GAM

Among 275 wooded acres and pristine marshland in South Central Michigan is the Medalist Golf Club in Marshall.

A championship links-style course, The Medalist is a great spot for your next round. A day on the fairways at the Medalist is like a trip into the wilderness to play the game you love. Wild turkeys, deer, fox, sandhill cranes and even a rare white robin make their home throughout the course.

The course was created by Michigan’s own Bill Newcomb in 1997-98. His handiwork is a must-play for the serious golfer who will find intriguing doglegs, split fairways, wetlands, and ponds to carry. But this is a course for all generations and all the family to enjoy.

The first three holes are relatively open, allowing you to warm up for your round before the tougher holes come into play. Holes 4 through 13 are more difficult and present a different test around every corner; including carries over marsh and wetlands. The final five holes are great finishing holes that allow for more aggressive play in order to keep your score as low as possible.

There are plenty of great holes on the course that you will be sure to remember long after your round is finished. The signature hole on the course according to General Manager Lowell Weaver is the par three number 7. It isn’t a very long hole but you need to hit your tee shot either onto the green or into the bunker, otherwise you will be in the wetlands and have to take a drop. The facility has nicknamed the hole a “little terror”.

Weaver says that the 11th hole is the toughest par-4 on the course, playing 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, and then your second shot is into a three-tiered green that is about 15 yards wide. If you end up above the pin and you have to putt back to the hole, the green won’t hold your ball and it will roll off. The key, according to Weaver is to make sure you stay below the pin.

The finishing hole on the course is the par-4 18th. Coming off the tee, accuracy is crucial as three fairway bunkers await on the right-hand side and a large natural area is to the left. Then you’ll have a long shot into the green bordered by a pond on the left-hand side. It’s a beautiful sight with the pond, the green and the clubhouse in the distance; but it requires your full attention to stay out of trouble.

Distances, ratings and slopes at The Medalist:

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. They have also hosted numerous USGA qualifiers including most recently United State Amateur Public Links qualifiers in 2009, 2010, and 2011. 

The course also offers different stay and play packages throughout the golf season. They also offer beautiful settings for your entire wedding experience.  

To book your next event or tee time at The Medalist Golf Club, call the Pro Shop at 269-789-4653 or go online to http://www.themedalist.com/.