| Meadowbrook is an architecturally significant 18-hole private course located in Northville MI. In many ways Meadowbrook should stand as a model to private clubs across the country that find themselves in direct competition with larger clubs that have more fame and historical significance. That is not to say that Meadowbrook lacks in either history or, increasingly, national acclaim, but it is an acknowledgement of the large shadow cast by courses like Oakland Hills, Franklin Hills, and Orchard Lake. The course offers a truly unique golfing experience in this golf-rich part of the state. While the club ties its architectural lineage to Willie Park Junior, much of the credit for the current design belongs to Andy Staples, who completed a renovation in 2017. The new course is as much an homage Willie Park Junior as it is to other architectural greats such as C.B. MacDonald, Seth Raynor, and Donald Ross. This golf course boasts an incredible selection of template holes as well as tribute holes to the great work that Willie Park Jr. created in England. It is big and bold and the turf conditions are immaculate. The front nine starts out rather innocently with the mid length, downhill par 4 1st hole but truly finds its stride with the tumbling par 5 second with a green that boasts a massive false front and subtle ridges that divide it’s semi-blind back half . The 3rd hole is a truly remarkable example of strategic design as a seemingly short par 4 is defined by a spectacular green complex that requires the golfer to approach the green from different angles depending on the pin location. The remainder of the front 9 maintains this high standard with holes like the downhill par 4 5th and short and treacherous par 4 9th serving as stand outs. The excellent design continues on the back nine, starting with the tricky green on the 10th hole that slopes from front to back, often asking the golfer to play a running shot into the green. The par 3’s on the back nine are excellent, with the downhill 11th having Redan-like characteristics. Other standouts on this nine include the Lion’s Mouth green complex on the reachable par 4 14th and the Biarritz green on the par 5 17th. Meadowbrook easily stands out in this competitive area due to their wonderful conditioning and the challenging questions that the courses asks. It is a joy to play. |