Pilgrim’s Run Golf Club (Pierson, MI)

Several of my objections were answered when I read Pilgrim’s Run backstory. The owner let six of his employees each design three holes, and then had Mike DeVries piece them together for an eighteen hole course. If he only knew DeVries was going to be one of the hottest architects in the world twenty years later, then maybe he would’ve let him come up with his own ideas. As is, the course only has three par threes which saddles it with a par 73 and the last two holes are short par fours. 

When I pulled onto the drive, I was taken aback by how wooded the property was. It instantly felt like I was looking at Forest Dunes in Roscommon. It had a spacious clubhouse, an excellent driving range (the short grass extending from the tee for short shots was new to me!) and was beautifully manicured. My friends and I have talked before about that vibe you get when you know you’re somewhere special. I was getting that here. The few holes I could see looked awesome. It was a great first impression. 

(The 550/519 yard opening hole is a serpentine par five that reminded me of Blackwolf Run River’s par five that plays on the water. Here, a few well placed trees and a second shot through the gap over sand is the challenge…
…if you’re not careful then a view like this will make you wish you’d been more aggressive off the tee. This pine tree is a huge nuisance but it’s skinny enough where you can still hit a shot onto the green even if you can’t aim at the flag.) 

(The 434/366 yard par four second doglegs left and plays to a green set against water. A ridge coming off the rear right separates the green into two sections…

…this view shows just how divided the two areas are from each other. A draw can use the slope to release to the left side.) 

(The 498/483 yard par five sixth is a great risk reward hole. The central bunker gives players multiple options off the tee. Driving over it or even by it gives a player a chance to reach it in two…
…the remaining fairway curves around the sand so the longer hitter must still challenge the difficult line to reach it in two shots…
…a mound and upper shelf makes this a testing pitch. It’s a good birdie hole!) 

(The 225/191 yard par three seventh is guarded by wetlands to left and a bunker to right. It’s elevated enough to force a flighted ball onto the putting surface.)

(The 369/331 yard par four eighth has an elevated “L” shaped green who’s back left pin has sucker written all over it. Not one bunker is needed to defend this small target. It forces players to control the spin of their wedges.) 

Every hole at Pilgrim’s Run is isolated in its own corridor. It has a real up north look to it. There is plenty of short grass to keep it in play, but DeVries has some contoured greens that rewards getting the right angle. This is very evident on the front and  a pair of excellent par fives showcases this philosophy. I love the playability of the course which keeps play moving even when it’s adding strokes to your scorecard. While the front nine has some really good holes that require well thought out shots, the back nine loses the pressure of obtaining those angles with a less emphatic routing. There was less pressure to drive the ball well and more pressure on putting. I was disappointed in the ending. Seventeen is a mediocre short par four. And the eighteenth is a driveable short par four that reminds me of Golden Tee where all the finishing holes have eagle possibilities. One really can’t put that on DeVries because he was just coagulating the the hodgepodge designs of six amateurs. 

(The 560/526 yard par five thirteenth gracefully doglegs left off the tee…

…a well placed layup will leave this view to an elevated green. The slope left of the bunker will funnel the ball onto the green. A far right pin is a tougher proposition to handle.) 

(The 173/155 yard par three fifteenth is preened on the top of a spine with bunkers guarding every miss. A swale in the middle is a bit much for the author’s taste. In my view it’s a little too precise a shot…

…this view shows how steep the terrain is should one miss it pin high to the right.) 

(The 454/412 yard par four sixteenth is a long two shotter with water pinching in at the bunker line…

…the approach is hit to a green surrounded by short grass and a bunker to the right. I’ve read national pundits critique the decision not to push it against the hazard.) 

(The 358/322 yard par four eighteenth is an interesting hole. For the shorter hitter, the only true option is laying back behind the bunkers. The longer player can take it straight at the green as long as he make the carry. When it’s firm, driving the green is in play. While fun on paper, it gives too big of an advantage to the long hitter.) 

Pilgrim’s Run is often times seen as a top twenty public course in Michigan. The conditioning is top shelf! It’s a great value and cements the southwestern region of Michigan as an affordable guys trip. I wish it finished stronger and had that extra par three. Obviously that’s a personal preference. I give it a 6 (very good)(worth driving two hours to play).