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Moose Ridge Golf Course Celebrates 25 Years: Jonathan Heidt on South Lyon's "Up-North" Layout

Writer: Metro Detroit Golfers
Metro Detroit Golfers
Sep 9
2 min read
An elevated view looking down across the mowed green with a yellow flag beside a water hazard on a scenic golf hole, with a rounded video inset in the upper right showing PGA Head Professional Jonathan Heidt smiling while wearing glasses in front of the MDG logo.

For a quarter-century, Moose Ridge Golf Course has delivered an authentic Northern Michigan experience to golfers in Southeast Michigan. Located just outside downtown South Lyon, the course combines dramatic topography, secluded woodland corridors, and championship architecture. In a recent Lesson on Golf broadcast, PGA Head Professional Jonathan Heidt joined host Jeff Lesson from the clubhouse deck to discuss the course's 25th anniversary, signature elevation drops, and holiday weekend booking schedules.


Bringing Northern Michigan to South Lyon


Designed by acclaimed Michigan architect Ray Hearn, Moose Ridge opened 25 years ago and continues to stand among the premier public tracks in the Metro Detroit region. Ranked as high as the number two public course in the area by the Detroit Free Press, the layout provides a distinct contrast to traditional parkland designs:


  • Pure Up-North Terrain: Carved through thick hardwood forests with no parallel fairways or surrounding residential distractions.

  • Massive Elevation Changes: Select holes feature drops of 75 to 100 feet from tee to green.

  • Undulated Greens: Heavily contoured putting surfaces demand precise approach angles and disciplined distance control.

  • Architectural Pedigree: Designed by Ray Hearn, who honed his craft under Michigan golf architecture legend Jerry Matthews before establishing his own national design portfolio.

"We have that up-north feel. There's really no course around us that's like that unless you're going up north,"

Heidt explained during the interview.

"It's a really cool spot if you want to see a lot of undulation on greens and a lot of elevation change. You'll get up to 75 to 100-foot drops on some holes, and that's a lot of fun to play."

Standout Holes: Conquering Numbers 4 and 16


While the entire 18-hole layout challenges every club in the bag, two signature holes consistently define rounds at Moose Ridge:


  • Hole 16 (Par 3): The course's premier short hole. Playing up to 210 yards from the back tees, it features a dizzying 100-foot plunge from an elevated tee to a protected green. Depending on wind and pin position, club selection ranges from a mid to long iron.

  • Hole 4 (Par 5): A true three-shot test stretching 610 yards. Players get a generous fairway off the tee, but the landing area constricts significantly on the layup. The approach demands a precise wedge over a natural wetland marsh to a well-guarded pin.


Holiday Demand & Reservation Guidelines


Moose Ridge continues to draw heavy tournament and public play throughout the golf season, particularly across Memorial Day and Father's Day weekends:


  • Morning Rush: Prime early-morning tee times fill rapidly on holiday weekends, while afternoon slots offer more flexible access.

  • Memorial Day Monday: Moose Ridge is hosting an afternoon holiday barbecue alongside public play.

  • Booking Windows: Public tee times can be reserved online up to one week in advance at mooseridgegolf.com. Golfers seeking dates further out can secure times directly through the pro shop.


To view daily rates, register for events, or book tee times, visit mooseridgegolf.com!.



Lesson on Golf is hosted by Jeff Lesson and produced by Make The Turn, the team behind Metro Detroit Golfers, one of the largest golf communities in Michigan.


The show highlights courses, destinations, and golf experiences across the state.

👉 Explore more episodes on the Metro Detroit Golfers YouTube channel.


 
 
 

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