Sugar Loaf Old Course (Cedar, MI)

I found myself on the Leelanau Peninsula with extra time on my hands, and chance to play nine holes. Sugar Loaf caught my attention because it was designed by C.D. Wagstaff, a relatively unknown Chicago architect whose work is mostly confined to Illinois. 

(The 429/405 yard par four opening hole looks longer than what it actually is. Look at the movement of the land and how the fairway curves before climbing up the hill. I didn’t get to play this nine but seeing this view made me feel good about my decision to visit.) 

Wagstaff is an interesting character who was a prominent landscape architect. He was involved in both the Chicago World Fair in 1933, and the 1936 Great Lakes Expo in Cleveland. However, his interest in golf led him to design several fine courses. I’ve never heard of him before I played Sugar Loaf. I played the back nine, and judging by what I saw, he had a good eye in using the landforms presented to him. The tenth and seventeenth are absolutely wonderful! 

(The 410/382 yard par four tenth falls dramatically a few hundred yards off the tee. Once the ball goes over, the golfer has no control where it’ll end up…
…the green is spread across a hill with a bunker cut into the slope fronting it. Depending on the lie, carrying the ball to the green can be a challenge…
…this view from eleven fairway shows the tenth green’s staunch position.) 

(The 618/540 yard par five seventeenth possesses a fortress green high up on the hill. It’s 20-30 feet above the fairway…
…the two tiered green can play up to three clubs longer. Looking back, note the large mound of rock resting in the middle of the fairway. The golfer must play over it to obtain the best position for his third shot.)

Wagstaff put together a solid routing for the back nine. I found his holes to be compelling with some intriguing shots. The short par four thirteenth for instance had a ravine cutting across it, and the men’s and lady’s tees both had to drive over it. On the eleventh, the hole played parallel to the tenth, and the tee shot had to carry the hill to reach the fairway. It was solid architecture, and at the price we were paying, was well done. 

(Women rarely hit over imposing obstacles so what a thrill it was to see this short par four at thirteen force such a shot.) 

The greens had nice slopes in them with the apex at the shoulder of a bunker or a mound. Pins could be tucked behind or in between them. One had to pay attention to how deep the green was in order to be pin high otherwise you’d have to putt up n over. It was better than what most regional architects typically do. 

(The 414/355 yard par four eleventh plays from the valley up the hill to the fairway. The green is guarded by water right and behind. A par is a good score.) 


(This is the fourth new course I played this year that ended with a par three. This one is 183/173 yards. The green is long with a steep slope leading to the rear. It’s not very wide, placing more pressure on a straight shot. I love the silo in the background.)

I enjoy finding courses designed by obscured architects. Wagstaff understood design principles and  wasn’t afraid to take on cool features. I liked Sugar Loaf. If his other courses look like this then it’d be fun finding them. I give it a 4 (above average)(worth driving 30-45 minutes to play). 

 

Rolling Green Golf Club (Huntsburg, OH)

I guess I’m bound to find a few clunkers in my travels. Rolling Green made my list because I was curious to see Richard LaConte’s work. He was a local guy who did Airport Greens in Wickliffe, a course I believe he actually owned. I didn’t have any expectations but Rolling Green turned out to be a big disappointment.

(One of the few highlights is this nice par three over the reservoir.)

The conditioning was very poor. I know the grass was Kentucky Blue, but there is no difference between the fairways and rough. It’s all the same height. The width of the fairways is ridiculously narrow too. I also don’t think they have an irrigation system. There was a lot of crusty spots in the fairways and rough. 

(The most interesting hole was this dogleg left short par four where the reservoir was inside the curve.) 

There is very little on the front nine that is even worth talking about. The long 470 yard par four fifth was possibly the best hole. It played up and over a slight rise before leveling off in the trees. It’s followed by a long par three over a pond. The back nine is much better with some good land movement that makes several of the par fours more palatable. Starting at the eleventh and playing through to the end, these holes are more enjoyable to play. Rolling Green has a good set of bones to work with, but I reckon that it’s rural location keeps it off most northeast Ohio golfer’s radar. 

(The long par three six has two hazards to carry.) 

The highlight of my round at Rolling Green was watching the two Amish girls in full length cotton dresses and hair bonnets take healthy whacks off with their driver. Surprisingly, the course was steadily busy in spite of its deficiencies. I guess golf really is becoming popular. I give it a 2 (below average).

Washtenaw Golf Club (Ypsilanti, MI)

I’m seldom surprised by golf courses but Washtenaw did that and more. I’m stealing this phrase from another writer who called it “deliciously old school”. The design tenets of yesteryear are wonderfully displayed here. There’s tight fairways with century old trees, small well contoured greens, engaging landforms, and a villainous creek that loops through several holes. 

Established in 1899, Washtenaw is one of Michigan’s oldest golf clubs. It started out as three holes, then six, nine and finally eighteen. Golfpass lists Bert Wey as the architect, but articles I’ve read list the designer as unknown. The club did hire Ray Hearn in 2020 to help enlarge greens, remove trees, reposition bunkers, and add some new tees. 

(The 349/319 yard par four first starts the round off in rollicking good fashion. The tee shot must navigate two rolling hills and trees to find a good angle to the green…
…the plateau putting surface has a false front that will catch anything short or anything that has too much spin. It’s a birdie opportunity that can go sideways very quickly.) 

(The 425/405 yard par four second is defended by this narrow green. Note how the green sits in the saddle of the mounding. Once one finds himself outside this bracket, recovery shots become much more difficult. The green is only 10 yards wide but expands to 20 in the rear. Par is a good score.)

The topography at Washtenaw is ideal for golf. It’s laid out on a rectangular piece of property with a valley occupying the north end where the clubhouse is located. Paint Creek snakes through this section, and the architect uses it perfectly. It protects a few greens including the eighteenth and a couple fairways, but mostly it enhances the setting with its beauty and tranquility. 

(The 580/562 yard par five sixth plays every bit its yardage as it steadily climbs to this very large green. The two tiered putting surface is nearly as wide as it is deep. Pin placement is of the utmost importance. Besides being on the proper tier, one also wants to be in the correct quadrant  Note that the green is raised above the fairway, so spinning it off the front needs to taken into account. A five is always a good score.) 

(The 348/338 yard par four seventh begins the three hole stretch that the pro told me was key to a good round. The tee box is elevated behind the sixth green, and the real question is… what yardage are we trying to get for a third? Most will layup and hit a short iron in, but longer hitters have a dilemma. As the crow flies, it’s only 316 yards to the green, and only 260 yards to carry the creek. Of course any type of mishit will find the water, but the pro told me it is easier to drive than the eighth. It’s fun hole that modern technology has made exciting!) 

(The 322/286 yard par four eighth is a fantastic short par four! The bunker on the left is our aiming point, and a sliver of fairway begins at the creek and slides around the sand…
…this view is past the bunker but notice how one cannot make out the pin placement. A wall of grass greets us instead. The fairway has widen out too…
…the green is way above atop the hill. It is two tiered with the lower portion in the front left. It’s also a pure 312 yard uphill shot if one is attempting to drive it. Coming up short in the wall of rough is an instant way to make bogey…
…the entire back half plays in a punchbowl so one can work the ball off the sides. What a hole! I’m sure regulars are thinking about it the moment they step on the first tee. This is a world class hole!)

(The 194/172 yard par three ninth finishes the front off in style. Both the tee and green are on the high ground with the creek in between. It’s well bunkered in front so take an extra club.) 

The architect routed the course using the valley as much as possible. His intuition proved correct as these are the ones everyone remembers. Eight holes use it in some capacity and two other holes play to its edge, giving golfers a great view of the ones below. Those eight holes can be seen from the clubhouse, and when one arrives, these are the ones that capture your attention. The beauty of the creek, the terrain climbing up the hill, the eighteenth green below the pro shop door, all add to a great first impression. 

(The 540/501 yard par five tenth starts by the creek and plays uphill to a large green. The first half plays off a right to left slope then it plays off a left to right slope. Expect to hit at least one shot from an uneven lie. Birdie is well earned.) 

(The downhill 150/135 yard twelth is backdropped by the creek. With a short iron in hand, most golfers will be thinking birdie. Note that not one bunker is used to defend this delicate hole.) 

(The 542/503 yard par five thirteenth faces this uphill drive. Long hitters should have no issue reaching the top but shorter players have a sand trap on the left to avoid…

…the green pitches hard with bunkers guarding front left and right. Today’s pin is just over the front trap, and it takes skill to nip it just right and spin it back to the hole. A putting surface with this much slope will make two putting from any significant distance challenging…
…looking back, one can see that the long hitter has a downhill slope which can bring the green into range. It’s another terrific par five.) 

Last year, Williams Country Club was my favorite course within three hours that I never heard of, and this year Washtenaw claims that title. When I first started blogging, courses such as these were what I was hoping to find. Besides providing great golf, both possess excellent value, especially Washtenaw which only cost $60! 

(The 330/308 yard par four sixteenth is a good chance to get a stroke back. The green slopes from the back left to the front right. It has a strong pitch so stay below the hole. Front pin placements are the most difficult.)

 

(The 368/362 yard par four eighteenth plays straightaway before falling downhill to the creek. The pro told me the best drive bounces at least once, and if it clears the downslope on the fly, then it’s possible to reach the water 265 yards from the tee…
…laying back is an option, but if one can gauge the bounce correctly, then it’s just a wedge approach. For those who don’t make it to the bottom, a downhill lie will tighten the screws on an already intimidating shot.

A poor tee shot brings all sorts of bad numbers into play. It’s a very interesting finisher!)  

Michigan is loaded with strong golf courses, and how a course like Washtenaw flies under the radar is beyond me. The type of variety in the holes and in the terrain makes this one of the best courses in southeast Michigan. I think it deserves to be nationally recognized, and I’d place it as one top twenty public courses in Michigan. (Note how I didn’t say top ten.)

It’s a tad bit over two hours from Cleveland and it beats most public courses in Columbus. Looking for a road trip? Put this one on your list. I give Washtenaw a 6 (very good)(worth driving two hours to play.) 

Androscoggin Valley Country Club (Gorham, NH)

It was purely happenstance that I found myself at Androscoggin Valley. We were suppose to drive up Mt Washington but the visibility was poor so we got a room at the Town and Country Inn and waited to go the next morning. The golf course was literally across the street so we decided to mosey on over and check it out. 

This region of New Hampshire is all about nature. Hiking is the foremost activity, and judging by the guys at the coffee shop, ATVing is not too far behind. The White Mountains are a beautiful backdrop and Androscoggin reaps the benefits of being among them. The course was in rough shape when we played it but there are a few things I think deserve comment. 

Androscoggin Valley was designed in 1922 by a golf professional out of Maine named Alex Chisholm. He was the head pro at Portland CC and was the winner of the Maine Open in 1928 and 1929. One can tell the course was laid out in separate eras. The older holes have filled in cross bunkers that are well back of the greens. This is the style Chisholm would have used, basically carry the sand and let the ball bounce in. The newer holes have mounded greens which accept the aerial game. They’re also on property that is literally  on the other side of the tracks. A live train uses the line and it’s up to golfers to be smart enough not to get hit. I’ve never seen anything like it before. 

The golf course itself was not much but I’m surprised that there are no views of the Androscoggin River that runs behind the practice putting green and the first few holes. Just something that simple would go a long way making this a more enjoyable round of golf. It’s a 3 (average)(worth driving 15-30 minutes) but out here where just being outside is why everyone shows up, it’s more than enough. 

[Driving up Mount Washington is amazing! If one is afraid of heights, this might not be more than you can handle, but believe me, it’s worth it. Visibility was 90 miles! From the top, one can see two states and Canada. It’s an unbelievable adventure!]

Yes you will drive above the clouds! 

Enjoy the experience!

Leslie Park Golf Course (Ann Arbor, MI)

Leslie Park is a certified monarch butterfly sanctuary. Wildflowers grow all throughout the course but mainly they’re alongside the creek that meanders around the back nine. Hummingbirds were darting in and out of them the day we visited. The speed and multiple angles in which they fly is exhausting. And there’s not a single house to distract from the experience either. To me, this is what golf should be.

Owned by the city of Ann Arbor, Leslie Park was designed by Lawrence Packard in 1967, and renovated by Art Hills in 1995. It has a peculiar routing. The first three holes are in front of the clubhouse, and then it goes through a tunnel to a hilly parcel of land. Holes 

4-9 are located here, and these are the best ones. 

(The 359/337 yard par four third plays below the clubhouse. The fairway bunker looks menacing but a confident drive will carry it and leave just a short pitch in.) 

(The 507/484 yard par five fourth doglegs left off the tee before climbing up a steep hill. The longer player has a chance to reach it in two, but the shorter player must choose between laying up at the base or hitting it further up the slope.) 

The hillier section possesses great strategy. The player must determine where his best position is located, and then execute the shot. This might mean laying back to a flatter spot or going all out to get a shorter club in hand. Several big trees punish lackluster play, and the greens have plenty of slope and internal contour to make putting difficult. 

(The 407/378 yard par four fifth is a terrific hole. A good driver can take a chance and knock it down into the valley, but an offline drive will result in pitching it out from behind the trees. Laying up to the 150 marker is an option. The slope of the green is best handled by staying below the cup, a difficult task if hitting from too far back. Four is a good score. ) 

(The full scale of the rolling terrain can be appreciated in this picture. This is the drive of the 425/405 yard par four sixth. It’s uphill over a good sized valley. It also owns an animated green with plenty of roll in it. Reaching this in regulation starts with a strong tee shot as a poor one effectively makes this a three shot hole.) 


(The 149/132 yard par three seventh has a beautiful green with an infinity view all the way to the hillside in the background. Fully exposed to the wind, the player must properly gauge its strength and pull the right club.) 

(The 344/325 yard par four eighth has several options for golfers. Laying back is the easy choice, but there’s plenty of room down the right for a driver. Those who double cross and hook it left may find themselves wet.) 

Players cross a dirt road to start the back nine. It’s flatter on this side, especially 10 and 18, but it does have roll to it. The biggest feature is the creek. It comes in play on the first four holes 10-13. Then one hikes up a small hill and plays down to the flat land again. Fourteen through sixteen are good birdie opportunities before the final two holes finish it off in style. 

(The 404/376 yard par four tenth is a straight hole with the green on the opposite side of the creek. Being close to the hazard gives a better angle for the approach. Note how the front is higher than the back. This pin position is partially hidden since the bottom of the cup can’t be seen. Par is a good score.)

(The 403/374 yard par four thirteenth plays parallel to ten with the creek guarding the right side…

…the green is open in the front with bunkers on the sides. A good drive will allow an aggressive approach since the putting surface is more level than the others.)

(The short 150/139 yard par three seventeenth plays over water. The vista behind is absolutely gorgeous. When the wildflowers are all in bloom, it’s a kaleidoscope of color. A bold shot is needed to make a two.) 

Leslie Park is recognized as the best municipal course in Michigan and one of the top 50 municipals in America. The two holes that stop it from getting more love are nine and eleven. Both have very narrow fairways that don’t necessarily hold good shots. The ninth doglegs left against a hillside which one should be able to use to his advantage, but instead it’s kept as rough. The eleventh is a par five whose second shot plays through a notch in the hillside. The better players can pull it off, but the majority lose a lot of balls. 

(Leslie Park ends on a 436/402 yard par four. The green slopes towards the front right bunker, yet the opening gives the illusion that left is the proper miss. This is a classic finisher where par will be a good score.) 

Ann Arbor is surprisingly only two and half hours away from Cleveland. Obviously it’s the home of that team up north, but it’s cool college town, and makes for a good road trip. If one is thinking of going up then Leslie Park is well worth a visit. They play several tournaments here and the course more than holds it own. I give it a 5 (good)(worth driving an hour to play). It’s also affordable which makes it even more like my kinda place. 

(The 174/156 yard par three twelth is across the creek to a well protected green. It’s the first thing you see when you pull into the parking lot. The wildflowers in the hazard area make for a welcoming introduction.)

(The 502/473 yard par five eleventh features this small gap in the hillside for the second shot. It’s quite intimidating even for a low handicap. Today’s pin tucked against the bunker in the back corner is probably the toughest.)