Master Planning and renovation of this 18-hole private club in SE Michigan built in 1916 by Willie Park Jr., with modifications by Donald Ross. SGD worked especially close with this membership to draft a plan that fit their needs, helping them become one of the top clubs in the Detroit area. Ultimately, the membership voted 83% in favor of the plan, and 76% in favor of closing for an entire year to complete the project.
Renovation work consisted of the reconstruction of 20 greens to variable depth USGA recommendations, 60 bunkers, all new tees with an emphasis on teeing equity and yardage variety, re-grassing of all fairways, installation of nearly 15 miles of drainage pipe, and the conversion of over 20 acres to native landscape. The design of the course leveraged the philosophy of Willie Park Jr.’s green and bunker strategy along with the placement of grass humps, hollows, and drainage ditches. Each feature provides a design aesthetic reminiscent of the Heathland-styled golf courses of London with an end product described as “old, unique, and fun-to-play.”
The club has received high acclaim following the renovation, including reaching #130 on Golfweek’s “Top 200 Classic Courses”, #5 on Golf Magazine’s list of “Best Golf Courses in Michigan”, a Design Excellence Award by the American Society of Golf Course Architects, and “Best New Renovation of the Year” award by Golf Inc. in 2017.
A special thanks to The Fried Egg for the great photos of MCC found below!
