The Preserve

Comments: Open

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This natural beauty is a haven for wildlife and golfers alike. Stately hardwoods tower over lush grasses, wildflowers and wetlands- all within earshot of Lake Michigan's shores. The final hole opens up to a breathtaking shoreline view. *Course Stats and Yardage is for the Preserve/Links Course.

Course Tour

• Hole 1

  Par 4
  391 yards

  A very good opening hole that begins to introduce you to the hardwoods at Bay Harbor.  A well positioned tee shot will avoid the fairway bunkers and leave a short iron approach to a green that is guarded on the front right by a bunker.  If in doubt here, play to the front left approach, which is a fair place to get it up and down.

• Hole 2

  Par 4
  341 yards

  Take a careful look at this tee shot.  Some longer hitters will find that choosing a driver here can get you into the hazard that is through the fairway.  A huge double-green always seems to have tricky lies around it.  You'll want to find the putting surface here, even if it means a slightly longer putt.

• Hole 3

  Par 4
  423 yards

  There is no excuse to miss the fairway on the third.  The hole shares a fairway with hole number 7, creating a landing area that is over 100 yards wide!  However, the green is around to the left.  This leads to a longer shot the further to the right you are.  The green hides behind a steep undulation in the front left and is easiest to play from the front right if you happen to miss.

• Hole 4

  Par 5
  577 yards

  There are a few different routes to the 4th hole.  A large fairway bunker splits the fairway, providing area that is high to the left and low to the right.  If you play to the left, you will have a much better look at where you are going to play to next.  Playing to the right will create a blind second shot.  It is very important to set up a short iron or wedge third shot as the green has a pond in front and falls away to the back.  Reaching this green in two would be a very impressive feat.

• Hole 5

  Par 3
  191 yards

  The first par 3 on the Preserve, the fifth green sits perched on a ridge that falls into bunkers short and left, with a hazard all down the right.  Getting up and down here is no treat.  The green, which is blind from the tee, slopes mostly from the back to front.

• Hole 6

  Par 4
  467 yards

  The longest par four hole on The Preserve, focus on hitting your tee shot at the boulder in the fairway.  From here you will need to avoid an enormous bunker that sees plenty of action greenside.  Miss here and we'll see how much you've been practicing your short game.

• Hole 7

  Par 4
  404 yards

  You may feel like you have already played the seventh and you may be right.  This is the hole that not only shared the green with #2, but also the fairway of #3.  If you can carry the top of the hill, you will see the green.  If not, take a walk up and find the top of a tree to aim at.  The short right is perhaps the easiest place to play from around the green.  Long here is gone.

• Hole 8

  Par 4
  372 yards

  One last fairway to hit on this nine.  Consider playing a long iron or fairway wood here if you are able to hit it far enough to find the fairway and set up a short second shot.  The green has plenty of slope, so be careful when you are reading the putt to consider all sides of the break.  A quality approach could set up a great chance at birdie.

• Hole 9

  Par 3
  186 yards

  Out of the hardwoods and back to the coast.  The green has a giant slope to the left, allowing a shot to be played to the right side and funnel down to the hole.  With Lake Michigan to the left, a fairway bunker is the only thing stopping your ball from a watery grave.