The Forest Rules on Reflections

The Reflections Course, designed by Ron Otto and built in 1992, is one of the favorite courses at Garland, in part because it’s our shortest course and also because its lush fairways meander through a forest of majestic pines. “A driver is often unnecessary to play this course,” said Tom Howell, assistant golf professional. “It’s also very friendly to women and it’s very scenic. On No. 10, you’ll also see our famous eagle’s nest.”

The opening hole, a par-4 that plays at 383 yards from the back tees and 307 from the forward, can be a bit intimidating. You will need two excellent shots to reach the green in regulation, partly because your approach is a serious uphill shot.

From holes 5 through 10, you’re going to find that the terrain is a lot more open with a lot of visible water.

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The most demanding hole on the course is the 555-yard par-5 No. 5. Ponds in the area turn into creeks that cross the fairway twice. “You want to hit a 3-wood off the tee downhill to a generous fairway,” Howell said. “Stay short of the large stream about 250 yards off the tee. Then you can either cross that stream and another one about 65 yards farther down the fairway or you can lay up on the peninsula of land between the two streams. The average score on this hole is 5 ½ to 6 strokes.”

Then it’s on to No. 6, a 150-yard par-3 (119 from the front tees) with a scenic lake stretching from tee to green.

No. 8 is a fun hole, a reachable par-5 (497 yards from the back tees and 403 from the forward). Off the tee, you can let your driver rip the ball to a very generous landing area. Any drive over 275 yards will give you a chance to get to the green in two. Watch out for the fairway bunker as you make your tee shot.

You start the back nine on a par-5 that measures 525 yards from the back tees and 390 from the forward. On the tee you’ll need a short carry over water to a fairway that is tree lined all the way to the green. As you approach the green, you also need to be careful of three bunkers on the left side, obstacles that could foul up your final pitch. No. 10 is also a great spot to view Garland’s famous eagle’s nest.

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No. 11 is the most photogenic hole on Reflections and one of the most beautiful at the resort. “It was named one of the most romantic holes in the state by AAA of Michigan,” Howell said.

From the tee box, you’re looking at an uphill par-3 (183 yards from the back and 86 from the front) with an easy carry over a small creek. “The entire background of the hole is landscaped in flowers – white, red, yellow, orange,” Howell said.

The grand finale starts on No. 17, a par-4 that measures 382 yards from the back tees and 311 from the forward. “This is a 90-degree dogleg left, and all the way down the fairway, there is water down the right,” Howell said. “Where the fairway turns, there are also three bunkers on the left and three on the right. The emphasis here is on placement so don’t use your driver off the tee.”

Just as on the front nine, the back nine ends on a par-3, a tough finishing hole that measures 222 yards from the back tees and 177 from the forward. You’re taking a downhill shot from the tee through an area lined with trees. “The overall length and the very large green often forces players to take two shots to get to the putting surface,” Howell said.

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Distances, ratings and slopes on Reflections: 6,407 yards (70.8/127); 5,967 (68.6/124); 4,737 (66.8/117).