Devils Ridge (248-969-0100)
Michigan Golf Course Review - May 13, 2002 -
If awards were to be given out to golf courses for renovations and improvements, Devils Ridge in Oxford would
get our vote as the "Most Improved Course in SE Michigan". Those who have not played there in the last year or
so, will be pleasantly surprised! A layout once known as beautiful & even spectacular, but also extremely
challenging and even unfair - can now add the moniker of "fair and playable" to its list of accolades. The changes
are so extensive that you will not recognize the first few holes. The tremendous views (especially from the
clubhouse dining area or first tee) are still there, but a considerable amount of trees and brush have been
cleared out, providing more room for error. The pressure of having to make perfect shot after perfect shot is no
longer a factor here. Instead of a "once a year play", Devils Ridge is now a layout that can be enjoyed frequently,
without getting "beat up". To make improvements so sweeping, without changing the technical design on any of the holes is quite an achievement.
Adding to the playability is the GPS that is hooked up to each cart. 150 yard stakes and marked sprinkler heads
also help with club selection. Cart paths were temporarily spray painted at 200 and 100 yards out. We hope this
will become a permanent feature (at Devils Ridge and all courses) as it is a great aid on holes that are cart path
only. This is especially of assistance after rain storms, when cart path only is mandatory on many courses. No
one likes to carry half of the clubs in their bag with them for a shot because they are unsure of the distance to the
pin...For added convenience, carts at Devils Ridge have ice chests and ball & club washers. The plastic
yardage/hole diagram cards that are also attached, provide valuable information and help to speed up the pace
of play. This is especially true on doglegs and holes with blind shots off the tee. We give Devils Ridge high
marks for taking all this into consideration, and for making improvements that will help all levels of golfers to better enjoy their experiences here.
Hole number 1 is still gorgeous. Much of the bush on both sides of the fairway has been cleared out. In the past,
too many tee shots ended up in trouble - putting many golfers in the hole right off the bat. A decent tee shot here
will now result in a great birdie or par opportunity. The second has also "lost" some trees and brush - and there is
a tremendous amount of bailout room to the right. The Demon Drop affords a wonderful view from the tips. The
tee shot on # 3 looks similar, but you will find wide open spaces for your second shot, if you land it any where
near the fairway. A creek 90 yards out and pond on the left side protects the green. The par 3 fourth is all carry
over a small lake. There is bail out room left for those faint of heart. Veteran golfers at Devils Ridge will not
recognize the par 4 5th, once one of the toughest holes anywhere. It is still a dogleg left - but with lots of room off
the tee. The approach to an extremely undulating green is the challenge. The # 2 handicapped par 5 sixth opens
with an easy tee shot, where distance is more important than placement. Grip it and rip it, and hopefully you will
have a good approach to the peninsula like fairway that fronts an enormous green. This is definitely a three shot
hole. The seventh looks completely different - a wide open tee shot that must carry the pond that was recently
added. Land safely and you should be in good shape for a safe approach. A pond also fronts the wide green on
number 8. This is a very score-able par three. It is important to do well on the eighth, as the finishing hole on the
front will demand your best effort. This par 4 is a great challenge to reach in two from the tips and tournament
tees. It bends gently to the left, but cannot be cut off very much. The approach is narrow, with trees on both sides near the green.
There is a half way house to pick up some sandwiches/beverages - as the back nine does not pass near the
clubhouse. Hole # 10 is still a tough one - especially for newcomers. The best bet is to bend a high tee shot right
to left onto the second tier atop the hill, leaving a downhill approach to green that is sloped severely from right to
left. Unless you hit a whale of a tee shot, you will most likely have a blind approach. This is one hole that still
seems unfair... but some space has been cleared out to the left of the green. Two golfers in our group hit it far left
, and thought they were out of bounds - but found their ball to be in good shape below the green. Eleven is a
great risk/reward hole. You can play it safe and aim for the fairway on top of the hill, or bend a long shot left to
right and hope you catch the descent that will leave you with a 200 yard or less downhill approach. The green is
very reachable in two. Plateaus on various intervals on the way may provide you with a level lie if you decide to
lay-up and play it safe. The twelfth plays extremely uphill, and like many of the holes on this course, has been
"cleared out" considerably. Par is still a good score here. The number 1 handicap remains the par 5 12th. There
is lots of room off the tee, but the second and third shots become increasingly narrow. If you do not get
tremendous distance off the tee, you may want to aim just over the 150 stake on your next shot, leaving a
reasonable approach to a tight green. There is lots of room left on the next par four, but its length and undulating
green make it the # 3 handicap. There is approximately 50 yards of space on the left, that used to be OB in the
past. The fifteenth is perhaps the best birdie opportunity on the course. Bend your tee shot left to right over the
fairway bunker and tree line, and you will have a short wedge approach to a very putt-able green. The 16th is a
gorgeous par 3, with a deep bunker fronting the putting surface. A lay-up is recommended on number 17,
leaving an approach of 100 yards or so. The water that fronts the green is very reachable off the tee, so be
careful here. The approach demands a high soft touch, as the putting surface is guarded by water on three sides.
The closing hole has undergone a significant face lift. The smart play is to land it near the 150 yard stake, and
take your chances with an accurate approach to a lofted green. With all the brush that was removed, this hole is 50% more playable than the original layout.
Obviously, this is a wonderfully improved golfing experience. Those looking for some bite will have all they can
handle from the tips (6754 yards), as this is still a challenging layout. Ladies, beginners and seniors will find it
incredibly playable from the front tees, and mid handicappers will appreciate the fairness from the 2 sets of
middle tees. You will still be challenged, but a good shot will net a fair result. Play here is highly recommended - a good value!
Check out the Two Guys Who Golf detailed information page on this course (which includes a link to the course's website if available) - click here.
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