Need Some Wrx Expert Advice/Opinons/Suggestions on Traverse City / Grand Rapids Michigan Courses

[PhilMickFan]

Greetings guys. Taking a customer out to play some "client golf" in the Traverse City / Grand Rapids, Michigan area and they suggested the courses below. Would welcome some Wrx members' advice/comments/opinons/suggestions on which courses are the best options. Would also take in to consideration courses near great beer joints also. :)

 

Thanks for your help!

 

Hawks Eye

Shanty Creek

Grand Traverse Resort

[jcorna01]

I found this website to be a great help:

[url="http://www.tcgolfguide.com/index.htm"]http://www.tcgolfguide.com/index.htm[/url]

I'm from Michigan, but have not played the "elite" courses in that area. I'm sure you will receive some better, more specific advice.

If you select the Top 10 tab, they will list the top 10 by value and overall quality (based on their opinion of course). If anything, it may help you sort out the personal recommendations you are sure to get.

edit: Be careful when you pick because that site does stretch a fair bit beyond the TC area.

[BG5]

I would highly suggest skipping Grand Rapids and heading North. GR has some great courses but Northern Michigan is on another level in my opinion. You have a unique situation since your entertaining a client but of the courses you listed I feel that Hawkseye is the best of the bunch. The course is one of the most scenic and enjoyable rounds you can possible have. The course is fair and it won't beat you up and your client will be loving life while you golf. Shorts Brewery is a 3 minute drive from the clubhouse and they always have live music on the weekends so you can't go wrong there.

Shanty Creek is actually only 5 minutes away from Hawkseye so maybe you guys can play a few rounds on your dollar Shanty Creek has 4 courses but only two are elite courses. Cedar River is a great golf course but plays long and the Legend is the other option but its tough as nails. Both are great courses but I feel Hawkseye is superior.

Grand Traverse Resort has 3 courses but only two are worth playing. The Bear is prob the best although its really tough and the Wolverine is the other that's pretty good. Grand Traverse Resort in terms of golf is a notch below Hawkseye and Shanty Creek but they will be far superior in lodging and facilities. I have stayed a few times at Grand Traverse Resort and the lodging is great along with the night life such as casino and downtown seen with bars.

If your really want a great golf course and a few beers at a great joint then I would choose Hawkseye and go to Shorts Brewery. If your looking to party the night away and don't care about golf then Grand Traverse Resort maybe a better option.

I think Hawkseye is only a 35 minute drive from Traverse City if that makes a difference. You may also want to look at Lochenheath which is in Traverse City.

Good luck and let us know what you decide.

Cheers!

[teejaywhy]

No mentions of Kingsley, Arcadia Bluffs or Forest Dunes?

[PhilMickFan]

Thanks for the great responses guys. Much appreciated!

[Argonne69]

If you could manage to get on to True North, you'd love it. When it first opened it was a public course, but then converted to a private club. 'Not sure if they allow the public on to the course, but it's well worth investigating. I played a number of courses in the TC/Gaylord area, and True North was the top of the bunch.

[stringbean502001]

Not sure how much of a drive you can take, or what their preferences are in golf courses, but if I were taking clients out in Northern Michigan, it would be Arcadia Bluffs. Unbelievable vistas (on a nice day of course), very good golf, first class treatment...and without question in my mind the best trained staff I have ever encountered at a course with public access. Every single person is highly skilled and trained to look you in the eye, smile, and make [u]certain[/u] you are having the most perfect experience possible. From personal transport, to specialized food prep, to the chairs on the bluffs overlooking 18--the best "one day" experience IMHO. Even the rangers are your "best friends".

Anyway, I recommend it highly

[HackerDave]

As the others have said, if you are looking to impress your clients, you should go to Arcadia Bluffs.

[GoldenBearCub]

+5 on The Bluffs. You'll have that client forever.

[PhilMickFan]

Thanks for the comments guys. We actually played Arcadia last year (and Crystal Downs) and it was magnificent. Looking to play a different course this time.

[bppry]

Of what was suggested I would say Cedar River at Shanty Creek is the best choice.

[bbury10]

Bay Harbor

[Dino81]

If they can play, I would suggest Lochenheath. It can be tough for a high 'capper, but it's a gorgeous course that's in magnificent shape and has some great holes. It's maybe 5 minutes from GTR, if not closer.

[HackerDave]

Then Bay Harbor and perhaps True North.

[DatSliceDoe]

I've played Arcadia, hands down the best. Tree Tops is a close tie with Cedar River at Shanty Creek. Their business is in decline and almost all the major groups you see out there got a major deal on golf to play their tracks. The Legend is neat, but 18 all out is a 5+ hour chore, so I'd stick with Cedar River if you go to Shanty Creek.

Hawks Eye is very nice, as is the Chief, but it is more of a show course with crazy holes, not a real true test, but difficult as I'll get out.

In the GR area I really liked Thousand Oaks, their pro is best in state and has shaved many strokes off my game, I see him about once a year or two since I live well out of state and have only taken a few trips up north.

Just my 2C

[shinny79]

Belvedere is a hidden gem up there if you like classic courses too. Arcadia and Forest Dunes are worth the drive and the Boyne courses are great and more affordable.

[Mi-Golfer]

[quote name='DatSliceDoe' timestamp='1407375280' post='9875739']
I've played Arcadia, hands down the best. Tree Tops is a close tie with Cedar River at Shanty Creek. Their business is in decline and almost all the major groups you see out there got a major deal on golf to play their tracks. The Legend is neat, but 18 all out is a 5+ hour chore, so I'd stick with Cedar River if you go to Shanty Creek.

Hawks Eye is very nice, as is the Chief, but it is more of a show course with crazy holes, not a real true test, but difficult as I'll get out.

In the GR area I really liked Thousand Oaks, their pro is best in state and has shaved many strokes off my game, I see him about once a year or two since I live well out of state and have only taken a few trips up north.

Just my 2C
[/quote]

[quote name='DatSliceDoe' timestamp='1407375280' post='9875739']
[i]Their business is in decline and almost all the major groups you see out there got a major deal on golf to play their tracks.[/i]
[/quote]

I'm curious about this - do you mean that its nearing the end of the season up there so they are giving deals or is it something more serious?

[stevepoz]

I have made two trips up that way and my favorites in order were:
Crystal Downs
Kingsley Club
Arcadia Bluffs
Heather Course at Boyne
Bay Harbor
Other Boyne Courses

[SilverBullets]

[quote name='Dino81' timestamp='1407269009' post='9864369']
If they can play, I would suggest Lochenheath. It can be tough for a high 'capper, but it's a gorgeous course that's in magnificent shape and has some great holes. It's maybe 5 minutes from GTR, if not closer.
[/quote]

Lochenheath is my favorite course that's actually in Traverse City.

[MichiganSRT8]

Lots of good courses out by TC thats for sure, and having lived in GR for years it just can't compare to those up north. That being said there are a few I could recommend if you wanted to stay more local to GR, those being: The Ravines which is a palmer course and generally in great shape. The other one you may have to work for, which are Wuskowhan Players Club which is the best in GR IMO by far. It is private but if you inquire about a membership, sometimes they are open to letting people play I have heard, but not seen personally. And another is Thornapple Point, which I have not played in a while but I remember it being kept in good shape. But if you are planning to go up north, IMO Forest Dunes hand down, you can stay there and they have great facilities and play at your leisure, absolutely amazing being up there.

[Brian Burns]

I just stayed in the Crystal Mountain area and played Champion Hills in Beulah as few times. Looks like it's about 40 minutes or so from TC. I'll tell you what, I'd go back to the area specifically to play Champion Hills. I won't act like it's Arcadia but for $49.00 18 w/ cart it was without a doubt worth it. Great layout and conditions. Wonderful views as well.

[jcorna01]

Just got email through Golf Now's Deal Caddy for Hawk's Eye. Not sure if it is a great deal or not, but figured I would pass it along.


http://dealcaddy.golfnow.com/local/?tag=todayscoursedeal

[rlheiman]

Headed to MI today for some vacation and golf.

Thinking of playing Black Forest, Lochenheath and Arcadia Bluffs. (starting and ending trip in Saginaw)

I never hear much about Black Forest, any thoughts? Should I plan different courses?

I've played Forest Dunes a bunch of times so I'm waiting for the new Doak course to open before I go back.

[Fellaheen51]

[quote name='rlheiman' timestamp='1408279578' post='9950765']
Headed to
I never hear much about Black Forest, any thoughts? Should I plan different courses?
[/quote]

BF is a nice course. Long, lots of sand, typical up north scenery. Greens are very difficult to read and putt, borderline "tricked up" IMO. If you like reading double breaks, this is your course. Think it was the same designer for BF as FD. In the Gaylord area, Tribute at the Otsego Club is a better option, again IMO.

BF is not really that close to the other courses you're considering. Near AB, there's Crystal Mountain (two courses) and Manistee National (two courses). Also, as mentioned above Champions Hilll is a nice course that's easier on the pocket book.