Golf/Country Club in Grand Rapids, Michigan

[wolverine_man]

Hello my West Michigan golfers. Do any of you who live in the Grand Rapids area have a strong recommendation for a golf or country club? If so, what do you like about your particular club? My wife doesn't golf and it's just the two of us. She'd probably only go for social events, dining, pool/gym.  I'm thinking of joining somewhere this or next year, as I have gotten back into golfing a lot more this past year. Really looking for something right in Grand Rapids to 10 minutes out. I've played at Thousand Oaks and StoneWater. 

[Net_5]

I’m pulling the trigger on Redwater this year to have the option to play six private and two semi-private courses under one reasonable membership fee.  
 

Egypt Valley is the primo option.  Love the Donald Ross layout at Kent and Blythefield is great but I can’t speak to the memberships at these clubs or Cascade either.  What did you think of Thousand Oaks and Stonewater?

[wolverine_man]

Thousand Oaks has been a few years but I remember liking it. No pool there, though. Stonewater was well maintained but seemed to be packed and it’s a bit of a drive. I could hardly find a parking spot when I went as a guest. Ideally, I would like something near our home on the northeast side of town. I’m intrigued by Blythefield. I’ve been to a few Meijer LPGA Classics there. I’m aware of Kent and Egypt and Cascade. I believe Cascade is the priciest of those three, if I’m not mistaken. 

[wolverine_man]

2 hours ago, Net_5 said:

I’m pulling the trigger on Redwater this year to have the option to play six private and two semi-private courses under one reasonable membership fee.

That is a pretty good deal. I have played Macatawa before, as well. Good course that can get quite windy but I enjoyed it. 

[Net_5]

The times I’ve been at Kent on the weekends the pool was rocking literally, usually on Labor Day.  Really like the old school clubhouse.  Practice facilities are adequate.  Half way house is better than most.  Course conditions were great, greens were fast. The course has a lot more roll than many expect and Ross used it to his advantage.  
 

[postfold]

I think the only private clubs I've played in GR are Blythefield, Sunnybrook and Thousand Oaks.  If I lived on the NE side I'd definitely take a look at Blythefield, I liked the course (though I played it before whatever renovations they've made the last couple years), conditions were great.  Facilities looked nice, though hard to say too much when you're there one day for a Monday pro-am.  Food was good.  For no logical reason I follow their social media, looks like good events. 

[jshel]

Bringing this one back to the top as I’m having some convos about a job in GR. 

How would people rank Kent, Egypt Valley, Cascade and Blythefield? What is the vibe at these places?

 

I have a friend at Egypt Valley, but have never seen the others. The location and no tee times of Kent is intriguing. The pictures of Blythefield look great. 

 

Any insight/dirt would be appreciated. 

[Timbo Slice]

Railside in Byron Center is really nice, but the Thousand Oaks option would be the one I would pick.

[knickerbocker]

16 hours ago, jshel said:

Bringing this one back to the top as I’m having some convos about a job in GR. 

How would people rank Kent, Egypt Valley, Cascade and Blythefield? What is the vibe at these places?

 

I have a friend at Egypt Valley, but have never seen the others. The location and no tee times of Kent is intriguing. The pictures of Blythefield look great. 

 

Any insight/dirt would be appreciated. 

 

I have never played Kent.

 

As far as golf only goes, I would rank:

 

EV (Two courses)

Blythefield

Cascade (I dislike the course)

 

If you enjoy walking, Kent is probably the best option based on what I know of it. 

 

To be fair, my experience is limited.  I have only played each of these 2 - 3 times max. 

[joekloo]

On 8/15/2022 at 4:17 PM, jshel said:

Bringing this one back to the top as I’m having some convos about a job in GR. 

How would people rank Kent, Egypt Valley, Cascade and Blythefield? What is the vibe at these places?

 

I have a friend at Egypt Valley, but have never seen the others. The location and no tee times of Kent is intriguing. The pictures of Blythefield look great. 

 

Any insight/dirt would be appreciated. 

 

EV - Newest and most expensive.  Very nice pool area (just redone) and practice facilities. 36 holes is a plus. 

Cascade would be the second most expensive.  Of the 4 my least favorite course.  It is very playable and not bad to walk.  

Kent and Blythefield are both in the same price zone.  Both courses are very playable and nice.  Both are undergoing clubhouse makeovers right now.  Kent is a little more of a condensed layout, but greens are super fast with lots of break.  Kent used to be the premium CC in GR.  I caddied there 20 years ago and all the people with big money were members there.  Blythefield course is a little more spread out.  Other then those 4 holes down by the river, the rest of the course is fairly flat.  I know of several people who have left Thousand Oaks to switch over to Blythefield.