Cracklewood Golf Club

The start of the new week brings us back to Southeast Michigan, just in time to prepare for all the golf you’ll be doing this long holiday weekend. Today’s feature: $18 for 18 holes with a cart at Cracklewood Golf Club in Macomb ($42 value).

Cracklewood Golf Club opened in 1989 after course architect Jerry Matthews’ vision had come to life. The course’s layout was designed to incorporate both links and parkland styles of play. The first three holes play in the woods, zigzagging both north and south, and finishing with a straightforward par 3. The foliage here at Cracklewood Golf Club is significant enough to make you feel a bit more solitary than you would at other courses in the area, and you won’t likely see carts from other holes chasing after their balls on your hole. The par-5 4th leads you out of the woods into a stretch of open links-style holes with mounding and water hazards along the way. The first nine culminates with a harsh dogleg-left around the pond next to the clubhouse; this hole can be tough if your approach must go over water to a deep-left pin position.

The second nine opens up with a great opportunity to negate any unfortunate occurrences from the 9th hole: a 544-yard par 5 whose length allows for a great by-the-book birdie chance. The majority of the back nine is dominated by tree-lined holes, but there is some room for error off the tee on holes 11 and 16 and water seldom comes into play as you meander through the forest. You’ll finish your round on the longest par 5 at Cracklewood Golf Club, the 556-yard 18th, which features a creek cutting straight across the slim fairway. If you’re a longer hitter feeling confident, clear the hazard to set yourself up for an opportunity to carve out a stroke before you count them up.

Before and after your round, take advantage of the practice facilities at Cracklewood Golf Club, where you’ll find a 300-yard natural grass driving range and a chipping/putting green. Then you can head over to the Pro Shop, where you’ll find top brands available at great prices. Of course it’s a little late in the 2010 golf season as Labor Day approaches, but it’s never too late to inquire about creating or joining a 2011 league at Cracklewood Golf Club! There are convenient time slots for leagues available every weekday night and even a Wednesday morning house league for those who have worked or are working in the automotive industry. The staff in the Pro Shop can also provide you with information about hosting your next golf outing here. They are very accommodating and will work with you to create the competitively priced outing that is appropriate for your every need. Cracklewood Golf Club is one of the most popular courses in the area simply because it presents a solid, well-maintained design continually supported by great service.