LOCATION: South off of 28th Street on Thornhills Ave., 2.5 miles to 48th St.; east to course ADDRESS: 4747 Champions Circle, Grand Rapids 49512 YARDAGE: 4,878/6,821; 4 sets of tees ARCHITECT: William Newcomb YEAR OPENED: 1996 PHONE: (616) 554-4747 WEB SITE: www.thornapplepointe.com

THE GOLF BOOM OF THE '90s FOREVER CHANGED THE WAY WE PLAY THE GAME. THE COURSES WERE MUCH LARGER – IN LENGTH,
width of fairways, size of greens and fees. The so-called upscale course was born. Leading the parade in West Michigan was The Golf Club at Thornapple Pointe.

It’s an immutable law of marketing to be first in a category, and as Thornapple braced for the inevitable competition, they didn’t rest on their laurels.

Director of Golf Chris Sobieck and Superintendent Jack Thomasma are as passionate for the game and their profession as any two individuals you’ll encounter. If you doubt it, a visit and a trip around the course will convince you.

It was they who introduced and oversaw significant course improvements which began in 2003. The original Bill Newcomb design now measures a tad over 7,000 yards. Eight new tee stations have been added since the 1996 opening, along with 20 additional bunkers and some slight routing improvements. Thornapple Pointe was the first to introduce on-cart GPS technology for pinpoint accuracy to the flagstick. A new, permanent pavilion west of the clubhouse that seats up to 300 was added in 2006.

Course improvements are enjoyed from the opening tee, where three new bunkers guard the left side of the 453-yard first hole. The right side fairway bunker has been repositioned and the fairway contoured with a left-to-right bend to accommodate the styling of the left-side bunkers.

A directional bunker was placed on the left side of the fairway about 280 yards from the championship tee on the 433-yard third hole. A series of three bunkers now guard the right side.

The most inspired re-creation from the 2003 redo is the par-4, 350-yard 18th hole, formerly the ninth hole. Two new fairway bunkers are tucked into the right dogleg and the other perfectly awaits 250-yard tee shots to the middle of the fairway.

The par-5s might be the biggest marvel of Thornapple Pointe. The 633-yard fifth is defined by a towering oak on a bluff. A series of bunkers on the edge of the Thornapple River leads to the deep green.

The seventh requires a 175-yard-plus carry over a deep ravine from the tips. The 551-yard 13th might be the signature hole, where tee locations are diverse, either from a bluff or over a river inlet. The fairway hugs the Thornapple River on the left and woods on the right. The 531-yard 16th hole ends with a hillside green perched above the river.

An exceptional golf experience awaits you at Thornapple Pointe.