Sauganash Golf Club

“Come play the tradition” and experience a design by one of golf’s most noted course architects with today’s feature: $17 for 18 Holes with Cart and Lunch at Sauganash Golf Club in Three Rivers near Kalamazoo ($41 Value. Expires December 31, 2012.)

In beautiful Three Rivers, golfers will find the historic Sauganash Golf Club, awaiting their visit as it has for almost 90 years. Established in 1924, Sauganash has not only stood the test of time, but gracefully matured into a shining example of classic golf design.

A.W. Tillinghast — the prolific course architect and designer of such illustrious courses as Baltrusol Golf Club, Bethpage Black and Winged Foot Golf Club — built Sauganash Golf Club right along the peaceful St. Joeseph River, among the slow-rolling hills of Western Michigan. The matured forests and scenic waterways create many picturesque moments and a memorable experience, even before the extraordinary quality of golf is taken into consideration.

The 18-hole layout hails from the Golden Age of golf architecture, with a par of 72 and a modest length of 6,194 yards from the back tees and a course/slope rating of 68.7/128. Playing on the front nine, golfers will be challenged by narrow tree-lined fairways, tight landing zones and some heavily fortified greens. Precision figures more prominently on your way out than does length of the tee.

The back nine is arguably more interesting than the front. Built almost a half-century after the front nine, this half requires a slightly different approach. Featuring a wide variety of obstacles and challenges, shot placement will be extremely important here. Strategy, focus and spotting trouble zones before you hit will be the keys to a great round, as there is ample opportunity for additional penalty strokes.