Golfing

Chocolay Golf Club

125 Chocolay Downs Drive
Marquette, MI 49855
(906)-249-3111
www.chocolaydownsgolfcourse.com

Well known for its ninth hole, the world's largest putting green, measuring 29,000 square feet. The total measurement of the course is over 6,800 yards with par 72. The picturesque, championship designed golf course contains water hazards, rolling terrain and beautiful wooded areas.

Maybe you haven't noticed, but men seem to have some sort of obsession with length. Don't ask us why, but we do know this: The latest, most vicious measuring contest is taking place on the world's golf courses. According to The Guinness Book of World Records, the Satsuki golf course in Sano, Japan, boasts the longest hole in the world - an exhausting 964-yard, par-7 humdinger. But the Japanese domination is about to end. Joe Gibbs, owner of Chaoclay Downs Golf Course in Marquette, Michigan, is building a double-dogleg par 6 (above). The total: 1,007 yards. Quardruple digits, buddy, the Milton Berle of fairways.

"I don't mean to start World War III over this, but the World War II veterans like the fact that we're beating the Japs again," says the exceedingly patriotic Gibbs, whose course is set to open next spring. "It's going to make a nice amount of publicity for America. This is America! We beat'em once, and we'll beat 'em again." The Japanese, for their part, are a tad more genteel. "We still have the longest hole in Japan and have no intention of extending it," says Hidekazu Ojaki, vice-manger of the Satsuki links. "This won't hurt business at all." Good thing, too, because Gibbs is ready for a counterattack: Chocolay has almost half a mile of unused real estate behind the tee just in case anyone gets any funny ideas. And, just to reassure you, "You might want to note that we intend to always have the world's longest fairway."
-VICTORIA ROBB

Gentz's Homestead Golf Course

353 Gentz Road
Marquette, MI 49855
(906)-249-1002

www.gentzhomestead.com

Tucked away in Beaver Grove, just outside of Marquette, is a fine jewel of a golf course. Everybody is welcome at the Homestead. Many beginners fall in love with the game here, many low handicappers end up giving a nod to the Homesteads deceptive toughness. Great layout, beautiful woods, and immaculate greens in a friendly, casual enviroment. Stop by for a round at The Homestead!

A professionally designed course includeing driving range, nine golf holes and club and cart rental. Lessons available in spring. Total course measures 3,330 yards and is par 36.

Marquette Golf and Country Club

1075 Grove Street
Marquette, MI 49855
(906)-225-0721
www.marquettegolfclub.com

A private, championship 18-hole course, PGA golf pro, driving range, food and beverage service and much more. Lessons are available. Pro course measures 6,620 yards and is par 71. The men's course is 5,5887 yards is par 71 while the women's course measures 5,161 yards and is par 73.

Greywalls Golf Course

1075 Grove Street
Marquette, MI 49855
(906)-225-0721
www.marquettegolfclub.com

The Greywalls course is part of the Marquette Golf Club, which has been a traditional venue for golf in that part of the U.P. since its establishment in 1926. Greywalls will join the Heritage course and give the popular club 36 holes of fun and challenging golf.

Greywalls spans over 230 acres combing views of Lake Superior with Natural rock outcroppings. One of the most enticing visuals occurs even before taking the diver of of the bag at the first tee- a breathtaking view of Lake Superior that includes Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore some 55 miles to the east. The rest of the round is downhill from there, because at 380 feet the tee is the second highest payable point above the lake. The first six holes drop down, highlighted by two dramatic holes, the 312-yard No. 5 and the 185-yeard No. 6. A 60-foot wall of granite, which partly accounts for the course name, protrudes from the right side of the fifth green. The sixth features a ravine with three tee boxes more than 40 feet below the championship tee and the green. It is one of the most sensational par-3 holes in golf. The lake comes back into view on the seventh tee and then the ninth green.

The back nine arguably offers some stronger play. While lake views and more outcroppings come into play on the 10th, 16th, 17th, and 18th holes, the best stretch of pure golf holes are found on 12 thru 14. These holes feature sandy soil, rolling fairways and strategic bunkering and green placement. These are also the longest stretech of holes on the course.