I don’t think the 9 holes made it past 2018.

If you look in the 2nd pic, it seems like someone is still oddly maintaining a healthy amount of short grass around the clubhouse. I’d love to know what is happening there.

This was Maple River in Brutus. A right on Maple River Rd (top of picture) and about 1.5 miles later you would be at Hidden River. It was a 1985 design by Larry Holbert. I could find active Facebook posts from 2018, in imagery it looks like the executive course might have been shut down by then.

The only change that sticks out to me since 2009 is that the 2nd 9 fairways, which had more of a wavy, 90s-style mowing pattern, were straightened out a bit to match the 1st 9.

This is Walloon Lake CC in Petoskey. The original 9 dates back to 1904. The 2nd 9 was added by Bruce Matthews III and Jerry Matthews (I think both were involved). Some work on tees and a few greens was undertaken by Mike DeVries in 2005, and he also created the 2009 master plan.

I don’t think the holes look too bad. All of the fluff around it does, though.

This is the Orchards in Washington Twp. It’s a 1993 design by Robert Trent Jones Jr. 2026 peak looks to be $120, up $5 from last year. A continual creep upwards, like everywhere else. Often up there with Shepherds Hollow for best public in the metro.

This is Chestnut Hills in Bear Lake. The first 9 was built in 1993, I believe by Doug Carter, and the second 9 appears in imagery between 1998 and 2005. Peak of $57. I missed my chance to “Golf the Nut” two years ago, unfortunately. The land looks really rolly and fun.

This is Eldorado in Cadillac, a 1996 design by Bob Meyer that peaks at $89. In addition to an enjoyable round with plenty of mega putts that you don’t get at many places in the state, Director of Golf Don Smith kills it on the hospitality front.

This is Sandy Creek in Monroe, a 1999 design by Jeff Gorney that peaks at $42. Like a lot of courses by Gorney, it looks mostly not bad? And it sits in pretty close proximity to Green Meadows (want to see), Carrington (want to see), and Monroe CC (pretty good).

This is the Classic course at Otsego Resort in Gaylord. It’s a 1955 design by William Diddel that peaks at $60, compared to the Tribute which can run up to $120. I like the Tribute, but affordable golf is sorely needed in Gaylord. The Classic doesn’t look bad, but not if they are neglecting it.

…I don’t know. A name I do know, Chris Wilczynski, made some more targeted updates in 2019.

This is Warwick Hills in Grand Blanc. For all of the history behind the course, I never really considered who the original designers were. Maybe it was because I have no clue who James Harrison and Ferdinand Garmin are. After the 1957 opening, Joe Lee renovated the course in 1968. Another name…

This is Swartz Creek, a muni that dates back to 1938 and features a 9-hole executive course along with the “Big 18” ($40). It’s weird what I notice while editing these and what I don’t. The lack of any bunkers was not a thing that caught my eye. Probably a good muni feature if done right. Big if.