HAWKSHEAD GOLF CLUB (269-639-2121)
Michigan Golf Course Review
Hawkshead Golf Club in South Haven stands out as an extraordinarily beautiful links style layout, with outstanding conditioning and excellent facilities. On property is a full service
practice facility including a spacious, targeted grass range, short game area with two sand bunkers, and large putting green. Group and individual lessons can be arranged
through the pro shop. The Dining Room features an upscale menu that includes many attractive items plus an extensive wine list, and the Grill Room provides more of a casual
fare. Dinners are available dependant upon the season, and lunch is served daily along with a popular Sunday Brunch. Accommodations are available in nine unique rooms,
including one and two bedroom suites with kitchen facilities. The rooms are located adjacent to the restaurant, in a restored Old English Tudor Mansion. For more information
Hawk's Head accommodations click here.
The golf course is simply beautiful, with manicured fairways lined with golden native high grasses and fescue mounding. Wind can certainly be a factor here, as the layout is
primarily open with few trees shielding the playing surfaces. The terrain is mildly rolling, with partial cart paths providing easy access for golfers using carts. There is a nice mix of
open green complexes that encourage bump and run chips, with those that are heavily protected by bunkers, mounding and swales. Hawkshead is part of the Michigan Arthur
Hills Golf Trail - never met an Arthur Hills course that wasn't appealing. These designs are built to satisfy the experienced golfers, while also providing an enjoyable round for mid
and high handicappers.
Four sets of tees provide players with options to choose from distances and slopes measuring 6984 yards/129 slope, 6576 yards/122 slope, 6242 yards/117 slope and 4960
yards with a slope of 110. As these ratings indicate, this is a very playable layout. The beginning holes on each side are pictured below, and both feature elements found
throughout the course - wide rolling landing areas with intermingling bunkers, layers of mounding and with perimeter fescue rough - and worth noting - EXCEPTIONAL conditioning.
On course yardages are provided by blocks indicating 100, 150 and 200 yard areas, with color coded balls attached to accentuate the distances. Sprinkler heads are also
measured to the center of the green, and hole locations on the mildly undulating putting surfaces are indicated by color coded flags for front, middle and back pin placements.
Golfers should find Hawkshead a treat to their senses, and walkers will especially appreciate the fact that the course is walk-able at anytime...Those using carts will find partial
cart paths that make for a convenient and efficient round, as driving is allowed on the fairways and in the rough (not the high grasses or near the greens). With the open terrain,
wind can play a significant role here. This is traditional, beautiful links course, designed in the sand dune country of west Michigan - as evidenced by the dunes and waste areas
around the 17th and 18 green complexes. Highly recommended! For more info, visit our page for Hawkshead, with direct link to their website by clicking here.
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