Leave the Driver in the Bag at Brentwood Golf & Country Club

Editor's note: This article is the first of three golf course articles that will run on Monday's throughout August.

is like playing two courses in one. But it demands a combination of precision and strength, finesse and even imagination. 

The first 11 holes are somewhat tight off the tee with a number of blind shots requiring blind faith. But starting with hole No. 12, the course opens up so that play more closely resembles a Michigan-style links layout.

That’s probably the first time most golfers should take out their driver — unless they have supreme confidence in the club.

So here are some tips, opinions, strengths and drawbacks of Brentwood, the first in a series of three features on the three 18-hole public golf courses in White Lake. 

The front nine

If there’s one piece of advice to heed, it’s that many golfers should keep the driver in the bag throughout the first nine holes. Many of the holes border on backyards of private homes, and out-of-bounds markers are prevalent. Even from the red (women’s) tees, accuracy matters more than distance. 

The course starts with a short par 4 with a water hazard on the right-hand side. A short par 3 (133 yards from the front red tees to 187 from the back green tees) second hole actually seems to play shorter. The third hole is drivable for big hitters but is more manageable with a long iron setting up a short iron or wedge. Out-of-bounds markers threaten both sides of the fairway. 

The front nine’s two par 5s don’t need a driver, either — especially the fourth hole unless, as a big hitter, you are trying to cut the corner. That fourth hole has a difficult green with a severe slope upward from front to back, and even if you play the hole smartly, a 3-putt is always possible. 

The short par-4 sixth hole has a blind shot, and again, the driver would be of no help to most golfers. And don’t be fooled by the landing area at the par-5 eighth hole. A driver and even fairway wood could be driven through the fairway at the dogleg right. A perfectly placed shot 200 to 225 yards from the tree will yield a similarly distanced shot for an attempt at reaching the green in two.

The greens play on the slower side, so be sure to follow through on your stroke. Spend a few minutes on the practice green before teeing off to get used to the speed. The front nine ends with a very short, scenic par 3, very possibly its signature hole, protected by a sand trap in the front and water in the left. 

Some of the greens and fairways appear to have suffered water damage from the heavy spring rains and are still recovering. 

The back nine

A very unusual start awaits you on the par-4 10th hole, where players will have to drive the ball from 230 to 250 yards from the back two tees to safely reach the fairway over a very long, natural wildlife area.

The houses that lined the course in the front nine start to disappear along the 10th and 11th holes, and the course opens up starting with the par-4 12th hole. The 13th and 14th holes are very suitable for the driver, and a wayward drive won’t hurt nearly as much, especially for the par-5 13th, the longest hole at Brentwood. 

The power lines frame the view from the tee on the challenging 14th hole, a long par 4 that measures 453 yards from the back tees. Be careful of the small pond guarding the valley on the left-hand side of the 16th fairway in front of a severely elevated green. You won’t see that pond on your second shot until it’s too late. 

The course ends with two straightforward holes where some private homes come back into sight. The 156/136/122/97-yard 17th hole has a large green, and the 18th hole gives golfers one more narrow fairway where straight irons may be the play. 

In all, Brentwood has trees, traps and a bit of water. The course does have its share of blind shots, so if you have time, drive your golf cart ahead of some of your shots to get a better view of what faces you on your next swing. Some of the backyards along the front nine are close to the fairway, and there are signs around the course warning golfers against going on private property. 

A full driving range is available and the clubhouse may be rented for private parties. The course measures 6,424/6,001/5,124/4,479 yards. Visit brentwoodgc.com or call 248-684-2662 for tee times and additional information.