COURSE PROFILE INTERVIEW: Bucks Run Golf Club

What You Need To Know: Bucks Run Golf Club

An Insightful Interview With Emily Rohdy, PGA Head Golf Professional emily@bucksrun.com

Whether you have played a course 20+ times a year or looking to play the course for the first time, insights from an insider can help enhance your golf experience. Below is an interview with Emily Rohdy who shares some valuable tidbits about the course, memorable holes and must eats and treats at the 19th.

Give Our Readers An Overview of the Golf Course/Property
Bucks Run Golf Club, Michigan's premier golfing destination, sits on 290 acres of luscious bent-grass in scenic Mt. Pleasant, MI. The award-winning golf course features 18 holes spread across natural wetlands, wooded areas, river frontage, and picturesque lakes. The course is abundant with beautifully sculpted tee boxes and fairways, while the sand bunkers and rough prove to be both challenging and fair. Golfers of all skill levels travel to our golf course for the ultimate golfing experience. Bucks Run is located in Central Michigan and features an 18 hole championship golf course designed by Jerry Matthews, offers custom stay and play packages, and rustic clubhouse, featuring a casual-fine dining restaurant/banquet facility with spacious patios and panoramic waterfront views. Also, new for 2024, Bucks Run will now be offering Stay and Play lodging for those traveling to the area for a weekend getaway.

Bucks Run also offers a unique Putting Island experience. Named the "Best New Amenity" by Great Lakes Golf Magazine, the Putting Island at Bucks Run Golf Club is an 18-hole, real-grass course in the middle of a large lake. The Putting Island is a great added-attraction for corporate outings and weekend family fun.

If Someone Was Looking To Golf In The Area, Why Should They Play Your Course?
Bucks Run is a must play if you are driving through or visiting the Central Michigan area. It offers a unique Up North experience without having to drive the extra two hours to get there. Every hole feels like you are on the course by yourself. The greens are always challenging and fast, but the fairways are forgiving. If you are looking for a fun place to golf, eat, and sleep, Bucks Run is the place to be.

What Tips or Local Knowledge Would You Provide To Help Them Score Better At Your Course?
Bucks Run is forgiving off the tee, but punishing in and around the greens. Driver is not necessary on many holes, but if you can be accurate the risk is well worth the reward. The trick around the greens, is to make sure you error on the side where you can have an uphill putt. Missing short on this course is never a bad thing.

Any recent changes to the golf course? Or any upcoming changes?
Bucks Run has recently undertaken a lot of on course tree projects over the last couple years. Hole $15/#16 used to be tree lined, but now is guarded by a dense layer of fescue between the two holes. Bucks Run has also added in a brand new golf cart fleet as of 2023 featuring EZGO Elite carts with Pace GPS technology. You can play music, see the upcoming forecast, and get a detailed topographic view of the greens. Bucks Run also offers the ability to order food right from your cart from any location on the course and the staff will personally deliver the order.

Recent Awards or What You Are Most Proud About The Course?
Bucks Run was rated Best Place to Play in 2004 by Golf Digest and was listed as one of GolfWorld Readers' Choice Top 50 Public Courses in 2010.

What Is The Signature, Most Talked About, or Most Photographed Hole?
Hole #18 has to be one of the most breath-taking, challenging finishing holes in the State of Michigan. As you drive uphill towards this tee box you get a superb view of what lies between you and the clubhouse. This breathtaking finishing hole will test your golfing might to its fullest. You can bite off as much of Fisher Lake as you can chew with the tee shot, but the less you take off the longer shot into the green you will have. When you reach the fairway your work is still not done, there is water short, long and left of the green to catch your approach shot. Bunkers guard the left and right front of this very large green. It is simply a great finishing hole.

What Is Your Favorite Hole? Any Tips to Play It?
My favorite hole on the course is probably #9. I think it is one of the toughest holes on the course. The preferred tee shot is to the left center of the fairway, aim for the middle of the two bunkers on the left. For a shorter second shot go for the right side of the fairway, but be careful of Fisher Lake. The approach to this very large green will be with a mid to long iron, carrying over water the entire length. The green is well protected by water from the front, right and behind. The wind can be a huge factor as well, sometimes two clubs! As long as you favor the left side of the fairway and are careful to put your ball on the correct tier of green relative to the pin position, you'll always have a good look at birdie.

Must Have Dish or Drink after the round at the 19th Hole?
Local residents, and those passing through Central Michigan, looking for a delicious meal will find it at The Quarry Grill at Bucks Run Golf Club. Located just off M-20 in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan, The Quarry Grill is a full-service restaurant specializing in salads, sandwiches, burgers, steaks and more.

The Quarry Grill at Bucks Run Golf Club gives you and your dining party one of the best views Mid-Michigan has to offer. Take in the breathtaking scenery while overlooking pristine Lake Fisher and the picturesque golf course. For days when the weather is a bit cooler, enjoy your meal while comfortably seated indoors by a large stone fireplace.

One of our best and most popular lunch options has to be our Southwest Salad. It's enough to feed two people and is jam packed full of delicious toppings. Our classic "Emily" drink features Tito's Vodka, lemonade, and a splash of cranberry, the perfect drink for some summer time fun on the course.

For the traveling golfer, do you have lodging onsite or partner with any area hotels?
Bucks Run Golf Club offers a variety of customizable stay and play golf package options, so you can make the most of your stay in the Mid-Michigan area.

Our partnerships with eight local lodging facilities and ten of Mid-Michigan's finest golf courses makes it possible for us to offer exceptional package options that are easily tailored to meet your golfing preferences. You choose the courses you want to play, your dates of travel, the number of players, the hotel, and we make it happen. Plus, with our convenient location in the center of the state, our Mt. Pleasant golf course makes the perfect central meeting place for golfers from all areas. All Bucks Run Stay & Play Golf Packages are priced starting at four golfers.

Coming in 2024, Bucks Run will be offering it's very own Stay and Play Lodging. They comfortably sleep eight guests per lodge, with a common living area, and amazing patio views of Fisher Lake facing hole #18.

Who Holds Course Record and What Was Their Score?
Unofficially, the course record stands at a score of 65 from the black tees that was shot in 2019.

Back Tee Stats
Par: 72
Yardage: 6914
Slope: 146
Rating: 73.5

More Information
Bucks Run Golf Club 1559 S. CHIPPEWA ROAD MOUNT PLEASANT, MI, 48858 9897736830

www.bucksrun.com