Dan Perry

I was fortunate enough to play a round of golf at Medinah Country Club, and bring two friends along. I immediately thought of my uncle Torrin, who is a very good golfer (4 handicap), plus a really good person. (He’s an uncle, but there’s only about 8 years between us; long, boring family tree story). I also brought a friend (John) who is as ridiculously addicted as I am. He recently took his Dad to TPC Sawgrass, so I knew he’d be in.

I arrived plenty early. Our tee time was at 7:24 a.m. (appreciated that tee times were 12 minutes apart; only 6 groups/hour makes for a relaxing round, with no one pushing, and very few waits on the tee.) I arrived over an hour early, so I had plenty of time on the range, and time to (attempt to) get ready for the greens. Hey, this is MEDINAH; I wanted to soak it in.

As I pulled in to the valet in front of the pro shop, I dropped off my car, and they took my clubs and sent me to the locker room to change. I was only there for a few minutes when John appeared (see; told you he was as hooked as I am). We hopped in a cart, and were off to the range.

Felt really good on the range, and the whole time I was there Torrin was texting me his location. He arrived about 15 minutes later. We met the member we were playing with (who had a very low handicap, so Torrin was riding with him). He also warmed up, and we were off to the putting green in front of the clubhouse for some short game practice.

It’s hard to explain just how fast the greens were. I don’t know the specific Stimp number, but I can say that I’ve never experienced greens this fast. Clearly, being below the hole for an uphill putt was going to be paramount here.

Just before we teed off, Mark took a picture of Torrin, me and John, with the clubhouse in the background. I don’t want to get all sappy and sentimental, but it is a moment I’ll never forget. The place truly reeks of history.

There were only two sets of tee markers set up when we were ready to tee off. We chose the back set (Silver). They played to just over 7,000 yards (the scorecard reads 7,009.) When the pros were there for the 2006 PGA Championship (and the 2012 Ryder Cup), they play to around 7,560. All I got is “Wow”.

It’s hard to choose which holes to describe here, because honestly, they all have value in their own way, so I think I’m going to pick out the ones that I thought were just above and beyond (and probably the ones I shot a decent score on.) Also, in most of my Flickr sets, you’ll notice that I took a picture of the tee sign to designate (and remember) which hole I was on. The #3 course didn’t have any tee signs; you just know.

The first hole is one of the shortest par 4’s on the course (382 from the Silver.) The smart play is to hit to an area about even with the bunker on the left, to avoid having a downhill second into the green. I hit it into the bunker on the left, had a tough lie getting out, and left myself about 100 to the flag. The green was back right, but I hit my approach to the fat side of the green and two-putted for a 5. Very happy with that.

The second is an all-carry par three (3 of the 4 par three’s are all carry, over water). It’s only 167 yards, so not a total monster, but long enough. When my wife and I came here to watch the PGA Championship in 2006, we sat under a group of trees to the right of the green, and watched about 20 groups hit into this green. (It was interesting seeing Tiger’s throng come down #1 fairway, then to #2 tee, and #2 green; an absolute mob.) In the following picture, the building on the left is the gun club.

The fifth is the shortest par 5 on the course at 510 yards (from the Silver tees.) 510 doesn’t seem too long, except when you realize that your second shot (and probably third) are straight uphill. Easily a three shot par 5 for me.

The 7th hole, a 577 yard par 5, was a true monster. Impossible to go for in two to most players, the tee shot is up the right, with a second that positions you correctly for your third. Although the entire hole is beautiful in its own way, the green, and the bunkering around it, really make for an interesting hole. Looking back, I would’ve given the approach more respect on this hole. The green is raised, and surrounded. Believe it or not, I parred this hole. It was my first par of the day.

The 8th is a 178 yard par 3 (and the only par 3 that isn’t all-carry over water), and I hit my tee shot to within 15 feet. Of course, I missed the birdie, but I did tap-in for two pars in a row. My confidence was at an all-time high, but that was quickly about to change.

The 12th is a 456 yard par 4, and everything (and I mean everything) slopes to the right. The shot is up the left side, because it’s going to trickle down; no doubt. The approach is also a toughie; there’s water on the right, and everything slopes towards it. Here’s a shot of the fairway, and one of the green. It’s not me tilting the camera; it all goes right.

Thirteen is a 181 yard par 3 (the pro tees are at 244; ouch). Again, all-carry over the river, but what a view. To the left you could see the 17th green and 14th fairway. This was probably one of the most picture-perfect spots on the course, and everyone who had a camera broke it out.

The fourteenth was playing 547 yards, with your tee shot uphill. What a great design to this par 5. The green was heavily guarded (surprise, surprise), and if I remember correctly, it was one of the few greens that didn’t slope back to front. That of course, put more pressure on a well-executed approach. I plopped it into a bunker in the right, and was lucky to walk away with a snowman.

And the approach to the green:

The sixteenth is the “Sergio Hole”. For those that remember, this is the hole where Sergio was stuck behind a tree, and he closed his eyes and swung as hard as he could, and after hitting the ball, ran up the hill to see where it landed. Mark (the member) said this was rated as one of the toughest par 4’s in the country. I believe it. This shot is from the top of the hill. When Sergio hit his shot, it was completely blind.

If you view this picture in a larger format, you’ll see a tee in the ground, denoting the spot Sergio’s ball was when he hit it. It really was the shot of a lifetime.

The seventeenth is a par 3 that plays to 160 yards, and is rated as the easiest hole on the course. The funny thing is that I took my biggest score on this hole. I’d prefer not to share the actual number, but for handicap’s sake, let’s just say I easily took the maximum.

This is one of my favorite pictures from the entire course. It shows the seventeenth tee shot, seventeenth green, and 18th tee. If you look at in a large version (available by clicking through to Flickr), you can also see a bit of the clubhouse at the end of 18.

From the 18th tee, you know the clubhouse is coming, and it’s so awesome (word is over used, but it fits perfectly here) that you get an anticipation for it. What I wasn’t prepared for was the flagpole behind the 18th green. For whatever reason, I didn’t really notice it all round. After seeing it now, I have no idea how I didn’t see it before.

Lunch was included, so we all went to the locker room and got cleaned up a little, then met in the bar, which overlooks the #1 and #2 courses, as well as the members pool, which was packed. I ordered a beer on tap (Fat Tire for you aficionados), and it came in what was easily the coldest glass I’ve ever had a beer in. It was so great, I had to switch to the macro lens on my camera to snap a shot.

As we were getting ready for lunch (I ordered a BBQ pork with Provolone), a member from another foursome offered to give us a tour of the clubhouse. Done and done! (There are multiple pictures of the clubhouse on Flickr, and only a few here, so feel free to look around there when you’re done with the review.)

There was memorabilia everywhere. This display case was near the men’s locker room.

There was a sitting area for members above the bar/lounge where we had lunch, with great views of the courses.

As we were nearing the front of the clubhouse, the member mentioned that when they redid the clubhouse a few years ago, they pulled the carpet up from the main area, and found this underneath. How cool is that?

Here’s a picture of the inside of the rotunda (this is looking straight up).

And these two are directly underneath it, taken at different angles.

There was a room off to the side that may be used for plays or skits of some sort. I was too busy taking pictures to be able to listen, but I do know the room was exceptional.

And:

We went up and looked at the private dining rooms, then worked out way back down to our waiting lunches. After we finished, we went to the pro shop, where I, how do I put this… bent some plastic. The good thing is that my Christmas shopping is already done for my Dad and Father-in-law!

As I pulled out of the club, and onto Medinah Rd., I slammed my car in park, hopped out and took one more shot of the entrance. I don’t think I need to “review” this course. It is a classic, and I was lucky and honored to play it. Having the luxury of enjoying it with family and friends only made it better. My life is pretty damn good.

Other Illinois Golf Course Reviews:

North Course, Eagle Ridge Resort, Galena, Illinois
Foxford Hills Golf Club, Cary, Illinois
Cantigny Golf Course, Wheaton, Illinois
Big Run Golf Club, Lockport, Illinois
Highland Woods Golf Course, Hoffman Estates, Illinois
Harborside International Golf, Port Course, Chicago, Illinois
The General Golf Course, Eagle Ridge Resort, Galena, Illinois
Makray Memorial Golf Club, Barrington, Illinois
Poplar Creek Country Club, Hoffman Estates, Illinois
Whisper Creek Golf Club, Huntley, Illinois

Return to the Golf Course Reviews Homepage.

I had the pleasure of attending the Vintage Tub and Bath party during Internet Retailer this year in Chicago at Fogo de Chao. One of the sponsors (Range Online Media) had set cubes of cards at various places on the tables. When we sat down to eat, I happened to be sitting near one, so I grabbed it and opened it up. It was full of interesting questions to pose to a crowd, in an attempt to create conversations and discussion. Here’s a picture of the deck of cards (for your own deck, visit Custom Topics):

The folks in my area went through the deck of cards and answered some as time allowed, but I thought it was interesting enough that I brought the deck home.

I found it buried under some paperwork in the home office last night, and decided to answer the questions and post them, in the hopes that others would do the same.

Feel free to copy/paste the questions, and post them in your blog, and answer them in your own way. Also, link back here if you like, but don’t feel obligated. Finally, if you do post these, leave a response with a link to your post so I can see your responses too. This was a really fun exercise, so I hope others join in!

Without further adieu, here are the questions and my personal answers.

What classic car would you like to own? 1968 GTO

What are you a snob about? Alcohol (Gin, Vodka and Whiskey, but not really beer)

If you could own a second home where would it be? On a golf course within driving distance.

If you could be great at one sport which would you choose? Golf

What animal would you love to have as a pet? Hobbes, from Calvin and Hobbes

Whose life do you find most inspiring? My stepmother’s. She’s worked her butt off all of her life, and still isn’t anywhere near easy street, but I’ve never seen her sad, disappointed, or with a “woe is me” attitude. Wow.

Who was the best teacher you’ve had? Mr. Keyes, senior year in HS, English; he made me think about something more than grades.

What’s your favorite junk food? Taco Bell

If you had one year to live what would you do differently? Stop saving and start spending!

What’s your favorite candy? Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups

Which era of history would you choose to live in other than the present? The Roaring 20’s.

If you could spend one week at any hotel which one would you choose? The Carriage House at the American Club, Kohler, Wisconsin (honeymooned there, and am impressed every time I walk in the door.)

Which mystery or unsolved case would you like to know the truth about? Who shot JFK?

Do you have any superstitions? Not really

What’s your favorite philanthropy or cause? Anything to help Public Libraries

Who has the best voice you’ve ever heard? Andrea Bocelli. For rock music, the lead singer from Queensryche (Geoff Tate), hands down.

What’s your ultimate vacation? 2-3 weeks with the wife golfing through England, Scotland, and Ireland.

What movie made you laugh until you cried? Napoleon Dynamite, but only after watching it 3 times.

What advice would you appreciate from a happy and successful octogenarian? What’s the secret(s) to a happy marriage?

What’s the best meal your mom cooks? Tater tot casserole

If you could go back to childhood and buy yourself one thing what would it be? A ridiculously generic domain name.

What’s your biggest pet peeve? People that chew with their mouth open

What was the best TV sitcom ever? Seinfeld/That 70’s Show – Tie.

What’s your favorite scent? Freshly cut grass

Which pet is the favorite of any you’ve had? Buddy the cat

What’s your favorite month of the year? September. My anniversary, football starts, Chili and Soup are back in season, and golf is still good, only less expensive.

Who’s the greatest athlete that ever lived? Tiger Woods will be, but I’d say Secretariat.

If you could only read one magazine which one would you subscribe to? Easy; Consumer Reports.

What would you like to learn to do on your computer? Web programming, in a SEO-friendly way.

What’s your ideal weekly schedule? 5 day workweek, one or two days from home.

What are five things every visitor to this country should see? Snow on Christmas Day, the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, a drive through New England in the Fall when the trees are changing colors, a sunset over the Pacific Ocean, and the Florida Keys.
If you could ride any animal which would you choose? A whale

If you could have dinner anywhere in the world which restaurant would you choose? Toque, in Montreal (had dinner there once with my wife, and it was my first true “experience” dining. Never forget that.

What’s the most difficult habit you’ve tried to break? Stopping eating when I’m near full, rather than finishing my plate, like I was raised to do.

What have you learned this week? I have a better life than I thought I would have at this point in life.

If you could take only one CD for a cross-country roadtrip, which would you choose? If it were summer, a pre-1980 Van Halen CD, ladies choice. If it were winter, Pink Floyd’s The Wall, Rush’s Exit Stage Left or Queensryche’s Empire, in that order.

What chore would you love to never do again? Clean the kitty litter box.

What kid’s toy have you always wanted? Jarts

If you could spend the day with any celebrity whom would you choose? Krusty the Clown from the Simpsons

What was your first job? Washing dishes at Ruth’s Anchor Inn.

See, I told you it was fun. Now it’s your turn; copy/paste the questions, answer them yourself, and leave a link in the comments. I can’t wait!

Before moving to Michigan, I considered Manistee National Golf and Resort my “home” course. In fact, I was a member when it was only 18 holes, and known as Cobi Pines. Now it’s flourished into a 36-hole facility with an Inn and a restaurant. The original 18 was later renamed Canthooke Valley, which is the subject of this review. Of all the golf courses I’ve reviewed, I’ve easily played this one the most (at least 60 times).

Manistee National (the Canthooke Valley) isn’t a monster, but it is 6,517 yards from the Blues, which I normally play. Honestly, that’s plenty long. The course starts out with a bang; a 439 yard par 4. Luckily, the tee shot is downhill, so you’ll gain some yardage. Try to be on the right-side of the fairway. It will help your approach, by missing a large tree in front of the left-side of the green.

The second is a short par 4. Keep it in the fairway, and you should have a potential birdie, easy par. The third is a 519 yard par 5 that is potentially reachable, but the tee shot has to be a boomer. From the tee, you want to brush the trees on the left-hand side. I’d suggest taking your cart past the tee before hitting so you can see the angle of the fairway.

If it’s hit well you’ll be able to go for it in two, and miss out on the dip in the fairway from about 150 – 100 yards in. If you have to make it a three shot par 5, be prepared for an uphill third, and note where the pin is on the green.

The fourth hole is an all-carry par 3. There is another well-placed tree on the left side of the green, so be careful. If the pin is behind it, don’t even think of going for the flag; play it safe, and hang it out to the right side of the green for a two-putt.

Also, try not to be long here. The day we played it, one of the members of our group (who will remain nameless; OK it was me), hit it past the green, and while looking for the ball, we found this.

The fifth is a 447 yard par 4, and the #1 handicap hole on the course. The tee shot needs to hug the left-hand side AND be very long. The fairway gets really thin near the landing area, so be sure to hit it up the left. Otherwise, you’re going to be in a hollow at best, or OB at worst. Being up the left also gives you a better approach, taking a row of pines out of play.

The seventh epitomizes a feature that comes into play on multiple holes on this course; the importance of tee shot placement. On this hole, you HAVE to be on the right-hand side of the fairway to have any chance of going for the green in regulation. There’s lots of room, so feel free let it fly. Here’s a picture of the approach from the right side. If you were left, you can see that you’d have a collection of pines to deal with, potentially causing you to chip out.

The eighth is what one would assume is a reachable par 5, at only 519 yards. The difficulty is that the green is severely uphill, and the green is two-tiered, making the approach distance very important. I’d suggest making it a three-shotter, only to ensure good placement of the shot to the green. If you’re on the wrong tier, this is an easy hole for a 3-jack.

The tenth is also a par 5 that may be reachable, but if your tee shot stays on the high side of the fairway, and doesn’t trickle down to the lower-level, when you look around for a sprinkler head, you may find this one. One of my favorite sprinkler heads ever!

Twelve is a “meaty” par 4, weighing in at 444 yards. The hole is relatively straight, but not from the direction of the tee. If you’re not playing the Blues, be sure to walk up to that tee to see the entire hole. This will help you direct your tee shot (which should brush the pines on the left.) No trouble on this hole; it’s just very long.

The fourteenth is a favorite of the local players. If your driver is on, it is reachable, even though it weighs in at 340 yards. There is nothing wrong with playing this as a regular par 4, but if you’re feeling strong with the driver (and accurate), go for it. As long as you clear the bunker, and keep between the pines, you’ll have a chip for an approach and a potential birdie.

The 16th is another hole where you have to be on the correct side of the fairway to have any chance of hitting the green in regulation. On this hole, aim for the right side. The fairway dips right about where you’re tee shot is going to land, but if it looks good from the tee, you’ll be fine. That should leave you about 160+ to the green. A par here is all good.

The 17th is another all-carry par 3. It’s only 143 from the Blues, so distance isn’t the issue; control is. The green has a bunker in the front and left side, and a steep hill behind it, leaving the only bail short and right. The green isn’t too large, so anything that lands on it is a potential birdie. Easily one of the prettiest holes in Manistee County.

Canthooke Valley finishes on a great risk-reward hole. This par 4 is only 324 from the tips, but you have to carry a lake, and there’s lots of trouble if you miss the fairway. For the best approach, you actually want to be on the left side of the fairway, which is hard to do. If you’re shooting a great round, use a 5 or 6-iron to the fat part of the fairway, but if you’re playing skins and it’s tied, or if there’s some money on the line, go for it. This is the perfect finishing hole, as far as I’m concerned.

The two courses at Manistee National are both challenging in their own ways. Cutters’ Ridge is more of a resort course, while Canthooke Valley is more of a course you could play every day (which I used to do). If you’re ever in Northwestern Michigan, I strongly suggest playing both courses at Manistee National. I have never been disappointed, and I’ll bet that you won’t be either.

Other Michigan Golf Course Reviews:

Heather Golf Course, Boyne Highlands, Harbor Springs, Michigan
Bay Harbor Golf Club, Bay Harbor, Michigan
Fazio Premier, Treetops Resort, Gaylord, Michigan
The Heathlands, Onekama, Michigan
Hemlock Golf Club, Ludington, Michigan
Arcadia Bluffs Golf Course, Arcadia, Michigan
Arthur Hills Golf Course, Boyne Highlands, Harbor Springs, Michigan
The Bear Golf Course, Grand Traverse Resort, Acme, Michigan

Return to the Golf Course Reviews Homepage.

The North Course at Eagle Ridge Resort may not get the press that The General does, but it is still a test of golf, and a course that should definitely be played if you’re every in Galena, or staying at the Eagle Ridge Resort. We played all three and found something to like about each one.

The North Course starts right out the back door of the clubhouse. The first hole is fully in view, and relatively easy (369 from the back tees). Readers know that I’m a fan of “warm-up” holes, and this course doesn’t disappoint with its opening, short dogleg right.

The second hole is a meandering par 5, that may be reachable, but not for me. The approach to the green is all uphill, so I’d suggest making it a 3-shot par 5, and try to start par-par (or possible birdie).

The 4th is a lengthy, 204-yard par 3. Luckily, you’re better short than long here, and the green is slightly raised. Definitely try to stick it, but being short isn’t the end of the world either.

The 5th is a short par 5 that is potentially reachable, but the tee shot and approach are both uphill, so plan on taking extra clubs here. Be careful not to go long as you approach into the green; there isn’t a lot of room for error behind the green. Fortunately, there is room to bail to the right of the green, so if your chipping game is on, it may be the right play. Here are pictures of the tee shot, and approach, respectively.

The 7th is a 402 yard par 4, but don’t worry; this hole is entirely down-hill. From the tee, you can see a little bit of the lake, but as you near your approach (and eventually the green), it comes into full view. This is one of the best views on the course, so have your camera ready!

The 8th is a very scenic par 3, with some of the best bunkering of the entire Eagle Ridge Resort.

Once you’re on the 8th green, you may see some boaters or fisherman. The day we were there, it was fisherman, and they were so close we could’ve reached out and touched them.

Eleven is a 533-yard par 5, with an elevated tee shot. If your driver is working, Fire at will. It’s one of those holes where you feel like the ball will go a mile.

Thirteen is a relatively tough par three (for me, anyways), mainly because it requires a mid-iron (185 yards from the Black), yet the green is surrounded by bunkers, forcing you to stick it. Easier said then done. There is a little room to bail (front-left and back-right), but not a lot, so take a little extra time focusing on this tee shot.

Fifteen is another great par 5 (If you haven’t noticed, I like the par 5’s on this course.) This is the longest one at 566 yards, but the approach into the green is downhill by quite a bit. It’s not reachable for me, but if you plan a three-shotter, the second shot should be left at about 135 or more. If not, you may have a very steep, downhill lie. Here, you can see the 150 yard stake in the fairway, and the drop-off to the4 green.

The finishing hole is actually pretty easy (Handicap = 14), which is a little disappointing to me, but not the end of the world. Hit a strong drive up the left side, and you should have a pretty good approach to the pin. Lots of bunkers, but by this time of the round, you should be as precise as you’re going to get, so go for the flag.

We discussed the three courses at Eagle Ridge, and if we could only play one, it would be The General. If it were only two, it would be The General and the South Course, with this course coming in third. The third place designation is not by a long-shot, by any means, but we both felt this was the least scenic of the three. On a positive note, my wife thought this was the easiest of the three for women, so it may be the right course for you.

Other Illinois Golf Course Reviews:

The General Golf Course, Eagle Ridge Resort, Galena, Illinois
Medinah Country Club, Medinah, Illinois
Cantigny Golf Course, Wheaton, Illinois
Big Run Golf Club, Lockport, Illinois
Highland Woods Golf Course, Hoffman Estates, Illinois
Poplar Creek Country Club, Hoffman Estates, Illinois
Makray Memorial Golf Club, Barrington, Illinois
Foxford Hills Golf Club, Cary, Illinois
Harborside International Golf, Port Course, Chicago, Illinois
Whisper Creek Golf Club, Huntley, Illinois

Return to the Golf Course Reviews Homepage.

I love The Heathlands golf course in Onekama, Michigan. There really isn’t another way to put it. When you combine the cost, terrain, views, and difficulty, it is easily one of the best courses I’ve ever played. It is one of those undiscovered treasures that seem to go unnoticed. It’s only about 10-15 minutes south of Arcadia Bluffs, and a half hour north of Manistee National, so if you’re ever in the area (Northwest Michigan) have a look for yourself.

My Dad and I on the 15th green

The second is a straight-forward par 3, but on the third, the fun really starts. It’s a 559 yard par 5 that is almost reachable, if you cut enough of the corner. The tee shot looks like you should aim straight, but before you hit, take the cart just past the women’s tee, and see how far to the right you can hit your ball. You’ll probably be aiming over the trap and bush on the right-side of the tee. The fairway is fat, so swing away. The green is very tight (which forces me to make it a 3-shotter), with bunkers in the front, and OB behind it.

On 4, the tee shot is all about placement. Do what you can to reach the flat area of the fairway but be warned; a driver may be too much. If you leave it on the hill, you may have an approach that looks like this.

The fifth is a 445 yard par 4, which is the #2 handicap hole on the course. Driver for sure here, and stay up the left-side to catch the downslope, but don’t land in the left bunker.

Your approach (which is almost blind) can be a bit long if needed, because this green is HUGE. It’s two-tiered, but it’s better (for me anyway) to be long here than short, and in the bunker guarding the front of the green.

The 6th is a par 5, but with a hammer for a tee shot, is reachable. Like the third hole, the green is really guarded, with a bunker in front and OB behind it, but don’t let that scare you.

The 7th is another fun hole that is a severe dog leg to the right. Seasoned players (of this course) may go for the green by cutting the corner and hitting a huge cut, but for the rest of us, hit a 200-220 yard shot into the middle of the landing area.

This should leave you around 100 to the green, which is uphill. Oh yeah, and you’ll be landing it blind (especially if the pin is in the back), so hit a crisp one here.

#10, #11 and #14 are all short par 4’s (333, 345 and 295 yards, respectively). If you don’t have the 50-75 yard shot in your bag, hit hybrids off the tee, to leave yourself good approaches. They really are all attackable holes, so if you had some pain on the front 9, here’s your chance to make some strokes up. Here are pictures of all three, in order:

Fifteen is THE hole. It’s a downhill par 3, that is easily one of the most scenic holes in the area. (The first picture in this set of my Dad and I was taken on this green.) It’s so far downhill that it’s easily a 2-3 club difference, depending on wind. It’s so dramatic of a shot that you should be happy if you keep it on the green, let alone near the pin. Bring your camera for this one; it’s the best.

The 16th isn’t a long par 4 (360) but it is ALL uphill. Driver is probably fine, but your approach is also uphill, so be sure to adjust for it. Here are a couple pictures of the tee shot, and the approach.

The 18th is an animal; there’s just no other way to say it. It’s the #1 handicap hole on the course, and for good reason. It’s 605 yards from the tips, and absolutely impossible to go for in two, so don’t even think about it. The tee shot is wide open, so go ahead and let it fly.

The second shot should leave you with about 150 in (the water is at about 140 or so, so be sure not to go long on this shot.) Because it will be an uphill, blind shot, you should take a little more club, but don’t take too much, or you’ll be wet. This usually causes players to play safe, which leaves them about 160-170 for their third shot (over water). The green is very large, with multiple undulations. Although I’m sure it’s happened, in the dozens of times I’ve played here, I’ve never seen anyone birdie the 18th. A par is quite an accomplishment here!

As I said, I really love this course. It’s short enough that my Dad doesn’t feel intimidated, it’s scenic enough that my wife loves playing here, and it’s challenging enough to keep me coming back. Plus, it’s as reasonable as it gets (In-season weekend is $65). Now you see why we’re smiling so much!

Kate and I with the 16th hole behind us

Other Michigan Golf Course Reviews:

Heather Golf Course, Boyne Highlands, Harbor Springs, Michigan
Hemlock Golf Club, Ludington, Michigan
Canthooke Valley, Manistee National Golf & Resort, Manistee, Michigan
Fazio Premier, Treetops Resort, Gaylord, Michigan
Bay Harbor Golf Club, Bay Harbor, Michigan
Arcadia Bluffs Golf Course, Arcadia, Michigan
Arthur Hills Golf Course, Boyne Highlands, Harbor Springs, Michigan
The Bear Golf Course, Grand Traverse Resort, Acme, Michigan

Return to the Golf Course Reviews Homepage.

I’ve played Hemlock Golf Club about 4-5 times in the past, but my wife has never played it, so we decided to give it a shot over the 4th of July weekend.

We arrived a bit early for our 10:30 tee time, and actually got to hit the range, practice a few putts, and tee off about a half-hour early. Thanks to the starters for getting us on early – much appreciated.

Oops, before I forget. When we checked in, I noticed about a dozen cans of Deep Woods Off on the counter, and decided they were there for a reason. Heck with the sunscreen; this was WAY more important. It didn’t help that it rained (very hard) the night before. Needless to say, we spent very little time in the shade.

The course starts our easy enough, with a straight-away par 4 that has a slight turn to the left. It’s not the longest hole (438 from tips, but only 413 from the Blues, which I played), but it is a good starting hole. I’ve played courses that start tough from the get-go, and I prefer a few warm-up holes. Here’s a shot form the back of the green towards the tee.

The second is actually a very short par 4, giving the player a chance at birdie/easy par very early in the round. Again, fairly straight, and only measuring 325 from the blues. I’d suggest a hybrid, leaving a 100 yard shot, but you’ll probably blast a driver. I know I did the first time I played it!

The third is another short par 4, this one only 278 from the Blues, but beware; this hole is trouble. There are two landing areas for your tee shot, and they are at different distances from the tee. The fairway is almost two different fairways, depending on where you land (ironically, there is a two-fairway hole coming up.) It’s short, but a par is all good here.

The seventh hole is the opposite of the 2nd and 3rd holes. It’s a loooong par four, playing to 459 from the Blues, into the wind. I thought I hit a pretty good driver, and still had 200+ to the green. Consider making it a 3 shot par 4, instead of trying to kill it on the first or second shot. I should’ve played hybrid, wedge, wedge.

The ninth is a great par 4, with sand bordering the entire right side of the hole. If your driver is on, you can cut a lot of this hole off, leaving less than 140 to the flag. Instead of playing safe to the fat part of the fairway, let one rip over the foliage to the right of the fairway, and if it carries well, you’ll be rewarded.

At the turn, we stopped for a couple sandwiches. As we were waiting, I noticed that on the bar, there was a sign that had been printed and added for a specific type of alcohol. I thought it was just too cool not to take a picture. I think it speaks for itself.

I’ve always thought the back was more interesting (and more of a challenge) than the front. I also think that this is a good thing, because by now, you should be warmed up and ready for it. The tenth starts you right off with a challenge; a large bunker directly in the middle of the fairway. Play up the left if you can.

The 11th is a great par 5 that is potentially reachable (505 yards from the blues), except for the green. This is probably one of the scariest second shots, if you decide to try for it. The green is elevated by at least 20 feet, and is thin, forcing you to stick the approach. In addition, there is a significant bunker that borders 4/5 of the green. A par is possible, if you give it the respect it deserves, and play it as a three-shot par 5. Here’s the view of my third shot.

The twelfth is also a par 5 (that’s right; back-to-back par 5’s), but this one is 564 from the Blues. Also, it is one of the most interesting hole designs I’ve seen. The fairway splits, with a group of large trees in the middle, forcing you to make a choice. If you go left (which you can barely see from the tee), the path is a little wider, and it may give you a view of the green for your third. If you go right, you will definitely have a blind shot for your third, to a very small green. I don’t think I’ve ever parred this hole, but I really do love it. It’s always a challenge.

The 13th is an all-carry, 189 yard par 3. The bunkers in the front are trouble (the wife hit here, and got the fried-egg lie; the ball was almost completely covered.) I hit a strong 6-iron, and actually two-putted for a par. The green is large, so better long than short here.

From the 14th tee, you can’t really see where you need to hit it, but trust me; a driver is fine, if well placed. There is sand up the right-hand side that slopes down towards the fairway, so hit it strong and long right up the middle, and you’ll be rewarded with a short approach.

The 18th is a tricky hole. This is a true dogleg, with the fairway ending, and the hole to the left. Club selection here is key (I chose the wrong one). If you’re too short (like I was), you won’t be able to approach the green, due to tall pines on the left. If you’re too long, you may end up in the junk. I’ve played with guys who will hit driver over the pines on the left, right at the green, or about 50 yards short. If you’re a big hitter, it may be the play for you.

A friend of mine read a few of my reviews, and asked “Why don’t you ever post your score?” I never thought it was a big deal, but since he asked, I’ll start posting going forward. I shot a 91 at Hemlock Golf Club. Not my proudest moment, but considering I hadn’t played here in a few years, I was pretty happy with it.

I’d recommend playing Hemlock Golf Club to anyone. The scenery is great, the course offers up some very challenging holes, and the price is very reasonable. Just remember to bring the Deep Woods Off; you’ll thank me later.

Other Michigan Golf Course Reviews:

Heather Golf Course, Boyne Highlands, Harbor Springs, Michigan
Canthooke Valley, Manistee National Golf & Resort, Manistee, Michigan
Fazio Premier, Treetops Resort, Gaylord, Michigan
Bay Harbor Golf Club, Bay Harbor, Michigan
The Heathlands, Onekama, Michigan
Arcadia Bluffs Golf Course, Arcadia, Michigan
Arthur Hills Golf Course, Boyne Highlands, Harbor Springs, Michigan
The Bear Golf Course, Grand Traverse Resort, Acme, Michigan

Return to the Golf Course Reviews Homepage.

Underneath each image on Flickr, there’s an area to add a Description. If you maximize this space, you have the ability of defining the text under the link in a Google result. If you don’t maximize it (or don’t add enough characters), Flickr fills it for you. Here are a couple examples:

In Flickr, the description for the above photos reads as follows: The first image reads “Harborside International Golf Center, Chicago, Illinois” and the second one reads “Harborside International Golf, Port Course, Chicago, IL”.

You’ll notice that there is some additional text that Flickr is adding to the SERP. In both cases, it reads “Click this icon to see public photos and videos tagged with golf il golf…”. Not the end of the world, but not optimal either.

Now let’s look at an optimized description for an image.

As you’ll see, there was enough text in the description of this image to keep Flickr from adding any of their text. I’m not sure what the threshold is, but one thing is clear:

When it comes to Flickr Descriptions, better too long than too short.

Hope this helps!