TRAVERSE CITY'S REGIONAL PUBLIC GOLF COURSES
With over fifty golf courses of tremendous diversity, Traverse City, Michigan is the perfect base camp for your golf excursions. Boasting an inherently golf friendly sandy soil, glacially sculpted terrain and proximity to large bodies of fresh water, the region boasts some of the best natural golf conditions you can find anywhere in the world. This in turn has given golf architects the fantastic canvas upon which they created some of the best golf designs in the nation.
A-GA-MING RESORT • TORCH
The older of the two A-Ga-Ming
onsite courses. Definitely the more
traditional in design of the two
courses but it features more views
of Torch Lake. If you had to chose
between the two, go with Sundance,
but this has its charm as
well and is perhaps a bit easier. The Torch sports some fantastic holes especially
the par 3 seventh which is all carry over a ravine with Torch Lake
as your backdrop. You can feel the potential here but there are
just a few too many underwhelming holes that keep this otherwise
fine course from being a top tier venue. The mostly conservative
bunkering, and sometime no bunkering at all, needs an update. Most
holes just don't lead you to an exciting conclusion full of challenges
and choices, but rather a more workman like finish on a saucer shaped
green. There are a few quirky holes one might say, especially the
par 4 tenth, where the landing area terminates at the base of
a hill into a small pond. Driver is usually not the play. Fortunately,
they are working a hole here and there and the ones they have reworked
are clearly superior to the older holes course. This progress is happening
at a snails pace, but it is happening, and perhaps in a few years
they might really have something here. They sure have the terrain,
location and name.
Architect: Chick Harbert (1986) Par: 71
Yardage: 6530 · 6111 · 5454 · 5047
Rating/Slope: 73.2/133 · 71.5/128 · 71.1/127 · 69.2/124
Practice facility: grass range and putting green
Address and Map: 627 A-Ga-Ming Dr., Kewadin, MI 49648
Telephone: 866.998.0656
Web: a-ga-ming.com
Quality Rating: 6/10 Value Rating: 5 /10
A-GA-MING RESORT • SUNDANCE
This 2005 Jerry Matthews course is
just northwest of Traverse City
wedged in between the Grand
Traverse Bay and Torch Lake.
Wonderful routing and some
great scenery. Matthews has
made a very modern American Links
style course here which utilizes
the elevations and scenery. Generous fairways are framed
by carefully contouring, strategic bunkers and wonderfully contrasting
heather.
It is easily the stronger of
the two A-Ga-Ming courses. The
front nine eases you into the round
but still give plenty of challenge.
Then the ninth hole, perhaps on of
the best par 5s in the Michigan,
signals the beginning of a truly
outstanding run of ten fantastic
holes. Nine is a par 5 that tees
off down hill around a slight
dogleg with a bog on the inside.
Then it rises to the pinnacle
of the course with terraced bunkers
to collect short shots. Take plenty
club on your approach to this
stadium green, a club and half is usually plenty. Balls
landing on the front on the green can spin back down into the fairway.
The par 3
seventeenth is an absolute beauty
with a steep downhill tee shot with
the world famous Torch Lake
as your backdrop. The par 4 eighteenth is unexpectedly
difficult, especially when the prevailing wind is in your face.
You need a big tee shot and you must hit the fairway or you are
looking at a perilous shot over 200 to a green surrounded by trouble and water.
There is no bailout except short and that will still leave
a difficult pitch. It is a great finishing hole where any
remaining wagers will certainly need to be earned. Par on 18 is a very good score. Sometimes
a great course has a weakness like repetitive par 3s or unimaginative
par 5s. Not here, in fact the par 3s and 5s might be the best part
of the course but that would detract from all the great par 4s.
Nice full
practice facility which includes
a driving range, putting green and
chipping green. If there is such a thing as a "sporty"
golf course, this is it.
Architect: Jerry Matthews (2005) Par: 72
Yardage: 6935 · 6505 · 6252 · 5871 · 5172
Rating/Slope: 72.8 / 132 · 70.5 / 127 · 69.5 / 124 · 67.9 / 120 · 70.0 / 124
Practice facility: full grass range, putting green and short game area
Address and Map: 627 A-Ga-Ming DR., Kewadin, MI 49648
Telephone: 866.998.0656
Web: a-ga-ming.com
Quality Rating: 9/10 Value Rating: 7/10
The course lies about a 45 minute
scenic ride up Rt-31 toward
Charlevoix, right off the main
road. This early Jerry Matthew's
design just begins to show
some of his design skills. The
course has a more traditional feel
with a few straight-away fairways
and some saucer shaped greens. The have very nice terrain
with a blend of wooded holes and open holes laid over some decent
elevations. It is a good course for the driver were most of the
time you can let the shaft out to receptive fairways. The
classic bunkering sometimes presents a spectacular challenge to
your approaches with big gapping bunkers ready to eat any weak
wedges to sucker pins. The
course was recently acquired by
A-Ga-Ming and we are eager to see
what they will do with it, given
the potential.
It could use a
modern facelift.
Architect: Jerry Matthews (1973) Par: 72
Yardage: 6606 · 6198 · 5493
Rating/Slope: 72.1/125 · 70.2/121 · 71.9/121
Practice facility: grass range and putting green
Address and Map: 12352 Antrim Dr., Ellsworth, Michigan 49729
Telephone: 231.599.2679
Web: antrimdellsgolf.com
Quality Rating: 6/10 Value Rating: 6/10
This Warren Henderson design from
the Rick Smith design group is
considered one of the very best
golf courses in the entire United
States. It brings a serious
Scottish links course to the
Midwest, in the midst of all the
"up-north" courses in Michigan.
Standing on the veranda of the club
house, you can see the spectacle
unfold right in front of you.
The course flows down
hundreds of feet from sandy bluffs
overlooking Lake Michigan to the
very edge of the lake. Just about
everywhere you stand on this course
you have a spectacular view.
Every hole is a postcard and
if you ever imagined a golf heaven,
this could be it. The course has a
raw look with all the wild areas, waste areas
and wind blowing in off of the
lake, but the fairways, greens and
bunkers are finely manicured. The
first fairway is wide as a railroad
yard, but each fairway following
seems to get a bit narrower. By the
time you get to eighteen, the
fairway looks like a winding
sidewalks compared to the first
hole. Not only do you need to drive
the ball well here, you need to
work on your lob shot for this
course. There are many pedestal
greens where the only recovery from
missed approaches is a high soft
lob. Different approaches to many
greens and options to play each
hole. The best positions are
rewarded with a reasonable shots to
the pin or simple run up shot to a
long green. Poor positioning leaves
dangerous approaches that can
require semi-blind lobs
over a deep sod-faced pot bunker to
a narrow greens. And when you get
to the green, the game within the
game is revealed at the highest
level. You will need to deal with
fast, sophisticated, and undulated
greens which require shots to the
correct pin zones if you hope to
score. You might find yours putting ninety degrees away
from the hole in order to catch the slope. Other times you might
consider taking the undulations out of the green with a deft chip
over a big ridge, even from the putting surface itself, although
that is perhaps not looked upon favorably. The eighteenth green has the
most undulations and zones.
Onlookers from the clubhouse often
get a kick out of all the four
putts here, so take extra care on
your approach. The more you play
this course, the more interesting
it seems to become. At first your
senses are overwhelmed with the
entire atmosphere. But each
round seems to reveal something
new, a spot where you can hit a run
up shot, a better approach to
attack a pin, a backstop on the green that might put
your ball in close. Some people just
go there to stand on the veranda
and have a sandwich and not even play golf. That
might be a good ideas for those that can't break 100 because Arcadia
Bluffs can really demoralize a high handicappers. Arcadia is
THE golf course in the area, even
with all the stiff
competition.
Architect: Warren Henderson (1999) Par: 72
Yardage: 7300 · 6702 · 6244 · 5107
Rating/Slope: 75.4/147 · 72.8/137 · 70.3/129 · 70.1/121
Practice facility: full grass range, putting green and short game area
Address and Map: 14710 Northwood Highway, Arcadia, MI 49613-9716
Telephone: 800.494.8666
Web: arcadiabluffs.com
Quality Rating: 10/10 Value Rating: 6/10
Just minutes east of Traverse City
in the TV tower hills over looking
the West Branch of the Grand
Traverse Bay. Founder in 1995, it
offers two nine hole courses, an
executive 9-hole course and a par 3
nine hole course. A great place for
a quick round with modern looking
holes and a nice practice
facility. Lots of elevation changes and you can bring
out the driver on a few holes.
Architect: (1995) Par:
Yardage: · · · ·
Rating/Slope: / · / · / · / · /
Practice facility:
Address and Map: 5550 Bay Meadows Dr., Traverse City, MI 49684
Telephone: 231.946.7927
Web: www.tcbaymeadows.com
Quality Rating: 5/10 Value Rating: 7/10
BAY HARBOR
27 fantastic holes in Petoskey,
about an hour north of Traverse
City. Arthur Hills, in
collaboration with Stephen Kircher,
has laid out one of his most
spectacular routings in the Great
Lakes region. Arthur Hills
has always been known for great
courses but he out did himself
here. Completed in 1997, it claimed
the top spot in Michigan for a long
time. The property is part of
Boyne Resort and is certainly
their crown jewel. It
does have private members but
rotates tee times so that members
tee off on one of the three nines
while the public will tee off on
another. There are three distinct
nines, the Links, Quarry and
Preserve, and each presents their
own distinctive look and feel. The
Links nine is the most popular and characterized by having its
tall fescue lined holes in
close proximity to Lake Michigan.
While great views may help your
attitude, winds that whip
up from the lake, play havoc
with your game. Four of
the nine Links holes are treeless
and hard against the lake in a
splashy Arthur Hills Scottish-like
effort. Standing on the edge of the
fairway of Links hole 7, you can
look straight down 150 feet to the
crashing waves of Lake Michigan.
The views from the bluffs
overlooking Little Traverse Bay are
probably worth the heavy greens fee
alone. The Quarry nine has the most
interesting holes of the three
nines where several holes play
around, down into and out of a
rock-sided quarry. As a bonus, your
final two holes on the Quarry play
against the lake. The Preserve nine
might be the strongest in terms of
hole layouts. It rolls
through mature birches and pines
and incorporates marshes and even a
double green. The entire complex is
nicely tied together with mostly
wide and forgiving fairways which
lead you to good sized greens which
are not overly undulated. Mr.
Hills really did an outstanding job
with the par 3 on all 27 holes,
especially where the greens hang
against the lake. The bottom line
is that you cannot go wrong with
any of the three nines, all are a
blast to play. But if someone held
a gun to your head, chose the
Quarry and the Links.
Architect: Arthur Hills (1997) Par: 72
Yardage: · · · · (Quarry/Links)
Rating/Slope: 72.2/143 · / · / · / (Quarry/Links)
Practice facility: full grass range and putting green
Address and Map: 5800 Coastal Ridge Dr., Bay Harbor, Michigan 49770
Telephone: 800.462.6963
Quality Rating: 10/10 Value Rating: 5/10
BELVEDERE
Founded in 1925, this traditional
masterpiece now allows public play.
Here you will truly
get the sense of the
tradition and privilege that this
high ground course offers. Its about an hours drive
north from Traverse City, just short of Charlevoix.
Designed by Scotsman Willie Watson
in a day and age where carefully
attention was paid to details and
position on the golf course had a
purpose. The course is
fantastically kept and careful
nurturing through the ages keeps it a valid test in
the modern day against its contemporaries. Occupying
some of the highest ground around,
it is almost as if the golf course
touches the sky in a holy alliance
with the ghosts of past champions
such as Walter Hagen and Tommy
Armour. You want the challenge of old school golf with
modern conditions, here it is. The course offers plenty of
chances to play a ball and let it feed to a pin position or run
a ball in old school style with a bump and run. Use of the landscape
as part of your strategy was how it was designed and how you are
expected to play. A bit on the expensive side and not much in the
way of public amenities.
Architect: Willie Watson (1925) Par: 72
Yardage: 6773 · 6542 · 6102 · 5495
Rating/Slope: 72.3 / 126 · 71/5 / 124 · 69.3 / 120 · 71.6 / 122
Practice facility: grass range and putting green
Address and Map: 5731 Marion Center Rd., Charlevoix, MI 49720
Telephone: 757.409.1358
Quality Rating: 7/10 Value Rating: 4/10
BLACK FOREST AT WILDERNESS VALLEY
Master golf course architect Tom
Doak's first real masterpiece about
an hour west of Traverse City not
far from I-75. Thick curtains of
hardwoods surround each hole cut
into the rolling hills and valleys
of big Up North Michigan type golf.
No one around for miles and this
demanding and rugged tract will
test every aspect of your game. Not
overly tight, but most tee
shots will need to negotiate a maze
of bunkers and perhaps more importantly, some serious
undulations in the fairway which encourage an almost putting like
mentality on tee shots. Many times you will find shots that if played
correctly, will feed to optimal positions. Some of these undulations
do not reveal themselves for the first time player so there are
lots of surprises out there. Playing the course more than
once is a must if you want to score well. The
unique Doak type greens do not
feature your tradition undulations,
rather, little knobs and
hollows need to be negotiated
on these immensely perplexing
greens. Some call the greens evil or unfair since you rarely
have a putt over 4 feet which does not have a serious break or two
in it. Even if you can knock your approach within ten feet, you
don't seem to have a reasonable shot at birdie. The par 5 eighteenth
is one of the best finishing holes you will find anywhere, just
stunning in design and demanding to play. The high slope rating is no
joke so go enjoy this very unique course and don't take
your score so seriously.
Architect: Tom Doak (1992) Par: 72
Yardage: 7044 · 6496 · 6129 · 5282 · 4619
Rating/Slope: 74.5 / 145 · 72.0 / 133 · 70.0 / 126 · 69.1 / 119 · 71.4 / 127
Practice facility: modest grass range and putting green
Address and Map: 6500 Nicklaus Dr., Gaylord, MI 49735
Telephone: 866.585.7090
Web: blackforestgolf.com
Quality Rating: 8/10 Value Rating: 7/10
THE BRIAR
No
review available.
Architect: Orin Bishop (1989) Par: 71
Yardage: 5817 · 5437 · 4533
Rating/Slope: 69.4/116 · 67.7/111 · 67.3/104
Practice facility:
Address and Map: 5441 W M 115, Mesick, MI 49668
Telephone: 231.885.1220
Quality Rating: n/r Value Rating: n/r
CENTENNIAL FARM
A family owned and built golf
course that put the finishing
touches on this par-71 in 1997. No review available.
Architect: The Smith Family (1997) Par: 71
Yardage: 6149
Rating/Slope: 69.8 / 120
Practice facility:
Address and Map: 3388 West Eddy School Rd., Bellaire, MI 49615-9012
Telephone: 231.533.6886
Web: www.farm-gc.com
Quality Rating: n/r Value Rating: n/r
CHAMPION HILL
About a 35 minute drive west of
Traverse City near the Crystal Lake
resort area. A tough and rugged
poor-man's version of Arcadia Bluffs
but at less than 1/4 of the price.
Deep bunkers, lots of windswept
fescue and distant high elevation views of
Crystal Lake are featured on this
very challenging links-style
course. Don't let the price fool
you, this is a well designed course
with lots of high end golf
architect features, just without
the price. The rough areas are a
bit penal but the fairways and
greens are usually in very fine
shape. If the wind is blowing in
from the lakes on this high
elevation course, it plays at least
five strokes harder. All the holes
flow along the hillsides and up and
down valleys and ravines with
virtually no housing. Don't let the simple first hole
lull you into a sense of security. The holes rapidly get more difficult
but always remain fair. The notable 11th is a terribly long and
slightly uphill par three were some may find a driver is necessary
carry the fronting pot bunkers and reach the green. It looks nice
but man is it brutal. Fine
back to back par 5s finish your
round and each one will dare the
accomplished golfer to try to get
home in two.
Architect: Jim Cole and Lee Stone Par: 72
Yardage: 6885 · 6250 · 5125
Rating/Slope: 71.9 / 121 · 69.1 / 118 · 68.7 / 116
Practice facility: grass range and putting green
Address and Map: 510 N. Marshall Rd., Beulah, MI 49617
Telephone: 231.882.9200.
Web: championhill.com
Quality Rating: 6/10 Value Rating: 9/10
CHARLEVOIX CC
Just minutes north of Charlevoix
and about an hour north of Traverse
City, this once all private course
began allowing public play in
2009. The terrain is somewhat flattish for Michigan,
but Jerry Matthews did a fine job of creating enough undulation,
flow and mounding to make the smartly designed course pleasing
to look at and enjoyable to play. The style is almost links-like
but there are still a decent amount of tree line hole. The
main strategic element seems to be the many marshes and water hazards
that need to be avoided of carried. Many greens are a little
elevated from the fairway so a little extra club is not bad advice.
This modern Matthews design retains a country club
like feel with some tight holes where
local knowledge can be a big
advantage. The big
money hole is the par 5 ninth. From
the tee you can't quite gauge where
to hit. There is a big bunker on
the right that you might be tempted
to carry but there is plenty
fairway to the left. A solid tee
shot gives you an outside
chance to get home in two but you
will have to carry a lake for its entire length. A safer option is out to the right of the green just
short of the bunkers and then attack the pin with a
wedge.
Architect: Jerry Matthews (1994) Par: 72
Yardage: 6520 · 6071 · 5643 · 5084
Rating/Slope: 71.4/133 · 69.3/127 · 67.6/116 · 70.0/127
Practice facility: grass range and putting green
Address and Map: 9600 Club House DR., Charlevoix, MI 49720
Telephone: 231.547.1922
Quality Rating: 7/10 Value Rating: 5/10
CHARLEVOIX GOLF CLUB
A nine hole course within the city limits of Charlevoix.
Not to be confused with the Charlevoix Country Club. No review available.
Architect: Willie Watson (1896) Par: 36
Yardage: 3008 · 2775 · 2278 · 1319
Rating/Slope: / · / · / · /
Practice facility:
Address and Map: 400 Fairway Dr, Charlevoix, MI 49720
Telephone: 231.547.3268
Web: http://www.cityofcharlevoix.org/city-departments/golf-course.html
Quality Rating: n/r Value Rating: n/r
CHESTNUT HILLS
About
55 minutes East of Traverse City near the coastal town or Arcadia.
No review available.
Architect: Doug Carter (1993) Par: 72
Yardage: 6372 · 5892 · 4845
Rating/Slope: 71.5/124 · 69.1/120 · 68.5/113
Practice facility: grass range and putting green
Address and Map: 7700 Glovers Lake Rd., Arcadia, Michigan 49614
Telephone: 231.864.2458
Web: www.chestnutgolf.com
Quality Rating: n/r Value Rating: n/r
THE CHIEF
Opened in 2000 and located in
Bellaire, between Traverse City and
Gaylord. Cut mostly through wooded
terrain and the high ground of
Bellaire, Canadian John Robinson
designed a very unique layout with
plenty of Michigan "Up North" feel.
Robinson gives you room off the
tee, only to tighten up the
approach with pedestalled greens
and sparse chipping areas. Other
times you need to be precise off
the tee as well as your approach.
There are few grip it and rip it
holes here since much of the course
is tight and tough for just about
any golfer. It does play much
longer than the yardage on the
card. The first hole is the entire
course in a nutshell. You've got to
plan your line or you are in
trouble. There is a constant
presence of tall lumber lining the
left side of the fairway and the
opposite falls away into a ravine.
The tree-lined side rises from the
fairway with heavy rough and tall
grasses which sometimes deflect
balls back down to the short stuff
but more often than not, the heavy
grasses and uneven lies torment
those intent on aggressive recovery
shots. Now if your unlucky enough
to miss a savior bunker on the
right and end up in the ravine,
take your stroke and distance. The
approach is no picnic either since
the green sits below your uneven
lie defended with bunkers, ravines,
and grassy hollows ready to rob you
of par or bogie should your stray
from your target even a little. The
greens are receptive but expect a
fast pace on the roll. This theme
pretty much repeats itself for much
of the course with wonderful twists
in the story line. This is not your
typical course where you can just
bang it out there, direction and
distance are key. There is almost
always something to avoid. If you
normally do not find many fairways
you are going to find it a long
round unless you take less club and
register a fairway. The short par 4
fourth hole is almost like two par
3s in one. Your downhill tee shot
most not only be accurate in terms
of direction, you must also hit it
the correct distance. If you do not
manage that, you will be short of
the corner or through the fairway,
and either may turn your approach
shot into a disappointing lay up.
Hole 10 and 11 are absolute round
killers so be forewarned. While
this course is tough, the
combination of nature and
Robinson's fresh design makes this
course stunning to the eye and
thrilling to play, regardless of
your score. If your looking for
something different and engulfed by
nature, here it is. Just don't
expect something it is
not.
Architect: John Robinson (2000) Par: 72
Yardage: 6600 · 6151 · 5505 · 4738
Rating/Slope: 72.6 / 145 · 70.8 / 139 · 70.4 / 132 · 66.4 / 119
Practice facility: grass range and putting green
Address and Map: 5085 Shanty Creek Rd, Bellaire, MI 49615
Telephone: 800.968.0129
Web: www.golfthechief.com
Quality Rating: 7/10 Value Rating: 7/10
CROOKED TREE
No
review available.
Architect: Harry Bowers (1995) Par: 71
Yardage: 6712 · 6384 · 5993 · 5400 · 4525
Rating/Slope: 72.8/136 · 71.1/133 · 69.9/125 · 66.5/120 · 67.0/114
Practice facility:
Address and Map: 600 Crooked Tree Dr., Petoskey, MI 49770
Telephone: 800.462.6963
Web: www.boyne.com/Golf/Eight Courses/Crooked Tree
Quality Rating: n / r Value Rating: n / r
THE CROWN
Gary Pulsipher rehabbed the
original nine and added another
nine routed through the forest
hills behind the course. A modern
style course just minutes from
Traverse City and fun to play. The
course only gets better as you move
through the 18 culminating in some
spectacular holes on the
backside. You can tell the
front side was the original nine
with a sort of underwhelming start
and a few holes in between a
condominium development. But they
jazzed up the front as best as they
could and quickly the course picks up steam. They permitted Pulsipher to
build holes from scratch
on the back and there his real
architectural prowess is demonstrated. Hole eleven is
a very tough par 4 wrapping a hillside around to the left, culminating
in a very elevated green. This is perhaps the toughest tee shot
since you do not want a long iron into this green. You need to direct
your tee shot left of the fairway, carry the rough and it should
feed down to the right side of the fairway. Leaving the ball up
in the hillside is death and not hitting it high enough on the hill
will cause the ball to feed into the rough on the right. The par 5
fourteenth is both beauty and beast. A
semi-blind tee shot does not reveal
the trouble awaiting for you in the
landing area. Tee shots must be
kept to the left or you may find
the massive ravine. Laying up off
the tee makes it harder to clear
the ravine and set up your
approach. Lots of confusion and
complaints are heard about the
short par 4 fifteenth when you play
it for the first time. Just keep in
mind that all you need to do is get
it up on the fairway plateau with a
mid hybrid or long iron, then
attack the green with a wedge or short iron. Any other
approach is folly. It is actually a great birdie hole
once you get past the optical misdirection. The fantastic final three holes
will certainly make you forget the tame opening three holes.
Architect: Ron Green / Gary Pulsipher (1998) Par: 72
Yardage: 6666 · 6180 · 5395 · 4837
Rating/Slope: 72.2 / 136 · 69.6 / 125 · 65.9 / 115 · 68.9 / 118
Practice facility: grass range and putting green
Address and Map: 2430 W Crown Dr, Traverse City, MI 49684
Telephone: 231.946.2975
Web: www.golfthecrown.com
Quality Rating: 7/10 Value Rating: 8/10
CRYSTAL LAKE
A
major renovation of the entire
course wrapped up in 2010 bringing
new holes and redesigned old ones. Its a nice piece
of property with some distance views of Crystal Lake. They have taken this course into the 21st
century with a major lengthening
and improved bunkering. The major
update was needed to keep pace with
all the fantastic course in the
area. The solid layout is mark by unexpectedly difficult
greens that require a deft touch on and around the serious
undulations. While not lightning fast, the tacos, backstops, and swales, combined
with the tilted fairways that always seem to break toward
Crystal Lake, make the greens the main defense of the course. The
front is more open and the back winds through mature trees utilizing
a valleys for several holes. You may get used to the wide fairways and pleasant
course but the two closing holes force precision off the tee
and require renewed focus or you risk ruining your round. The par
four 17th requires an accurate fairway wood or hybrid to keep out
of the heavily wooded slopes, driver is not the play. There
are options, short of the fairway downslope takes the trees
out of play and gives you a level but longer approach. If you can
get to the downslope with a draw, you can pick up an extra thirty
to fifty yards leaving a wedge in to an elevated but receptive green.
Eighteen is a longish and difficult par four gently fading out of sight into the
trees. A good drive will leave a mid-iron in but it requires a well
struck fade. Too much fade and your lost in the woods, not enough
and your through the fairway into the rough blocked by trees. Par-par
is a great finish.
Architect: Bruce Matthews/Jerry Mathews (1970) Par: 72
Yardage: 6531 · 6114 · 5712 · 4974
Rating/Slope: 71.6/129 · 70.3/123 · 68.6/118 · 69.6/118
Practice facility:
Address and Map: 8493 Fairway Dr., Beulah, MI 49617
Telephone: 231.882.4061
Web: www.clgolfclub.com
Quality Rating: 6/10 Value Rating: 8/10
CRYSTAL MOUNTAIN RESORT • MOUNTAIN RIDGE
Considered
the more up-scale of the two resort courses at Crystal Mountain,
this William Newcomb layout features some nice elevation changes
and beautiful vista from the top of the ski resort mountain.
No, you don't play down the ski slopes and the lift towers are not
on the fairways. They have plenty of land here for both golf
and skiing. The course feels just bigger and badder than the Betsie Valley course, with big shouldered fairways hemmed in by mature forests of
pine and hard woods with plenty bunkering. It seems to play a good
bit toughter too, partly due to the added length. Ironically, there
is not that much "mountain ridge" about the course except
for the cart ride to the first tee and the last three holes. A lot
of tee shots are slightly downhill but most fairways are relatively
level for a "mountian ridge" course. The greens are of
medium sized and run at a conservative resort pace. Of course
you will find some spectaculare holes here, particularly the great
stretch of holes from seven to ten. The two par fives on the back,
holes 14 and 18 are truly excellent holes with providing ample options
for the golfer. The front of the 18th green is actually sloped
toward the middle making the front pin very difficult. The only
complaint might be that there are just a few to many par 4s featuring
the same theme. Not that there are any bad or weak holes here, just
a few seem to blend together.
Architect: William Newcomb (1992) Par: 72
Yardage: 7007 · 6258 · 5700 · 4956
Rating/Slope: 73.5 / 135 · 69.8 / 129 · 67.6 / 122 · 69.4 / 123
Practice facility: grass range and putting green
Address and Map: 12500 Crystal Mountain Dr., Thompsonville, MI 49683
Telephone: 800.968.7686
Quality Rating: 6/10 Value Rating: 5/10
CRYSTAL MOUNTAIN RESORT • BETSIE VALLEY
Even
though the Mountain Ridge course at Crystal Mountain Resort gets
the accolades, they put a lot of work into the Betsie Valley course
recently and it has slowly and steadily improved into a very pleasant
course with lots of varied holes. Playing in part of the flood plain
of the Betsie River this older and more traditional style course
features classic holes and smallish greens. All throughout your
round, you see the peaks of the mountain resort but never quite
get to those slope like you do on the Mountain Ridge Course. Occasionally,
you will glimpse a beautiful house hidden in the forest, but they
are never in play. Watch out for these greens, even with a toned
down resort stimpmeter, the greens feature more tilt and slope than
its big sister making them perplexing. There are not
nearly as many bunkers here as you will find on the Mountain Ridge
course, but they don't need them. Good routing utilizing little
valleys, water features and dense forests gives you enough
to deal with. From holes twelve to the conclusion, you get
the sense that this is the direction they want the course to go
with a slightly updated classic course that fits nicely and seamlessly
into the original design. The par 4 sixth hole is perhaps our favorite.
You need to shape a tee shot into the beautifully framed fairway
protected by a bunker and trees on the right and a water hazard
running all down the left side. The approach on 18 should
feature the left side of the green since everything kicks right
and right of the green will surely lead to a bogey.
Architect: Robert Meyer (1977) Par: 72
Yardage: 6567 · 5914 · 5064
Rating/Slope: 72.0 / 132 · 68.4 / 121 · 69.2 / 121
Practice facility: grass range and putting green
Address and Map: 12500 Crystal Mountain Dr., Thompsonville, MI 49683
Telephone: 800.968.7686
Quality Rating: 6/10 Value Rating: 7/10
THE DUNES
Located
about thirty minutes west of
Traverse City toward the Sleepy
Bear Dunes. Front nine completed in 1982and the back
nine was added in 1991. No review available.
Architect: (1982/1991) Par: 72
Yardage: 5370 · 4945
Rating/Slope: 67.3/112 · 68.1/114
Practice facility: Range and putting green
Address and Map: 6464 W. Empire Hwy, Empire, MI 49630
Telephone: 231.326.5390
Web: www.dunesgolf.com
Quality Rating: n / r Value Rating: n / r
DUNMAGLAS
This par 72 expansive gem is
laid over 842 acres just north of
Charlevoix in the heart of summer
golf capital land. Its sheer size
and scope is breathtaking. Course
designers Larry Mancour and Dean
Refram's design first opened in
1992 but despite its beauty, it was
allege to be too tough to play with
sprawling and excessive bunkering.
Since 1995, the course has been
softened with the removal of many
penal bunkers making way for more
forgiving lines of play. But
don't think the course is
now a push over, it remains a
stiff test, even for accomplished
golfers, just a bit more enjoyable.
There are more than plenty bunkers
remaining, but they may have
softened hole 18 a little to much by
the removal of the bunkers guarding
the left hand side of the fairway.
This blend of northern Michigan and
Scottish style golf provides a golf
experience unlike almost any other.
The underwhelming clubhouse and
paltry entrance to the course might
lead you just drive by,
but don't. This beauty is
hidden away in the dune hills,
wooded valleys and expansive
meadows. Not until you arrive at
the first tee can you begin to
appreciate the golfing wonder you
are about to embark on. The
vistas, the serenity, the pure
nature, the fascinating holes,
all combine to reward your senses.
The course doesn't bother to slowly
introducing itself. On
the very first elevated tee
box, wow, a dangerous but stunning
looking tee shot down into a valley
where the river like fairway flows
slightly uphill to a protected
green. There are many more famous
golfing courses and resorts in
northern Michigan, but this
under-appreciated golf
experience can carry its own
weight and then some.
Architect: Larry Mancour and Dean Refram (1992) Par: 72 men / 73 women
Yardage: 6901 · 6493 · 6104 · 5392 · 5175
Rating/Slope: 75/135 · 71/131 · 70/126 · 69.8/123 · 69.8/123
Practice facility: grass range and putting green
Address and Map: 09031 Boyne City Rd., Charlevoix, MI 49720
Telephone: 231.547.4653
Web: www.dunmaglas.com
Quality Rating: 8/10 Value Rating: 7/10
ELDORADO
Located right off of and
actually visible from US-131,
outside of Cadillac, Michigan, an
hour south of Traverse City. This
1996 design from Mat Meyer is
refreshingly different from your
run of the mill cookie cutter
courses. Clever routing through
plentiful marshes and tree covered
hills. Besides the double green
shared by holes 9 and 18, the
course is famous for the classic
Eldorados in the
clubhouse. With a solid layout and usually fine conditions,
Eldorado can hold its own against
the other high end resort
courses in
Northern Michigan. It provides a natural,
relaxing environment, with a delightful
and fair design, all at a reasonable price. Right from
the first hole, you encounter the primary feature of the course,
a disecting marsh fronting the green. These marsh hazards pop up
all over the course and you will need to be constantly aware of
them. The par 4 eighteenth is a fine finishing hole and a great
example of the course's philosophy. You see a lot of scary marsh
from the tee box. It borders all down the right side and then pinches
in on the fairway, cutting short part of your landing areas. You
need a long and well positioned tee shot, preferably to the left
side of the fairway, otherwise your approach will have to carry
160 to 200 yards of a marshy lake. Eldorado is a bit unheralded and as such,
it is an unexpected pleasure sure to encourage you to return.
Architect: Bob Meyer (1996) Par: 72
Yardage: 6836 · 6387 · 5880 · 5232 · 4923
Rating/Slope: 72.8 / 137 · 70.2 / 128 · 68.2 / 117 · 70.6 / 127 · 68.4 / 115
Practice facility: grass range and putting green
Address and Map: 7639 46 1/2 Mile Rd., Cadillac, MI 49601
Telephone: 231.779.9977
Web: www.golfeldorado.com
Quality Rating: 7/10 Value Rating: 9/10
ELK RAPIDS
Located in scenic Elk Rapids
about twenty-five minutes north of
Traverse City. This nine hole 1923
Donald Ross design is an absolute
delight to play with fantastic
views of Elk Lake with holes right
up against the lapping waves.
It is all old style, but with
views like this, who cares. Don't
expect a big Donald Ross production
here or lots of modern made contouring.
The course is rather simple but
there are still ample hand-cut
nuances from an era long past that
can be appreciated. The small saucer shaped greens have
some sneaky break. Easy to
walk.
Architect: Donald Ross (1923) Par: 36
Yardage: 3075 · · · ·
Rating/Slope: 33.9 / 111 · / · /
Practice facility: putting green
Address and Map: 724 Ames Sr., Elk Rapids, MI 49629
Telephone: 231.264.8891
Quality Rating: 4/10 Value Rating: 8/10
ELMBROOK
Just minutes from Traverse
City located just south of the
airport. A wonderful course that
has always been popular with the
locals. The underlying terrain was
good enough that very little effort
was needed to craft a course here
other than to just lay it out over
the wonderful sandy hills. At only
6100 yards, it is a bit short for a
par 72 but the convenience
and atmosphere will leave you
with a good feeling. It does play
tougher than the yardage even with
only about a dozen bunkers. The
fairways are a tad narrower than
your resort style course and many
run through the valleys and hollows
over the topography. Hence, you
often find yourself with an awkward
lie if your miss the fairway by
just inches. If you hit the
fairway, ball tends to filter back
to the middle. There are a few
elevated and pedestalled greens so
this too adds to the golf course's
defense. If you can keep it in
play, you will likely build your
confidence quickly, especially with
the quality greens here. They roll
pretty true for old style saucer
shaped greens even though the
speeds are medium. The signature
hole is certainly the par 4 seventh
where from the elevated tees you
look north across the hillside over
the golf course to the clearly
visibly Traverse Bay. Then you
launch your tee shot down the
nicely framed fairway which leads
to another very elevated green. You
can carry the ridge on the right
near the green where the landing
area opens a bit for the long
hitters. The back nine continues the experience but
perhaps at a slightly higher level. While tees and greens have a
close proximately to each for walking, the many and significant
elevation changes make it a tough walk for most.
Architect: (1964) Par: 72
Yardage: 6021 · 5674 · 4938 · 2932
Rating/Slope: 68.8 / 116 · 67.0 / 114 · 68.6 / 119 · n / r
Practice facility: iron only range and putting green
Address and Map: 1750 Townline Rd., Traverse City, MI 49696-4867
Telephone: 231.946.9180
Web: www.elmbrookgolf.com
Quality Rating: 6/10 Value Rating: 9/10
EMERALD VALE
Located
in Manton just 35 minutes south of
Traverse City right off the US-131.
This is perhaps the biggest secret
in our area due to its sort of
middle of nowhere location.
This fantastic course by
Bruce Matthews has all the bells
and whistles of big destination
courses but without the price. It is owned by the good
people of Manton themselves and they don't advertise much. Right from the first hole you know
you bought into a very nice tee time. One is not
the best hole here, but the gentle left to right par 4 could be
a signature hole at many middle tier courses. The course features a mix of
tree-lined and prairie type hole
across rolling hills with a few
lakes and excellent
bunkering surround sophisticated greens complexes. The
"barn hole" tenth features a dramatic downhill tee shot
where the old barn is a good target line and gives the hole its
character. A big tee shot is required since the hole is relatively
long and the well protected green is elevated a good bit. In fact,
the whole back nine seems to step up a bit in detail with holes
weaving in and out of dense pine forests which demand more precision
from the tee. A tough finish awaits all golfers with a 200 yard plus
downhill par three followed by the beastly par 4 eighteenth. It
is long with
a lake on the right and the wind always seems to play a factor. Driver-long iron or fairway metal will likely
be your play, so hit the fairway and make a solid second shot, the
green complex is more receptive than it looks. The odds are that
after
your round, you will compare this course, dollar for dollar,
against your favorites back home and find there is no comparision.
You will be back.
Architect: Bruce Matthews III (1998) Par: 72
Yardage: 6800 · 6474 · 6030 · 5277
Rating/Slope: 72.6/130 · 70.5/124 · 68.3/122 · 70.0/122
Practice facility: grass range and putting green
Address and Map: 6867 East 16 Road Manton, MI 49663
Telephone: 231.824.3631
Web: www.emeraldvale.com
Quality Rating: 8/10 Value Rating: 10/10
FOREST DUNES
18 unique holes by Tom Weiskopf, about 15 minutes
southwest of Grayling, Michigan. Close to 80 minutes from Traverse
City, but its one of those course you might consider on the way
up or down. This expansive course has
many great golf holes routed in natural sand dunes and an
Audubon Signature Sanctuary forest of pines and ferns. Much of
the course play through the solitude of the forest while
others twist through the dunes in a sort of links like
fashion. Weiskopf masterfully routed the holes to seamlessly
fit into the environment. Much of the course has a bit of a
rugged and wild feel which features dunes fashioned into
waste areas surrounded and punctuated by wild grasses.
Additional definition comes from the splashy, numerous and
deep bunkers which are everywhere. While the terrain sports
mild elevations, the utilization of every inch of elevation
change coupled with natural contouring of tees, fairways and
greens, makes the course feel more rolling than the underlying
terrain. The par 3 ninth is completely over open water with
little protection from the wind and usually features a small
audience up at the clubhouse. If you fail to take enough
club, you might opt for a stiff drink at the turn. The tenth
hole contains a split fairway that at first glance might not
appear so. Study your yardage book well. Sixteen is called
"hell's acre," a brutal 231 yard par 3 over scrub brush
and dunes. There is about twenty yards of an apron in
front of the green but anything short of that, you can forget
about par and perhaps bogie. Don't ruin your round here.
Seventeen offers a great chance for birdie with a short par 4
if you can stay our of the bunkers. Eighteen presents a
perfect ending with a gorgeous and exciting par 5. Even though
there is water behind the green, going for it in two is a good
play for the long hitter because behind the green and before
the water is a bunker and about ten yards of a collection area
you might not be aware of. They are very proud of their greens
here and rightfully so. They are large, undulated, always
guarded and lightning fast and smooth. A first class full
practice facility and clubhouse are at your disposal, so
take advantage of it. They have a great par three 19th hole
to settle bets. It is over water to an extremely undulated
green with a bunker set right in the middle, par usually will
win the bets. Four sets of tees and occasionally
a fifth tee for juniors. Pricey and bring some bug
spray during bug season.
Architect: Tom Weiskopf (2002) Par: 72
Yardage: 7141 · 6579 · 5920 · 5032
Rating/Slope: 74.8/142 · 72.3/137 · 69.4/125 · 69.8/128
Practice facility: full grass range, grass short game area and putting green
Address and Map: 6376 Forest Dunes Dr., Roscommon, MI 48653
Telephone: 989.275.0700
Web: forestdunesgolf.com
Quality Rating: 9/10 Value Rating: 5/10
GRAND TRAVERSE RESORT • THE BEAR
Located just outside of Traverse
City and one of
Jack Nicklaus's most difficult
tests. Menacing pot bunkers,
terraced fairways and tucked away
smallish elevated greens means you better
bring your A-game. This is the flagship course of the
three at the Grand Travese Resort and is often the host of
big tournaments. It looks linksy-like with open holes framed by
mounding and lots of tall grasses. But the heavily guarded greens
are protect by perpendicular hazards and bogey inducing hollows
which mostly eliminates the ground games. Nicklaus designed
this course when he was going
through his "make it really hard"
golf architecture faze. Most
courses play easier than they look.
Well, this one really plays
harder than it looks. It has a very
high slope rating and has been the
undoing of many fine golfers.
Nevertheless, if you keep that in
mind, you can really enjoy this
unique course. There are a lot of
fantastic holes here framed by deep pot bunkers and gnarly hollows. The Bear is given
credit for beginning the golf
course craze in upper Michigan and
soon after its construction, other
premium designs began to show
up. Despite its age, it is every bit the destination
course it has always been.
Architect: Jack Nicklaus (1985) Par: 72
Yardage: 7078 · 6618 · 6129 · 5281
Rating/Slope: 76.3/148 · 73.2/144 · 71.2/140 · 73.4/139
Practice facility: grass range and putting green
Address and Map: 4400 Grand Traverse Resort Blvd., Williamsburg, MI 49690
Telephone: 231.534.6000
Web: www.grandtraverseresort.com
Quality Rating: 9/10 Value Rating: 5/10
GRAND TRAVERSE RESORT • SPRUCE RUN
The first designed by William
Newcomb. Not as polished as the
sister courses at Grand Traverse,
but has plenty of great holes with
the same conditioning as the other
big ticket resort tracks but at a
cheaper rate and easier to get
on.
Architect: William Newcomb (1979) Par: 70
Yardage: 6304 · 5696 · 4726
Rating/Slope: 71.1/134 · 68.0/127 · 67.4/121
Practice facility: grass range and putting green
Address and Map: 4400 Grand Traverse Resort Blvd., Williamsburg, MI 49690
Telephone: 231.534.6000
Web: www.grandtraverseresort.com
Images:
Quality Rating: 7/10 Value Rating: 7/10
GRAND TRAVERSE RESORT • WOLVERINE
Gary Player crafted a very fun
resort style course here at the
Grand Traverse Resort. The Turtle Creek
Casino is also located just
down the street. Wide
fairways and large undulated greens
in a nice mix of marsh holes and
hilly wooded holes. Definitely a
couple strokes easier than the Bear
and a blast to play, but not easy
by any stretch. The ample bunkering framed with wild
grasses gives the place a bit of a wild look. Conditions are always
good but the greens are a little resort-style slower than you would
expect. Gary Player must have wanted your round to end in a flourish
and it does in spectacular fashion at 17 and 18. The par five 18th
is easily the most sophisticated on the course. It plays down hill from the
tee which seems easy enough,
but there is OB and high
grass on the right, a bunker on the
top of the landing area and a road
down the left. There are two
big bunkers dead ahead, but their
distance is an illusion. 99%
of golfers cannot reach them from
the appropriate tees and they are
really designed to challenge your
second shot if you tee shot falls
short. The Resort's gleaming
signature hotel is the backdrop of
your approach.
Architect: Gary Player (1999) Par: 72
Yardage: 7043 · 6487 · 5888 · 4941
Rating/Slope: 74.5/138 · 71.7/135 · 68.8/129 · 68.8/125
Practice facility: grass range and putting green
Address and Map: 4400 Grand Traverse Resort Blvd., Willaimsburg, MI 49690
Telephone: 231.534.6000
Web: www.grandtraverseresort.com
Quality Rating: 8/10 Value Rating: 6/10
GRANDVIEW
A very scenic course about 35
minutes east of Traverse City
outside of Kalkaska. The layout is more in the traditional
vein with lots of elevation changes.
Architect: Bob Grim/Ron Green (1992) Par: 72
Yardage: 6628 · 6274 · 4964
Rating/Slope: 72.2/133 · 70.6/129 · 68.4/122
Practice facility:
Address and Map: 3003 Hagni Rd NE, Kalkaska, MI 49646
Telephone: 231.258.3244
Quality Rating: 5/10 Value Rating: 6/10
HAWK'S EYE
This 2004 John Robinson
design is the sister and neighbor
course of the Chief and is slightly
more popular with a little
different flavor. Hawk's Eye
dramatically captures the essence
of the "up north" feeling this part
of Michigan is famous for.
Located in the City of
Bellaire, half way between Traverse
City and Gaylord, it occupies some
of the highest and most beautiful
terrain in the area with many
scenic views from high atop the
hills and down in the
valleys. The holes are framed
by tall grassy slopes and ridges
full with nature and heavy pines
which, at times, can help keep
your ball in play but at other
times, forces awkward shots from
hanging lies. More importantly, the
ridges and slopes providing great
isolation from other holes lending
a sense of privacy in your own golf
world. While more forgiving off the
tee than the Chief with wide
fairways, there remains plenty of
trouble out there with gnarly
grassy hollows, deep grass sided
bunkers and gorges to punish
poorly struck shots. Elevation is a
constant element and one always
seems to be teeing off down
hill or approaching a elevated
green. While the fairways have
their fair share of undulation,
they give you a decent level lie,
relative to the terrain, to
approach the large greens.
There is some housing on the
course and they are trying to sell
more wooded lots. But the
sparse housing is nicely set
back far from the course and the
homes that are built are pleasing
to look at.
Architect: John Robinson (2004) Par: 72
Yardage: 7011 · 6341 · 5655 · 4655
Rating/Slope: 74.6 / 140 · 71.6 / 138 · 67.7 / 125 · 69.3 / 126
Practice facility: grass range and putting green
Address and Map: 5820 Shanty Creek Rd., Bellaire, MI 49615-9634
Telephone: 231.533.4295
Web: www.hawks-eye.com
Quality Rating: 7/10 Value Rating: 7/10
THE HEATHLANDS
Review
not available.
Architect: Jeff Gorney (1997) Par: 72
Yardage: 6569 · 6030 · 5336· 4437
Rating/Slope: 72.3/139 · 69.1/128 · 65.1/120 · 66.4/112
Practice facility:
Address and Map: 6444 Farr Road, Onekama, Michigan 49675
Telephone: 231.889.5644
Web: www.heathlands.com
Quality Rating: n/r Value Rating: n/r
HIGH POINTE
CURRENTLY CLOSED AND HOPEFULLY IT
WILL OPEN AGAIN
SOMEDAY.
A early and unique course by Tom
Doak, just west of Traverse City.
What is unusual about this
fine course is that the front side
plays like a links style course
with a fair assortment of pot
bunkers, tall grasses over a
good bit of elevation changes. The
back maintains the elevations but
cuts through a thick wooded forest
of pine. All the holes are
smartly designed with a fair mix of
let it rip holes to ones requiring
careful placement. Lots of people
say it's like two courses in one
and that may turn some off.
The skinny is that the design
is seamless in the flow of
fairways, contouring and greens
complexes, tying the whole thing
together nicely. Several greens
have large undulation requiring
approach shots to the right section
of the green to avoid three jacks.
The par 5 eighteenth is the most
unique hole on the property and is
a great way to end the
round. It is a 3 shot hole for
sure and divided by a small
lake. Your tee shot must not
only be accurate in terms of
distance off the tee but must also
steer clear for the marsh on the
left and woods on the right, all to
just set up you next shot over the
lake. And how much of the lake
should you cut off? The more
the better because the green sits
on a cape snug against the same
lake. While conditions are not as
pristine as perhaps other high end
north Michigan layouts, it's still
quality with a certain rugged
charm. Besides, linksy courses are
supposed to be a bit
raw.
Architect: Tom Doak (1989) Par: 72
Yardage: · · · ·
Rating/Slope: / · / · / · / · /
Practice facility: grass range and putting green
Address and Map: 5555 Arnold Rd., Williamsburg, MI 49690
Telephone:
Web:
Images:
Quality Rating: n / r Value Rating: n / r
INTERLOCHEN
Once the stomping grounds for
Walter Hagen. No review
available.
Architect: Hubert Morris (1965) Par: 70
Yardage: 6445 · 5936 · 5158
Rating/Slope: 70.2/130 · 68.7/126 · 69.2/117
Practice facility:
Address and Map: 10586 U.S. 31 South, Interlochen, MI 49643
Telephone: 231.275.7311
Quality Rating: n / r Value Rating: n / r
LAKES OF THE NORTH • DEER RUN
Back
nine designed by William Newcomb. No
review available.
Architect: (1968) Par:
Yardage: 7000 · 6500 · 5500·
Rating/Slope: 72/130 · 72/125 · 74/123
Practice facility:
Address and Map: 8151 Pineview Dr., Mancelona, MI 49659
Telephone: 231.585.6800
Quality Rating: n / r Value Rating: n / r
LEELANAU CLUB AT BAHLE FARMS
18 championship holes by Gary
Pulsipher playing through forest
and cherry orchards in the hilly
terrain north west of Traverse
City, Michigan. The course
gets high points for a uniqueness
in appearance and design. It
definitely is a course when you can
enjoy a round a golf in a fantastic
environment and its local favorite reputation is well
earned. Spectacular elevations
on some tee boxes where you ball
drops down to winding ribbons
of fairways leading to
semi-pedestal greens. Many great
opportunities to play your driver
but beware of the few tight driving
holes where a go with a driver puts
a lot of risk in
play. The par 5 fourth is one such hole where
a driver can take you right through the fairway on the right and
also brings in to play the junk on the left. Even the very accomplished
golfer cannot get home in two, so take less club off the tee and
stay in the round. Pulsipher really did a commendable job with four
excellent and varied par threes. Finding the fairway
on 18 is a must if you want to stick the very difficult elevated
green, it is at least a club and a half more.
Architect: Gary Pulsipher (1999) Par: 71
Yardage: 6651 · 6298 · 5788 · 5062 · 4606
Rating/Slope: 72.2/137 · 70.8/131 · 68.5/123 · 65.4/109 · 67.7/114
Practice facility: modest range with mats, putting green and short game area
Address and Map: 9505 E Otto Rd., Suttons Bay, MI 49682
Telephone: 231.271.2020
Web: www.leelanauclub.com
Quality Rating: 7/10 Value Rating: 7/10
LITTLE TRAVERSE BAY
No
review available.
Architect: Jeff Gorney (1992) Par: 72
Yardage: 6895 · 6413 · 5890 · 5061
Rating/Slope: 72.8/138 · 70.3/130 · 68/123 · 69.5/120
Practice facility:
Address and Map: 995 Hideaway Valley Dr., Harbor Springs, MI 49740
Telephone: 231.526.6200
Web: www.ltbaygolf.com
Quality Rating: n/r Value Rating: n/r
LOCHENHEATH
Currently
set to re-open in the spring of 2011 after being closed for about
three years. Once part
of a private massive development of high end homes in 2000
that ran into financial and environmental problems. They
tried to go public but ended up in bankruptcy following
the complete financial
collapse. A new ownership group bought the course and
separated it from the development and hopefully will return this
course to its former good condition and glory. The Steve Smyers design
featured dramatic and complicated
holes on the bluffs overlooking
the stunning East Branch of the Grand
Traverse Bay. Plenty of elevations, wind swept fescue,
strategic
bunkering and eye-popping scenery. Just minutes north of
Traverse City and Acme. The vast majority of holes are nothing short
of spectacular, and right from the first tee you see why the course
opened to such fanfare. But a few holes are sort of funky
and really need a revision. Even before the development failed
in 2008, holes 13 and 14 were abandoned
due to their great distance from the club house. Apparently they
planned to build homes around those holes but never got around to
it. Their outline is still visible on the satellite image. New holes were put in to replace the abandoned holes closer
to the clubhouse but the new holes don't posses the design qualities
displayed everywhere else and upset the flow of the course a bit.
Then there is the par 4 sixteenth. The tee shot landing area falls
off steeply to the right and a portion of the green has an
unusually
large false front, making the hole particularly nasty and unfair. If
you let those minor transgression pass, holes 17 and 18 will provide a fantastic finish
with serpentine fairways, hemmed in with wooded slopes, all leading
to sophisticated greens complexes. Hopefully the new management
can take this course to where it should be, right up there with
the best of the best. They have a premier location with naturally
terrific terrain overlooking a big, beautiful body of water. We
might be nit-picking a bit, but the course is so close to perfect,
everyone just wants it to reach its potential. Fixing a few minor
human errors will go a long way to allowing nature to shine through
at its fullest. The new management promises changes, including softening
the outrageous slope a bit, so stand by.
Architect: Steve Smyers (2001) Par: 72
Yardage: 7239 · 6770 · 6024 · 5219
Rating/Slope: 76.6/147 · 74.4/144 · 70.0/137 · 72.0/134
Practice facility: full grass range, putting green and expansive short game area
Address and Map: 7951 Turnberry Cir., Williamsburg, MI 49690
Telephone: 231.938.9800
Web: www.lochenheath.com
Quality Rating: 8/10 Value Rating: 7/10
MANISTEE NATIONAL • CATHOOKE VALLEY
No
review available.
Architect: Gary Pulsipher (1994) Par: 71
Yardage: 6517 · 6127 · 4836
Rating/Slope: 72.1/132 · 69.9/127 · 69.6/124
Practice facility:
Address and Map: 4797 Grant Hwy., Manistee, MI 49660-9545
Telephone: 231.398.0123
Quality Rating: n/r Value Rating: n/r
MANISTEE NATIONAL • CUTTERS RIDGE
No
review available.
Architect: Jerry Matthews (2000) Par: 71
Yardage: 6654 · 6321 · 5806 · 4571
Rating/Slope: 73.0/147 · 71.6/144 · 69.0/128 · 68.5/114
Practice facility:
Address and Map: 4797 Grant Hwy., Manistee, MI 49660-9545
Telephone: 231.398.0123
Quality Rating: n/r Value Rating: n/r
MANITOU PASSAGE
(231.228.6000) Formerly "King's
Challenge." In 2009 and 2010 this
Arnold Palmer signature course
underwent a serious makeover with a
new ownership group. Many new and
improved tees were added improving
the playability and angles that
plagued the course previously. More
bunkers and collection areas were
added to the updated greens. The course has all the
signatures of a Palmer course, splashy bunkers, wetlands, risk reward
holes and a good number of holes where a draw can come in handy. A
portion of the course borders an old ski resort yielding some spectacular
elevation changes but there are also plenty of holes where Palmer's
hole routing finds the flatter terrain. The flatter holes seem to
possess more bunkering and strategic hazards to make up for the
lack of elevation change. The
par 5 eighth hole is the signature
hole where you can
actually see the shipping channel
that runs between the Sleeping Bear
Dunes and the Manitou
Islands. A big drive, I mean a real big drive, might
find the fairway bonus, leaving your ball at the bottom of the hill
in position to go for the green in two. They are still working on the course a bit
and the new changes will take some time to grow in. No question,
the course is better than it has even been, even it in its peak
heydays as the "King's Challenge."
Architect: Arnold Palmer (1997/renovations 2010) Par: 71
Yardage: · · · ·
Rating/Slope: / · / · / · / · /
Practice facility: putting green and hitting cages
Address and Map: 4600 Club Dr., Cedar, MI 49621
Telephone: 231.228.6000
Web: www.manitoupassagegolfclub.com
Quality Rating: 7/10 Value Rating: 7/10
MISTWOOD
30 minutes
west of Traverse City, this 27 hole
complex is golf and nothing else
but golf. An expansive course
laid out over tons of acres. The
first 18, White/Blue was designed
by Jerry Matthews in 1993 and Ray
Hearn added the third nine. Perhaps
the best combination is Blue/Red,
but its all good and they fit
together very nicely. Each nine
offers something a little
different. All offer a wonderful
mix of wooded holes and
prairie type holes playing over
hills and through marshes and
woods. The usually have some of the best and fastest
greens around. The par 4 seventh hole on
the White nine is perhaps the most
difficult hole in all of Traverse
City and many consider it unfair.
Unless you are at your absolute
peak, play it as a par 5. Decent
price for northern Michigan and
usually not very crowded. It can
provide a very nice sense of
serenity under the clear blue sky.
Architect: Jerry Matthews / Ray Hearn (1993) Par: 72
Yardage: 6695 · 6372 · 5870 · 5070 (white/blue)
Rating/Slope: 72.4 / 130 · 71.0 / 126 · 68.7 / 118 · 69.6 / 120 (white/blue)
Practice facility: grass range and putting green
Address and Map: 7568 Ole White Drive, Lake Ann, Michigan 49650
Telephone: 231.275.5500
Web: www.mistwoodgolf.com
Quality Rating: 7/10 Value Rating: 8/10
PINECROFT
The sister course of Champion Hill
but with a totally different style.
Pinecroft is more of a classic
course but it features stunning
views of Crystal Lake which alone
are worth the price of admission.
The course just seems to get better
and better as you go along and
especially as the course winds its
way uphill to the finale where the
views are the best. A tad on the
short side, but lots of fun to
play. The whole property seems to lie across elevated
western slopes that face Crystal Lake which is why you have so many
great views here. With lots of downhill tee shots and tee shots to
narrow sloping landing areas, accuracy is at a premium especially
with not many really long holes. The smallish greens
sometimes have nasty undulations so nothing is as easy as it might
look. It might not be your premium fare resort type course with
big fairways and giant greens, but with good conditions and
fantastic views, they get lots of play. Plus the design has
a lot of uniqueness about it with holes you can't quiet compare
to somewhere else.
Architect: Stone/Norman/Cole/Carlson (1992) Par: 72
Yardage: 6447 · 5939 · 4975
Rating/Slope: 70.9/124 · 68.7/121 · 68.5/118
Practice facility: grass range and putting green
Address and Map: 8260 Henry Rd., Beulah, MI 49617
Telephone: 231.882.9100
Quality Rating: 6/10 Value Rating: 9/10
THE QUEST
No
review at this time.
Architect: Ken Green (1994) Par: 72
Yardage: 6788 · 6546 · 6059 · 5708 · 5020
Rating/Slope: 72.9/136 · 71.7/130 · 69.9/122 · 73.5/126 · 69.4/117
Practice facility: grass range, putting green and short game area
Address and Map: 119 Questview Dr., Houghton Lake, MI 48629
Telephone: 888.422.4516
Quality Rating: n/r Value Rating: n/r
SHANTY CREEK RESORT • CEDAR RIVER
The highest regarded course of the
four golf courses at the Shanty
Creek resort and one of the top
tracks in Northern Michigan. Filed
with boundless nature and upscale
signature Tom Weiskopf treatment.
This course has it all, the
views, the design features and the
nuances. Expansive greens and
sophisticated green complexes. One
of the most notable feature is that
the tee shot selected landing areas
tend to reward or feed your ball to
a better position. Sometimes the
best line you see from the tee is
not necessarily the best line.
Local knowledge and repeat play are
really needed to benefit from very
nice feature. The best stretch of
holes is 12,13 and 14. The par four
12th is a scenic downhill tee shot
to a green tucked away behind a
grove of trees to the left.
The par four 13th is the most
unique hole on the course with many
options to play. You can lay
up short to the left avoid all the
trouble but the most exciting
option is the carry the bunkers and
ridge to the right of the sentinel
tree and your ball will gently roll
down to the green. The par three
14th is an Irish style hole where
your view is partial obstructed by
tall grasses and hillside knobs.
There is more room than it seems.
18 is a marvelous par 5 where three
solid shots are needed to score on
this par 5. Your tee shot should
favor the right side as the fairway
kicks your ball back to a great
center fairway position. A
tee shot that is even a hint left
of the fairway brings the hidden
gorge into play which dissects the
fairway. Your second shot is
blind up over a ridge. Be
cautious of your distance because a
pond begins to encroach upon the
fairway about 100 yards
out.
Architect: Tom Weiskopf (1999) Par: 72
Yardage: 6989 · 6528 · 5963 · 5315 ·
Rating/Slope: 73.6/144 · 71.2/136 · 69.3/126 · 74.8/145 · 70.5/128
Practice facility: grass range and putting green
Address and Map: 5820 Shanty Creek Rd., Bellaire, MI 49615
Telephone: 800.678.4111
Web: www.shantycreek.com
Quality Rating: 9/10 Value Rating: 6/10
SHANTY CREEK RESORT • THE LEGEND
About equal distance from Traverse
City, Petoskey and Gaylord
Michigan. Arnold Palmer put
together a strong test of mountain
golf in the big Northern Michigan
resort of Shanty Creek. Shanty
Creek boast 4 courses. This course
plays through very dense forests
with challenging elevation changes.
Many holes are expertly cut
into the valleys between hillsides,
lending to a wonderful sense of privacy.
Right from the git-go you have a
fantastic downhill par five. It is
easily reachable in two, but you
have to hit the left side of the
fairway in order to go for green
which is protected from the right
by trees and bunkers. Even
though many tee boxes are elevated,
you often find yourself playing a
second shot to an elevated green
which tends to make the course
longer and harder than you think.
Outstanding par 3s and par 5s.
The are some beautiful homes
tucked way up in the wooded
hillsides and there are some great
lake views on the front side. The
eighteenth is a great Palmer go for
broke hole, beware of the semi-false front.
Architect: Arnold Palmer/Ed Seay (1985 ) Par: 72
Yardage: 6764 · 6269 · 5801 · 4953
Rating/Slope: 73.6/137 · 71.4/130 · 69.4/121 · 69.6/124
Practice facility: grass range and putting green
Address and Map: 5820 Shanty Creek Rd., Bellaire, MI 49615
Telephone: 800.678.4111
Web: www.shantycreek.com
Quality Rating: 8 / 10 Value Rating: 6 / 10
SHANTY CREEK RESORT • SCHUSS MOUNTAIN
No
review available.
Architect: Warner Bowen/William Newcomb (1972) Par: 72
Yardage: 6922 · 6394 · 5383 · ·
Rating/Slope: 73.4/127 · 70.9/122 · 71.2/126
Practice facility:
Address and Map: 5820 Shanty Creek Rd., Bellaire, MI 49615
Telephone: 800.678.4111
Web: www.shantycreek.com
Quality Rating: n / r Value Rating: n / r
SHANTY CREEK RESORT • SUMMIT
No
review available.
Architect: William Diddel (1965) Par: 71
Yardage: 6260 · 5910 · 4679
Rating/Slope: 70.3/125 · 69.0/122 · 67.5/113
Practice facility:
Address and Map: 5820 Shanty Creek Rd., Bellaire, MI 49615
Telephone: 800.678.4111
Web: www.shantycreek.com
Quality Rating: n/r Value Rating: n/r
SUGAR LOAF
Review
not available.
Architect: C.D. Wagstaff (1966) Par: 72 mens /74 womens
Yardage: 6813 · 6124 · 5134
Rating/Slope: 73.6/130 · 70.7/129 · 70.3/120
Practice facility: grass range and putting green
Address and Map: 4512 S Townline Rd., Cedar, MI 49621
Telephone: 231.228.2040
Web: www.sugarloaftheoldcourse.com
Quality Rating: n/r Value Rating: n/r
TIMBERWOLF
The design skills of Bruce Matthews
bring you a modern hidden gem in
the quiet hills of Kalkaska. Ample
nature with a lot of elevations and
some unique holes. Don't be fooled
by the less than modest club house,
there is a real good course back
there with good routing, modern
greens and contouring that can
really challenge your game.
Timberwolf won't be mentioned in
the same sentence with the
expensive resort type courses
around, but for the price your pay
and lack of crowds, it is one of
the best bargains around. The
greens are usually medium paced but
in good condition. Accuracy is a
must on the signature holes at the
par 3 eleventh, where a long iron
or hybrid is the play to the
elevated green hard against a hill,
and the beautiful but tight uphill
par 4 twelfth. The
sixteenth hole is a par 3 that
looks and play like a par 4. At
over 250 yards, a driver or 3 wood
is what most will play if you hope
to reach the green. Fortunately,
you are hitting from high above the
green. You can lay up short to the
fairway but then you will need to
pitch over the massive bunker which
surrounds the green. In recent years they have put a
lot of effort to upgrade the course, especially its length. It was
a tad on the short side originally, but the new length is very noticeable
and definitely longer than the listed yardages. Some of the newer
tees need to grow in a little or they need to let more air around
them by removing some trees. Even their website is as underwhelming
as their clubhouse.
Architect: Bruce Matthews III (1997) Par: 71
Yardage: 6477 · 5548 · 4862
Rating/Slope: 72.3/134 · 67.5/119 · 68.4/123
Practice facility: putting green
Address and Map: 5646 M 72 SE, Kalkaska, MI 49646
Telephone: 231.258.5685
Web: www.timberwolfgolfclub.com
Quality Rating: 6/10 Value Rating: 9/10
THE TRIBUTE
Located
in the Otsego Resort immediately east of I-75 in Gaylord, about 75 minutes from Traverse
City. It takes almost five minutes by cart to get to
the first tee. That is because this place is laid out over hills
east of Gaylord and you need to cross part of a ski resort to just get to the tee. The first two holes are very solid and you might
think to yourself that this seems like a pretty nice place to golf.
Then it starts on the par 4 third holes and from there on
out, you are in a golfing world apart. The Sturgeon River Valley provides
a breathtaking canvas upon which this course is presented. Gorgeous
holes are laid out over all sort of elevations, utilizing the terrain
expertly. Everywhere you are surround by wilderness and the dense
lush forests of the Sturgeon River Valley. At times you get
glimpses from the high peaks providing a nearly thirty mile view
across Michigan. Beyond the incredible terrain and isolation of
each hole, the actual golf architecture does not disappoint. Robbins
and Koch pulled off a near golf miracle which combined natural wonder
with inspiration design. There is not a single weak hole here
and perhaps not even a "good" hole, just great hole after
hole. Almost every hole could a be their signature
hole with expertly contoured fairways flowing to fantastic
greens complexes and smart bunkering. As tough as the terrain is,
the fairways are ample enough to give even the average golfer a
pleasant experience. Yet there is plenty of interesting features to
challenge the accomplished golfer on each hole. One thought kept
popping up in our minds as we worked our way around the course was
how are they going to top the hole we just played? Amazingly, they
seem to do that all day and just when we figured it can't get any
better, they top it all with astonishing
holes
16 and 18. Tough holes, fun holes,
incredible holes. It is all here.
Architect: Rick Robbins/Gary Koch ( 2002) Par: 72
Yardage: 7347 · 6733 · 6305 · 5085
Rating/Slope: 74.1/134 · 71.9/130 · 70.0/125 · 69.0/115
Practice facility: range and putting green
Address and Map: 696 E Main St # M32, Gaylord, MI 49735
Telephone: 800.752.5510
Web: www.otsegoclub.com
Quality Rating: 9/10 Value Rating: 5/10
TRUE NORTH
Perhaps one of the
most eye poppoing courses in the area, the once all private course now allows public
play. Jim Engh's unique architectural stylings were a smash hit at
the mid-Michigan Tullymore golf course. He brought his talents
north, way north. It is a good 90 minutes drive from Traverse City
and defines the northern edge of our map. Like Tullymore,
the plentiful signature clam shell bunkers give the course its unique
look and help define the strategic design. Unlike Tullymore, which
is a relatively flat course, True North has amplel elevations.
The complex occupies some of the same highland terrain the Harbor
Springs ski resorts occupy. Fortunately, reasonably wide fairways
and lots of downhill tee shots help soften the course and allow
you to enjoy the pristine forests and clear skies. The unique par 5 eighteenth
hole provides a short cut to the green.
But you will need a big drive to the left landing area and
a solid hybrid or three wood to get home in two. Going right
is far safer from the tee but you virtually lock yourself into a
tension filled three shot hole, no bargain either.
Architect: Jim Engh ( 2003) Par: 72
Yardage: 7027 · 6350 · 5597 · 4834
Rating/Slope: 74.5/148 · 71.6/135 · 67.7/121 · 69.4/120
Practice facility: grass range and putting green
Address and Map: 2500 True North Dr, Harbor Springs, MI 49740
Telephone: 231.526.3300
Quality Rating: 9/10 Value Rating: 5/10
TWIN BIRCH
Located
just east of Kalkaska, about 30
minutes from Traverse
City. No review available.
Architect: Joe Roeski (1974) Par: 71
Yardage: 6285 · 6027 · 4751
Rating/Slope: 71.5/125 · 70.5/122 · 68.3/119
Practice facility: putting green
Address and Map: 1030 County Road 612 NE, Kalkaska, MI 49646
Telephone: 231.258.9691
Quality Rating: n/r Value Rating: n/r
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