Summer Guys Trip

[dixiethunder]

Trying to plan a very last minute guys trip for 4 in July. Other guys are trying to go to Florida and I'm trying to provide options that may not be as hot/humid. I've always heard the Midwest has a lot of great golf but haven't gotten to play much of it being from North Carolina. I've called Forest Hills, Sand Valley and Arcadia Bluffs, no luck at Forest HIlls/Sand Valley and still waiting to hear back from Arcadia. Ideally looking for somewhere that we can stay on premises and just golf, drink and eat. Any other places I should be looking into? Thanks in advance for any help!

[ND2005]

So unfortunately, pretty much every Tier 1 (Bandon, Pinehurst, Sand Valley, Big Cedar etc) and Tier 2 (Forest Dunes, Arcadia, etc) golf resort in the US is fully booked up for 2022 and in many cases 2023. 

 

You're going to have a really hard time looking at July in the midwest as that is absolute prime time. 

 

Best bets for the midwest are to look at swing season i.e. April/May or Sep/Oct where the weather can be a little less ideal but there are more openings. For July, if you can stand the heat, your friends are right on the south has more availability. 

 

Other options for the midwest would be to not stay at a true "golf getaway" like Arcadia, but pick a city (Traverse, Grand Rapids) and then commute to some of the good courses in the area. 

 

[dixiethunder]

I appreciate the response and def know that we are up against it. This one weekend in July happened to work out for 4 of us that are scattered all over, so trying to find something that would work even though I know it's a long shot. 

[StudentGolfer4]

It depends on how many days you are staying but French Lick is a very good golf destination. The idea of parking a car is very doable. The Dye course is newer, rated higher, and gets most of the press but the Ross course is very very good too. It’s a bit of a drive (30-40 mins?) but sultans run is a must play as well.  The one downside, it’s not the easiest to get to when it comes to flights. The golf is very good. There are a couple of fun little restaurant and bars in town and the resort has a casino. To me, unless you really enjoy gambling there isn’t enough to do for more than a long weekend though. If they created a short course or putting course like many other places have that would be helpful. Both courses have very good replay rates. If I recall, Dye course is free and Ross is $50. It won’t be Florida or NC hot and humid but Southern Indiana in July can get pretty steamy as well. 
 

I’ve never been but I know there are some smaller resorts in northern Michigan such as A-Ga-Ming that may fit the bill. 

[stickfish]

SG4 is spot on RE: humidity and dew points S. Indiana opposed to Florida.  Spent six years away from the Midwest while working in South Florida and found conditions all in all not much different other than you can expect a break from the heat and humidity in the Midwest prior to November.

 

As for golf pretty hard to go wrong with Indy/Lafayette for quality, access and value.  You could fly into Indy and play several great layouts, stay downtown and enjoy the after golf scene.  Much information on Indiana golf In the Circle City Chili Dippers thread.

 

cheers,

<><

 

[games]

On 3/22/2022 at 3:30 PM, dixiethunder said:

Trying to plan a very last minute guys trip for 4 in July. Other guys are trying to go to Florida and I'm trying to provide options that may not be as hot/humid. I've always heard the Midwest has a lot of great golf but haven't gotten to play much of it being from North Carolina. I've called Forest Hills, Sand Valley and Arcadia Bluffs, no luck at Forest HIlls/Sand Valley and still waiting to hear back from Arcadia. Ideally looking for somewhere that we can stay on premises and just golf, drink and eat. Any other places I should be looking into? Thanks in advance for any help!

 

A bit difficult to get to but that helps with your dilemma of lack of availability.

  

Island Resort and Casino is in the upper peninsula of Michigan.

Two courses onsite (Sage Run and Sweetgrass).

 

 

https://islandresortgolf.com/packages/stay-and-play/

 

 

[Abh159]

I don't have an alternative suggestion to FL, but if you end up going there I'd make sure to check the maintenance schedules at the courses you plan to play if you haven't already.

 

Late July - early August is usually prime aerification time for bermuda greens which is what most courses in the southeast have. 

[dixiethunder]

Thanks everyone. We got lucky and will play 3 days at Forest Dunes and stay two nights on property and but have to stay third night near by. Based on how late we booked feel pretty lucky. From everything I've read we are in for a treat.

 

[chrisbellaire]

Dixie, if you can get in, stay at Gates AuSable Lodge for your third night.  Not glamorous, but close to Forest Dunes and extremely relaxing.  Right on the stretch of "Holy Water" world-famous fly fishing stream you can hear gurgling by.  Great restaurant right on site, breakfast too, and the very nicest people to accommodate you.

[dixiethunder]

On 3/26/2022 at 3:26 PM, chrisbellaire said:

Dixie, if you can get in, stay at Gates AuSable Lodge for your third night.  Not glamorous, but close to Forest Dunes and extremely relaxing.  Right on the stretch of "Holy Water" world-famous fly fishing stream you can hear gurgling by.  Great restaurant right on site, breakfast too, and the very nicest people to accommodate you.

Awesome, thanks for the suggestion, I will reach out to them right now. 

[eagle2838]

On 3/25/2022 at 9:13 PM, dixiethunder said:

Thanks everyone. We got lucky and will play 3 days at Forest Dunes and stay two nights on property and but have to stay third night near by. Based on how late we booked feel pretty lucky. From everything I've read we are in for a treat.

 

You will have a blast. Roscommon is way up there, but very worth the drive and the golf is underrated. Great setup for a guys’ weekend, too.