The Highlands

Im from Chicago and went up to Michigan to golf with my uncle. We set up a tee time for The Highlands cause my uncle said 4-5 years ago he went to an outing at this course and loved it. Upon arriving to the course the pro shop was completely empty. Everything in the pro shop was for sale. Benches,displays, stands absolutely everything had a price tag on for sale. The staff member there told us we can tee off ( on the tee box )from wherever we wanted to. Later upon arriving to the first tee we realized why he made that statement. There were no tee markers on any of the boxes and the grass on the tee boxes was longer than some rough I've seen on other courses. After teeing off we get to what we are thinking is the fairway to find there is no fairway. It was just thick grass all across the course. No signs of a fairway being cut here. Just terrible. We get to the green the bunkers were abandened. The bunkers had patches of grass growing in them and the grass around the bunkers was growing so long it was hanging over the bunker lip. The greens were patchy and like cement. This was the first time I've experienced such bad maintenance on a golf course. We didnt even get to the 2 tee box before we turned back to the clubhouse to complain and get our money back. After having a discussion and slight disagreement with the only staff member on the course he finally admitted that he was selling the course and didn't care. And then told us for the price we paid (under $20 per player) we shouldn't be complaining about the conditions. I honestly wouldn't care if the course was free I still would have left because I so disgusted with the course and the staff. Needless to say we got our money back and left. I've played close to 100 rounds of golf this year on probably 30-40 different courses and this was the first time I actually didn't want to golf That day due to the absolutely disappointing experience at this course. SO I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THAT NO ONE ABSOLUTELY NO ONE GOES HERE AND GOLFS. save your money and time and book your round at another course in the area. Michigan has plenty of beautiful golf courses this one is definitely not one of them. After I left I called GolfNow immediately and explained to them my issues and concerns and they refunded me my fees that were paid thru them for booking the course.

The course has been sold. Reflecting that fact, owner Steve is reducing maintenance to mowing the greens and, presumably, mowing the fairways occasionally. I have enjoyed the course and friendly, helpful staff and am sorry the course has been sold.

Put a white line around this course. The whole place is ground under repair. The grass on the tee boxes was 2-3 inches long. Worse conditions I've ever played under. It is quite obvious that this place is closing.

It is obvious that the owners are not willing to invest anything in maintenance. Fairways, greens, signs, cart paths, parking lot, all of it needs work. The cart GPS system worked well and was a nice unexpected amenity.

Upkeep is nonexistent - the parts of the green that aren't dried up and cracked are overgrown to fairway length. Plugged pin placements are dried and shriveled - not watered. Parts of the fairway are longer than the rough and the rough... I have never lost balls in the fairway before today due to grass length. No matter how good the price, don't buy it. This course appears to be closing with the conditions we found today.

very poor experience way overbooked, way under maintained

Great old track, designed by Donald Ross. Hosted numerous Senior PGA Tour events, and was the Elks Club of GR's home course. The course apparently has been sold to developers, and housing appears to be its fate. Course conditions were poor, as it looks like not much $$ is being spent on maintenance. Shot values are still there, however. She's a great old girl. Play there while you still can.

They are selling and putting no money into the course. Greens are awful, fairways are brutal and the pace of play is horrid

What was once a gem, is now a rock. Sadly, this place probably will not be around to long. Greens are in sad shape, as are the fairways, thistle weeds are out of control. Carts paths are crumbling asphalt. Sand traps are dirt, weeds everywhere. Entryway to the clubhouse needs landscape face lift, as does the parking lot. Sorry to hear leagues are leaving, doesn't surprise me though.
Nice people, good carts with GPS , the only positive things I can say.

They have spent zero money on this course. No water and greens full of weeds. We payed 20.00 and that was to much.

The course was a little rough in spots. It used to be in better shape but it's still a lot of fun to play. The weather was great and I didn't have to wait thru the whole round.

The course was extremely dried out to almost drought conditions. Management should spend money turning the sprinklers on instead of on gps systems on the carts. It was inexpensive but not at all worth the headache of playing through hard packed dirt on the fairways. Also beware of the old cranky regulars that like to play ahead of their tee time and then complain when politely asked to allow an earlier tee time to tee off.

Challenging fairly long course. Not in the best shape, sucks cause it could easily be the best course in Grand Rapids. Either way course presents a good challenge and can't beat it for the money.

Group made it out for a late 9 hole round and while I knew they had leagues going on the pace of play on the opposite 9 was awesome. I played pretty good and I feel like I've played here about 4 times now and am starting to know a few tricks about where the trees overhang in the fairway but I wish I could hit it where I want it.
We had lunch and burger was great, beers were cold and weather was perfect. Course was in better shape than I've heard in previous years but not yet pristine. Some patches on the green and in the fairways you could tell were still being tended to to rebound but it was very playable. I never had course conditions get in the way of making a golf shot.
If I had to add 1 item on the wish list the cart path was rough in a few areas so you can tell the grass in those areas is taking an extra beating. I'm sure it's on the staff's list as well. Go out and play, would be a very enjoyable walk which would eliminate your cart path issue all together.

TOOK 3 HOURS FOR 9 HOLES. DONT GO ON A THURSDAY BECAUSE FOR SOME REASON THEY BELIEVE ITS OKAY TO HAVE 5 LEAGUES ON ONE NIGHT AND STILL ALLOW INDIVIDUAL TEE TIMES

I'm a fan of Donald Ross courses in general. The first time i played the course it was private and in phenominal condition from top to bottom. The course had hosted several PGA Tour events and was fun to attend. It has drastically deteriorated over the last several years. Not well maintained by any stretch of the imagination. It's sad to see perfection turned to unkept and weeds taking over. Even the old hole markers have been downgraded to the cheaply done. All i can do these days when i play is shake my head and think Donald Ross would be disappointed with the place. The underlying former great course is still there but needs some SERIOUS attention to detail. I would start with the greens and get them back to nice shape and work my way back from there. With a good location there is no doubt it will get plenty of play. But gone are the days i first remember of a nice Elks Lodge golf course and social hangout.

Good Course. I would recommend.

It was great to be able to golf 2 days in a row in Michigan in December. The Highlands made that even better.

Nice course, nice people, but don't kid yourself, nothing like it used to be.
Still nice to play. Nice tribute to my former golf mate Bill Hieble..Davenport College '66-67.

Horrible condition .Drove 1 1/2 hrs to play this course. Never again. The superintendent should be ashamed. Don't think they have run the sprinkler system all year. Rock hard and tore up. Don't waste your time. There are far better courses for the money in the Grand Rapids area.

Extremely Disappointed .