 RICHMOND FOREST GOLF COURSE (586-727-4742)
Michigan Golf Course Review
Richmond Forest in Lenox Township near Richmond, is a wonderful Bruce Matthews design that has received a 3 star rating by Golf Digest Places to play - meaning it is very
good, and worth getting off the highway to play. We concur! , This is one of the best deals in Michigan. With the golf market a bit depressed in the Metro Detroit area, many courses
are keeping their rates down - and Richmond Forest certainly is doing its part. With the quality of design and course conditions, one could not complain if the fees were a bit
higher here. Golfers are not paying for a luxurious clubhouse and upscale amenities at Richmond Forest - only the golf...
With generally wide fairways and ample landing areas on many holes, this course can be enjoyed by players with a variety of skill levels. However, challenging green complexes -
with frequent mounding, bunkering and some tricky pin placements - means a good short game is necessary to score well here. The mildly undulating greens are usually
contoured and shaped in such a way that the pins are tricky to approach. Land on the wrong portion of some of these putting surfaces, and you will be attempting to dogleg a putt
to the hole. Although bump and run opportunities will present themselves, a good lob wedge game will certainly come in handy. If you can approach the greens pin-side, the putts
are very make-able.
There is a nice mix of tight, tree lined and open fairways, with some challenging par threes along the way. The fifth hole measures 223 from the tips and 192 yards from the white
tees, with sand bunkering that winds itself nearly all the way around the green. On hole #11 golfers will confront a 200 yard three par with trees on the left and a pond to the right -
making this one of the toughest iron shots of the day.
On the back side, many of the par fours and fives dogleg in one direction or another, and demand correct shot placement off the tee in order to have a chance to reach in regulation
. The sixteenth turns sharply right near the 150 yard marker, with bunkers on the short side protecting that area from golfers who wish to cut off some yardage. On hole #18 the tee
shot must be long and to the right center of the fairway - as trees on the short side will make an approach to the green from the left nearly impossible. The green complex is once
again protected by a pond in play immediately to the right. Although golfers will have opportunities to use the driver off the tee, on many holes correct shot placement will mean
more than distance. This is a thinking man's course.
The clubhouse at Richmond Forest includes a small pro shop, and a snack area with seating - for dogs, burgers and sandwiches. An indoor pavilion can accommodate large
parties, outings and special functions. On thecourse golfers will find nicely manicured fairways, tees, bunkers and greens - all in good shape on our mid-July visit. There are color
coded markers on the tee boxes, and also in the fairways at 100, 150 and 200 yards. The 150 yards stakes double as directional devices, and red, white and blue flags indicate
front, middle or back pin placements. From the tips, the course plays to 6701 yards with a slope of 133. Alternate sets measure 6097/124 slope, 5503/124 slope for women and
4923/116 slope. Hit the greens in the proper locations and play the doglegs strategically and this course may play easily. Land on the wrong portion of the putting surfaces or
miss the greens to the short side and you may be in for a long day. This is the type of course that is much easier to play the second time around - and at these rates repeat trips
are certainly warranted!
For more info on Richmond Forest visit our page for them on our web catalog of courses to play in Michigan by clicking here.
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