Getting To Know: Hawk's Eye Golf Resort

Whether you have played a course 20+ times a year or looking to play the course for the first time, insights from an insider can help enhance your golf experience. Below is an interview with Jay Stanula who shares some valuable tidbits about the course, memorable holes and must eats and treats at the 19th.

Give Our Readers An Overview of the Golf Course/Property
No matter your ability, once you have played Hawk's Eye Golf Course, you will want to experience it again and again. The challenge, the beauty, and the sheer enjoyment of a round at Hawk's Eye makes this resort a must for your golfing bucket list. Golf Advisor just named Hawk's Eye the 24th Best Golf Course Layout in the United States in 2017.

If Someone Was Looking To Golf In The Area, Why Should They Play Your Course?
Hawk's Eye is truly a course where everyone is welcome, an avid golfer to a bogey golfer to a beginner to a leisure golfer. We love the game of golf and understand that sometimes courses can be intimidating. We want you to feel welcome, to feel comfortable, and to enjoy the beauty of the course and the game. We also believe in making golf an experience and not just a round of golf. We have daily leader boards that reward golfers with a beverage in the pub, we partner with a app that makes the day's round a social event if chosen to, we offer a free closest to the pin contest everyday and reward with prizes, we run prizes for the best "selfie of the week" on the course. We try our hardest to make it a golf experience. We also like to give back to our communities with programs such as "Water Fore Flint" and "Putts for Mutts". Lastly, we want everyone to experience Hawk's Eye and we try to make golf affordable to everyone. We offer so many deals such as, Deal of the Day, Pay per Hole Program, and 2 Fore 1 Wednesdays.

What Tips or Local Knowledge Would You Provide To Help Them Score Better At Your Course?
Every green is either up or down one club, so be sure to pick the correct club. Also, there are a few false fronts so make sure to get the ball to the center of the green.

Any recent changes to the golf course? Or any upcoming changes?
This year we are welcoming a new Head Superintendent, Terry Geelhoed. He comes to Hawk's Eye with a lot of experience in the golf industry and we are looking forward to seeing his "grass magic" this summer.

Recent Awards or What You Are Most Proud About The Course?
Golf Advisor just named us the 24th Best Golf Course Design in the United States. We are truly honored and humbled by the award that was given to us by real golfers that play all around the United States not a journalist.

What Is The Signature, Most Talked About, or Most Photographed Hole?
The number one hole is our signature hole among many unique holes. Number one is a dog leg left with a safe shot to the fairway to the right but leaving you with a longer shot into the green. Why everyone loves the hole is the large pond that challenges golfers to clear the 261 yard carry over the pond leaving you with a short shot into the green. The green grass mixed with the turquoise blue water makes up a gorgeous landscape of the golf course.

What Is Your Favorite Hole? Any Tips to Play It?
My personal favorite is hole seventeen. The longest hole on the golf course but also the highest elevation hole on the golf course. We named the hole, Epic, as this hole usually has everyone standing on the tee box for just a few moments to soak up the beauty of looking out to the horizon of mother nature. The hole itself, is the longest on the course but the fairway slopes down and away from the tee box giving golfers a chance at a huge drive. The second shot is either a play it safe PW to the end of the fairway or, depending on how huge of a drive, a challenging but rewarding shot at the three tiered green with a pond guarding the right edge of the green.

Must Have Dish or Drink after the round at the 19th Hole?
The Chipper's Club, although a classic, is the perfect sandwich after the round. To add a delicious unique Chipper's twist on the sandwich it is make with a pesto mayo sauce that is nothing short of spectacular. To sit back and relax on the back deck over looking #18 with a drink in your hand has to be one of our signature drinks, "The Cherry Capital". It is mixed perfectly with cherry infused Jim Beam Red Stag and Northwoods Soda Blackcherry Cream Soda a local Traverse City pop company.

Who Holds Course Record and What Was Their Score?
The course record is a 66 from the tips. Unfortunately, we do not have the golfers name or any details because he came in as a single and played the entire course in 2 hours and left very quickly. The bag staff had his scorecard and brought it into the Pro Shop. So technically it is unofficial as we weren't able to confirm with him but it is the lowest score recorded to date. On a fun side, the course record for the highest score is a 145, and the guest said he had the most fun in his life.

Back Tee Stats
Par: 72
Yardage: 7011
Slope: 148
Rating: 75.4

More Information
Hawk's Eye Golf Resort
5820 Shanty Creek Road
Bellaire, MI, 49615
231-533-4295

https://www.golfbellaire.com/