Business Spotlight: The Links at Bowen Lake

Nestled on the east side of Spencer Township, about 12 miles from Cedar Springs, is an 18-hole course that feels both tucked away and expansive at the same time. The Links at Bowen Lake stretches across 150 acres of bent grass fairways and greens, wrapping around the 30-acre Bowen Lake and weaving through wetlands, rolling meadows and wooded corridors.

From the first tee, the course offers a quiet kind of invitation. Morning light hangs over the water, and sand bunkers, bright and dramatic against the grass, guard landing zones and greens. Some fairways are tight and demand precision. A few par 3s sit comfortably in the woods, where the sound of your tee shot echoes off the trees. Others, like the wide-open 10th hole, sprawl generously, though even there a massive tree stands squarely in the fairway, reminding golfers that space doesn't always mean simplicity.

I first happened upon The Links during an 18-hole charity event in July. Before taking in the atmosphere, the very first thing I noticed was owner Tom Combs walking briskly out of the clubhouse to greet me as though I were an honored guest. His welcome was immediate and genuine. It was a tone I found replicated with each hospitable staff member I encountered.

The Links is owned by Tom and his son, Tommy, two business partners who did not initially set out to enter the golf industry.

Tom previously owned and operated staffing businesses, and Tommy grew up tagging along to meetings, learning firsthand what it meant to build and run a company. Before officially joining his father in business, Tommy pursued his own education and gained experience in the corporate world. When the COVID-19 pandemic arrived, Tom received an offer for his companies and decided to sell. Father and son agreed it was finally time to build something together.

They explored opportunities in staffing, IT and manufacturing, but nothing materialized.

Then one afternoon, while golfing at The Links, Tommy noticed a “for sale” sign sitting on the bar counter. With no background in golf operations, he snapped a photo and sent it to his dad as a joke.

Tom had grown up playing nine holes each week with his own father, though he admits golf was never his primary sport. Baseball had more of his attention as a kid. Still, the idea lingered. Before long, the Combs family found themselves at the helm of The Links at Bowen Lake.

Today, the public course offers five sets of tees on every hole, including Tee It Forward options for shorter hitters. That flexibility allows beginners, casual players and seasoned golfers alike to find a level that suits them.

“It’s fun for all ages,” Tom said. “And there’s challenge in that fun.”

That balance is apparent across the layout. There are forgiving stretches where you can open up your driver, and there are narrow approaches that test your accuracy. The greens roll smooth beneath your putter and often quicker than you expect. The white sand bunkers are as visually striking as they are strategically placed.

“For me, the selling point of this course is simply the quality and the variety you get while out there,” Tommy said. “It’s really just getting people through the door the first time, but anybody who's been here tends to come back.”

The course has quietly built a reputation beyond daily play. “We’ve had three different conferences come here regularly, so we support the local schools that way,” Tom said, noting their commitment to the surrounding communities.

As part of their effort to continue elevating the experience, the Combs recently hired a Director of Golf and a Restaurant Manager, both bringing extensive experience in their respective fields. The goal, Tommy said, is simple: continue raising the standard for guests, whether they are teeing off at sunrise or sitting down for dinner after a round.

Looking ahead, growth remains steady and intentional.

“There’s still a lot of people who don’t know we’re here,” Tommy said. “So, we want to continue to build a reputation. There’s so much good golf in West Michigan, we want to continue to have our name on that list of courses you have to play, continuing to increase the quality of the experience.”

The experience, however, extends well beyond summer golf. The Links offers golf simulators and indoor events during the winter months. The outdoor patio is enclosed for gatherings, leagues and even cornhole events, keeping the property active year round.

“It’s so much fun to play. It’s so much fun to be here,” Tom said, gesturing toward a nearby table of golfers. “Look at this table here. We’ve got young kids, people later on in life, and everyone in between. It’s fun for all ages. It really is.”

But the course isn't all the Combs have to offer. The Links is home to a year-round restaurant, The Links Bar and Grill. Known locally for its pizza, the grill serves as a gathering place long after the final putt drops. I tried the pizza after my visit with Tom and Tommy, and they were not exaggerating. It was legitimately one of the best I've had.

So, whether you come for 18 holes, a quick nine, winter simulator play or dinner overlooking the course, The Links at Bowen Lake offers a setting that feels relaxed yet thoughtfully designed. It's a place where wetlands meet fairways, where forest edges frame tee boxes, and where a father-and-son partnership has found its footing in an unexpected but fitting chapter.

For golfers in Cedar Springs and beyond, it's a reminder that sometimes the best discoveries are the ones just down the road.