MOOSE RIDGE GOLF CLUB (248-446-9030)
Michigan Golf Course Review
Moose Ridge Golf Club in South Lyon promotes itself as an "up north" golf course, in Lower Michigan. World-class facilities and services are advertised. This Ray Hearn design is
the favorite course of twoguyswhogolf in the western Metro area - it certainly lives up to all of its accolades. Moose Ridge is a top notch golf facility. Hidden on 230 acres of
naturally wooded, undulating land with more than 90 feet of elevation changes, this championship course has it all. Bent grass tees, fairways and greens; well defined bunkers
filled with white USGA Best Sand; acres of wetlands filled with lush wildflowers and heather; numerous water hazards and a rolling terrain provide challenge and aesthetic beauty
reminiscent of premier Northern Michigan properties. Indeed, I found myself looking for Moose (Meese?) at nearly every turn. There were plenty of ridges!
The practice facilities are remarkable, providing a great compliment to this upscale golfing experience. Two large grass range areas with target greens are accompanied by a
large putting green, and short game practice area with sand bunker. The 10,000 square foot cedar and stone clubhouse includes banquet facilities and outside pavilion for
weddings, outings , meetings or parties. A Texas BBQ Pittmaster is on site that serves smoked meats daily. Though Moose Ridge is a public course, the "private club'
experience is enhanced by tee times arranged in 10 minute intervals, and by the excellent service provided. All carts include club AND ball washers for your convenience.
The opening hole is a beauty. This short par 4 will give you a nice opportunity to get off to a good start, if you can avoid the bunkers on either side of the fairway. Sound advice is to
lay-up with a long iron, as the fairway traps are sneaky close. Play a bit cautious and give yourself a chance for at least a par -as the next 3 holes provide one of the toughest
sequences anywhere. Two long par fours with uphill, undulating greens are followed by a snakingly narrow par 5, with an approach to a thin green flanked by marshes in the front
and back and to the left. There is little room for error on this #1 handicapped hole. Navigate these 3 holes successfully, and you might be on your way to a great round. Five
through nine provide ample par/birdie opportunities. The fifth plays shorter than it seems, although the uphill green has some tricky undulations. Be sure to be on the correct tier.
An easy par 3 is followed by a very short par four, requiring an 180 - 200 yard tee shot (there is more room left than it appears) followed by an approach to an uphill, double-tiered
green. The eighth is also a short hole, but the fairway bunker and mound fronting the putting surface adds some difficulty. The finishing hole on the front is tough one. There is lots
of room long and short is also a good idea. Right or left are nothing but trouble on this par three, which plays longer than the scorecard indicates. It is more uphill than it appears.
The back nine opens up with the easiest sequence of holes on the course. A very short par four at 10 gives you a good deal of room off the tee, but narrows considerably on the
approach. The eleventh seems even easier, although the putting surface has a great deal of break. These are followed by a short par three with a huge green - and the 18th
ranked handicap. Thirteen is a beautiful and rather long par 4 with marshland to the right and mounds left. The par 5 fourteenth has a long fairway, with lots of room for error - a
good par/birdie chance. Number 15 is one of the most beautiful holes on Moose Ridge, and is also incredibly challenging. An accurate tee shot over water is followed by an
approach to a narrow green, with a lake running all along the left side and forest land to the right.
A gorgeous downhill par three with similar features, is a prelude to a very long, wide open par 4, with the most puttable green on the course. Long hole, easy green - this is a fair
trade off. You will not be disappointed with the closing hole. This is a long par 5 dogleg right. It is highly unlikely you will save much distance by trying to cut your tee shot. Play it
straight and you will have an easier second shot and better chance of landing it near or on the green on your third. A good birdie/par opportunity if you play it right.
My first impression of Moose Ridge was that of a tough Gaylord area type of course. The slope rating of 128 from the whites and 138 from the tips seemed a little low. To my
surprise, when the smoke cleared (or in this case, a light, all day drizzle) I found I had shot my handicap - and realized I could have done even better without the three putts I had
early in the round. Moose Ridge is indeed challenging. But it is also fun to play and gorgeous to look at. They have a pretty decent pin placement system (markers on the flags)
and the fairways are well marked with yardage plates and white 150 yard flags on the sides of the fairways. Keep in mind, you will often need an extra club on your approach to
these greens, which are usually uphill. The rates are extremely reasonable here - especially for weekday rounds. Golfers get great value with each round played 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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