 Lyon Oaks Golf Course (248-437-1488)
Michigan Golf Course Review
Lyon Oaks Golf Course is an Arthur Hills designed 230-acre championship golf facility, and is part of the Lyon Oaks Oakland County Park. You will repeat this over and over to
yourself, in disbelief that such a high quality layout could be part of any public parks system. This property is completely upscale, from the elaborate clubhouse and banquet
facilities ( that can accommodate 400 people), to the beautifully designed 18-hole course, to the incredible practice facilities. A trip to the range is a "must do" here. It is elaborately
designed with various bent grass tee stations, and target areas that feature greens, hills and rolling mounds. The huge practice green is also wonderfully conditioned and
representative of the types of putting surfaces you will encounter on the course. A full service pro shop and dining area featuring a variety of salads, sandwiches and burgers are
on property. The green fees, which range from $56 to 35, are also upscale - but completely justified.
The Lyon Oaks golf course sits on property owned by the county, in a park setting that covers over 1000 acres and features hiking trails, picnic areas and dog runs. There are no
residential developments on this course, and there never will be. Lyon Oaks is as finely conditioned as any county or muni course we have ever played. The tee boxes and
fairways are wonderfully sculpted, with high grass areas perched between the tees and fairways on many holes. The sand in all the bunkers is deep yet firm, and the greens are
among the most consistent we have encountered in Michigan. These bent grass putting surfaces are quick and true-rolling, with a 3 foot finely edged fringe, creating a variety of
short game shot selections. The rough surrounding the greens is sod-laid, and is very consistent and shot friendly.
Lyon Oaks provides golfers of all skill levels with one of the most beautiful, and just as equally - challenging rounds of golf in the Metro detroit area. The greens are mildly
undulating and incredibly putt-able. Nearly every tee shot provides ample landing areas on wide fairways that are exquisitely conditioned. Numerous fairway bunkers are
strategically placed, and are not merely window dressing. You will find yourself in quite a few of them if you don't pay close enough attention. Lyon Oaks is a course where you can
use driver off the tee on many holes - but placement is as important as distance. Make use of the yardage information guide available to you with your paid green fee. Reading the
vital info for each hole will surely help with club selection and may cut off a few strokes by round's end. The course is well marked, with the laser measured Kirby Marking System
in place ( yardage blocks on both sides of the FW - measured to the center of the green at 25 yard intervals from 200 yards in). Colored flags indicate front, middle and back pin
placement. GAM's are provided for on each tee box, which includes five sets per hole. As an added amenity, ball and club washers are standard on every cart, which also have windshields.
The opening holes give you an accurate indication of the type of course this is - natural and serene, with no adjacent fairways, and very few intimidating tee shots. The first
demands a lay-up before the fairway bunker for the average player. Long hitters may carry the bunker but will need to stay right, as the path to the green is blocked by trees if you
stray off the fairway left. The short par four 2nd is a beauty. From an elevated tee you will hit to a wide fairway with a lake left and bunkers right. The safest play is a lay-up just short
of the initial fairway trap. There is room right for long hitters, however. Number three plays slightly uphill and doglegs right. Avoid the fairway and green-side bunkers and this is an
easy hole. Four plays long, but is quite open all the way to the green. A tough but score-able par five awaits on the fifth. Aim between the fairway bunkers of the tee, and lay-up short
of the marsh on the right for the safest approach to this elevated putting surface. The next 3 holes present the easiest sequence on the course. Although number six is almost all
carry over marsh, this par three is quite short and score-able, as are all the par threes at Lyon Oaks. Seven seems narrow off the tee, though there is more room left than it
appears. Another pretty par three is featured on eight. The green is extremely deep, so it is wise to pay close attention to the pin placement here. The closing hole on the front
requires a tee shot over a marsh. Stay left of the fairway bunker and avoid the marsh on the right about 150 yards out. A safe play is to aim past the huge tree in the center of the
fairway. Water right of the green will influence your approach.
The back nine is similar in distance to the front, with only 1 par four playing over 400 yards from the mid tees. It is also very secluded. The tenth features a dogleg right, and a nice
approach over water. There are some considerable carries off the tee, and several holes also have marsh areas resting between the fairways and greens, creating the need for
accurate approaches. On eleven you will have to negotiate a marsh off the tee, with a tall tree in the center of the fairway demanding your best accuracy and considerable distance
. A premium on distance and accuracy is also the name of the game on twelve, which features a shoot-like approach to a green well guarded by water and trees. After a short and
easy par three, you will be faced with a tight fairway, although there is room for error to the right off the tee on number 14. The green is elevated and has lots of bailout room on
both sides, if you can avoid the marsh about 60 yards out. You will have to find the landing area over the water hazard on the fifteenth tee, and negotiate the marsh that fronts the
green. Though short, this par four packs some punch. Next up is the toughest hole on the back side. It is open off the tee, but you will have to deal with an intimidation factor on
your second shot. It is tight, but anything hit towards the grass bunker in the middle will find a safe lie. The approach is very uphill, and plays over yet another marsh. Number
seventeen is an interesting par three, playing downhill to a ridged green that slopes left to right. This is followed by a formidable finishing hole. The eighteenth is a mid-length par
five with a fairly open tee shot. Long hitters may be able to reach the green, or at least carry the marsh (about 140 yards out) on their second shot. If you have a good round going,
you may want to lay-up near the 150. There is water left, which is easier to negotiate from a shorter distance. This is a challenging and beautiful final hole.
Lyon Oaks gets great grades all the way around from the Two Guys Who Golf. It is a value because of the great layout and superb conditioning - and fine facilities. This is a pure
course, which will allow you to use every club in your bag - and to have fun doing it. Good shots are rewarded with good lies - and excellent putting opportunities. Enjoy the peace
and serenity of a memorable round here, and the wonderful service.. We feel it is one of the better tips we have available to offer. Try Lyon Oaks this season!
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.
|
