| LochenHeath is a real estate-driven private golf club development just outside of Traverse City. The course was designed by Steve Smyers on rolling property along the Grand Traverse Bay. The views on this course are stunning, and much of the golf is as well. The vast majority of this course boasts top notch northern Michigan golf, although the quality of a few of the holes appears to have been sacrificed for real estate. In addition to a fine course, this club offers one of the best practice facilities in the state and the course itself offers a wonderful firm and fast playing surface. The front 9 is one of the best opening loops this area of the state and is undoubtedly the stronger of the two nine’s on this course. The golfer’s round starts on the fun dogleg right, downhill par 4 1st, where players who successfully avoid the bunkers on the right side of the fairway could conceivable putt a ball onto the green from anywhere 120yds and in. Golfers will witness very dramatic contouring on the greens for the 1st as well as the par 5 2nd, certainly putting them on alert of the importance of proper shot placement into these green complexes. Additional highlights of the opening nine include the 240yd downhill 3rd, the reachable par 4 6th hole that runs along the Lake Michigan shoreline, and the scenic and well-protected par 3 8th hole. While the back 9 struggles to maintain the quality of the front, there are very fun holes to navigate on this inward loop. The 250yd par 3 11th has some reverse-redan features as golfers can use a kicker slope to run approach shots onto the green from the front-left fairway. The reachable 313yd par 4 12th, protected by a centerline bunker 40 yards short of the green, provides an enjoyable and strategic challenge. The back 9 finishes with three very challenging holes, the 451yd par 4 16th, 488yd par 4 17th, and uphill 531yd par 5 18th. This finishing stretch offers plenty of opportunities to swing a match as players make their way to the clubhouse. |