Stoatin Brae Golf Club - Stoatin Brae

About Stoatin Brae Golf Club - Stoatin Brae

Stoatin Brae (Gaelic for "Grand Hill") opened in 2017 as the sixth 18 at Gull Lake View, the Scott family's resort that started with the West course in 1963. A team of senior associates from Tom Doak's Renaissance Golf Design built it: Brian Schneider, Eric Iverson, Don Placek and Brian Slawnik. The site is a ridge of the highest land in Kalamazoo County, an old apple orchard that was stripped of its trees and reseeded with native grasses. The general manager says they barely moved any earth and just set the course on top of the hill.

It plays like a links. There are no trees on the course itself, only around the edges. It's exposed and windy, with long views over the Kalamazoo River Valley, and it's built to play firm and fast, so the ground game matters. The greens are crowned and firm: come in from the right angle and stay below the hole. The survey data counts about 80 bunkers, only one hole with water, and roughly 65 feet of elevation change. It's par 71, from 4,943 to 6,742 yards. Greens sit close to the next tees, so it's an easy walk. The round ends on a 548-yard par 5 with a narrow fairway through the fescue to a turtle-back green. Course character from OpenStreetMap contributors' survey data.

It's one of 6 courses in Augusta on Yoink, and the closest alternative is Stonehedge South Course - Gull Lake View Golf Club & Resort, about 1 mile away — handy when your first choice is booked solid.

What it's like to play Stoatin Brae Golf Club - Stoatin Brae

There's real elevation change: some holes rise or fall about 65 feet from tee to green. It's a sand-heavy layout, with about 79 bunkers.

Course character from OpenStreetMap contributors' survey data (ODbL).

How to get a tee time at Stoatin Brae Golf Club - Stoatin Brae