Paw Paw Lake Golf Course
Plan your round at Paw Paw Lake Golf Course
Paw Paw Lake Golf Club is a family-owned public course in Watervliet, Michigan, established in 1918 on rolling hills overlooking Paw Paw Lake. The par 70 layout plays 6,055 yards from the blue tees (68.9 rating, 123 slope), with three sets of tees on every hole and smaller target greens. A halfway house called The Gazebo serves players after holes 7 and 12 and is open to the public.
- Public
- 18 holes
- Par 70
- Opened 1918
Course strategy
Read the card before you play it
Walk the course
Paw Paw Lake Golf Course hole by hole
Hole 1
210
yds ·White
A long par 3 that opens the round, with bunkers guarding both sides of the green.
Hole 2
196
yds ·White
Another long par 3. Out of bounds runs down the left side, and a shot over the green leaves a difficult chip.
Hole 3
315
yds ·White
The card calls this a decision hole: lay up short of the fairway ponds or hit over them. The left side of the fairway is preferred because water guards the right side of the green.
Hole 4
252
yds ·White
Distance off the tee matters little. Tee shots far to the right get blocked by trees, and the green slopes away from you. The club's local rule lets you play on or re-tee after a ball strikes the power lines.
Hole 5
455
yds ·White
A short par 5 where tee shots kept in play give you a chance at birdie.
Hole 6
485
yds ·White
A big tee shot lets you go for the green in two, but the green is elevated and needs a high, soft shot to hold.
Hole 7
160
yds ·White
A par 3 with a view of Paw Paw Lake. The wind can change the club you need.
Hole 8
173
yds ·White
A long par 3 with trouble left, right and long. Short and straight is the safe play.
Hole 9
385
yds ·White
Needs a long, straight drive, and the approach must carry all the way to a well-bunkered green.
Hole 10
395
yds ·White
A big tee shot gets to the bottom of a hill, and anything shorter leaves a difficult downhill approach to a well-guarded green.
Hole 11
190
yds ·White
The tee shot is uphill and needs a high, soft landing to stay on the green. Anything left tends to bounce into trouble.
Hole 12
256
yds ·White
A short par 4 that can be reached in one. Water guards the right side and the fairway bunkers come into play.
Hole 13
325
yds ·White
A tough par 4 that plays into summer wind and is tighter than it looks off the tee. Try to leave approaches below the hole on a severely sloped green.
Hole 14
264
yds ·White
Laying up near the fairway bunker leaves a partly blind short iron. Going over the trees leaves a short shot with a full view of the green, but shots over the green lead to bogey or worse.
Hole 15
258
yds ·White
Hit the left side of the fairway to avoid an approach over water. Distance on the approach is critical to hit the shallow, kidney-shaped green.
Hole 16
525
yds ·White
A long par 5, so tee it high and let it fly. Water sits in front of the green, so approaches must carry all the way.
Hole 17
375
yds ·White
Out of bounds runs the entire left side and trees line the right, so play this one as straight as possible.
Hole 18
240
yds ·White
A shotmaker's hole. Carry the fairway bunkers and run it under the trees or fade it around, with out of bounds left and large trees blocking anything right.
ScorecardView the full scorecard
Distances in yards
| Hole | Par | Hcp | Blue | White | Red |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 | 13 | 217 | 210 | 147 |
| 2 | 3 | 15 | 196 | 196 | 145 |
| 3 | 4 | 1 | 398 | 315 | 212 |
| 4 | 4 | 11 | 293 | 252 | 242 |
| 5 | 5 | 7 | 463 | 455 | 322 |
| 6 | 5 | 3 | 516 | 485 | 345 |
| 7 | 3 | 17 | 180 | 160 | 154 |
| 8 | 3 | 9 | 214 | 173 | 161 |
| 9 | 4 | 5 | 396 | 385 | 251 |
| Out | 34 | 2,873 | 2,631 | 1,979 | |
| 10 | 4 | 2 | 406 | 395 | 320 |
| 11 | 3 | 10 | 201 | 190 | 150 |
| 12 | 4 | 16 | 256 | 256 | 220 |
| 13 | 4 | 8 | 402 | 325 | 304 |
| 14 | 4 | 6 | 358 | 264 | 191 |
| 15 | 4 | 12 | 316 | 258 | 220 |
| 16 | 5 | 4 | 605 | 525 | 475 |
| 17 | 4 | 14 | 386 | 375 | 287 |
| 18 | 4 | 18 | 252 | 240 | 194 |
| In | 36 | 3,182 | 2,828 | 2,361 | |
| Total | 70 | 6,055 | 5,459 | 4,340 | |
| Rating / Slope | 68.9 / 123 | 67.0 / 108 | 67.4 / 110 | ||
Before you go
Everything to know on arrival
Know before you go
- Start your round on hole 1 unless the clubhouse says otherwise
- Bring your own bag and clubs, or ask about rentals
- Leave outside beverages and coolers at home
- Keep carts on paths and 50 feet from greens and tees
- Foursomes are the maximum group size; fivesomes aren't allowed
Carts & walking
Carts must stay at least 50 feet from greens and tees, stay on cart paths where they are provided, and are not allowed in the woods.
Rentals & pro shop
Rental clubs are available. Each golfer must have their own bag and set of clubs on the course.
Food & drink
Light lunch is served on the clubhouse patio. The halfway house, The Gazebo, serves hot dogs and cocktails after holes 7 or 12 and can be reached by boat or car.
Policies
Start on hole 1 unless the clubhouse authorizes otherwise. Outside beverages and coolers, fivesomes, dogs and other pets, and bicycling or jogging are not permitted on the course. Balls lost in the woods are dropped at the point of entry (no provisional ball), and there is a three minute limit on a lost ball. Balls landing in mulch or flower beds are dropped without penalty.
Quick answers
Paw Paw Lake Golf Course at a glance
Is Paw Paw Lake Golf Course open to the public?
Yes. Paw Paw Lake Golf Course is a public course.
How many holes does Paw Paw Lake Golf Course have, and what's the par?
Paw Paw Lake Golf Course has 18 holes and plays to a par of 70, from 4,340 to 6,055 yards depending on the tees.
Is there a hole-by-hole guide to Paw Paw Lake Golf Course?
Yes. This guide covers Paw Paw Lake Golf Course hole by hole, with the course's own notes on its holes.
When did Paw Paw Lake Golf Course open?
Paw Paw Lake Golf Course opened in 1918.
What are the cart and walking rules at Paw Paw Lake Golf Course?
Carts must stay at least 50 feet from greens and tees, stay on cart paths where they are provided, and are not allowed in the woods.
What food and drink does Paw Paw Lake Golf Course have?
Light lunch is served on the clubhouse patio. The halfway house, The Gazebo, serves hot dogs and cocktails after holes 7 or 12 and can be reached by boat or car.
How do you book a tee time at Paw Paw Lake Golf Course?
Book online through the course's tee-time page, or call +1 269 463 3831.
Where is Paw Paw Lake Golf Course?
Paw Paw Lake Golf Course is at 4548 Forest Beach Road, Watervliet, MI 49098.
Info last reviewed November 5, 2026. Policies change — confirm with the course before your round.
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Aerial imagery: USDA NAIP. Some hole outlines © OpenStreetMap contributors.
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