Red at West Ottawa Golf Club

West Ottawa Golf Club's Red Course sits in Holland, Michigan, a community on the eastern shore of Lake Michigan known for its Dutch heritage and proximity to the lake's coastal dunes and forests. The course was designed by Bruce Matthews and Jerry Matthews, a father-son team who have created numerous layouts across Michigan and the Midwest since the mid-20th century. The Matthews family's design work typically emphasizes playability for a range of skill levels while incorporating the natural terrain features common to western Michigan.

The Red Course occupies rolling terrain characteristic of the region, where glacial activity left behind gentle elevation changes and sandy soils that provide good drainage and firm playing conditions. The layout likely moves through stands of mature hardwoods and pines, with fairways that follow the natural contours of the land. West Michigan courses often feature strategic bunkering and greens that reward accurate approach play, and the Matthews design philosophy generally favors accessible golf that remains interesting for regular play.

Holland's golf community benefits from a relatively long season compared to inland Michigan locations, with lake-effect weather patterns moderating temperatures in spring and fall. West Ottawa Golf Club serves as a local facility where members and guests experience golf shaped by the region's landscape and the Matthews family's practical approach to course design.