Washtenaw Golf Club
About
Located in between Ypsilanti and Ann Arbor, Washtenaw Golf Club, founded in 1899, is one of the most historic clubs in the state of Michigan. The club was private for most of its history, but an ownership change in 2019 turned this venerable layout into one of the area’s best public experiences. The 18-hole course plays 6,512 yards from the championship tees, though there are four sets of tees The club is in the midst of a multi-year restoration and enhancement project, guided by architect Ray Hearn, that includes green enlargements, tree management, and in the installation of some new championship tees. Facilities here include a putting green, small driving range, chipping green, and a large clubhouse, grill and bar, patio and event space.
| Tee | Par | Length | Rating | Slope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue | 72 | 6564 yards | 72.3 | 137 |
| White | 72 | 6205 yards | 70.7 | 134 |
| Gold | 72 | 5661 yards | 68.4 | 124 |
| Red (W) | 72 | 5415 yards | 72.5 | 130 |
| Hole | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Out | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | In | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black M: 72.9/139 | 350 | 448 | 511 | 176 | 435 | 580 | 370 | 326 | 202 | 3398 | 542 | 364 | 150 | 595 | 200 | 373 | 330 | 400 | 368 | 3322 | 6720 |
| Blue M: 72.3/137 | 350 | 420 | 511 | 164 | 411 | 565 | 370 | 308 | 186 | 3285 | 532 | 364 | 150 | 530 | 186 | 373 | 330 | 386 | 368 | 3219 | 6504 |
| White M: 70.7/134 W: 76.8/143 | 324 | 390 | 483 | 148 | 383 | 538 | 343 | 286 | 170 | 3065 | 501 | 352 | 135 | 503 | 165 | 364 | 308 | 376 | 362 | 3066 | 6131 |
| Gold M: 67.9/121 W: 73.0/131 | 304 | 350 | 456 | 137 | 353 | 478 | 276 | 265 | 144 | 2763 | 457 | 311 | 120 | 451 | 154 | 276 | 274 | 344 | 346 | 2733 | 5496 |
| Red M: 63.5/116 W: 68.2/116 | 200 | 302 | 379 | 122 | 304 | 426 | 218 | 219 | 129 | 2299 | 414 | 274 | 100 | 360 | 112 | 270 | 231 | 307 | 279 | 2347 | 4646 |
| Handicap | 15 | 1 | 9 | 17 | 5 | 3 | 11 | 7 | 13 | 6 | 14 | 18 | 2 | 12 | 10 | 16 | 4 | 8 | |||
| Par | 4 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 36 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 36 | 72 |
| Handicap (W) | 17 | 3 | 7 | 15 | 9 | 1 | 11 | 5 | 13 | 6 | 12 | 18 | 2 | 16 | 14 | 4 | 10 | 8 |
Course Details
Rentals/Services
Practice/Instruction
Policies
Available Facilities
Clubhouse, Banquet FacilitiesAccolades
-
Golf Advisor: Top Courses in Michigan (2016 #16)
Reviews
Reviewer Photos
Classic Private Club Experience; Needs Work
I played this course 36 hours after a pretty significant [3 inch] rain storm. There was a an inordinate amount of of casual water. Probably half the bunkers had significant water but of no apparent concern to the grounds crew, I even lost a ball in a sand/water(?) hazard!. The fairways are generous and immaculate. You are definitely rewarded hitting the ball straight. The rough was moderately penal but hittable. Bunkers are deep and demanding (when not water hazards). The greens were my biggest disappointment. They seemed lumpy, beaten up and did not roll true. To be fair this could be due to the rain and the late in season cumulative traffic. Both observations though could have been managed Several greens had odd sloping contours that did not make design sense and were difficult to read for line and speed. The Carts have a handy and GPS display that even tracks your time on the course. Cart paths were in poor shape with tree roots and potholes giving that 'rough around the edges' feel. The Course was not crowded on a weekday and pace of play was fast, under 4 hours for 18. I frankly expected a bit more at this price point and the noted legacy. i've had better experiences at lesser priced tracks.
never a doubt
course is always in great shape. this time a little wet in spno problems.ots due to lots of rain earlier, but
How is this not a top 100 public course?
I don’t know what Golf digest or those others need to see to rank something in the best in state or top 100 you can play - but Washtenaw deserves a space and more attention. A phenomenal golf course in every way; route, variation, green complexes, options, setting. Maybe it’s the fact it was a private club for over a hundred years. And it feels that way. I paid $65 with a cart and felt like I had broken into a private club. Fast greens, perfect fairways, tee box’s, manicured bunkers. Each hole requires something different. I hit every club in the bag. Personal highlights were the 4th, a long par four to a slightly elevated green. The 7th and 8th are shorter par fours that play dog leg right then left, over a creek. The eighth fairway ends with a natural Ridge, at the end of willow trees and a green that sits on top. At just over 300 yards, the green has real teeth and is waiting to force a three putt. 15 and 16 does it again, a down and back concept, a pond, shaped holes, requiring attention to length and leave. It’s the type of course you could play twice a day and never tire of. I was simply charmed from start to finish. Warm and welcoming clubhouse and staff. Nothing fancy to outshine this classic track. If you get anywhere within an hour of it, make the trip. You will be forever won over.
It’s a beauty
Easy to get to, but it was a little confusing when we drove onto the property. The signage pointed to a club drop but there were no racks in sight. I stopped the car and went into the pro shop to find out what the routine was and was told to just take an available cart into the parking lot and load up the clubs. OK….
Wide, rolling, beautifully manicured fairways, and undulating greens that are a challenge to read. Water interrupted a few good shots but the next time, different club selection would solve that.
A little annoyed that one grass cutter did not move out of the line of players shooting for the green, although others were great about it.
The clubhouse facility has clearly been there for many years but is clean and well maintained. Lunch specials were quick and available at the turn and full meals could be had after the round. It being our first time there, we didn’t take advantage of that as we didn’t know what the facility was like and had made restaurant reservations in Ann Arbor ahead of time. Next time, we’d definitely eat dinner there after our round..
The pace of play was excellent until we got to the 17th hole, where it backed up but that can always be expected.
The bunkers could use some TLC. A number of them were hard packed and difficult to play out of as a result. All and all we loved playing there. This golf course really is a gem!.
I was supprised the the ball wash weren't set up.⁰
This course is amazing value
One of the nicest courses I have ever played for a price I didn’t feel bad about. Great hole design and well maintained greens along with difficult par 4’s that required laying up. Overall can’t say nice enough things about the course and how well it is maintained.
Hidden Gem - Hope it stays that way
Challenging course. Penalizes you harshly if you don't hit greens, as they are mostly small and very fast. Big tip - keep your ball below the hole. Course was in excellent shape. One of my favorite places to play in the Ann Arbor-Ypsilanti area. Try to play there at least a few every season. Like the updates that the new owners are doing to the course
Great old Michigan course
Really enjoyed Washtenaw GC. Very fun layout, with nice, quick greens. Would be a full 5 stars with a little more attention to detail, and a little money spent. Tee through green, course was fabulous, with two exceptions. Traps need work. Sand was sparse, and most just needed to be cleaned up, cared for, and edged. Second exception, hole number 8 (our 17th on the day as we teed off on back 9). Green is essentially unplayable. A decent sized green, with only a back left plateau of about 30-40 sq yds where the pin could be placed. I actually set my ball down at the edge of the plateau, and it ran completely off the front of the green, some 60-70 feet. Ridiculous. Could be a fun hole if they fixed the green, and maybe made it a two, or three tiered green where you had to be smart about how to attack pin. Other 17 holes, fantastic and fun. I’ll play again next time I’m in the area.
Ice fast greens were frustrating
I really looked forward to playing this course for the first time. It would’ve been a much more pleasurable experience, except for the greens were cut so short! Multiple times I had shots right near the pin that didn’t stop and leaked all the way off the green. I wasn’t sending scorchers in there. These were wedge shots from 30 yards out. Very frustrating.
Great course!
Great course and facility. Greens were like a beach but that's just good maintenance and aeration I guess. I'll be back!