Point O' Woods

The course at the unusually named Point O’ Woods Golf and Country Club was laid out by Robert Trent Jones and, after some significant earth moving, it opened for play in 1958. The funky named Point O’ Woods is located a couple of miles inland from Benton Harbor and we’d love to hear from anyone who knows the origin of the name.

Trent Jones routed Point O’ Woods across some 350 acres of rolling terrain and the club is home to one of the country’s most important amateur tournaments, the Western Amateur Championship. The Western Amateur dates back to 1899 and has been hosted by Point O' Woods Golf and Country Club annually since 1971. Former winners of the Western include Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Ben Crenshaw.

Point O’ Woods is relatively flat and easy to walk, but it’s an extremely challenging layout with narrow fairways framed by trees, deep bunkers and a number of scenic, ball-gobbling ponds, which regularly come into play. Water hazards can effect the smoothest of swings and the spectacular par three 9th, over water from the back tee, is a test of accuracy and nerve for even the best golfers. To make matters even more challenging, the shallow green slopes wickedly towards the water and is ringed with bunkers.

The closing hole at Point O’ Woods is also a Trent Jones classic. It’s a wonderful par four which requires a bold tee shot favouring the right side of the fairway leaving a tricky approach to a green well protected by sand and water.