Firefly Golf Links

Address: 7795 S. Clare Ave., Clare, MI 48617

Phone: (989) 386-3510

Overall Rating: 6.35

Front 9: Par 36

Back 9: Par 36

Overall Course: (all 18) Par 72

Clubhouse and Amenities – Rating 6.83

Firefly Golf Links, Clare County’s oldest golf course, offers a good everyday place to play with a welcoming clubhouse and a well-maintained pro shop. The paved parking lot provides adequate parking, and friendly cart helpers assist with golf bag service from car to cart. Golf carts are in good condition, and the cart paths are a mix of paved, dirt, and gravel. The pro shop carries a limited selection of apparel, caps, and hats, along with golf balls, tees, gloves, markers, and divot tools, all at average pricing. The clubhouse features a grill serving sandwiches, burgers, and hot dogs, as well as prepackaged snacks, with pricing in line with expectations. A full bar offers a variety of beverages, including soft drinks. The clubhouse bathrooms are clean, and porta johns are available on the course. Friendly staff contribute to the welcoming atmosphere.

Hole 1 – Par 5 – Rating 6.00

Red: 383 yds
Yellow: 394 yds
White: 456 yds

Tee shots start from medium-sized, slightly elevated, and level tee boxes, carrying over a pond that serves as a water hazard to the center of the fairway. The rolling fairway doglegs slightly to the right, with wetlands and a tree-lined edge on that side. Medium rough borders the short grass, and real sand bunkers guard both the fairway and the green. Reaching the small green requires carrying a front bunker. A maintained fringe surrounds the putting surface, which slopes from front to back. Putts roll at a medium speed, and the green remains receptive to well-struck approach shots.

Hole 2 – Par 4 – Rating 6.00

Red: 290 yds
Yellow: 304 yds
White: 344 yds

Tee shots start from small, level boxes toward a rolling fairway that fades slightly to the right. A pond sits to the right, waiting for anything pushed too far. A real sand bunker guards the fairway, adding another challenge. The small green features a crowned surface that slopes to the front and rolls off at the back. A maintained fringe surrounds the putting surface, which remains receptive to well-struck shots. Putts move at a medium pace, with the undulating contours.

Hole 3 – Par 3 – Rating 5.33

Red: 108 yds
Yellow: 122 yds
White: 141 yds

An L-shaped tee box provides a large, level surface to play from on this par 3. The shot requires a full carry over a small pond, with medium rough surrounding the green. A real sand bunker guards the right side of the green. The maintained fringe has a few dead spots but still frames the putting surface well. The small green rolls at a medium speed, is receptive, and slopes from back to front. A high spot in the back right corner adds extra movement to putts and approach shots.

Hole 4 – Par 4 – Rating 6.25

Red: 180 yds
Yellow: 230 yds
White: 345 yds

Tee shots start from slightly elevated, long, narrow, and level tees, carrying over wetlands to a rolling fairway that plays tight. The hole moves downhill off the tee before climbing uphill toward the green. Short rough borders the fairway, with trees lining both sides. Real sand bunkers sit along the fairway and near the green, ready to catch errant shots. A maintained fringe surrounds the small, receptive green, which slopes slightly from back to front and more noticeably from left to right. Putts roll at a medium speed, with the contours influencing every read.

Hole 5 – Par 4 – Rating 6.00

Red: 230 yds
Yellow: 337 yds
White: 363 yds

Tee shots launch from medium-sized, level tees set slightly above the fairway, framed by a chute of trees. The rolling fairway climbs uphill, with medium rough bordering both sides and a tree line running along the left. A real sand bunker sits in the fairway, adding a challenge. The pond short and right of the green forces a careful approach. A maintained fringe surrounds the medium-sized putting surface, which is larger in the front and features a back tier. The green remains receptive, rolls at a medium speed, and slopes from back to front, adding complexity to putts.

Hole 6 – Par 4 – Rating 6.29

Red: 244 yds
Yellow: 300 yds
White: 319 yds

Tee shots start from level, long, and narrow tees set slightly above the fairway. The rolling fairway moves downhill off the tee before turning left at a large real sand bunker marking the dogleg. A small pond sits to the right, waiting for anything pushed too far. After the turn, the fairway rises before sloping down toward the green. Medium rough borders the fairway. A maintained fringe surrounds the medium-sized green, which slopes from front to back and features undulating contours. Holding the putting surface can be tough, with a medium speed putting surface adding to the challenge.

Hole 7 – Par 3 – Rating 5.67

Red: 126 yds
Yellow: 135 yds
White: 187 yds

Tee shots launch from elevated, large, and level boxes to a green set below. The par 3 plays downhill and appears tight visually, with medium rough bordering the landing area. Wetlands line the left side of the approach, while a real sand bunker guards the front. A maintained fringe surrounds the large green, though a few dead spots are visible. The putting surface remains receptive and undulating, rolling at a medium speed. Anything right on the green faces a sharp falloff, making accuracy a priority.

Hole 8 – Par 5 – Rating 6.00

Red: 361 yds
Yellow: 428 yds
White: 502 yds

The second par 5 on the front nine starts from medium-sized, level tees and plays uphill to the fairway. A rolling layout takes over from there, leading downhill toward the green. Medium rough borders the fairway, growing thick in certain areas. Real sand bunkers sit strategically along the fairway, adding to the challenge. A maintained fringe with some dead spots surrounds the small green, which features a contoured surface. Receptive to well-struck approaches, the green slopes slightly from back to front and right to left, with putts rolling at a medium speed.

Hole 9 – Par 4 – Rating 4

Red: 285 yds
Yellow: 309 yds
White: 337 yds

The medium-sized, level tees set up a tee shot toward a rolling fairway that climbs uphill to the green. Medium rough borders the fairway, and two greenside bunkers, one on the right and one on the left, are both filled with real sand. A real sand bunker also sits along the fairway, further adding to the challenge. A maintained fringe surrounds the medium-sized green, which slopes from back to front and features an undulating surface. The green remains receptive and rolls at a medium speed, demanding accurate approach shots.

Average Rating Holes 1-9: 5.95

Firefly Golf Links Back Nine

Hole 10 – Par 4 – Rating 6.67

Red: 250 yds
Yellow: 276 yds
White: 305 yds

The small, narrow, level tee blocks lead to a rolling fairway with a sweeping dogleg left. The hole plays downhill from the tee, then uphill to the green. Medium-length rough borders the fairway, with a small real sand bunker short and left of the green. A large bunker sits in the back left corner of the green. The maintained fringe has a few rough spots, and the small green slopes from back to front. Receptive to accurate shots, the green rolls at medium speed.

Hole 11 – Par 3 – Rating 6.80

Red: 105 yds
Yellow: 120 yds
White: 132 yds

Large, level, tiered tee blocks set up a par 3 that plays slightly uphill. Medium rough borders the green. Two greenside bunkers, one short and one left, both feature real sand. A maintained fringe surrounds the small green, which slopes from back to front. The receptive green rolls at medium speed, adding challenge to putts.

Hole 12 – Par 4 – Rating 6.25

Red: 341 yds
Yellow: 355 yds
White: 412 yds

Large, level tees lead to a rolling fairway that plays downhill and doglegs sharply right. Medium rough lines the fairway. A pond water hazard sits in front and left of the tee. Greenside bunkers guard the front right corner, filled with real sand. A maintained fringe surrounds the small, undulating green, which rolls at medium speed. Receptive to well-struck shots, the green demands accuracy.

Hole 13 – Par 4 – Rating 6.67

Red: 221 yds
Yellow: 237 yds
White: 303 yds

Tee shots fly over wetlands from medium-sized, level tees to a tight, flatter, tree-lined fairway. Short rough borders the fairway. No bunkers protect the green, which sits behind a maintained fringe. The medium-sized green slopes from back to front, with a sharp drop-off at the back left corner. A mound in the center creates undulation, and the green remains receptive with medium-speed rolling.

Hole 14 – Par 3 – Rating 5.67

Red: 97 yds
Yellow: 125 yds
White: 174 yds

Level, L-shaped tee blocks start wide in the front and narrow in the back, leading to a par 3 over water. The hole plays uphill to the green, bordered by medium-length rough and a long, narrow bunker left of the green. The maintained fringe shows some damage. The small green sits high on the left side with a small tier, sloping right. Contoured and receptive, the green rolls at medium speed.

Hole 15 – Par 5 – Rating 6.00

Red: 344 yds
Yellow: 357 yds
White: 464 yds

Tiered, small, level, long, and narrow tee boxes lead to a rolling fairway with a sharp dogleg right. The hole runs uphill, with medium rough on both sides. A pond water hazard sits in front of the tees, with a second pond near the green. A real sand bunker guards the fairway. The maintained fringe borders a large, receptive green, rolling at medium speed. Sloping from back to front, the green is slightly higher in the back right and drops sharply on the left.

Hole 16 – Par 4 – Rating 6.25

Red: 257 yds
Yellow: 266 yds
White: 341 yds

Elevated, medium-sized tee boxes lead to a downhill fairway that rises uphill to the green. Medium-length rough borders the fairway, with some longer fescue, and small wetlands left. Two fairway bunkers sit on either side, one right and one left. A greenside bunker on the back right corner, filled with small stones, completes the challenge. A maintained fringe surrounds the large, receptive green, which rolls at medium speed. The green slopes severely from back to front, falling off sharply on the right side and undulating throughout.

Hole 17 – Par 5 – Rating 6.00

Red: 431 yds
Yellow: 497 yds
White: 547 yds

The final par 5 features large, level tee boxes that tee off over a water hazard. A rolling fairway follows, doglegging left with medium rough and occasional tree lines. Multiple ponds, water hazards, and wetlands sit left and right of the fairway, with one in front of the tees and another near the dogleg. No bunkers guard the hole, but the maintained fringe surrounds a medium-sized green. The green slopes severely from back to front and undulates, rolling at a faster speed while remaining receptive.

Hole 18 – Par 4 – Rating 6.00

Red: 287 yds
Yellow: 311 yds
White: 340 yds

Medium-sized, level tee boxes set up a shot to a rolling fairway that plays uphill. Medium-length rough borders the fairway, with real sand bunkers both on the fairway and greenside. A maintained fringe surrounds the small, receptive green, which slopes slightly from back to front. The green sits high in the back right corner, rolling at a medium speed.

Average Rating Holes 10-18: 6.26

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