You’re driving through Lapeer County, specifically that rolling, horse-country stretch of Metamora, and you see it. Most people just zoom past on M-24. But if you pull off onto West Pratt Road, you find Oxford Hills Golf Club MI. It isn't one of those stuffy, high-nose private clubs where you need a specific zip code and a recommendation from a senator just to get a tee time. Honestly, it’s basically the opposite. It is a public course that somehow manages to feel like a private escape because of the sheer elevation changes.
Michigan golf is weirdly competitive. We have more public courses than almost anywhere else, so for a spot to survive since 1964, it has to be doing something right. Oxford Hills doesn't rely on flashy GPS carts or $20 wagyu sliders in the clubhouse. It relies on the land. If you've played here, you know the "hills" in the name aren't just marketing fluff. Your calves will feel it if you try to walk 18. Seriously. Don't walk it unless you’re training for a mountain trek.
The Layout: What You’re Actually Up Against
Most golfers show up at Oxford Hills Golf Club MI thinking they can overpower the course. It’s a par 72. It’s not overly long by modern standards—stretching out to around 6,500 yards from the tips—but length is a total lie here. The difficulty isn't in the yardage; it's in the lies. You are almost never standing on flat ground.
- The Front Nine: It starts off relatively friendly, but don't get cocky. You’ll quickly realize that the greens are smaller than you’d expect for a course with this much "heft."
- The Back Nine: This is where things get real. The elevation drops are dramatic. You’ll be hitting clubs two or three steps shorter than the yardage suggests because you're firing down into valleys. Or, you're hitting two clubs extra because the green is perched on a ridge like a fortress.
There is this specific vibe to the back nine—especially around the 14th and 15th—where you feel completely isolated from the rest of the world. No traffic noise. Just trees. Lots of trees. If you have a slice, bring an extra sleeve of balls. Maybe two. The hardwoods lining these fairways are unforgiving and they've swallowed more Pro V1s than I’d like to admit.
The Signature Challenge
Everyone talks about the elevation, but the real "secret" to scoring at Oxford Hills is the bunkering and the green surrounds. The bunkers aren't these massive, professional-tour-style beach expanses. They’re tactical. They’re placed exactly where a "good" miss usually lands.
👉 See also: Meaning of Grand Slam: Why We Use It for Tennis, Baseball, and Breakfast
The greens usually run pretty true. They aren't lightning-fast like you'd find at a Detroit Golf Club or Oakland Hills, but they have subtle breaks. Because the whole course is built on a massive hill, your brain wants to think every putt breaks "away" from the peak of the property. It doesn't always work that way. Sometimes the grain or just the sheer weirdness of the Metamora topography tricks you. You'll think it's a straight uphill putt, only to watch it peel off three inches to the left at the last second. It’s frustrating. It’s also why people keep coming back.
Is the Conditioning Worth the Trip?
Let’s be real for a second. Public golf in Michigan can be a gamble. Sometimes you pay $60 and get a cow pasture. Oxford Hills generally hits above its weight class.
The superintendent here has a tough job because of the drainage. When you have hills this steep, water wants to go everywhere it shouldn't. Despite that, the fairways are usually lush. The rough is thick enough to penalize you but not so long that you're looking for your ball for ten minutes. It’s "honest" golf.
If you’re coming from the suburbs—like Rochester or Royal Oak—the drive up M-24 is about 30 to 45 minutes. Is it worth the gas? Yeah. Especially in the fall. If you play Oxford Hills Golf Club MI in early October when the maples are turning, it’s arguably one of the most beautiful spots in the lower peninsula. The view from some of the higher tee boxes looks like a painting. It’s pure Michigan, without the five-hour drive to Gaylord or Traverse City.
✨ Don't miss: NFL Week 5 2025 Point Spreads: What Most People Get Wrong
The Clubhouse and "The 19th Hole"
Don't expect a marble-floored locker room. That’s not what this place is about. The clubhouse is functional, nostalgic, and smells like hot dogs and old-school golf spikes. It’s comfortable. The staff is usually local folks who actually know the course and can tell you where the pin is tucked on 17.
They do a lot of outings here. Leagues too. It’s a community hub for Lapeer and Oxford residents. You’ll see guys in their 70s who have played here every Tuesday for forty years, and you'll see teenagers trying to figure out why their 7-iron just went 180 yards downhill. It’s a melting pot of skill levels, which makes the atmosphere relaxed. Nobody is going to glare at you if you’re wearing a hoodie or if you take a mulligan on the first tee. (Actually, everyone should take a mulligan on the first tee there).
What Most People Get Wrong About Oxford Hills
The biggest misconception? That it’s an "easy" local track. People see the yardage on the scorecard and think they’re going to post a career-low round.
Then the wind hits.
🔗 Read more: Bethany Hamilton and the Shark: What Really Happened That Morning
Because the course is elevated, it catches the wind differently than the lowland courses nearby. A 10 mph breeze at ground level feels like a 20 mph gust when you're standing on the elevated tee of a par 3. You have to play "ground game" golf sometimes, or at least be smart enough to knock the ball down.
Another thing: people assume it's just a "cow pasture" because it’s out in the sticks. It isn't. The design is actually quite sophisticated. There are doglegs that force you to keep the driver in the bag. If you try to bomb it over the trees on the par 4s, you’re going to find out very quickly that those trees are taller than they look. It’s a "thinking man’s" course disguised as a hilly romp.
Pricing and Value
In 2026, golf prices have stayed pretty high across the board. However, Oxford Hills remains one of the better values in the Metro Detroit / Flint fringe. You can usually find a deal on weekdays, and even weekend morning rates won't break the bank compared to the big-name resort courses.
- Dynamic Pricing: Like most places now, they use dynamic pricing. Book online. Seriously. If you just show up, you might pay the "rack rate," but if you look at their portal a few days out, you can snag a tee time for significantly less.
- The Cart Factor: As mentioned, the cart is basically mandatory. The cost is usually included in the greens fee, but always double-check.
Practical Tips for Your First Round
If you’re heading out to Oxford Hills Golf Club MI, don't just wing it.
- Club Down on Downhill Shots: On holes where the drop is more than 30 feet, take at least one less club. The air is thinner? No. But the ball stays in the air longer and the slope will carry it.
- Watch the 18th: The finishing hole is a test of nerves. Don't let the clubhouse gallery (usually just three guys on the deck with beers) get to you.
- Tee Times: They get busy. If you’re looking for a Saturday morning, you better be on that website the minute the window opens.
- The Range: They have practice facilities. Use them. Getting your rhythm down before you face the first few climbs is key.
- Hydrate: The elevation changes and the sun on those exposed ridges can wear you out faster than a flat course.
Actionable Steps for Your Visit
If you're planning to tackle Oxford Hills, here is how to make the most of it without losing your mind or your golf balls:
- Download a Yardage App: Since the course doesn't have high-end GPS in every cart, use an app like 18Birdies or Grint. You need to know the distance to the front of the greens, not just the pin, because of the slopes.
- Check the Weather specifically for Metamora: The weather in Oxford or Lapeer can be slightly different than in Detroit. It tends to be a bit windier and a couple of degrees cooler.
- Plan for a 4.5-Hour Round: On weekends, this is the reality. It’s a popular spot. Bring some snacks, embrace the views, and don't try to rush the group in front of you. The terrain makes for slow play naturally because people are searching for balls in the valleys.
- Stop in Metamora After: Do yourself a favor and hit up the White Horse Inn after your round. It’s a historic landmark nearby and basically the "official" post-golf spot for anyone playing in this area. The food is killer and it completes the whole "day in the country" vibe.
Oxford Hills Golf Club MI isn't trying to be Pinehurst. It’s trying to be a challenging, beautiful, and accessible place to play 18 holes in the heart of Michigan's horse country. It succeeds. Just remember: aim for the flat spots, trust your yardage, and for heaven's sake, take the cart.