Clear Lake Golf Club: 100 Years of Big Rapids Golf

Clear Lake Golf Club has been a fixture of Big Rapids golf for more than a century. Originally opened in 1918 as Meceola Country Club, this Mecosta County course has outlasted trends, survived the Great Depression, and kept local golfers coming back through every generation. Today it operates as a fully public 18-hole layout with a surprisingly interesting design story behind it.

Two Nines, Two Eras

The course splits into two very different experiences. The original nine dates to 1918 and plays with the wide, open character of its era: generous fairways, room for error, and a layout that rewards smart positioning over raw power. The second nine arrived in 1988, designed by Comstock-based architect Jeff Gorney in his first professional project. Gorney tightened everything up on the back nine: narrower corridors, smaller greens, and more water in play. The two nines literally sit on opposite sides of a road, which gives the round a distinctive old-school feel you do not find at courses built from scratch as 18-hole facilities.

From the Blue tees the course plays 6,309 yards with a rating of 70.7 and a slope of 127. The White tees come in at 6,013 yards (69.5/123), and the Red tees at 5,515 yards (67.0/116). A Yellow option drops to 4,116 yards at a gentler 61.5/105 for players who want a shorter afternoon round. All tees play to par 72 from the men's sets.

The Holes Worth Talking About

Hole 4 is the one everyone remembers. From an elevated tee, the green sits just under 260 yards away, protected by water short and right. Big hitters can take a run at it, but the risk is real and the punishment is immediate. It is a short par-4 that plays completely differently depending on what you decide to do with your driver.

Hole 7 is the toughest hole on the course, a 364-yard par-4 where the second shot is fully blind. The green sits below a ridge you cannot see over from the fairway, which means you are committing to a club and a line on pure trust. The bowl-shaped landing area punishes pulls and fades differently than a standard green complex. It is the kind of hole that sticks with you.

Hole 10 wraps around the northeast corner of Clear Lake itself, a 309-yard par-4 where the water is genuinely in play and the views make up for the scorecard damage. The lake comes into play on roughly six holes across the full 18, and the back nine in particular uses the terrain and wetlands to create real shot-making decisions rather than just scenery.

Greens and Conditions

The greens are bentgrass, and local players consistently call them the best in Mecosta County. Fairways and tee boxes use a bluegrass mix. One honest note from player reviews: the fairways can thin out in dry Michigan summers since irrigation does not cover the full course. That is a real consideration in late July and August, though conditions in spring and fall tend to be solid. The back nine greens in particular get consistent praise for their firmness and speed.

What You Get for the Money

Weekday 18 holes with a cart runs $45. Weekends and holidays go up to $50. Walking is $30 anytime. Players 15 and under play free when accompanied by a paying adult, which makes this a legitimate option for families introducing kids to the game. Senior and student discounts bring weekday cart rates down to $40. Season passes are available for regulars.

The pro shop handles custom club fitting alongside standard merchandise. A driving range with four practice tees and a putting green are on site. The restaurant stays open daily from 11am to 9pm with a menu built around burgers, sandwiches, and homemade sides.

The Community Angle

Clear Lake runs leagues on multiple days of the week, hosts junior camps in summer, and operates a full events business for outings, weddings, and corporate groups. For a mid-size public course in a town of 10,000 people, it carries a lot of the recreational and social weight of the area. The staff gets consistent positive reviews even from players who found the conditions inconsistent -- that kind of goodwill matters in a facility that has to serve beginners, league regulars, and one-time visitors all at the same time.

The course opens mid-April each year and runs through October. If you are passing through central Michigan or planning a trip to the Mecosta County area, Clear Lake represents one of the better value rounds in the region with real design interest behind it.

View the full scorecard, tee yardages, and course details for Clear Lake Golf Club on Stymie.