Huron Meadows Golf Course

Huron Meadows Golf Course is the public 18-hole course of Huron Meadows Metropark, a regional park run by the Huron-Clinton Metroparks along the Huron River in Livingston County, Michigan. The course gives its address as 8765 Hammel Road, Brighton, MI 48116, and describes itself as located off US-23, within minutes of downtown Brighton. The postal address says Brighton, but on OpenStreetMap the course falls inside the boundary of Green Oak Charter Township, just south of the city. Wikidata records it as part of Huron Meadows Metropark, in Livingston County.

The course opened in 1983, according to the Metroparks, and was designed by Sue Nyquist. It is a par 72 for men. On the scorecard the Metroparks published in February 2026, it measures 6,584 yards from the Blue tees, the longest of its four sets, with a course rating of 71.2 and a slope of 127. The card also gives a separate par of 71 for women. It is an open, grassy course rather than a tree-lined one, with a rolling front nine and a flatter back nine, according to a long review published by the golf blog GolfBlogger. In winter, the starter building becomes the park’s cross-country ski center.

A course inside a Metropark

The Huron-Clinton Metroparks are a regional park system serving five counties of southeast Michigan: Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Washtenaw and Livingston. According to Wikipedia, the system was authorized in 1939 and began receiving funding in 1942, and it now counts 13 parks covering more than 24,000 acres. The Metroparks golf website lists seven regulation courses, at Hudson Mills, Huron Meadows, Indian Springs, Kensington, Lake Erie, Stony Creek and Willow, plus a par-3 course at Lake St. Clair. Huron Meadows is the one in Livingston County, and the system’s headquarters is also in the Brighton area.

The park itself is large. Wikipedia gives an area of 1,576 acres; the Brighton-area tourism office describes it as a 1,560-acre park, and a 2017 park map published by the Metroparks says 1,540 acres. Hammel Road splits it in two. In the northern section, where the course lies, is Maltby Lake, a quiet lake where gasoline motors are not allowed and where a fishing pier and observation deck stand at the Sunset Ridge picnic area. The Huron River winds through the southern section; the Metroparks note that this stretch is part of the Huron River National Water Trail, the 18th river to receive that designation. The park map published in 2023 shows the course and the ski center as a single facility at the end of the park road, with the driving range beside them. The park is administered through Hudson Mills Metropark, according to the same map.

Sue Nyquist’s first Metropark course

The architect of record is Sue Nyquist, credited by the Metroparks, GolfPass, the Golf Association of Michigan’s course directory and the other listings we consulted. She designed two more courses for the Metroparks: Indian Springs, in White Lake, which GolfNow dates to 1988, and Lake Erie, in Brownstown, which the Metroparks date to 1994. Huron Meadows is the earliest of the three. We found no published biography of Nyquist and no account of how the Metroparks came to choose her, so this page says nothing more about her career.

The opening year is given as 1983 by the Metroparks’ own course page, by GolfPass, by GolfBlogger and by the Golf Association of Michigan’s directory. GolfLink and a few other listings say the course opened in 1984. This page follows the Metroparks. We found no source that explains the gap.

The course seems to have changed more through maintenance than through redesign. A reader who commented on the GolfBlogger review in 2022 recalled that when Huron Meadows first opened, the grass was cut from property line to property line, so that some holes, the 11th among them, were around 200 yards wide. According to the same commenter, vegetation has since been allowed to grow in many areas that are out of play, which in his view has improved the course. We found no record of a major renovation, a change of architect or a professional tournament held here, and the Metroparks do not publish a history of the course beyond its opening year and designer.

The card

The scorecard published by the Metroparks, marked as revised in February 2026, lists four sets of tees. The Blue tees measure 6,584 yards, rated 71.2 with a slope of 127. The White tees measure 6,358 yards, rated 70.2 with a slope of 125. The Gold tees measure 5,889 yards, rated 68.0 and 115 for men and 73.9 and 127 for women. The Green tees, rated for women only, measure 5,279 yards, with a rating of 70.1 and a slope of 121. Each nine is a par 36 for men. For women, the outward nine stays at par 36 and the inward nine drops to 35, for a total of 71.

The figures elsewhere are older or simply different. The total of 6,663 yards from the back tees appears in GolfBlogger’s review, on GolfLink, on 18Birdies and on Hole19, and the Metroparks’ own park page currently lists both 6,584 and 6,663 yards. The Golf Association of Michigan’s directory gives 6,688 yards. Ratings for the back tees vary too: GolfLink shows 71.1 and a slope of 118, GolfPass 71.2 and 122, and 18Birdies 71.9 and 124. The course page on the Metroparks golf site describes the four sets of tees as playing between 5,200 and 6,500 yards, while an earlier version of the same page, as indexed by search engines, gave 5,300 to 6,700 yards. This page follows the February 2026 scorecard, the most recent document we found; we could not reach the USGA course rating database to confirm the ratings independently.

The mix of holes is balanced. On the men’s card there are four par 5s (the 1st, 6th, 13th and 18th), four par 3s (the 3rd, 7th, 12th and 15th) and ten par 4s, which matches GolfBlogger’s count. GolfBlogger also counts eight doglegs.

What it asks of you

The Metroparks describe a course that challenges any skill level, and the sources agree on a few broad traits. GolfBlogger calls it a meadow course: open, dominated by grass rather than trees, and receptive to long hitters. The Golf Association of Michigan’s directory, on the other hand, describes undulating fairways lined by mature oaks. The two descriptions are not necessarily incompatible, since the out-of-play areas have grown in since the course opened, but expect a course where the wind and the ground matter more than tree trouble on most holes. The same directory lists bentgrass greens and bluegrass fairways.

The two nines play differently. According to GolfBlogger, the front nine runs over rolling terrain, often asks you to carry a valley, and brings water into play on four holes; the reviewer reports finding himself on awkward slopes. The back nine is flatter and more forgiving, and GolfBlogger suggests it as a good place to take beginners. On sand, the sources diverge: GolfBlogger counts only a few bunkers on each nine, not enough to be a major concern, while the Golf Association of Michigan’s directory places the course in the 31 to 40 bunker range. We could not settle the count.

Local rules on the scorecard tell you a good deal about the ground. All heather and natural grass areas are played as lateral hazards outside tournament play, which means a ball lost in the tall grass costs a stroke but not a long walk back. Out of bounds is marked by white stakes and boundary fences, water hazards by yellow stakes and lateral water hazards by red stakes, and relief is given from all paths and roads. Yardage markers show 100, 150 and 200 yards to the center of the green, and the flag colors indicate pin position: red for front, white for middle, blue for back.

The front nine

The yardages below are from the Blue tees, with the Gold tees in brackets, on the February 2026 card. The 1st is a par 5 of 480 yards (436), fifth on the men’s stroke index; for women it is played as a par 4. The 2nd, a par 4 of 377 yards (344), leads to the 3rd, a long par 3 of 222 yards (172) and the longest one-shot hole on the course. The 4th is a par 4 of 360 yards (340), the easiest par 4 on the outward nine for men but, on the women’s card, the hardest hole on the course. The 5th is a par 4 of 380 yards (349).

The 6th is the hole the Metroparks single out. A par 5 of 475 yards (441) and third on the men’s stroke index, it can be a challenging hole, the course page says, but a very long drive and a well-placed second shot will leave you in good shape. The 7th, a par 3 of 152 yards (139), is ranked the second easiest hole on the course. The 8th is a par 4 of 387 yards (334). The 9th, a par 4 of 462 yards (421), is the hardest hole on the men’s card, a long two-shotter that women play as a par 5. On the course map printed on the scorecard, the 9th appears to run near the Sunset Ridge picnic area on Maltby Lake. The Blue tees add up to 3,295 yards on the way out.

The back nine

The inward nine measures 3,289 yards from the Blue tees and 2,913 from the Gold. The 10th is a par 4 of 389 yards (365), followed by the 11th, a par 4 of 357 yards (333), the hole the GolfBlogger commenter remembered as roughly 200 yards wide in the early years. The 12th is a par 3 of 183 yards (155). The 13th, a par 5 of 507 yards (435), is the longest hole on the card and fourth on the stroke index; on the women’s card it becomes a par 4. The 14th, a par 4 of 400 yards (345), is followed by the 15th, a par 3 of 144 yards (129) and the easiest hole on the course.

The closing stretch is the toughest part of the inward nine. The 16th is a par 4 of 372 yards (356). The 17th, a par 4 of 440 yards (377), is second on the men’s stroke index. The 18th, a par 5 of 497 yards (418), brings you back toward the clubhouse, which the scorecard map places beside the 17th and 18th. We found no published hole-by-hole descriptions beyond these and could not identify which four holes on the front nine bring water into play, so we have not guessed.

A word on older cards. GolfBlogger gave the back nine as 2,895 yards from the Gold tees and the middle tees as 6,431 yards in total, figures that no longer match the current card. If you are using a scoring app, check that its yardages match the card at the first tee.

What golfers are saying

This section draws on user reviews on GolfPass, 18Birdies, Hole19 and GolfLink, as shown on the pages we could open or in the excerpts shown by search engines, and on the GolfBlogger review and its reader comments. These are other people’s opinions, not ours; nobody from Panxis has played the course, and we quote no one by name. Reviews span many years, and conditions change from one season to the next.

What comes up in its favor

• The greens, by far the most praised feature: reviewers describe them as excellent, fast and rolling true.
• General upkeep for a public course, with several reviewers describing the fairways and greens as well kept and consistent with the standard of the Metroparks courses.
• Value for money, especially for seniors, according to several reviewers and the GolfBlogger comments.
• Friendly staff, mentioned repeatedly.
• An open layout that suits long hitters, and a back nine that some find well suited to beginners.
• The setting in a park, with scenery and wildlife; one reviewer mentions hearing sandhill cranes.

What comes up against

• Pace of play, the most frequent complaint, with reports of very long rounds at busy times, notably weekend mornings; others report quick rounds early in the morning or at twilight on weekdays.
• Tee boxes described as uneven or worn by heavy play, in several reviews.
• Rough that some reviewers found long enough to make finding the ball difficult, while others found it cut short.
• Cart paths with rough patches, and greens marked by unrepaired damage on some visits.
• A price that GolfBlogger, in a review first published in 2013, found somewhat high for the area, while a later reader comment found the rates low compared with other public courses.

How to play it

Huron Meadows is open to the public. Tee times are booked online through the Metroparks golf website or by phone, either at the course or through the system’s central number, according to the Metroparks’ policies. Reservations for nine or 18 holes can be made up to 14 days ahead, and groups of fewer than four may be paired with other players. All Metroparks regulation courses require online, pre-paid tee times on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays before 2 p.m., and Huron Meadows, like Stony Creek, also requires them on Fridays before 2 p.m. Cancellations must be made 24 hours in advance for a refund, and the Metroparks recommend checking in at least 15 minutes before your start time. Players must be at least six years old.

The Metroparks set a pace of play of four and a half hours for 18 holes and two and a quarter hours for nine, and recommend ready golf. Their own advice, if that pace feels too fast, is to call the golf shop and pick a quieter time; they name weekdays between noon and 3 p.m. and weekends after 1 p.m. as typically less busy. Given what reviewers say about weekend mornings, that advice is worth taking.

The Metroparks offer reduced senior rates from age 55 and junior rates up to age 20, all day from Monday to Friday, as well as loyalty cards and an annual pass. The regulation courses take part in the Youth on Course program of the Golf Association of Michigan, with walking rates for members booked by phone. This page lists no green fee: current rates are on the Metroparks golf website.

Power carts and pull carts are available for rent. The Metroparks’ policies say carts are rented to anyone 18 or older with a valid Michigan driver’s license, while the scorecard asks only for a valid driver’s license; if you are visiting from another state or country, check with the course. Carts and pull carts are not allowed on tees or within 30 feet of greens. An accessible golf cart is available, and the course asks that it be reserved by phone at least 24 hours ahead. Walking is allowed, according to the Golf Association of Michigan’s directory. Shirts and shoes must be worn at all times, according to the scorecard; we found no more detailed dress code. Coolers and outside drinks are not allowed on any Metroparks course, and all food and alcohol must be bought on site under the course’s licenses.

The facilities

The course lists club rental, a driving range, a practice putting green, power carts, pull carts and food and beverage service, which it describes as a full grill and beverage service. A GolfBlogger reader described the range as a full grass range and mentioned a chipping and pitching green as well as a large putting green. The Golf Association of Michigan’s directory says beer is sold at the starter building. The Metroparks do not run their own golf leagues, but the regulation courses host company and group leagues and outings, which are arranged through the course or an online request form on the golf website.

In winter the same building serves skiers. The Metroparks describe more than 15 miles of trails tracked for classic cross-country skiing and more than 11 miles groomed for skating in the park, with ski rentals, including adaptive sit-skis, at the Ski Center. Bucks Run, a 1.5-mile loop, is lit and covered with man-made snow. According to the Brighton-area tourism office, the ski center is in the golf starter building and has a heated lounge and restrooms, and a Visit Detroit guide, as shown in search excerpts, says the ski trails use the golf course. We did not confirm the exact route of the trails on the course.

Getting there and when to go

The course is at 8765 Hammel Road, Brighton, MI 48116, off US-23, and its phone number is 810-231-4084; the Metroparks also give a toll-free number, 800-234-6534. Huron Meadows is a Metropark, and the Metroparks’ park page says a vehicle pass, daily or annual, is required to enter the park; we did not find whether golfers driving in for a tee time are treated differently, so ask when you book. The 2023 park map gives park hours of 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. from November to March and 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. from April to October, while the park page currently shows 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. In 2026 the course page also warned of a road closure for roundabout construction at Whitmore Lake Road and Winans Lake Road, scheduled from June 15 to September 3.

The Metroparks do not publish a golf season for Huron Meadows. The Golf Association of Michigan’s directory says the course is open year round, course conditions permitting, while the same building runs as the ski center when there is snow; call the course before planning a round between late fall and spring. The Metroparks note that twilight golf ends at sunset. According to reviewers, weekend mornings in season are the busiest time, and early or twilight weekday rounds the quickest. Contact details, tee times and the scorecard are on the course page of the Metroparks.

How this page was made

The factual frame comes from public sources consulted in October 2026: OpenStreetMap for the location, the township boundary and the address; Wikidata for the link to Huron Meadows Metropark; the Metroparks golf website for the opening year, the designer, the amenities, the accessible cart, the phone numbers, the 2026 road advisory, the tee time and pace of play policies, the senior and junior ages, the league policy and Youth on Course; the February 2026 scorecard for the yardages, pars, ratings, slopes, stroke index, local rules, cart rules and the course map; the Metroparks park page and the 2017 and 2023 park maps for the park, Maltby Lake, the Huron River, the hours, the vehicle pass and the ski trails; Wikipedia for the park’s area and the history of the Huron-Clinton Metroparks; GolfNow and the Metroparks for the dates of Sue Nyquist’s other courses; the Golf Association of Michigan’s directory for the grasses, the bunker range, the oak trees, walking and the year-round listing; GolfBlogger for the description of each nine, the hole counts, the older yardages and the reader comments about the early mowing and the range; the Brighton-area tourism office and Visit Detroit for the ski center. Where sources disagree, as they do on the opening year, the total yardage, the ratings and slopes, the range of tee lengths, the number of bunkers, the park’s area, the park hours, the cart license requirement and the season, we say so and name the source we follow.

Several sources could not be read directly: the USGA course rating database, GolfPass and GolfLink, which blocked automated requests, and the Visit Detroit guide. For those, we relied on the excerpts shown by search engines and say so above. We could not find a published biography of Sue Nyquist, a record of renovations or tournaments, hole-by-hole descriptions from the course, the holes where water comes into play, a detailed dress code or a published golf season. The opinion section summarizes public reviews; we report recurring themes rather than individual voices, and we reproduce no quotations. Nobody from Panxis has played or visited this course, and this page is no substitute for a round.

The Huron-Clinton Metroparks have not paid for this page, have not seen it before publication and have no say over its content. This page contains no commercial link and earns us no commission. If you know the course and something here is wrong or out of date, write to us and we will correct it.

Other courses nearby

Closest to this one in our United States directory:

• Eagle Crest Resort — 20 mi
• Oakland Hills Country Club — South Course — 26 mi
• Plum Hollow Country Club — 26 mi
• The Country Club of Birmingham — 28 mi