Northern Bay Resort Takes Golfers Around the Nation Thanks to Seven Replica Holes

Review of the Replica Holes at Northern Bay Resort

By Glen Turk

A round at Northern Bay might be the best value in golf when you consider how much money and how many favors you'd have to cash in to play all six courses below.

Below are brief descriptions of what golfers can expect when playing the Midwest's only replica golf course.

Hole #3 at Northern Bay: Par-3, 194-yard 16th hole at Augusta National
This mid-length par three plays entirely over water from each tee box. The iconic back-left pin position has decided many Masters Tournaments, and they like to put it in that location as much as possible. The green has tremendous slope so it's important to find the right tier and pick the correct club.

Hole #4 at Northern Bay: Par-4, 465-yard 5th hole at Oakland Hills
This iconic hole is a lengthy and tough par four and is the No. 1 handicapped hole on Oakland Hills South. The elevated tee shot plays to a fairway guarded by two bunkers on the right. Two bunkers also protect the front of the elevated green. The hole is a tremendous test early in your round.

Hole #6 at Northern Bay: Par-5, 625-yard 16th at Firestone CC
This is a replica of the famous 16th hole at Firestone Country Club - one of the longest and most difficult par fives on the PGA Tour. The tree-lined and narrow fairway plays downhill most of the way. Most players will be forced to lay up in front of the pond that guards the green. Consider it a three-shot approach.

Hole #10 at Northern Bay: Par-3, 132-yard 17th at TPC Sawgrass
One of the most iconic golf shots in the world is the famous island green on the Stadium Course. At its widest point, the green is only 90 feet. Most players will shoot for the middle of the green and walk away with two putts from there.

Hole #11 at Northern Bay: Par-5, 510-yard, 13th at Augusta National
Known simply as the Azalea hole, the 13th at Augusta is a short par five that doglegs to the left. Longer hitters can cut the corner to the center of the fairway and give themselves a chance to go for the green in two. The green is protected by a creek that runs alongside the left edge of the fairway.

Hole #12 at Northern Bay: Par-4, 426-yard 3rd Hole at Oakmont
The hole is memorable because of the iconic church pew bunkers that protect the left side of the fairway. The mid-length par four requires a long and straight drive down the middle and a strategic approach shot to a fairly flat green that slopes away.

Hole #18 at Northern Bay: Par-4, 441-yard 18th at Bay Hill
Bay Hill Club and Lodge No. 18 - known as the home course for Arnold Palmer since the 1960s, the 18th hole at Bay Hill is a demanding par four. Favor the left side of the fairway off the tee and take plenty of club on your approach shot that carries over the lake. The entire hole slopes to the right.

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Revised: 02/27/2020 - Article Viewed 13,920 Times - View Course Profile

About: Glen Turk

Glen Turk is a Wisconsin native and is the Senior Writer/Editor of Midwest Golfing Magazine. Midwest Golfing Magazine was formerly known as Pub-Links Golfer's Magazine and is a free publication distributed four times per year throughout Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Iowa, Indiana, and Ohio.

His duties at MGM include writing course features, facilitating product testing, and overseeing the overall content and look of the magazine. But clearly his most important task is playing as much golf as his wife allows. Fortunately for him, she plays also and loves out-driving him even with a 60 yard head start.

Glen plays to a 6 handicap but once set a record by having his ball retriever regripped 15 times in one calendar year. It was a December trip to Guam that ultimately did him in. Finally, if you haven't caught on by now, the two most worthy weapons in Glen's writing arsenal are self-deprecating humor and pithy one-liners.

My signature line, "Be A Force on The Course" and now more recently, "Hit 'Em Where They Mow!" can be reused at no charge.