El Dorado Golf Course

El Dorado Golf Course's Red nine is part of a multi-course facility in Mason, Michigan, located just south of Lansing in the state's Lower Peninsula. Designed by Jerry Matthews, a Michigan-based architect who has worked extensively throughout the Midwest, the course reflects the regional approach to golf design common in mid-Michigan during the latter decades of the twentieth century. The property sits in relatively flat to gently rolling agricultural terrain characteristic of this part of Ingham County. The Red nine operates as one component of El Dorado's broader offering, which allows for various eighteen-hole combinations depending on player preference and course conditions. Matthews's design work in Michigan typically emphasizes playability for a wide range of golfers while incorporating the natural features available on site. The routing likely takes advantage of existing tree lines, modest elevation changes, and water features that are common to courses built in this region during the period. El Dorado serves primarily as a public facility, providing accessible golf to the greater Lansing area and surrounding communities. The course caters to local daily-fee players, league participants, and regional visitors seeking straightforward golf in a casual setting. Like many Michigan public courses, it operates within the constraints of a relatively short season, with peak play occurring from late spring through early fall when weather conditions are most favorable.