Southern MI golf trip

[Tarantula18t]

Need some help

Well, we had planned on a late summer trip to Northern Michigan for this season, but it looks like that will be put on hold until 2012. One guy lost his job, another one has a baby coming around then, etc. It just isn't going to work out this year. Unfortunately I will have to wait until 2012 to play those courses up around the Petoskey area.

So.........two of us are going to try and make a quick trip somewhere in the southern part of the state. We need suggestions from people. One will be coming from Chicago, and I will be in from Cincinnati. We are trying to stay in the area south of Lansing, and no further west then Kalamazoo, or east of Ann Arbor.

Are the courses in good shape in early April? Not sure if this is when we will come, but it's possible. Otherwise, it would be late summer.

We aren't necessarily looking for a resort to play at, but a collection of good courses all within maybe 25 miles of each other or so.

Just from a bit of looking, it appears Yarrow may be a good place? Are there other good courses within about 25 miles or so? I have heard a lot about the Grande in Jackson, but not sure about what other courses are in the area.

Any suggestions would be helpful.

[3_Jack_Par]

Conditions in April will not be great. Greens will be pretty slow, and grass will still be recovering from the winter. The weather can be hit or miss, as well. It's usually playable (and cheap), but late summer is a much better option as far as course conditions go.

The Grande is nice, but there's not a ton of other top courses in the area. Calderone is a decent, kind of faux links style layout that's maybe 10-15 minutes east of there.
I've heard good things about Yarrow, but haven't played there. Other nearby courses are Stonehedge, which has 36 holes, and is a pretty decent value. Bedford Valley is well regarded, but it's not a favorite of mind.

If you go up to Lansing, Eagle Eye and Hawk Hollow are nice. Timber Ridge is also pretty decent, but a bit overpriced.

[knickerbocker]

Between K-Zoo and Ann Arbor is my sweat spot!

If you are looking for a package deal, then check out Gull Lake View Resort - they have five course (Bedford Valley, Stonehedge North and South and Gull Lake View East and West). Bedford used to the be know as "The Big Course" because it is long - but that is about it. I like Stonehedge the best

But if you just want to get a hotel and then travel - I would suggest getting a hotel in Battle Creek and then going to some different courses from there. If you like to Gamble, there is a casino in Battle Creek as well.

I am not saying BC because that is where I live - you might also consider Jackson.

Best bet on courses in area:

Lansing: Eagle Eye/Hawk Hallow/Forrest Acres West Course
Jackson: The Grand/Caledrone/Cascades
Battle Creek/K-Zoo: The Medalist/Yarrow/Stonehedge/Angel's Crossing
Coldwater Country Club is decent as well.

If you find other courses you want feedback on - let me know. I have played pretty much every course in Lansing/Jackson/Battle Creek at some point

[3_Jack_Par]

[quote name='knickerbocker' timestamp='1295379959' post='2906027']
If you are looking for a package deal, then check out Gull Lake View Resort - they have five course (Bedford Valley, Stonehedge North and South and Gull Lake View East and West). Bedford used to the be know as "The Big Course" because it is long - but that is about it. I like Stonehedge the best
[/quote]
If you do one of the GLV packages, and have the option, skip the Gull Lake courses. They're short, crowded, and not very challenging.

[knickerbocker]

[quote name='Tiger Jr.' timestamp='1295380154' post='2906040']
[quote name='knickerbocker' timestamp='1295379959' post='2906027']
If you are looking for a package deal, then check out Gull Lake View Resort - they have five course (Bedford Valley, Stonehedge North and South and Gull Lake View East and West). Bedford used to the be know as "The Big Course" because it is long - but that is about it. I like Stonehedge the best
[/quote]
If you do one of the GLV packages, and have the option, skip the Gull Lake courses. They're short, crowded, and not very challenging.
[/quote]

All courses are short for you....

But he is correct. Best bet is to get a place in the middle and drive. If you stay in Jackson, then Ann Arbor is not far - U of M's course is a great. I think you need to have some association with the U to get on though. I am not familiar with other AA courses - I try to stay away from that town.

[3_Jack_Par]

Ann Arbor doesn't have a lot of great public course options. Stonebridge is one I've played pretty regularly, and it's decent. Pierce Lake in Chelsea is a municipal course, but one that I like a lot. It had some serious problems with some of the greens last year (some kind of fungus killed a lot of grass), but I played there again in the fall, and it was much better.
Another one kind of near A2 is Timber Trace, in Pinckney. It's one of my favorite courses in that area. Good test, with pretty nice conditioning, and reasonable rates.

[Tarantula18t]

36 at Thousand Oaks, or 36 at Pilgrim's Run?

We will be in GR for a day most likely.

Thanks

[secondary]

Agree with the Gull Lake comments after doing it for 4 years in a row. Bedford is my favorite out of that mix if you do the GLV package. Yarrow is right there next to it and it is an upgrade in course compared to GL's 2 courses. That being said, I have had a lot of fun at GL's courses, but there was some drinking involved and it was usually early Fall, but there was never a crowd and we played A LOT of holes each and every day.

[knickerbocker]

[quote name='Tarantula18t' timestamp='1295972628' post='2923229']
36 at Thousand Oaks, or 36 at Pilgrim's Run?

We will be in GR for a day most likely.

Thanks


[/quote]

Will your group be drinking? If so, then don't do PR - they don't serve Alcohol.

Thousands Oaks is nice and so is Thornapple Pointe

[Tarantula18t]

We don't mind a few drinks, but that isn't a main concern at all. No worries if they don't serve alcohol. Both courses look very nice from what I can see.

[knickerbocker]

Well - I can't really say I prefer Thousand Oaks over Pilgrim's Run or vice versa. I have played each only once. Either way, you will enjoy it.

[sst3039]

Better track in Kalamazoo than the Gull Lake option I can think of two quick ones both a little south. Angels Crossing in Vicksburg and Island Hills a bit further south (in the midst of being updated so the April time frame may not be good but late some could be)

[odshot68]

[quote name='Tarantula18t' timestamp='1295972628' post='2923229']
36 at Thousand Oaks, or 36 at Pilgrim's Run?

We will be in GR for a day most likely.

Thanks


[/quote]
Its not even close, Pilgrim's is much, much better. My advice is 36 at Pilgrims and 36 at Tulleymore. How many days will you be golfing? If you stay south, angel's crossing and yarrow is great. The greens at Stonehedge are so slow, but the south course has a good layout. The Grande is awesome too.

[Tarantula18t]

Our last dilemma now seems to be between Grande and Stonehedge. We can't decide whether to play 36 at the Grande, or play 36 at Stonehedge (18 north, 18 south) for one of the days. Unfortunately, It's either one or the other.

Our trip looks like this

Wed: 18 Sycamore Hills in Ft. Wayne and stay there in town.

Thurs: 36 Grande or 36 at Stonehedge....this is the day we are stuck on. Which would you guys recommend? If we were to play Grande, we would play it on the way to Yarrow from Fort Wayne....so driving isn't much of an issue.

Fri: 36 Yarrow

Sat: 36 Medalist

Sun: Back to reality

We have chosen to stay at the Yarrow resort. It looks nice enough.

We have also decided no Grand Rapids on this trip. It looks like there are enough good courses within about 50 miles of the city to save those for an eventual trip. Pilgrim's Run, Thousand oaks and Tullymore to name a few.

Thanks for the help

[odshot68]

Skip Stonehedge and play the Grande and Calderone. Then play Medalist with Bedford Valley. On the last day play Yarrow with Angel's Crossing. This would be a better variety and gives you a chance to try different tracks in the area.

[secondary]

Skip Stonehedge, go to the Grand. Sounds like a sweet trip. Hope you have good weather!

[knickerbocker]

Like others said...Grande over Stonehedge.

BTW Yarrow has lodging on site that can be had for a good deal.

[Tarantula18t]

I appreciate all the responses. It looks like we will knock Stonehedge out of there, and play the Grande.

We are staying on site at Yarrow thru a package deal with the course.

Thanks again

[Tarantula18t]

Another opportunity has presented itself, and we are again debating what to do.

We are playing Yarrow, Medalist, Grande, Sycamore Hills (Indiana), Stonehedge North and South.

We have been given the opportunity to play the Moors in Portage. It's only about 25-30 miles from where we are staying (Yarrow), so the drive is fine.

We now have to decide to either stick with what we have already, or add the Moors in somewhere.

Rather then playing 18 at Stonehedge north and 18 at south in one day, should we skip one of those, and fit the Moors in? Driving wise it would work fine. I guess it's just a matter of what people would recommend on the conditions, layout, etc of the courses? We have never played any of them. The Moors is private, so any information etc on the course over the others would be appreciated.

[b][u]Is the MOORS worth playing on this trip?
[/u][/b]
Thanks!

[odshot68]

[quote name='Tarantula18t' timestamp='1299352518' post='3028391']
Another opportunity has presented itself, and we are again debating what to do.

We are playing Yarrow, Medalist, Grande, Sycamore Hills (Indiana), Stonehedge North and South.

We have been given the opportunity to play the Moors in Portage. It's only about 25-30 miles from where we are staying (Yarrow), so the drive is fine.

We now have to decide to either stick with what we have already, or add the Moors in somewhere.

Rather then playing 18 at Stonehedge north and 18 at south in one day, should we skip one of those, and fit the Moors in? Driving wise it would work fine. I guess it's just a matter of what people would recommend on the conditions, layout, etc of the courses? We have never played any of them. The Moors is private, so any information etc on the course over the others would be appreciated.

[b][u]Is the MOORS worth playing on this trip?
[/u][/b]
Thanks!
[/quote]

Its horrible! Worst CC ever. The last few holes are horrible!! Don't waste your time or money.