An article in the Cincinnati Enquirer lists Michigan as the Fall Golf Mecca.

They’re right. If you haven’t played here, shame on you.

Gauss’ Green Valley Golf Course
Jackson, Michigan
(517) 764-0270

Overall Grade: A
Value: A ($15 - $36, depending on time and day)
Course Conditions: B
Course Design: B-
Walkability: A
Practice Facility: B
Food: B nothing fancy.
Teacher’s Comments: If you wander on down to Jackson, Michigan, it’s worth seeking out.

Gauss’ Green Valley offers a pleasant round of golf on a mature and well kept course. It’s got an “old school” resort feel and has been owned by the same family for nearly fifty years The holes have names like Hidden Valley, Scottish Trail, and Crater Hole.

I think it’s a must play for those who enjoy older, parkland layouts.

A caveat: although the track has the regulation 18, I still think it’s a hole shy of a complete course.

Leslie Park Golf Course
Ann Arbor, Michigan

Overall Grade: C+
Value: A ($15 - $42, depending on time and day)
Course Conditions: C+
Course Design: B
Walkability: C+
Practice Facility: E
Food: B nothing fancy.
Teacher’s Comments: A good course.

2007 Update: I’ve been told by several people that course conditions at Leslie Park are now very bad. One said that he won’t go back. A result of budget cutbacks in Ann Arbor?

Leslie Park is one of two municipal courses in Ann Arbor—and it is by far the better of the two (although the other, Huron Hills, has its charms).

Playing at 6591 yards from the back tees, and with a rating/slope of 71.9/127, Leslie Park has the firepower to challenge better golfers. And yet, bogey golfers need not fear: the course plays nearly 800 yards shorter from the whites.

Rustic Glen Golf Course
Saline Michigan

Overall Grade: C+
Value: C ($21 - $37)
Walkability: A
Course Conditions: C+
Course Design: C+
Practice Facility: B
Food: B - nothing fancy.
Teacher’s Comments: You won’t mistake this for a premium course, but it’s fun nonetheless.

I had fun at Rustic Glen.

There aren’t any particularly memorable holes. Course conditions were merely adequate. And the routing can sometimes be confusing. It is frankly, not a great course.

But I had fun. And if you’re looking for a cheap and relaxing round of golf, I think you will too.

Rustic Glenn is a farm course, laid out on land adjacent to US 12 six miles west of Saline. The original nine were constructed some thirty years ago; the second in 1999.

The course has a good mix of holes. Some take you across open fields, others through thin woods. There are uphill and downhill tee shots and forced carries. Some require target golf; others are “grip ‘em and rip ‘em.”

Pierce Lake Golf Course
Chelsea, Michigan

Overall Grade: A
Value: A ($25 - $45)
Walkability: A
Course Conditions: A
Course Design: A
Practice Facility: D
Food: C - There’s more real food at a 7-11..
Teacher’s Comments: A tough course that will test your skills.

If you want to test your skills as a golfer, look no further than Washtenaw County’s Pierce Lake golf course. The woods, hills, valleys, creeks and swamps—and there are plenty of swamps—require good shotmaking and imagination.. 

The course measures 6917 yards from the back tees and plays to a rating/slope of 72.5/135. Fortunately, there are five sets of tees—the mid tees measure 6152 with a 69.8/127 rating/sl
ope. A friendly word of warning: do not overplay your hand. Use the tees that reasonably fit your game or it will be a very long day (and you will lose a bunch of balls).