The original nine holes were designed by William Langford and Theodore Moreau in 1926, and the second nine were added by David Gill in 1969. The front nine sprawls out over gently rolling terrain and is notable for its imaginative green complexes and classic beauty. The back nine takes the player into more dramatic slopes offering views of Lake Superior and a challenging finish to a thoroughly enjoyable round of golf.
Architect William B. Langford was born in 1887 in Austin, Illinois, he suffered from polio as a child and took up golf as part of a rehabilitation program. He was a member of three Yale University NCAA championship golf teams from 1906-1908 and became a golf course architect after gaining a Master’s degree in Mining Engineering at Columbia University. He went on to design over 250 courses with his partner Theodore J.Moreau and became the first honorary member of the Golf Course Architectural Society of America.
The most well-known examples of their work include Lawsonia Links in Green Lake, WI, and Skokie Country Club in IL. For your reference within the hole by hole descriptions, you can see which holes make up the original Langford loop and conversely which holes consist of the Gill loop.
Heritage course Tour
Hole 1
Par 4 : 336 YARDS | MEN’S HANDICAP: 14 | WOMEN’S HANDICAP: 11
HOLE 1 DESCRIPTION: Gill Loop
With a fairway bunker strategically placed off the tee, plan to layup short and leave yourself with a mid to short iron in on this classically designed first hole.
Hole 2
Par 4/5 : 408 YARDS | MEN’S HANDICAP: 3 | WOMEN’S HANDICAP: 5
HOLE 1 DESCRIPTION: Gill Loop
One of the 2 holes on the Heritage course with water. Aim up the left side of the fairway off the tee. Your approach shot will be uphill, so plan accordingly as you hit into a green with multiple green side bunker guarding it.
Hole 3
Par 4 : 344 YARDS | MEN’S HANDICAP: 12 | WOMEN’S HANDICAP: 7
HOLE 3 DESCRIPTION: Gill Loop
This downhill par 4 is fairly straight forward. Slightly blind off the tee, remember the water hazard that follows the fairway up the right side.
Hole 4
Par 5 : 515 YARDS | MEN’S HANDICAP: 7 | WOMEN’S HANDICAP: 2
HOLE 4 DESCRIPTION: Langford Loop
This slight dogleg right par 5 varies in undulation. Your tee shot will be uphill and into the prevailing winds. The second shot will be downhill. The green is also as equally undulated at the rest of the hole and guarded by 2 bunkers and a steep drop-off behind the complex.
Hole 5
Par 3 : 169 YARDS | MEN’S HANDICAP: 9 | WOMEN’S HANDICAP: 14
HOLE 5 DESCRIPTION: Langford Loop
The first par 3 on the course is slightly uphill. While the green is surrounded by bunkers it is a large green leaving ample room to miss if you aim for the center.
Hole 6
Par 4 : 287 YARDS | MEN’S HANDICAP: 16 | WOMEN’S HANDICAP: 17
HOLE 6 DESCRIPTION: Langford Loop
For the longer hitters this drivable par 4 is enticing. Avoid the right side off the tee as it is lined by trees and OB. Another large green with lots of character.
Hole 7
Par 3 : 143 YARDS | MEN’S HANDICAP: 18 | WOMEN’S HANDICAP: 18
HOLE 7 DESCRIPTION: Langford Loop
This elevated tee shot will leave you with a challenging club selection into arguably the most difficult green on the golf course sloping from back to front. Anything that lands on the front portion of the green will roll back into a collection area at the
bottom of the hill.
Hole 8
Par 4 : 401 YARDS MEN’S HANDICAP: 4 WOMEN’S HANDICAP: 15
HOLE 8 DESCRIPTION: Langford Loop
From the back tees a blind tee shot presents you. Aim straight off the box and over the hill you will find a wide open landing area. The green is guarded by two bunkers that also play somewhat blindly on your approach.
Hole 9
Par 4 : 355 YARDS MEN’S HANDICAP: 10 WOMEN’S HANDICAP: 4
HOLE 9 DESCRIPTION: Gill Loop
Rounding out the front 9 is a straight forward par 4. You wont be able to see the contours of the green on your approach on this elevated shot, but enjoy some relaxation as this is one of the more flax complexes on the course.
Hole 10
Par 4: 355 YARDS MEN’S HANDICAP: 15 WOMEN’S HANDICAP: 12
HOLE 10 DESCRIPTION: Langford Loop
The conservative play is to play at the 150 with whatever club gets you there. For a more aggressive approach, aim left of the 150 to set yourself up with a shorter shot on this heavily sloped green.
Hole 11
Par 4/5 : 450 YARDS MEN’S HANDICAP: 1 WOMEN’S HANDICAP: 3
HOLE 11 DESCRIPTION: Langford Loop
Those with a little extra distance off the tee will benefit on this long uphill hole. Another large green with a significant ridge through the center of the green will make for a challenging approach.
Hole 12
Par 4 : 449 YARDS MEN’S HANDICAP: 2 WOMEN’S HANDICAP: 8
HOLE 12 DESCRIPTION: Langford Loop
Another long difficult hole, but very forgiving off the tee. Prepare for a long iron in to the green as you head back towards to road for the final time. This green is another large and undulated complex brilliantly designed to challenge and provide aesthetics.
Hole 13
Par 4 : 327 YARDS MEN’S HANDICAP: 13 WOMEN’S HANDICAP: 6
HOLE 13 DESCRIPTION: Langford Loop
A picturesk short par 4. With both fairway bunker and maple tree positioned strategically off the tee favor the left side of the fairway, then prepare for a short uphill approach. The theme of sloping greens will continue on this hole.
Hole 14
Par 4 : 162 YARDS | MEN’S HANDICAP: 17 | WOMEN’S HANDICAP: 16
HOLE 14 DESCRIPTION: Gill Loop
A downhill par 3. Depending on which tee box you are playing from it will range anywhere from a full club less to a half club less. Nothing complicated about this one, what you see is what you get.
Hole 15
Par 4: 386 YARDS | MEN’S HANDICAP: 6 | WOMEN’S HANDICAP: 9
HOLE 15 DESCRIPTION: Gill Loop
From the blue tees, enjoy a view of the beautiful Lake Superior. Be mindful of the wind direction on this tee shot as the prevailing winds set up for a cross wind on this elevated tee shot. Leave yourself with a comfortable yardage in to this green surrounded by bunkers if you miss short.
Hole 16
PAR 5: 473 YARDS | MEN’S HANDICAP: 5 | WOMEN’S HANDICAP: 1
More than anything, this hole requires strategy. With the fairway sloping right to left, plan to aim to the right center of the fairway. Your second shot will be totally blind to a narrow lane and landing zone. Your approach will most likely be moderately blind as well as there are multiple natural mounds short of the green creating a visually deceptive approach.
Hole 17
PAR 4: 375 YARDS | MEN’S HANDICAP: 11 | WOMEN’S HANDICAP: 13
HOLE 17 DESCRIPTION: Gill Loop
From another elevated tee this par 4 is pretty cut and dry with a few strategically placed cedar trees in the low areas on this hole. Comparatively you’ll be hitting in to a smaller green on this hole. Make sure you take enough club on this elevated approach.
Hole 18
PAR 4 : 324 YARDS | MEN’S HANDICAP: 8 | WOMEN’S HANDICAP: 10
HOLE 18 DESCRIPTION: Gill Loop
The tee box selection and ball flight on this tee shot will significantly affect your play. For the safe play, head towards the 150 yard marker and leave yourself a relatively easy approach with only a short iron or wedge in your hand. While this green appears simple and straight forward it slopes more than you think.