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By Randy
Prichard
Southeastern
Michigan found a new place to golf in 2000
and so did Golf Digest, nominating Lake
Forest Golf Club, Ann Arbor, as one of
the Top 100 Best New Public Golf Courses.
Brent Veenstra, 1993 Michigan Open Champion,
has been involved in the building of
Lake Forest to its present day 18-hole
layout since day one. He serves as
the Director of Golf Instruction at Lake Forest.
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“
This is a very challenging course,” says
the only person to ever score a 62 at the heralded
Bear at Grand Traverse Resort. “The key
here is to keep it straight,” said Veenstra.
He has twice posted 67’s at Lake Forest,
the lowest 18 hole total to date.
Five under par is liable to stand awhile at this
6,800-yard mix of links and northern Michigan
style golf. The back nine, measuring 3,442 yards
in length, opened July 2000. This is the northern
Michigan side, which takes the golfer through
the woods and natural wetlands. A couple of hundred
more yards has been added to the front nine,
lengthening it to a similar 3,400 yards. At first
glance the links-type front invites visions of
scores under par. But three-foot tall stands
of laid-over native fescue will have you thinking
your game and strategy a bit differently after
the first tee.
“
Some holes were simply too short,” said
General Manager Rudy Millward. “The 295-yard,
par 4 No. 5 hole invited people to go for the
green which tended to slow play.” This
is one of the holes that was lengthened, as were
numbers 2, 4 and 7. Management is eyeing adding
some distance to hole 8, too.
Number 12 is Lake Forest’s signature hole,
with three forced carries. It’s not overly
long, only 364 yards from the championship tees,
but accuracy is a premium. None of the wetlands
that lie between you and the green should pose
much of a problem; you can clear the second one
with a 4 or 5 iron. From their you’ll have
150 yards to a green with water on the left and
bunkers on the right. On this and every hole,
reminds Millward, “shoot straight and take
what the course gives you.”
While Lake Forest provides superb playing conditions,
Veenstra is particularly proud of the growing
Junior Golf Academy, which will have over 100
students this year. “Blame it on Tiger,” said
Veenstra, “he’s definitely bringing
kids to the game of golf.”
The Golf Academy at Lake Forest is part of
their 15-acre practice facility with driving
range,
target greens, putting and chipping greens
and bunkers.
You’ll love the 18-hole green fees at Lake
Forest Golf Club: $47.00 with cart Saturday and
Sunday and $37.00 with cart Monday-Friday and
after 1:00pm weekends. Visit Lake Forest on the
web at www.lakeforestgolfclub.com. |
