Bald Mountain Golf Course Review

What does a consistent drizzle and a round of golf have in common? Well, welcome to Michigan spring weather and a trip to Bald Mountain Golf Course.

I would like to thank the Prieskorn family for allowing me to come out and enjoy their course on Saturday, May 14th. This 3,500+ yard course from the blues and 3,322 yard course from the white's is carved out of rolling hills and woods and is located behind the Bald Mountain resort area about 3 miles north of the Palace of Auburn Hills.

   Number 1 is a 472 yard  par 5 and this short hole from the blues gives you a birdie opportunity right out of the clubhouse. So warm up to give you a chance to go one under ten minutes into your around. Due to the rain, all Detroit area golf courses played longer this weekend and your ball will not roll as it will on a hot steamy summers day. Par or birdie this hole or you will lose ground to the field or to someone who collected your money for a game of skins. 

A much more formidable hole that will really make you work for birdie is the par five number four. This 547 yard effort demands a good tee shot. You have some wiggle room here but go left and you go into the trees. This is where I played this hole from. My chip caught the wet grass in the rough and my third shot was 70 yards short of the green. I ended up with seven on this hole and a good drive would have shaved a stroke or two from my scorecard. The green demands respect so measure your putt carefully so you do not three putt.  

Number seven is a tricky par four. It is a good driving hole and is only 346 yards from the blues. It does go downhill and who doesn't like hitting a drive downhill?  There are trees ready to click errant drives in the landing areas on either side of the fairway. I went right here into some trees but was lucky enough to have a second shot. If you have the ability to frame your iron shot, watch yourself here.This is a two tiered green with the right side of the green being the higher of the tiers and the left side must be negotiated depending on where the pin placement is. I putted downhill to the left side and hit a solid putt that still rolled six feet past the hole from the second tier and consider myself lucky. I did roll in the comebacker and saved a five.  

What I have not mentioned so far is Bald Mountain has a major differential in scoring from the front to the back side of the course. The front nine is a par 37 and plays to over 3,500 yards and the back nine plays to just under 3.100 yards from the tips and is a par 34.

Your first par three on this nine is the eighth hole. It plays uphill with a slight valley between the tee box to the green. You might consider playing up a club here. Bunkers guard this hole and a short shot will give you a sand shot to the right. This hole putts largely true so anything putted uphill will help you achieve par. This is the only par three on this side so enjoy it.

   Speaking about enjoying the front side par three eighth, the back nine has three par threes plus a drivable par four. I will start there. The 11th is a steak to a hungry dog. It is drivable from the whites (278 yards) but there is plenty of trouble for errant tee shots. There is a valley to the left with a cluster of trees lining the left side of the fairway and a steep valley to the left of the green. There are assorted trees to the right but is mostly open if you go there. Sand guards the green to the right side and in front of the green. Even if your tee shot lands in one of the obstacles, you have nothing to fear as you are chipping for eagle. I made par here and while everyone wants bird, I am remaking my swing so I am pretty inconsistent and will take that score all day until I regain my form.

Another fun hole to drive is number 12. This 420 yard par four is wide open. I mean really wide open. I would not snap hook it left and (how many golfers do that?) Other than than, get out that really expensive ball you bought in the pro shop. I hit it well here and also put it just off the green with my second shot. A timely chip and one putt gave me another par. Bald Moauntain has plenty of grass or collection bunkers to add to your challenge and there is a nasty one here. Hitting out of a cushy lie is not a problem but put your ball with a side hill lie and it could add a stroke to your card.

Two consecutive par threes await you on 13 and 14.

The first is a nice tee shot of 206 yards. I will admit that I played the white tees on this hole at 190 yards as I wanted to hit my 3 iron as I used it for my golf lesson on Friday evening and hit it pretty well and wanted to test it in an actual round. I did not hit it well here and pushed it right. I still had a super chip here and managed to get up and down. The green here is really a trick. It is very undulated. The pin placement was front right today and you must bear down to read it. Go to the top tier in the back and God Bless You. Your down hill putt will go rolling, rolling, rolling, until you say Rawhide. It is pretty hard to put your shot back there from the tee and when you play the course, I have to believe the pin will mostly be in the front of the green somewhere so plan on hitting it there. A lone deer was grazing on this hole and my daughter and I tried capturing the deer but he slipped into the woods before we could make him see cheese.

The next par three is the very next hole. In my mind this is a much toughter hole due to the trouble that surrounds it. Hit the green and "ole Jed is a millionaire." Go left short and you have a grass bunker. Go left  beyond that bunker and you have a blind pitch to the green. That is where I went. I couldn't stand the prosperity of three consecutive pars. The hole really just requires a good solid shot. The green has some undulations depending on where you land on it.

Number 15 is a par four of 438 yards and the fairway is both downhill and as wide as anyone that wants to pull a driver out without the fear of losing a ball can hope for. I do recommend that you not go right though as there is a nasty bunker. I landed on the side of it and hit a poor second shot playing with the ball above my feet 3-4." The green is big and any putt you hit will most likely be uphill. Do not misread your speed or you will have a long second putt.

Number 16 is another hole where driver can be pulled out without a lot of fear. The rough to the left will still give you a good look at the pin. A drive down the middle is lovely but to the right there is a cluster of trees and most likely you will not be in them but if you go short you will have to negotiate a shot over the top and this could leave you a pitchout to the fairway.

The final hole I will address today is the par three 17th. This hole has two greens (203 yards) for the men and 154 for the ladies. It plays over a valley and is oblong shaped. I was short here and chunked a chip in the wet grass. Finally a good chip and a putt gave me bogey. I saw a high school player four-putt this green after getting a GIR as he played the wrong club so club selection is important.

One of the most impressive things about Bald Mountain on this day is the quick play of the golfers. We teed off at 7 am sharp. There were already three foursomes on the course and as I played with one other player, we played out the fourth hole and finished up the holes afterward. These golfers really played quick and considering the rain that was off and on during the round, a kudos goes out to everyone for making this an enjoyable round. Also, the course was busy. It is a testement to golfers in Michigan to come out when the weather is not nice and Bald Mountain has a fair amount of booked times and walk up customers. I never recommend just showing up to a golf course and I would not do it here as the rainy day allowed for  last minute business. I would call the course at the number listed below and give them a try as you will have a fun test of golf.

http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&tab=ll

Map of course ^^^^^

Contact  VVVVV

 Email: info@baldmountaingolf.com

Our next review will take us to The Orachard in Macomb County.

What is the 411 on Tiger Woods?

We have often heard John Madden say "one knee equals two feet" and after nine holes of the TPC, Tiger Woods walked out on the Players Championship. It is painfully clear that Tiger is not close to competing in any golf tournament let alone golf's 5th major and perhaps it is time for Tiger to shut it down until he gets healthy enough to play competitive golf. From the time he launched his first tee shot nearly into the woods, and chunked a wedge shot for eagle like a weekend 20 handicapper, it is not funny, nor comfortable to watch a player of his stature consistently make ordinary shots. After hitting two chips into the drink and achieving a seven, he bogeyed nine and said audios to the TPC at Sawgrass.

   The rumor is Woods' withdrawal came after he was asked to play as a favor to  PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem.

[+] Enlarge

AP Photo/Rob Carr
"The suggestion is somehow he was hurt and we got him to play anyway. Tiger doesn't [play] a tournament unless he thinks he can win," Tim Finchem said.

The truth is Tiger enjoys playing here  and this course was his stepping stone back into world-class golf last year following "Elingate". I do not think I have ever seen an athlete fall so far so quickly and is now playing out his golfing problems in front of the world. Whatever you think of Woods and he certainly brought his personal problems out on himself, Woods has not changed a bit professionally. He still is a curt, smug, and extremely arrogant individual and if his past problems have not changed him by now, he will continue to act that way toward a public that is on the fence about seeing him make it all the way back. Tiger resides in a professional tempest combining a wicked brew of multiple injuries, age (he is 35 now) and fellow professionals that largely do not fear him as Tiger circa 2008, but as a novelty until he can prove he is otherwise back.

Oakland Christian/ Shrine Golf... Paula Creamer and Tanglewood review

Boy do I have a lot to catch up on.


The first thing is that I have filed a video story on MiPrepZone. Due to a server error, you will have to look there. 
First, Doc Johnson has plenty of great things happening for his Oakland Christian prep golf team. He had five golfers shoot around par at Bald Mountain the other day in their victory over Plymouth Christian and Royal Oak Shrine. Doc Johnson has high hopes for his prep team and feature stories on Division 4 Champion Zack Preuss and the rest of his team will appear online and in this blog.
Here are the scores.
Oakland Christian- 148
Nick Vanbiesbrouck- 37
Zachary Preuss-36
Tyler Coyne- 37
Jon VanNoord- 38


Plymouth Christian- 165
Luke Holmes - 37
Adam Poulus - 41
Alex Huber - 40
David Bixler - 47


Royal Oak Shrine- 181
Evan Yee- 43
Spencer Ray - 44
Jake Luddy - 44
Conner Ciarlone - 50


Paula Creamer appeared at Carl's Golfland on Monday and charmed the crowd with her affable personality.
I took video of much of her one hour clinic and will post snippets in the next several postings. She is the defending Champion of the 2010 US Open and her positive outlook on golf is refreshing and the 'Pink Panther' hope to prowl with more victories including majors in 2011. Paula Pasche filed a story and it appears in the May 10th edition of the Oakland Press.

Finally, I had the opportunity to play Tanglewood on Mothers Day and this 27 hole layout is breathtaking and a lot of fun to play.

Here is a map to the course.

     I started out golfing the West course. (3487 yards from the tips). I had time to chip and putt before the round but not enough time to hit driver. The first hole on the west course is long (558 yards) and you will need the biggest clubs in you bag. It is also the number 1 handicap hole on this nine. This hole is a great turn hole if you play the South or North courses before this one. If the first hole you play after you get out of your car is this one, you better bomb your ball and drive it right side. Two bunkers guard the left in the landing areas of a well hit drive and out of bounds stakes line the left side as an errant drive will make you friendly with the neighbors. The green is pretty straight forward as it plays slow and true. (Most of the greens) are fairly easy to read as compared to other courses.


Number two is a 201 yard par three with trouble everywhere. Hit it left and you will be in a picturesque marsh and hit it right and you will be in a sizable pond. Oh yeah, do not go over the green as sand awaits you. I like the hole but take a hybrid or long iron here. Shorter hitters might need a five wood as it depends on how you hit your clubs.


The third hole is my favorite so far. It is only 358 yards and there is trouble for an errant drive. The left side features a sizable bunker and along the right side is a marshy type area. The green is large so you have a good opportunity for birdie or par if you stay out of the trouble I just described.


The fourth hole ranges from 325 yards from the silver tees to 449 from the gold tees and it plays much different depending on which tees you decide to play on this par four. A drive from the gold will still give you a look at the pin but a shank will possibly make you unable to see the green and you may get on in three. Trees guard the left side and I hit it there. I could not find my golf ball and this leads to a suggestion. I saw my ball come down from the tree in the rough. I never saw it again. and this happened 3-4 times during the round. I suggest taking the cut in the fairway down a notch as I either just missed the fairway or hit it in the fairway and the slope took me just off and I had to go back and forth in my cart to find the ball. Add the morning glare and I spent 20 minutes on this hole when it should have taken 10. Just a suggestion on an otherwise splendid course.


Number five is a dandy! This 189 yard par three has bunkers guarding it left right and center. The unusual sand trap in front made me get my camera and I enjoyed this hole tremendously. I did hit it in the rough right side and missed my chip and achieved a four here. Hit the green and with these true rolling greens, a birdie or par awaits you.


Brad Stedry of  Tanglewood said this about the 6th hole pictured above. "Ours signature hole is West 6 which has the green in the shape of the lower peninsula and a replica of the mackinac bridge connects to the next tee which is in the shape of the upper peninsula."


Number seven on the West side is a 434 yard par four from the gold and 345 for the ladies. You can really bomb the ball here. There is plenty of sand on the left side in the landing area of your drives. So what do you do? Go left side. There is not much there and you can see the green and can shape your shot.


Number eight is a 548 yard par five and can you say man up? This hole is really something. A pond guards this hole all the way down the right side from your landing area of your driver to the front side of the green. Big hitters will go for it but the smart play is to lay up. There are two bunkers right side and the pond. A short chip of 50-70 yards (take the pond out of play) and you will see the green as the pond is on the down side of a sloping hill. "The toughest par 5 is West 8.  OB down the entire left hand side and water all the way down the right as well as a creek in front of the green.  Very difficult to get home in 2 for most players," said Stedry.

 I played the North course next.


Tanglewood is a  heavily played course and Mother's Day is no exception. Plenty of families play outings on this day. As it is Mother's Day I am not sure if this was a special occasion but play is very slow and I jumped around to get this round in.


Number two on the North course is a really fun par 4. The tees range from 429 to 350 and to get your money's worth, play the gold. A well-hit driver (Yes, I did that) gives you a good look at the green. Do not hit it short though. It is well-guarded green and anything short and left will leave you in the beach. The green rolls true so once you are on the green, do not be afraid to hit the ball.

 Chipping before No. 1 West

Isabella discovered the ball washer.

No. 6 Green. Taken by Isabella

 Unknown location-

 Unknown location

 No. 1 North

 This pond guards the left side with geese to the left and a Martin House to the right.

I really enjoyed the nature on the third hole. Turtles were all over the pond that surround the  524 yard par five. A group I joined had trouble on the hole so I had time to look in the water. I bombed my drive (as this hole was really my 18th of the day) and hit a poor second before recovering for a 4-hybrid that I put to within 10 feet of the pin from 185 yards. I lipped my putt here for par. The hole lays out very well. It slopes downhill here and is a good test of golf. There is plenty of  trouble with sand guarding the left side of the hole, around the green and two ponds collect balls left side. I waited to putt and noticed the dozen or so turtles that hopped into the water as I surveyed the green To me, that is the sign of a healthy golf course. Besides the turtles, geese, and plenty of birds and bird houses were around and the real birdies were a great sign of nature and a healthy course.


A really fun hole is the 192 yard par 3 sixth. This hole has water down the left side, in front of the tee boxes with sand to the left. Their is heather to the right of the hole and I hit it there. It is a tough up and down and I spent some time looking for my ball. I did find it. When you hit it here, it is on you. The first cut of rough just outside of the fairway is another matter. I hit a good chip but 25 feet from the pin and two-putted from there. The pond is awesome and bring you golf ball retriever because missed shots will more than likely end up there.

Brad Stedry had this to say about Tanglewood. "The toughest par 3 is probably North 6.  It is a hole that you must carry the ball all the way to the hole and the green is probably one of the toughest on the course.  You mus be below the hole."


The par five 9th is a 532 yard  hole that slopes downhill. I hit less than my best drive and it went left side hitting the fairway and rolled off. I never saw my ball after that even though the ball was not hit hot and there was plenty of room to look for a ball. I took a drop in the rough and got caught up in some trees and chipped on the green. I had an eight on the hole including the lost ball. This hole is a good finishing hole. Sand guards the landing areas left and a pond does the same on the right. A series of sand traps awaits those going for the green in two. Can you imagine finishing on this hole and then going to hole one on the West course? That is two back to back tests of golf.


Tanglewood is really a treat to play. The staff is professional and friendly and they have an outside gazebo for those looking to have a wedding or an elegant party. The greens largely roll true and this course makes you think as many of the obstacles are left and right of the fairway in the landing areas. Average players will not have to think of them as much unless you dub your second shots into them.

Stedry also wanted you to know this about Tanglewood.
-We do have  a Junior Program and we also host Northville V & JV as well as CC JV.
-The toughest par 4 is probably South 1.  A very tough long starting hole with a fairway bunker that is in play and a green that is pretty narrow so if you miss right you have no real chance to get up and down. We are different because we have 27 quality well manicured holes with 5 sets of tees that can give a golfer all the challenge that they can handle.

Call ahead to book a tee time at 248-486-3355


http://www.twoodonline.com/


Map
http://www.twoodonline.com/map

Seve, Bridgestone Golf Ball Fittings and Bob Krause. Oh Yeah, Prep Feature stories as well

First, off, let me say Happy Mothers Day to all the ladies out there and everyone reading this, at least call your mom, send flowers, spend some time with her and tell her to read this blog. Its better than flowers. Rim shot please.

     The world of golf lost a legend this weekend with the passing of Seve Ballesteros. Ballesteros was simply a golfing prodigy. After turning pro at the age of 16, he first joined the world stage finishing second at Royal Birkdale in 1979 and won five majors by 1988. In my mind, Ballesteros like Mozart, Jimi Hendriz and dozens more who are prodigies at their crafts. Ballesteros showed his maestro talents and won the Master's twice when no European had ever accomplished that feat before him. For me, what made him unique was his ability to almost never be counted out from winning a hole due to his ability to use his golf clubs as a magician's wand. Where most people see a parking lot, Seve saw the chance to think creatively and hit a golf shot from the asphalt that no one else could believe just happened and that includes those that just saw it. He almost singlehandedly created instant replay in golf as the golf audience went into whiplash from shaking their heads in disbelief  from what they just saw, and did this over and over again. Seve was known as a swashbuckler as his inconsistent driver made him a known commodity from all over the golf course from many places that most pros did not often play. Here is a video from CBS News and some stats from his play in his career. It is hard to believe he has passed away but Seve was not really a force as a world class golfer since the early-1990's. His bloom ended in his early thirties and served his sport in several capacities until his death.
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u0sLFZaCeNc

Career
Turned professional	1974
Retired	2007
Former tour(s)	European Tour
Professional wins	91
Number of wins by tour
PGA Tour	9
European Tour	50 (1st all time)
Japan Golf Tour	6
Other	31
Best results in Major Championships (Wins: 5)
Masters Tournament	Won: 1980, 1983
U.S. Open	3rd: 1987
The Open Championship	Won: 1979, 1984, 1988
PGA Championship	5th: 1984
Achievements and awards
World Golf Hall of Fame	1999 (member page)
European Tour Order of Merit winner	1976, 1977, 1978, 1986, 1988, 1991
European Tour Player of the Year	1986, 1988, 1991

Golf Instruction

Lesson Number Two with Bob Krause.

I met with Bob Krause at his Golf Academy this past Friday and it was a real pleasure to see him after I made a mess of a couple of rounds I played the previous weekend. I played poorly at Brentwood and much better at Sanctuary and know from past experience that one lesson will not take care of my ills on a permanent basis. 

After Bob checked my balance and reviewed my swing, he noticed that I was actually taking my swing outside the desired swing plane. We got that straight quickly (you can check because the butt end of the club will point at your belly button or close anyway) and he then checked out the next part of my swing that he felt needed my attention. After my club reached a parallel point to the ground, I cocked my wrist and this created some shoulder turn with my eyes over the ball. I was hitting it much more solidly within a few swings and the ball was exploding off of my seven iron. I know hearing about someone else's golf game is pretty boring so if you are serious at improving your game, you need to give Bob a call. He is awesome! I hope to show you some snippets of my swing. Bob is under contract with some news organizations so after he receives the thumbs up, I will be more than happy to show you the video results. It will make you a believer.  

Here is how to contact Bob. He moves for the season to Majestic in Highland and Fieldstone in Auburn Hills but call the number below. You will be glad you did.

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

     I saw a great deal on a membership in GAM. Besides posting your score online for the purposes of handicap, you will receive 10% off regular prices at Dunham's Sports, discounts at golf courses. You will also receive an annual subcription to Golf Digest Magazine or six months of Golf World Magazine. There are also tournaments, 2 for 1 greens fees and plenty more.  The total cost is only $35 and you can go to GAM.org to find out all of the details. You can also call 248-478-9242 ext. 23 and they will walk you through the entire process.

The Junior golf season is getting ready to launch. Tanglewood C. C. has their summer clinics happening starting in June. They have classes that are $115 per child and they include 4 days of instruction, golf and lunch everday. This also includes beginning and intermediate classes. Contact http://www.twoodonline.com/ or 248-486-3355 for more information.

A few of you may know (tell the world and everyone will know) that I contribute video stories to the Oakland Press and MiPrepZone. I start my video series on Zack Preuss, a sophmore golfer from Oakland Christian HS. He is the Division four 2010 champion. His video story will appear in MiPrepZone and in this blog. We also plan on covering his teams golf match against Southfield Christian at Bald Mountain Golf Course in the Lake Orion/ Auburn Hills area.

Finally, the Bridgestone Ball Fittings is in town. Locally they happen all over but appear next on Sat May 14, 2011
Here is where to find them. Contact Santuary Lake below to make sure you get in.

Sanctuary Lake GC
1450 E South Blvd
Troy, Mi 48085
248-619-7671

11:00am - 4:00pm

Here is a link to Bridgestone to receive more information.

http://www.bridgestonegolf.com/

Next time, I will have a course review of Tanglewood-The Lion in South Lyon, Michigan. I golfed 18 holes at the course today and enjoyed the course and the nice day. I will give you details next time.

Sanctuary Lake is a Fun Place to Play

Sanctuary Lake Golf Course is located in Troy, Michigan and is a beautiful layout that is carved out from a piece of property where no piece of land is wasted in this 2004 design.  Here is the skinny on the course.

Par 71 6554 yards from the black- 6123 yards from the blue - 4746 yards from the white

 10^th Hole                                                                                      1^st Hole

Sanctuary Lake is carved out from marshlands and swamps and this nearly 6,600 (6554) yard layout.

The first and tenth holes are atop a huge hill overlooking the entire course. The pictures above give you an idea but do not give the view justice as they are refreshing to see the layout and what awaits you during the round. 

The landing area of your tee shot on the first hole (I played from the blues) is wide. The entire course plays at 6123 yards. You have four tee choices to play your round. While there is serious trouble on most holes, not land your tee shot on the fairway means you have brought the trouble on yourself. The fairways are wide and better players can steer their driver out of trouble. Today though, the wind was over 20 miles per hour so anything less than a solid shot will bring in the heather or marsh. This 402 yard par four is a good test of golf. Your second shot should be a mid iron and I recommend you aim for the fat part of the green. The greens rolled pretty true but are sloped so think your putts through or you will be saving two putts all day.

Now for the adventure. Most of the time scorecards are used for…. keeping score. At Sanctuary Lake, you must refer to it constantly as the signs are confusing marking the course if you have not played it before. I felt more than once that Shemp or Larry were directing me around the course and I overshot the holes with my cart and without anyone in front of me to see where I had to tee off.  I was guessing at times. You would drive to a hole and the sign was facing the tee and not the cart path so you had to get out of your cart to figure it out.

The par five third hole is a 477 yard par five and is a dog leg to the left. You will shoot over a marsh and it is not in play for even decent hitters. Sky one though and you will revisit your golf bag. The landing area is wide and you can hit the green in two with two solid shots. There are multiple bunkers guarding the green so ye’ be warned.

     The fifth hole is the first par three of the day and plays 190 from the blacks, 170 from the blues and forward tees start at 138 yards. There is a marsh guarding this hole to the right and there is a slope that will affect your putts pretty much wherever you hit it. Because Sanctuary Lake features six par four holes that are 400+ yards, you really need to take advantage of this hole. A par is very fair and perhaps a bogey for the golf duffer many of us are, but after that you will certainly lose a shot or two to the field.  

The seventh hole is also a short hole (only 133 yards from the blacks and 96 yards for the ladies) and slopes downhill. Bunkers guard the hole on both sides and a half a club too much will leave you looking for your golf ball in the heather which slopes away from this hole. The green is big so you can easily hit it but hit it in the wrong place and your poorly placed tee shot (on the green) will leave you with a four instead of a birdie or par attempt. I got a par here putting a sidewinder. My putt did not break the way I thought it would and I had a testy four footer from the left side. No, I did not leave it short. J

The eighth hole is a treasure of beauty. You will drive the cart up a hill and from the black (415 yards) and the blue (365) yards, a downwind drive and a down slopped green awaits you.  A nice tee shot will set you up with a low to mid range iron shot. A well placed iron shot will put you up close. Depending on the pin placement, your putt will slide so you may have to lag it here but you can definitely attack a birdie putt. My daughter is learning how to play golf and she is here on the eighth.

My daughter. Look at the tier of the green behind her.                                  

The 10^th fairway is much like the first. You tee off on the other side of the starters tent. It is a severe down slopped 436 yard par four. The picture below and to the right gives you an idea of what awaits you. The fairways are wide and the rough is very fair to play out of. Still, stay in the fairway if you can as the grass can give you a tough lie with an errant shot. Trouble will await you on the left side as there are bunkers along the way. Take your time with your putt as you can score on this hole and a solid effort will give you a birdie/bogey depending on how you played up to the green.

The 11^th hole is a 513 yard par five and it played at over 600 yards with the wind directly in my face. I dubbed a few shots here including my drive but I recovered with a 3 wood and put it on the green. A two putt left me with par and I was satisfied that I recovered with a good drive that did not carry due to the wind, wetness and of course… my own ability. L

The 12^th is a par three that is the twin hole to the par three 7^th as they run along each other and this one is certainly more difficult as it is 215 yards from the blacks and 188 from the blues. I played it from the blues and used my four iron hybrid. I hit a solid tee shot but the wind held it up about 15 yards short of the green when usually that shot would leave me with a birdie attempt of some kind.  

I was told by the starter that the par four 14^th is the signature hole on the course. It is a 380 yard layout with a pond along the left side with a small island where birds nest. The right side is a woods/marsh setup where this tight hole will collect your tee shot down the right side. A well-placed iron could be recommended or your safest metal wood. You can drive the left side to get in close by cutting the hole but it is not a smart play. The course was so wet that there was standing water on the right side. I did not play it well and had a seven as I lost a ball in the woods and hit a second. I missed a putt and you get the idea.

14^th Tee box                                                          

A small bird island with egg laying ducks

Well I hate to say this but the cart featured below was out of power by the 14^th. Actually it had intermittent power as it could roll well going downhill but could not negotiate the rolling hills that make this a nice track to play. I called the club house a couple of times and got voice mail. For the rest of the round I would get out of the cart and push while my daughter drove. This happened quite a bit and got to be so bad that I was not able to play the 18^th hole.

The 17^th hole is an interesting twist for the course. It is a 290 yard par four from the blacks and only from 260 where I played. There is plenty of trouble to the left of the green as the heather awaits you and of course missing your drive will give you an attempt or two out of the sand. The green is huge and the architect was smart to give to do this as the long hitters can drive hole but there is a greater chance that you will hit trouble in the heather or sand and a long putt will most likely await you. Still, you should plan on a three or four here or you will lose a shot to the field. I do wonder how many eagles achieved in a serious tournament at this hole. I am sure somebody does it during the course of a day. 

So what is the bottom line? This Billy Casper managed layout is a super play for most golfers. It plays radically different on several holes where the tee boxes will give you a different way to play the holes based on your ability and desire for a challenge. This course has five par-threes and of the courses reviewed so far, I like these as a group the best. Number nine is a tee shot over a pond, and two more are down severe slopes where you must think about which club to play and have large greens to shoot for birdies.

The rolling fairways are a nice touch. My daughter thought she was at Cedar Point and they really only come into play if you hit a poor shot. Do not mess with them as the lies are wicked.

Sanctuary Lake is located on 1450 East South Blvd. in Troy, Michigan. Call 248-619-7600

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

Golf lesson with Bob Krause and course review of Brentwood Country Club

I would like to start off today telling you to read Keith Dunlap’s excellent feature story on Birmingham Seaholm sophomore golfer Carlos Ruffino. This young man was a ‘dream team’ selection as a freshman last year and golfed in the US amateur last year and has bright future in the game. The story appears in the paper and you can find it online as well.

A miserable golfing weekend weather wise was tempered by playing a couple of very fun courses. I will chronicle my experiences playing Brentwood C.C. after letting you in on how golf lessons can tighten up your swing. This weekend started off with a golf lesson with Bob Krause from Bob Krause golf.

Krause is a well-renowned golf pro with an academy in Commerce Township. Krause has written for the Oakland Press and partners with local golf courses such as Fieldstone in Auburn Hills and media outlets including  MSNBC and Fox Sports Detroit. There is a driving range behind his swing analysis lab and  nearly twenty golfers working on their game and I look forward to doing the same  this summer. What impressed me about Bob Krause is he works quite a bit with junior golfers and I will feature some of them in future blogging columns and online stories. Specifically, Bob promised me he would only try to help me with one area of my game at a time and that is crucial in my mind to improving your game. Have you ever went to a golf lesson and the pro tried to give you 3-4 tips in each lesson and you were a complete mess for months afterward? Then you return he gives you 3-4 more golf tips and you decide you are too frustrated to play and just mutter to yourself on the driving range? Well I think we have all been there to varying degrees over time.

Bob did ask me for one favor.

He asked me to trust him to work with me and not see several people while he is working with me. I thought it to be a wise request. Krause did work with me on two things this past Friday. The first is my balance and secondly the swing itself. My balance is an easy fix. I was favoring my right side. I am now more balanced over the ball. I still have questions for Bob as many golf teachers teach you to tilt to your right and I am still trying to figure out how that works into the equation. The second is my swing plane. I actually had agolf pro tell me to cock my right wrist as soon as I took the club into my back swing and then go into a v-plane. Bob has me going into my backswing by taking it straight back then bringing my club back. I am sure it is more sophisticated then that but that is how I understood it. A practical help for me is taking a tee in the butt end of the club and making sure it is pointing at my belly button in the takeaway before bringing it into my full back swing. I was under his tutelage hitting it much more solid. He uses plenty of video analysis and we looked at my before and after and compared it to successful PGA touring pros which gives his teaching increased credibility.

Like most golfers, you end up getting worse before you get better and you are generally are very successful at your lesson then try repeating your lesson on the course which can be frustrating. Krause told me to take around 100 swings a day between lessons one and two and I am doing just that. Bob is excellent at what he does and I recommend that you get some swing analysis advice whether you just need a half a turn of the screwdriver or you need a game overhaul.

Call or contact Bob Krause at

Bob Krause
Director of InstructionTelephone:(941)773-1339
E-mail: Contact Bob Krause

Now for Brentwood C.C.

This 6400 yard course from the Green Tees is a beautiful yet hard to find course in Commerce Township. I will make it simple. Take M-59 west to Bogey Lake Road and make a left. Take Bogey Lake Road about two miles to Cedar Island Road and make a right (just before the sharp left at Lakeland High School). Cedar Island about a mile on a dirt road to Havenwood Rd. The signs take you to the clubhouse and you are there.  I have played this course several times over the years and really enjoy the layout. It is carved out in a golf course community and the four different tee boxes give golfers a varied look depending on which set of tees you use during your round.  I would like to thank Barry Krause (I am not sure if he is related to Bob) is the general manager and I would like to thank him and his staff for their hospitality.

I really enjoy this course. The neighbors are friendly when you hit a ball near their property and the homes are beautiful and life is good for those that can afford to live there.

There is one word of advice to most men. Play the green tees. They are only 6400 yards. Playing from the gold or senior tees is only 5124 yards. That is less than 300 yards per hole so like the commercial says, “man up.” Remember those swing changes I spoke about above? They came into play all day and it started on my first tee shot.

The first hole is a 404 yard par four with a pond to the right side. Trees line the left side and I think I hit most of them. The rain we had lately made the course seem like it was 7000 plus yards and I decided to use my hybrid from an impossibly tough lie behind a tree. I could have made the shot but chipping it out was the right play. I did not listen to my inner golfer and had tree trouble for three total shots and missed a chip. I ended up with an eight here and I turned a good par hole into a hot mess. Golfers, my advice is to play your surest club off the tee. The green is tricky but large enough for you to put on the green, one or two putt and move on.

I just love the fourth hole. This 532 yard par five is a real birdie opportunity if you put your drive in play. Most golfers will cut plenty of distance off this hole by shooting it over the bog that is inbounds and land it on the fairway. If you can bomb it off the tee, you could carry it over the fairway into the rough and could bring trouble into play. A well-placed second shot could put you on the green in two. Remember, you could cut 75 to 100 yards off the distance of the hole with a good drive. A poorly placed second shot will put you in a small pond guarding the green (about 70 yards out) and there are bunkers that will give you a day at the beach in front and to the sides of this green. The putt is tricky so make sure you do not turn a one putt into a three putt.

The fifth hole is a 319 yard par four. From the tee box it looks like you have a large bailout area to the left. Do not be tempted as it is staked as out-of-bounds and is part of the neighborhood. Why are you hitting it over there? You shouldn’t. The fairway is wide and hitting it gives you a real good look at the pin.

The seventh hole is another dandy. It is a mouth watering 310 yard par four with tree trouble to the left and a neighborhood that you can easily reach with an errant shot. Luckily, I hit a so-so tee shot down the middle and did not have to worry about either. When I get my game back after a five-year layoff and this swing change, hitting it in front of the green is very possible. The only thing is there is plenty of sand that is not noticeable from the tee. If you have any choice on where to play your second shot, hit it below the pin. The green slopes from the back to the front and what a shame to see a GIR turn into a three putt and a bogey when you played the hole well except for where you placed your wedge or short iron.

The eighth hole is a 479 dogleg par five. The hole is not long for a par five but it has a risk reward tee shot. You can have a nice drive and it can carry into the woods or hit a three wood and have a great look at the hole. The woods and a marsh guard the hole all the way down the left so should avoid it if at all possible. The green rolls true so a wedge or short iron should give you a good place to putt your third shot. If you go for it in two, a miss will make you good friends with a pair of bunkers that are guarding the hole.

The ninth hole is a dandy as you will have an audience from people getting ready to tee off on ten, checking out a cart or from those at a party or wedding reception. From the green tees it is only 130 yards and the green is not deep but horizontal.  Club selection is the optimum word here. One club too much and you go into a pond behind the hole and one shot short and you are in the water that guards it in front. The ladies have only 78 yards to make the green here. You can make a putt here and make a birdie and hopefully the wind will be dormant so you can do just that.

The back nine has some fun holes and good tests of golf. The 374 yard par four 10^th will force you to carry over a marsh. If you hit it in there it is out of bounds so do not go three off the tee. Once you get over the march (hopefully in one), the fairway is wide but if you hook it right, there are a cluster of trees that could make it a mess of a hole for an errant drive. The green rolls true so get it anywhere close and you should one or two putt with a solid effort.

The 569 yard par five 13^th is a golf hole that allows you to see how your long game is coming around. There is a wide fairway in front of you so any drive from left to center is all good and will leave you with a wide open second shot. The second shot once again has a wide fairway and if you do drive it in the rough you still have a great shot at the green. Some holes you play well and some you do not. I can assure you that I have been very good on this hole as it plays to my golf game and I am sure readers will tell you the same.

The par four 453 yard 14^th is a tough hole as evidence of its number one handicap rating. I usually do not look at scorecards until after I look at a hole but I can tell you that hitting the fairway is important. I went right and my tee shot (inconsistent after my long layoff and 30 mile-per-hour wind straight into my face. I snapped it onto the men’s tee box on the 15^th. What a mistake. A drop and a less than stellar second shot left me 50 yards short of the green. I ended up with a six after a chunked chip and a two put and I had a six here. This in my mind was set up by a poor tee shot.

I have always enjoyed playing the 16^th hole. It is a par five 506 yard hole with a pair of bunkers and a severe slop guarding the green. Hitting it in the slope will give you a blind pitch. While any hole can be easy as golf holes go by hitting it long and down the middle, you have room to play on the tee shot straight or down the left side. The second shot could put you on the green but remember, the bunkers and the dip are speed bumps for the golfers that go for the green in two.

The 17^th hole par three, is a 156 yard hole that seems like a relief due to the two par fives and 235 yard par three over the last four holes preceding the 17^th.  The green is large enough to hit and a low iron should do it. You should plan on paring this hole if you are playing for skins or a tournament at this club. Anything less and you will lose your friendly wager or a shot to the field.

I have always enjoyed playing this course. I played it before it officially opened in the late 1990’s when I was in the mortgage business and I have always considered it a fun course. The front nine in particular is challenging as you play in and around the neighborhood. The back nine is 3400 yards and you need to bring you’re A game. Your B game is good enough on some of the back nine but I suggest that you enjoy yourself and having yourself a ‘pop’ from the beverage girl.

The clubhouse is beautiful and has been recently remodeled and if you are looking at scheduling a party or wedding, talk to the Brentwood staff for rates and availability.  I DJ’d some weddings there before retiring from that business as well and it is a good place to take pictures, have an elegant affair and is a good place for golfers and party goers to have fun and not get into each other’s way.

The course is well marked as many sprinkler heads are marked and there are 150 yard markers to help you find your way. For tee times, call 248-684-2662.

My next blog will be on Sanctuary Lake in Rochester Hills, Michigan.