Golf Wee Course at Harbor Shores Resort Benton Harbor, Michigan Designed by Colin Montgomerie, the nine-hole track is a welcome addition to this golfer’s paradise in southwestern Michigan. The layout is similar to your typical pitch and putt, with the total length of the course less than 500 yards, or just 275 yards from the front tees. This is the perfect place to take the grandchildren. Kids 12 and under, (accompanied by a paying adult) are free, and kids ages 13 to 17 pay only $20. As the Scottish golfing legend Montgomerie told Links magazine, these courses are about bridging the generations. “Having seen how short courses bring people together around the world, especially in Scotland, I know this course will create the same sense of community here. It’s an investment in both the game and the community that will pay dividends for generations.” The Cradle Pinehurst, North Carolina Designed by Gil Hanse, the nine-hole course has been a welcome addition to this golf mecca in the Carolinas. Golf Channel has referred to it as “the most fun 10 acres in all of golf.” At 789 yards total – with the shortest hole (the 5th) only 56 yards long, this par- 27 short course at Pinehurst is a joy – and also a test – for golfers of all skills and all ages. Rounds on the Cradle have increased from 34,719 in 2018, its first full year, to more than 60,000 in each of the past two years. The Himalayas Putting Green St. Andrews, Scotland The home of golf is home to seven courses, including the famed Old Course, which draws 2,000 playing visitors weekly, but that’s far from the only tourist draw in St. Andrews. The Himalayas Putting Green (yes, for those wondering, it’s part of the inspiration behind the name of Paul Janzen’s company), offers both a nine- and an 18-hole course. It’s only a 10-minute walk from the centre of town and it’s open to anyone over the age of three. The best part about this experience is the cost: adults pay three pounds, and seniors and those under 12 pay only one pound! CSANews | WINTER 2025 | 51
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