Golfing With Shawn: Sugar Bush Golf Club

I didn't break 100 the first time I played Sugar Bush. Nor the second...or third times either. Sugar Bush is a course that demands all the shots. It's usually in great shape and the greens are plenty fast. Harold Paddock designed it in 1965 and it's arguably his best golf course.

As you drive out to Sugar Bush, the rolling hills of Portage county give you a glimpse into what's to come..... sweeping vistas of rumpled land, creek filled valleys, and skyline ridges. The topography was absolutely made for golf! And the first hole shows off the lands attributes right from the start. One is a reachable par five that makes the long hitter contemplate the hazards protecting the elevated green, woods left, OB right, and long grass short. The shorter hitter has a decision too. Should he layup to the creek? Or carry it for a short pitch shot? The second is a lovely par three in an amphitheater of trees. I witnessed a hole in one that bounced off the hill and into the hole. A few years ago the green was extended further right and it's an incredibly difficult pin to get close to.

The par fours at Sugar Bush really excel and are the main reason why it's such a challenging golf course. The third hole is an excellent example. It's 433 yards that requires a good drive from an elevated tee followed by a long approach up the hill to an elevated green. It's such a great hole that Paddock didn't even need a sand trap to help protect it. The seventh is 450 yards. A creek crosses the fairway bout 100 yards from the green before protecting the right side. Any shot leaked to the right will quickly lead to double bogey. The ninth at 440 yards is just a tad easier since a draw can take the slope and gain a few extra yards off the tee. The green falls away on the sides so the approach must be straight. The putting surface is flattish so birdie can be made with a good approach.

While the front nine is the power side with many long shots required to score well, the back nine is mostly bout finesse. The 185 yard tenth starts it off. The green slopes hard to the right and the player who can hit it underneath the hole has a good chance to make a three. The Mickey Mouse hole, named after the bunker short of the green, is just a short iron approach but the first half of the green is basically a false front so it's precision shot to get it on the back level. 400 yard twelfth is precision squared. A tight fairway leads to a slightly elevated green benched into the hill. Severely pitched to front, the approach must come from the fairway , otherwise the ball rolls to the rear where a two putt is not likely.

If there's any weakness to Sugar Bush, it's the last four holes, and specifically the par fives. There's nothing wrong with them, but they are short and can give up four straight birdies to end the round. Fifteen is a beautiful par five but the long hitter can get there with a long to mid iron. Sixteen is only bout 300 yards but it's skyline green is 30 feet above the fairway and it has a fiercely sloped green. It's a great example how tough a well designed short par four can be. Seventeen is par four posing as a par five. Finally eighteen is a gorgeous downhill par four. I holed out a 7iron for eagle to break 80 for the first time here. The green is well trapped in front so the player should take a half club more for approach.

Sugar Bush is chocked full of really good holes that I didn't comment on. There's the dangerous par 3 fifth playing 200 yards slightly downhill. No bailout as the green slopes to the front left as a ravine guards the left, meaning a chip from the right is difficult to get close. Six is 371 yards with the creek protecting the entire right side. The uphill approach on thirteen with its sloped to right green. The fourteenth has a severe back to front green for its 180 yard par three shot. It's just a very good golf course! I wouldn't hesitate to take anyone out to play it. I think it is one of top 25 courses in the state. (6 rating)