 WESTWYND GOLF CLUB AT WYNDGATE (248-608-7820)
Michigan Golf Course Review
Westwynd Golf Club in Rochester Hills is a beautiful new 18-hole public course that is part of the Wyndgate golf community, one of the most upscale private clubs in Southeastern
Michigan. Designed by course architect Craig Schreiner, this championship design features country club conditions on a layout that includes generous rolling fairways, massive
bunkers, and subtle elevation changes. Finely sculpted fairways of bent grass are contoured around numerous natural areas, water hazards and mature trees. During our May
2003 visit, with the facility being open for only a couple months, we found the course to be in wonderful shape from tee to green. The putting surfaces here are quite a challenge,
with many devious pin placements available among the contours and slopes. This is especially true on the par threes. Golfers of all skill levels with appreciate the variety in this
design, with doglegs left and right and serpentine par fives. Scratch golfers will find that the tips play to 6902 yards with a 139 slope. There are two long par fours (441 and 432
yards) and two very long par fives (634 & 623). The blue tees are a challenge with 137 slope on a layout that measures 6463 yards. The average golfer will find that the course
plays fairly from the white tees at 6004 yards with a 130 slope. From these tee areas, there are no par fours longer than 388 yards. The forward boxes play 4903 yards long with a
122 slope rating. The key to scoring well here is to manage the par fives (par is a good score on all 4 of them, as they are ranked as the 1-4 handicaps), and to hit your tee shots
on the correct portion of the green on all par threes.
The yardage is spread out evenly on each nine, with the front featuring an equal number of par threes, fours and fives. The back side has 2 per threes and two par fives, including
the 623 yard tenth, which is the number two handicap. The course itself is well marked, with yardage plates at 100/150/200 on the fairways (and 250 on par fives). The pin
placements, which you will want to pay close attention to, are indicated by a color-coded flag system.
The spacious clubhouse, situated behind the second and eighteenth greens, has a luxurious yet friendly appeal. A small pro shop features golf wear and accessories, and the
Gatehouse Grille provides a casual, relaxing atmosphere with a nice variety of appetizers, soups, sandwiches, entrees and deserts for both lunch and dinner. The outdoor patio
affords spectacular views of the course, and comfortably seats 80 people. Full outings can be facilitated on the terrace and in the adjacent pavilion. Westwynd does not have a
driving range, though members have full use of the practice facilities at Wyndgate Country Club, located nearby. A small but efficient putting green is on property.
The opening hole is a fair one, and is listed as the number 11 handicap. From anywhere on the generous fairway, you should have a good shot at clearing the ridge about 40
yards out to reach in regulation. A water hazard about 135 from the green creates the need for an accurate tee shot on number two. The approach will have to carry the hazard, with
quite a bit of fairway available in front of the green. The par five 3rd presents a rolling, well bunkered fairway. There is only about 15 yards of the short stuff between the two fairway
bunkers off the tee. There also is a bunker complex short right of this extremely undulating green. The fourth and fifth are pretty holes, with the first being a fairly easy, downhill par
three. The 5th is a short but snaking par five that plays uphill to an incredibly narrow green, with a natural area coming into play about 40 yards out - tough approach. Pay
attention to the pin placement on the par three 6th, which plays a strong club uphill. The green here is severely sloped, and will require a tee shot over the left front bunker if the
hole is anywhere left of middle. The rolling fairway ends about 95 yards from the green on seven, which at 634 yards is the longest hole on the course and the number one
handicap. The approach must carry a natural area. The eighth presents a roller coaster green, and like the sixth plays one club uphill. A pond on the right about 85 yards from the
center of the green creates the challenge on the beautiful par four finishing hole.
The back side opens with the second 600 yard plus par five (623 yards from the tips) - which bananas left with bush all along that side. A tee shot bending slightly left over the tree
line will leave the best angle for approaching the green, protected by a natural area about 100 yards out. Eleven is a long but playable par four, and is followed by the shortest four
par on the course. A tee shot that carries the left fairway bunker should leave a good approach and possible birdie, as long as the ball finds the correct portion of the green. 13 and
14 feature an incredible amount of sand, with the 13th being a rather easy par three, and the # 4 ranked 14th playing as a short but tough par five. The approach here plays 1 club
uphill - trust us here, as your eyes may deceive you. Lay up before the bunkers or use the vast landing area left of the green to avoid the numerous traps. A short par four is next,
with a sharp dogleg right occurring just 160 yards from the flag. Long hitters who wish to attempt to drive the green have about 50 yards of narrow fairway between the marsh and
the putting surface. Another undulating and sloped green awaits on the par three 16th. This one is all carry over another natural area. The 17th could have been imported from
Gaylord. From an elevated tee you will find plenty of room along a vast fairway. The best approach is from about 120 out, in front of the deep ravine. The closing hole demands a
carry over a ravine, with a left to right shot shape over the left fairway bunker creating an advantage. There is water right and also in front of the green on the approach. A nice bail
out area is provided on the left side. If you have a good round going, you might want to consider this option, and play for an up and down par.
Westwynd is an upscale golfing experience, and one that is highly recommended. The quality of design and conditioning justify the $75 price tag for 18 holes with cart. Keep in
mind that plans are to eventually turn this into a private facility - so it will be available for public play for only a few years...
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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