Diamond Springs Golf Course (Hamilton, MI)

I’ve been hearing murmurs about a golf destination in southwestern Michigan that flies under the radar but packs a hell of a punch for budget minded golfers. Located within a thirty mile radius of Grand Rapids are three Mike Devries’golf courses that provide excellent value. Diamond Springs is arguably the headliner of the group. It’s a real field of dreams course where “if you build it, they will come” perfectly reflects the charm and vibe one experiences.

Diamond Springs is on sandy soil with a deep ravine on the eastern edge of the property being the defining feature. Devries patiently avoids the ravine until the ninth hole where we get a glimpse of it for the first time. It will be prominently displayed the last five holes in stunning and dramatic fashion.  Until then, we are entertained with artfully crafted greens full of bold contours. 

(The 358/310 yard par four second has a classic Lions Mouth green with a sunken bunker dividing the putting surface into a left and right side…
…this angle from behind shows the raised level behind the bunker. One wants to avoid putting over this at all costs so it’s best to be on the same side as the pin. I wonder if the flag is ever directly behind the bunker on the upper level. That would be an unbelievable pin position!) 

(The 189/159 yard par three third reminds me a bit of the third at Tobacco Road except this one has more flamboyant contouring. It’s basically a giant Biarritz green with a “V” like funnel dividing the front and rear levels. The lower section is mainly on the right and is visible from the tee. The angle from the tee is what separates this from other similar greens. The diverse shotmaking into any of the various levels makes this a unique hole. It will take several plays to figure it out.) 

(The 471/414 yard par four sixth is handicapped as the hardest hole on the front. The green is placed atop the ridge with bunkers cut into the slope. What looks like an opening will kick balls left into the sand. Not seen in the picture is a controversial centerline pond. I found the fairway to the right of it to be amply wide. It really shouldn’t be in play yet it’s mere presence causes golfers to grip their drivers a little tighter.) 

(The 515/478 yard par five eighth has a speed slot in the fairway that might propel your ball into a favorable position to encourage a long shot to reach this in two. Notice how the green is well guarded in front and looks quite small. The quest to reach this in two can leave some interesting third shots for those who fail to find the green.) 

The last five holes are as good as you’ll find on any parkland course. The way they interact with the ravine and the cool landforms that are put to use makes for an exciting finish. (The par four fifteenth may be one of the best short par fours on the planet.) Miller’s Creek flows through the bottom of the ravine and the player drives over a few bridges as the holes hop over the twenty five foot deep hazard. If the entire course was just playing holes like the front nine, this would still be a great experience, but these five holes elevate Diamond Springs to a status that has many rating it as a top ten public course in Michigan. 

(The 185/143 yard par three fourteenth is hit over the ravine to a green that resembles a catchers mitt. The front middle center of the green is a bowl and all the other slopes rise above it. The green is positioned directly above the hazard so anything short is gone. Take an extra clean and bail out long leaves a very difficult two putt…

…this picture shows more of the contouring and the angle of the shot. It is an absolute butt puckering shot as anything not close leaves a dramatic two putt over a strong set of slopes.) 

(The 322/280 yard par four fifteenth is one of the best. The hole turns around the ravine with multiple lines for every caliber of player…
…the perfect layup offers this unhindered view of the green however such a position requires an excellent shot from the tee. This particular strip of fairway is narrow and slopes towards the hazard…
…looking back towards the tee, one can see how difficult it is to access the garden spot. Most layups will carry into the lower half where the approach will be blind…
…the tree just outside of the picture is the aiming point to have the ball curl onto the front of the green. It’s also a great place for long hitters to drive the green. Note how the back half of the green slopes away. This is an excellent short par four that deserves studying from architects for future courses!)

(The 507/478 yard par five sixteenth plays along the ravine edge. A long hitter can take it over the left trap and capture additional yardage to bring the green in range. Those playing it as a three shotter have their work cut out for them. Hitting a safe shot off the tee forces an accurate layup and will leave a dangerous approach into the green…

…shots that challenge the ravine have the best angle for the third, otherwise one is coming over the bunkers with the ravine guarding long. It’s safe to say the sand sees a lot of balls. It’s another excellent hole that deserves discussion as one of the best short par fives.)

(The 211/166 yard par three seventeenth is all carry over the ravine to a large green. The big pine and scrub  filled valley emphasize the no nonsense nature of the shot.) 

(The 403/319 yard par four eighteenth has the ravine on both the drive and approach…
…the approach is nothing short of nerve racking. One must trust their yardage and club selection. A rear pin position must look like it’s on the edge of the world. While not overly long for a finishing hole, it doesn’t suffer from a lack of drama.) 

What keeps Diamond Springs from being more well known? It’s actually a combination of a few things. They have an unusual business model. They use a one length cut for all the playing areas. It’s playing area and sandy scrub. That’s it. The fairways are bluegrass and the ball sits up nicely with a cushion underneath it. For the average golfer it’s a very playable setup but the lower handicap will be unimpressed. Catching a flyer is a real concern. Also the course is off the beaten path. The sign near the entrance said “Pavement Ends” to let people know they’ll soon be on a dirt road. 

(The view of the ninth and eighteenth greens. Note the playable grass between the two greens. This wall to wall cut is on other holes too between greens and tee boxes. I absolutely love the look! It sorta has an Augusta National feel.) 

Andy Johnson from the Fried Egg had a write up that encouraged me to make the trip to Grand Rapids. (Him and I seem to share the same taste in architecture) I absolutely loved the course, and I even embraced the one length cut that is so controversial. The course is so rural that I feel their business model is one of the reasons for their success. Besides, how refreshing is it to see a great course geared towards the average golfer with an affordable price point? Truthfully we need more courses like this. There’s so many special courses in Michigan that for a place like this to be in the top ten conversation defends the strength of Mike Devries design. When writers wax poetry about the soul of golf, their talking about courses like Diamond Springs. I give it an 8 (excellent)(worth spending a long weekend to play). 

(The 426/389 yard par four ninth is the first time seeing the ravine. The drive must carry over the corner of it and the player who hugs it will have a shorter shot into the green.)

[I played with two locals who reacquainted themselves with golf during covid. We played the white tees at 6,033 yards. I got off to a slow start but hit my stride by the fourth hole and never looked back. Finishing with back to back birdies helped me secure my best round of the year so far.]

For those who want to read Andy Johnson’s write up, I am including his Fried Egg link:

https://thefriedegg.com/diamond-springs-golf-course/

Also I want to start sharing videos, and the guys from No Laying Up played Diamond Springs in season 7 of their Tourist Sauce series. Enjoy!

Legend Lake Golf Club (Chardon, OH)

I had never heard of Legend Lake until I made a wrong turn going to Chardon and found myself gawking at this mysterious course in the middle of nowhere. It was a private club at the time that flew well under the radar. Unfortunately for its membership, the economic decision to go public last year gave northeast Ohio golfers another option for their weekly game. It’s slowly starting to gain attention as a public course. 

Legend Lake was designed in 1968 by owner Reece Alexander. He did an admirable job with the routing, placing the first five holes on the large section of property across the street before crossing over the road and finishing the last four behind the clubhouse. The back nine on the other hand is completely across the street. It rolls over the hills and incorporates the creek and lake. It’s very picturesque. 

(The 420/408 yard par four second doglegs left Tina well protected green. Long hitters can get to position in picture but most will be coming in from the left and have the green side bunker to carry…
…this view shows how much the hole turns. The tee box is not in view.) 

Legend Lake strives to challenge good players while letting average golfers enjoy their day. Management is shooting for 3:45 minutes to play. I love this goal! The course is not overloaded with difficulty and bunkers are used sparingly. Trees are probably the biggest hazards. This simplistic approach hopefully allows players to keep a brisk pace and play in the desired time. 

(The 395/383 yard par four tenth has a creek well short of the green, however a poor drive quickly brings it into play.) 

(The 515/503 yard par five eleventh doglegs left before finishing at this crowned green. A false front and bunkers makes the approach a precise one.) 

(The 375/360 yard par four twelth is the best hole on the course. The drive crests over the hill and the approach is from a downhill lie.) 

Architecturally, Legend Lake misses out on all the nuances an experienced architect would have designed. Most of the recovery shots around the green require simple chipping and pitching technique. The cerebral challenge of playing off slopes is muted. The par threes are mainly forgettable except for the short fifteenth which plays over the lake. It’s the focal point of the course and the only true hole that plays on the water. The par fives are all birdie holes and are reachable in two. While they aren’t very interesting, they can definitely provide fireworks with plenty of birdie and eagle opportunities. The par fours are the best holes and my favorites are 2,3,10,12,17. I love the simplicity of two and texture of all the trees combined with the creek’s presence. Three sorta has the lake in play but the drive over the valley is fun. Ten is a solid hole but the view looking back from the green with clubhouse in sight is inspiring. Twelve is a classic hole with a great green location. Finally seventeen climbs uphill with a terrific tee box in a great setting. The second shot over the bunker is a fun one. 

(The 340/337 yard par four fourteenth is downhill to a well bunkered green. The putting surface slopes from back right to front left.) 

(The 145/135 yard par three fifteenth is the highlight of the round with an all carry shot over the lake. It’s just a mid to short iron so birdie is in play) 

My biggest criticism are the last four holes on the front nine. (The ninth is actually a strong par four) Both six and seven are too raw. (They remind me a bit of the NLE Wicked Woods that was located nearby) The width on both are too narrow, especially seven which is 400 yards with a ravine crossing the fairway. There’s simply not enough room to play the hole consistently. The eighth follows with a nonchalant uphill par three. 

(The final hole plays uphill to the clubhouse. The 410/382 yard par four doglegs left slightly with sand guarding the inside corner…

…the green is well defended with a narrow entrance in the front.) 

The CNCGA has been looking for a course to fill the state rout 422 corridor for a few years now. Chardon Lakes has run out of favor with the guys, and it’s been years since we played Punderson. Even the reliable Sugarbush is slowly seeing its star fade. Legend Lake could be the course to fill this need to play on the east side. I think it’s good enough and playable enough to be a group favorite and the patio will have more than its fair share of supporters. I give it a 4 (above average)(worth driving 30-45 minutes to play).  

(The view of three from the fifteenth tee box.) 

Birdsfoot Golf Club (Freeport, PA)

Many of the courses designed during the Tiger Boom were on parcels of land that weren’t the best for golf. These repurposed properties were at the mercy of the architects hired to find the best possible routing. Luckily for Birdsfoot, Brian Ault came up with a solution that takes advantage of the best features, however, there are still multiple deficiencies that limit the experience one can have here. 

(The 186/168 yard par three seventeenth has trouble pockmarked everywhere. The left side is a wide target but a right handed pin will have you checking your yardage twice.) 

Pulling into the parking lot, one is greeted with a Mall C type white tent that provides shade from the sun. A small farmhouse that can barely hold ten people is acting as the clubhouse. If first impressions are important then Birdsfoot starts off rather precariously. Both one and ten are uphill with ten playing straight up an incline. It’s literally the only view of the course you have from the farmhouse. The driving range is behind it and is uniquely positioned. Players are blasting away straight into a hill of grass. 

(After playing uphill on one, the view from two tee provides this beautiful view of the Pennsylvania countryside.)

(The long 458/434 yard par four third plays downhill with a hazard all along the left side. A hard draw will take the contours and scoot to mid iron range. Note the tilt of the fairway in picture. No bunkers needed on this demanding hole.) 

(This is the side view on the 172/155 yard par three third. The shot is over wetlands with bunkers behind. The central portion is raised with a slope in front and a bowl in the back left.) 

The key to Ault’s routing was getting to the top of the hill as quickly as possible. From there the views open up and the holes play on undulating land. The back side is not as fortunate and 10,12,13 play on significant elevation change. The eleventh lynchpins the four holes with a terrific par three. Returning to the front nine, almost all the holes are visible from two tee. It’s a very wide expansive parcel and the holes turn and dogleg amongst each other. There’s a good variety of holes and some great opportunities for birdies and eagles. 

(The 501/486 yard par five fifth doglegs left before climbing up the hill. For shorter hitters, getting to the flat between the two fairway traps will leave a simple pitch. Long hitters have a speed slot if they can reach the far end of the fairway as it turns…
…the green has three distinct sections for pin placements. The long hitter can reach it in two but will likely have a difficult two putt or chip for birdie. The shorter player will need to be very precise with his wedge.)

(The 416/400 yard par four eighth finishes at this well positioned green with a backdrop that makes depth perception tricky.) 

(The ninth is possibly the best hole on the course. At 215/190 yards, it’s all carry over a ravine to green teetering on the other side. The fairway and rough short of the green give the player some bailout. A three is a great score.) 

Returning to the back nine, Ault’s decision to attack the severe uphill and downhill terrain right away from 10-13 allows the course to regroup with some strong holes coming in. As mentioned before, the eleventh is a terrific par three. This is a panoramic view from behind the green. The bunker horseshoes around most of the
putting surface, leaving a narrow strip of fairway that runs into the green. Playing between 175-212 yards, the player needs to hit a high shot that lands quickly. This lynchpin not only is a great hole but let’s the next two be long holes that eat up negative terrain. Twelve is a fun drive but has a green that looks like a bicycle helmet. The rear half slopes off aggressively! Then the thirteenth climbs up the hill where the slope is so great that a drive down the middle might not stay in the fairway on a dry day. Unfortunately for Pittsburgh golfers, these are some of the pitfalls that make new courses hard to design. 

(The 375/345 yard fifteenth is a short par four with an angled green. Note the slope to the left of the pin in picture. This is the only thing visible from the fairway. The rest is hidden and requires one to trust their yardage.) 

When Birdsfoot first opened, it was the darling of Pittsburgh golf and featured prominently in regional magazines. Nowadays, it’s middling among its peers. It once was high on my list of places to play, and only when two of my lady friends had a practice round for an upcoming tournament did I make the trip to see it. (I’m surprised it’s holding the event since the lack of infrastructure is a bit concerning) While it’s a nice addition for local golfers, it has too many oddities to suggest a trip of significant length. The lack of housing is a plus and the views are beautiful. I give Birdsfoot a 4 (above average)(worth driving 30-45 minutes to play). 

(The eighteenth has a bizarre spine that is suppose to create a split fairway. The right side (the only side I’d ever go down) runs out of fairway while the left side doesn’t. Regardless, the rough is not very long and the penalty is lacking…
…either way the second shot is significantly downhill and golfers can land the ball well short of the green and watch it bounce on. A raised section in the rear makes for an exciting finish. Being long is trouble so don’t be too aggressive.) 

University of Michigan Golf Course (Ann Arbor, MI)

There are very few Alister Mackenzie courses open to the public but thankfully for Midwest golfers one of them is owned by the University of Michigan. It used to be available only to faculty, students, and alumni, but now a special package can be bought that allows outside play. For true golf architecture aficionados, this is a unique experience and great opportunity. 

University of Michigan has a large hill in the middle of the property. Unlike most courses of this time period where the clubhouse would be at the highest point with commanding views, it sits at the bottom so nine and eighteen play downhill.  Thus 2, 4, 10 climb it while 3,6,7,8 work their way on and off. They require strong golf acumen as a variety of lies and stances are encountered. Golfers must be able to read the shots and execute them. It sounds rather simple but it really is next level stuff that mentally engages the good golfer who is trying to get his ball onto the green and close to the hole. 

(The 537/523 yard par five third is all world. It starts with this drive up n over a ridge with a nasty bunker guarding the right…
…the hole than goes downhill and curves to the left. A good drive makes this an easy shot. Otherwise it’s tough to gauge the exact line to gain an easy approach…

…the view from the valley is nondescript. Note how being short spins the ball down the hill. Also it’s hard to judge the line and distance of the third shot…

…the green is vicious. Besides sloping hard to the front and left, the angled green is hard to hit in regulation. My ball literally broke over twenty feet putting from the front to the rear left portion.) 

The real treasure at UMGC are the greens. They are excellent with rolls and bumps establishing pin placements. They are severely pitched too. I played it when the speed was manageable so I was able to make putts and two putt from long range. When the speed increases, the course takes on a completely different personality. One can find themselves in impossible situations, and double bogey can happen real quick. 

(The 308/295 yard par four sixth features the famed boomerang green. There is a solid 10-15 feet between the lower and upper portions. There is no bank in the middle to help putt from one section to the other so being stymied is a distinct possibility…
…this view taken from seven tee shows just how narrow the middle is. When approaching this hole, it’s best to think of it as two greens. The upper one is smaller and requires an excellent shot for a birdie putt.) 

While the third and sixth are recognized as all world, I was enamored with several others. The par four second was a classic up and over hole. It’s a blind tee shot to a fairway that plunges downhill. The long hitter who can get to the bottom will be rewarded with an easy second but for those like myself who find themselves on the downslope, it might be prudent to lay back and take the longer shot from a flat lie. The fourth was similar but landing zone didn’t have a significant valley. The green however was beautiful with plateaus and internal rolls making for some interesting pin placements. The seventh was a driveable par four for the big hitters but everyone else has to worry about running out of fairway down the right. As the hole descends, it turns slightly left and the right side crests over the brow of the hill. The uphill par three eighth has a severe back left to lower front right slope. Being above the hole is a three putt waiting to happen. 

(This view of the 159/149 yard par three eighth is flattened by the camera, but it’s 25-30 feet above the tee box. The large tree you see on the left is in play and forces a fade off the bunker in the picture.) 

(The uphill 417/372 yard tenth has a massive green divided by a roll in the center. A few high points in the rear create some funnel type pin locations. A large bunker stretches across the front left making those cups harder to attack.) 

On the back, the tenth began the inward nine with strong uphill ascent. Plenty of width off the tee and a large green makes this a captivating hole. A good short game will be needed to walk away with four. The twelth is a par four disguised as a par three. It’s length is on the cusp for most golfers and it sports one of the most difficult greens on the course. Fourteen is called the mini boomerang green. (It’s the opening pic) Front pins are relatively easy but getting the correct club for back pins is decidedly harder. It’s a four club green too. I loved the drive on fifteen. It’s a downhill reverse camber tee shot. The green is open from the inside position while those who played to outside will need to carry part of the front right bunker. 

(The 247/238 yard par three twelth is slightly downhill but note the roll in the middle, a bowl type feature in the front right, and a shelf along the left and rear sections. An absolute monster, a three is like a birdie in my book!) 

(The 389/379 yard par four fifteenth has this view from the inside position. If one bails to the open right side, then front right bunker needs to be carried on the approach.) 

(Look at the false front and how far it extends into the seventeenth green. Balls that catch this slope will roll off and into the bunker. I was quite surprised to find my ball in it. It’s a 399/368 yard par four.) 

If there’s one thing holding the course back, it would be its overall length. The course is landlocked and cannot be extended further. That said, Mackenzie’s Pasatiempo in Santa Cruz is even shorter and holds the prestigious Western Intercollegiate every year. UMGC possesses the same kind of greens and can hold its own when it’s fast and firm. Also, the last three holes are often cited as mundane and don’t have the flamboyancy that is affiliated with Mackenzie. The pond fronting eighteen green used to be a creek. (Purists hate it) The new clubhouse is very modern and looks out of place. All this nitpicking may have validity to it, but it isn’t enough to dismiss the the quality of the course. The Mackenzie/Maxwell greens are worth every effort to see. I don’t want to oversell the course but if you’ve never seen a Mackenzie design then make the trip. I give UMGC a 7 (great)(worth driving 3-4 hours to play). For historical and architectural buffs, I’d make it an 8.

(The 455/436 yard eighteenth plays downhill to a well guarded fairway. From the bunker, it’s a 200 yard ish shot to the green. The green is pushed away from the water so there’s more room than one might realize. Note the 21st century clubhouse to the right.) 

[I’d be remiss if I didn’t compare UMGC to the Ohio State’s Scarlet course, another Mackenzie/Maxwell design. Having played both, I would place UM heads and shoulders above because a lot of Mackenzie and Maxwell are still there to be studied. Nicklaus altered the Scarlet quite a bit. I feel the terrain is better at UM too. Oddly enough, many professionals like the Scarlet better because at 7400 yards it’s able to challenge the best players. Unfortunately this translates into 6600 yards from the members tee. UM has better terrain, more shots, and is more fun.]