As you drive up and up to the top of the big
hill overlooking the Torch Lake you wonder, "where can a
ball could rest flat on this golf course?" From the top
of the hill, the fairways and greens lie below you on all
sides and to the east the waters of Torch Lake. If the
Greek gods came down from Olympus to play golf in
northern Michigan, A-Ga-Ming is where they would start.
The clubhouse view is incredible -- a very
inspirational location and there's a carved wooden Indian
on the porch and a giant buffalo head mounted on the pro
shop wall. Signs of an adventurous round to come...
The
first tee is perched up where it seems you could throw
your ball down into Torch Lake. Number One is a dogleg
right that drops away quickly. I like to keep my first
drive of the day within view if possible, so I hit a
conservative 4 iron out in the middle above the ledge.
This is just fine, until I peer over to see a carry of
200-some yards, the last 60 of it over water. So it's a
tricky little hole--you have to take a risk on your
drive, or on your approach--or lay up twice...
Number Two is a narrow par 5, with so many trees
(they've planted four big new maples on the right side!)
lining both sides that the driver again seems risky. Two
five woods is enough to set up a wedge approach over a
nasty little ravine and creek that guards the island
plateau green like a moat.
Number Three is truly Adventure Golf--two huge trees
stand 180 yards out, right in the middle of the small
landing area on this right-angle dogleg, short par 4. Hit
it and hope for a good carom! Ideally, roll it just
through them. The green is wide and undulating, but
nothing compared to the three-tiered, humped monster you
hit to on Number Four.
Its a pretty hole, with picturesque bridge and
ravine--a natural beauty. The first of four par 3's, and
averaging about 175 yards, they're all longer than you'd
expect compared to the shortish 4's and 5's.
Number Five is one of those short par 4's, and it
doglegs around a marshy no-man's land. A big tree that
used to stand in the landing area has been cut down,
taking some of the adventure out of the hole. Keep in
mind this is an old, quirky resort area course that was
just converted to 18 holes in 1986. Until then it was
mowed by goats and closed on Sundays...
Number Six is a straightaway par 5 with a sloping
fairway and uphill, tree-guarded approach. Nice hole.
Number Seven's tee box is 60 feet above the fairway,
and it doglegs right twice--off the tee and then again to
a steeply elevated green. Anything left is in a creek,
anything right is lost. Tough hole.
Par 3 Number Eight is short carry over water to a big
long green, and Number Nine is a long, tough par 4 with a
long, narrow green.
Number
Ten has a nicely sculpted fairway that funnels into a
nice green platform. Number Eleven is a long par 4 and a
pond is in play the entire way down the right side. Very
flat green once you're there.
Number Twelve is a great hole for heroics and my
choice for signature hole. At 484 yds., its a reachable
par 5, but only with gutsy, well placed shots. A
picturesque pond guards the green, but there's a thirty
yard landing area on the greenside that makes it more
tempting to try and clear the water.
More water on Number Thirteen, menacing any wayward
shots to the right, but there's lots of room left--until
they put more trees in. Number Fourteen is a whopping 217
from the blue tees, and no chip shot from the whites at
158, all over water.
Number
Fifteen starts narrow and then opens up to a tricky,
sometimes blind approach.
The 16th hole (along with the 17th) was redesigned in
recent years. Originally a par 4, the hole was shortened
to a par 3. Take a moment here to gather in the scenic
view of Torch Lake (see photo at right.). A beautiful
hole.
The 17th hole was redesigned and turned into a par 4
in recent years. You are able to gather in another great
view of Torch Lake from the elevated tee at 17. The green
is guarded by a pond on the left and bunkers on the
right. If you keep it straight down the middle, you can
leave yourself a short iron to the green.
Number
Eighteen is a great finishing hole, a dogleg left. Its a
challenge to set up a clear approach. You need a big
drive to clear the corner, so its hard to stay out of the
trees. Nice uphill green setting.
Its been a fun round on some great golfing ground. The
layout is quirky at times, but in this kind of a setting
that's understandable, especially on a "vintage" course.
Golf at A-Ga-Ming is an adventure, and that's the way it
should be in the wilds of northern Michigan.
