Mines Golf Club (Grand Rapids, MI)

Mike Devries’ rise into the upper echelon of modern course architecture has led golf enthusiasts to seek out his earlier work. Grand Rapids is the epicenter of his beginning and three public courses all within thirty miles of each other offers great insight into his philosophy. The Mines was designed in 2005 on a rectangular piece of property divided up into four quadrants by a road and power lines. His routing connects them and shows his ability to cleverly incorporate the landforms that give each hole its individual identity. 

The Mines is located only a few miles from downtown Grand Rapids and is a popular course that has developed a following of golfers who enjoy a fun and clever layout. It was pointed out to me how the course starts across the street with four parallel holes that play nothing like each other. The first two holes are up and over a hill. The first has a deep swale fronting the green while the second has a back to front slope with a tier in the rear and low section front right. The third is a long uphill par four with a fall away fairway that prevents balls from running on putting surface. The fourth is a driveable two shotter with a thumb print in the middle of the green that has several diabolical pin placements.

(The 408/371 yard first hole has a steep swale fronting the green. Any of the front pin positions are challenging…

…note how not one bunker guards the green. Weaker players do have the option to bail out to the side where the fairway is at green level.) 

(The 356/298 yard par four sixth has a two tier green where the upper left is like hitting to a tabletop. A lower right pin is more accessible and is a good birdie opportunity.) 

(The 155/131 yard par three seventh is downhill to an angled green. Selecting the correct club is key but overall being long is dead. It’s a good birdie opportunity.) 

(The 404/364 yard par four ninth plays over the brow of the hill to a wide fairway that it is shares with the par five fifth. The approach is uphill to a green bunkered at its four corners…

…the green has a raised level in the middle that creates variety with the approach shot and putting. It’s a quality hole.) 

After the first four holes, 5-11 and 18 play on the clubhouse quadrant, and unfortunately this section of property is a little cramped. Seven and eight are back to back par threes with the par three eleventh playing next them. All three holes are roughly the same length, unless they use the alternate tee on eleven, and I think this is the weak link in the routing. The power line quadrant has the best holes. 13,14, &16 are all terrific par fours. Thirteen and sixteen are both long par fours that play into the prevailing wind. Both have good tee shots that need to be pounded in order to have a chance at reaching the putting surfaces in regulation. The fourteenth has a hogback fairway where one must decide which kind of lie and stance is favorable for the day’s second shot.

(The 341/321 yard par four twelth is a drive and pitch short par four. The four bunkers guarding the green, especially the two short, makes one pause about selecting the driver. Being in the valley results in a semi blind approach so laying back is an option for a better view.) 

(The 398/385 yard par four fourteenth is one of my favorite holes at the Mines. Look at the amount of slope in the fairway. The spine is the optimal spot but it’s very difficult to find. The fairway to the right slopes just as much too. The bunker ahead prevents long hitters from making this fairway irrelevant.) 

(The 141/122 yard par three fifteenth has a lion’s mouth bunker guarding the front center of the green…
…there are multiple pin placements that can be difficult to get close. The golfer on the far right has a very quick putt breaking to the left. While today’s pin can be seen as generous, imagine if it was slid further back on the plateau.) 

(The 468/431 yard par four eighteenth is a monster finishing hole. There’s a crease in middle of the fairway with a high left and high right flat for the discriminating player…
…the green sits atop a knob with a falloff on the left. This is one of six bunkerless holes where the natural topography is the defining hazard. Par is a good score.) 

The Mines is one of three courses that make up the Devries trio in Grand Rapids. With the routing issue, and the lack of diversity on the par threes, I feel this is the weakest one. That should not be confused with the word bad because this is still a strong golf course. The other two are that good! (Pilgrims Run, Diamond Springs) The Mines is a great value and the locals have a true gem to call home. I give it a 5 (good)(worth driving an hour to play).