Fox Run

Fox Run golf course is the southern most golf course in the Gaylord Golf Mecca. It is located just south of Grayling in the jack pine forests of northern Michigan.

Because it is the southern most course, it's also the first one you come to when traveling north. You would be wise to stop off and play this course before traveling on to the heart of the Mecca.

This course is relatively new, five or six years old, and is improving each year. I don't see where it needs much improvement, but I'm sure it will improve.

Unlike most of the fairways in the mecca, these fairways are wide, to give the push or pull a little room to roam. Now don't think that means you can't get into trouble because we are in northern Michigan and that means trees that are more than willing to play hide the golf ball with you. Besides, I don't think there are many courses that golfers can't find some way to get into some kind of trouble.

Not only are the fairways wide, they're plush. You don't even get the urge to roll the ball. I wouldn't do that of course (lie), but some people do.

If you hit that rare shot that leaves the fairway and ends up it the rough, they to are plush, just a little longer. Not a bad place to be considering some of the roughs I have seen.

If you hit one of those, "What happened there? " shots, well, now you got a problem. You'll either end up in the trees or the real rough rough. In either case, it's a rough place to be. If your timing is right, it can be fun. I'll tell you why later.

One other nice thing about these fairways. No fairway bunkers. I don't know about you, but there are many other things that I would rather be doing than trying to hit out of one of them.

The par threes are a nice mixture of short and relatively long holes. The longest is 189 yards (blue) and the shortest around 100 (white). In most cases, the shorter the hole, the more trouble there is in between you and the green.

My favorite hole is also the shortest. It played 97 yards the day I played, but there was 90 yards of water on this beautiful par three. Not only is there water to contend with but also bunkers and slopes around the green that kicks your ball away from the hole if you don't hit the green. It may be short, but she demands that you hit the green off the tee. It's just a great hole.

The par fives can be reached in two, if you get a good drive off the tee. There is enough trouble around the greens that can give you fits if your long iron or fairway wood is not to accurate when going for the two putt bird. Not being too greedy and just laying up for an easy chip shot to the pin may be your wisest choice, even though a shot at the green has you drooling.

The par fours are a nice mixture of length, and looks, that make it a pleasing experience to try and tame these holes. Some are short, and that gives us all a chance to hit a green with a good chance at the bird. Something the average golfer doesn't see too much of -- the way they are building courses these days.

This brings us to what makes this course a real challenge. The greens. Fast and sloped.

Not the tricked up kind that you have to figure out three or four brakes. Nope, you will not have too much of a problem figuring out which way it brakes. Just how much and what will happen to a putt that's a little hard.

Each green has a definite slope to it and it's the wise man that's below the hole. Problem is, we wise men don't have the talent to put the ball where we want to from 100 yards or so out. Which leaves us with a downhill breaking putt on very fast greens. Or else with the same kind going up hill that's almost as bad.

Short chip shots from 100 yards or so out have a tendency to keep rolling and end up on one side or the other of the green. Now were faced with a delicate chip to save par. This is a scenario you will see often with these greens. A real test of your chipping and putting skills.

A nice switch from always having to pound long irons at greens. This course leaves us with some short shots at pins and tough putting greens, more in line with what the pros have to face. I must say they handle these shots better than I do. Oh well, they don't have to run a motel.

I said I would tell you a good thing about being in the woods if your timing is right. The day I played (early Sept.) the blackberries were ripe and you could pick them by the handful. Its hard to hunt for you opponents ball when picking berries. I don't think there is a rule that says I have to look hard for his ball is there?

For some reason a few of the berries were a little salty, but otherwise delicious.

Even if you can't play the course in blackberry season this is one fine course for any season. On your way north, it's one stop you won't regret.

Ken

For More Information on the Fox Run Visit The Gaylord Golf Mecca Page

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