Boyne Courses, MI

[rlheiman]

Which ones to play??

I am headed to Boyne Highlands next week for the in-laws family vacation.

This mean plenty of golf. I am playing on playing the Heather course and Bay Harbor Links/Quarry. After that what courses are worth playing?

I also have a round scheduled at the Kingsley Club (I'm very excited about that). Maybe Arcadia Bluffs not sure yet. I played there 2 years ago.

Anyone have connections to get onto Crystal Downs?

So any other must plays in the area. I don't mind driving, but if I don't have to or can combine trips that would be great. 36 or 54 holes a day is my kind of vacation.

Thanks for any help

[ppresnell]

I'm also going up to Boyne Highlands for a family vacation in a few weeks. Will be my first time in the area but I've heard great things. I would play 36 holes a day but family time comes first. I'm hoping to play 4-5 rounds and have tee times booked at Little Traverse Bay, Bay Harbor, Arcadia Bluffs, and True North. Also considering trying to get one additional round on either Forest Dunes, Black Lake, or Hawk's Eye. I've heard Kingsley Club is very nice but wasn't sure if it was open for public play. When you played Arcadia did it warrant all the high praise I read about?

[cdesana]

I am told Kingsley lets limited non member play if you call ahead. As for the original poster asking about Crystal Downs, it is said it may be the toughest course to get on in the midwest.

[golfnut7]

Hawks Eye is a must play as is Little Traverse Bay in my opinion. Cedar River was nice too.

[bbslurp413]

Arcadia is worth all the hype and the greens fees. You will not be disappointed. My favorite course.

[rlheiman]

Well it looks like

 

Monday: Boyne Highlands Heather

Tuesday: Kingsley Club and Either High Pointe GC or Arcadia Bluffs

Wednesday: Shanty Creek and Bay Harbor

Thursday: Boyne Highland ????

 

So my 2 questions now:

 

1. Should I play a Boyne Highland course on Thursday or something else?

2. Is High Pointe any good or should I play Arcadia Bluffs? (I have already played it, so is High Pointe decent or not worth it?)

 

thanks for any help

[BEND OF THE RIVER GC]

My Michigan summer is jam packed:

 

Dunmaglas Links

Lelanau Club

Champion Hill

Blackheath

 

Forest Dunes

Red Hawk

Serradella

Blackshire

Gailes

 

and 2-3 more to be named later!

 

Boyne might be next summer....

[BEND OF THE RIVER GC]

Highpointe is inexpensive and worth playing, pics here:

 

http://www.hetzelfamily.org/golf/Highpointe/

 

Arcadia Bluffs is AWESOME, pics here from 2 years ago:

 

http://www.hetzelfamily.org/golf/arcadia/

 

Enjoy!

[rlheiman]

My Michigan summer is jam packed:

 

Dunmaglas Links

Lelanau Club

Champion Hill

Blackheath

 

Forest Dunes

Red Hawk

Serradella

Blackshire

Gailes

 

and 2-3 more to be named later!

 

Boyne might be next summer....

 

If you haven't played the second half of your list you will certainly enjoy.

 

I love the Gailes, one of my favorites all time.

Forest Dunes is really great too. Excellent shape and lots of sand.

Blackshire is really different, must fly everything to the green, no run ups. But a nice course too.

I was a little disappointed in Red Hawk. I had read so much about how great it was, but wasn't impressed.

Didn't get to play the Serradella. Looks a bit plain, but when you are at the resort I think it would be worth a round.

[mrfitz]

These courses are local to me, so take what I say with a grain of salt.

 

I'm not a big fan of Champion Hill. It tends to be a little easy and they have a tendency to set all the tees to similar yardages (can you say 3wd - wedge?). They're trying to go for the "links" look, but the fairways are so wide and the approaches so short that it is just a look, not something that would affect the play. I'd recommend saving a couple bucks and driving a little south to Bear Lake County Highlands. A much better test of golf that is a more traditional layout that I have yet to hear a bad thing about. Or even the Heathlands in Onekama. It would depend on where your staying and what your tastes run to. The Heathlands being a little more modern.

 

Leelanau Club is pretty decent, but again, being local I've see their rates double in the last few years and if I'm going to drive that far and pay that money I'd go for Kings Challenge out a little farther west.