Turkeyfoot Golf Links is a good example how a strong course can be built without being long on the scorecard. Designed in 1925, the course takes full advantage of every land feature available, including some beautiful views of the portage lakes.
Turkeyfoot is divided in half by SR 619, the front nine north of it and the back nine south of it. The first tee is set right next to the road which probably adds to the pressure of the first swing of the day. Thankfully it's a very short par four. Turkeyfoot really starts taking off at the long par four third. 440 yards, it plays alongside the road which is OB. The green sits atop a slight knob and the only way to attack it is by hitting just short and letting the ball bounce on. OB stakes just off the back edge of the green deters most players from making an aggressive swing and carrying it to the putting surface. The fifth thru the eighth play up and down a large hill. I'm not sure I've seen a hole like five anywhere. Playing uphill, the option to drive it is there, but the green is so precipitously placed that the prudent play is hitting a wedge just underneath the cup. It's a very cool setting as the green is benched into the hill with four foot high slopes at the back of the green. I used to play the slope as a backboard but after a few shots stayed, decided that was not the best option.
Six and seven are back to back par fives. Six plays downhill and has great views from the tee while seven plays uphill to a devilish green. Both are difficult holes to make birdie. The front ends with a mid length par four. The green has a large false front that makes the approach a nervy shot. Being long leaves a difficult two putt, so those trying to stay below the hole must take care not to spin it off the front down into the fairway.
The back nine starts off in interesting fashion. A par four of only 260 yards, it's not necessarily one you think about trying to drive. OB is dead on the right and a large bunker lies directly in front of the green. The green itself is an incredibly sloped surface from high front right to low back left. There's so many options that it's one of my favorite holes anywhere. It also illustrates Turkeyfoots secret to being a good golf course. The holes that look on the scorecard to be the easiest have the most difficult greens.
The back nine has three par threes, each of them requiring well struck shots to make par. The beautiful thirteenth is 190 yards downhill to a green protected by water left and sand front right. It's a tough target to hit, and the fun really begins once you're on the green. The steeply sloped putting surface can be three or four putted very quickly. The fifteenth is 210 yards. This square green has a ramp short of it, and it's best to use it to funnel the ball on. The seventeenth is my favorite par three. Only 130 yards, the sloped green has a ridge that bisects it at a diagonal angle. As the pin moves around the ridge, the shot required changes, though the result must always be below the hole and on the same side as the pin.
Turkeyfoot ends with a very demanding par five. Usually into the wind, it plays longer than its 570 yards. With 619 all down the right side, OB comes more into play the closer you get to the green. While a par here is a very good score, double and triple bogey can be made quite easily too.
Turkeyfoot is a fun course to play. It's in great shape, and you'll see a few holes you've never seen before. I recommend playing it. It's gets a GOOD (5) rating from me.
Turkeyfoot is divided in half by SR 619, the front nine north of it and the back nine south of it. The first tee is set right next to the road which probably adds to the pressure of the first swing of the day. Thankfully it's a very short par four. Turkeyfoot really starts taking off at the long par four third. 440 yards, it plays alongside the road which is OB. The green sits atop a slight knob and the only way to attack it is by hitting just short and letting the ball bounce on. OB stakes just off the back edge of the green deters most players from making an aggressive swing and carrying it to the putting surface. The fifth thru the eighth play up and down a large hill. I'm not sure I've seen a hole like five anywhere. Playing uphill, the option to drive it is there, but the green is so precipitously placed that the prudent play is hitting a wedge just underneath the cup. It's a very cool setting as the green is benched into the hill with four foot high slopes at the back of the green. I used to play the slope as a backboard but after a few shots stayed, decided that was not the best option.
Six and seven are back to back par fives. Six plays downhill and has great views from the tee while seven plays uphill to a devilish green. Both are difficult holes to make birdie. The front ends with a mid length par four. The green has a large false front that makes the approach a nervy shot. Being long leaves a difficult two putt, so those trying to stay below the hole must take care not to spin it off the front down into the fairway.
The back nine has three par threes, each of them requiring well struck shots to make par. The beautiful thirteenth is 190 yards downhill to a green protected by water left and sand front right. It's a tough target to hit, and the fun really begins once you're on the green. The steeply sloped putting surface can be three or four putted very quickly. The fifteenth is 210 yards. This square green has a ramp short of it, and it's best to use it to funnel the ball on. The seventeenth is my favorite par three. Only 130 yards, the sloped green has a ridge that bisects it at a diagonal angle. As the pin moves around the ridge, the shot required changes, though the result must always be below the hole and on the same side as the pin.
Turkeyfoot ends with a very demanding par five. Usually into the wind, it plays longer than its 570 yards. With 619 all down the right side, OB comes more into play the closer you get to the green. While a par here is a very good score, double and triple bogey can be made quite easily too.
Turkeyfoot is a fun course to play. It's in great shape, and you'll see a few holes you've never seen before. I recommend playing it. It's gets a GOOD (5) rating from me.
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