Tips From the Tee - Missaukee Golf Club - Cadillac MI Area Visitors Bureau

The Missaukee Golf Club, a Bob Meyer design, is an 18 hole par 71 course which has been open to public play since 1970. This course ranges from 4,905 yards from the front tees to 6,045 yards from the back tees. The range in distance allows golfers of all skill levels to enjoy the beautiful terrain that can be found at the course.

The Course

Brian Davis, Missaukee head golf professional, is a 32-year member of the PGA and has been teaching golf for 38 years. Brian is available to assist in setting visitors up for a great experience at the course and has an incredibly welcoming personality. The Missaukee Golf Club is located between Lake City and McBain, Michigan on the corner of M-55 and M-66.

Being new patrons of the course, Dawson and Nate started their first episode of ‘Tips from the Tee’ with an open mind. Upon arrival, they met with Brian Davis and discussed their signature hole. Brian told them that hole 9 is their signature hole, so they took some carts and headed for the number 9 tee box.

Hole number 9 at the Missaukee Golf Club is a 360-yard par 4 from the back tees. A dogleg to the left with water on both sides and sand traps that surround the green made this hole a strong test of Dawson and Nate’s skills.

Brian helped them understand how to play the hole and showed them a conservative approach as well as a more aggressive approach. He suggested that more novice golfers, or just players trying to play it a bit safer, should attempt to keep their ball on the straight leg and then hit their approach shots from about 150 yards right where the hole turns left. A more offensive strategy for an advanced golfer is to hit over the trees on the left rough and attempt to leave the ball just short of the green, or if struck well, on the green.

The Game

After a quick lesson from Brian about keeping their focus when approaching the ball, Dawson and Nate attacked the hole. Nate had stroked a nice drive to the left side of the fairway, just short of the dogleg, which left him with a 165-yard approach. Dawson took Brian’s advice and brought his drive up the right-hand side of the fairway on top of the hill with a 175-yard approach remaining. Both approaches had missed the green, leaving some skin on their chips.

Both Dawson and Nate’s chips did not go exactly as planned, and after both missing some longer par putts, left them with bogeys after a pair of two putts. All in all, they feel they played the hole much smarter and more strategically thanks to Brian.

The Missaukee Golf Club has free green fees for junior golfers 16 and under. If they decide to take a cart for the round then they pay a reduced cart fee. On Fridays, Missaukee Golf Club has senior golf for just $25 for 18 holes with a cart. This course has leagues Monday thru Thursday throughout the summer while leading into the fall. They also offer a couple’s league on Sunday’s. Brian also offers group, individual, and on-course lessons, which will help improve all facets of your golf game. To register for lessons call the pro shop at 231-839-2901.