tee and if you hit a golf ball into it, you will never see your ball again. This hole plays from 114 to 140 yards and I played it at the copper level. I hit my ball to the backside of the green and it is a two tiered putting surface. I actually had to chip it onto the dog hair instead of using my putter as my ball was just inches in the rough. Wow, did that ball take off down the slope. It was fairly executed but the ball picked up steam and came to rest off the front side of the green and I wondered if I might be in the fescues .It wasn’t and this time chipped to within 3 feet and made a putt for one of the few times on this nine. I have to admit that while I love the course, putting was an adventure and I am very good with the closing stick.

      Now for number nine. The Detroit Free Press came up with their 18 toughest holes the public can play and this hole made the list. My lessons were starting to kick in by this point and I hit a drive about 260 yards (I am not all the way back but am starting to round into form). I split the fairway but noticed that I had an uneven lie and sometimes this is frustrating when it happens nearly every hole. The fescues are plentiful and deep. I believe you have to hit it roughly 70-80 yards over them and when you put this in combination of any yardage you are short on the drive to carry your second shot to the green, you could have a mid iron shot or above and anything short is death. The fescues look like piranhas out there as they are menacing if you let them be and they surround the green left, center and in combination with a cluster of trees are awaiting your ball right. There is a bunker to the back right and a bailout area is there for a fade or hook. Well, how did I do? I hit the green to the far right and breathed a sigh of relief. The pin was left and I chunked my putt about 20 feet short. My second putt tailed off about 2’3” feet and I then made my putt. No birdie, no par and I earned a bogey on this hole when my usually reliable short game messed me up. My advice is to not make a big number here. You better play your best golf here or you will be buying the beer.

The second of the nines I will talk about is the Marsh Course. (The Jungle will be reviewed another day).

     The first hole is a risk reward hole and like most of the holes you will fly it over the water. If you can hit it about 200 plus yards, you can take off a lot of yardage on this 318 yard par four. If you decide to wear big boy pants and make it, bully for you as you have a great chance to get on in two with a short pitch or a bump and run shot. Miss and there is a drop area. The green is tricky here but all of the greens are tricky at Copper Hills whether subtle to menacing is the operative word.

I really enjoyed my time at Copper Hills but the third hole on the Marsh is in my mind a very frustrating golf hole. It is a 518 yard par five and darned if I know why it was set up this way. I drove my cart out about 200 yards as the tee overlooked three different holes including number three on the Jungle, and number three and number four on the Marsh. I truly had no idea where to hit the ball even after driving my cart out there. There is a cluster of trees with wetlands to the right which seemed to be in front of the tee box and there was water in play in the landing area for a well struck tee shot. The fairway is wide but there is a cluster of trees separating three or four and if you go to the left side of the fairway, you will have to negotiate them , the pond and a blind shot as the fairway slopes uphill and you cannot see the pin. My suggestion is to put up a sign or marker up in a tree or something the course could suggest to make this hole more playable. Copper Hills does a great job telling you how far it is to ponds and so forth but I played the hole and am still scratching my head. I did drive for the second time up the hill to the other side of the pond and decided to club up as the green was elevated and backed up against the woods. I smoked a hybrid left center on my third shot and never saw my ball again. Yes it was wet and there was standing water in a few places and balls did plug as the crazy spring weather did trick up all Michigan courses but I was frustrated. I did take a drop here on this side of the standing water but boy is it frustrating.

    The par three sixth is an elevated tee shot with what else, a pond guarding the green right. There is plenty of slope to the green (it drops from the tee box a good 40 feet) and I went into the water on my first tee shot. I hit the green with the second tee shot from the blue tees (191 yards) and the tee boxes range from 147 to 213 yards. My first putt drifted right. It was well struck but going down a ridge it rested several feet away.

The par four 7^th demands another well struck tee shot as anything short will make you hit a long iron into the green. There is a ditch running around the green with the woods running right. The hole ranges from 329 to 398 yards and it has undulated fairways. While the trouble is not as severe as number nine on the Woods course, you must hit two good shots. There is no bailout area and anything short is a lost ball. BIRDIE ALERT. I scored a birdie here. I hit a super drive on this hole and went front side right on the green with a six iron. It struck a tree branch and luck helped me as the ball dropped on the green. My ball would have been on the green anyway but would have been pin high. My 18-20” putt curled and went in. WOW is all I am going to say. I have had better birdie opportunities this year but this one was a real happy place shot for me.

Comments

My advice is for any golfer wanting to see where they stand should make the pilgrimage and play Copper Hills at least once a season and more if you can. If you are a beginning golfer or one that does not drive the ball well, you should probably hone your game before coming to this course as virtually every hole has wetlands, fescues or water to shoot over. Golfers might want to bring some shag balls as most balls hit into the ponds or woods are not findable or will slow up play.

One thing that did frustrate me is the greens. I am very good at reading greens but quite a few times I saw firmly struck putts going one way or another. This in combination with a difficult course makes this one difficult test of golf and trust me, plenty of golfers like this type of challenge including me.  

There are tons of wild live on this course. From deer, geese, woodchucks and plenty of turtles, the course is healthy and enjoyable to move around.

I tell you that I would love to see the PGA play this course. I think they would be hard pressed to break par here. There are a few birdie holes here and quite a few more that can make you roll big numbers at anytime.

Here is the Skinny!

Customer Service- 9 - Staff Friendly and professional. Mike and his staff were very nice and organize customers to go off in an orderly manner.  

Course Markings- 8- Above average. Markings at 100, 150, 200 yards. Scorecard will help you navigate the course and there are carry signage postings at appropriate places. Courses intertwine and signs posted will help you to play the right hole.

Conditions -10 - Course well taken care of and you can find your ball most of the time.
Playability 7-   Anyone can play when you hit them long and straight. At this course, you had better add accuracy and I mean especially accuracy. 
The greens are frustrating as for me they were tough to read. On the course, you will have plenty of sidehill lies and lies where you will have one foot above or below the other and this includes the fairways and especially the rough. Ball placement on your drives is extremely important. You can cut the yardage on several holes by driving it accurate. Driver is very important at this course. Dubbing drives will find many of your second shots laying up to avoid the fescues guarding the green.

Course Design-9-  Curtis Wright did a super job carving out this course. It is very tough and there is trouble and quite a bit of it on pretty much every hole. Perhaps the greens could roll a little truer and there could be more bailout areas as some holes had plenty of trouble and very little place to go but on the green or in the wetlands or fescues on approach shots. Remember, one struggling foresome can back up an entire course and I think many players will be tested to the zenith of their abilities.

Pace of Play 10-  I was the first one out there at 6:55 am so that result is most likely not typical.  

Course Layout- - Click Link- http://copperhills.com/Pages/Layout.htm
Contact Information
PGA Golf Professional: Michael Seavey 248-969-9808
General Manager: Curtis Wright 248-969-9808
Real Estate: Please call Curtis Wright at 248-969-9808
MAILING ADDRESS: 2125 Lakeville Road, Oxford, MI 48370
PHONE NUMBER: 248-969-9808
e-mail: http://copperhills.com/index.html


You Tube fly over   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Z0MGOoQA1s

There are pictures below. For some outstanding ones, see the Copper Hills website.

 Something pretty funny occured on the 5rh hole on the Marsh Course. After all that rain and thunderstorms that bombarded Michigan during the month of May including the night before, the sprinklers ran the enire time I played this hole including when some workers came up. Hey it happens but it was funny anyways.

 This diabolical hole is on the Jungle course. This par three is 174 yards with a carry all the way from the tee box to the elevated green. It is green or bust. You miss this shot and it is three off the tee. I think this is the most demanding tee shot for a par three I can remember playing. No you cannot get your ball. Not only is it wetlands but it is unwalkable.

Bob Krause- A simple Tip can help you plenty

Last time I talked about Bob working with me to ensure that I keep my power to the left side of my right foot. As the kids say... true dat!

     I actually came to this conclusion many years ago and this helped me hit the ball a long way. After not picking up the clubs for five years, I forgot about about both my bad and good habits. When taking my lessons as I have had four sessions with Bob this year, I was concentrating on my takeaway and balance as I developed some rust. Bob quickly pointed out that my weight was shifting outside my right leg and this caused a whole bunch of problems. I will tell you that you should practice not letting your weight shift outside the left side of the right foot. If you do that along with other check points we will talk about later, you should be in much better shape than a few minutes ago when you started reading this blog. Remember, my golf game is boring as we really only care about our own golf games so if you need to make this tweak, try it right away. Give Bob a call. He is the real expert and I am listening to him. Call him at the number below for expert information and game changing golf strategies.

http://bobkrausegolf.com/contact.html

Bob Krause Golf
White Lake, MI. 48383
Office:  (941) 773-1339

Golf Contests and Tournaments

I have received a 'free golf' sweepstakes entry. No, you didn't win yet. But you might. Clink the links below the details and enter. You just might win. I hope you get the consulation prize as I have entered as well.


The resort is at Bald Mountain..... in North Carolina. No there are no resort area condos at the local course in Lake Orion. Here are the details.

     Located on the shores of beautiful Lake Lure, Rumbling Bald Resort is North Carolina’s premier mountain golf destination. With two highly rated courses and spectacular views of both Lake Lure and the Blue Ridge Mountains, Rumbling Bald has 36 holes of championship golf that you don’t have to be a champion to enjoy.
Now, you can enter to win a great four-day golf vacation for eight people to this ultimate mountain golf resort, including premium accommodations, six rounds of golf, a Lake Lure Dinner Cruise, and more!
The winner will receive:

• A three-night stay for eight people at Premium Fairway Villa Condominiums, located on the Bald Mountain Golf Course at Rumbling Bald Resort
• Six rounds of golf per player for eight people at Rumbling Bald Resort
• Lake Lure Dinner Cruise for eight people
• Two dinners for eight people at the newly renovated Lakeview Restaurant

We’ll even give you a $500 Visa gift card to get you here!
Restrictions apply. Enter to win today! The sweepstakes ends June 30, 2011.

Click Here to enter. >>>>>>>>>>  
http://www.visitnc.com/sweeps/view/rumbling-bald-resort-ultimate-golf-vacation-golf-sweepstakes

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Here is another opportunity to golf competitively at Myrtle Beach as part of the Golf.com World Amateur Handicap Championships.
I am not endorsing the tournament, but letting you know about the opportunity. Details are below and are copied from the website.

Tournament Overview

$550 Entry Fee Includes

• Four rounds of net stroke tournament play on a different course each day. 
  
  Opportunity of competing in a fifth round championship playoff on Friday, September 2, 2011 (for flight winners and ties).
• 
  Coffee, bagels & doughnuts at golf course each day.
• 
  Top players in each flight receive both a prize and a trophy. Daily low net, long drive, closest-to-the-pin, closest-to-the-line, and hole-in-ones also share the spoils of victory.
• 
  Flights assigned by handicap index within five divisions: Men (49 & Under), Sr. Men (50-59), Mid Sr. Men (60-69), Super Sr. Men (70+), and  Women
• 
  Flights will be made up of about 48 people and each course will host 2 flights per day (approximately 96 players per course)
• 
  A gift bag upon arrival with tournament logo'd golf merchandise.
• 
  Four evenings of food, drink, golf expo, games, and live entertainment at the World's Largest 19th Hole for you and a guest.
• 
  On Thursday evening every participant will be eligible for our random drawing for prizes.

Tournament Summary
Three thousand six hundred golfers, 72 holes of intense stroke play competition, an 18-hole championship playoff, nightly parties and entertainment. It may sound like the U.S. Open from qualifying to conclusion, but the GOLF.com World Amateur Handicap Championship is an event unlike any other.

Golfers from all 50 states and more than 20 foreign countries flock to Myrtle Beach, S.C., every year to participate in a tournament that provides the ultimate golf experience. Now in its 28th year, the World Amateur allows everyone from scratch golfers to 30+ handicappers to test their nerves and competitive resolve.

The tournament, which uses an intricate handicap formula to level the field, is open to all golfers – men, women, young and old – with a certified USGA handicap.

The World Amateur features six competitive divisions, ranging from men and women 49 and under to the super seniors (70+). Within the divisions, golfers are flighted by closely grouped handicaps. The event features between 60 and 70 flights and the winner of each advances to the Flight Winner’s Playoff, an 18-hole shootout that determines the World Champion.

The tournament is played on approximately 60 different Myrtle Beach area courses, including several Top 100 public layouts, and each flight plays a different course each day.

The GOLF.com World Amateur is played under USGA rules, the only significant exception being the use of a cart. There are no mulligans, gimmes or foot wedges at the World Amateur, which heightens the competitive experience.

The event’s pulse is its nightly party, affectionately known as the “World’s Largest 19th Hole.” The 19th Hole, which covers the entire Myrtle Beach Convention Center, is catered nightly by Myrtle Beach’s best restaurants, provides free top-shelf drinks and live entertainment. The “19th Hole” is a 100,000-square-foot golfer’s paradise.

The World Amateur’s inclusiveness is apparent in its past champions. Players with handicaps as low as three and as high as 34 have won the World Championship and three women have earned the distinction.

As if the possibility of winning a world title isn’t enough, entry into the GOLF.com World Amateur Handicap Championship is the best value in competitive golf.

---

http://us.mc393.mail.yahoo.com/mc/welcome?.gx=1&.tm=1296182518&.rand=e48seo23lgd3e#_pg=showMessage;_ylc=X3oDMTBucmhobGR0BF9TAzM5ODMwMTAyNwRhYwNkZWxNc2dz&mid=1_5330_AKruXkIAAG2wTeA%2F2wiSgQtRK6Q&fid=Inbox&sort=date&order=down&startMid=0&filterBy=&.rand=577866759&.jsrand=1046924

Good Luck with the entries. I will keep all readers posted on both local and global golfing tournaments and contests. When courses give me free rounds of golf, I will pass them on to you.

Junior Golf Opportunities

The junior golf season is fast approaching and players who want to both learn the game of golf and for those with game already, tournament season is here. Here are just a few opportunities.

The City of Troy is teaching youth players at Sanctuary Lake during the month of June. They are hosting junior clinics for students that want to learn how to play and their teaching staff will teach budding and experienced players how to play. Adults that want a refresher course, they also have opportunities for both beginner and intermediate players as well. Call the course at the number listed below for more information.

Call 248.619.7600 for more information.

http://www.golftroy.com/Troy-Michigan-Play-Golf.html

At Tanglewood Golf Course in the Novi-South Lyon area

they are having both junior golf clinics and specials that will help junior players hone their golf games and stay in athletic shape.

 Tanglewood has a junior pass program for the 2011 season, for all juniors ages 17 and under. The stipulations on the program are as follows. Passes are good for walking 9 holes Monday- Thursday before 8am or between Noon- 2pm, and Friday- Sunday after 4pm.

The price is $200 from June 1st- September 30th.

*All rounds must be finished within 2 hours.
 To promote parents and juniors to play together there is an additional special. Juniors play a free 9 hole round with a full priced adult round. Good everyday prior to 8am, and Monday- Thursday between 12- 2pm.

 

Tanglewood has a junior clinic that is happening in late June. For all particulars, call them.

Sylvan Glen in Troy is a Traditional Golf Course

I would like to thank Don Tillar and his excellent staff for my experience at Sylvan Glen and they helped make my visit an enjoyable one. Their staff is excellent and I must note that my original tee time was cancelled by rain and a person at the course called me and told me to reschedule my visit as standing water was on the course and they were booked me for the following weekend. I could have driven out there for nothing and I thank them for the courtesy.

     I have always been curious to play this course and have driven past it on my way to Kensington Community Church many times over the years. There is a par three (No. 7) that goes over a bridge and a marsh and it looks fun to play. It is but more on that later. Camp Ticonderoga is a restaurant that has been there for many years and for those of you that like venison, this place is a must visit. But I was there to play golf and this (6686) yard layout is lined with a creek and trees that keep golfers honest. I had played The Orchards the preceeding day and had an awesome par on number 18 and keep the fun going on number one.


   This 409 yard par four goes over a creek just in front of the tee box and other than some trees that will make you pitch out from the right side, the trouble is minimal unless you go over the green and its goodnight! I advise golfers to play from the blue tees unless you are a beginning player or one that plays slowly. My drive ended up in the rough but I had a seven iron to the green. My iron shot ended up on the first cut just a foot off of the green and I used a putter to tap-in range and had a par. The greens on this course roll true and have some subtle to extreme undulation like any course.

     The third hole is a 434 yard par four that is tree lined down the left side and they did not come into play for me as I hit a solid but unspectacular drive down the middle. My second shot came up short. I chipped on and had a eight footer for par and ended up with a bogey. A large trap is on the left side on the front of the green. I think many golfers can par this hole or end up with bogey. If you are a worm burner golfer, well you can kill a lot of them but this hole is a good hole to air out your driver.

     The sixth hole is a 391 yard par four that runs along the fence guarding the left side with a cluster of trees to the right. The trees at Sylvan Glen are mature so hitting behind most of them will have a smart golfer pitching out into the fairway most of the time. I went right side behind one of them and I was tree bound. Pitching it out is the smart play and I did just that. Unfortunately I went short and right of the green with my third and was in front of a bunker guarding the green. I then pitched about 20 feet past the hole and then two putt for a six. This green is guarded by bunkers on both sides and they are fair to chip out of.

Number 7 is the par three that I spoke of that runs along Rochester Road just north of the club house. It plays from 134 yards from the forward tees to 209 from the tips. I played it at 181 yards with a four iron hybrid and put it on the dog hair about 25 feet from the pin. There is plenty of trouble on this hole as the fence runs to the left and water runs in front of the hole. I ordinarily would have clubbed down one but the wind was tricky at times this day and I wanted to take the wetlands out of play. The green is tricky and you will need to survey your putt before striking your birdie or par effort. An errant tee shot will send you looking for a bogey or worse.

     The number one handicapped hole on the course is a 445 par four hole with plenty of kick and it will take your best golfing skills to par. Your drive can catch trees on both sides with your drive and hitting one will almost certainly make you play for bogey or worse. I do not suggest hitting three-wood here with your second shot unless you are wobbly with the driver. Unless you bomb your driver 280 or better from the blues (which I played,) you will hit a metal wood or that three wood again without a tee. White tees do you no better as you only move up about 20 yards. This hole really gets brutal on your second shot. There are trees and a creek that will most likely make you think about whether a solid start to this hole will end up in the creek. I dubbed my second shot and hit my third to the back of the green and required a short chip. This green is a tough one to negotiate. I  hit a good chip to ten feet and hit my putt. My playing partners for this hole did not do so well and blew their putts by. Take your time putting here as this hole is an honor to par. You birdie this hole and you wore your 'big boy pants' to the course today.

The back nine starts out with an extremely fun par three. The tenth hole is 179 from the blues and I played the white's at 158 yards and hit a six iron. A creek guards the hole short and a dead tree snags any balls that go right. It almost reminds me of Pontiac Country Club's number 17 which has a huge dead tree that guards the hole to the left. Anyways, the green is small with a bunker to the back right. The grass at this course is thick and luscious and I was just off the green with me tee shot. Getting it close with sand wedge is tricky as you have little room to run a shot and the pin is to my side of the chip. I two-putted this green.

The 12th hole is the first par five on the back. There are plenty of trees to send you in a tizzy on both sides of the hole. There is no sand or impediments to collect errant tee shots so you can bomb away within reason. It measures 530 from the blues and the longest hitters can hit the green in two but the pin is elevated and the green is meant for you to think about your putt as you can three putt easy here. I got on in three but my sweeping putt was solid and I made my putt for a well-done five.

Two straight par threes await you on number 15 and 16. On sixteen, I hit my best tee shot of the day and hit a five iron into the wind on line with the pin and it trickled a few feet wide of the pin and 10 feet past. I was proud to mark my ball here and stared down my birdie putt. I rimmed it but hit my comebacker which was about six inches past the hole for a well-earned three.

The 18th hole is a supurb finishing hole. It measures just under 500 yards (494) Many of  the other holes have the Donald Ross type of small greens, on this hole the green is larger to collect long wood shots. It is a blind second shot or most likely a third shot for golfers. It is about 20 feet below the fairway that has a creek down a severe slope and any balls hit into the embankment are not marked out of bounds but are unplayable about 50 yards in front of the green. I hit my second shot which was a dandy into this revine. I then hit a chip short of the green and chipped my par onto the green and two-putt from there for a six.

Here is the skinny!

Customer Service- 9 - Super people work here. This is the only time I have ever had a course call me to tell me it was unplayable and reset a tee time. I thank the staff for saving me the trip.

Course Markings- 6- Standard. Markings at 150  

Conditions -9 - Course well taken care of and you can find your ball easily in the rough.      

Playability 9-   Anyone can play when you hit them long and straight. If you go right or left into the trees, chip out and keep playing. The greens will give you some tough putts but don't rush them and you will be all right.

Course Design-7- Many of the holes are straight and have a similar look and the tee boxes will give you pretty much the same view where ever you play from.  There are some shots where the creek that runs from over the course and must be negotiated. The greens are small overall and many have subtleties that must be negotiated. When you miss them, good chipping is required as the grass is consistent and thick and you need deft touch to get it close for a one putt.

 

Pace of Play 10- I did play around a few people but played my round in 3 hours and five minutes. The customers waived me by on multiple occasions as they saw I played with one other person except on nine where I finished a hole with two golfers that waived us up.

 

The City of Troy has jumped into the

This course is a great course to walk and beginning golfers will find it a tough challenge and is a good challenge for players with several holes that will take your best golf to score well.

Sylvan Glen Golf Course 5725 Rochester Road South | Troy, MI‎ 48085 (248) 619-7600‎

Click below for more information.
http://www.golftroy.com/Contact-Us_c54d794c4.htmlFrequent Golf Card program and is the only one that I am aware of that gives discounts to golfers that come out regularly.

Golf Course Review- The Orchards in Washington Township.

The Orchards Golf Course in Washington Township is one hades of a golf course. This course is so highly thought of that it is hosting the 2011 and 2012 Michigan Opens and this course will challenge Michigan's best golfers and will also let you know where you stand as a golfer with your game.



Here is a quote.

“The Detroit metropolitan area is blessed with some of the greatest golf courses in the nation, yet they are limited to play by their members and guests. My goal in designing The Orchards was to create an outstanding public golf course
which would provide golfers with an enjoyable, yet
challenging round that is a true test of golf.”
- Bobby Jones Jr.

The Orchards is certainly the test of golf that Robert Trent Jones spoke about and is largely a course that is wonderful for all players and offers four different tee placements for you to play.

   This is a resort type of golf course where The Orchards spares no expense to make sure you have a great time. The employees from the snack bar and counter are positive, friendly and want to make sure your time at the Orchards is a memorable one. 

   The Orchards is the best marked course I have ever played for yardage. There are sticks at the 100-150 and 200 yard intervals. There are sprinkler heads that are marked and the cart paths are also marked and this includes at the 125 and 175 ranges let alone the markings described above. The starter also went over the pin placements and we played the first placement and there are seven overall. Oh, yes, the scorecards also give yardage to sand bunkers, key locations and tell you how far you need to carry.

Now for the course.

The first hole is a 423 yard effort from the Championship tees (7046) total and I played both the Championship and Tournament Tees depending on the holes. I played all of the par threes from the lesser distance as I wanted to air out my irons but played almost all of the par fours and fives from the Championship distance.

     The fairway of the first hole is wide and you can see the flag for your iron shot. A signature of this course is the subtle changes of the fairways and your tee and approach shots will catch the slopes quite a bit and you will find yourself playing from the first cut of rough much more than you expect after a good drive. The bunkers on this Robert Trent Jones course are both strategic and diabolical. He tends to cluster the sand traps and how I missed them for the first seven holes is a miracle. My second shot was hit a bit thin and ended up in front of the green and I chipped over the trap. I putted my par putt from 15 feet and hit my putt firmly and I had a good start to my day.

   The greens on this course roll true but you do have watch your speed. Many courses in the area have greens that putt slower than the Orchards and I advise you to go to the putting green beforehand as the speed is something you need to negotiate. I am not saying that you are putting on the hood of your car but if you hit firm putts, you have little to worry about. I putted well most of the day and saved several pars but did not hit for any birdies as I was usually 60 feet away when putting and saved par from 4-6' feet.

The third hole is a 577 yard par 5 with a 170 yard carry over the wet lands. This hole is really beautiful. Drive it straight and you will split the fairway. Go left 5-10 yards left of center in the fairway and you will most likely end up in the first cut. I loved my drive but it did roll here. My second shot was sweet but about 130 yards short of the green. This hole has 15 sand traps and I never came close to any of them. The green rolls true and is huge. You can get on in regulation but you could be putting from quite a ways away and that is what I did here. I putted well but saved a 6-8' foot par putt. The well-marked cart path helped me on the third shot and I played a good hole of golf.

The sixth hole is the number one handicapped hole on the course and I can attest that it earned its rating. My drive on this 538 yard par five was good but not great and I clipped a tree and had a playable lie. This is the only time in my round that the neighborhood came close enough to the course to collect a ball from an errant shot. While I was on the course, the neighborhood turnaround can be in play. My second shot is where the fun began. I hit a worm burner about 50 yards and now I decided to go for the green or at least between the green and a wetlands area. My third shot found me hitting a  solid but did not a crushed shot and it went into a wetlands area and after a drop I am now playing for par. I did not think the wetlands was more than a ditch from the fairway but it is a good 30-40 yards wide. My next shot went into the sand and then I hit into another sand trap on the opposite side of the green. A chip and a one-putt and I had an eight.

The seventh hole is a hole with a tremendous amount of trouble looking to give you a big number. It is only a 409 yard par four. Repeat after me... do not hit driver here. I hit a 3 wood and this may have been too much but I hit one anyway. I was within ten yards of hitting the wetlands just on the fairway.  I drove it left side and actually hit it where I aimed. It was the perfect drive for this hole but next time I will try to take the left side out of play and go left center. If you bomb your drive, you will go into the wetlands. Go too far right and this includes the fairway and you will be unable to get home in two as trees will block you from a short iron approach shot. I skied my seven iron (I had some wind in my face) and I usually play up at least a club and left it short of the green. (RRRrrr!). I then hit a poor chip to the back of the green and two-putt for a six. Remember, the Orchards is as American as apple pie but a bad shot can contribute to you making a big number at any moment.

I am letting the round get away from me and it is mostly my rust and an elite course giving me right jabs to build my score.

   The par four ninth is a 441 yard par four and the varying tees give golfers a much different looks depending on where you play your round. I played from the Championship Tees and hooked my drive into a cluster of trees. It was a poor drive all the way around from a lack of shoulder turn to overthinking before striking my shot. My recovery three wood was excellent. Unfortunately I hit it into a very severely sloped sand trap and I skied my birdie out into the opposite rough. I then chipped on and two-putt for a six. A hole that should be a good par can jump out and bite you and this happened three times on this nine.

The back nine starts out with an uphill par four. This 412 hole has wetlands and two ponds that must be carried and really should not come into play. They do not for me as I hit one of my better drives of the day. My approach shot of just under 150 yards was struck well but knocked down by the wind short of the green. I chipped to 4-6' and made yet another putt. I thought this was a good par and the greens have been very good to my putter. 

The 11th is a 607 yard par-five. Yes, you heard that right. There are seven sand bunkers here. I crushed my drive here but the wind probably cost me 30-40 yards and I landed about 30 yards past a fairway bunker from the tips. I did mess up my second shot and it rolled about 80-100 yards and I hit a solid third shot from the fairway about 70-80 yards short of the green. I chunked my chip and a hole that is splendid I messed up as I double-bogeyed the hole with a seven. Remember, great drives at this course are helpful but do not make you home-free in any golf sense here.

The 14th hole is the first par three on the back nine. It is 194 from the Championship tees and 155 from the Tournament tees. I hit it there.  I hit a nice drive here but it ended up in a collection bunker to the right side of the green. You cannot see it from the tee box and this sloped grass bunker gives you a good angle to chip from. My chip was about 20 feet passed the hole and my par putt went wide as I ended up with a bogey. After playing the first four holes on this back nine, you will really look forward to this hole. I thought Robert Trent Jones really did a great job on this hole and overall with the course. You really have to earn your pars and birdies on this layout.

Really, the only hole I really did not like on this course happens on 17. Perhaps it was my bad mood from a couple of goofballs that stole my golf ball on 16 that were playing the 17th hole but this hole can really punch you in the nose. A dead oak is very prevalent on this hole about 260-290 yards from the furthest tee boxes and you should aim for it as coming up short but online will give you a great look for an approach shot. I messed up my drive here and ended up in one of four sand bunkers about 230 yards from the tee. Anything less than a rifle shot was being pushed by the wind to the right hard and short.  I hit the ball just inside the lip of the sand trap and had both a terrible stance, but no chance to advance the ball out of the bunker. I hit and the ball came right at me. I hit it again just trying to get it out and it went down a second fairway that you cannot see from the tee and is about 20' feet below the fairway to the left and 30' below an area of heather. You have no chance to see the pin from there, and this includes the green or anywhere else to guide you and with golfers starting to pace behind me, I hit a shot and chipped it into yet another sand trap. Then I said this hole is over so I hit a nice seven iron out of the sand and hit it solid but out of bounds about ten feet outside the stakes. (I still cannot see the pin from the second bunker). I then just take a drop and chip and two-putt. I felt like Kevin Na and made probably the biggest number of my life on a hole that has way too much sand. Remember RT Jones, the Sahara needs sand too!

You would think that I could never hit another good shot in this round but heck no, I played 18 beautifully. It is a super par-four that is 413 yards playing downhill. I hit a nice drive about 280 yards and was just on the fairway. I then hit a five-iron hybrid into the wind and put it solidly on the green with a downward stance and was really happy with myself. A pond guards this hole to the right and plenty of heather and sand to the left so this shot is the reason I keep playing this game. I hit a solid putt from about 50 feet a couple of feet from the hole and made par from there.  

Here is the skinny!

Customer Service-10 - Great people work here!

Course Markings- 10- The best course I have ever seen. Other courses need to do emulate what they do. Only GPS courses in Florida have anything comparable.  

Conditions -9 - Plenty of ropes to keep the carts from tearing up the fairways.          

Playability 8-    Way too much sand and many bunkers are    very deep giving you some very tough lies.

Course Design-8.5- Sometimes a well-struck ball just does not need to go in the rough so much.

Pace of Play 9- The starter said 4 1/2 hours but it was just over five. The guys in front of me kept playing worse as the day went on and they split up. The group in front of me stole my ball on 16 while playing 17. I did not realize it at first until my ball did not turn up.

The bottom line is this course is a 9.5 out of 10. You must practice your sand shots before coming here and they have super practice facilities so if you have time, loosen up by using them. Grading a golf course is subjective. I could have given the Orchards a ten but I think my score is fair.

You must put The Orchards on your to do list this summer.

Here is a link to the site.

http://orchards.com/page/5058-43319.htm

Here are the directions.

Practice your sand shots before coming out.

This should give you an idea of the challenge of the sloping course and the sand that awaits errant shots.