Shepherd’s Hollow, MI

[Dunit507]

I’m on a work trip for 2 weeks from PA and staying 15 minutes from Shepherd’s Hollow which from the reviews seems to be an exceptional course and they advertise as being in the golf digest top 100 public. Has anyone played it? I have an early day Friday and booked a 1:30pm tee time. Just want to know if anyone has any insight or things I need to know before I play. What your thoughts on the course are, etc. Was $70 for the round so not excessively priced based on the reviews. Any info anyone has would be appreciated!

[dennyjones]

I've played the course about 4 times.   In the past we were able to play before 9 am for $49.    $70 is their going rate and they seem to be full most of the time.    The clubhouse is very nice and their food is very good.   The have a ranger and do monitor slow play (+1)  

The course has three 9 hole courses.   Playing the course, you'll feel like you're in northern Michigan isolated from the rest of the area.   The course is usually in fantastic shape.    The course is fair and the greens usually roll true.  I've attached a .pdf file here for you to see the hole layouts. 

I have not played there this year.   You will enjoy the course.   

 

Shepherds Hollow distances.pdf

[bkuehn1952]

@dennyjones comments match my impressions.  Very rolling land, forest-lined holes, very little in the way of water penalty areas, lots of bunkering.  The layout generally is not tight so one does not need to hit laser straight tee shots on every hole.

A criticism I have heard and with which I somewhat agree is that the fairways and hole routings are a bit tricked out.  One can hit what one considers a good drive down the middle of the fairway and the heavily contoured fairway can send one's ball in unpredictable directions.  Also, it is not unusual to be in the fairway at the bottom of a fairway swale, hitting a shot "blind" from a stance with the ball radically above or below one's feet.

 

[GolfLug]

I played this course 3-4 times back in 2004-2005. I was a fairly inexperienced golfer back then but remember it being picturesque. Especially the 2nd shot wrap-around-the-lake 18th I think. Pretty..

  

[dennyjones]

14 hours ago, GolfLug said:

I played this course 3-4 times back in 2004-2005. I was a fairly inexperienced golfer back then but remember it being picturesque. Especially the 2nd shot wrap-around-the-lake 18th I think. Pretty..

  

#18 is a very picturesque hole.   Par 5 with choice of risk/reward.

[GolfLug]

3 hours ago, dennyjones said:

#18 is a very picturesque hole.   Par 5 with choice of risk/reward.

Ha.. I am sure I dunked a few in the lake.