Tullymore/St Ives—Mich

[DaddyCaddieIU]

Planning a 3 day stay and play golf trip late July. Any feedback on the quality of golf for these two courses? Great stay and play option? We have 12-16 golfers and we want to play as much golf on REALLY GOOD courses as possible. Handicaps range from 0-24, fun group!

 

Also trying to squeeze in Pilgrim’s Run on the way up or back from Indianapolis.

 

Last two years our group has dimensions French Lick (Dye And Ross) and Lafayette (Kampen and Ackerman).

 

Drive is 4.5 north of Indy, farthest we want to travel.

 

[klebs01]

Tullymore is a nice course and worth playing. Thought st. Ives should have been skipped on the trip. Was very disappointed with it, but that was a few years ago. Loop and forest dunes is a much better stay and play option in that area. Kingsley is definitely worth playing too if you are able.

[knickerbocker]

Tullymore is a really nice course, but I find it over-rated. There are a few quirky holes that i find poorly designed. I personally like St. Ives, but I think that is because I have always played well there. There are some quirky holes there too.

 

The lodging at Tullymore is really nice. If you rent the lodge, it is amazing.

 

Personally, for three days, I would go to Boyne Highlands and you will play better courses and have more options.

[Jayshaft]

Another plus 1 for boyne highlands! It’s a little further drive, but you definitely will not be disappointed.

 

If you could swing a 5 day trip - check out their great escape package

[VNutz]

Tullymore is a really nice course, but I find it over-rated. There are a few quirky holes that i find poorly designed. I personally like St. Ives, but I think that is because I have always played well there. There are some quirky holes there too.

 

The lodging at Tullymore is really nice. If you rent the lodge, it is amazing.

 

Personally, for three days, I would go to Boyne Highlands and you will play better courses and have more options.

 

I agree on Tulleymore, I left very underwhelmed. Not a bad course, just didn't live up to the hype for me, didn't do the accommodations.

 

OP, I'm a very big fan of Pilgrims Run, although it's probably been 5+ years since I played there last. I highly recommend it, very fun course and a unique setting.

[cwglum]

You'll have to add time to your drive to hit either course from Indy. I'm in SW Mich and Tullymore is 1hr 45min for me. Agreed on Tullymore reviews above also, consistently overrated in my opinion. Nice course, but not worthy of all the praise it receives from paid for magazine ratings.

[Moo]

I've played all three many, many times starting the year they each opened.

 

Tullymore has a few quirky holes, but over the years they have all grown on me. It's unusual, but it's fair and playable. The scale of a few of the signature holes is impressive.

 

St. Ives is a good quality course, but I wouldn't rank it as exceptional. It's a Jerry Mathews design and he likes put fun at the top of his design checklist. Ives is probably the best course within 20 minutes of Tullymore, so it's worth playing if you want to stay in the general area.

 

Pilgrims Run is actually my favorite of the three, although there are a couple of holes that some people think are on the edge of gimmicky. I'm not in the camp. I always feel like Pilgrims puts the short game to a serious test. There are some interesting greens, but I've always found them to roll true and be fairly predictable.

 

All three are worth playing, but if I only had time for two it would be Pilgrims and Tullymore.

 

There is a detailed review on Youtube of all 18 holes at Pilgrims by Michigan Golfer. It's worth checking out.

[HackerDave]

I personally enjoy Tullymore. St Ives a bit less so, but it's still not a bad track. Pilgrims Run is MUCH better than St Ives in my opinion. I would seriously recommend that you DO NOT stay at the Inn at St Ives. We stayed there after buying a package at a charity auction. It was like a bad Holiday Inn. Tullymore is SO MUCH better.

[BG5]

I like both Tullymore and St. Ives and they are really good golf coursess. I would agree with what others say that their might be some better options for a guys trip. Pilgrims Run is just an amazing setup but if it were me for bang for your buck I would go to Treetops as that place is sweet. Boyne Highlands would be a close second but is farther up North.

 

Bottom line whatever you decide you guys will have a blast!

[kgeisler13]

I play Tullymore and St. Ives multiple times a year and I enjoy them every time I go. Very nice courses and playable but not exceptional. Not to far from Mt. Pleasant if you want to go to the casino. I would not recommend the Loop like someone did early in the thread but that is my opinion. Boyne Highlands is nice, if you guys don't mind driving a couple extra hours. Never played Pilgrim's Run but heard its awesome.

[klebs01]

Why wouldn’t you recomend the loop? It was probably the funnest course I played last year. The design is exceptional.

[chadly643]

Bucks Run is in Mt. pleasant. Not too far from Tullymore. Awesome course. I’d put it above St. Ives. Tullymore is great but definitely not in the same league as Forest Dunes, Arcadia Bluffs, or Bay Harbor for Michigan public golf. Pilgrims Run is one of my favorite courses in the state. Really interesting golf course with a nice mix of holes.

[kgeisler13]

Why wouldn't you recomend the loop? It was probably the funnest course I played last year. The design is exceptional.

 

I played awful, it was 100 degrees, and I am not a fan of wide open golf courses. So I am a little biased lol. I guess it depends on the kind of golf they like.

[reperna]

the loop is one of the coolest golf courses ive ever played

[kgeisler13]

The idea is cool and I'm glad I played it once but I would not go back unless it was free or discounted. Just not my cup of tea but if you like links style golf than I would say go play it.

[DaddyCaddieIU]

Thanks for all the advice, we convinced the group to drive a little bit more and we are doing 36 holes each at Arcadia Bluffs and 36 on the south course! Playing Warren (ND) on the way home. Should be a nice 3 day trip! Any thoughts on the South Course?

[Boom54]

Thanks for all the advice, we convinced the group to drive a little bit more and we are doing 36 holes each at Arcadia Bluffs and 36 on the south course! Playing Warren (ND) on the way home. Should be a nice 3 day trip! Any thoughts on the South Course?

 

I'm playing the south course in May. Will make sure and report back.