Black Lake Golf Course, Onaway, Michigan - a Rees Jones-Designed Golf Course in Northern Michigan Ranked Among the Best Public Courses in the Country

Black Lake Golf Club is a Rees Jones design, and the latest addition to the UAW Walter and May Reuther Family Education Center located in Northern Michigan. The course is situated in heavily wooded lands on the southeast side of Black Lake, which is one of the largest inland lakes in the state.

The course was designed by Rees Jones, who had never before worked in the hotbed of golf that is Northern Michigan. The result is a natural, 300-acre layout with a classic, old-style design that has become a trademark for Jones.

One of the most distinctive features of the course is its approachable greens. All of them have been designed with "ramps'' in the front so that short shots and bump-and-run approaches can all reach the putting surface, so long as they avoid the plentiful bunkers. Most of the greens themselves are designed with two tiers (or more), but the undulations are rather understated.

The rest of the course makes use of the natural contours of the land, which Jones described this way: "We were trying to build an old style, classic course. You'll notice we don't have mounds or moguls. We just have sweeps and natural grade. We strive for holes blending with the natural terrain. There is nothing artificial or contrived at Black Lake."

The 18-hole, par-72 course plays to 7,030 yards from the tips, with a USGA rating of 74.3 and a slope rating of 140 on Pennlinks and Providence fairways and Providence greens, making it a challenge for even the best golfers from that length. When advising first-time players, local management offered three tips: one, be long and straight off the tee, otherwise errant shots will be lost in the woods; two, iron shots can be a bit loose, since the greens are so approachable; and three, don't over-read the greens as long as putts are on the correct tier.

Some of the most noteworthy holes on the course include No. 6, which is one of the signature holes. This par-5 plays to 515 yards from the longest tees and is a great risk/reward hole. The hole plays from an elevated tee to a wide fairway and, for players who've hit a good drive, can be reached in two. The green is guarded by water on the front, left and back, however, so it requires an accurate approach shot.

Since opening in 2000, Black Lake has received much acclaim, including being ranked #34 among America's Top 100 Public Courses by Golf Digest.

Practice facilities at Black Lake are said to be "unrivaled'' and include a 350-yard grass driving range, as well as four chipping and putting greens and four practice bunkers. The course also features a clubhouse with locker rooms, lounge and dining room.

The Education Center also features other recreational facilities, such as a gym with two full-sized basketball courts, an Olympic-size indoor pool, an exercise and weight room, table tennis and pool tables, sauna, walking and biking trails, softball and soccer fields, and beaches and a boat launch ramp.