RED HAWK GOLF CLUB (989-362-0800)
Review 5/17/04 - photos updated July, 2006
Red Hawk Golf Club, located 5 miles from East Tawas, is a premium Arthur Hills design that has won much
acclaim, including the following accolades from Great Lakes Golfer Magazine in their 2003 Player's Choice awards for the Great Lakes region:
- Best Course # 4
- Best Course in Michigan # 3
- Best Service # 1
- Best Golf Course Restaurant # 1
Red Hawk was also rated as the 4th Best Public Course in Michigan in 2003 by Golf Digest, and Golf Magazine
for Women rated the property as a Top 100 course for women in 2001. On our mid-May visit, we arrived early
and were able to take advantage of their great practice facilities, which include a grass range with target areas,
a huge putting green, and a short game section with a pitching/chipping green and two practice bunkers. We
also were able to stay for lunch (the teriyaki chicken salad and steak fajitas were incredible). We highly
recommend this total Red Hawk experience at a facility that is locally and nationally renowned for all it has to
offer. It is not often that one can enjoy such a fine meal on a golf course property - the prices are reasonable for
gourmet style food, and the views of the course from the dining area and outdoor terrace are awesome. This is one great golfing environment!
The pro shop at Red Hawk features some really nifty attire and golf accessories, as well as a small selection of
clubs. Head Pro Jody Ellis offers a variety of golf lessons - and we were privileged when he and his apprentice
were able to join us for our review round. Of course, we did our best not to embarrass them with our prolific golf
skills, and held back on our tee shots - which at times traveled within 50 yards of theirs. The electric carts here
are equipped with ball and club washers, and also provide pin placement info for the day's hole locations. On
course golfers will find yardage blocks at 100/150/200 and sprinkler heads that are measured to the center of the green. GAM's are also in place on all the tee areas.
An over-riding characteristic at Red Hawk are the abundant landing areas near the greens that give golfers a
chance to recover from offline approaches. The bunkering here is not overstated, but on some holes - a mis-hit
shot may result in a tricky up and down situation from incredibly undulating greenside swales and mounding.
The terrain is surprisingly rolling for the area, with frequent elevated tees and greens, plus grass ravines and
natural areas. While all the fairways are defined by mature forest, there is generally ample room off the tee,
making Red Hawk enjoyable for all levels of golfers. The back tees measure just 6589 yards, but will challenge
scratch golfers with a 130 slope. Three additional sets measure 6168/128 slope, 5676/123, and 4835/117 slope
. The Gold tees (6168) are fun to play, and are what we recommend for the average player, as they will allow
golfers to experience the elevation changes and the beauty of the holes to a maximum. There are only two par fours in excess of 400 yards from these tees.
The opening hole doglegs left to a wide fairway with a simple approach - presenting a nice opportunity to get off
to a good start. A lay up to within short iron or wedge range along a rolling fairway that slopes to the right is
recommended off the tee on number two. The perched green is protected by bunkers on either side. From an
extremely elevated tee, the par 3 third is a gorgeous golf hole - and like most of the par threes here, has plenty of
room long. Number four bends to the left from another elevated tee, and is best played just right of the fairway
trap. The putting surface slopes from back to front so attempt to stay below the hole. The tee shot on five must
maneuver a well bunkered fairway, with the landing area narrowing near the green complex. This is a very pretty
golf hole. Six is a well bunkered par three with room long and also left past the sand trap. Pay attention to the pin
placement as the putting surface is undulating and slopes right to left. The par five seventh begins left uphill then
doglegs left downhill to a perched green protected by extreme undulations and collection areas. The tee shot on
eight plays up a hill with the left center being the recommended location for a simple approach. The finishing hole
on the front presents a generous fairway, bends to the left at the 150, and the raised green is a simple one to approach.
The back side opens with a narrow rolling fairway on ten that slopes right to left. A pond immediately left and
trees to the right make this one of the most challenging approach shots of the round. Eleven demands a
formidable carry over a lake, to an undulating fairway that doglegs left. Joe - one of Head Pro Jody Ellis'
assistants, displays the proper form as he draws a shot over the left fairway trap - the recommended play for
those averaging 260 plus off the tee. We decided to lay up into the water hazard and take a drop, which was
pretty manageable. The approach on this hole is also quite tricky, depending on the pin placement. A deep
bunker guards the right front of an undulating putting surface. The tee shot on the par three 12th necessitates a
carry over a marsh, with room long and also short right. The right center is the place to be on 13, as this hole
bends to the right with a slightly uphill second shot. Another shot over a natural area is called for on the par three
14th. The green complex here is a challenging one, with the narrow double tiered putting surface guarded by a
bunker left and mounds that slope downward immediately to the right. The beautiful par five 16th invites a tee
shot placed over the right edge of the left fairway trap, which will leave a reasonable second shot over a marsh
that crosses about 170 yards out. Drives that do not carry this bunker may leave golfers with a decision to lay up
to the left - just before the hazard. Either way, the approach to an extremely elevated green complex will require
one or 1-1/2 clubs extra. From the tee areas on 17th golfers will discover a grass ravine which must be carried -
as anything short will leave a difficult up and down from a severe greenside slope. The finishing hole begins with
a wide fairway that narrows as it snakes its way uphill along rolling terrain, with mounds, bunkers and swales
along the way. The view of the 18th green is enhanced with the beautiful clubhouse as a backdrop.
Red Hawk is a tremendous golf facility. We cannot recommend it highly enough. Green fees include a cart and
top out at $65 weekdays and $75 weekends in 2004 - well worth it for the quality of experience here. Packages
can be booked with the Days Inn in Tawas (click here for our informational page for Days Inn) - and Lakewood Shores Resort is within a 20 minute drive. Click here for our informational page for Red Hawk, with a link to their web site provided.
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