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:
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!
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