Bay County Golf Course

Dan Neering, Recreation Manager

584 West Hampton Road
Essexville, Michigan 48732
Voice: (989) 892-2161
neeringd@baycounty.net

Hole by Hole Description

 

TEES:   RATING: SLOPE:

 Blue 71.2 119

 White 68.5 116

Red  72.5   120

#1 Par 4 - Blue:  381 yds. White:  366 yds. Red:  351 yds.

This par 4 is a good starting hole.  It is straight away with little trouble.  There is out of bounds that runs down the entire left side of the hole which shouldn't come into play, however has a higher presence during tournament play.  The green is mostly flat with just a few minor breaks. 

Aerial Video of Hole #1

#2 Par 4 - Blue:  393 yds. White:  328 yds. Red:  328 yds.

This 4 par is straight away with one bunker place near the left side of the green.  There is a ditch that runs down the entire left of the hole that is out of bounds forcing you to favor the right side off the tee.  The right side is fairly open with some trees that can impact an errant shot.  Your second shot better not be long, because there is a ditch behind the green.

Aerial Video of Hole #2
 

#3 Par 3 - Blue:  167 yds. White:  162 yds. Red:  125 yds.

This par 3 is a good hole for all levels of golfers.  A strategically placed pond short right of the green will capture a mis-hit shot.The green sits higher from back to front and is longer than it is wide.  Missing the green either left or right will force you to hit a lofted chip shot to stop it near the hole. 

Aerial Video of Hole #3

 #4 Par 4/5 - Blue:  406 yds. White:  355 yds.Red:  346 yds.

A good par 4 from the blue and white tees and a short 5 par from the red tees.  A demanding tee shot on this sharp dog leg left with tall pine trees protecting the left side forces you to lay up to the right or aim over the trees and hit is long!  An elevated green that is strategically rotated slightly will force you to hit the correct yardage in on your approach shot.  Any ball that lands short right or long left will roll down the hill forcing a flop shot of some sort.  The green runs predominantly from back to front.  Watch the pin position on this hole!

Aerial Video of Hole #4

#5 Par 4 - Blue:  348 yds. White:  331 yds. Red:  314 yds.

A short dog leg right 4 par with a lipped bunker about 65 yards from the green, forces you to hit a certain landing area off the tee.  The long hitters will pull out driver and attempt to carry the bunker.  The right side is also protected with trees from tee to green. Be careful on your approach shot, because anything long may end up in a ditch that runs the length of the backside of the green.  A fairly flat green with a few subtle breaks.

Aerial Video of Hole #5

 

#6 Par 5 - Blue:  499 yds. White:  433 yds. Red:  429 yds.

The course's first par 5 is straight away with a slight dogleg at the green.  The left side is favorable off the tee shot, because of trees protecting the right side all the way to the green.  A couple of grass bunkers are also in the landing area off the tee.  This is a two tiered green sloping from back to front.  A well struck approach is need to have a good putt on this hole and chance for birdie.

Aerial Video of Hole #6

#7Par 4 - Blue:  388 yds. White:  384 yds. Red:  339 yds.

This slight dog leg left par 4 has a fairway that ends with about 130 yards left to the green.  There is a 40 yard stretch of rough  before the fairway begins again.  There is an oil well that sits on the right side of the hole at the dog leg.  This entire area is treated as ground under repair.  The green is wide, but very narrow.  Judge your approach properly to hit this green in regulation.  

Aerial Video of Hole #7

#8 Par 5 - Blue:  519 yds. White:  448 yds. Red:  355 yds. 

This straight away 5 par is protected with tall pine trees running down both sides of the fairway.  There is a ditch that runs the entire left side of the hole.  There is a pond that runs along the right side of the pine trees on the right.  A bunker located in the right rough over the pine trees is approximately 80 yards from the green.  The green slopes from back to front with any ball rolling away from the green that misses left or right.

Aerial Video of Hole #8

#9 Par 3 - Blue:  201 yds. White:  161 yds. Red:  152 yds.  

The front nine ends with a straight forward par 3 with various lengths.  There are bunkers that guard the left side of the green and one that sits short right of the green.  The green is relatively flat with more break towards the front edge.  Check the wind and make sure you hit a solid shot to finish off the front nine.

Aerial Video of Hole #9

#10 Par 5 - Blue:  514 yds. White:  505 yds. Red:  424 yds.

A dog leg right par 5 is a good hole to start the back nine.  This hole plays straight away until just inside 100 yards.  Off the tee the left and right side is protected with trees.  The left side is the favorable side to come in from off the tee to avoid having any tree trouble on your approach shot.  There is an oil well placed on the right side of the hole where the dog leg begins.  This oil well plays as an immovable obstruction.  The green again lays from back to front and angled from left to right. 

 Aerial Video of Hole #10

#11 Par 3 - Blue:  152 yds. White:  135 yds. Red:  119 yds.

11 is a nice 3 par that is guarded with a bunker front left.  The green is elevated making your club selection more critical.  There is a ditch that runs down the entire right side of the hole.  This green holds very good so watch your yardage carefully.

Aerial Video of Hole #11

#12 Par 4 - Blue:  388 yds. White:  367 yds. Red:  337 yds.

This 4 par is probably the toughest driving hole on the entire course.  This straight away hole has out of bounds running down the the entire right side.  The left side has a large banked bunker that sits about 175 yards from the green.  Just over the bunker is a small pond that catches any ball hit over that bunker.  The green is sloped from back to front with a ditch over the green.  The safe play is hitting your approach short of the hole.

 Aerial Video of Hole #12

#13 Par 4 - Blue:  399 yds. White:  375 yds. Red:  355 yds.

This par 4 is a slight dog leg left with a severely banked bunker lying about 200 yards from the green.  Going left is a short cut off the tee, but you better make it over the bunker.  The right side is the safe bet, but will add yardage to your approach.  Again this green is sloped from back to front even more severe than the others.  An uphill putt will leave you the best chance at walking away with a good score.  Avoid going long on your approach, because another ditch runs the length of the green.

Aerial Video of Hole #13

#14 Par 5 - Blue:  428 yds. White:  384 yds. Red:  384 yds.

Bay County's signature hole not so much by its length, but because of the out of bounds and the scores that have been posted.  A dog leg right par 5 with water protecting the front of the green.  Out of bounds is located down the entire left side and the right side which is also tree lined as well.  The safe play is to lay up, hit your second over the hill and avoid the water, and wedge it in to the green.  However the longer hitters have an advantage to go for the green.  A tough green to hit with water short and a hazard left and behind, number 14 always has some excitement!  Good Luck!

Aerial Video of Hole #14

#15 Par 4 - Blue:  382 yds. White:  367 yds. Red:  337 yds.  

This par 4 is straight away with a bunker positioned down the left side about 150 yards from the green.  Over this bunker are large trees that protect the left side.  A tee shot down the right side is ideal, because your approach shot is much easier to hit into this two tiered green.Finding the proper level on your approach shot will give you your best chance at making a putt.  There is a ditch over the green as well.

Aerial Video of Hole #15

 

#16 Par 3 - Blue:  182 yds. White:  145 yds. Red:  138 yds.  

What you face here is a straight forward 3 par with a green sloping from back to front.  An approach shot short of the hole gives you the best look at birdie.  Going long will force a difficult chip and a tough par.

Aerial Video of Hole #16

#17Par 4 - Blue:  392 yds. White:  333 yds. Red:  333 yds.  

17 is the beginning of a tough 2 hole stretch to finish your round.  A dog leg left par 4 with pond on the left side of the hole.  Favor the right off the tee, but you will have a longer approach shot to the green.  A long slender green sloping from back to front is what you face on your approach.  A ditch also runs down the right side of the hole as well.  The green is elevated requiring a quality shot to avoid a difficult chip.

Aerial Video of Hole #17

 

#18 Par 4/5 - Blue:  418 yds. White:  383 yds. Red:  380 yds.  

A great finishing and challenging par 4 (5 par from the red tees).  A tree lined dog leg right gives you no bailout off the tee.  A pond is located down the left side at the dog leg.  A tee shot down the left side is ideal, however sets up a longer approach shot.  The green is guarded by a bunker short and left, while the green is elevated with run off all around it.  No let up on this hole, play hard!

Aerial Video of Hole #18