Category: Courses
This section is for news about, and reviews of golf courses. If you've played a course and would like to contribute a review, contact the Editor.
Play Golf At Devil’s Lake
Here's the perfect place to play on Halloween: Devil's Lake Golf Course at Manitou Beach, Michigan. For those of you not in the know, a Manitou is an evil American Indian spirit. I played here a few years ago, and found it to be a lot of fun. Built in 1929, it's typical of the older Michigan courses: 18 holes of good, basic golf for a terrific price (I played for under $20).
Golf In Northern Michigan
Every serious golfer has a few things that they want to do before they hang up their soft spikes: experience the Old Course; play Pebble Beach ... or maybe Pine Valley ... ; get a hole in one ... or another hole in one.
I don't know what's on your list, but let me humbly suggest another item: golf Northern Michigan at twilight.
I finished my twilight round tonight at about 10:05 p.m. The picture above was taken behind the 18th green, looking back over the course, just after I holed my putt (click on the picture to see a large version). I began my first round this morning at 7:30 a.m. (I shot a 94 on both rounds). Two rounds in the same day, nearly 15 hours apart. The picture really doesn't show it, but there was probably enough light to play another hole or two.
For my money, nothing beats a Northern Michigan twilight round. The air is cool; the breezes light; the shadows long and lingering. The Indian River Country Club wanders through primeval, cathedral-like pine forest, and in each hole's isolation, you forget that there exists any world outside of the tees, fairways and greens. I'm not given to poetry, but nights like these are poetry in and of themselves.
Its an experience you don't want to miss.
The Most Famous Hole In Golf?
Pinning down golf's most famous holes by Garry Smits, The Florida Times-Union Before the par-3 17th hole of the TPC at Sawgrass Stadium Course pushed its way into the public consciousness through The Players Championship, what hole did PGA Tour players consider the most famous? The answers are in Augusta, Ga., Pebble Beach, Calif., and at the birthplace of golf, in St. Andrews, Scotland. Full StoryWhat's the most famous hole in golf? Thanks to the wall-to-wall tv coverage, I'd have to say Sawgrass #17. It also may be one of the most imitated. Offhand, I can think of half-a-dozen courses in my area that brag about a having a hole like the 17 at TPC. I can't think of any that boast one like the 12th at Augusta or the Road Hole. And, although I can think of two that have holes that have drawn comparisons to Pebble (both in "Up North" Michigan), they aren't in the forefront of consciousness. I don't much like holes like Sawgrass #17, though. There's no thinking involved. Just align your clubface, let it rip and hope for the best. I like a hole that has some more strategic decisions for the player to make.
