 Hilltop Golf Course (734) 453-9800
Michigan golf course review
Located in Plymouth, Michigan – Hilltop Golf Course affords Metro Detroiters an opportunity to play on a hilly, rolling, natural terrain, free of urban influence and residential
development. Owned by Plymouth Township and operated by American Golf (which has done a great job with its Michigan courses) Hilltop is especially known for tricky
approaches to elevated greens, many of which are a challenge to putt on. Most of us with lots of experience playing golf, understand that a good "up and down" is facilitated by
staying below the hole. This is especially true at Hilltop, where putts heading downhill or across the green are extremely difficult to make. Make the mistake of being long, and
three – putting is very likely. Stay below the hole and you have a great chance of beating your handicap, as this moderately priced course plays very fair. At just 6018 yards from the
tips, accuracy off the tee is more important than distance – though there is ample opportunity for those of us who like to hit the driver. The fairways generally provide plenty of room,
and the extremely visible 150-yard barber poles make great targets. Hit towards them and your approaches will be much easier. The seven iron may be the most valuable club in
your bag at Hilltop.
The opening hole plays from an elevated tee. A narrow creek running across the fairway about 110 yards out means a three wood or controlled driver are the best choices. It pays
to lay-up, though you need to be long enough to catch the flat surface at the bottom of the hill. Your short/mid iron approach plays uphill. A swamp left and trees right will challenge
you off the tee on the pretty par 3 second. Choose the correct club and go for the flag. Number three is a short par four that plays longer due to an uphill tee shot. Two beautiful
willows frame the green. These are 3 very reasonable holes to begin. The fourth is a challenging par four, with the first of several extremely undulating putting surfaces. A creek
right and across the fairway 70 yards in front will also need to be negotiated. The longest par 4 on the course is next. It plays straight at just over 400 yards, with no real trouble. A
200-yard shot off the tee will put you in good position to turn the corner on the 330 yard dogleg right par 4 sixth. This is followed by the toughest hole of the layout. At 540 yards, The
par five seventh is open off the tee but narrows considerably on the approach. Bunkers on both sides of the green mean accuracy is a must on the approach. A dogleg left with a
tight uphill approach is next. Staying below the hole is important on both 8 and 9. The front closes with a challenging par three. Playing uphill from 188 yards (Blue tees), the ninth
features one of the most sloped greens you will encounter and a bunker on the right side.
An incredibly short par four opens the back side. Avoid the trees lining the fairway and a great score is possible. Long hitters may try to drive the green.. The eleventh is a long par
three (not much shorter than the previous par four) at 202 from the tips. The elevated putting surface is severely sloped from back to front. Twelve is very open off the tee. The shot
from fairway to green is a signature picture. The par 5 thirteenth is the number 2 handicap on the course. There is a pond beyond the trees on the right and an elevated green. This
is one of the tightest holes on the back. There is more water right on the long, downhill par three 14th. Error short or long left if you must. A narrow fairway and tight approach
provide the challenge on the 376-yard par 4 fifteenth. This precedes another tough dogleg right. There is more room off the tee than is apparent here. The easiest par three at
Hilltop follows. At just 170 yards from the tips and only one green-side bunker to negotiate, this is one of the best birdie opportunities of the day. 18 is open off the tee, and plays
uphill all the way to a challenging green that is sloped severely from back to front. Error long here, and you will leave the course chanting the mantra "stay below the hole", to
remind you on future visits.
Hilltop is a fun layout and a good value for the area. An initial experience here can be frustrating, especially if the pins are up on some of the more sloping greens. Armed with
course knowledge on subsequent rounds, you should fare better. Pay attention to the pin placements – which are quite noticeable. Red, white and blue flags indicate where the
hole is located. Go too far and you have only yourself to blame. The fairways are also well marked, with stakes at the 100, 150 and 200-yard distances. This is a very interesting
layout. We used all the clubs in our bag on our round here. There is an equal variety of doglegs right and left, and short and long holes. Strategy and good mid-iron play are
important here.
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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