Riverside Golf Course
Battle Creek, Michigan
Grade: C
Instructor’s Feedback: A nice design that deserves higher circumstances.
As soon as a non-public membership, Riverside has been open to the general public since 2011. It’s a parklands model course, with shocking elevation modifications.
A golf course has been on the location since 1926, however Bruce and Jerry Matthews are credited in a number of locations because the architects, so maybe it was redone by the pair at a later date. I additionally suppose it’s attainable that the again 9 was added at a later date, designed by the Matthews.
Riverside, as a reputation, is extra aspirational than precise. There’s a river within the neighborhood, however not one of the course is at its aspect. The closest it will get is the sixth inexperienced, which in response to Google Maps is 500 ft from the river’s shore.
And there’s no view.
That stated, the course does play from heights all the way down to lowlands which little question are a part of the Kalamazoo River valley.
The primary gap dives down from a ridge which constitutes the very best level on the entrance 9. From there, many of the holes both climb up or down the slope of that ridge. Even the holes that run parallel to the heights have significant elevation modifications. The seventh and ninth greens are located atop the identical ridge as the primary tee (and clubhouse).
The 2 nines of the course are separated by Columbia Avenue, a busy 4 lane highway. Happily, there’s an underpass constructed only for the course.
Riverview’s again 9 is tighter and in some methods hillier, with many holes having each ups and downs.
I additionally thought the again 9 was way more fascinating than the entrance, which for all of the elevation modifications was only a sequence of straight-ish pictures.
My favourite gap at Riverside was the 399 yard par 4 tenth. After the considerably pedestrian entrance 9, there was a little bit of a wow issue upon rising from the darkish concrete tunnel underpass.
The tenth begins on an elevated tee, located a couple of yards beneath the ridge and highway behind. The golf green dives down, then rises and turns left, threading between stands of pine. The opening continues to rise to the mounded inexperienced, which is guarded left and proper by bunkers.
I additionally actually loved the fourteenth. It too begins from an elevated tee, dives downward after which steadily climbs to the inexperienced. A pond — unseen from the tee — lurks on the left aspect of the touchdown zone. The fitting aspect of the climb is a hillside which — if one pulls a shot to that aspect — gives a clumsy lie for a restoration shot (I discovered this out the arduous approach.)
The eighteen is a enjoyable, downhill thrill experience, with a blind tee shot that correctly positioned ought to run out for a great distance. The inexperienced rises sharply above the low level, perched on the aspect of the identical ridge that defines the entrance 9 and can be the start line for the tenth.
From the again tees, Riverside stretches to six, 659 yards and performs to a 72.7/120.
| Tee | Yardage | Ranking | Slope |
| Blue | 6, 659 | 72.7 | 130 |
| White | 6, 209 | 70.6 | 127 |
| Inexperienced | 5, 810 | M: 68.7 W: 73.8 |
M: 124 W: 129 |
| Yellow | 5, 296 | M: 66 W: 71.3 |
M: 119 W: 125 |
| Pink | 4, 509 | M: 62.5 W: 66.5 |
M: 109 W: 113 |
The Riverside property apparently has been on the market for a few years, and was not too long ago dealing with a rezoning to mild industrial, business and multi-unit houses. As of October 2024, nevertheless, that proposal appeared to be off the desk. The golf course stays zoned for single-family residences, although.
Circumstances on the day I performed had been missing. I discovered sparse fairways, weeds rising in bunkers and broken greens. A few of that would maybe be attributed to a sure diploma of apathy because of the aforementioned rezoning threats.
Nonetheless, Riverside was not making a great case for itself as a golf course as a substitute of a housing growth or industrial park.
And I believe Riverside deserves a greater case. It’s a enjoyable design, with traditional vibes on the entrance and a worthwhile problem on the again. As it’s, I’m positive locals will typically get pleasure from a spherical there.
The Riverside Golf Course Assessment was first printed November 15, 2025 from notes and pictures taken on a spherical performed in the summertime of 2025.
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