Northern Michigan Golf Report

[BG5]

I got back a few days ago from a wonderful Northern Michigan vacation. Northern Michigan is one of the most beautiful places in the world and I hope someday to retire there. Here is a quick recap.

Day 1 – 36 holes @ Black Lake – Black Lake continues to be one of my favorite courses in Northern Michigan. The course is outstanding and although it’s a bit tight, one can score well if you keep your tee shot in play. Many greens are elevated and the conditioning is outstanding. I was surprised at he condition of the course as it was in great shape. The greens rolled well and the staff always treats you very well.

 

Day 2 – 18 Holes @ Hidden River and 27 holes @ Little Traverse Bay – It was the first time I played Hidden River and I must say the course conditions were outstanding. The fairways were in perfect shape and again the staff was outstanding. The greens were in a little bit of rough shape from the hard winter but nothing that would ruin my round. I suspect in the next few days the warm temps and rain will make a huge difference on the greens. I loved the course although it does not rank up there with the big boys. It’s a great layout but I will probably play this course once every 5 years.

Little Traverse Bay was the surprise of the trip as I had only played it once before in foggy weather. I must admit that I did not like it my first trip in the fog but boy am I glad I played it again in nice weather. The views are out of this world and it almost feels like every hole is a signature hole. The greens were the fastest that we played and the starter was correct when he said every putt breaks toward the bay. Pace of play was a bit slow but that was no biggie as the views made up for it. I am not a huge fan of hole 9 and 18 which are both dramatic uphill holes but I can say that I absolutely love Little Traverse Bay and plan to play it again this Summer!

 

Day 3 – 18 Holes @ Boyne Arthur Hills Course and 18 holes @ Boyne Donald Ross Memorial – Boyne is top notch in terms of customer service and practice facilities. The Art Hills course blew me away as it was in amazing condition and the greens were smoking fast. The course was in great shape and I really enjoyed the scenery and the wide fairways which let you swing for the fences off the tee. I would have to rank to Art Hills Course in my Top 10 in Michigan and Hole #13 has to be one of the best holes in the State. Besides Bay Harbor I feel that the Art Hills Course is the next best although some will disagree.

The Donald Ross was also awesome as the course was again in great shape. The greens were fast and rolled true. Boyne courses are always in great shape and I enjoyed the replica holes that this course produces. Again the staff was outstanding and I enjoyed the elevation change that this course offered. If you never played it make sure your sand game is good as there are bunkers everywhere but I must admit that the sand they have in the bunkers is outstanding.

 

Day 4 – 18 Holes @ Treetops Fazio and 18 Holes @ Otsego Club Tribute. Gaylord golf continues to be the best value in the entire State. Our first round was on the Treetops Fazio (Premier) Course and it was in AMAZING condition. The greens were outstanding and were in the best condition I have seen greens @ Treetops in years. The fairways were awesome and my only complaint were the bunkers as there were a fair amount of rocks. The Fazio course is player friendly and most balls funnel back into the fairway which is nice and it’s a great course for a high handicapper. It is one of the best courses in Northern Michigan and cracks my personal top 10.

The Tribute (Otsego Club) continues to be one of my favorite courses in Northern Michigan. The greens were lighting fast and I have never had a pace of play issue here. The staff was outstanding and hole # 3 has to be one of the better holes in Michigan as it’s a reachable par 4 that I was able to make birdie J I highly recommend a round @ the Tribute and enjoy the wonderful scenery.

 

I must admit that the conditions up North were outstanding for this time of year. I always go up Memorial Day weekend and the courses this year in terms of conditions were awesome compared to last year. Additionally, most of the trees have leaves and the courses were really green so anybody going on a trip soon will be pleased. Northern Michigan continues to be one of the best values for golf in the world and thank god its within a few hours if I ever get the itch.

 

P.S. the bugs were hit and miss but at Hidden River and Black Lake they were bad. Bring some bug spray and you will be fine.

 

Pure Michigan!

[IrishGolfer14]

I was also up in Northern Michigan over the weekend and I agree with everything you said about Arthur Hills. It doesn't seem to get the rankings and praise that some of the other Boyne area courses get, but it's definitely right up there with Bay Harbor for me.

[bearcatnut]

Just got back from Thurs/Fri trip to Boyne. Played Boyne Mountain Alpine and Monument Thursday and Friday played Boyne Highlands Ross and Heather. All 4 were awesome courses and in great shape. Having never played there before, i was BLOWN AWAY at how grainy the greens were, especially at the Mountain courses. You could have a putt that was clearly a left to right putt, but if the grain was going to the left, the putt was going to move left, regardless of the lay of the land. It was almost comical. Not necessarily a complaint, but it was pretty maddening putting those greens. I would imagine course knowledge and knowing which way the grain was would be a major help. Our foursome must have had 16-18 3 putts on the Alpine course...easily.

Are the greens always like this? Have played Treetops courses before and did not notice that one bit

[Tallen01]

Wow. Seems like at lot of us were up there recently. bearcatnut we were probably behind you in I75 all the way up there! (16 of us, with about half of us coming up from Middletown, Lebanon, and Kettering, Ohio).

Played Boyne Mountain Hills, Heather, and Ross, Crooked Tree, Hidden River, and Bay Harbor Links/Preserve. Agree on the grainy greens. I've been putting great but could not read the greens up there at all. Of all the courses, Hills was by far everyone's favorite. Courses were all in very good shape, with just a little leftover damage from winter on two courses' greens (Hidden River and Links/Preserve maybe?).

All in all, just great golf, even though it was rainy and freezing up there. Next trip would be in July or August for sure!