One of our local courses, Green Oaks, substituted United States flags for the regular ones this holiday weekend.

Very nice.

Living in Ann Arbor, I’m used to seeing the skies on autumn Saturdays full of airplanes carrying advertising banners. The Goodyear blimp practically has a second home here, for it’s always in the air over the University of Michigan’s stadium

But I’ve never seen aerial advertising at a golf tournament:

During Thursday’s opening round, Mediate’s attention was momentarily diverted to an airplane flying overhead, carrying a conspicuous banner.

“I look up and see the plane,” he said. “And then I see something strange. ‘Did I just see my name on that?’ It was pretty cool.”

The banner read “Guts. Passion. Fun. Thanks, Rocco.”

Callaway, Mediate’s equipment supplier, arranged the aerial tribute.

“I’ve never seen anything like that for anybody at a tournament,” he said. “I didn’t know they were doing it until they told me (Thursday) and then I saw it again (Friday). It’s crazy, but I’m so appreciative of all the support I’ve gotten since that day. The fans have been great. It’s been wild.”

Rocco’s hanging around for the weekend. He’s not winning because he’s 10 shots back and choking fumes from sheer exhaustion. But his persistent smile can break the gloom from an otherwise nondescript tournament.

Full story in Detroit Free Press.

Here’s a first. At the New Rogell golf course in Detroit, it’s more expensive to walk than to ride. In trying to book a tee time, I was told that 18 holes is $15 riding, and $22 walking.

I didn’t believe it, so I asked the clerk to repeat herself.

It turns out she wasn’t kidding.

“If you want to walk, it’ll cost you more than riding,” she said. “So I suggest you ride.”

I said no thanks; I’ll find another course.

The Majestic at Lake Walden
Hartland, Michigan
Livingston County

Overall Grade: B+
Value: B
Walkability: E
Course Conditions: A
Course Design: A
Practice Facility: ?
Food: C nothing fancy.
Teacher’s Comments: A nice woodlands course.

When I’m pining for an “Up North” style woodlands course, but don’t have the time to make the four or five hour drive, I’ve found that there are a couple of very good more local options: The Grande in Jackson, and Moose Ridge in South Lyon.

To that, I’ve added a third: The Majestic at Lake Walden in Hartland.

All three courses are cut through vast acres of forest. Lake Walden is different in that it’s wrapped around a large lake, much of which is visible from the course.

I found it to be a beautiful course, with plenty of golfing challenges.

There actually are three sets of nines at the Majestic. I played 1-18.

From the blues on the first 18, the course measures 6385 with a course rating of 70.9 and a 130 slope.

As you can see from the yardage and course rating, it’s not a particularly difficult course. But it does require a good deal of strategy. Bomb and gouge is not the best strategy at the Majestic. Instead, you need to work to yardages and locations.

I ran up a fairly high score on my round, primarily because I was having difficulty judging the correct clubs for the different distances. This is a course where local knowledge is at a premium. On a second playing—and I will be going back—I expect to shoot a much lower number.

Course conditions were generally very good—although on a few holes in low lying swampy areas, the fairways were soggy. A couple of the greens also needed some work.

The course’s layout is a bit unusual in that it doesn’t return to the clubhouse at the turn. There is, however, a decent restroom with actual plumbing after number nine.

It was an exceedingly hot day when I played, and about halfway through the round, a course staff member pulled up in a cart to offer a cool, wet towel. Nice touch.

My favorite hole was the par 5 second. Measuring 494 yards from tbe blues, it requires a medium length carry from the tee to a ridge opposite. The fairway carries across a plateau, and about 140 from the green, dips suddenly downward. From the bottom, it requires one, perhaps two clubs more than usual.

I love a hole like that, because I love to hit my three wood from the fairway. It was fun to watch the ball arc up into the air, and then disappear from sight into the ravine. (I know, it’s weird).

My only complaint, and it’s one that can’t be helped, is that it’s a walking only couse. The distances from green to tee, and the elevation changes require a cart. Still, I have to give them my usual downgrade for not being walking friendly.

If you’re in the area, visit The Majestic at Lake Walden. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.

Take a photo tour of The Majestic at Lake Walden.

I set off today with my trusty old Michigan golf course guidebook and my GPS to find a new track to play. I decided on one called Marion Oaks, which was described as a walking friendly course, with lots of beautiful wildflowers.

I should have known something was up when it didn’t’ turn up in my GPS’ database.

The gate was barred, the course overgrown. Closed. Apparently, permanently.

No sign of a housing development yet, but that’s what usually happens. It’s right across the street from a high school, so when the housing market settles out, I expect that instead of wild flowers, the course will start blooming ticky-tacky McMansions.

Sad.