 THE ROCK ON DRUMMOND ISLAND (906-493-1006)
Michigan Golf Course Review
Visitors to the Drummond Island Resort are treated to a serene escape featuring a rustic but dramatic golf environment, along with amenities that will satisfy the inklings of
serious golfers and families alike. The resort features comfortable hotel style accommodations, with in-room refrigerators, televisions with cable, and coffee makers standard.
Besides championship golf - tennis, sand volleyball, boating and fishing are available during the spring/summer/fall, and skiing plus other activities keep the resort hopping
during winter months. Free bicycles and movies are also offered to guests. There is a 9-lane bowling alley which hosts the Pins Restaurant, presenting a variety of casual fare.
The Bayside Restaurant a mile away is a gourmet eatery open daily for dinner and offers the best cuisine on the island. Also on property are a outdoor pool, and a spacious sauna
that is available for guests 24 hours a day. For more info on the resort, visit our page for Drummond Island, with link to their website by clicking here.
Golf facilities include a clubhouse with pro shop, plus grass driving range and practice green. The pro shop features a wide array of golf bags, accessories and attire. Service is
fast and friendly, directing players to the first tee or practice area, which necessitates a cart ride of about 1 and-1/2 miles through thickly forested terrain.
This is about as serene as it gets. There are very few residences along the golf course routing, which traverses beautiful terrain frequented by families of deer and other native
wildlife. Ponds and streams attract abundant water fowl and ad to this aesthetically pleasing environment, while also presented daunting challenges to golfers. Rustic cart paths
wind along rolling fairways that are lined with matures cedars and pines.
Thirty three sand bunkers dot the fairways and green complexes, and 8 holes have water in play in some shape or form. The front nine is replete with natural ponds and marshes
that squeeze the landing zones off the tees, or make approaches to the medium to large size, mildly undulating putting complexes an exacting science. Land on the greens in
regulation and good scores can be had - miss and up and downs can be a tricky business.
Generally speaking, there is sufficient room on the rather generous fairways, but good iron play is necessary as many green complexes present thick forest immediately behind and on both sides.
This is a thinking golfer's design, as driver is not always the prudent play. The back side features an abundance of doglegs that require accurate lay-ups to preferred landing
areas that afford a straight shot at the green. Four holes on the back side bend to the right, while two of the par fours (numbers 13 and 17) turn right to left off the tee. The 150 yard
stake is a good target on these doglegs. Each par four and five also have 100 and 200 yard markers on the rye fairways, and sprinklers heads are measured to the center of the
green. Color coded flags indicate front, middle or back hole locations.
There are some significant uphill approaches that require accurate iron play, so distance and control are of importance. There are 2 par threes and 2 par fives on the back, while
the front side has one par five and plays to a par 35.
On our late July visit, we had the opportunity to become familiar with the layout as we were able to experience 4 complete rounds. Course knowledge is of great value here... those
staying on a multiple night package will have the opportunity to play several rounds, which makes the experience here all the more enjoyable. The more we played here - the more
we enjoyed the design.
We saw more deer on the Rock than any other course we have ever played. They are quite tame - used to human presence, and provide ample photo opportunities. We highly
recommend this golf course, and we also suggest a stay of two or more days at the resort. There are beaches nearby, and the drive and boat ride are an experience worth
enjoying. For more information on the Rock, visit our page with direct link to their own website by clicking here.
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