The city's second golf course, Sanctuary Lake, will open this month after two years and $12 million in construction costs.
Sylvan Glen is the city's other course on Rochester Road and is more than 80 years old. About 65,000 rounds of golf are played there a year, so there was a need for another city-run course, said Jake Pilat, director of golf operations for Sanctuary Lake.
A landfill on South Boulevard was the perfect location for Sanctuary Lake because the city could have another place to play golf, and the trash dump residents looked at would become rolling hillsides, Pilat said.
"It's beautiful," said Assistant City Manager John Lamerato, as he putted on the course before its opening.
In a full season, there will be 40,000 rounds of golf played on the 165-acre, city-owned course. This will generate $2 million for the city annually, Pilat said.
A 70-station driving range opened last August. This year, the range has 100 to 175 people a day, Pilat said.
There are 18 holes, a practice facility for lessons and a pro shop. Sanctuary Lake also has an outdoor pavilion for picnics and outings that can hold 144 people and an indoor clubhouse for up to 50 people.
"It's a different experience because it offers a variety of scenery," Pilat said. "It's challenging and in a great location."
The course is graded difficult by the Golf Association of Michigan because of its slope. The association rated the course a 133. Sylvan Glen, the city's other course, is rated a 113. Ratings for slopes on courses in the United States range from 55 to 155, with an average rating of 113.
Doug Hendershot, the course rating and services manager for the association, said the people who evaluated Sanctuary Lake evaluate about 100 courses a year and were impressed with the difficulty level of this new course.
"They have sets of tees to suit different players and abilities," Hendershot said. "It is above average in difficulty and a real test of golf."
Dennis Rhodes, 52, of Troy, who lives in a subdivision near the course, said he is happy to look at the rolling hills at Sanctuary Lake, rather than the previous landfill. Rhodes, an attorney, spent a recent Wednesday afternoon taking swings on the driving range.
"I am eager to get on the course," Rhodes said.
City officials have been trying their hand at the course to offer operators feedback on the atmosphere and level of difficulty.
"When you're out here, it doesn't feel like you're in a big city ? it's tranquil," said Stu Alderman, superintendent of recreation for Troy.
Source: The Detroit News
