Golf Boom - Northern Michigan Resorts

[BG5]

Well....the golf boom continues to just go crazy.  Northern Michigan is home to some of the best golf courses in the country and what makes Michigan unique is the fact that it is an peninsula which basically isolates it in many ways. 

 

May is a month that you can usually get absolute steals at places like Arcadia Bluffs, Forest Dunes and Bay Harbor.  Not so much anymore and like all major golf courses they are booked like crazy in May.  What is unique about May in Michigan is that its hit or miss with weather and especially in Northern Michigan as you can still have snow.  On top of that those courses are charging anywhere from $130-$300 a round and they are booked like crazy.

 

On top of that the second tier resorts (still really good golf) like Treetops, Boyne, Shanty Creek, and Garland are also slammed in May and they are also charging an arm and a leg for that time of year.  Most courses are now north of $100 in May and the good old days of getting $45 rounds in Northern Michigan in May seem to be over.

 

Good for the golf courses, good for the game.....bad for my pocket book 🙂

 

I am just amazed and how many people are traveling during these times where the economy is not excatly doing as good as it was 2 years ago

[Triple Lindy]

1 minute ago, BG5 said:

I am just amazed and how many people are traveling during these times where the economy is not excatly doing as good as it was 2 years ago

Yeah, there’s still lots of pent up demand for travel. The demographic that golf caters to probably hasn’t felt the pinch yet. Yes, 401ks are down, but unless you’re retired or retiring soon, you’re probably not sweating it, especially after the post-pandemic run-up. There’s a lot of wealth in the U.S. 
 

 

[1puttTUT]

I'm sure as hell not booking a golf trip to Northern Michigan in May.

 

If I happen to be up there I'll certainly get a round in if it's nice, but to plan a golf trip when there's a good chance it can be 45° and rainy doesn't seem worth it. 

[Jose c.]

16 hours ago, 1puttTUT said:

I'm sure as hell not booking a golf trip to Northern Michigan in May.

 

If I happen to be up there I'll certainly get a round in if it's nice, but to plan a golf trip when there's a good chance it can be 45° and rainy doesn't seem worth it. 

Couldent agree more! Had this happen couple yrs back with Arcadia trip, Memorial weekend.Weather was rain,sleet but the winds are what made it so darn miserable.  The nicest day wound up being sunday with finishing rd at pilgrims. We had a 10:30 tee time,unfortunately they had a frost delay 1.5hrs. Wasn't waiting around to get done at 5pm.

[knickerbocker]

Prices have gotten out of control. Boyne is the worst in terms of jacking their prices and treetops is right behind them. I guess get the $ while the getting is good, but I imagine the discounts will be back in a couple years. 

[BG5]

40 minutes ago, knickerbocker said:

Prices have gotten out of control. Boyne is the worst in terms of jacking their prices and treetops is right behind them. I guess get the $ while the getting is good, but I imagine the discounts will be back in a couple years. 

 

I totally agree.....here are some prices I was quoted for my group in the 3rd weekend in May

 

Shanty Creek Cedar River - $139

Hawkseye - $119

Treetops Signature $109

Treetops Premier - $90

Grand Traverse Resort - The Bear $100

A-Ga-Ming $90

Otsego Club The Tribute - $85

 

A few years ago these courses would of been in the $35 - $50 range in May

 

The funny thing is the best courses in the State were as follows for that same time in May

 

Forest Dunes $165

Arcadia Bluffs $130

Black Lake $75

Bay Harbor $250

 

I mean heck....I called Wisconsin and found out the following

 

Whistling Straits $250 and they do not require caddie now but this is until May 7th

Sand Valley $210 with $105 replay

 

When you look at Bandon Dunes off season rates in November, December, and January where they charge $110 a round it makes you realize what a steal Bandon is.  I know alot of guys that go in the offseason and have done just fine with weather.

 

 

[cassel191919]

8 minutes ago, BG5 said:

 

I totally agree.....here are some prices I was quoted for my group in the 3rd weekend in May

 

Shanty Creek Cedar River - $139

Hawkseye - $119

Treetops Signature $109

Treetops Premier - $90

Grand Traverse Resort - The Bear $100

A-Ga-Ming $90

Otsego Club The Tribute - $85

 

A few years ago these courses would of been in the $35 - $50 range in May

 

The funny thing is the best courses in the State were as follows for that same time in May

 

Forest Dunes $165

Arcadia Bluffs $130

Black Lake $75

Bay Harbor $250

 

I mean heck....I called Wisconsin and found out the following

 

Whistling Straits $250 and they do not require caddie now but this is until May 7th

Sand Valley $210 with $105 replay

 

When you look at Bandon Dunes off season rates in November, December, and January where they charge $110 a round it makes you realize what a steal Bandon is.  I know alot of guys that go in the offseason and have done just fine with weather.

 

 

Hawkseye at $119 is comical, prime season $65 is high lol.

[N8dogg2669]

On 3/16/2023 at 11:21 AM, BG5 said:

 

I totally agree.....here are some prices I was quoted for my group in the 3rd weekend in May

 

Shanty Creek Cedar River - $139

Hawkseye - $119

Treetops Signature $109

Treetops Premier - $90

Grand Traverse Resort - The Bear $100

A-Ga-Ming $90

Otsego Club The Tribute - $85

 

A few years ago these courses would of been in the $35 - $50 range in May

 

The funny thing is the best courses in the State were as follows for that same time in May

 

Forest Dunes $165

Arcadia Bluffs $130

Black Lake $75

Bay Harbor $250

 

I mean heck....I called Wisconsin and found out the following

 

Whistling Straits $250 and they do not require caddie now but this is until May 7th

Sand Valley $210 with $105 replay

 

When you look at Bandon Dunes off season rates in November, December, and January where they charge $110 a round it makes you realize what a steal Bandon is.  I know alot of guys that go in the offseason and have done just fine with weather.

 

 

 

I played Otsego last year. Played the Tribute and thought it was very tough but very fun. Had a 10 footer on 18 to shoot even for the back nine, but I missed it. lol But we ended up playing the course in the front of the property, and it is by no means something I would travel for, but considering it is right there we had a blast and put in another 27 holes on the regular course. Sorry, not sure of the name of it right now, but music was going, drinks were flowing, cigars burning and the vibes were off the charts. Really really enjoyed that part of our trip. Treetops was an absolute nightmare....

[cassel191919]

19 hours ago, N8dogg2669 said:

 

I played Otsego last year. Played the Tribute and thought it was very tough but very fun. Had a 10 footer on 18 to shoot even for the back nine, but I missed it. lol But we ended up playing the course in the front of the property, and it is by no means something I would travel for, but considering it is right there we had a blast and put in another 27 holes on the regular course. Sorry, not sure of the name of it right now, but music was going, drinks were flowing, cigars burning and the vibes were off the charts. Really really enjoyed that part of our trip. Treetops was an absolute nightmare....

The Tribute is a fantastic course, I am  happy the new owners got it back to its former glory. When they let it go for a a couple of years it was pretty devastating after losing Elk Ridge. The Classic at Otsego Club is nothing special, but it is for sure a lot of fun to throw in extra golf for not to much money.