Golf in Kalamazoo

The course at Sauganash Golf Club showcases two eras of golf-course design: it features a front nine built in 1924 by A. W. Tillinghast, prolific designer of such legendary courses as Bethpage Black and Baltusrol, and a back nine built 47 years later. This baby of cross-generational construction challenges golfers of all skill levels, as players must try a wide spectrum of golf shots to get through the holes spanning 6,194 yards across the heavily wooded land adjacent to the St. Joseph River. The front nine demand precise drives down tight fairways, and the back nine require a firm handle on distance to avoid penalty strokes for winding up in the river or any one of the Great Lakes.

Course at a Glance:

• 18-hole, par 72 course

• Total length of 6,194 yards from the back tees

• Three sets of tees per hole

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

In 1996, a group of golfers formed a membership program that offers deeply discounted greens fees at a network of affiliated golf courses in West Michigan. The program is PGAC, and the result provides two-for-one greens fees at more than 28 courses and special discount rates at more than 11 courses. After reserving tee times any day of the week, golfers can load up their clubs and spare mannequin legs to test their skills on the challenging designs of renowned regional courses such as The Highlands, Lynx, Macatawa Legends, and Diamond Springs. Along with saving golfers up to $7,500 and helping local courses increase their waterways' diet of golf balls, PGAC hosts fundraisers for local schools and organizations.

In 1929, the Wilson family sculpted nine golf holes into their fruit and dairy farm, weaving well-manicured holes among the orchards and appropriating an old farmhouse to serve as the first clubhouse. Today, after several clubhouse iterations, the family still owns the course, having overseen an expansion to two full 18-hole courses during its storied history. Water is featured prominently on both layouts and a diverse gathering of trees line the fairways, from low apple trees that bloom radiant white flowers in the springtime to towering pines vying for inclusion in Wilson family holiday photos.

Course at a Glance:

• Two 18-hole, par 72 courses
• 6,180 yards from the back tees
• Course rating of 68.5 from the back tees
• Slope rating of 108 from the back tees
• Two sets of tees per hole