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michigan stay and play


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Treetops, Garland, Manistee National, Boyne Highlands.. there are quite a few and in the Gaylord area there will be a lot

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Most of the resorts in that area are not first-class. We rented two very nice houses in Shanty Creek (using VRBO) and played six courses in the area. The nice part is that green fees are really low.

Listed by ranking;

1. LochenHeath

2. Arcadia Bluffs

3. Kingsley Club

4. Cedar River

5. Forest Dunes

6. Hawk’s Eye

 

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  • 2 weeks later...

Boyne - most courses to choose from and probably the nicest resort

Shanty Creek - a few really nice courses and multiple lodging options (condo/hotel/rental house)

Treetops - quite a few nice courses but very basic lodging. Get the group golfer deal when it comes out via email and it's a total steal

Grand Traverse - decent courses, nice lodging, good location near Traverse City for nightlife

The loon - haven't played it but heard good things recently from a buddy

 

*keep in mind that there are tons of nice public courses near most of these resorts that you can use to add on additional rounds to your trip

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I agree that there are not that many great resorts. grand traverse is good with a few "good courses" and if you go there you need to play lochenheath. if you are only going for a weekend. i would go to drive to forest dunes on friday, play the loop friday afternoon. saturday AM play the other side of the loop and the original forest dunes course then drive to arcadia bluffs. wake up sunday am and play arcadia and go home. if you have an extra day i would play kingsley or the new course at arcadia. a forest dunes and arcadia combination are not the most convenient but will definitely give you the best golf from all of the options discussed above. good luck. i have played most of the courses in that area so feel free to reach out with questions. this has not been mentioned but i would stay away from tullymore and st ives, not great.

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I second the Arcadia Bluffs and Forest Dunes recommendations. For my money, they are the class of resorts in that area and don’t take a back seat to locations elsewhere in the country. The golf courses are all great, the lodging is nice and the clubhouse/food is great. They are premium and worth the extra money in my opinion. The only thing missing from a buddy trip perhaps is nightlife, but northern Michigan doesn’t have tons of that to start. If you are able to do both locations on the same trip, the drive is not much between the two.

 

Final recommendation is to play all the courses at each location before you start adding drives into the equation. It’s one thing to play a course on the drive up or back to break up the drive. But, once there, I don’t see a reason to leave either location until you’ve played everything. Save the drive time chasing other courses for hang out time or more golf onsite.

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I'll +1 the Forest Dunes/Arcadia Bluffs recommendation, unless you're going for longer than a long weekend. If you play Forest Dunes over two days, you can play the Loop both directions, which would be a blast. After a morning round there, it's an easy drive to the Bluffs, and there is NOTHING in Michigan better than finishing a late round in the summer on the Bluffs course when the bag piper starts playing around sunset. It's heaven. Finish around 9PM, grab a whisky, and sit in the Adirondack chairs watching the sun set over the lake. Again, heaven.

 

I've spent my summers in Arcadia since I was a kid, so I'm pretty biased.

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Another vote for Forest Dunes and Arciadia Bluffs.

 

2 years ago We stayed in Interlochen, not to far south of Traverse City. It was a good middle point for lots of great golf. Air B'nB is the way to go in my opionion. Bahle Farms in Suttons bay as a warm up. Forest Dunes day 2 and Arcadia day 3.

 

This Summer we stayed in Gaylord. Day one we played the Tribute at Ostego resort as a warm up round. Day 2 we played Forest Dunes and The Loop in one day. Day 3 we did Tree Tops Premier and the Signature course.

 

 

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I'll give a plug for Boyne Highlands. We do an annual trip there in July and always enjoy pretty good bang for our buck. We stay 3 nights on property and play all day Fri, Sat and Sun at the Hills, Ross, Heather & Moor courses, then we finish with Bay Harbor on Monday morning. Our trip coordinator does a great job getting us good rates (he's been doing it for 26 years), and this year was about $920 USD for golf, lodging, and dinner on 2 of the 3 nights.

 

Sure, I'm sentimental and a bit partial to where my group goes every year, but I can honestly say that I enjoy the courses (and the housing is adequate for what we need: shower, bed, patio, hot tub). Yes, Arcadia has MUCH nicer tracks and Treetops also has some cool courses, BUT each of those cost a good deal more than Boyne.

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  • 2 months later...

Here's a link to my photo tours of a dozen Northern Michigan Courses. Northern MichiganForest Dunes is a good place to stay and play. Besides the original course you need to play both versions of the Loop.

Kingsley is private, but if you can get on, it is not to be missed.

I haven't played the new course at Arcadia but would like to. The first course there is very good with spectacular views if that matters to you.

I'm surprised no one has suggested Bay Harbor. It's expensive but is a very good course and beautiful.

Belvedere Country Club is an old school gem. Not a lot of frills, but great golf and reasonable green fees.

I was less impressed with Lochenheath than others.

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Our group has been going to The Loon for at least 10 years now and always enjoy it. I would say it is not up to par with Boyne, Treetops, Garland etc. That being said it’s a great value. All 3 courses are fun and challenging, the condos are great and the bar/rest is fine. The best thing is that you don’t have to get in the car until you leave. This year (2020) 2 nights, 4 rounds with breakfast and dinner is $360us. Pretty tough to beat.

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I stayed at Treetops and played and that was a great one. I have also stayed and played at Boyne Highlands and they have fantastic courses, but may be more expensive.

Driver - Titleist Tsi2 10º w/ KBS TD 60 Cat 4

4W - Titleist 917F2 16.5º w/ Tour AD DI 7S

3h - Titleist Tsi2 18º w/ KBS Tour Ptototype 85 S+ 

Irons - Titleist T100s 4-P w/ Modus 120 X shafts

Wedges - Titleist SM8 50, 55, and 60

Putter - Cleveland Classic TA2 milled Long neck 

Ball - Prov1x

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