Late May trip to Northern Michigan

[slappymcgee]

suggestions please

I am planning a trip for next spring to N Michigan and was looking for some advice. Looking at the averages, the weather appears to be ok in late May. How are the conditions of the courses that time of the year, particularly the greens?

Our plans are pretty much up in the air with the exception of a few things.

The only things that we are surely doing are staying 4 nights at the Odawa, playing 18 holes at Links/Quarry at Bay Harbor, and we are going to play 18 holes at Ostego Tribute on the way up.

We basically need to fill in two days of 36 holes, and one more 18 hole round the day we play Bay Harbor.

I think we are either going to go with Crooked Tree or Dunmaglas the day we play Bay Harbor. Both seem to be close. Out of those two, which would you guys choose? We want to have at least one day were we don't have to drive much, and this is the day. Odawa is close to all these courses. Dunmaglas being a little further at about 10 miles or so from Bay Harbor it appears.

On one of the 36 hole days, we were looking at driving down to Shanty Creek and playing Cedar River, and Hawk's Eye. They are both right next to each other, and look nice. Would this be a wise decision, or would you recommend a different course in that area? It says about 44 miles, which my guess is about an hour? Is that right?

The last 36 hole day we have no clue what to do. A few of us have already played True North and Little Traverse Bay, but we wouldn't be opposed to going back to those. Another in the area that looks good is Birchwood Farms, but I believe that to be private. Is there a way to get on there? We were looking at Black Lake, but it appears there is nothing around there, except Indian River, and that doesn't look all that great from what I can tell.

Lastly, we are trying to avoid the Boyne Highlands courses, only because we have been up there as well.

Thanks

[3_Jack_Par]

[quote name='slappymcgee' timestamp='1316613404' post='3579651']
[size="3"]I am planning a trip for next spring to N Michigan and was looking for some advice. Looking at the averages, the weather appears to be ok in late May. How are the conditions of the courses that time of the year, particularly the greens?
[b]Generally pretty good, but it depends on how bad of a winter it was, and the weather in the spring. This year, for instance, most courses still had their greens running pretty slow near the end of May (I was there the weekend before Memorial Day weekend -- by mid June when I was back again, they were rolling much better).

[/b]Our plans are pretty much up in the air with the exception of a few things.

The only things that we are surely doing are staying 4 nights at the Odawa, playing 18 holes at Links/Quarry at Bay Harbor, and we are going to play 18 holes at Ostego Tribute on the way up.
[b]The conditioning at the Tribute early in the season can be pretty hit or miss. I think they really ramp up the maintenance after Memorial Day, but I played it in May this year, and the greens were sandy, and the conditioning in general wasn't great. I love the course, but it was in kind of disappointing shape. It was a particularly rough winter last year, though[/b]

We basically need to fill in two days of 36 holes, and one more 18 hole round the day we play Bay Harbor. [/size]

[size="3"]I think we are either going to go with Crooked Tree or Dunmaglas the day we play Bay Harbor. Both seem to be close. Out of those two, which would you guys choose? We want to have at least one day were we don't have to drive much, and this is the day. Odawa is close to all these courses. Dunmaglas being a little further at about 10 miles or so from Bay Harbor it appears.
[b]I've not played either, but I have not heard good things about either course. Little Traverse Bay could be another option, and I've heard others say that it's kind of an underappreciated gem.[/b]
On one of the 36 hole days, we were looking at driving down to Shanty Creek and playing Cedar River, and Hawk's Eye. They are both right next to each other, and look nice. Would this be a wise decision, or would you recommend a different course in that area? It says about 44 miles, which my guess is about an hour? Is that right?
[b]Big fan of both courses. You're correct about the drive.[/b]

The last 36 hole day we have no clue what to do. A few of us have already played True North and Little Traverse Bay, but we wouldn't be opposed to going back to those. Another in the area that looks good is Birchwood Farms, but I believe that to be private. Is there a way to get on there? We were looking at Black Lake, but it appears there is nothing around there, except Indian River, and that doesn't look all that great from what I can tell. [/size]
[b]I'm not sure if you'd be commuting back and forth to Petoskey that day, but if not, 36 at Forest Dunes is the way to go. You won't find a better conditioned public course around, and you absolutely won't be bored playing the same 18 holes twice.[/b]

[size="3"]Lastly, we are trying to avoid the Boyne Highlands courses, only because we have been up there as well. [/size]

[size="3"]Thanks [/size]
[/quote]