Crystal Downs - Frankfort, MI - Playing?

[Ima3putter]

One of my bucket list trips is playing a round at Crystal Downs.  Does anyone have any ideas about how one might be able to snag a round there?    Thanks in advance!

 

 

[RGlaze978]

Lol, good luck. That's all I can say.

[puttnforthe8]

charity auction

Edited April 12, 2022 by puttnforthe8

[toypor]

1 hour ago, puttnforthe8 said:

charity auction

Puttn- Would you mind buying the Silverleaf 3some and inviting me to join you ? 😂

[cassel191919]

Its an incredible experience might be the best front 9 in the game, but you are either going to have to pay a few grand in a charity auction or meet one of the few members who are out there. Played a few years ago and am still having trouble getting back lol.

[knickerbocker]

4 hours ago, cassel191919 said:

Its an incredible experience might be the best front 9 in the game, but you are either going to have to pay a few grand in a charity auction or meet one of the few members who are out there. Played a few years ago and am still having trouble getting back lol.

 

You could try and make friends with members at other high end clubs in Michigan.  A few have reciprocal at CD in May and September, but have to pay unaccompanied guest fee which is now over $500 from I understand.  CD members thought there was too much outside play and jacked rates to simmer it down.  I have been lucky enough to play it a couple times, but doubt I will be spending the $ to play it again. 

[puttnforthe8]

9 hours ago, toypor said:

Puttn- Would you mind buying the Silverleaf 3some and inviting me to join you ? 😂

Possibly.

[countvelvet]

On 4/12/2022 at 10:58 AM, knickerbocker said:

 

You could try and make friends with members at other high end clubs in Michigan.  A few have reciprocal at CD in May and September, but have to pay unaccompanied guest fee which is now over $500 from I understand.  CD members thought there was too much outside play and jacked rates to simmer it down.  I have been lucky enough to play it a couple times, but doubt I will be spending the $ to play it again. 

Holy cow $500 now?  I got on CD in 2017 and the guest rate was $106.  Well worth every penny!

[cassel191919]

1 hour ago, countvelvet said:

Holy cow $500 now?  I got on CD in 2017 and the guest rate was $106.  Well worth every penny!

That is unaccompanied guest fee, I am pretty sure with a member its still reasonable. $500 to me is well worth it at least once lol.

[nugentd8]

On 4/13/2022 at 12:43 PM, cassel191919 said:

That is unaccompanied guest fee, I am pretty sure with a member its still reasonable. $500 to me is well worth it at least once lol.

I would agree w/ the $500 rate.  Worth every penny!  Pretty sure member hosted guest fee runs around $150 these days.  Steal if you know someone who can get you on!

[Chanceman]

Phew that's $750 in Aussie dollars for some backwoods course in Outer Michigan. Not sure I can wrap my head around that one. I mean Royal Melbourne is just as good and nowhere near that price for u/a play.

[cassel191919]

1 hour ago, Chanceman said:

Phew that's $750 in Aussie dollars for some backwoods course in Outer Michigan. Not sure I can wrap my head around that one. I mean Royal Melbourne is just as good and nowhere near that price for u/a play.

Sadly private courses especially the incredibly private here are very very different.

[StudentGolfer4]

12 hours ago, Chanceman said:

Phew that's $750 in Aussie dollars for some backwoods course in Outer Michigan. Not sure I can wrap my head around that one. I mean Royal Melbourne is just as good and nowhere near that price for u/a play.

Yeah as @cassel191919 says, the US way of private clubs is much different than most of the world, which I think is unfortunate. 
 

It’s pretty much universally regarded as one of the top 20-30 golf courses in the world. Most would agree it’s definitely worth a play. 
 

Careful describing it as “some

backwoods course in Outer Michigan.” Frankly, I don’t see why the location matters.
 

Augusta is just some course near a strip mall in Georgia. Pine valley is some random course in the woods. Sand Hills is a random place in the middle of nowhere. Fishers Island is on some stupid island that requires a boat, plane, or helicopter. Pinehurst is a flat piece of land smack dab in the middle of rural North Carolina. 

Edited September 23, 2022 by StudentGolfer4

[Chanceman]

10 hours ago, StudentGolfer4 said:

Yeah as @cassel191919 says, the US way of private clubs is much different than most of the world, which I think is unfortunate. 
 

It’s pretty much universally regarded as one of the top 20-30 golf courses in the world. Most would agree it’s definitely worth a play. 
 

Careful describing it as “some

backwoods course in Outer Michigan.” Frankly, I don’t see why the location matters.
 

Augusta is just some course near a strip mall in Georgia. Pine valley is some random course in the woods. Sand Hills is a random place in the middle of nowhere. Fishers Island is on some stupid island that requires a boat, plane, or helicopter. Pinehurst is a flat piece of land smack dab in the middle of rural North Carolina. 

You got it.

[CMCSGolf]

On 9/22/2022 at 8:35 AM, Chanceman said:

Phew that's $750 in Aussie dollars for some backwoods course in Outer Michigan. Not sure I can wrap my head around that one. I mean Royal Melbourne is just as good and nowhere near that price for u/a play.

I'm pretty sure royal Melbourne is over $500 AUD for international guests? I believe that's what I paid in 2017.  That's not too far off this price in my opinion.

[nugentd8]

On 9/22/2022 at 8:35 AM, Chanceman said:

Phew that's $750 in Aussie dollars for some backwoods course in Outer Michigan. Not sure I can wrap my head around that one. I mean Royal Melbourne is just as good and nowhere near that price for u/a play.

Blame the strong USD, Aussie!

[So_Cal]

On 4/12/2022 at 7:58 AM, knickerbocker said:

 

You could try and make friends with members at other high end clubs in Michigan.  A few have reciprocal at CD in May and September, but have to pay unaccompanied guest fee which is now over $500 from I understand.  CD members thought there was too much outside play and jacked rates to simmer it down.  I have been lucky enough to play it a couple times, but doubt I will be spending the $ to play it again. 

I’ve played Crystal and loved it but wouldn’t pay $500 to play it again.  That’s just gouging IMO. 

[Schley]

You guys are looking for bargains like they are public courses.  These are "private" courses and they don't care if anyone else thinks 500 or 1000 or whatever $ is too much, you aren't a member anyway.  Charity auctions are one of the few ways outside of networking with friends who may know a member. I played it last year and it was a great experience and would gladly pay the $ for the charity auction cause again.  Wonderful course and environment.

[Chanceman]

On 4/13/2022 at 12:58 AM, knickerbocker said:

 

You could try and make friends with members at other high end clubs in Michigan.  A few have reciprocal at CD in May and September, but have to pay unaccompanied guest fee which is now over $500 from I understand.  CD members thought there was too much outside play and jacked rates to simmer it down.  I have been lucky enough to play it a couple times, but doubt I will be spending the $ to play it again. 

Imagine the squawking if they went to the UK and someone said you cant play County Down or Muirfield cos you aint a member.

[golfortennis]

On 12/13/2022 at 6:42 PM, Chanceman said:

Imagine the squawking if they went to the UK and someone said you cant play County Down or Muirfield cos you aint a member.

 

Imagine paying how much of an initiation fee/equity buy-in and being told you have to fight for tee times cause "everyone can play" is the mantra.

 

Different models. One of which that is supported in no small part by soaking travelers who come to play it.

 

Pebble Beach doesn't require a membership either.  You have your tee times lined up?

[BG5]

I am sure Crystal Downs is sweet...but If Im gonna pay $500 its gonna be at a place like Bandon Dunes.  Private clubs are great and I have been lucky enough to play some of the better ones in the midwest but A place like Bandon is simply the best of the best

[cassel191919]

On 12/16/2022 at 11:51 AM, BG5 said:

I am sure Crystal Downs is sweet...but If Im gonna pay $500 its gonna be at a place like Bandon Dunes.  Private clubs are great and I have been lucky enough to play some of the better ones in the midwest but A place like Bandon is simply the best of the best

Bandon is fantastic, but it doesn't compare to Crystal Downs if you're going round for round. If its a trip with all of them, maybe its a different story.

[El Gringo]

Played CD for the first time in 45 years back in August. What a front nine! If I played there a lot I can imagine treating the place like a 9 holer. The proshop is a cool vibe as well. It's a shame the greens are so fast.

[BG5]

22 hours ago, cassel191919 said:

Bandon is fantastic, but it doesn't compare to Crystal Downs if you're going round for round. If its a trip with all of them, maybe its a different story.

 

I think a lot of posters would agree with your statement but I also think the vast majority of golfers would rather play any Bandon course over Crystal Downs.

 

I have been lucky enough to play a few private courses such as Kingsley (Hope to be a member someday), Oakland Hills South, Dunes Club, Lost Dunes etc and most of them have been overated in my opinion compared to the best public courses I have played.  Kingsley is pretty special but I think Bandon Blows it out of the water.

 

Probably not fair to compare as Bandon has alot bigger wallet compared to these other clubs

[cassel191919]

52 minutes ago, BG5 said:

 

I think a lot of posters would agree with your statement but I also think the vast majority of golfers would rather play any Bandon course over Crystal Downs.

 

I have been lucky enough to play a few private courses such as Kingsley (Hope to be a member someday), Oakland Hills South, Dunes Club, Lost Dunes etc and most of them have been overated in my opinion compared to the best public courses I have played.  Kingsley is pretty special but I think Bandon Blows it out of the water.

 

Probably not fair to compare as Bandon has alot bigger wallet compared to these other clubs

I would agree, I think most golfers have never even heard of Crystal Downs. Like I said I think Bandon is fantastic, Old Mac is one of my favorite golf courses I have ever played. I think one thing that makes some of the private courses feel overrated compared to the top public is the setting, so many great public tracks are right on the ocean or Lake Michigan and those views are so hard to top. But Kingsley and Oakland Hills are probably my two of my top 10. Kingsley is just pure fun and Oakland Hills just has the best greens I've ever stepped foot on. Just fortunate I've had the chance to play so many gems. 

[BG5]

1 minute ago, cassel191919 said:

I would agree, I think most golfers have never even heard of Crystal Downs. Like I said I think Bandon is fantastic, Old Mac is one of my favorite golf courses I have ever played. I think one thing that makes some of the private courses feel overrated compared to the top public is the setting, so many great public tracks are right on the ocean or Lake Michigan and those views are so hard to top. But Kingsley and Oakland Hills are probably my two of my top 10. Kingsley is just pure fun and Oakland Hills just has the best greens I've ever stepped foot on. Just fortunate I've had the chance to play so many gems. 

 

After thinking of it I think you hit the nail on the head as the piece of land that each courses is on is probably not comparing apples to apples.  I am a sucker for golf courses on water.....so when I think of places like Whistling Straits, Bandon etc that is what makes them special to me.

 

I never really thought of it that way but that is probably a reason I have just felt that some courses did not live up to the hype but none of them were on water either 🙂  Maybe its not the courses I like but the views

[cassel191919]

32 minutes ago, BG5 said:

 

After thinking of it I think you hit the nail on the head as the piece of land that each courses is on is probably not comparing apples to apples.  I am a sucker for golf courses on water.....so when I think of places like Whistling Straits, Bandon etc that is what makes them special to me.

 

I never really thought of it that way but that is probably a reason I have just felt that some courses did not live up to the hype but none of them were on water either 🙂  Maybe its not the courses I like but the views

It surely helps, I played Kapalua Plantation Course last week and I just couldn't get over how incredible the setting was. The course was fun even with the wind bending the flag stick, but the view all day was just unreal.

[wolverine_man]

On 12/20/2022 at 11:45 AM, cassel191919 said:

It surely helps, I played Kapalua Plantation Course last week and I just couldn't get over how incredible the setting was. The course was fun even with the wind bending the flag stick, but the view all day was just unreal.

Super windy when we played Kap PC a couple years back too. But the views have you feeling on top of the world the whole round.