Course Info:
- Holland, Michigan
- Semi-Private
- 6,792 yards (Blue Tees) / Par 72
- Architect: Ray Hearn
- Rates (Spring): $55 weekdays, $59 weekend
Review:
(Note: I played Macatawa GC on a cold and extremely windy day, which may be the cause of some experiences)
You know those scenes from zombie movies where the protagonist is walking through an enormous city, but it’s completely still, empty, and silent? The scenery and surroundings are big and what normally would feel cramped and closed, just feels open.
That was Macatawa Golf Club.
On an incredibly windy, and cold day close to the shore of Lake Michigan, there weren’t many visitors to Macatawa GC, except our foursome.
The course is a big playground, full of big holes, well-placed bunkers, expansive waste areas and massive greens. There are plenty of times where you can see three, four, or five holes at the same time. There are few trees, which cause the entire place to feel open and visible to you at any given point. In our case, it felt like we had entire course, hell, the entire neighborhood to ourselves. In some cases it even felt eerie. There wasn’t anyone around. At all.
The course itself is exceptional. Even this early in the Michigan golf season, the course was in phenomenal shape and looked pristine. If you didn’t know that it was once flat farmland, you’d think it belonged several miles west on the dunes along the shore. There are plenty of mounding dunes that rise and fall around the edges of fairways and greens, which can be fun targets or backstops.
Macatawa challenges you to navigate the water that seems to creep into the right side of many, many holes (as a lefty who likes to fade the ball to the left, it was a treat). They are wide enough not to demand incredible precision off the tee, but when the wind blows (and it always does) it can be a test.
The rough isn’t over penal and on many holes there are enormous sandy waste areas that act as ever-present hazards to navigate. As with most of the course, the greens are also massive with big, sweeping slopes that make for some fun long putts.
All in all, Macatawa is an exceptionally well groomed, well-designed course with a lot to offer. By itself, it would stand in a similar echelon to many well-groomed, well-designed West Michigan courses. Where I think Macatawa GC stands out is the feeling you get when you play it.
As I mentioned at the beginning, it just feels like a big playground full of big, fun, always into-the-wind shots. It’s an unusual feeling in Michigan, where so many courses are tree-filled parkland courses. It’s odd being able to see half the golf course at the same time, while getting pelted with constant wind. It’s even rarer to see sandy waste areas that stretch across two or three different holes. Framing all of this are sloping dunes that provide context to holes, give you points to aim at, and give you creative license to bounce golf balls off the sides, back, or font to accomplish your imagined shot.
Couple that feeling of unusual openness with weather that just feels links-esque, and Macatawa gives you a breath of fresh air from the usual suspects of Michigan golf.
I’ve never even come close to shooting a noteworthy score at Mac, but I’ve left each time having felt like I just had a blast and can’t wait until I can get back, and I think that says something.
When a course can detach the connection between fun and score, and leave you satisfied no matter what, I’d say that’s worth checking out.
Two Off the First 