Freeways and Fairways: The Prairies, Kalamazoo
By Tom Lang
This is one in a series of stories we do on occasion to highlight golf courses located along our Michigan freeway system. Oftentimes it’s worth the stop to try it out, rather than just zooming by.
With nice days in April in between the soaking rains in Michigan this year, and the itch to get out and play some golf, I gave The Prairies in Kalamazoo a try knowing I only had time for 9 holes.
Well worth it.
I only played the back nine – and absolutely loved it. Surprisingly, there was hardly a single flat hole out there as virtually every fairway had variations like a large knoll to go over; or downhill drop offs into and through valleys; or highly elevated greens adding challenge or tees creating a good view. The only ‘flat’ holes on the back were the two extensions that run next to the freeway. I call them ‘extensions’ because aerial images confirm the original property was pretty square, yet holes 13-14 extend below that square on land not originally utilized for golf.
The back nine is blessed with lots of ground movement for natural water drainage, but the bonus is just visually beautiful for playing the golf course. The land flow also creates some unusual lies on the rolling ground for more challenge and club grip decisions.
I drove past the property for a couple years before realizing there was a golf course along the edge of U.S. 131 northbound, at the Main Street exit. The location used to be the Elks Club golf course, dating back to at least the 1930s, and was a private track most of its life. But there are some indicators that the now-public venue could be older.
A nice surprise was a more natural look due to no concrete/asphalt golf cart paths, and what few paths there were are made out of stone and dirt.
My favorite stretch of holes were starting out on 10, 11 and 12. Hole 10 had a man-made highly elevated tee towering above the fairway – a fairway with a tall ridge near the 150-yard marker, causing a blind shot to the green if you didn’t clear that first hill.
No. 11 was a relatively level par three but with a big dip in front of the green, which has a greatly exaggerated push-up style.
Hole 12 was a short par four that went downhill and flowed to the right to a green protected by two large bunkers on the front, plus one in back. The hole also looked good viewing it backwards toward where you just came from, one of my favorite things course designers go for.
I did not get to play the front, but it was clearly much flatter, and my partner for two hours that day, as he warmed up for league play that evening, said only two holes had some kind of roll or dip in the fairways. The back was a par 35, but the front is set at 36, with three each par 3s, par 4s, and par 5s.
Being located on Kalamazoo’s west side, from Grand Rapids it’s probably just 35 minutes away – yet also convenient for anyone traveling between Detroit and Chicago on I-94 a few miles to the south. I would definitely like to go back as I consider it an excellent course for its medium price ranges.
