Must plays in South Bend, Benton Harbor, Kalamazoo triangle?

[Skeeter]

Headed up July 4 and looking for some course recommendations.

[apprenti23]

Harbor Shores in Benton Harbor is fantastic. Dunes Club in New Buffalo is my GOAT golf experience if you can get on. Lake Michigan Hills, Whittaker Woods, Blackthorn, the Warren Course, there really are a ton of great options but those are where I would start.

[ej002]

Definitely do Island Hills. I love that place.
http://islandhillsgolf.com/

I haven't played harbor shores, but heard that it was great as well.
I will +1 Whittaker Woods.

Pass on Lake Michigan Hills IMO.

[jimwgt26]

Blackthorn and The Warren Course at ND are excellent.

[bcawley01]

Blackthorn and Whittaker Woods are great

[FSCMatt]

If money isn't an issue The Dunes Club is the place to go. I'll send you a PM about it.

Other than there everyone has listed good courses. Angels Crossing is another good one in the kzoo area.

[Cspackler6]

+1 to what others have mentioned except lake Michigan hills and island hills. Island hills isn't near the triangle you mentioned. I can't say that lake Michigan hills is bad. I have not played there in a while, but from those I know who play there all the time say that have dropped their standards a notch or two. Still a decent course but cant call it a "must play" at this time. Warren and harbor shores are the best options followed by Hawkshead in south haven (20mins) north of Benton harbor and blackthorn. Hampshire in dowagiac is usually solid as is Whitaker woods. If you belong to a club find out if they can get you on some private courses in the area.

[Cspackler6]

...i would either pm fscmatt to at least find out if it's in your $$ range or cut off a finger!

[Cspackler6]

Oops...I just read Matt's post again.

[JJShanley]

I play Warren regularly and love it. Blackthorn also a good track. Played Lake Michigan Hills last year and enjoyed it as well.

Try Studebagels for breakfast while you're here. It's the friend that won't let you down!

[cwglum]

Kalamazoo area ... Angels Crossing is a good course, Island Hills is an hour south in Centerville, even better course.
Definitely skip Heritage Glen in Paw Paw MI.

[apprenti23]

I always forget- Point o Woods is another great option

[ugsomlcfsesr]

I was a walking scorer for the Sr PGA last summer at Harbor Shores. A guy that worked with me/ for me, was the Director of Volunteer Operations, and is in that same position this week for the Sr PGA at French Lick. FWIW he will be tournament director for 2017 Sr PGA back at Harbor Shores, which is pretty freaking cool. I'm proud of him to say the least. Also, FWIW Rory's current gf's (Erica Stoll) desk was right next to his, which is cool I guess.

Anyway, on to golf.

Played Warren ND while I was there and it was pretty enjoyable. IIRC, the front was a little benign but the back was a little more intricate. The coolest part was that I caught up to a couple guys for the last couple holes. I noticed that one guy had a PRISTINE Crenshaw by Cleveland (8802) in his bag. I commented on it and he said something like "good eyes, Ben gave this to me. Oh and I'm his caddie." My response was probably something along the lines of "STFU!!" Hit a couple putts with it and have to say it was pretty special to have Crenshaw's "Crenshaw" in my hands, on a Crenshaw & Coore course.

Also played Harbor Shores Monday morning after the tourney, as well as the summer before when my buddy got the job and moved to Benton Harbor. Like I said I was a walking scorer (3 Rounds) and the way that the course is set up, there were a few places around the course that required us to be shuttled on carts. A couple VERY LONG shuttle rides. This allowed me to chat with the guys I was scoring and their caddies. This coupled with what Ryan (friend) told me, allowed me to conclude that there was exactly 1 positive thing said about the course from a design perspective, and that was from Monty after he won. Who gave a very sincere-feeling speech to the volunteers BTW.

I just didn't care much for Harbor Shores. It was in great shape both times, but I just feel that it was a bit goofy in spots. 2 & 4 are pretty good par 3's. 5 is a pretty good par 5. 6 is a forced lay-up of the tee to a with a 90* dogleg downhill (small cliff/ drop off) 2nd shot. 7, "signature hole", is a 90* dogleg with a 150-200 blind second shot up a 40 foot hill. (Leading hole for "others" in the tourney, and leading hole for complaints, but does offer a great view of Lake Michigan from the green.) 8 is a blind tee shot from an elevated tee (also overlooking the lake) that is hard to find a line to hit it on. 9 is an OK par 5 from an elevated tee with your back to the lake. 9 has a section of rough that surrounds the cartpath as it crosses the fairway at the far end of the landing zone, which I don't like. Pot bunker at about 100, right in the middle of the fairway. 10... 10 is a good straight par 5 until you get to the green. Watch this > https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUPPnVo0CII . The elevation change from the front right to front left is about 8 feet and about 12 feet to the back of the green. Pin was front left when I played it and I had a 30 yard shot that missed carrying to the top of the ridge by a foot and my next shot was about 50 yards. Dumb. 11 is a really good short par 3. 12 is another 90 degree dogleg. 13 cool par 3 about 200. 15 is a pretty good par 5 that requires an accurate drive. Have to bomb it to have a chance at going for it, which is a long shot over a big creek in front of the green. 16 is ANOTHER sharp dogleg that would require another bomb to cut any distance off. If you cant cut the corner (which the Sr's did not) you have a long-ish 2nd of 150-200 depending on which side of the fairway you're hitting from. 17 another good par 3 just under 200 I think. The green on 17 had to be rebuilt after the first time the pro's played it, they couldn't keep a ball on the green. 18 is a good but tough par 4. Big creek on right, bunker on left in landing zone. Requires a good drive with no bailout. Again 150-200 second shot with the creek coming within a few steps of the right side of the green.

Sorry for the novel. BH will probably be in really good shape and you could say that you played a Sr Major course, but I wouldn't pay the up to $125 dollar green fee to play it. I would probably play it for free again if I was in the area but to be honest I would probably try to find somewhere new to play.

[Cspackler6]

Lol

[Argonne69]

I'd pass on Island Hills. I played it and Angels Crossing this past weekend, and to me there's no comparison. There's a reason Angels Crossing is in the Best in State (Michigan). Island Hills wasn't bad, it just was very "meh".

I second/third the nomination of Blackthorn and Warren.

A lot of folks don't like Harbor Shores. Jack didn't have a lot to work with (landwise), and it's a bit quirky. Typical tough Nicklaus greens.

[quote name='apprenti23' timestamp='1432310474' post='11608544']
I always forget- Point o Woods is another great option
[/quote]

That's private, no?

[TLfan]

[quote name='ugsomlcfsesr' timestamp='1432314840' post='11609048']
I was a walking scorer for the Sr PGA last summer at Harbor Shores. A guy that worked with me/ for me, was the Director of Volunteer Operations, and is in that same position this week for the Sr PGA at French Lick. FWIW he will be tournament director for 2017 Sr PGA back at Harbor Shores, which is pretty freaking cool. I'm proud of him to say the least. Also, FWIW Rory's current gf's (Erica Stoll) desk was right next to his, which is cool I guess.

Anyway, on to golf.

Played Warren ND while I was there and it was pretty enjoyable. IIRC, the front was a little benign but the back was a little more intricate. The coolest part was that I caught up to a couple guys for the last couple holes. I noticed that one guy had a PRISTINE Crenshaw by Cleveland (8802) in his bag. I commented on it and he said something like "good eyes, Ben gave this to me. Oh and I'm his caddie." My response was probably something along the lines of "STFU!!" Hit a couple putts with it and have to say it was pretty special to have Crenshaw's "Crenshaw" in my hands, on a Crenshaw & Coore course.

Also played Harbor Shores Monday morning after the tourney, as well as the summer before when my buddy got the job and moved to Benton Harbor. Like I said I was a walking scorer (3 Rounds) and the way that the course is set up, there were a few places around the course that required us to be shuttled on carts. A couple VERY LONG shuttle rides. This allowed me to chat with the guys I was scoring and their caddies. This coupled with what Ryan (friend) told me, allowed me to conclude that there was exactly 1 positive thing said about the course from a design perspective, and that was from Monty after he won. Who gave a very sincere-feeling speech to the volunteers BTW.

I just didn't care much for Harbor Shores. It was in great shape both times, but I just feel that it was a bit goofy in spots. 2 & 4 are pretty good par 3's. 5 is a pretty good par 5. 6 is a forced lay-up of the tee to a with a 90* dogleg downhill (small cliff/ drop off) 2nd shot. 7, "signature hole", is a 90* dogleg with a 150-200 blind second shot up a 40 foot hill. (Leading hole for "others" in the tourney, and leading hole for complaints, but does offer a great view of Lake Michigan from the green.) 8 is a blind tee shot from an elevated tee (also overlooking the lake) that is hard to find a line to hit it on. 9 is an OK par 5 from an elevated tee with your back to the lake. 9 has a section of rough that surrounds the cartpath as it crosses the fairway at the far end of the landing zone, which I don't like. Pot bunker at about 100, right in the middle of the fairway. 10... 10 is a good straight par 5 until you get to the green. Watch this > https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUPPnVo0CII . The elevation change from the front right to front left is about 8 feet and about 12 feet to the back of the green. Pin was front left when I played it and I had a 30 yard shot that missed carrying to the top of the ridge by a foot and my next shot was about 50 yards. Dumb. 11 is a really good short par 3. 12 is another 90 degree dogleg. 13 cool par 3 about 200. 15 is a pretty good par 5 that requires an accurate drive. Have to bomb it to have a chance at going for it, which is a long shot over a big creek in front of the green. 16 is ANOTHER sharp dogleg that would require another bomb to cut any distance off. If you cant cut the corner (which the Sr's did not) you have a long-ish 2nd of 150-200 depending on which side of the fairway you're hitting from. 17 another good par 3 just under 200 I think. The green on 17 had to be rebuilt after the first time the pro's played it, they couldn't keep a ball on the green. 18 is a good but tough par 4. Big creek on right, bunker on left in landing zone. Requires a good drive with no bailout. Again 150-200 second shot with the creek coming within a few steps of the right side of the green.

Sorry for the novel. BH will probably be in really good shape and you could say that you played a Sr Major course, but I wouldn't pay the up to $125 dollar green fee to play it. I would probably play it for free again if I was in the area but to be honest I would probably try to find somewhere new to play.
[/quote]

Lol this is bad info unless you are 60+, otherwise this is a great course...... 6 and 16 are awesome holes IMO, you must hit it around 160 off the tee

[quote name='Cspackler6' timestamp='1432636305' post='11627236']
Lol
[/quote]

I agree, times 100 lol

[Cspackler6]

Correct, point o woods is private. I think it can be played without knowing a member but it's very expensive.

[apprenti23]

[quote name='Cspackler6' timestamp='1432721280' post='11634098']
Correct, point o woods is private. I think it can be played without knowing a member but it's very expensive.
[/quote]

Just like the Dunes Club, but both are definitely worth it!

[goduke7]

Swan Lake is a little south west of South Bend. Its not very expensive and pretty nice. In the middle of nowere though. Warren is solid as are all the others mentioned.

[VNutz]

Also keep in mind that at this time of year it stays light out until around 10pm or so, so you can tee of really late and still get your round in. Crazy.

[Argonne69]

BTW, I posted a mini-review and a few pics of Island Hills and Angels Crossing if you're interested: [url="http://www.golfwrx.com/forums/topic/1182872-south-central-michigan-tour/"]http://www.golfwrx.com/forums/topic/1182872-south-central-michigan-tour/[/url]

[2muchclub]

Is the condition of Blackthorn decent these days? Last time I played it was several years ago when I was in town. Apparently the City took it over (?), they grassed/closed several strategic bunkers, and fairways were shaggy. I was disappointed as the previous time I played it it was in great shape.

[conradza]

[quote name='FSCMatt' timestamp='1432258151' post='11605254']
If money isn't an issue The Dunes Club is the place to go. I'll send you a PM about it.

Other than there everyone has listed good courses. Angels Crossing is another good one in the kzoo area.
[/quote]

Can you PM me also?

[mattsam]

[quote name='ugsomlcfsesr' timestamp='1432314840' post='11609048']


I just didn't care much for Harbor Shores. [color=#008000]It was in great shape both times[/color], but I just feel that it was a bit goofy in spots. 2 & 4 are pretty good par 3's. 5 is a pretty good par 5. [color=#ff0000]6 is a forced lay-up[/color] of the tee to a with a [color=#ff0000]90* dogleg downhill[/color] (small cliff/ drop off) 2nd shot. 7, "signature hole", is a [color=#ff0000]90* dogleg [/color]with a 150-200 [color=#ff0000]blind second shot[/color] up a 40 foot hill. [color=#ff0000]8 is a blind tee shot[/color] from an elevated tee (also overlooking the lake) that is [color=#ff0000]hard to find a line to hit it on[/color]. [color=#ff0000]9 is an OK par 5[/color] from an elevated tee with your back to the lake. 9 has a section of rough that surrounds the cartpath as it crosses the fairway at the far end of the landing zone, which I don't like. Pot bunker at about 100, right in the middle of the fairway. 10... 10 is a good straight par 5 until you get to the green. Watch this > [url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUPPnVo0CII"]https://www.youtube....h?v=tUPPnVo0CII[/url] . The elevation change from the front right to front left is about 8 feet and about 12 feet to the back of the green. Pin was front left when I played it and I had a 30 yard shot that missed carrying to the top of the ridge by a foot and my next shot was about 50 yards.[color=#ff0000] Dumb[/color]. 11 is a really good short par 3. 12 is another [color=#ff0000]90 degree dogleg[/color]. 13 cool par 3 about 200. 15 is a pretty good par 5 that requires an accurate drive. Have to bomb it to have a chance at going for it, which is a long shot over a big creek in front of the green. 16 is [color=#ff0000]ANOTHER sharp dogleg [/color]that would require another bomb to cut any distance off. If you cant cut the corner (which the Sr's did not) you have a long-ish 2nd of 150-200 depending on which side of the fairway you're hitting from. 17 another good par 3 just under 200 I think. The green on 17 had to be rebuilt after the first time the pro's played it, [color=#ff0000]they couldn't keep a ball on the green[/color]. 18 is a good but tough par 4. Big creek on right, bunker on left in landing zone. Requires a good drive with [color=#ff0000]no bailout[/color]. Again 150-200 second shot with the creek coming within a few steps of the right side of the green.

Sorry for the novel. BH will probably be in really good shape and you could say that you played a Sr Major course, but I wouldn't pay the up to $125 dollar green fee to play it. I [color=#ff0000]would probably play it for free again if I was in the area but to be honest I would probably try to find somewhere new to play.[/color]
[/quote]

Everything in [color=#ff0000]Red [/color]is incorrect

[bcawley01]

[quote name='2muchclub' timestamp='1432756649' post='11637736']
Is the condition of Blackthorn decent these days? Last time I played it was several years ago when I was in town. Apparently the City took it over (?), they grassed/closed several strategic bunkers, and fairways were shaggy. I was disappointed as the previous time I played it it was in great shape.
[/quote]

Last Year it was great, I wouldn't expect it to have changed

[mjguzik]

Blackthorn transitioned to private beginning this year in that the city sold it to a ownership group. It appears the current owners are doing a much better job than in past years. The course is in great shape, particularly the greens. I would include it on the need to play list. Play it on most Tuesdays.