Stoney Creek Metropark has a Solid Golf Course with Plenty to See



Stoney Creek Metropark Clubhouse from the Pond on 9

     When golfers spend their hard earned money they want a superb bang for their buck and they consider several factors when choosing where to play. If you want a quality golfing experience, challenging holes, and a good look at wildlife, Stoney Creek is all that and spades.

This is a Nice Touch to Play the Course

This 6,928 yard layout has four different tee box layouts and is a course that will keep you coming back but you better do one thing before coming: make a tee time. The course winds around Macomb and Oakland County and is nestled in a park that has something for every family from rollerblading, to sailing to a fun-filled picnic and dozens more things all summer long.

   The staff is friendly and organized and they have to be as the course receives heavy play from the first tee time and with the leagues that dot their schedule, making a phone call to reserve your tee time is highly recommended.

   As for the golf, the course is largely in terrific shape and the golf course workers largely move over when they see you coming and do it with a smile.

     As for the golf, the course plays differently from each tee box and plays with a variety of strategies in mind. The blue tees will give you a firm test at 6,928 yards and if that is more than you want, 6,485 (white), 5,595 (gold) and the red tees play at just over 5,000 yards. In my mind, this course has a terrific stretch of finishing holes and golfers will have to have their ‘a’ games the entire round.
     Playing the course multiple times this summer, the course plays much more challenging from the blue tees and the 400 yard par four first is elevated and directly in the sun if you play in the morning. It plays as a very slight dog leg left and has a creek roughly 100 yards from the green for the long bombers (I played here and the white teesduring my rounds) and the fescues in the creek did not come into play for me. With trees on either side of the green and a subtly undulated putting experience, birdie is very possible here but you must avoid a sand bunker to the front left of the green. If you hit the ball about 250 yards off the tee, a mid-iron shot can be shaped into the green nicely and par is possible. When you play early, the green may not have been cut so you might want to hit the practice green. The hole is a good opening way to start a round and par is not a bad score but birdies can be had right off the bat here.

     The third hole is a 508 yard par five that is reachable in two but does have several punches to the nose in store for golfers that are not careful. Yes, bombers can get on in two but your tee shot must be hit either down the middle or you must avoid the trouble. A huge bunker guards the landing area to the right side of the fairway and several grass moguls lines the left side. Add wetlands in front of the moguls and a narrow landing area and you have an introduction to this hole. Oh yes, some light woods also dot the right side. If you go in any of the described hazards, you most likely will need three to get on. If you hit that tee shot just so, not much is preventing you from making a birdie or a putt for eagle. Most golfers will need that third shot and after the fairway metal wood struck for your second shot, a wedge where you can run it to the flag can get you close. The green asks that you strike it firm but birdies are demanded for a golfer to have a chance at a skin. The key is your tee shot.

     While holes 4,5,6,7 are all fun to play, especially number six which plays as a 550 yard par five, number eight requires attention. While the blue tee plays at 408 yards, the white tee box is only 24 yards shorter but it makes a world of difference.  With a pond that runs the right side and settles in the center of the fairway about 250 yards out, a large sand bunker that enters the picture to keep golfers from going in the pond. Whaling a drive is a huge mistake on this hole. Find a mid-iron or hybrid about 170-190 yards and get a perfect view of the eighth green. It is slightly elevated, has a nasty bunker to the front right side and will let you know that you still have work to do if you miss the green. The green putts true here and if you do get on in two, a par is a good score. If you birdie the number one handicap hole on this course, get yourself a beer at the clubhouse at the turn. It’s a shot makers hole.

    



    












     The back side of the course is really a dandy and requires you to shape your shots. For me, the rollercoaster begins on the 13^th hole. Playing as a 597 yard par five, the hole is elevated, has a wide green and a wide berth to find trouble. If you fade the ball you have plenty of room to shape your shot as long as you are to the left of the fairway bunker that sits over 250 yards from the tee box. Going right is basically a death sentence for a golfer that goes that way. The woods quickly creep up on you. So does a massive tree that basically will make you either lay up back to the fairway or try to play the angle and cut it around the tree and maybe onto the 14^th fairway where an entire set of problems will come up. I know, the first time I played this hole I found out the hard way. My next two times showed that I learned my lesson. At 597 yards, I think only Bubba Watson and others with power extreme can get it on in two. Most will play any number of irons to get it on in three. This entire hole has bad things happen if you go right. Par is a very good score here. Bogey is not the end of the world. Birdies are a bonus and getting on in three will give you that opportunity.

     A huge favorite hole of mine is the nearly severe 444 yard par four 15th. What I like is that you can see clear as day what the risk and reward is. If you play a fade, you are in luck. Start the ball off to the left and let the roll run it down the fairway. If you go left on the hole, you can add 20-30 yards to the holes yardage. Where is the trouble? The light woods with very mature trees will ruin the hole for any golfer that dares to miss in this direction. Most golfers will have around 200 to go when hitting a second shot and if you have to do it from one of the trees, you are most likely playing for bogey. If you hit it down the middle, the green is an inviting target and the green is very undulates and is no cinch as a two-putt. Take your par live to fight for a birdie on 16.

     Sixteen is a birdie hole but it takes a little course management. Playing at only 333 yards, the prime landing area is only 180 yards before the dogleg right kicks in. Playing driver here will give the turf management shed a new golf ball as there are woods the entire left side as well as a sand bunker for shots pulled to the left. Oh yes, you need to hit it over a tree line to make the most of the yardage work in your favor. If you hit it in the trees, it is bare dirt and chances are your ball will roll in one of the many nooks and valleys and you will have an iron shot from a tree root or multiple trees. Whether you go over the trees or elect to have a clear shot to the left, no more than a mid-iron awaits you and most likely it will be a wedge. The green is not easy. Balls do drift so hit it firm here. Still, birdies should be plenty.

The 17^th hole is the signature hole for the course. While I am not big on signature holes, this par three has a lot going for it. Playing from 163 to 98 yards, it’s a postcard moment for this course. It has three different tee boxes including a second and even more elevated tee box to the left. The pond, waterfall, stadium type of setting all give this hole a truly fun golfing experience. By the way, the green is really soft and any high iron will stick here. So stick it on and try for your birdie.

     Your final hole is really a dandy. The right-handers have had multiple opportunities to fade the ball and now it’s the southpaws that get the chance. The hole plays very well for righties that hit a draw and this uphill 405 yard uphill hole is a super way to finish a round. There is danger everywhere. The woods are on top of you left side and the fairway is slightly more narrow than many on the course. The dog leg left does have a nice landing area if you do hit the fairway in the landing zone but for those golfers that go right, uneven lies, dirt and just plain nastiness awaits you. As for where to aim the ball on your drive, the sand trap to the right side of the fairway is a target but go to the left of it for best results. Your second shot will be an uphill mid to low iron shot. Golfers should plan on clubbing up one here as the green is a good 25 feet above the bottom of the hill. If you do miss the green, do not go right, the cart path nestles right up to the woods and the lies are not the best. The green will make you earn your birdie but par is certainly a very good score here.

Here is the Skinny...

Course Markings- 8.5- Very Good. No GPS but the holes are staked at 100,150 and at 200 yards. Sprinklers are marked as well. A yardage book in the cart also helps you before you hit your shot. I wish they had the birdhouses at 150 yards like they do at Kensington and Indian Springs.

Conditions -9.0 - The greens are fair and immaculate. The fairways are watered. Some tough spots around the greens for chipping but otherwise the course is in really good shape.   The greens are very fair and you can read them giving you good scoring chances.

Playability 10- The key is playing the correct tees. You will find out by the third hole (the 508 yard) par 5 with the bottleneck landing area if you are on the right track. If not, lay your ego aside and play the white tees. The fairways are wide but drive placement is essential as their are plenty of dog legs on this course.  The first cut of rough is not much worse than the fairway and I like that. Right now, all courses are hurting from a lack of rain and most supers are letting the rough go a bit to keep the fairways and greens playable.  The greens for the most part have subtle undulations. Hit putts with confidence and you may make a birdie or two.  

Course Design-8.0 I like how you can use every club in your bag. You will play most of your clubs. This is a well thought out golf course and you can bounce the ball on on many holes or use a soft iron shot.

Pace of Play- 7- I played twice early in the morning and breezed but this course gets heavy play. The parking lot is almost full by 9 am and stays that way on weekends and most weekdays.  I enjoy this course and the only drawback is the course being so far out of the way for most of Oakland County. If you live in Northern Macomb County it is accessible off of 26 mile road.

Junior/Adult Programs and Tournaments- NA - They host one Junior Tournament each season.

Amenities- There is a restaurant with the basics.

The bottom line- This course is 9.0 out of 10. It is a very enjoyable round of golf and play it this season at least once or more.

To find out more, contact the Huron Metroparks at the link below. All of the courses are well maintained and are a pleasure to play. http://www.metroparks.com/