Golf Guide

North

 

Cardinal Golf Clubstarstar½

A bizarre Battlestar Galactica–esque clubhouse overlooks this something-for-everyone roadside attraction of a golf experience: 36 holes of championship golf, an executive course, a driving range and a minigolf course. The East course is hilly on the front nine and makes a brief foray into the woods on the back. Though you may grow weary of the many short dogleg par fours, the East does offer some pretty holes, including the 538-yard eighth, which is itself almost worth the green fees. Here, the fairway rises to a plateau from which you can see the green down below. Tucked behind a pond 230 yards away, it’s calling you, tempting you, begging you to go for it: don’t listen. The West is the flattest course this side of Saskatchewan. You’ll find two elevated tees (one and four) and an ever-so-slightly elevated green on number nine. Watch out for many large ponds and an oak tree right in the middle of the seventh fairway. (Architects who put a tree in the fairway should be hung from its highest branch, for there is no cry as piteous as that of the weekend duffer who finally launches a straight tee ball only to find it stymied.) The West saves its best for last: the dramatic 512-yard, par five 18th doglegs around an enormous lake that stretches down the left side of the fairway, almost from tee to green. The Kettle Creek executive course is worth a spin if you’re honing your short irons or want to take the kids out to play. Course conditioning is a bit spotty for the price.

54 holes. East: 18 holes, 6,512 yards, par 72. West: 18 holes, 6,404 yards, par 71. Kettle Creek: 18 holes, 2,590 yards, par 58

Green Fees:
M–F $50, twilight $48 (includes dinner special); Sa–Su $60, after 3 p.m. $50 with cart and taxes (East and West). M–F $33; Sa–Su $28, M–Su after 6 p.m. $16 (Kettle Creek)
Carts:
power $12–$16.50 per person, twilight $9.50; pull $5
Amenities:
club rentals, clubhouse, driving range, lessons, minigolf course, practice green, pro shop
Reservations:
up to two weeks in advance
Location

Large map

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