Hidden River Golf Course Review

Hidden River Golf Course Review

Hidden River Golf and Casting Club
Brutus, Michigan
Grade: B+
Teacher’s Notes: It’s worth playing, even if the design felt a bit disjointed.

Variety is the spice of Hidden River. It has parks, swamps, forests and even some linksy style holes. There are grip-it-and-rip-it holes, target golf holes, a few heroic carries and opportunities for strategic thinking. A couple is in the mood for classic throwbacks; others are very clearly modern.

There is something for everyone on this extensive course.

Despite this, the course had a bit of a disjointed feel to it. It starts with three parkland gaps through tall pine trees. Then, after a very long cart ride across the river to the other side of the property, Hidden River gives way to five swampy, left-hand holes. That nine, however, ends with a classic Northern Michigan par 3 wooded descent. Then it’s back to a long cart ride for a few park-style holes, followed by five hilly, wooded holes. It ends with two parks and swamp holes.

Still, I really enjoyed my playthrough of Hidden River. Every time there was a transition, I was like, okay. We are doing this now. And then it was fine.

Hidden River was designed by W. Bruce Matthews III, one of Michigan’s first family of golf architects. The trimuvirate of Bruce Matthews, Jerry Matthews and W. Bruce Matthews III designed or renovated as many as one-third of Michigan’s golf courses.

In all the family designs I’ve played, I’ve appreciated two things: the first is how the Matthews seem to understand the landscapes of Michigan. The second is that the courses can be played at different skill levels.

Hidden River has both characteristics. Playing from the back tees can be challenging, with length and less favorable angles. However, as the tees move forward, wide fairways and more favorable lines of play make Hidden River more of a resort-style course for casual golfers.

Instead of my usual ‘favorite’ hole highlight, I’d like to show the five holes from four to eight.

Although a few holes start or end in a wooded area, the stretch feels surprisingly left-field, with large stretches of sand, hills and native gases around the edges. I found myself in some rough areas that reminded me of the waste areas at Pinehurst #2 and #4 or at The Loop.

A large pond creates a peninsula that is green on seven, and there are a few swampy areas to avoid from the tee on four.

The best of the bunch is perhaps the par four sixth, which is a dogleg left, with the right bordered by waste areas on the side of a sandhill. Eight was also fun, with water on the left and large bunkers and trash on the right. The fairway descends at the end before rising to the green.

The par 5 fifth is a bit of a thrill ride and calls for three big, accurate shots over its 549 yards (from the back tees). It’s still 499 of whites. The left side consists of bunkers, wild grasses and waste areas. On the right it’s all water.

From the back tees, Hidden River is 7,101 yards with a rating of 74 and a slope of 138. That’s more than enough to challenge better players. However, the arrangement of the tees

The conditions on the day I played were good. Greens and tee boxes were in good condition and the fairways were smooth. The edges of the holes were also well cared for. Hidden River has the conditions you would expect from a job in this price range.

Hidden River has much to recommend it. The holes are interesting, the surroundings are beautiful and the conditions are good. I’m only hesitant to give it two reasons: the first is that it’s on the expensive side, at $125+ per round. The second is the lack of continuity in its flow and character. Still, it’s worth playing every few years. If you could get a discount it would be a definitive play.

The Hidden River Golf and Casting Club course review was first published on GolfBlogger.com on December 11, 2025 from notes and photos taken during a round played in August 2025.

Follow the link for a list of all of GolfBlogger’s golf course reviews.

A photo tour of Hidden River Golf and Casting Club follows.

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