Donald Ross Designed This Michigan Classic in 1920

Klinger Lake Country Club has been testing golfers in southwest Michigan since 1921, when Charles Chick Evans -- the U.S. Amateur Champion -- officially opened the first nine holes. Donald Ross laid out those original nine, and more than a century later, his work still sets the tone for a round here in Sturgis.

A Club With a Real History

The club formed in the spring of 1920 as the St. Joseph County Country Club, with 50 charter members. Ross's nine-hole course opened the following spring, and on August 21, 1921, Evans did the ribbon-cutting. The back nine came in 1931 -- Evans returned for that opening too. The original clubhouse burned to the ground in July 1937, and a new one opened in its place the following spring. That clubhouse still stands today, overlooking Klinger Lake, and received a major renovation in 2012.

The club eventually went semi-private, so outside play is possible at certain times. If you get the opportunity, take it.

The Course

Klinger Lake plays 6,209 yards from the blue tees with a course rating of 71.2 and a slope of 138. Par is 72. Don't let the yardage fool you -- the slope reflects a course that penalizes errant shots. Bent grass covers both the fairways and greens, and those greens run fast.

The front nine is the one Ross built in 1920, and it remains the harder half for most golfers. It plays over hillier terrain, and the greens have that classic Ross shaping: slightly elevated, contoured, and difficult to hold from the wrong angle. The front covers 3,017 yards and includes two par fives. Hole 3 is the toughest on the outward nine -- a 350-yard par four rated as the second-hardest hole on the course. Hole 5 is the longer par five at 478 yards, while hole 9 gives you a chance to pick up a stroke at 488 yards if you keep it straight.

The back nine, added in 1931, is flatter and more straightforward in layout. But it has its own challenges. Hole 15 is the number-one handicap hole: a 415-yard par four that plays into the prevailing wind on many days. Hole 17 is the longest on the course at 597 yards -- a reachable par five for longer hitters, but water and positioning matter. The back covers 3,249 yards and closes with a short par three at 161 yards on 18.

Playing It Well

The key to scoring at Klinger Lake is patience on the front nine and position off the tee. Ross greens reward golfers who approach from the right side of the fairway -- miss to the wrong side and you face difficult up-and-down chances from collection areas or tight lies below the green. The fast bent grass greens mean three-putts accumulate quickly when you misjudge pace on the first read.

Walking is allowed, which suits the course well. The front nine especially has the kind of natural rhythm that works better on foot than in a cart. The elevation changes between tees and greens are manageable, and the routing gives you clear views of the lake on several holes.

The Facility

Klinger Lake has a full-service pro shop staffed by PGA Professional Pat Hagerty, who also offers lessons. The driving range and practice area let you warm up properly before heading to the first tee. The clubhouse has a restaurant with views of the course and lake, and there's a pool on the grounds for members. The club runs a Men's Stag on Thursday afternoons, along with men's and women's leagues throughout the season and an active junior golf program.

Worth the Trip

Klinger Lake Country Club sits in a part of Michigan that doesn't get the golf attention that the northern Lower Peninsula does, but that's part of the appeal. You can get on a legitimate Donald Ross design from 1920 without the crowds and premium pricing that follow more famous names. The course has kept its character -- Ross's original nine still plays as he likely intended, and the bent grass conditions hold up through a Michigan summer.

Tee options run from the blue tees at 6,209 yards (slope 138) down to 4,570 yards for those who want a more relaxed round. There's a set of tees for every level of player.

View the full scorecard for Klinger Lake Country Club -- including all tee options, yardages, ratings, and hole-by-hole data -- on Stymie.