Where to play for a week in Michigan late July/early August?

[Tap-in Fore Eagle]

Hello,

 

I will be travelling to Michigan at the end of July and I'm thinking of extending my vacation for a week to get in some golf while I'm in the area. As a huge United supporter from Canada, I couldn't pass up the chance to see them play Liverpool at the Big House. But I also couldn't pass up the opportunity to tour the state and play some great golf! Obviously Crystal downs, Oakland Hills and Kinglsey are super longshots and I would gladly change my itinerary to fit those in, but so far I'm only set on playing Forrest Dunes (hopefully the loop both ways) and Arcadia Bluffs. I love playing unique/quirky courses and would trade interesting holes for top notch conditions everyday.

 

The new South Course at Arcadia opens on August 1, which basically started the need to extend my vacation. But the other courses I'm thinking I'd like to potentially like to fit in are:

 

Bay Harbour (all 3 nines) *are the other courses worth it to get the unlimited golf stay and play package?

The Bear at Grand Traverse

Eagle Eye

Tullymore

Lochenheath

True North

 

Any other courses worth checking out while touring the state? Which are some of your favorites that you would recommend?

 

 

[Openwater22]

You have already picked a nice rotation. If you get on Oakland Hills and can find a way to play Franklin Hills, Orchard lake, or Meadowbrook while in the "D", do it.

Nothing else in the area of Forest Dunes, except you only mentioned The Loop, be sure to play Forest Dunes first. Worth a mention, kinda close to Forest Dunes in Gaylord is a nice course called Michawye' Pines. Worth a play if it fits in.

Lochenheath, True North, and Bay Harbor Links/Quarry for sure. If you can fit in the original 18 at Birchwood, do it. Private, but a call or letter should get you on.

Kingsley Club for sure, a call or letter should get you on.

PM me if you want company at Loch.

Some with expertise in the Southwest corner of Mi should chime in here soon.

Enjoy, and you're visiting at a perfect time of year, both weather wise and the club tourney schedules are pretty much finished at the privates to help make it easier to get on.

[tommg]

Check out Shepherds Hollow. Stop in Windsor on your way through and play the recently updated Roseland. A Donald Ross gem.

[Jose c.]

Anyone play lochenheath this year. Was wondering about conditions of greens and course in general hoping to play later this week,Thanks.

[Green Valley]

You have already picked a nice rotation. If you get on Oakland Hills and can find a way to play Franklin Hills, Orchard lake, or Meadowbrook while in the "D", do it.

Nothing else in the area of Forest Dunes, except you only mentioned The Loop, be sure to play Forest Dunes first. Worth a mention, kinda close to Forest Dunes in Gaylord is a nice course called Michawye' Pines. Worth a play if it fits in.

Lochenheath, True North, and Bay Harbor Links/Quarry for sure. If you can fit in the original 18 at Birchwood, do it. Private, but a call or letter should get you on.

Kingsley Club for sure, a call or letter should get you on.

PM me if you want company at Loch.

Some with expertise in the Southwest corner of Mi should chime in here soon.

Enjoy, and you're visiting at a perfect time of year, both weather wise and the club tourney schedules are pretty much finished at the privates to help make it easier to get on.

 

Kinsley is a available for the public with just a phone call?

[Openwater22]

You have already picked a nice rotation. If you get on Oakland Hills and can find a way to play Franklin Hills, Orchard lake, or Meadowbrook while in the "D", do it.

Nothing else in the area of Forest Dunes, except you only mentioned The Loop, be sure to play Forest Dunes first. Worth a mention, kinda close to Forest Dunes in Gaylord is a nice course called Michawye' Pines. Worth a play if it fits in.

Lochenheath, True North, and Bay Harbor Links/Quarry for sure. If you can fit in the original 18 at Birchwood, do it. Private, but a call or letter should get you on.

Kingsley Club for sure, a call or letter should get you on.

PM me if you want company at Loch.

Some with expertise in the Southwest corner of Mi should chime in here soon.

Enjoy, and you're visiting at a perfect time of year, both weather wise and the club tourney schedules are pretty much finished at the privates to help make it easier to get on.

 

Kinsley is a available for the public with just a phone call?

Well maybe not quite that simple, but it can be done. Unless policy has changed, KC allows 1 or 2 unaccompanied groups on some days. So you need to be flexible, it's gonna be expensive, and a nice little letter prior to the call might help.

[chickenpotpie]

Personally I’d probably skip the South course at Arcadia unless you absolutely must play it. It won’t be anything like the original course, and will probably need a season or so to fully grow in.

 

If you can swing it from a cost/timing standpoint, I’d do Kingsley. Then add from Forest Dunes, Arcadia and Lochenheath as appropriate.

 

If you want to play somewhere on the drive up, the Nightmare and Dream aren’t bad, or you could play the Fortress, or Shepherds Hollow.

[FairwayFred]

If you can get on any of the recommended privates in Detroit do it. Of the 4 mentioned I'd rank Oakland Hills #4. Detroit is a seriously under rated golf city.

[Amarsuperstar]

If you're in Ann Arbor and a fan of golf architecture, it's hard to pass up the UM course designed by Alister Mackenzie. Where are you driving from? If going through the Upper Peninsula, Greywalls would be a fantastic opportunity.

 

I wouldn't play the Bear if I were you. Belvedere GC near Charlevoix is one of the best and most overlooked. All the others you've mentioned are great. Who knows what kind of condition it will be in this year, but Black Forest at Wilderness Valley is an awesome Doak layout.

 

If you're going to come west and hit Arcadia and Tullymore, Pilgrims Run deserves some consideration.

[TadWPJ]

Go play 2-3 days at Greywalls. Then 2 days at Belvedere. Greywalls is such a cool experience and a course you can't tire of. If front had better routing (due to enviro), it would be better then Kingsley.

[tommg]

In response to above do NOT go to Black Forest. It was once a lovely place, sadly no longer. Greens are pretty much gone, dandelions in the bunkers. Truly sad.

[countvelvet]

In response to above do NOT go to Black Forest. It was once a lovely place, sadly no longer. Greens are pretty much gone, dandelions in the bunkers. Truly sad.

Have you played there recently?

[tommg]

I haven’t for a few years but was looking at some recent reviews with pictures. Not pretty. Virtually all 2018 reviews are 1/5.

[jefftomahawk]

To the north, boyne, yes, so many varieties of courses you wont be board,

but hit a mom and pop course on old 27 north of Harrison, The tamaracks, cheap, but good conditions,then hit The Quest, nice layout and people, then to Forest Dunes, what needs to be said, then off to Boyne, both mountain and highlands are great.