Blackl Lake golf Cclub - Hole #5

Black Lake Golf Club in Onaway, Michigan

A Secluded Rees Jones Masterpiece

By Brian Weis

Whether you play a course 20 or more times a year, or you're looking to play somewhere new, insights from an insider can help enhance your golf experience. Below is an interview I conducted with Black Lake's long-time General Manager Nick Aune, who shares valuable information about the course including his favorites holes, must eat treats after your round, and stay and play package details. I have been blessed to play Black Lake a half dozen times, and the Rees Jones gem definitely belongs in the category of properties I'd like to play 20+ times per season!

Please give the readers of Midwest Golfing Magazine an overview of Black Lake Golf Club.
Black Lake Golf Club is a golfer's paradise. Players will enjoy pristine course conditions and abundant wildlife amid a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. Course architect, Rees Jones utilized every feature on the property, from cranberry bogs to a small sand quarry to produce what may be his most charming design yet. Black Lake's practice facilities include a double-sided driving range, four chipping and putting greens, and several practice bunkers. Finally, our certified PGA professional offers private instruction, playing lessons, and clinics.

If someone was looking to golf in Northern Michigan, why should they play your course?
As I mentioned earlier, I believe our biggest differentiator is the course is always in pristine condition. Also, there is no development on the golf course as it is carved out of nature. Rees Jones, known as the "Open Doctor," designed a spectacular golf course with many natural features and an abundance of wildlife. Northern Michigan's remarkable terrain is definitely on full display at Black Lake.

What tips or local knowledge would you provide to help players score better at Black Lake GC?
I always tell first time players to stay straight off the tee and always select enough club on your approach shot. If you leave it short, you could be in one of the bunkers that protect the green complex.

Has Black Lake GC won any recent awards you'd like to share?
We have been so blessed to win numerous awards from almost every media outlet in the nation. In fact, we list them on the home page of our website at www.blacklakegolf.com, so golfers can see they are in for a special experience. Some of our latest awards include:

2022 Golf Digest "The Best Courses You Can Play in Michigan"
2023 Golf Advisor "Best of Golfer's Choice Top 50 U.S. Golf Courses (#26)"
2023 Golf Advisor "Best of Golfer's Choice Michigan (#5)"

What is the signature, most talked about, or most photographed hole at Black Lake?
Our 5th hole is easily the most talked about one. In fact, the hole was featured within the Pure Michigan 18 golf campaign. It is a 236-yard par-3 from the tips and is nicknamed the "Sahara". A 200-yard bunker runs the length of the hole on the right side. Accuracy and length are at a premium on this hole!

What is your favorite hole on the property? Any tips on how to play it?
Black Lake Golf Club's 15th hole is a 515-yard par-5 with a risk reward option that few holes actually feature. If you can place a long drive down the left side of the fairway, you have the option of playing in a long second shot, which must carry the water feature on this hole. However, the layout of the hole gives options for shot accuracy playing around the water feature to still have an option of a birdie putt.

What are the must have dishes or drinks after the round at the 19th Hole?
The BBQ Ribs and Broasted Chicken are outstanding. Our clubhouse is enhanced by an outside patio and you can dine and drink outside while other groups are finishing up on the 18th hole. The patio also features two outside gas fireplaces.

For the traveling golfer, do you have lodging on-site or partner with any area hotels?
Black Lake lodging is located at the Black Lake Conference Center. It is located ½ mile from the golf course. The Conference Center offers resorts amenities such as a full-size gymnasium with basketball courts, a weight-training room, and plenty of relaxation on the shores of Black Lake. The resort features over 200 rooms with standard hotel accommodations to 3-bedroom condominiums. Also featured is a 51-site campground available with full hookup, which allows campers use of all of the Black Lake Conference Center amenities.

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Revised: 01/29/2023 - Article Viewed 2,138 Times - View Course Profile

About: Brian Weis

Brian Weis is the mastermind behind GolfTrips.com, a vast network of golf travel and directory sites covering everything from the rolling fairways of Wisconsin to the sunbaked desert layouts of Arizona. If there’s a golf destination worth visiting, chances are, Brian has written about it, played it, or at the very least, found a way to justify a "business trip" there.

As a card-carrying member of the Golf Writers Association of America (GWAA), International Network of Golf (ING), Golf Travel Writers of America (GTWA), International Golf Travel Writers Association (IGTWA), and The Society of Hickory Golfers (SoHG), Brian has the credentials to prove that talking about golf is his full-time job. In 2016, his peers even handed him The Shaheen Cup, a prestigious award in golf travel writing—essentially the Masters green jacket for guys who don’t hit the range but still know where the best 19th holes are.

Brian’s love for golf goes way back. As a kid, he competed in junior and high school golf, only to realize that his dreams of a college golf scholarship had about the same odds as a 30-handicap making a hole-in-one. Instead, he took the more practical route—working on the West Bend Country Club grounds crew to fund his University of Wisconsin education. Little did he know that mowing greens and fixing divots would one day lead to a career writing about the best courses on the planet.

In 2004, Brian turned his golf passion into a business, launching GolfWisconsin.com. Three years later, he expanded his vision, and GolfTrips.com was born—a one-stop shop for golf travel junkies looking for their next tee time. Today, his empire spans all 50 states, and 20+ international destinations.

On the course, Brian is a weekend warrior who oscillates between a 5 and 9 handicap, depending on how much he's been traveling (or how generous he’s feeling with his scorecard). His signature move" A high, soft fade that his playing partners affectionately (or not-so-affectionately) call "The Weis Slice." But when he catches one clean, his 300+ yard drives remind everyone that while he may write about golf for a living, he can still send a ball into the next zip code with the best of them.

Whether he’s hunting down the best public courses, digging up hidden gems, or simply outdriving his buddies, Brian Weis is living proof that golf is more than a game—it’s a way of life.