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Lake Doster Golf Club
Rating Snapshot
About
Lake Doster Golf Club in Plainwell is ranked as one of the top 25 golf courses in Michigan. The layout has undulating greens and watered fairways that will test even the most experienced golfers. The course is home to the affectionately nicknamed "Little Monster," its third hole, which boasts a reputation as the toughest par 3 in the state. This infamous hole features a tee that sits high above a treacherous green that is surrounded on three sides by water and even further protected with three sand traps. The hole is also completely isolated thanks to the surrounding mature trees. There is another par 3 on the golf course that is almost as equally tough, the 15th. There is a pond to the right that is seemingly out of play but it's still intimidating enough to push you too far left, risking a landing in the sand trap.
| Tee | Par | Length | Rating | Slope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue | 72 | 6540 yards | 72.7 | 134 |
| White | 72 | 6112 yards | 70.7 | 127 |
| Gold | 73 | 5530 yards | 67.7 | 120 |
| Gold (W) | 73 | 5530 yards | 72.8 | 126 |
| Red (W) | 72 | 4828 yards | 68.5 | 117 |
| Hole | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Out | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | In | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue M: 72.7/134 | 338 | 426 | 100 | 304 | 396 | 483 | 397 | 162 | 540 | 3146 | 348 | 515 | 138 | 531 | 426 | 195 | 409 | 427 | 405 | 3394 | 6540 |
| White M: 70.7/127 | 320 | 392 | 88 | 283 | 353 | 462 | 377 | 141 | 515 | 2931 | 327 | 476 | 125 | 514 | 413 | 178 | 369 | 414 | 365 | 3181 | 6112 |
| Gold M: 67.7/120 W: 72.8/126 | 301 | 383 | 88 | 262 | 341 | 388 | 356 | 120 | 448 | 2687 | 305 | 465 | 105 | 421 | 399 | 162 | 359 | 279 | 355 | 2850 | 5537 |
| Red W: 68.5/117 | 301 | 270 | 81 | 220 | 262 | 388 | 287 | 84 | 448 | 2341 | 237 | 405 | 105 | 421 | 255 | 162 | 268 | 279 | 355 | 2487 | 4828 |
| Handicap | 13 | 1 | 17 | 11 | 5 | 9 | 3 | 15 | 7 | 12 | 16 | 18 | 8 | 2 | 14 | 10 | 4 | 6 | |||
| Par | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 36 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 36 | 72 |
| Handicap (W) | 11 | 5 | 17 | 9 | 3 | 13 | 7 | 15 | 1 | 10 | 2 | 18 | 4 | 12 | 14 | 6 | 16 | 8 |
Course Details
Rentals/Services
Practice/Instruction
Policies
Food & Beverage
Bar, SnacksAvailable Facilities
Clubhouse, Lounge, Conference Facilities, Banquet Facilities
Reviews
Reviewer Photos
Nice Course
My wife and I had to meet some friends for dinner in the area and Lake Doster was on the way. We have played this course in the past. Good Challenge, great hole variety and a great value.
Great Value. Worth the drive.
The ~30min drive from Kalamazoo was worth it to play this course which has plenty of great deals available on golfnow. Pro shop attendant was nice enough to provide a complimentary course guide. Bonus! Will return, especially for scenery in late summer/fall months.
Fabulous golf club
This course is one of the finest I have played, and my wife and I have played in 31 states so far. The course is challenging, while being fair and the scenery is to die for. The staff made us feel welcome, but the truly special part was the way the local members treated us. We left this course feeling that our next trip will be back to this hidden gem. The signature hole is a simple little 88 yard par 3 with water on three sides and three sand traps added for good measure. You will love it.
Nice Course
It was a very nice course it was well maintained and in great sharp for the time of year. Lots of beautiful holes. The par 3 they call the monster was a fun hole. Water in the front and water in the back with about a 80 foot drop. I know it's fall but you couldn't get anything hot to eat at the turn.
The little monster hole# 2
This course has some unique holes! Don't leave home without your laser range finder.
Great course, not so great food/service
Great course. Don't expect a lot with food and beverage. Had a coupon that included hot dog and chips - it was not honored. Staff said they're not cooking today, you'll be lucky if they do. It was Sunday at noon. Similar occurrence on a different day also. Overall, Great course, but don't expect much in terms of food.
Doster
Played behind a threesome which didn't bother me they offered me to play through twice and I did the second time. If you get off the fairway some of the grass is quite long makes if hard to find your ball. Slows you down a little. Worst part was the greens ,doesn't anyone who plays there ever fix a ball mark? I could fix three or four besides mine on every hole and I'm sure I left some.
pace of play
Third time there,.and all three times,.the pace of play was terrible,.. four and three qurters hour on a Friday at 11 am,. VERY slow each time,.don't recommend this for that reason,.happened three years in a row,.
Nice course, tougher than it is on paper
I've been to Lake Doster several times now and I'm always pleased with the course. Every now and again it can get a little backed up pace-wise but that could also be due to the amount of trouble on the course! Lots of areas to waste strokes here, and the greens are pretty tricky to read..generally quite speedy too. Don't get careless on the really short holes but don't get greedy either because you might write a triple down on the card!
Great value...below average maintenance
Fun course. But slow pace, and chewed up tee boxes
Difficult but fun
I love a course with elevations. This course is both challenging and fun at the same time. I will be back again for sure.
Nice
Nice little course. I was eaten up by the little monster!!! Greens are very fast. Easy to 3 putt. Enjoy!
Fair
Great lay out but needs improvement with course maintenance and on staff service
Very unique course
Not the longest course, but challenging enough with frequent elevation changes. Hole #3 "little monster" is the shortest yet most intimidating par 3 I've ever played. After making the turn you'll have plenty to talk about, as well as after you pack up your clubs. Beautiful weather, staff seemed a bit inexperienced, but very friendly.
JTS Review
The course was dry but demanding. However the greens could use some TLC., pin placement was duff
little monster
Fun hole elevated par 3 with green surrounded by water and sand
Really fun course LOTS of elevation change
Really liked this course and I wish I had played it years ago. I love elevation change and holes in a variety of terrain and Lake Doster has it. Course knowledge is definately helpful, but with a SkyCaddie and the yardage book it was enough to get by. I drove 80 miles to play and will definately be back this year. The staff here was hands down the friendliest and nicest out of any course I've played in years. They were some younger guys and girls working and unfortunately I don't have any of their names. There was no one thing in particular that they did better than other courses. Its just not being as dissmissive and grumpy as seemingly every other course employee I've encountered. Good guys difficult course I'll be back.
Course is coming back...
Ran into a lot of problems LAST YEAR (a 6-some of women *really* slowed down play... 4 groups waiting to tee off at about #14... called clubhouse but nothing was done... 5 hour round almost kept our group from ever coming back!). Not so this year. Pace of play was excellent and course was pretty nice (actually, very high praise considering this year's weather...!). Hit GolfNow for excellent rate on two of our group's rounds, and an add-on paid a fair rate to join us. Overall, it was a great time and the course seems to be returning to it's once prestigious rating. Thanks!
A good value
I had forgot how tight some of the driving holes were. I played the back tees. The rough was 3 1/2 inches or more so there was a heavy penalty for missing the fairways. I found the course to be challenging and in good condition.
sharpen your game
nice lots of elevation changes challenging has stood the test of time
Destination Kohler - Champions' Trail Golf Package
