Lincoln Hills Golf Club

Lincoln Hills Golf Club in Ludington, Michigan, occupies a scenic position along the eastern shore of Lake Michigan. The course was designed by Tom Bendelow, the prolific Scottish-born architect who laid out hundreds of courses across America in the early twentieth century, primarily during his long tenure with the A.G. Spalding sporting goods company. Bendelow's work ranged from simple nine-hole layouts for small communities to more ambitious projects, and his designs typically emphasized playability and straightforward strategic options suited to the average golfer. The course sits in a region known for its rolling terrain, forested areas, and proximity to the lake's coastal environment. Ludington itself is a resort town with a maritime heritage, and the golf club serves both local members and visitors drawn to the area's beaches and recreational opportunities. The routing likely takes advantage of natural elevation changes and wooded corridors characteristic of western Michigan's landscape. Bendelow's design philosophy generally favored functional layouts that could be maintained economically while still offering variety in hole lengths and shot requirements. His courses often featured modest greens, strategic bunkering at key decision points, and routing that worked with rather than against the existing land. Lincoln Hills represents the kind of community course that formed the backbone of American golf's expansion in the 1920s, providing accessible golf in a pleasant natural setting without the elaborate earthmoving or dramatic features that would characterize later design eras.