My U.P. Trip - Greywalls, Sweetgrass, TimberStone

Gdane · August 8, 2014

I got home from my 2nd annual buddies golf trip a few days ago, and yet again Michigan did not disappoint. After hitting central MI last year for Tullymore, St. Ives, Buck's Run, and Pohl Cat, my group decided to go North to the U.P. for the "Perfect 4some" golf trip to play Greywalls, Sweetgrass, and TimberStone.

We started off at Greywalls on Thursday, and after playing it I would probably say that it was the most visually impressive golf course I have ever played. Picturesque hole after picturesque hole out there. I could go on and on about how great of a course it is and still not do it justice. Might be the best I've ever played. That being said, and this is nitpicking, but the routing of the course was kind of strange to me. The first 7 holes or so were VERY difficult IMO. The highlights for our group were the par 3 6th hole where you play over a valley, and the 9th which plays towards Lake Superior.

We spent all day at Sweetgrass on Friday playing 36 and again I was very impressed. Reminded me of some courses that I can find in the western suburbs of Chicago (and even a bit of Conway Farms), with exceptional conditioning. It really is a great setup for a resort style course, with lighting fast greens. By the second round we had been hitting the beverage cart pretty hard, and we still didn't get beat up too badly out there. The mirroring 9th and 18th were the favorite holes for my group.

Our last day was spent at TimberStone, and I was a little worried b/c of some of the recent reviews that I have read here, but we all loved the course. Really had that northern MI feel to it with the elevation changes and tree-lined fairways. A few of the greens had been hit pretty hard by the winter, but aside from that there were no complaints. Burgers at the turn were amazing, and the par 3 17th downhill was probably the highlight of our entire trip.

In all, the 6 hour drive from Chicago to Marquette, followed by the drive back down to Sweetgrass made for a LONG Thursday, but this trip definitely lived up to the hype! Discussions have already started for next year's trip with potential playing sites such as Indy and the Treetops Resort. Can't wait to start the planning!

R-Kid · August 10, 2014

We played those 3 and wild bluff in Brimley last month. We really liked sweetgrass and timberstone the best. Greywalls had some beautiful scenery but it was tricky golf. We love golfing in Michigan they have some fantastic courses, we golfed at Tullymore and St Ives and really enjoyed those courses as well.

Ninja · August 10, 2014

[quote name='R-Kid' timestamp='1407709759' post='9903771']
We played those 3 and wild bluff in Brimley last month.
[/quote]

[color=#000080]We stayed at Bay Mills but didn't have a chance to play Wild Bluff....how did it compare to the other 3?[/color]

R-Kid · August 13, 2014

The other 3 were better by far.

BG5 · August 14, 2014

Greywalls is flat out amazing. It's unlike anything you have ever seen and the best golf experience a guy can have.

kobe882 · August 21, 2014

I live about 15 miles or so from Greywalls and played it for the first time this week.
As a 19 handicap it was extremely difficult, but It was a great experience. Lots of fun, and I would play it again.

blakehall · April 2, 2015

I'm going up to play those three at the end of May this year.

I've only played Sweetgrass (once) before, so I'm really looking forward to the trip.

Thanks for the review.

seven dewey · May 27, 2015

Wow a Yooper golf thread...LOVE IT!

Grew up in Hancock so I have played hundreds of rounds at Portage, but had the chance to play Greywalls a couple years ago and was blown away with it. Yes it is tough, I had to fight to keep it under 100 from the tips. The greens were extremely fast the day we played despite it being wet out. Going to play it at the end of June when I am up there for a best ball tournament at Wyandotte.....hoping to break 90 this time.

Denver just doesn't have enough courses with trees, which I miss.