The Mines

Designed by Mike DeVries, The Mines sits just minutes from downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan. And like the miles of abandoned gypsum mines that lie beneath it and from which the course gets its name, the course is a winding, wonderful journey that shows off all the diverse property has to offer.

The course is split into three plots of land that distinctly separate its routing. Players start across the road from the clubhouse with four unique par 4s that tackle some of the most severe elevation changes. DeVries then brings you back across to the land’s main paddock for Nos. 5-11, a stretch that shows off impressive sand dunes and a large landform that is played around on No. 9, up to on No. 10, and then back down on No. 11. Players then move to the back section of the property for Nos. 12-17, a heavily wooded area that treks up and down a large hill and features incredible green complexes. The final walk brings you back to the main section of the property for a dramatic downhill par-4.

While The Mines isn’t blessed with the most cohesive property, DeVries uses many clever tactics to make the most out of the disjointed walks and tricky sections. Nos. 6-8 are particularly notable as a short par 4 and back-to-back par 3s squeeze three holes into a narrow, difficult corridor on the east side of the property. But outside of the somewhat steep transitions from green to tee, you’d never notice how severe an area they traverse.

In addition to its fun routing on a difficult property, The Mines boasts a wonderful set of greens that are both enjoyable to play and difficult to score. There is almost always a slope that can assist and one that will reflect, making it crucial to understand your position heading into each complex. On the more subtle greens, like the par-4 10th, small knobs in the green reminiscent of a Maxwell roll show off DeVries’s ability to test players in different ways. With a maximum rate of $72 to walk and a location just a couple of miles from downtown, The Mines is a model for accessible public golf.

Take Note…

Don’t avoid The Pit – Tucked into the northwest corner of the property is a three-hole short course called The Pit. Players get the course to themselves for 45 minutes and can play as much as they want for $10. The holes were a part of the original plan but were abandoned during construction.

‍Two tees – If you play The Mines just once, you may not realize that the par-3 11th has two different teeing areas that attack the green from about a 90-degree angle from each other. It’s worth taking a look at the hole from the other tee to see just how differently it can play.

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