The Legacy by Arthur Hills

Ottawa Lake, MI  (near Toledo OH)

www.thelegacybyarthurhills.com

1997, Arthur Hills
Gold 6840 72.7 134 72
Blue 6326 70.3 129 72
White 6018 69.0 126 72
Directions: From Toledo, OH
take Hwy 23 going N for 5 miles to Exit 5
turn left and drive 2 miles to club entrance on the side of road.
'05 Fees: $45-$55 ride

Fat Guy Notes:  Per my buddy Bill, the best place to play in greater Toledo. Good conditions and a neat linksy layout for $45. Watch out for the island green.

Golfcourse.com Review: This challenging course has five lakes that come into play seven. There are also dogleg fairways and undulating greens that add to the difficulty. The signature hole is #8, a 155-yard, par 3, featuring an island green.

Avg Golfcourse.com Player Review: 3.5/5.0

Further Diversions: M*A*S*H* fans will never forget Corporal Klinger's Toledo Mud Hens, a real live AAA baseball club based right here in Toledo at the modern old-style Fifth Third Field (406 Washington St). Check the home schedule at www.mudhens.com.

Best Bar Nearby:  Per TravelGolf.com, The Legacy has the best 19th hole in all of Michigan.  "The Legacy's outdoor Tiki Bar directly overlooks the 18th hole."

Fat Guy's buddy Dean's local Toledo hang is the Oak'en Bucket (2841 N Reynolds Rd, Toledo 419-531-5412), presumably named after the Big 10 football trophy. For a gentlemen's club, try Hot Shotz (Phillips Ave?). To quote Jason Dean in Heathers, "This is Ohio. If you're not holdin' a brewski in your hand, you might as well be wearin' a dress."

For something a little more upscale, go to Rouge (The Bistro, 6060 Renaissance Plaza, Toledo 419-824-5890). A sexy, classy, big city room done in a subtle Moulin Rouge theme of black hardwood and votive-lit white cloth tables among swatches of lipstick-red backdrop. Imagine the folks at Pottery Barn mixed themselves a stiff martini before decorating a supper club/lounge, then throw in just a pinch of New Vegas. The vibe belies the upscale-strip-mall-in-Toledo setting, as this stylish room would easily draw crowds in my adopted hometown of Philly. Rouge's airy entrance is graced with a huge Italian fountain and a 500-bottle wine hutch. A quick stop in the men's room reveals tasteful black-and-white photo prints of perfect nude female forms. Syrupy jazz adds to the mood. Make your way over to the bar and ask for Bob, an outstanding mixologist and a good guy. A few sips in, you begin to realize there's more eye candy here than just the outstanding décor. Save for a group of well-heeled Blue Blood blue-hairs who were finishing up a late supper, our evening's shift at the bar saw 5-7 gorgeous young women rotate through, each dressed to the nines and redefining classy/sexy, showing cleavage and friendly smiles, and largely on the arms of well-to-do men. Such a heady mix of beauty surprised, nay, nearly shocked, for a random Wednesday late night in Toledo. As I watched a slim and trendily-clad early-40's salt-n-pepper internet-tycoon-type flirt up his barely-22 and cute-as-a-button platinum blonde, I came to two possible explanations: either this classy room with just a hint of naughty is a perfect don't-ask-don't-tell spot for after dinner drinks on that weeknight date you scored with a potential sugar grrl and/or a sexy hideout to take your mistress, or this is the Toledo hangout for the high-end escort set. Eventually we met Danielle, an early-20's cutie with dark hair and olive skin in a classy LBD, who was waiting for her boyfriend, a sous chef here, to get off work. We also waved introductions across the bar to Michelle, a former hostess at another restaurant where Bob used to tend bar. Michelle was on the arm of an upscale guy and dressed in the latest fashion, showing off considerable, bra-less yet-somehow-almost-tasteful cleavage, and was one of the most beautiful young women I've seen in person in quite some time. Rouge is a great venue for eye candy, but probably not a great pick-up spot, as it seemed to be bring-your-own at this can't-miss mood-setter. I must admit, we didn't eat a meal here, but if the service from our 3-hour stint at the bar and the impeccable décor are any indication, I'm sure the food is out of this world too. A Must Visit for Toledo, particularly if you've got your primary source of good sex along for the trip.

Where To Grub:  The on-site restaurant features a tiki bar over looking the 18th.  Nearby the course, their website recommends Hathaway House (424 W Adrian, Blissfield MI) or The Stable (116 N Main, Blissfield MI) for dinner.   

In Toledo, Klinger also used to reminisce about Toledo institution Tony Packo's. Believe it or not, it's still there (1902 Front St, Toledo 419-691-1953), and a great place for a drink and a hotdog with their special sauce, which locals swear, "tastes great going down, and 3 hours later you'll be tasting it again." For a truly unique steakhouse with the kind of genuine atmosphere that the Applebee's of the world have been copying since the 80's, hit local mainstay Mancy's Steakhouse (953 Phillips Ave, Toledo 419-476-4154). Housed in an old rail station, complete with original exposed brick walls and stained glass windows, it's got real history. Dimly lit (as a steakhouse should be), service indicative of it's pedigree, great house salads, and succulent steaks. Get the sauteed mushrooms too. Locals also love the beef at HJ's Prime Cuts (Toledo).

Other Area Tracks to Play: My buddy Rick's favorite is Valleywood (13501 Airport Hwy, Swanton). Eagle's Landing is right near Maumee Bay State Park . For a quick round near the Sunoco refinery, try Collins Park.

Further Distractions:  For you Git-R-Done hunting guys, there's a Cabela's nearby (Dundee, MI, www.cabelas.com).