Navigating the Modern Arthur Hills Challenge: A Conversation with Chip Hierlihy

When Michigan golfers talk about public course excellence in North Oakland County, Fieldstone Golf Club always finds its way to the top of the conversation. Designed by the legendary Arthur Hills, this upscale municipal gem offers sweeping fairways, intricate green complexes, and a well-earned reputation for being a formidable test of golf.

But according to Fieldstone's General Manager and PGA Professional Chip Hierlihy, the course doesn't have to break your scorecard if you know how to approach it. We sat down with Chip to discuss course strategy, selecting the right tee combinations, and how to get your game off to an optimal start this season.

Finding Your Distance: The Strategic Tee Selection

A frequent error made by visiting golfers is tackling more distance than their game can handle. Fieldstone provides multiple tee options to alter the layout’s complexity, giving players the unique opportunity to configure their own course parameters.

"I think that the challenge is what you make it at Fieldstone, and it starts with the set of tees that you play," Hierlihy explains. "Our green complexes are the same, obviously, for everyone, and it's just the length of the golf course that you choose to take on the day that you choose to play it definitely dictates what kind of golf course you're going to get."

The Yardage Matrix for the Mid-Handicapper

For the average mid-handicapper—such as a standard 15-handicap golfer—Hierlihy suggests aiming for a total distance of roughly 6,000 yards. While that aligns directly with a standard Gold tee marker setup, Fieldstone also utilizes custom yardage options to balance out specific holes that play exceptionally long from the back. "Even at the Gold tees, you're going to play number 8 at about 197 yards, and that's getting pretty lengthy," notes Hierlihy.

"So we have some hybrid tees where you would be on a Gold-White hybrid mix combination, and that might work a little bit better for the average player."

Mapping out the Toughest Holes

Fieldstone challenges players across every category of hole, rewarding precision over brute force. When navigating the course routing, Hierlihy breaks down the layout's most difficult hurdles by par. On the par-3s, Hole 8 is the standout challenge, testing long-iron or hybrid accuracy even when moving up a box. For the par-4s, Hierlihy points directly to Hole 17 as a critical late-round test that leaves zero room for error: "It's a very difficult hole, requires a very precise second shot." When it comes to the par-5s, Hole 7 takes the crown due to its massive length and its unrelenting, uphill climb back toward the green.

The Golden Rule: Put Away the Driver

While keeping your ball in the fairway is universally advantageous, Fieldstone demands disciplined course management. It is explicitly not a golf course where hitting driver on every single par-4 or par-5 yields a positive outcome. Keeping a short-iron or wedge in your hand for your approach requires strict, calculated layups from the box. "Oh, definitely not. You have to hit the right club," says Hierlihy. "Number 3 is a perfect example of that. I always hit 3-wood there, and many times I've hit 4-iron, 5-iron, or a hybrid. You just want to put it in the right place to have that approachable shot into that green."

Plan Your Visit

Fieldstone Golf Club is highly accessible for Metro Detroiters, situated directly off I-75 at Exit 81 (Lapeer Road) in Auburn Hills, just down the road from the former site of the Palace of Auburn Hills. Public tee times can be reserved up to 30 days in advance. Due to high peak-season demand across Oakland County, players are encouraged to secure their preferred slots early via the official website. You can book those a full 30 days in advance at fieldstonegolfclub.com.