Huntmore Golf Club (810-225-4498)
- 8/07/02 -
Huntmore Golf Club opened for play in July of 2000, presenting yet another upscale golfing opportunity in to
players in Southeastern Michigan. Together with the Preserve, Majestic and the newly opened Jackal, the
Brighton area now has 4 high quality designs, all within 10 minutes drive of one another. The practice area is
quite extensive, with an expansive grass range with target greens, short game area with practice bunker
(pitching from up to 50 yards out), and ample putting green. A luxurious clubhouse is in the plans, but a very nice
modular unit is currently being used for the pro shop. Judging from illustrations of the design, the future
amenities at the Huntmore Golf Club will rival any in this part of the state, and will include 115 residential
properties to be built within the 376 acres. For now - you will get an interesting and challenging round of golf, in a superbly natural, secluded environment.
The tees, fairway and greens feature manicured bent grass, with the L-93 variety on the putting surfaces rivaling
the best in Michigan. Lots of fescue and native grasses border the fairways, which are quite generous on
average. Wildlife, especially water fowl, abounds as the course winds its way over and around considerable
wetlands, dotted with lakes, rolling meadows and hardwood forests. Most of the holes include at least a token of
marshland, creating the need for careful shot selection. 100/150 and 200 yardage plates are provided and sprinkler heads are measured to the center of the green..
Be sure to take the time to warm up prior to teeing off, as the first two holes will test you right off the bat. Though
ranked as only the fifth and ninth handicaps, these two play tough, demanding a combination of accuracy and
length. The initial hole doglegs to the right and is impossible to cut except for those with exceptional distance.
Placing your second shot on the left side of the fairway will set up a reasonable approach, which has little room
for error on the right. The par four second also bends towards the right, and demands a tee shot hit to the left
center of the fairway - just right of the fairway bunkers. Anything to the right will be blocked by trees. A narrow
strip of marsh must be carried on the approach. There is lots of room short on the par three 3rd, which is easy
from all but the tips (250 yards). Lay up to the far left end of the fairway on the short par four 4th, which bends
extremely to the right, with a tree guarding the green on that side. Number 5 is straight away, but is quite narrow
with water along the right and trees lining the fairway left. This is the number 1 handicap hole, but plays quite
fairly from the white tees. Most golfers will choose the whites, though they play to only 5928 yards. The next
option (blues) is 6635, with the championships playing at 7115. For the average golfer, these tees are enough of
a challenge (slope 127). We recommend "mixing" tee boxes - play the shorter par fours and threes from the
blues, and the longer holes (especially doglegs) from the whites. The sixth is another tough one, that doglegs left
with a marsh 25 yards out making this a 3-shot hole. Anything to the right on the approach is in trouble Par is a
nice score here. A long iron is recommended off the tee on seven, as a pond on the right 80 yards out is
positioned to penalize errant drives. After an easy par three, you will confront one of the toughest par fours on the
course. Your tee shot must land on the left center of the fairway for a reasonable chance of reaching in regulation
on this long dogleg left. Right-handed players apt at hitting long draws with their drivers will benefit from the layout of the front nine. Holes 1,2,4 and 9 bend severely right to left.
The back is the shorter of the two nines, and is quite reasonable from the blue tees (3226) - playing the front nine
from the whites and the back nine from the blues is an interesting option. Number 10 opens with a generous
fairway, but narrows on the approach due to a water hazard along the left side. Land on the fairway and this is an
easy par. The eleventh plays left to right and demands an accurate tee shot bending around the trees in the
center. A long waste bunker along the right side comes into play on the approach. Twelve calls for a carry over
wetlands, though there is 25 yards of room between the green and the marsh on this reasonable par three.
Number thirteen is not a good dogleg to cut. Lay up just left of the fairway bunker for the best approach. This
stretch of holes, 10 - 13, completes the easiest portion of the course, presenting the opportunity to post some
good numbers to begin the back side. The par five 14th is the number 2 handicap, with a tee shot over marsh
and water along the right side on the approach. The left side is the place to be here. The last par three of the
layout plays over a field of tall grasses, and like the other par threes at the Golf Club, plays relatively simple. The
4 par threes here rate as the 15th-18th handicaps. There is more room off the tee than it appears on number 16.
Aim long left for an easy approach on this sharp dogleg right par four. A tee shot hit to the right side of the
fairway presents your only chance to reach in two on the mid-range par five 17th. Most golfers will lay up and
approach in three as a creek runs across the fairway just 15 yards from the putting surface. A creek comes into
play 50 yards out on number 18 also. A tee shot aimed over the left fairway bunker will set up the best approach for a good finish.
Our round was a good start to a two day trip to Grand Rapids. The Huntmore Golf Club is conveniently located
near interstate 96 and US 23. They won't spoil you with amenities just yet. Come out to play the course - which is
priced very reasonably. Choose the correct tees, and you should enjoy your day thoroughly. Four sets of tee
boxes with slope ratings from 143 to 124 allow all levels of golfers to find a reasonable challenge. We
recommend moving up 1 set of tees, as some of the forced carries and challenging doglegs may be a bit much for the 2 back sets for the average golfer. The white tees are challenge enough!
For more info and for a link to the Huntmore website, visit our page on our Michigan web catalog of courses to play by clicking here
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