 Huntmore Golf Club (810-225-4498)
Michigan Golf Course Review
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. The clubhouse was renovated in 2010 and
features a golf shop and a lounge/restaurant with patio and firepit. 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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