Travel Michigan Golf

Northville Hills - By Jim Heil

Opulence surrounds the Arnold Palmer-designed Northville Hills Golf Club. Skirting the fairways of the new golf course are homes priced from $400,000, some with conservatories, solariums and sun rooms that overlook the holes.

Despite the cost of enjoying such a view, the golf course itself is open to all.

"The design intent was to provide golfers with a challenging golf course that's very enjoyable to play in four hours," said Martin Fuchs, the director of golf operations at Northville Hills. "It was designed for Arnie's Army."

Located just minutes from I-75, I-96 and M-14 in northwest Wayne County, the project is one of seven undertaken nationally by Toll Brothers, which incorporates Palmer's signature work with high-end homes. Northville Hills has 468 single-family housing units available.

Formerly the site of a county-run mental health facility and children's home that had fallen into disrepair, Northville Hills underwent its reclamation on a 240-acre layout starting in March of 1999, with the major work completed in September. "We just have some detailing work and some cleanup to do, and we re anticipating opening up in the summer of 2000," Fuchs said.

One of the unique features of Northville Hills' golf operation is that it is part of a nationally recognized and funded stormwater management program. Toll Brothers worked in conjunction with JJ&R, an Ann Arbor engineering firm, on the project. "Throughout the golf course are numerous water treatment basins and newly constructed wetland areas to process all the water that comes off the housing development," Fuchs said. "As the water makes it way through the golf course property, it discharges cleaner than when it comes in." The filtered water from the golf course eventually enters the nearby Rouge River, satisfying government demands to clean up the waterway.

Wetlands and ponds present hazards on many of the holes, with the wide-open design of Northville Hills featuring only a smattering of trees. The presence of "Michigan heather" helps define the holes and gives them a links feel, Fuchs said. Expansive fairways and massive greens--averaging 8,000 square feet - also help characterize Northville Hills. Each hole has four or five tees tee settings, stretching the par-71 course from 5,166-6,907 yards.

"There are 40 acres of fairway," Fuchs said. "The fairways are very wide and they're designed to keep the golfer in play, if you're off line a little bit to the left or the right." Carries over water and wetlands will challenge golfers to try for birdie or eagle, but there's bailout areas for playing it safely. Simply getting par will be enough to satisfy most golfers, as the shortest holes have little room for error.

"I think we have four of the toughest par-3 holes in Michigan," Fuchs said. "If you're short, you're dead."

A practice facility will include a 55,000-square-foot driving tee, a private teaching tee and a generous green equal to any on the course. Off-course amenities will include a 7,000-square-foot clubhouse complete with a pro shop, men's and women's

locker rooms and a casual dining area with seating for outings, banquets and meetings.

"We're anticipating a soft opening in July," Fuchs said of the course. "It all depends on the weather conditions."

Call (734) 254-9102 for information on greens fees, corporate memberships and golf outings.