Traverse City Golf

[lumberman2462]

[quote name='lilc2334' timestamp='1395846790' post='8954703']
[quote name='lumberman2462' timestamp='1395839985' post='8953825']
Crystal Downs isn't tha far from Traverse City. Maybe give the pro shop a call and see if they can squeeze you in.
[/quote]
I would LOVE to play there!
[/quote]

I played that track for 5 straight days back in the 90s....quite an experience. Sadly, the member I knew passed away about 10 years ago.

[lilc2334]

[quote name='lumberman2462' timestamp='1395849277' post='8955003']
[quote name='lilc2334' timestamp='1395846790' post='8954703']
[quote name='lumberman2462' timestamp='1395839985' post='8953825']
Crystal Downs isn't tha far from Traverse City. Maybe give the pro shop a call and see if they can squeeze you in.
[/quote]
I would LOVE to play there!
[/quote]

I played that track for 5 straight days back in the 90s....quite an experience. Sadly, the member I knew passed away about 10 years ago.
[/quote]
Sorry to hear about that, but that must have ben an experience!!! 5 straight days?!

[jimboski93]

Great information all.
I have a free Saturday for 36 and part of Sunday in June.

Lochenheath sounds like a must. What about for the second 18? I don't know if I'd want to drive an hour+ to Forest Dunes, so if I was going to play nearby, play The Bear?

I don't know anyone at Kinglsey, so while that sounds like a top recommendation, I don't think it'd work.

Sunday would be 18 at Arcadia.

Thoughts?

[3_Jack_Par]

[quote name='jimboski93' timestamp='1396537614' post='9011011']
Great information all.
I have a free Saturday for 36 and part of Sunday in June.

Lochenheath sounds like a must. What about for the second 18? I don't know if I'd want to drive an hour+ to Forest Dunes, so if I was going to play nearby, play The Bear?

I don't know anyone at Kinglsey, so while that sounds like a top recommendation, I don't think it'd work.

Sunday would be 18 at Arcadia.

Thoughts?
[/quote]
The Bear is okay, but it won't blow you away. I'd suggest driving a little farther north to A-Ga-Ming and playing the Sundance course there. It's only about 15-20 minutes from Lochenheath, and I think it's a more interesting layout. As an added bonus, rates at A-Ga-Ming drop after noon, and on the Bear, it's not until 3:30, and the rack rate at the Bear for someone not staying at the resort is $140, which is pretty wildly overpriced for that course. A-Ga-Ming will run you $69 after noon on a weekend.

[Bubb]

[quote name='jimboski93' timestamp='1396537614' post='9011011']
Great information all.
I have a free Saturday for 36 and part of Sunday in June.

Lochenheath sounds like a must. What about for the second 18? I don't know if I'd want to drive an hour+ to Forest Dunes, so if I was going to play nearby, play The Bear?

I don't know anyone at Kinglsey, so while that sounds like a top recommendation, I don't think it'd work.

Sunday would be 18 at Arcadia.

Thoughts?
[/quote]
You don't need to know someone at Kingsley. Just call and ask nicely. That's what I did. I think they allow a couple of tee times per day for non-members. The Bear is good, Sundance is good, but we're talking a different level altogether from Lochenheath and Kingsley.

[chadly643]

[quote name='Bubb' timestamp='1396542799' post='9011785']
[quote name='jimboski93' timestamp='1396537614' post='9011011']
Great information all.
I have a free Saturday for 36 and part of Sunday in June.

Lochenheath sounds like a must. What about for the second 18? I don't know if I'd want to drive an hour+ to Forest Dunes, so if I was going to play nearby, play The Bear?

I don't know anyone at Kinglsey, so while that sounds like a top recommendation, I don't think it'd work.

Sunday would be 18 at Arcadia.

Thoughts?
[/quote]
You don't need to know someone at Kingsley. Just call and ask nicely. That's what I did. I think they allow a couple of tee times per day for non-members. The Bear is good, Sundance is good, but we're talking a different level altogether from Lochenheath and Kingsley.
[/quote]

A little known gem just north of TC is Sugar Loaf. Very reasonable rates and they treat you very well. I played it last June and absolutely loved the course. Don't expect it to be Arcadia, Forest Dunes, or Kingsley; but it's a track worth playing. It wasn't nearly as crowded as the top tier destination courses are in the middle of the summer.

[PuttCurseRepeat]

This thread is a great read and seems to pop up whenever I Google "Traverse City" and "golf". :D Great info in here, but I'm looking to see if anyone has updates or further suggestions for all things TC. My family will be spending 10 days in the area the end of July / early August. Another couple or two may join us for a few days or more. The men golf - the women do not.

 

We are looking to play as many as 3 rounds of golf. Arcadia is on the short list. Played it a couple of years ago and was one of my all-time favorite rounds. Lochenheath looks very interesting and is very close to TC, so I'm leaning heavily towards playing it. There is even an outside chance that strings could be pulled in a way that gets us on to Crystal Downs. If that were to happen, CD would jump to top priority but it could be at the cost of playing Arcadia. I'm looking for a third course alternative - preferably a good value (sub $100) alternative.

 

If anyone can recommend good lakeside (any nice lake) lodging (resort, rentals, cabins - kid friendly), I'm all ears. 45 minute radius is fine, but not right in town.

 

Love the food suggestions of Apache Trout Grill (I think my wife and I ate there on a trip in the BC era [before Children]) and 7 Monks. We all love beer, wine and food.

 

On the topic of wine; what are your favorite wineries? I was pleasantly surprised/impressed with the quality in this region. Brengman Brothers was a very cool vineyard that was very friendly to us and our kids and Bel Lago actually had a kids table with crayons and coloring books in their tasting room. I thought that was brilliant. Their wine was wonderful too. On the other hand, Blackstar Farms was having a heart attack any time our boys got within five feet of anything.

 

Is it too early to be psyched for a Michigan vacation almost 6 months away? :yahoo:

[1puttTUT]

I go up every year for labor day weekend with some other couples and kids. We usually rent a lake house so the kids can play in the lake all day without the adults having to pack up gear and deal with the hassle of driving to the beach. We usually just cook at the house, but I can recommend blue tractor, Jolly pumpkin, red ginger, seven monks, and there is ago good tapas place near seven monks that I can't remember the name of.

 

Last year we played at Bahle farms, which was a fun layout and reasonably priced. We've done Sundance at Agaming in the past and that was very good as well.

 

Hope this helps!

[PuttCurseRepeat]

I go up every year for labor day weekend with some other couples and kids. We usually rent a lake house so the kids can play in the lake all day without the adults having to pack up gear and deal with the hassle of driving to the beach. We usually just cook at the house, but I can recommend blue tractor, Jolly pumpkin, red ginger, seven monks, and there is ago good tapas place near seven monks that I can't remember the name of.

 

Last year we played at Bahle farms, which was a fun layout and reasonably priced. We've done Sundance at Agaming in the past and that was very good as well.

 

Hope this helps!

It does, thanks. We ate at Blue Tractor last time in TC. Liked it. I thought it was funny - My wife and I really liked TC the first time we were there, about 12-13 years ago. We managed to make it back up there a couple of years ago (stayed in Glen Arbor - day trips to TC), now with kids, and I saw that Travers City now has an "Old Town" and a "Warehouse District" to go along with Downtown. Didn't notice that before. I guess if you really want to be a "cool" city, you need a warehouse district. That said, we liked it even more the second time around.

[nikegolfer1983]

This thread is a great read and seems to pop up whenever I Google "Traverse City" and "golf". :D Great info in here, but I'm looking to see if anyone has updates or further suggestions for all things TC. My family will be spending 10 days in the area the end of July / early August. Another couple or two may join us for a few days or more. The men golf - the women do not.

 

We are looking to play as many as 3 rounds of golf. Arcadia is on the short list. Played it a couple of years ago and was one of my all-time favorite rounds. Lochenheath looks very interesting and is very close to TC, so I'm leaning heavily towards playing it. There is even an outside chance that strings could be pulled in a way that gets us on to Crystal Downs. If that were to happen, CD would jump to top priority but it could be at the cost of playing Arcadia. I'm looking for a third course alternative - preferably a good value (sub $100) alternative.

 

If anyone can recommend good lakeside (any nice lake) lodging (resort, rentals, cabins - kid friendly), I'm all ears. 45 minute radius is fine, but not right in town.

 

Love the food suggestions of Apache Trout Grill (I think my wife and I ate there on a trip in the BC era [before Children]) and 7 Monks. We all love beer, wine and food.

 

On the topic of wine; what are your favorite wineries? I was pleasantly surprised/impressed with the quality in this region. Brengman Brothers was a very cool vineyard that was very friendly to us and our kids and Bel Lago actually had a kids table with crayons and coloring books in their tasting room. I thought that was brilliant. Their wine was wonderful too. On the other hand, Blackstar Farms was having a heart attack any time our boys got within five feet of anything.

 

Is it too early to be psyched for a Michigan vacation almost 6 months away? :yahoo:

 

 

Played locenheath last summer. Great golf course once you get past the first two holes. Greens were aweomse. We played first week of June. Great food in the clubhouse. One of the best practice facilities I have seen.