Help with Michican Trip

[geauxtigers777]

Trying to plan a Michigan trip for 4 guys.  We have played most of the big resort courses in NA (Cabot, Bandon, SV, EH, Whistling, Streamsong, Kiawah, etc).  We are finally looking to knock off part of Michigan.  Initial thought was to do Arcadia, Forrest Dunes, Treetops.  In looking into it, would you scrap Treetops and do Belvedere and Bay Harbor instead? Where does Treetops courses rank in this.  

 

We understand this would be more driving than a Bandon or Cabot trip, but we did EH, SV, and Whisting in a 8 day time period.  We normally play a ton of golf per day.

 

Are these courses walking or riding? If riding, are they CPO or go to your ball?  Thanks a lot. 

[cassel191919]

It depends where you would fly into for how I would create a trip. Treetops is a nice resort, but I wouldn't say any of the courses are the best of the best. If you fly into Detroit it would be a great idea to hit the University of Michigan course on the way up to Forest Dunes. I would make sure to hit Forest Dunes, Bay Harbor, Belvedere,  and Arcadia Bluffs and South. If you Start on the West side I would try to hit harbor shores and american dunes. If you want to make it an entire tour of the state go to the UP and play TImberstone, Sweetgrass, and Greywalls. 

 

All of Forest dunes, Belvedere, and Arcadia South is very walkable but you can also take a cart and drive to the ball.  Weekends at the heavy hitters during the summer could be very tough to pull off at this point just an FYI.

[VNutz]

I'd only do Treetops if you're going to stay there for a couple days and hit all the courses. If you're on the move and with a car I'd probably choose something else. I've never done Belvidere so I cannot speak to that. Bay Harbor's views were absolutely amazing but the course itself could be a little lacking in spots. The Links/Quarry combo I believe is the better of the 3 nines to play. Quarry side has some unique holes but is mostly away from the water and can get really warm, before finishing out the last 2 holes along the lake.

 

If you happen to fly into Grand Rapids, a stop at Pilgrims Run on the way up would be my choice. Not quite the same pedigree as Arcadia or Forest Dunes, but one of my favorite courses in the area. Or look into American Dunes near Grand Haven.

[AzSuperHack76]

On 2/12/2024 at 11:28 AM, geauxtigers777 said:

Trying to plan a Michigan trip for 4 guys.  We have played most of the big resort courses in NA (Cabot, Bandon, SV, EH, Whistling, Streamsong, Kiawah, etc).  We are finally looking to knock off part of Michigan.  Initial thought was to do Arcadia, Forrest Dunes, Treetops.  In looking into it, would you scrap Treetops and do Belvedere and Bay Harbor instead? Where does Treetops courses rank in this.  

 

We understand this would be more driving than a Bandon or Cabot trip, but we did EH, SV, and Whisting in a 8 day time period.  We normally play a ton of golf per day.

 

Are these courses walking or riding? If riding, are they CPO or go to your ball?  Thanks a lot. 

When are you coming? Most of the tee times for the summer are already booked at Arcadia, it's incredible how fast they book up now. A couple years ago I had no issues getting times in Jan/February for a July trip. There are no times at the Bluffs for the majority of this summer and only scattered times are available for the South course. Forest Dunes open up their tee sheet to non stay and play guests starting in March/April. 

Edited February 13 by AzSuperHack76

[geauxtigers777]

Thanks for all of the replies and please keep them coming. For clarification, this is for 2025. Bandon back on the docket for this year. 

[StudentGolfer4]

Forest Dunes input. 
 

Both courses allow carts. The loop is designed to be walked. (Walking it in the morning is one of my favorites.) 
 

I think a 3 night stay at forest dunes is the perfect amount of time. It could be accomplished in 2 nights but that depends a lot on your trip itinerary. 
 

Day 1- pm arrival play the bootlegger short course and have fun on the putting course. 
Day 2. Forest Dunes morning followed by The Loop. 
Day 3. The loop the opposite direction followed by another round at Forest Dunes. Depending on your schedule you could scrap this second round and drive to your next destination or spend more time on the bootlegger and putting course if preferred. 
 

I think you’re missing out if you don’t play the loop both ways. To me it’s the better of the two courses on property. The course switches direction each day so it needs to be done on back to back days. Bootlegger offers free repay and I’m my experience they will be available. Never had an issue going around again. Take that into consideration when deciding what time to play it at. 
 

Treetops is but but it’s a couple of tiers below Arcadia and forest dunes. To me it’s a great buddies trip but not a great golf trip. Given the other resorts you have been to I would pass on it. I cannot compare it to Bay Harbor or Belvedere because I haven’t played either. 

Edited February 13 by StudentGolfer4

[geauxtigers777]

With more research, thinking the below:

 

Day 1: Fly into Traverse City; Drive to Arcadia; Play Arcadia Bluffs in the PM

Day 2: Arcadia Bluffs; South course. Stay at Arcadia

Day 3: Play Belvedere; Play Bay Harbor; Drive to Forest Dunes

Day 4: Forest Dunes; The Loop; stay there

Day 5: The Loop; Forest Dunes; Par 3; Stay there

Day 6: Grand Traverse The Bear ; fly out of Traverse City

 

This knocks out a good bit of the West.  Also allows us to only have to switch rooms one time.  A couple of those days would be long days, but I've done crazier (i.e. played 36 at SV and drove to Whistling the same night). 

[cassel191919]

1 hour ago, geauxtigers777 said:

With more research, thinking the below:

 

Day 1: Fly into Traverse City; Drive to Arcadia; Play Arcadia Bluffs in the PM

Day 2: Arcadia Bluffs; South course. Stay at Arcadia

Day 3: Play Belvedere; Play Bay Harbor; Drive to Forest Dunes

Day 4: Forest Dunes; The Loop; stay there

Day 5: The Loop; Forest Dunes; Par 3; Stay there

Day 6: Grand Traverse The Bear ; fly out of Traverse City

 

This knocks out a good bit of the West.  Also allows us to only have to switch rooms one time.  A couple of those days would be long days, but I've done crazier (i.e. played 36 at SV and drove to Whistling the same night). 

Only issue is not staying at Bay Harbor, I think they charge somewhere around 350 to play it if you don't stay. If that isn't an issue it looks like a perfect golf trip.

[3_Jack_Par]

22 hours ago, geauxtigers777 said:

With more research, thinking the below:

 

Day 1: Fly into Traverse City; Drive to Arcadia; Play Arcadia Bluffs in the PM

Day 2: Arcadia Bluffs; South course. Stay at Arcadia

Day 3: Play Belvedere; Play Bay Harbor; Drive to Forest Dunes

Day 4: Forest Dunes; The Loop; stay there

Day 5: The Loop; Forest Dunes; Par 3; Stay there

Day 6: Grand Traverse The Bear ; fly out of Traverse City

 

This knocks out a good bit of the West.  Also allows us to only have to switch rooms one time.  A couple of those days would be long days, but I've done crazier (i.e. played 36 at SV and drove to Whistling the same night). 

You should look into getting on to Kingsley Club for your Day 6 -- it's been a while since I've been there, and I think I heard that it's not quite as easy to get on as it used to be for non-members, but if you have any private club connections, it's worth looking into. With the rest of your itinerary, the Bear is going to seem like a bit of a letdown.

A lot of the courses are pretty walkable -- Belvedere, Arcadia South, and both Forest Dunes courses are definitely walking-friendly. Kingsley and the Bear can also be walked, though the hill on 17 at Kingsley will seem like a mountain at the end of a 6-day golf marathon.

[geauxtigers777]

Great idea.  I just sent them an email. We are all members of private clubs with varying pedigree.  Unfortantely, we are based in the SE, so no big connections to this area. 

[geauxtigers777]

Would you recommend Champion Hill as an alternative (presuming we can't get on Kingsley)?

[outfitter]

Champion Hill is a great value...I have family in Traverse and play there a couple times a year. It is many steps below Kingsley or even the Bear. Don't get me wrong, I love the course but not in the same category as the rest of your trip. For some this may be a pro or a con, but they also do not sell alcohol at Champion Hill.

[VNutz]

Champion Hill is a very cool course, but it tends to appeal more to those that like course architecture and appreciate that. It's definitely a fun play and a great value for the area, but it's got more of a mom and pop type feel than the others on the list.

[3_Jack_Par]

2 hours ago, geauxtigers777 said:

Great idea.  I just sent them an email. We are all members of private clubs with varying pedigree.  Unfortantely, we are based in the SE, so no big connections to this area. 

If you guys have private club connections, I think you'll probably be able to work it out. I don't think they've gone crazy exclusive like Crystal Downs or anything like that (that's another to take a shot at, if you think there's any chance you can work something out through your connections), but they used to be really open to guest play even if you didn't have any hookup with a member or reciprocal arrangement, and I think they've gone away from that after an ownership change a couple years ago.

Edited February 14 by 3_Jack_Par

[BG5]

Ive also played Bandon, Sand Valley, and Whistling Straights.  Michigan is outstanding and I have played everything......you def have to play Arcadia, Forest Dunes and Bay Harbor.  I know I will take some grief for this but I have never been more dissapointed than playing Belvedere....some guys love it but I just dont get it.  I would scrap that one if it were me.

 

Not a huge fan of the Bear either.....I would add one of two things.  Treetops Signature course and possibly Otsego Club Tribute or when you play Bay Harbor I would add in Black Lake in Onaway Michigan.

 

Black Lake is a top 100 course and is one of my favorites and the price is right.  

 

And dont worry about driving around Northern Michigan....there is so much beauty there is nothing better than being with the guys, laughing and traveling the back roads

[Pepetito]

On 2/14/2024 at 11:26 AM, VNutz said:

Champion Hill is a very cool course, but it tends to appeal more to those that like course architecture and appreciate that. It's definitely a fun play and a great value for the area, but it's got more of a mom and pop type feel than the others on the list.

This.  Its one of my favorite courses and so fun.  

[nikeblades00]

Your trip looks amazing. Only thing I would change is I would swap the Bear for LochenHeath. It's basically just a hop skip and jump down the road. Imo one of the most underrated courses in Michigan. 

[cassel191919]

1 hour ago, nikeblades00 said:

Your trip looks amazing. Only thing I would change is I would swap the Bear for LochenHeath. It's basically just a hop skip and jump down the road. Imo one of the most underrated courses in Michigan. 

I would agree, but it has been a pain to get on as a non member the last couple of seasons

[3_Jack_Par]

Lochenheath is nice (a couple of weird holes excepted), but if it's between there and Kingsley, give me Kingsley any day of the week.

[nikeblades00]

6 hours ago, cassel191919 said:

I would agree, but it has been a pain to get on as a non member the last couple of seasons

Oh wow I didn't realize they went full private, I haven't player there since before the pandemic. LochenHeath is a gem. And the views of TC Bay are beautiful. 

[nikeblades00]

4 hours ago, 3_Jack_Par said:

Lochenheath is nice (a couple of weird holes excepted), but if it's between there and Kingsley, give me Kingsley any day of the week.

Definitely some weird holes. The fairways roll about a 12 and undulating as heck, we called it the chambers bay of Michigan because you have no idea where your perfect tee shot would end up. And the greens are equally as difficult!

[Net_5]

How many days will you have and what type of accommodations are you looking for?  With our trips we usually play a round on the way to our main destination and another round on the way out.  At the main destination we have a couple/few 36 hole days.  You could also keep traveling each day but that’s a grind.  The Petoskey area is a great main destination.  Arcadia and Forest Dunes could be your in/out stops.  Would need 6-7 days to do it right

[1puttTUT]

I'd rather play Manitou Passage, Bahle Farms, or even Sundance at A-ga-ming over the Bear.

[HackerDave]

Just throwing out some other options.  True North is private but not out of reach.  A very undertated course is the Arthur Hills course at Boyne Highlands.  One of my favorites.

[MattSTL88]

On 3/2/2024 at 5:12 PM, HackerDave said:

Just throwing out some other options.  True North is private but not out of reach.  A very undertated course is the Arthur Hills course at Boyne Highlands.  One of my favorites.

Do you mean not out of reach as in not impossible to get on as a non-member? I will be up in Indian River this summer and have played the Boyne courses but would like to check out True North

[cassel191919]

12 hours ago, MattSTL88 said:

Do you mean not out of reach as in not impossible to get on as a non-member? I will be up in Indian River this summer and have played the Boyne courses but would like to check out True North

I know if you book one of their cottages you can get on, not sure how their reciprocal play works with local clubs.

[dekez]

On 2/25/2024 at 2:49 PM, 1puttTUT said:

I'd rather play Manitou Passage, Bahle Farms, or even Sundance at A-ga-ming over the Bear.

Time for my standard joke... A-ga-ming is Indian for "Sh!tty Course."  Nothing but blind shots.  

[benkodi]

3 hours ago, dekez said:

Time for my standard joke... A-ga-ming is Indian for "Sh!tty Course."  Nothing but blind shots.  

They are only blind once…

[3_Jack_Par]

8 hours ago, dekez said:

Time for my standard joke... A-ga-ming is Indian for "Sh!tty Course."  Nothing but blind shots.  

Are you talking about Sundance? I can't think of a single shot that I'd consider blind on that course. Maybe you're talking about the Torch (which I've never played) or the Chief, which is full of holes that dogleg 90 degrees at around 200 yards?

Edited March 4 by 3_Jack_Par

[dekez]

I could be wrong. I only played it once and vowed never to play it again.  I thought it was A-Ga-Ming.  Would hit a shot straight off the tee and never find it again.  At least 4 or 5 times.