Harbor Shores in Benton Harbor has officially celebrated the completion of its new Wee Course, a roughly five-acre golf course for beginners that will open for limited preview play Labor Day weekend.
Supporters of the project on Graham Avenue gathered Monday to take the course in for themselves and try it out.
The Wee Course was the brainchild of retired Whirlpool CEO Jeff Fettig, who looked at small golf courses designed for beginners in Europe and thought one should be offered locally. He told us Harbor Shores reached out to KitchenAid Senior PGA Champion Colin Montgomerie for help planning the attraction. He says Montomerie and his team knew right away what was being sought and designed it.
“This is what we got, which is we think a gathering point for all different people in the community,” Fettig said. “It’s affordable, it’s accessible, it’s easy to play as you’ll see, and it’s an entertainment place for almost anybody to come.”
The Wee Course features nine holes that range from 20 to 80 yards, each with two tees. One’s harder than the other because one allows a golfer to putt the entire length of the hole.
PGA General Manager for Harbor Shores Josh Doxtator told us this is a Harbor Shores-quality course for those just getting their feet wet.
“If you’ve never played golf before, you can grab a putter and putt from those forward tees to the hole,” Doxtator said. “It’s all on real turf. It’s all on real greens. It’s all on what you would find out here on what we’ll call the Big Course, so the condition is the exact same that we do out there. So it’s very exciting. I think it’s going to attract a lot of people.”
Harbor Shores Community Redevelopment Managing Director Chris Cook saw the project through to completion and says it shows what Harbor Shores can be to the community.
“I think this is just one more thing that makes Harbor Shores what it is, which is a benefit to the community,” Cook said. “Both with the new housing and the golf course, now with the new Wee Course that’s going to be open, our walking trails.”
Also featured at the Wee Course will be seating for large gatherings, a concessions area, and a space for people to hang out and relax.
The Wee Course pricing will start at $30 for nine holes, $40 for 18 holes, and $50 for all-day access, although kids under 12 can play for free as long as they’re with an adult.
The entire project was paid for with private donations.
