Help with course choice in Benzie County area

cross · July 15, 2010

I'll be staying at Bear Lake, Michigan in early August. My group will be playing Arcadia Bluffs during our stay. We are looking for a second course to play that week. I'm trying to decide between Pinecroft, Champion Hill and Mountain Ridge at Crystal Mountain. We have played Mountain Ridge before so I know what to expect there. How does it compare in quality and type of course to the other options? I'd like to pick the best course from those three in terms of conditions, interesting design and (to a lesser degree) a bit of contrast from the open, linksy feel of Arcadia Bluffs.

itw419 · July 16, 2010

I just played champion hill last week. It was a pretty open layout with a lot of heather but it also had a lot of elevation change. The fairways and tees were a little long but the greens were in good shape and it was an interesting layout. It's a fun course to play.

chrisbellaire · July 16, 2010

Of the three mentioned (Mountain Ridge, Pinecroft, Champion Hill) Mountain Ridge is the best by far. Absolutely no comparison.

mrfitz · July 16, 2010

[quote name='cross' date='15 July 2010 - 11:17 PM' timestamp='1279250223' post='2579194']
I'll be staying at Bear Lake, Michigan in early August. My group will be playing Arcadia Bluffs during our stay. We are looking for a second course to play that week. I'm trying to decide between Pinecroft, Champion Hill and Mountain Ridge at Crystal Mountain. We have played Mountain Ridge before so I know what to expect there. How does it compare in quality and type of course to the other options? I'd like to pick the best course from those three in terms of conditions, interesting design and (to a lesser degree) a bit of contrast from the open, linksy feel of Arcadia Bluffs.
[/quote]

Bear Lake is a nice layout. Kind of an old style course. Sometimes they have some conditioning issues, but I haven't played out there this year yet. Heathlands out in Onekema is better than any of the Benzie courses, probably closer too. I'm not a big fan of either Pinecroft or Champion Hill, they play pretty easy. Champion Hill especially has a lot of similarity in the par 4's. I actually like Betsie Valley better than mountain ridge, I used to be a member out there but didn't renew because their primary business is their resort guests, so long rounds after mid-May are the norm. Mistwood is better, but it's a little farther away, and they tend to be a little closer to 5 hour rounds.

Heathlands would probably be your best bet.

cross · July 16, 2010

Thanks for the replies so far. I've played Heathlands and Bear Lake County Highlands. I like both courses.

I've played both courses at Crystal Mountain, so I know both of them are not bad choices. I favor Mountain Ridge between those two. I have seen some pictures and reviews of Pinecroft and Champion Hill on GolfClubAtlas.com and they both looked pretty interesting. Some of the bunkering and the heather at Champion Hill put me in mind of a poor man's Crystal Downs. Of course, the websites do a great job marketing the courses with great pics.

I was also considering one of the courses at Manistee National. I haven't played either one there. However, those courses looked to have less elevation change and a lot of marsh land. Since the other people in our group are new to Michigan golf, I was looking for something with some trees and hills to compliment the Arcadia Bluffs round.

It seems like Mountain Ridge may be the best option. Post round food and drink at The Thistle is also a plus with that choice.

mrfitz · July 17, 2010

[quote name='cross' date='16 July 2010 - 10:40 PM' timestamp='1279334404' post='2581076']
Thanks for the replies so far. I've played Heathlands and Bear Lake County Highlands. I like both courses.

I've played both courses at Crystal Mountain, so I know both of them are not bad choices. I favor Mountain Ridge between those two. I have seen some pictures and reviews of Pinecroft and Champion Hill on GolfClubAtlas.com and they both looked pretty interesting. Some of the bunkering and the heather at Champion Hill put me in mind of a poor man's Crystal Downs. Of course, the websites do a great job marketing the courses with great pics.

I was also considering one of the courses at Manistee National. I haven't played either one there. However, those courses looked to have less elevation change and a lot of marsh land. Since the other people in our group are new to Michigan golf, I was looking for something with some trees and hills to compliment the Arcadia Bluffs round.

It seems like Mountain Ridge may be the best option. Post round food and drink at The Thistle is also a plus with that choice.
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The thing about Champion Hill is that everything is so wide that you never even have to consider the heather. There's some bunkering around the greens, but as you're coming in with wedges on those holes they aren't in play much either. It's a nice place to go if you've been hitting the ball bad, it'll really boost your confidence. Pinecroft is close to the same, except with trees on a couple holes that can actually snag an errant shot. Pinecroft was the first place I shot in the 70's. Pinecroft was the first of the two that opened and when it was new they really had the greens running fast. Since then they've recognized all the undulation, so they run a little slower now.