All Things Michigan Golf.....The Three Putt

[knickerbocker]

Shout out to "The Godfather" OW.

 

Post about All Things Michigan Golf such as 

 

• Trips
• Course Conditions
• Equipment
• Arranging rounds together
• Playing with Snow on the ground

[BG5]

Well done KB!  I was curious to hear everyones rankings of top 10 PUBLIC golf courses in Michigan.  I'll give ya mine.

 

1.  Arcadia Bluffs

2.  Forest Dunes

3.  Bay Harbor (Links Quarry)

4.  Greywalls

5.  Black Lake

6.  Arcadia Bluffs (South)

7.  Treetops Signature

8.  Forest Dunes - The Loop (prefer Red over Black)

9.  The Tribute - Otsego Club

10.  Eagle Eye

 

[ryan84]

41 minutes ago, BG5 said:

Well done KB!  I was curious to hear everyones rankings of top 10 PUBLIC golf courses in Michigan.  I'll give ya mine.

 

1.  Arcadia Bluffs

2.  Forest Dunes

3.  Bay Harbor (Links Quarry)

4.  Greywalls

5.  Black Lake

6.  Arcadia Bluffs (South)

7.  Treetops Signature

8.  Forest Dunes - The Loop (prefer Red over Black)

9.  The Tribute - Otsego Club

10.  Eagle Eye

 

Arcadia South is my sneaky favorite, way better than Bluffs imo. Played it from the tips and got absolutely ejected by the course all day, but it was such an awesome design and challenge. I am glad Eagle Eye made your list, super underrated.

[knickerbocker]

My Top 10 that I have played:

 

1. Forest Dunes

2. Arcadia Bluffs

3. Boyne Heather

4. Bay Harbor

5. Lochenheath

6. Black Lake

7. Cedar River

8. Eagle Eye

9. Pilgrim's Run

10. Forrest Akers West (cause I am a Sparty Fan)

 

Haven't played Greywalls yet or the South Course at AB.  The Loop is cool, but don't consider it Top 10.  Treetops/Otesgo are both good courses.  

 

I also don't included UofM golf course in this because I don't consider it public.  

 

 

 

[Timbo Slice]

My Top 10 that I have played 

1. Greywalls

2. Arcadia Bluffs

3. Bay Harbor

4. Harbor Shores

5. Stoatin Brae

6. Tullymore 

7. The Bear 

8. Thoroughbred 

9. Bucks Run

10. Macatawa Legends

 

Crazy how good Michigan golf is.  I felt bad leaving out so many greats, and to be honest #7 through probably #15 would be pretty much the same.  Eagle Eye, Black Lake, Treetops, Pilgrims Run, and Cedar River all could be in my top 10. 

 

This year I will finally be playing Forest Dunes and Loop as well as the new American Dunes so I'm pretty positive 3 more courses move out of top 10.

 

Edited March 26, 2021 by Timbo Slice

[reperna]

What’s thoroughbred all about? I haven’t heard of it. 

[Timbo Slice]

8 hours ago, reperna said:

What’s thoroughbred all about? I haven’t heard of it. 

Arthur hills course in Muskegon.  I haven't played in a while but I just remember how hard it was for me at the time and that it really impressed me with the layout and 2nd hole I think is one of my favorites.

[knickerbocker]

5 hours ago, Timbo Slice said:

Arthur hills course in Muskegon.  I haven't played in a while but I just remember how hard it was for me at the time and that it really impressed me with the layout and 2nd hole I think is one of my favorites.

 

Yes, extremely tough course.  I enjoyed playing it the few times I have played it. Worth a play. 

[Gdane]

Refreshing to have a new thread here!  I always push for Michigan as the annual golf trip destination but thus far have only taken two golf trips to the state.  I quickly ranked the eight I played off the top of my head.  Greywalls is my all-time favorite course, and I can't wait to go back.  The next six are for the most part interchangeable for me, and then I'd put Pohl Cat a distant last.

 

1. Greywalls

2. Sweetgrass

3. Buck's Run

4. The Bear

5. St Ives

6. Tullymore

7. TimberStone

8. Pohl Cat

 

Taking a family trip to Traverse City this summer and have an early morning time booked at Forest Dunes, and hoping I can sneak away for another round in the TC area.  What a great state for golf!

[Timbo Slice]

The Mines is under new management this year and finally open on Sundays for anyone who is interested in playing a Devries Design course.  Definitely not at the level of his Kingsley club, Pilgrim's Run or Greywalls but still a fun track probably at the same level as his Diamond Springs.  I do a lot of golf on Sundays so I was excited to hear this news but also bad news because no more free golf for juniors as I would take my son there a lot.

 

Edited March 26, 2021 by Timbo Slice

[postfold]

13 hours ago, Timbo Slice said:

Arthur hills course in Muskegon.  I haven't played in a while but I just remember how hard it was for me at the time and that it really impressed me with the layout and 2nd hole I think is one of my favorites.

 

The 2nd hole is ridiculous.  That's the only word I can come up with to describe it.  Just plain effing ridiculous.

 

I've played Thoroughbred a few times the last couple years.  Conditioning is, um, hit or miss.  It's playable and not like it's awful but you can tell that the maintenance budget is tight.  Could definitely use to cut back the trees on a few holes and get the grass some air and light.  It's challenging and has some interesting holes so I keep going back.  Price hasn't been too bad either, I think I paid $40 last time.

[postfold]

Don't really have a top 10 to offer, haven't played a lot of the highly rated courses.  Arcadia is special, of course.  Pilgrims Run is a personal fave.  Looking forward to playing American Dunes in May and maybe this will be the year I finally get up to play Forest Dunes.

[1puttTUT]

On 3/25/2021 at 10:34 AM, ryan84 said:

Arcadia South is my sneaky favorite, way better than Bluffs imo. Played it from the tips and got absolutely ejected by the course all day, but it was such an awesome design and challenge. I am glad Eagle Eye made your list, super underrated.

 

I'm playing Arcadia south for the first time this summer. We are renting a house with three other families that is on lake Michigan and only 15 minutes away from AB. We're doing 6:30 super twilight Tuesday at Bluffs course and same time Thursday at the South course. $60 seemed like a good deal and if we can get 15 holes in I'll be happy. This is mid to late June so we'll have max daylight. 

[reperna]

Enjoy! It really is a great place. I’ll be there at the end of may to play both courses. Hope you guys get the bag piper when you are coming in. 

[reperna]

I might be having my best golf summer this year.

may 14-15 Tullymore and st ives

may 21-23 Arcadia bluffs and south

may 28-30 pilgrims run and American dunes

June 26-27 Erin hills

 

Thinking about buying the three rounds at Oakland as well.

[3_Jack_Par]

18 hours ago, reperna said:

Thinking about buying the three rounds at Oakland as well.

???

[3_Jack_Par]

Top 10 Public:

1. Forest Dunes

2. Arcadia Bluffs

3. UofM GC 

4. Bay Harbor (Links/Quarry)

5. Michaywe Pines

6. Lochenheath

7. Boyne Highlands - Heather

8. Hawk's Eye

9. Eagle Eye

10. Stonehedge South

 

There's a bunch I haven't played, like Greywalls, Arcadia South, Harbor Shores, etc. so this is a pretty incomplete list.

 

 

[reperna]

45 minutes ago, 3_Jack_Par said:

???

sorry, you can buy a 3pack at oakland university if you are an alumni. 

[3_Jack_Par]

3 minutes ago, reperna said:

sorry, you can buy a 3pack at oakland university if you are an alumni. 

Ah, I had Oakland Hills on the brain...🤦‍♂️

[reperna]

2 minutes ago, 3_Jack_Par said:

Ah, I had Oakland Hills on the brain...🤦‍♂️

haha I wish!!

[cassel191919]

On 3/29/2021 at 11:34 AM, 3_Jack_Par said:

Ah, I had Oakland Hills on the brain...🤦‍♂️

I usually get a chance to play 1 or 2 times a year, but I was wondering where I could sign up.

[Timbo Slice]

They finally named the short course at Forest Dunes and I got to say what a sweet logo and name.

The Bootlegger

[1puttTUT]

3 hours ago, Timbo Slice said:

They finally named the short course at Forest Dunes and I got to say what a sweet logo and name.

The Bootlegger

 

They def need to have a couple bottles of whiskey laying around some of the tee boxes to really complete the theme

[timbo08]

On 3/25/2021 at 9:50 AM, BG5 said:

Well done KB!  I was curious to hear everyones rankings of top 10 PUBLIC golf courses in Michigan.  I'll give ya mine.

 

1.  Arcadia Bluffs

2.  Forest Dunes

3.  Bay Harbor (Links Quarry)

4.  Greywalls

5.  Black Lake

6.  Arcadia Bluffs (South)

7.  Treetops Signature

8.  Forest Dunes - The Loop (prefer Red over Black)

9.  The Tribute - Otsego Club

10.  Eagle Eye

 

How's the Tribute since they changed ownership?  We played the last year it was under the old owners and it was getting pretty rough in my opinion.  Haven't been back recently but really enjoyed the course when it was in better shape. 

[1puttTUT]

2 minutes ago, timbo08 said:

How's the Tribute since they changed ownership?  We played the last year it was under the old owners and it was getting pretty rough in my opinion.  Haven't been back recently but really enjoyed the course when it was in better shape. 

 

Hopefully good because we're playing it as our "drive up" course before our Shanty Creek trip in late July. 

 

I haven't played it in over 10 years...

[timbo08]

2 minutes ago, 1puttTUT said:

 

Hopefully good because we're playing it as our "drive up" course before our Shanty Creek trip in late July. 

 

I haven't played it in over 10 years...

Yea it was our "drive up" course for our late May BOYNE trip for a few years so we wouldn't mind adding it to the rotation.  We thought Little Traverse Bay was a nice replacement but they're gone now too unfortunately. 

[3_Jack_Par]

I asked someone I know who retired up in Gaylord about this recently, and he said that last year it really seemed like conditions were improving at the Tribute, so hopefully that's continuing. I really love the layout, and it's a shame that it had fallen into such disrepair, so hopefully it's on its way back to being one of the best courses up there.

 

[HappyGilmoresBoots]

Are any of you attending the Random Golf Club outing at The Mines this Saturday?

[Timbo Slice]

Masters package for anyone interested in Bay harbor this year for cheap!!

 

[postfold]

Watermark (or whatever they're called now) has a deal to buy Muskegon Country Club.  Will be interested to see what they do with it access-wise, if they make it more of a semi-private.  If so it'll probably deserve a spot on any list of GR Lakeshore area courses to play.

 

Of course they may keep it fully private more like Thousand Oaks, but I've long speculated that there just may not be enough potential members in Muskegon to support an elite fully private club (due to changes in the tax laws and social habits).