[BEND OF THE RIVER GC]

Like a dummy I played the front 9 at Rackham, sick and in 40 degree and rainy weather yesterday......I guess I am a glutton for punishmnet, that or I am trying REALLY HARD to get 60 new golf courses in this year! This is a public, old school Donald Ross layout, popular with the locals and it has a lot of history as well. Some of the original holes were destroyed when the highway was built alongside the course.....

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[TheBoomer]

I know the feeling living in Michigan (Dearborn).

If you have not played Moose Ridge in South Lyon your in for a treat ( check it out) Wednesday & Thursday should be really nice(anything above 50* in michigan is nice)

[kgeorge78]

where exactly is that course?

If you dont mind crossing the border, come to windsor area. We have tons of beautiful courses

[lebanontngolfer]

Used to live a couple streets north of the course there in Huntington Woods. Great old course, too bad they chewed it up. Where else can you play golf AND hear real elephants trumpeting?! (for those who don't know, the Detroit Zoo is right next door)

[lebanontngolfer]

kgeorge78, on Oct 25 2009, 08:13 PM, said:

where exactly is that course?

If you dont mind crossing the border, come to windsor area. We have tons of beautiful courses

kgeorge78, the course is on the North side of I-696 and West of Woodward Avenue. It is in the city of Huntington Woods.

[BEND OF THE RIVER GC]

kgeorge78, on Oct 25 2009, 09:13 PM, said:

where exactly is that course?

If you dont mind crossing the border, come to windsor area. We have tons of beautiful courses

It is right next to the Detroit Zoo. Moose Ridge is on my radar, I live in Cincinnati but visit Dearborn often.

I need to get my passport so I can go over to play in Windsor!

[tjy355]

BEND OF THE RIVER GC, on Oct 25 2009, 05:35 PM, said:

Like a dummy I played the front 9 at Rackham, sick and in 40 degree and rainy weather yesterday......I guess I am a glutton for punishmnet, that or I am trying REALLY HARD to get 60 new golf courses in this year!

How is that goal coming? I'm lucky to get in 60 rounds, let alone 60 new courses! And I live in a year-round golf climate...

[Bluefan75]

kgeorge78, on Oct 25 2009, 09:13 PM, said:

where exactly is that course?

If you dont mind crossing the border, come to windsor area. We have tons of beautiful courses

While I certainly can appreciate you pumping up my old home area, I'm not sure I can let this statement stand.

I can only think of 3 courses that I would even consider mentioning on here(Seven Lakes, Ambassador, Kingsville) among the public courses, and even then, between the border crossing and the cost,(and then Kingsville being another half hour away) I can't in my right mind justify recommending to someone they play those courses over Shepherd's Hollow, The Orchards, Majestic, and a bunch of other courses in SE Michigan. I purposely drive the 2.5 hours from London to play courses around Detroit. I head to Windsor often and don't even bring the clubs most of the time to play even those courses.

If someone wants to play different courses, then certainly pop over, but I've gotten some great advice on here when I have travelled about where to go and where to avoid. I can't in good conscience recommend Windsor/Essex County courses particularly to US friends over what they have in Michigan. The standards almost seem to be entirely different.

[kgeorge78]

I would say that Kingsville and Ambassador especially are just as good as any public course in SE Mich. I've played them all. Sheppards is nice but gimmicy.
Ambassador is an absolute gem. So is kingsville.

Erie Shores in Leamington is another hidden gem. Great shape always.

I see what your saying as it may not be worth it but Kingsvile and Ambassador are worth the drive.

[TheBoomer]

I live in Dearborn usually play at my country club or in the Casino Windsor Golf Outing at the Ambassador Golf Club ( very nice course)

[Heatmiser]

Go play Kingsville, there are three 9s,the Red,White and Gold you want to make sure you play the Gold.Trust me,just became a member there 3 days ago a great course to play

[kgeorge78]

Kingsville is awesome. I got my first hole in one there on July 1st. 2nd hole on gold from the top 210 yards, 5 iron perfect cut 1 bounce in!!

Ambassador is one of the best courses I've ever played. It's simply amazing. Just a treat. So many shots to try there.

Congrats on the membership at Kingsville. I may have to ditch Erie Shores (Which I LOVE) and get a ship at kingsville or possibly both.

[Srixon-Ian]

Bend of the River GC, have you played the University of Michigan course. If so how did you like it, even though I am a student there I haven't yet made it their, due to weather being poor during the school year (and me being busy when it is nice).

just want to know what I am missing.
Thanks

[Gripit N Ripit 54]

I grew up on this course, I have been playing it ever since I can remember. My high school (Berkley High) is around 3 miles from the course, and I would even run from my school to the course and back to my school for track practice. I also work there in the summer coaching for The First Tee of Detroit. Rackham is like that little diner down the street, that people come from all over to eat at. The 18th hole is real "tasty" that's for sure.

I personally am really glad the course was NOT sold a while back. To lose that course would be horrible.

Funny story: When I moved to my new house around 8 years ago, I met my neighbor across the street. He had noticed I had some golf clubs in the garage and asked me where I usually play. I said "Rackham Golf Course" He eyes lit up and said "Oh Rackham! Man that's MY COURSE! Don't you hate the water on the first hole?"....i stared at him blankley and said "....There is no water on the first hole, let alone the entire course." So much for it being "His" golf course huh? Last time he played it was prior to the 696 days, which was before my time. Wish I could have seen or played it prior to 696!

TheBoomer: I heard Mooseridge went a little downhill this year and that it was in really rough condition. Is this true?

BEND OF THE RIVER GC: Have you played Grand Valley State University's course (The Meadows)? If you haven't, i really recommend it. Its around 20-30 minutes west of Downtown Grand Rapids, and it is actually the 22nd best Collegic golf course in the nation! Its a 7,060 yard links style course where the wind from the west can really screw with your game. Maybe its a trip for next year, but I highly encourage you give it a shot! (I am a student here at GVSU)

Brian

[FairwayFred]

Rackham has some great memories for me. Any nice day during the winter they would sweep the snow off the fairways and open up for play even if it was freezing cold. The ground would be frozen but you are so happy just to be playing golf you don't care. It was alot of fun trying to judge how far short of the green to land your ball to get it to bounce up onto the green off the frozen ground.

[freddiec]

Looks beautiful to me. Theres nothing like lugg'n your carry bad around a Donald Ross course. The way golf was meant to be played. Never met a Ross I didn't enjoy... and that one looks pretty nice.

[tjy355]

Srixon-Ian, on Oct 27 2009, 08:13 PM, said:

Bend of the River GC, have you played the University of Michigan course. If so how did you like it, even though I am a student there I haven't yet made it their, due to weather being poor during the school year (and me being busy when it is nice).

just want to know what I am missing.
Thanks

While I have not played the UMGC, I am aware of its history. Being that it is an Alistair MacKenzie/Perry Maxwell design in pretty much its original configuration (save for some bunker work and tree removal by Art Hills in the 90's), that would be enough to prompt me to play it given any opportunity. The fact that you are a student there and have access should make it a no brainer.

[Bluefan75]

tjy355, on Oct 28 2009, 04:56 PM, said:

Srixon-Ian, on Oct 27 2009, 08:13 PM, said:

Bend of the River GC, have you played the University of Michigan course. If so how did you like it, even though I am a student there I haven't yet made it their, due to weather being poor during the school year (and me being busy when it is nice).

just want to know what I am missing.
Thanks

While I have not played the UMGC, I am aware of its history. Being that it is an Alistair MacKenzie/Perry Maxwell design in pretty much its original configuration (save for some bunker work and tree removal by Art Hills in the 90's), that would be enough to prompt me to play it given any opportunity. The fact that you are a student there and have access should make it a no brainer.

Abso-freakin-lutely. This is a great course. I mean great. Elevation changes all over the place, 2 greens that have a bunker almost cut them in half. I was fortunate to get on their in 2003, before they started to close it more often than it was open, and it was a treat. Morning of the blackout for that matter. Hot as an oven, with no cold water....

In the 2001 GD rankings by state it was #7 in Michigan. A lot of these new courses have been rated above it, mostly from northern Michigan that has many more trees(and the "newness" factor always plays into these.) The finishing hole is one of the best. My only knock on it is the driving range is for the golf team only. Have to warm up somewhere else.