Those familiar with the Pinecroft
Golf Plantation know what good golfing ground the
rolling hills east of Beulah make. These former orchards
and tree farms rank with High Pointe, Antrim Dells, and
some of the other northwest Michigan courses that derive
so much character from the land they're built on.
Pinecroft has become known as a nice course with a
million dollar view of Crystal Lake. Champion Hill is
destined for much higher praise. The links disciples who
are relegated to peering through the gate at exclusive
Crystal Downs can avoid that frustration by driving 15
miles east, and playing a layout that Alister MacKenzie's
ghost might have paced off.
The Course
#1: It doesn't have the Down's dramatic start from the
perched clubhouse and tee; you've got some climbing to do
first. It is a great little uphill par four, with big,
deep-faced fairway bunkers placed perfectly to catch your
opening tee fade. Watch out for more bunkers around a
semi-blind green.
#2 - A roller coaster fairway with an old apple tree
in the fairway for a target, a beautifully sculpted
green, and a classic pot bunker in the back start to show
the course's British flair.
#3 -
From the blue tees this is a monster, taking all you've
got to get it up and over the rising hill and ominous
bunkers. From the white tees the bunkers aren't much
threat, and the closer you get to this green, the better.
There are some real mystifying pin placement
possibilities on this green.
#4 has a very British feel. Big wide fairway and great
view from the elevated tee. Now you're up where you can
see both Crystal Lake and Lake Michigan, and even a
glimpse of the Sleeping Bear Dune cliffs.
#5 is a controversially short par 5--only a
driver/five iron from the white tees, because of the
easy-to-cut corner. It is a real ego boost to have a
Tiger-Woods-like chance at an eagle, but if there's a
hole that will need to be re-worked, this is probably it.
The green does present some very tricky chipping and
putting, so a sub-par score is by no means guaranteed.
#6 - The first of four longish par 3s (they average
170 from the whites and a whopping 223 from the blues).
This one presents a nice amphitheater, uphill slanting
green. The danger is not getting it up to the hole -- be
bold.
#7 plays as much longer than it looks than #5 plays
short. They both measure 520 yards, but couldn't be more
different. This one's uphill all the way, with a
well-placed fairway bunker daring you to get close in
two.
#8 -
At 185 yards, this was a daunting drive into the
Nor'easter we played in. You may have to swallow your
pride and pull out a wood on some of these par threes.
This green is long enough to runway a Cessna, so reaching
the front edge leaves you plenty of work to do. A
magnificent, three-county view from here.
#9 may be the hardest driving hole yet, with two
gnarly bunkers taunting you to carry them. Fairway slopes
away to the right, making it even harder to avoid
trouble. It's hard to consider laying up on a hole with
no trees or water, but this warrants just that.
A note about the greens: They are large and
well-guarded by sculpted bunkers. There is barely a flat
spot on them, and the only straight putts are the
up-hillers. Take the time to look at the pin placements
and pick out the uphill angle for your approach shot.
A note about the trees: There aren't any to
speak of.
Says co-owner/builder Lee Stone: "To promote the
openness of the land we wanted wide landing areas,
elevated tees, and large green complexes wherever
possible. We used fescue in the deep roughs to define the
fairways instead of trees. In fact there are only several
trees that come in to play on the whole course."
Said one of my playing partners after our round: "The
layout is nice because you can see just enough of the
rest of the course but you don't feel like you are in the
way of anyone. I also like that there are so few trees."
I agree completely. That may be one of the great
things about this course and some of the aforementioned
layouts--they are built on former orchard land that is
cleared of trees, giving the land a British look and
feel.
Stone: "Our layout used the existing characteristics
of the land to define each golf hole. As compared to most
golf construction sites, very little earth work was
involved other than the tee and green complexes. This
lack of excessive earthmoving is in part what keeps a
natural look to Champion Hill."
With that, we make the turn...
#10 starts out with a homage to the British-style
heather. This is the longest of the par 4s, and the
bowl-shaped green is kinder than most.
#11 may come to be known as one of the finest par 3s
in the area. The British flair continues, with a
Redan-style green complex surrounded by a veritable
showcase of beautifully sculpted bunkers. Pots, waste,
and snake-shaped traps guard the elevated green. A
Classic.
#12 is a tough driving hole, as you can't see it from
the tee, but the fairway slopes away hard to the right.
Guess what, the green is almost as wildly sloped.
#13 is the easiest of the par 3s, protected from the
weather and an inviting target.
#14 is another tricky driving hole, but possibly
reachable with a big north wind. But lose it right and
it's gone. Bunkers and an elevated even out the
risk/reward ratio.
#15
is the signature hole in my book. This one really
impressed me with an elevated tee, rolling fairway, and
the prettiest green view on the course, with a classic
pot bunker and another old apple tree completing the
still life. Also the most interesting green design, with
a surprise back half that slopes away. This is the kind
of hole you never forget.
#16 - A major driving hole--longest of the par 4s, so
you're inclined to let'er rip, but this is the most
dangerous place to lose it right. If there's any place
for course management and playing for bogey, this is it.
#17 is the first of back-to-back par 5 finishing
holes, a first in my memory. A LOT can happen on these
two holes -- a five-shot swing in our match -- so it's a
very interesting concept. This hole is mystifying from
the tee, as a serpentine fairway heads every which way.
With good planning you'll have a chance to cut the dogleg
and go for it in two, but a deep bunker guards that side,
so it's all carry.
#18
is the longest and toughest of the par 5's. It's a zinger
of a finishing hole, with a large pond to carry at the
end. The water is bermed, so only balls that deserve it
get wet, but that's the only break you get. The giant
maple behind the green is the best finishing tree you'll
ever see.
Not to sound overly dramatic, but Champion Hill really
impressed me, and I couldn't stop comparing it to nearby
Crystal Downs. Rated among the world's top courses, the
Downs is way overpriced and almost impossible to get on.
I find it fitting that a man like Lee Stone, who grew up
farming and nurturing the land, could give this kind of
gift to all of the golfers lucky enough to come across
it. In his words: "To be sure, it was and is a very
special piece of property and by turning it into a public
golf course many many people will be able to enjoy it."
Amen.
Some facts:
Course Design by Jim Cole and Lee Stone
Greens: L-93 bentgrass
Fairways and Tees: Five varieties of "low mow"
Bluegrasses
Roughs: Fescue blend
