LEGACY GOLF CLUB (734-854-1553)
Michigan Golf Course Review
The Legacy Golf Club in Ottawa Lake is an outstanding Arthur Hills links style design that has been awarded 4-1/2 stars (out of five) by Golf Digest Places to Play and is ranked
among the Top 200 Courses to Play in the country. The 18 holes of championship golf are spread out over 207 rolling acres, with five lakes, including the one surrounding the
island green on the par three 8th hole (pictured above). An expansive water hazard also helps frame the outline of the beautiful par four 10th and 18 holes - which both afford
wonderful views of the Legacy clubhouse. This facility features a beautiful pro shop and a restaurant/lounge that are atypical of area golf properties. The 19th Hole Bar & Grill offers
a fully stocked bar and a wide array of grill food options. The bar is open at 9 a.m. daily while the Grill is open at 4 p.m. to close Monday to Thursday and 11:30 a.m. to close on
Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Some extremely interesting holes are including in this design, which features a nice mix of wide open and tree lined or water outlined fairways. The green on number 8 is
completely surrounded by water, but is short enough that most golfers will have a good chance of keeping the ball dry. The wind can definitely be a factor in this area of the state
however, and it can really make a difference on this hole. Number 18 presents a carry over water that is longer than it appears from the tees. Again, if a strong headwind is present
, this can be a daunting tee shot. The right side is a reasonable target area, although a strong shot may carry through the fairway and into the high grasses, or into another pond
that is situated along that side. From this area, the view of the 18th green with the modern clubhouse is of postcard quality (photo above). Our advice - grip it and rip it and hope for
the best!
Mr. Hills seems to relish the idea of presenting risk/reward opportunities that can define the success of one's round. This is particularly true on the par four tenth, which doglegs to
the left over a lake. A safe play is to lay up to the right side, with the carry covering as little of the lake as possible. An adventurous tee shot that is shaped right to left will carry a
more significant amount of water, but if successful will leave a wedge or short iron approach and a good shot at birdie. A similar situation presents itself on the par five14th. The
tee shot if placed long and left may find a level landing area that sets up for an approach over a lake that is pretty much all carry - with a good shot at reaching in two. A more
cautious player (and those without long distance) may want to lay up to near the 100 yard area on the second shot and play for a safer three shot approach. Both holes are
pictured above. The short par four 5th is also risk/reward - with golfers presented a choice of driving over a natural area directly towards the green, or laying up to the right side and
leaving a short iron over a deep bunker to the elevated green complex. This is another formidable carry where the wind may have an affect on a player's shot selection.
Not all of the holes require such decision making... The opening hole is a wide open dogleg right par four that invites a grip it and rip it mentality, with a left to right shot shape
being the advantageous play off the tee. This is one of the most wide open holes, and one of the simplest approaches of the round. Number three is also a very linksy style golf
hole. The fairway is ample, but bunkers and mounding may result in some undesirable second shots to the putting complex at the end of an uphill playing field. Together with the
par four second and fourth holes, this group presents a reasonable opportunity to get off to a good start.
As you can ascertain by these images, the Legacy presents a good variety in design, and most golfers will have the occasion to use every club in their bag. One thing that is
consistent however - are the wonderful conditions from tee to green, with finely sculpted tee boxes, sand bunkers, manicured fairways and large, true rolling putting surfaces. The
course provides 100, 150 and 200 yard indicators on the fairways, plus some sprinkler heads measured to the center of the green. Ball and club washers are provided on the
quiet electric carts. Five sets of tees make it possible for all levels of golfers to choose a distance that suits their game, with the tips measuring 6840 yards with a slope of 127.
Alternated sets play to 6326/123 slope, 6018/120 slope, 5485/114 slope and 4961/106 slope.
Practice facilities include a spacious grass range with target areas and a huge practice green. The Clare Batiste Golf Academy is on property - featuring half, one-day and two-day
schools, private instruction and corporate clinics. "Components Plus" is located just inside the entrance to The Legacy Golf Club. The facility features golf components, pro shop
apparel, club making services, demo clubs for testing, and a launch monitor for proper club fitting.
All said and done - our experience at the Legacy confirms that they go the extra distance to present a total experience that warrants their 4-1/2 star rating. We highly recommend a
day of golf here! For more info, visit our page for the Legacy with a link to their website by clicking here.
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