LOCATION: 10 minutes north of Grand Rapids off East Beltline at 5 Mile Road, then East to course ADDRESS: 4100 Thousand Oaks Drive, Grand Rapids, MI 49525 YARDAGE: 5,328/7,147; 4 sets of tees ARCHITECT: Rees Jones YEAR OPENED: 1999 PHONE: (616) 447-7750 WEB SITE: www.thousandoaksgolf.com

It had been four years since I had teed it up at Thousand Oaks Golf Club in Grand Rapids. Why it had taken so long to return to this truly
enjoyable layout is anyone’s guess. On this particular occasion I was joined by Director of Golf, Gary Smithson. I dare say I don’t belong in his company on a golf course. Witness his answer to my question, “Gary, what’s the lowest round scored out here?”

“Sixty-two,” he promptly responded as if wondering why I had waited till the 14th hole to ask.

I mustered a “Wow!” knowing carding an 82 on a 7,000-yard track would be a dream of mine. Gary followed his remark with, “I shot that in June.” At this point it should be noted he scored a 67 the day we played, with a double-bogey to boot.

To say Thousand Oaks fits Smithson’s game is an understatement. But truth is the Rees Jones design suits every player level. He possesses a knack for simplicity and purity unlike his contemporaries, all the while remaining aware of how the game has changed since golf was brought to America in the late 19th century.

Upon its debut in 1999, Golf Digest ranked Thousand Oaks No. 4 among the Best New Affordable Courses opening that year, of which there were several hundred. It has lost none of its appeal and prices remain a “best value” in Michigan. Grand Rapids Magazine readers have rated Thousand Oaks the “best (local) public course” six years running. And the Acorn restaurant/grill, with spacious views overlooking the first and ninth holes, is a favorite local dining destination.

With large greens and several teeing options, holes can dramatically change via numerous pin positions, changing the angle of attack into each green. Even if you miss a shot, the course is shaped to guide the ball back into the field of play. That allows for playability, even though there are challenges at every turn.

Every detail seems oversized at Thousand Oaks. The fairways are as large as runways and the greens as big as landing pads. Bunking on the other hand, while ever-present, is not daunting. Four sets of tees allow you to play from distances of 5,300 yards to 7,100 yards.

A stretch midway through the round – with three par-5s in four holes – could make or break your score. The 530-yard ninth hole seems like a warm-up compared to the monstrous length of the 630-yard 10th.

The Golf Academy, another addition since my last visit, is as fine a teaching facility as you’ll find in West Michigan, overseen by three-time Michigan PGA Teacher of the Year, Charlie Vandenberg. He and his staff employ the most innovative teaching equipment to help you master your swing and approach to the game. The academy houses four indoor/outdoor hitting bays equipped with video swing and putting analysis.