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Inkster Valley Golf Club (734-722-8020)
Michigan Golf Course Review -05-26-02 - (photos updated July, 2006)
Located just 10 minutes from Detroit Metropolitan Airport and in close proximity to the city and the surrounding
suburbs, Inkster Valley is one of Detroit's best kept secrets. One would not expect to find a layout featuring
expansive wetlands and natural areas so close to an urban area. This photo is representative of the natural terrain, as it winds its way over and around the Rouge River.
The clubhouse at Inkster Valley features banquet/outing facilities that can accommodate up to 144 people, with
combined seating indoors and out. The views of the first fairway and 18th green from the terrace are superb.
Comfortable restrooms and a snack bar with sandwiches and drinks round out the facilities, which also include
an ample practice putting green. The layout covers 400 acres, including 100 acres of wetlands - which provide
hazards on 14 of the 18 holes. The course is wonderfully conditioned and well marked. Red, white and blue flags
indicate the day's pin placements, and visible stakes and marked sprinkler heads on the fairways provide
accurate yardage to the center of the green. there also are GAM 's on all the tees - a convenience most golfers will appreciate.
With three sets of tees measuring 4500, 6100 and 6700 yards, Inkster Valley is playable for beginners, yet
challenging to golf buffs from the tips. Only two par fours play to 400 plus yards, but the par threes are
challenging and you can look forward to carrying some marsh (from the blue and white tees) on nearly every hole
. Generally speaking, there is room for error off the tee and on most approaches. The greens are of medium speed and depth, and are quite consistent.
The opening hole provides an opportunity to get off to a good start if you can reach the fairway off the tee. The
approach is fairly wide open. Number two is a pretty dogleg left par five. Unless you bend your drive close to the
cart path left and hit it extremely long, you will most likely be laying up on your second shot, in front of the river that
crosses 10 yards before the green. There is bush left and marshland right off the third tee, which faces a narrow
downhill fairway. The rough around the green is pretty tough stuff. Number 4 is a beautiful par three, with a
gorgeous green complex. This is followed by a couple of the most difficult par fours on the course. Five plays
over a marsh with fairway bunkers waiting for tee shots that are not placed just right. A safe play is to aim right of
the bunkers, and play this hole the long way. Six also plays over a wide marsh, and encourages a right to left shot
shape. Aim for the 150, and take an extra club or two on the approach which is extremely uphill. The easiest
birdie hole follows, in the shape of an uphill par four that maxes out at 320 yards. The eighth is nearly a blind tee
shot - as the marsh is extremely high. Long is better than short on this mid-range par three. The closing hole on
the front is a short par five that bends to the left and can be reached in two - a great chance for a strong finish here.
The backside opens with an easy par three. The green is ridged, so pay attention to the pin placement here. You
will have to carry considerable marshland on number 11. Aim right of the smokestack, and be prepared for an
extremely tight approach over another marsh. On twelve, your tee shot must be long and near the left side of the
fairway to have a chance to reach in regulation. Anything right or short off the tee, and you will be laying up short
of the green and playing for a bogey. The dogleg left is nearly 90 degrees. Number 13 plays very long. Aim right
of the bunkers to be safe, and hopefully you have a good fairway wood game. You will need it to reach this green
in regulation on the second dogleg left in a row. The fourteenth is wide open off the tee, and plays to a green
situated on a perch high above the fairway. Take an extra club on your approach. The 15th is also quite open all
the way, with mounding near the green. The 16th is an interesting hole. There is lots of room off the tee, but the
second shot is relatively blind, and runs downhill towards a green tucked away between large bunkers, with little
room for errant shots. Water on the left side will encourage approaches from the right side of the fairway. The
last par three of the day is also the most difficult. It plays long and demands a considerable carry over a huge
marsh. There is little room long, and none at all short. Your accuracy and ability to hit high and soft will be
challenged here. The closing hole is rated as the 15th handicap - and has to be one of the toughest holes with
this ranking in the state. A long accurate tee shot is necessary to have an open approach to the green. Anything
left will be blocked by the tree line. A marsh protects the entry onto the putting surface, demanding another high and soft approach.
Inkster Valley, though demanding from the tips, is very playable from the two alternate tees. You will have some
forced carries, but the length demanded is usually reasonable. At $45 on weekdays and $50 on weekends
(includes cart) , this is one of the best values in the metro area. Located on the west side of Middlebelt Road, just 1/4 mile north of Michigan Avenue. Highly recommended!
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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