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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
Great Secluded Course
I enjoy playing here because of the long holes, good elevation changes, fast greens. The cart paths could be much better, but the actual playing surface was good. A few rough spots but it has been a rough summer of hot dry spells.
Fun in the sun
Good choices from multiple tees.
Challenging layout that rewards shots that stay in fairway.
Tee boxes were in fair condition, greens were in great shape.
Cart paths are quite poor and should be replaced.
All in all it was an enjoyable round.
Still a Gem.
One of West Mi Best courses to play. Greens were excellent. Friendly staff, .PGA SUPER SENIORS USE TO PLAY HERE WHEN THEY PLAYED IN GRAND RAPIDS. COME OUT AND ENJOY.
Poore management
Booked 4:00 tee time. Made the turn as they were letting leagues off both sides they were already clogged up to 16. Didnt appreciate no heads up as I checked in
Golf
Great place greens in excellent shape tough but fair. Would absolutely play there again
Doster
This is a tough review because this used to be one of my favorite places to play. I first booked my tee time on golfnow only to show up and find out that golfnows price doesn’t include a cart (even though it says cart included) so they basically cancelled my golfnow tee time after I paid the $9 fee. They then charge me $72.00 after I booked a $42.00 tee time for 2 golfers with a cart. I drove over an hour to get to the course and wasn’t going to leave without golfing so I paid it. Word of advice if you decided to play this course do not use golfnow. The course over the years had also been let go. Greens are in good condition but tee boxes are a wreck and the little monster par 3 is a mess. Currently having you hit off turf. Overall pretty disappointed after being a regular at this course for many years.
Recommended
The course has difficult elevation changes, well-places bunkers and trees, and the greens are challenging to play. The staff has always been very friendly, and the course is well-kept.
Had a great time
course is layed out well with some trouble to be found playing it the first time. Managing the course for the traps, water, and woods you can get on the greens. But the greens are tricky with the breaks that are hard to visualize however the greens rolled nicely and speed was consistent.
Great play
fun play and layout. Greens are great with hardly visible breaks
First time this year.
This was my first round of the year at Lake Doster. I was impressed with the condition of the golf course for the money. I will definitely go back.
Great course for the cost!!!!
Course was great! Well maintained and a fantastic layout. One hole was a pretty overgrown at the tee box. They had a hitting mat down to makeup for it. Same hole around the green was pretty flooded from the recent rain But the green itself was fantastic. Other than that the course was awesome! Will definitely come back here soon.
The course was ver the
We were very impressed with the course layout and scenery. We would like to have played it when it was not as wet from all of the recent rain. The only negative was the availability of a restroom until after the 8th hole. We will definitely be back to play again.
25 years later
Had last played here 25 years ago, the layout is still one of the better ones in w Michigan.
Greens were in good condition - B+
Fairways were thin & weedy. - C-
Tees were very poor - F
Roughs were ok but weedy - B-
Traps were just average - C
Clubhouse was pretty bare bones, seen better days
The owners are either unwilling or unable to spend a modest amount of $ to bring this course back to what it was 25 years ago.
A hidden gem
My father and I got to play the course in a bit of rain and still had a lot of fun. The greens and fairways were well taken care of. Tight tee shots from the blues. Was sad about the tee boxes on the first par 3, but hopefully they will be healed and repaired, soon. Only blemish on this otherwise fun and challenging course.
Labor day
Course was challenging and interesting but they let a six sone of members play ahead of us the whole eighteen holes was not happy about that changed the whole pace of the game. Course talked to them once but not much changed. Poor decicion on a holiday.Waited every hole.
Lake Doster
The course was in great condition considering how dry it's been. The greens were receptive and smooth. Tee boxes were not the best but that's as minor detail. It looks like course has had some water damage, but it barely effects play. I would recommend this course to others
SW Michigan Golf Around Package
Best of Battle Creek Package
Pohlcat Golf Getaway Package
SentryWorld Stay & Play Package
