Hickory Creek, Ypsilanti

Finally golfed one of my favorite courses - first time we were able to get there this year. I don't know why I like this course so much - it's not like I golf well there (98) or that it's it such great condition (sand more cement than sand). It's just that it's like an up north course only 40 minutes away. I like the dog legs, the water, the blind shots, it's a challenging course. It's not much easier for women...although a few holes the womens tee boxes were quite a drive from the mens. The cart girl was there every few minutes and there are plenty of port-a-johns around. It's still a course I enjoy!

Links at Whitmore Lake

What an interesting course. The first 9 is very links style with kind of side by side holes. The back nine is in a more natural setting with lots of marsh, trees, and narrow fairways. You had to use a lot of strategy and knowledge of the course really helps. Fortunately, we were put with a couple who golfed there many times and they told us a lot of where to hit, what was ahead, etc. The course was very playable for women cause their tees were way ahead of the men, thank goodness! But the tee boxes (womens' anyway) were really unlevel. Seemed like a lot of par 3s but they weren't always easy ones. Some of the greens were quite rough also - seems like a lot of folks don't know how to fix divots. A lot of the holes - in the front anyways - were by the clubhouse so bathrooms weren't an issue but there were a couple port-a-johns around. No cart girl again...I think that's how it is nowadays. Anyway, I golfed pretty good here and would like to play this course again.

Wyandotte Shores, Wyandotte

Golfed Wyandotte yesterday for the first time this year. This is a 9 hole links style course. We used to golf there a lot. It has two really short par 3s and 2 par 5's. The course is city owned and in fairly good condition, except for the sand traps...that sand is really pretty rough. No cart girl again. It was really hot and because it's links style, there is no shade. And there wasn't much breeze from the river...don't know if I'll go back...

Timber Trace, Pinckney

Golfed Timber Trace on Friday, July 9th for the first time this year. I've always liked this course. I think it's in really nice condition...the fairways are really nice and well maintained. And I like the 13 minute ride through the nature preserve between holes 12 and 13. The greens were really slow this day so putting was a challenge. There was no cart girl - which is happening a lot lately (money issues?) but there is a turn so it was OK. There's not a lot of elevations but there's enough changes to keep the course interesting. And the women's tee boxes are placed to make the course extremely playable.

Pohlcat, Mt. Pleasant

Golfed this course on June 28th. Really, really liked this course, it was in beautiful condition. The fairways were like carpet. On the 3rd hole, a fawn almost walked up to us...on the back nine there was a group of wild turkeys that didn't move until we drove right up to them. This course really had the feel of an up north course...even though we were following someone and someone was following us, it felt like we were alone on the course. One problem I had was there were only two bathrooms on the course and although they were nice & clean, they weren't really accessible except at the hole they were at AND no turn. But there was a cart girl and she made good bloody marys. Very pretty course with lots of challenging holes but the women's tees were placed to make it very playable. Would love to play here again.

The Pines at Lake Isabella

June 27th...a day that will go down in infamy! I got a hole in one! This was a pretty flat course on the first nine, a lot more interesting in the back. I got the hole in one on the par 3 12th hole. It started to rain like crazy on the 15th so we didn't get to really judge the whole course. We finished the 18 but it was raining so hard we couldn't see anything. I'll have to go back and see my name on the wall of the club house and golf this course again so I can really judge it!

Pine View Highlands, Houghton Lake, MI

We golfed this course on June 26th. We go to Houghton Lake every year in June and always golf this course at two or three times. The last couple holes of the front nine and the first few of the back nine are kind of tight and a little "side by side", which makes it tought if you don't drive straight. Fortunately, I drive pretty straight so it's not a problem for me. This is kind of a rough course with uneven tee boxes and not always the nicest greens. The fairways are a little like a meadow but not too bad. The owner is extremely nice and is almost always there to welcome you...this trip he gave us free drinks! It's a nice, friendly, well-maintained course with NICE bathrooms. No cart girl though...at least I've never seen one when I'm there. It's a challenging course but not one that will beat you up.

The Emerald, St. Johns, MI

We golfed this course on June 25th. What a pretty course! I only golf there once a year and I always forget how nice it is. It was pretty slow because of a morning outing but still very enjoyable. The fairways were in great shape, the bunkers were well kept, the greens nice...everything was good. There's a nice bathroom on the course which is accessible from quite a few holes. There were many challenging holes, especially on the back nine, with water and elevations. We bought two 18 holes at the Novi golf show for $50, saving about $50. That's the second year in a row we did that and next year we're going to buy more!