Northern Mich Feel but inside the City
By Tom Lang
Oakland University's R&S Sharf Golf Course has earned national recognition, ranking No. 32 in Golfweek's Top 40 Collegiate Golf Courses in the country in their ratings put out this fall by the national magazine.
My on-course notes from a late August round with friends read like this:
The entire feel of the course is very up north, which is extremely unusual for its location in the heart of Rochester with major roads and highways surrounding the property. The majority of the cart paths twist and turn and wind up and down hills through mostly forest. Then when you come out of the trees to play the course, there’s a lot of wide open fairways; some are extremely wide. Others are a little more narrow, so playing Sharf gives you a good variety of different golf options to try, test and experiment.
“I love this setting. It’s in the middle of the city (Rochester, not far off M-59) but there’s animals all over the course,” said Judy Lazzaro, a member there for 20 years+ and former GAM president. “No houses on the course. You just feel like you’re in northern Michigan. I really enjoy the peacefulness of the setting.”
Lazaro added a perspective of playing the forward tees as a senior woman:
“There are some par 5s that are very makeable for someone who doesn’t hit it super long off the tee. Like number 9 and number 18. Those are par 5s that are very much in my wheelhouse. I could get there in two when I was younger but get there in three now.
“I like that the yardage isn’t beat-your-brains-out hard,” she added. “Some of the holes are still pretty tough though. The green complexes make it more difficult, depending on where they put the hole locations. The landing areas are pretty generous but if you go off and get into the rough can ruin your day a little bit.”
Another member of our foursome was Caeden Kmara, an 18-year-old serving in the Michigan National Guard at Selfridge. He played golf at L’Anse Cruse North High School in Macomb Co.
“I thought the greens were rolling very well, very smooth. Not as many bumps as most of the courses I’ve played,” he said. “Certain parts of the course felt like Up North. It was outstanding and made the experience a lot better. Being in the middle of the city you’d never think you’d feel that way.”
Hole 12, a shorter par 4, could be the most interesting in that it’s visually intimidating with a large marsh to carry as well as bunkers just over the marsh. But it’s a very drivable hole for some hitters, which makes it a great risk reward even from the white tees – at 244 yards. There’s room to play with a little bit of fairway up to the right to get away from the marsh for people who do not try to carry everything.
Hole 13 is visually wonderful with possibly the most elevated tee on property to a nicely open par 4 fairway heading to a green that is skinny, deep and elevated, adding even more to the mystique of the hole.
The closing hole can be a beast for most golfers, as the tips are nearly 600 yards and drives must first clear a large gorge. Fair play comes into the picture as shorter tee choices on the other side of the valley make it a much more possible birdie hole as the round finishes with the majestic Dodge Mansion in the distance bringing golfers home.
