Which courses to play in MI?

[rlheiman]

3 days of 36+ holes each day

So I did some searching here and looked at a bunch of MI lists, but I am still trying to figure out the best trip. So here are the details.

My in-laws live in Saginaw, MI. We will be making the trek there second week of August, 2011. My awesome wife allows me to travel the state of MI and play basically as much golf as I can get in 3 days. The rest of the week I spend with the fam. It is a great set-up.

So here is what I need. Where would you play to get in 36 or more holes each day. I played Forest Dunes, Dream, Nightmare, Boyne Heather, Bay Harbor, Dunmaglas and Shanty Creek last year. I've also played Gailes, Red Hawk the year before.

Here was my rough draft.

Day 1-Arcadia and ???
Day 2-Harbor Shores and ???
Day 3-Tullymore

I don't mind driving, but would like to get 36+ in without having to drive too much between courses. I might have connections to get on a private or two so I will take all suggestions public and private. What would your trip include? Don't need lodging, will be returning to Saginaw each night. The 3 days are spread out over the week.

[Bubb]

[quote name='rlheiman' timestamp='1307739647' post='3298904']
So I did some searching here and looked at a bunch of MI lists, but I am still trying to figure out the best trip. So here are the details.

My in-laws live in Saginaw, MI. We will be making the trek there second week of August, 2011. My awesome wife allows me to travel the state of MI and play basically as much golf as I can get in 3 days. The rest of the week I spend with the fam. It is a great set-up.

So here is what I need. Where would you play to get in 36 or more holes each day. I played Forest Dunes, Dream, Nightmare, Boyne Heather, Bay Harbor, Dunmaglas and Shanty Creek last year. I've also played Gailes, Red Hawk the year before.

Here was my rough draft.

Day 1-Arcadia and ???
Day 2-Harbor Shores and ???
Day 3-Tullymore

I don't mind driving, but would like to get 36+ in without having to drive too much between courses. I [u]might[/u] have connections to get on a private or two so I will take all suggestions public and private. What would your trip include? Don't need lodging, will be returning to Saginaw each night. The 3 days are spread out over the week.
[/quote]

The only other great course near Arcadia is Kingsley Club, but that will make for an expensive day. Tullymore and St. Ives are right next to each other, but if you don't mind driving, Thousand Oaks is better than St. Ives. There is nothing else great near Harbor Shores. You could do Elk Ridge and Garland Fountains. Or two Treetops courses. Or True North and Little Traverse Bay.

[chrisbellaire]

Huge amount of driving, but that's up to you.

1. Arcadia and Kingsley
2. Harbor Shores and The Mines (grand rapids)
3. Tullymore and Pilgrims Run

Or, to cut down on driving one day: Shepherds Hollow (27 holes) in Clarkston

Or, Eagle Eye and Hawk Hollow in Lansing

Or, Bucks Run and Pohlcat in Mt. Pleasant

[rlheiman]

Yes I know it is lots of driving, but I only get a few days each year to play the best in MI so I don't mind driving.

So what is the verdict on Tullymore? Is it good or not so? Not based on value, just courses themselves. I'd have not problem skipping any of these if you have better suggestions.

Eagle Eye and Hawks landing any good? Better than Tullymore or Pilgrims Run

[Bubb]

[quote name='rlheiman' timestamp='1307809301' post='3300151']
Yes I know it is lots of driving, but I only get a few days each year to play the best in MI so I don't mind driving.

So what is the verdict on Tullymore? Is it good or not so? Not based on value, just courses themselves. I'd have not problem skipping any of these if you have better suggestions.

Eagle Eye and Hawks landing any good? Better than Tullymore or Pilgrims Run
[/quote]

Tullymore will blow you away. Eagle Eye is great. Hawk hollow is decent, but not great. Pilgrim's run is very good, but it will not blow you away. There is so much world-class golf North of Saginaw that you really have no need to go South, but there are a few great ones in the South as well (Tullymore, Thousand Oaks, Harbor Shores, Eagle Eye).

[rlheiman]

I might do Tullymore and Harbor Shores all on one day then, where should I go on day 3 if I go north?

[chrisbellaire]

Tullymore and Harbor Shores are almost two hours apart.


If you go north, you've already played most of the good ones according to your original post. Arcadia and Kingsley are two of the best in the state, and make the most sense since you haven't played them before.

[rlheiman]

[quote name='chrisbellaire' timestamp='1307836531' post='3300751']
Tullymore and Harbor Shores are almost two hours apart.


If you go north, you've already played most of the good ones according to your original post. Arcadia and Kingsley are two of the best in the state, and make the most sense since you haven't played them before.
[/quote]

My bad,

I was thinking that Tullymore was down to the south toward Benton Harbor. Only like an hour away. Harbor Shores and Tullymore will not be on the same day. Maybe Bucks Run and Tullymore.

How about Lost Dunes and Harbor Shores? Those are pretty close together according to the map.

[chrisbellaire]

Tullymore and Bucks Run would work well together, playing Tullymore first.

Lost Dunes is close to Harbor Shores, maybe 25 minutes, but is private (you'll need an intro.). Maybe save your private connections for Kingsley, or you can get on Kingsley yourself with a little effort. The post entitled "all things michigan golf" has tips for getting on Kingsley on page 52.

[The Big Pinch]

[quote name='chrisbellaire' timestamp='1307808025' post='3300116']
Huge amount of driving, but that's up to you.

1. Arcadia and Kingsley
2. Harbor Shores and The Mines (grand rapids)
3. Tullymore and Pilgrims Run

Or, to cut down on driving one day: Shepherds Hollow (27 holes) in Clarkston

Or, Eagle Eye and Hawk Hollow in Lansing

Or, Bucks Run and Pohlcat in Mt. Pleasant
[/quote]

Bucks Run was great, avoid Pohl Cat, not in great shape.

[drbrjb01]

Tullymore is kind of over rated in my opinion, Thousand Oaks is really good...if you can do the Lost Dunes(need connections) Harbor shores duo in one day that would be your best day of golf all year. I highly recommend Black Lake in Onaway, fantastic course but nothing else close besides maybe Elk Ridgs which I am shocked got on the top 100 public list this year. Around TC I would do The Bear and True North(have not played but i have heard it is awesome).

[knickerbocker]

From a realistic suggestion vs telling you private clubs, etc and long distances of driving between rounds:

Day 1: SW Michigan
Harbor Shores
Pick 1 within an hour: Hawks Head (South Haven), The Ravines (Saugatuck), or The Meadows (GVSU course).

Day 2: If Lansing
Eagle Eye
Pick 1: Hawk Hollow or Forrest Akers West

Day 2: If more toward GR (makes more sense as you can just go up the West side of state)
St. Ives
Tullymore

Day 3: Northern Michigan
Arcadia
Pick 1: Kingsley Club (if possible), Manistee National, or just play 36 at Arcadia.

Drive home.

Harbor Shores is nice, but I am not sure if it worth the extra drive. You may want to consider adding Forest Dunes to the list over HS.

[ND Fan]

good luck getting on Lost Dunes.

[knickerbocker]

[quote name='ND Fan' timestamp='1308080697' post='3307055']
good luck getting on Lost Dunes.
[/quote]

Lost Dunes is pretty hard to get on - I have played it twice, but i know a member personally. Even if you belong to a club, it probably will not happen unless you know a member. Even then, it is hard to play without a member present.

[jefftomahawk]

Harbor Springs area= True North & Little Traverse Bay= A+++ enjoyment

[odshot68]

I have played most of the best this state has to offer. You have played some great courses with Forest Dunes, Bay Harbor, and Shanty Creek.
My advice would stay at the same place and do 36 a day at True North, Arcadia, and Kingsley Club.

If you want different tracks:
1. Little Traverse Bay and True North
2. Kingsley Club (you pay a day rate so why not play 36), if not play this in am and make twilight rate at Arcadia Bluffs
3. Harbor Shores and Hawk's Head or Macatawa Legends
4. Pilgrim's Run and Tullymore

I don't know your connections to private clubs, but Lost Dunes, Wushkowan Players Club, Crystal Downs, Egypt Valley, or Kent Country Club would be great ideas. As you know there are some great private tracks in the SE side of the state.

[chickenpotpie]

I live a little northwest of where you will be based. Consider this...there are not really any good ways to get southwest from Saginaw, so cut those out. Your best bet will be to stay along I-75 and US-10.

Shepherds Hollow is about 1 hour south along 75, and has 27 holes. You could hit the Fortress in Saginaw to call that a day.

Definitely play Arcadia, and something near it. Hell, I'd play it twice, it's that good. This is about a 2 hour drive or so.

Then go north on 75 towards Roscommon. Hit Forest Dunes. Stop at Quest, Dream, or Nightmare on the way back. You could play FD twice too.

If you want a low driving day, do Bucks Run and the Sawmill. Bucks Run is a nice track. Sawmill is better than average (not as good as the others here), but it's local to you. I also have a connection at the Midland Country Club too and could get you on.

[rlheiman]

Day 1 is set--Harbor Shores and Lost Dunes

Day 2 is in the works --Arcadia and Kingsley

Day 3 up in the air --leaning toward 36 at Tullymore or maybe headed toward Detroit. (anything good in that direction)

[3_Jack_Par]

[quote name='rlheiman' timestamp='1310560022' post='3387662']
Day 1 is set--Harbor Shores and Lost Dunes

Day 2 is in the works --Arcadia and Kingsley

Day 3 up in the air --leaning toward 36 at Tullymore or maybe headed toward Detroit. (anything good in that direction)
[/quote]

Need any other players for Day 1?

If you head toward Detroit, a day combining Shepherd's Hollow and The Orchards (about 45 min apart) would be pretty good. You could make it a 45 hole day if you play all 27 at SH. Other well regarded options closer to SH would be Oakhurst (private), Boulder Pointe, and Fieldstone.

[knickerbocker]

You might want to bring an extra putter for Day 2 because playing Harbor Shores and Lost Dunes in the same day might result in anger towards your flat stick.

Day 2 in Northern Michigan to Day 3 in Detroit is a long drive. I would do 36 at Forest Dunes on your way back to Sagnasty.

[rlheiman]

There is a day of rest in between each long day of golf. So the driving isn't to brutal, just back and forth from Saginaw. I do need to spend some time with the in-laws.

Brutal greens at Harbor shores and lost dunes huh? It should be fun then.

[dgrelecki]

Brutal greens at Harbor Shores in an understatement. It's like every green has 15 Jimmy Hoffa's buried under them. Ever seen a bumper pool table??
Lost Dunes has insane greens, but I found them fair. HS would be considered "tricked up". Considering Jack's ego, and the fact that he said he got "a little carried away" at Harbor Shores, I think he agrees.

[mattsam]

I wouldn't do Arcadia at Twilight, too crowded you might not finish. We played Arcadia first tee time and went to Kingsley but finished at dark.
I don't think you would get 14 in at Arcadia if you did that in reverse

[HackerDave]

If you are going to do Tullymore, I would do Pilgrims Run as well. I think it's better than Bucks Run and Pohlcat. Eagles Eye (played it yesterday) is a great course but I'm not sure what else I would play around there. Arcadia is so good I would play it twice but your combo of Arcadia and Kingsley is the best combo. I haven't hit Kingsley yet but plan to before the season is over.