Getting To Know: The Medalist Golf Club

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 Lowell Weaver II 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
At the Medalist, you'll find a championship links-style 41/2 star course that has been exquisitely etched out of a landscape of almost 300 acres of rolling wooded land and wetlands. You're in South Central Michigan, but the terrain will carry you away in your mind to the state's north woods.

The Medalist has hosted many prestigious statewide events including the 2001 Women's State Championship, the 2010 Michigan State Junior Golf Championship, and the 2011 Michigan Junior State Amateur Championship. We have also hosted numerous USGA qualifiers including most recently United State Amateur Public Links qualifiers in 2009, 2010, and 2011.

If Someone Was Looking To Golf In The Area, Why Should They Play Your Course?
In the midst of this scenic location, you'll be taking on a championship course created by Michigan's own Bill Newcomb. His handiwork is a must-play for the serious golfer who will find intriguing doglegs, split fairways, and wetlands, and ponds to carry.

But this is a course for all generations and all the family to enjoy. With five sets of tees available on each hole, players of every level can enjoy Newcomb's handiwork.We offer you a championship-level course, measuring almost 7,000 yards from the tips, designed by one of the area's most renowned architects Bill Newcomb back in 1997 and 1998.

General Manager Lowell Weaver notes that as you start your round you can expect an easy introduction to the game. "The first three holes are relatively open; just grip it and rip it," Weaver says. "They are very good warm up holes".

The 4th through 13th are tougher with lots of tests around every corner, including carries over marsh and wetlands. Then near the end of your round, starting with the 14th, you'll find five great finishing holes that allow you to get aggressive and score

In 2014 we will also be adding a full color GPS unit to all carts. It will be able to keep a private running scoreboard for multiple groups on the course also.

What Tips or Local Knowledge Would You Provide To Help Them Score Better At Your Course?
No. 4, a double dogleg par-5 (568 yards from the back tees and 452 yards from the front tees), starts out with a bang, requiring a blind tee shot over a hill. "Your second shot includes a carry over wetlands," Weaver said. "And then you hit into an undulating green with a bunker front left."

"No. 7 is our signature hole," Weaver says. "It's a par-3 (172 yards from the back and 123 yards from the front), not long, but we call it 'our little terror.'"

The problem on the 7th is that you need to hit your tee shot either on to the green or into a bunker on the right side. The right and left are flanked by wetlands. "If you miss the green or the bunker, you're in the wetlands," Weaver says. "And then you have to go to a drop zone."

The 9th, he says, is a risky par-5 (565 yards from the back and 419 yards from the front). "There's a small pond on the left side and long hitters might be able to drive over it," Weaver says. "But if you can't, you'll have to lay up short of the water."

But from about 100 to 60 yards from the green, there's another pond to carry on the left-hand side about 100 yards from the green. You have a choice of playing safe by laying up requiring 3 shots to the green, or you can be aggressive by hitting driver, which brings the ponds into play.

Click here to book a tee time online or call the Golf Shop at (269) 789-4653 for more information.

Weaver calls No. 11 the toughest par-4 on the course (426 yards from the back and 277 from the front tees). "From the back you have to carry 215 yards off the tee to get over the wetlands," he says. "Then you have to take a second shot into a three-tiered green that is about 15 yards wide. If you're above the pin and you have to putt back to the hole, the green won't hold your ball. You're going to roll off. So stay below the pin." No. 16 is a fairly short par-4 (350 yards from the back and 301 from the forward tees) with a double fairway. "It's a risk-reward hole," Weaver says. "You can take the risk on the left or be safe on the right."

If you go to the left, it's a tough tee shot to a very narrow fairway bordered by a natural area on your left. So if you go too far left, you're going to lose your ball. "But going left, you have a better approach shot and the bunker is not in play in front of the green."

If you take the right fairway it's a safer tee shot. "But it's harder to make birdie," Weaver says, "because you have to carry a huge bunker in front of the green."

You'll find a tricky par-3 (176 yards from the back and 91 yards from the forward tees) on No. 17. "You have to get to the green here off the tee," Weaver says. "The hole plays a club longer than you think because you're hitting uphill into a shallow green. If you come up short, your ball can bounce back into a swamp. There's also a very deep bunker in front that is very steep. It's a tough sand save from there."

The par-4 18th is a grand finish for this round (403 yards from the back and 316 from the front tees). Off the tee, you'll have to be careful about the three fairway bunkers on the right-hand side. There is also a natural area to the left. So make sure you hit short of the fairway bunkers. Then you'll have a long shot into the green bordered by a pond on the left-hand side. It's a beautiful sight - the pond, the green and the clubhouse in the distance. But stay alert and stay out of trouble.

Recent Awards or What You Are Most Proud About The Course?
The Medalist has been named one of the top 25 public courses in Michigan by the Oakland Press. We are rated 4 1/2 stars by Golf Digest. Beginning in 2014 we will be offering the Visage GPS system on our golf carts which will enhance our position even more.

What Is The Signature, Most Talked About, or Most Photographed Hole?
#7 is our most photographed hole because of it's beauty. #11 is our most talked about hole because of it's difficulty. It was just named one of the 18 hardest holes by Michigan Golf Live and will be included in their broadcast of the 18 hardest holes in Michigan beginning early 2014.

What Is Your Favorite Hole? Any Tips to Play It? I really do not have a favorite hole. We have so many holes that are unique and have nuances that make them challenging but fair. Our setting is such that on most holes you are not able to see the other holes on the course. It is just you and nature trying to tame the golf course. It is very beautiful and challenging but fair at the same time.

Must Have Dish or Drink after the round at the 19th Hole?
Our entire menu is tasty and moderately priced but one of our most popular dishes is the Michigan Chicken Boneless Chicken Breast sautéed with Mushrooms, fresh Basil and Dried Cherries, finished with a White Wine Cream Sauce, served with fresh Vegetable and Potato


Who Holds Course Record and What Was Their Score?
Our course record is 64 shot by former PGA tour winner John Morse. The interesting thing about the round is that he bogeyed the first hole which is one of the easier holes on the course.

Back Tee Stats
Par: 72
Yardage: 6955
Slope: 139
Rating: 74.7

More Information
The Medalist Golf Club
15701 N Dr
North Marshall, Michigan, 49068
269-789-4653
www.themedalist.com