The Greywalls course opened to rave reviews in 2005. Designed by Mike DeVries, the entire course is a natural wonder and a testament to the rugged beauty of the Marquette area. The course takes players through a wild ride and over a diverse but flowing variety of terrain: tumbling fairways, boldly contoured slopes, dramatic elevation changes, rolling and bunkered links land, and breathtaking panoramic views of Lake Superior. It’s a truly unique golf experience that has caught the attention of all the golfing world. GolfWeek named it the #2 course you can play in Michigan, and upon its opening, it was included in the
Top Ten Best New Course listings of all the major golf publications. If you’re looking for a truly inspiring and unforgettable golf experience, Greywalls must be on your list.
Golf architect Mike DeVries is a craftsman who insists on being personally involved with all aspects of golf course development, including feature shaping of the putting greens and bunkers. By being on-site consistently throughout the construction process, DeVries also enabled himself to continually study the land, reacting to previously unforeseen opportunities and improving upon his original design concepts. This evolutionary process inevitably results in a unique golf course of enduring quality. A 1987 graduate of Lake Forest College in suburban Chicago, DeVries apprenticed with golf architect, Tom Doak, before going on to the University of Michigan where he earned his Master’s degree in Landscape Architecture in 1994. Following a stint as an on-site design coordinator with golf architect, Tom Fazio, DeVries designed and constructed four new golf courses including the Kingsley Club & Greywalls.
Greywalls course Tour
Hole 1
Par 5 : 522 YARDS | MEN’S HANDICAP: 1 | WOMEN’S HANDICAP: 2
Favor the left half of the fairway off the tee, as shots played too far to the right will bounce further to the right and into trouble. When approaching the green, aim for the center of the green and be precise as the landing zone is one of the smallest on the course.
Hole 2
Par 4 : 425 YARDS | MEN’S HANDICAP: 3 | WOMEN’S HANDICAP: 6
Once again, favor the left half of the fairway off the tee to avoid trouble and be rewarded with extra distance and a great angle into this severely left to right sloping green. Two options are available on the approach: fly it high and directly at the green or be creative and work it off of the bank to the left.
Hole 3
Par 3 : 174 YARDS | MEN’S HANDICAP: 17 | WOMEN’S HANDICAP: 18
Take a deep breath on this hole after the challenging start. This is a straight forward par 3. Anything hit at the left side of the green will funnel towards the center.
Hole 4
Par 4 : 425 YARDS | MEN’S HANDICAP: 7 | WOMEN’S HANDICAP: 10
An aggressive line up the left side must be struck well to reach the top of the giant mound in the fairway and give the best angle into the green, while the valley on the right allows for a more conservative play. Missing your approach long on this hole will leave you in trouble.
Hole 5
Par 4 : 312 YARDS | MEN’S HANDICAP: 15 | WOMEN’S HANDICAP: 14
The smart play is to select the proper club to the 100 yard post in the center of the fairway. As you approach the green, you will see where our name comes from.
Hole 6
Par 3 : 188 YARDS | MEN’S HANDICAP: 11 | WOMEN’S HANDICAP: 16
Take plenty of club here – balls landing short or on the front edge of the green are likely to fall back down the hill into the collection area on the left.
Hole 7
Par 4 : 489 YARDS | MEN’S HANDICAP: 5 | WOMEN’S HANDICAP: 4
Be bold and attempt a drive over the cliff bisecting the hole in the middle of the fairway. The conservative play is to lay up short of the rock cliff. The ground option short-right of this green is recommended for longer approaches.
Hole 8
Par 4 : 343 YARDS | MEN’S HANDICAP: 13 | WOMEN’S HANDICAP: 12
The canted fairway suggests a center to right of center tee shot. The longer hitter will be rewarded with a drive over the rocks on the right. Avoid both green-side bunkers as they are some of the deepest on the course.
Hole 9
Par 4 : 343 YARDS | MEN’S HANDICAP: 9 | WOMEN’S HANDICAP: 8
The smart play here is a conservative shot played up the right-center and funneling into the bowl between the 150-yard post and the front of the fairway bunker. Play your approach at the right side of the green to utilize the slopes to your advantage.
Hole 10
Par 4 : 336 YARDS | MEN’S HANDICAP: 16 | WOMEN’S HANDICAP: 13
An aggressive line up the left side of the fairway is rewarded with a cleaner angle into this wild and multi-teared green.
Hole 11
Par 4 : 388 YARDS | MEN’S HANDICAP: 10 | WOMEN’S HANDICAP: 9
Tee shots can be played to the right, short, or left of the center fairway bunker. The often blind approach should err to the right to once again use the surrounding slopes to find the green.
Hole 12
Par 4 : 491 YARDS | MEN’S HANDICAP: 8 | WOMEN’S HANDICAP: 3
The tee shot here gets a welcome boost on the downhill opening of the fairway. A brute of a par four, in length, but swing away off the tee as it’s one of the most forgiving tee shots on the course.
Hole 13
Par 5 : 559 YARDS | MEN’S HANDICAP: 4 | WOMEN’S HANDICAP: 1
It’s all right in front of you on this par five, though special attention
should be paid to the approach on this wildly undulating green.
Hole 14
Par 4 : 449 YARDS | MEN’S HANDICAP: 2 | WOMEN’S HANDICAP: 5
A tee shot favoring the left side of this fairway gives you the best chance of hitting this very difficult green complex. It is best to have a short iron in your hand on this approach as this green requires precision.
Hole 15
Par 3 : 240 YARDS | MEN’S HANDICAP: 6 | WOMEN’S HANDICAP: 15
It’s all carry across the ravine, though shots played just past it may bound up and funnel their way onto the right side of this green.
Hole 16
PAR 4 : 371 YARDS | MEN’S HANDICAP: 12 | WOMEN’S HANDICAP: 11
The smart play here is to use a long iron or fairway wood on a line left of the rock toward the wider portion of the fairway (look for the 150 yard post). The approach plays about 1 club uphill to a large green with a valley in the center from front to back.
Hole 17
PAR 3 : 137 YARDS | MEN’S HANDICAP: 18 | WOMEN’S HANDICAP: 17
Classic example of a huge green playing small. This wild and wooly green surface is divided into three distinct areas. Must be on the correct locale to have anything approaching a reasonable putt or short game shot.
Hole 18
PAR 5 : 533 YARDS | MEN’S HANDICAP: 14 | WOMEN’S HANDICAP: 7
This wild fairway will gather and funnel most tee shots further down toward the center. Favor a lower trajectory approach to chase the ball onto this slightly domed green. Although the approach seems level, it is best to club down on this shot.