Golf in Forest Hills

Nestled among oak trees and apple orchards, the 18-hole, par 72 course at Deer Run Golf Club hosts weeping willows that have been ducking golf balls for more than four decades. Golfers start out at the course’s second-hardest hole, navigating a dogleg left in the last fourth of the fairway and hitting past two bunkers that stand sentry just in front of the green. The second hole, a handicap 18, lets players catch their breath or show off by wearing a diamond-studded blindfold while driving, but the 13th hole—the course’s toughest—gives even the most gifted swingers a challenge with a dogleg right and a green guarded by a slither of fairway-bifurcating water.

Before hitting the course, players warm up at one of the driving range’s 25 hitting stations or by bench-pressing a golf cart. After, they generally decamp to Deer Run's clubhouse, which complete with a hardwood dance floor and fireplace ready for hosting special occasions. Here, up to 250 guests can party away the night, celebrate weddings and other occasions, or host a conference on turning the state of Indiana into a 1,800-hole championship course.

Course at a Glance:

• 18-hole, par 72 course

• Total length of 6,964 yards from the back tees

• Course rating of 74.1 from the back tees

• Course slope of 134 from the back tees

• Four sets of tees per hole

The course at Brookside Golf and Grill guides golf balls past babbling brooks and over rolling terrain as players traverse the 6,100-yard course. A stream treacherously intercepts the golfer's path on three holes, and a large pond lies in wait to the right of the green on the 13th hole, waiting furtively for wayward bounces and impulsive swan dives. After a round, players can head inside at the newly redesigned clubhouse, where a full grill restores lost calories with burgers and burritos and assuages lost chances at birdies with beer and wine.

Course at a Glance:

• 18-hole, par-72 course
• Total length of 6,100 yards from the back tees

Club slinger Kendall Kinsey knows his way to the green. A member of the PGA of America since 1989, he has competed in a number of tournaments and earned a win at the Michigan PGA section of the Schuss Mountain Classic. Only his talent as an instructor trumps his skill with the club. During lessons, he draws upon years of playing experience to help others develop their game and distinguish an 8-iron from an 8-pound club sandwich.

Grand Prairie Golf Course stretches across the rolling countryside with a nine-hole, 1,710-yard executive layout that features six par 3s and three short par 4s. The course's longest hole measures 287 yards with many shorter designs that cater to beginners and golfers trying to squeeze in a quick round before sunset, when golf carts turn back into pumpkins.

Golf instructor Ann Marie Roschek draws from 10 years of experience to help golfers lower scores in private lessons and group clinics, and the course pro shop keeps clubbers in the latest golf apparel and equipment from brands including Monterey Club, US Kids Golf, and Adams Golf.

Course at a Glance:

• 9-hole, par 30 executive course

• Course rating of 27.4 from the farthest tees

• Slope rating of 80 from the farthest tees

• Men's and ladies' tee options

Tucked away in the shadows of pines and hardwoods that were planted in the late 1940s, Timber Ridge Golf Club's 6,585-yard course roams through dense tree lines, rolling hills, and native marshland to form a scenic, challenging layout. The Club's new golf carts come equipped with internal GPS systems, which tell players the distance they must hit the ball to clear water hazards, the yardage at which a dog-leg fairway begins to curve around the trees, and the whereabouts of every squirrel that has a golf-ball burglary on its record. The 18th hole brings rounds to a dramatic end, as golfers must dial in their approach shot to a green guarded by water on the left side and bunkers to the right.

Golfers can improve their skills with lessons from Class A instructor Greg Beavers, who became the club's head golf pro after a stint at Walt Disney World Golf. In addition, players can fine-tune their swings at the grass-tee driving range or master short-game strokes at the chipping and putting greens. After rounds, burgers, sandwiches, salads, and cold drinks from a full-service bar await at Rubey's Grill.

Course at a Glance:

• 18-hole, par-72 course

• Length of 6,585 yards from the farthest tees

• Course rating of 73.0 from the farthest tees

• Slope rating of 144 from the farthest tees

• Four tee options

• Scorecard

At the 6,532-yard Pigeon Creek Golf Course, few trees border the fairways and 11 lakes dominate the wide-open layout. The water-laden design forces players to demonstrate deft control off the tee or convert underperforming wedges into fishing poles with divot-tool lures. If players can stay on dry land and efficiently roll their golf balls into the welcoming confines of the cup, they can make a play for the course par of 71.

Course at a Glance:

• 18-hole, par-71 course
• Total length of 6,532 yards from the back tees
• Course rating of 71 from the back tees
• Course slope of 116 from the back tees
• Four sets of tees per hole
• Scorecard