Michigan Golf

[federerfan23]

Need some input

I am getting married in Bay Harbor Michigan this coming August.
My buddies and I are leaving a week early to go on a golfing trip on the way up there.
We are leaving from Cleveland and are looking to play the best courses possible on the way up.
We have Inverness (in ohio) and Arcadia Bluffs on the agenda but need some other courses to play.
We are looking for public or private as we can have our pro make some calls from our club.
Any recommendations would be great.
Thanks!

[Sakman]

May want to check out Forst Dunes in Roscommon, MI [url="http://www.forestdunesgolf.com/"]Click Here[/url]

[GOLFINGGIB]

The Grande Golf Club in Jackson MI. Great course.

[federerfan23]

[quote name='Sakman' date='20 January 2010 - 04:24 PM' timestamp='1264022688' post='2193614']
May want to check out Forst Dunes in Roscommon, MI [url="http://www.forestdunesgolf.com/"]Click Here[/url]
[/quote]


I have heard great things
I will add that to the list

[rlheiman]

Kingsley is on the way to Bay Harbor, connections needed, but an awesome course.

[rtexas1]

Forest Dunes is a must for sure.....id stop at Eagle Eye in Bath(East Lansing) and the Medalist Golf Club in Marshall kinda close to Battle Creek......i used to play at both Eagle Eye and Medalist on a regular basis and they are both very good very tough golf courses! good luck ill let ya know if i think of anything else

[Bubb]

I played Kingsley without a connection, but that may have since changed. It's good, but overpriced (I paid $200.) Inverness is great. I've played it many times. It is consistently rated above Arcadia, but after you've played them both, you'll wonder how they're even on the same list.

There are a TON of courses to play on the way up. Here are a few that come to mind immediately.

The Grande
Thousand Oaks
Pilgrims Run
Little Traverse Bay
Bay Harbor
Hidden River Golf and Casting Club
Boyne Highlands Ross Memorial
Boyne - Arthur Hills
Boyne - Heather
Treetops - RTJ, Fazio, and Smith Signature
Tribute at Otsego Club
Tulleymore
Eagle Eye

There are many more, but I know you won't be disappointed in any of these gems.

[Golfffer]

Bubb put together a great list. There are so many incredible courses up there!!!

[stevepoz]

Another vote for Kingsley. Imo, Arcadia has better views, but the golf is better at Kingsley. Plus, Kingsley is a much shorter round. Now, if you have connections, Crystal Downs is not to be missed.

A number of years ago, we did a Boyne trip. Bay Harbor was nice, but a missed opportunity by the designer. The Heather course was my favorite of the Boyne courses.

[jmansoho]

DO NOT MISS KINGSLEY!

[federerfan23]

Thanks for all the responses guys!
I will def not miss Kingsley

[cwglum]

Sounds like the Kingsley price varies quite a bit. I secured a tee time there from another member who called ahead to arrange our visit, we paid $150 each. Hands down the best service I've ever received at any golf club. Best part though is that it's not a greens fee, it's treated more like a day pass. You can play all day long at whatever rate you pay. If you do get in up there, plan a 36 hole day.

Found out last summer that an acquaintance of mine is a member, people that play there with him pay only $75.00

So my guess is ... $200 unannounced, $150.00 if set up by a member, $75.00 if playing with a member.

[BEND OF THE RIVER GC]

The Kingsley Club is private, but if your pro called they would most likely accommodate you.

[chrisbellaire]

If you can get on Inverness, you can probably get on Crystal Downs and Kingsley. Along with Forest Dunes and Arcadia, these are the four "Can't Miss" in Northern Michigan. I live in the area and have played them all so if you have any questions regarding courses, drive times, bars, restaurants, things to see, etc. let me know. Happy to help!

[mich_ping]

Check out The Gailes - especially if you like links style courses.

[itw419]

I was not a fan of the Gailes. I just thought it was very over rated. Most of the other courses suggested are awesome. Arcadia, Forest Dunes, The Tribute, True North. If you can get on at Kingsley and Crystal Downs then those are easy choices. If you are limited to a few courses I would play the two private courses Arcadia and Forest Dunes.

[mich_ping]

That is too bad you did not like the Gailes. I have played all of the courses you mentioned except for Crystal Downs. I really thought that the Gailes was the closest to Scottish Golf you can get in the States. There is nothing fancy about the course, but it is priced accordingly. The other courses you mentioned are all fantastic as well, IMHO.

[dwmiller19]

I've played The Grande, Arcadia, and all the courses at Boyne, you certainly will not be disappointed. I've also heard a lot of good things about The Bear in Trav City.

[BEND OF THE RIVER GC]

If you stay at Boyne, you will get a cheaper rate for the Bay Harbor course. The course itself is nice, but waaaay overrated. We also played Little Traverse Bay which was very fun. If you would like to play an excellent course, (cheaply) on the way up try The Fortress in Frankenmuth on the way up I-75.

Arcadia Bluffs is a must play. The Wlverine and The BEar at the Grand Traverse Resort are both nice as well.

[orchardlake2003]

From a golf pro in MI. Kingsley is very nice and similar to Crystal Downs (although Kingsley has a green that needs serious improvement). A phone call from your pro should work. Crystal Downs is very nice, green complexes are amazing. If I had to rate the courses in MI they would go....


1) Oakland Hills South
2) Arcadia Bluffs
3) Crystal Downs
Now with the first three on any given day they can differ. Who can argue with the Monster and the views at Arcadia. Crystal Downs is nice, but not a top 20 course in the country. Close but not there when compared to Shinnecock or the National, it isn't even close.
4) Forest Dunes- a can't miss for public golf
5) Indianwood-old course- actually my favorite but the others are in better condition.

Others will vary depending on your connections
Franklin Hills
Gailes
St. Ives
Eagle Eye isn't bad

Depends if you are a private club member or joe public. Either way don't miss Arcadia or Forest Dunes

[jlh1508]

A lot of it is dependent upon what you are looking for and how much you want to spend


Eagle Eye in Bath outside of East Lansing is a great course and is in southern Michigan
The Grande Golf Club in Jackson, MI is a very solid course and will not run you as much as some of the others

Traveling north

Boyne has 8 different courses and honestly all 8 are very nice. But I prefer the Donald Ross memorial and The Heather

Cedar River and The Legend at Shanty Creek are also both nice courses

People have already mentioned The Bear and Arcadia Bluffs


It really depends how much you want to travel and spend. Michigan is loaded with nice courses

[federerfan23]

I have had people tell me that Crystal Downs is "impossible" to get on. I am going to have my pro call when they open though. Does anyone have any recommendations on how to get out there besides having a pro call? And is it really that difficult to get on?

[cwglum]

[quote name='federerfan23' date='22 April 2010 - 10:21 AM' timestamp='1271946110' post='2394266']
I have had people tell me that Crystal Downs is "impossible" to get on. I am going to have my pro call when they open though. Does anyone have any recommendations on how to get out there besides having a pro call? And is it really that difficult to get on?
[/quote]


Crystal Downs is basically impossible to get on unless accompanied by a member.

I've been told that before Memorial Day & After Labor Day are the only times of the year that people are even allowed to play there without being accompanied by a member. And even at that, no idea how to get access to the course. I've literally called the pro shop myself a few times on the chance that they may be in a good mood that day and let 1 group out for a days guest fee each or whatever, etc. They basically laughed me off the phone.

[federerfan23]

If we play Arcadia at 7:30 in the morn, first tee time, where would be a good place to play in the afternoon? We will be playing at Kingsley the next day so anything in that direction would be good. Crystal Downs would be ideal but having doubts about our ability to get out there

[Openwater22]

Manitou Passage Golf Club in Cedar is a redo of an Arnold Palmer design, originally named called Kings Challenge. Cedar is on the Leelanau Pennisula near Sleeping Bear Dunes. I have not played since the redo, but have heard good things. If nothing else the scenery will be awesome. Not quite in Arcadia's league, but darn close.

If you play it give us a post. I'd be interested in your take on Kingsley Club also, I'm not a Kingsley lover like most here.

[odshot68]

The front nine at Kingsley is incredible..the back nine is decent. I highly recommend the cherry chicken salad sandwich. Incredible. Good luck on Crystal Downs. I have tried many avenues to get on to no avail. Hopefully openwater has a connection for me...

[OneBowTie]

If your traveling up Michigan along the West side up....... stop just north of Grand Rapids and play Tulleymore- this is a awesome conditioned course.

And once your in the Bay Harbor/Traverse City area..... play True North- both Tulleymore and True North are both Jim Engh designed courses- this guy really knows how to put together a course.

I just love playing Little Traverse Bay..... Starting off on that first hole with the big flag right behind you blowing in the breeze is always special- especially with that severe downhill first tee shot.

Michigan has so many great courses, especially from middle of the state on up- at least courses that you can play.