Michigan Golf Journal December 2019

27 December 2019 www.michigangolfjournal.com Any Big Ten fan that might be checking out college golf courses of the SEC would be wise to add this one to the list. More info at: www.theolemissgolfcourse.com . Cherokee Valley (Olive Branch): Built in the late 1990s, the property is family-owned, and their pride and daily involvement shows. Cherokee Valley has many huge greens and wide-open fairways. It’s no pushover but is a course anyone can play. Several holes have a stadium design framework to guide your eye and sometimes kick wayward balls back in play. Bunkers are artfully shaped, and most have fresh new sand. Most bunkers are also positioned away from the green edges to create a depth-of-field illusion. The course was built on a former cattle ranch, evident by the rolling terrain, with seven holes featuring water challenges. The 12 th hole is a shorter par 4 with a boomerang 90-degree right turn around water to a green that some golfers can reach from the tee. Just plain fun: www.olivebranchgolf.com . North Creek (South Haven): This course has a half-dozen short to mid-length par 4s (six of them 355 yards or shorter from the back tees), giving most golfers an increased chance at putting for some birdies. From the tips, it’s only 6,433 yards overall. The tradeoff is accuracy as water comes into play often, especially the 18 th hole with its island green. Another unique trait is the cart path to the 14 th tee tunnels under the over-sized double green that serves as the putting surface for holes 13 and 15. Man-made mounds could be counted in the thousands, and the bunkers are shaped beautifully but need new sand and other updates. More info at: www.wwncgolf.com . Ole Miss Golf Club Hole 18