Tips to enjoying Arcadia Bluffs - Help

[booglez]

Three friends and I are headed up to play Arcadia Bluffs next month, and, well, I wanted to see what you guys thought would make the experience better than just the beautiful views the course offers.

 

Any course tips, anything that you can think of.

 

All are appreciated.

 

Thanks!

[tdk8180]

Don't expect to play lights out. It will be sneaky windy, so play the wind first, then figure where your ball is going to land and bounce off to. When 100 yds and in, play the ball as low as possible. If you have to hit an 8 iron from 80 yds, do it. Putts break towards the water, regardless of what it looks like.

[1tondriver]

Don't play it from the tips like I did the first time, lol. Bring your patience for the greens, there are usually some really unfair placements at times. Other than that take it in and have fun!

[chickenpotpie]

Don't play the tips!!! You can spray your driver some on this course, but pick your spots. A couple holes look like driver holes but are not, IMO.

The biggest thing you can do is to try to place the ball on the correct tier of the green as much as possible. The course is really enjoyable, except for the greens. Some of them are just plain ridiculous depending on the pin placement. I've seen 5 and 6 putts!

[mattsam]

Please give a full review after you play me and two buddies are playing in July

[chickenpotpie]

Oh and one other thing....stay on pace. The carts tell you if you are on or off pace. The rangers will come around every few holes and will make you skip a hole if you get too far behind (more than 10 minutes). So watch how long you go looking for balls in the heather. They don't care if no one is pushing you either, or at least they didn't with our group....we were behind, but no one was waiting on us.

[kkrenzke]

[quote name='chickenpotpie' timestamp='1333323253' post='4626251']
Oh and one other thing....stay on pace. The carts tell you if you are on or off pace. The rangers will come around every few holes and will make you skip a hole if you get too far behind (more than 10 minutes). So watch how long you go looking for balls in the heather. They don't care if no one is pushing you either, or at least they didn't with our group....we were behind, but no one was waiting on us.
[/quote]


Be prepaired ti 4 putt because if the insane greens...fun to play ONCE and then go to much more enjoyable courses in Northern Michigan...The Bear at Grand Traverse, Bay Harbor in Petosky, Cedar River and espicially Forrest Dunes...Sorry to pee on the Parade but us native, single digit native Michiganians do no play this course!!

[akw512]

The biggest thing in my opinion is just to have fun and don't go in expecting to tear the course up. I certainly did not play well, but I had a great time because I went in with the expectation to just have fun and enjoy the course/scenery. Also, be prepared for the wind. It will be VERY windy. Wouldn't hurt to practice hitting the ball low before you head up there.

[HackerDave]

[quote name='kkrenzke' timestamp='1333326564' post='4626585']
[quote name='chickenpotpie' timestamp='1333323253' post='4626251']
Oh and one other thing....stay on pace. The carts tell you if you are on or off pace. The rangers will come around every few holes and will make you skip a hole if you get too far behind (more than 10 minutes). So watch how long you go looking for balls in the heather. They don't care if no one is pushing you either, or at least they didn't with our group....we were behind, but no one was waiting on us.
[/quote]


Be prepaired ti 4 putt because if the insane greens...fun to play ONCE and then go to much more enjoyable courses in Northern Michigan...The Bear at Grand Traverse, Bay Harbor in Petosky, Cedar River and espicially Forrest Dunes...Sorry to pee on the Parade but us native, single digit native Michiganians do no play this course!!
[/quote]

You may be the only person in the world who thinks the Bear is more enjoyable than Arcadia Bluffs!!! Arcadia is one of my all time favorite courses and I have played a LOT of northern Michigan courses. Everything about it, including the greens, is a blast!! The Bear is like going to the dentist in my opinion ;-)

[HackerDave]

[quote name='booglez' timestamp='1333299473' post='4624397']
Three friends and I are headed up to play Arcadia Bluffs next month, and, well, I wanted to see what you guys thought would make the experience better than just the beautiful views the course offers.

Any course tips, anything that you can think of.

All are appreciated.

Thanks!
[/quote]

The weather in May can be all over the map. It could be sunny and 75* or cloudy and 40*. You never know. A drink outside as the sun sets is the perfect way to end the day. In the summer they have a bag piper out there. Not sure in May. It's kind of in the middle of nowhere but there is a pretty big casino about 20 or so minutes away.

I played it in the fall with my teenage kids and we all played it pretty well. The wind and elevation will play havoc with your game. As others have said, the key is to try to get your ball on the proper level of the green. Since there is so much wind, the greens are pretty huge. If the wind knocks you down, you could have a REALLY long putt.

[jallstar23]

Bring your camera and try to stay within yourself, I found that i tried to hit the ball too hard because the course seems so open, but you can end up getting in trouble.

[knickerbocker]

[quote name='HackerDave' timestamp='1333372879' post='4629401']
The Bear is like going to the dentist in my opinion ;-)
[/quote]

True.

[3_Jack_Par]

[quote name='1tondriver' timestamp='1333304679' post='4624743']
Don't play it from the tips like I did the first time, lol. Bring your patience for the greens, there are usually some really unfair placements at times. Other than that take it in and have fun!
[/quote]

They don't even put the markers out for the tips most of the time. Too many 6 hour rounds from people who had no business playing back there. Looking at where a few of those boxes are, the course would be brutal from back there!

[Mich Nick]

Played it once a year since it opened. I have not seen the real back tees since the first year. The current number 13, 240 into the wind par 3 is just a sick hole. With the green on the corner of a ravine ,[url="http://arcadiabluffs.com/course_hole_13.php"]http://arcadiabluffs.com/course_hole_13.php[/url] , that might of been the hardest hole i have played due to the conditions.

But I do agree with everyone else, placement on the greens is everything. Playing to the tier and not the hole can save you from a 2 putt to a 4 putt. I find the course to be very driver friendly, but the greens are what define the difficultly to me.

[cwglum]

My $.02 worth ... the customer service there has lacked a lot when I've been there. I've been there twice, 1st time was basically "good morning, you're luck to be here today", 2nd time was not nearly as poor but still not as cordial as you'd like when you're paying that kind of $$$. They're uber fixated on time ... rush you to the 1st tee if they've gotten ahead on thier tee sheet, pace of play, etc.

That being said, the course is fantastic and truly a unique experience. Take it all in and don't let your score determine your level of enjoyment. One of the very few 'must plays' in my book.

[chickenpotpie]

[quote name='3 Jack Par' timestamp='1333387215' post='4631087']
[quote name='1tondriver' timestamp='1333304679' post='4624743']
Don't play it from the tips like I did the first time, lol. Bring your patience for the greens, there are usually some really unfair placements at times. Other than that take it in and have fun!
[/quote]

They don't even put the markers out for the tips most of the time. Too many 6 hour rounds from people who had no business playing back there. Looking at where a few of those boxes are, the course would be brutal from back there!
[/quote]

The only hole I'd like to play from the back tees is #8. Something about having to wait for normal road traffic to cross.

10 and 11 are the two best holes on the course, IMO. I say this even though I routinely mess both of them up. 3JP has a picture of 11 in his avatar.

Also, put me down as a single digit capper that enjoys this course....haven't played the Bear, but I don't like dentists, generically speaking.

[knickerbocker]

10 is a beast. Last time I played it, I thought I hit a perfect approach, only to find it had fallen just short and ended up in double bogey land. 11 is just awesome.

[WilCox]

Some of the bunkers are incredibly deep. A good lob wedge is priceless, but accept that you might have to play out away from the hole on occasion. The key to having a decent day on the greens is getting on the right tier. Enjoy.

[3_Jack_Par]

[quote name='knickerbocker' timestamp='1333452618' post='4637097']
10 is a beast. Last time I played it, I thought I hit a perfect approach, only to find it had fallen just short and ended up in double bogey land. 11 is just awesome.
[/quote]

That bunker in front of that green is just a monster, not unlike a lot of the others on the course. If you find yourself in the deep ones, you need to remember to generate speed to get the ball up quickly. I'd like another crack at #10, because I played it from billy goat territory after snapping my tee shot into the hills that frame the hole on the left.

[chickenpotpie]

[quote name='3 Jack Par' timestamp='1333484068' post='4641647']
[quote name='knickerbocker' timestamp='1333452618' post='4637097']
10 is a beast. Last time I played it, I thought I hit a perfect approach, only to find it had fallen just short and ended up in double bogey land. 11 is just awesome.
[/quote].
That bunker in front of that green is just a monster, not unlike a lot of the others on the course. If you find yourself in the deep ones, you need to remember to generate speed to get the ball up quickly. I'd like another crack at #10, because I played it from billy goat territory after snapping my tee shot into the hills that frame the hole on the left.
[/quote]

I put my tee shot just in front of that boulder on the left side on 10. I had a shot over it, but if it came out too low, it was probably going to come back and hit me. Probably one of the few times (maybe the only time) I had genuine fear of hitting the ball. Needless to say, you focus just a bit more..

[dozer996]

First time starring down 10 was simply awesome. I love how the natural stadium encloses this hole, pictures don't do it justice. The start of the back nine is probably one of the best around, 10 and 11 are sick.

[woodward]

Just relax, enjoy the view and try to be pin high when possible.

[rex235]

Have played Arcadia Bluffs ten times.

The developer, a member at Crystal Downs, wanted a simlar experience which would warrant a comparison to that course, and those other seaside windswept courses like Shinnecock Hills and Ballybunion.

The current routing is better than the original routing.

1. Play from the correct tees.

2. Play with an optic golf ball... they are easier to find.

3. The practice range is with the prevailing wind. Most of your shots on the course won't be.

4. All putts break toward Lake Michigan.

5. It's a resort course. Enjoy yourself.

[3_Jack_Par]

[quote name='dozer996' timestamp='1333561195' post='4648551']
First time starring down 10 was simply awesome. I love how the natural stadium encloses this hole, pictures don't do it justice. The start of the back nine is probably one of the best around, 10 and 11 are sick.
[/quote]

If you want to experience what it feels like to hit your tee shot 350 yards +, 11 is one of your best chances to do it. Probably the most visually striking golf hole I've ever seen.

[Wet Doggg]

Put me down as a low single digit handicap, Michigan resident that loves to play Arcadia. Like it was stated before, 10 and 11 and I will include 12 and 13 are just awesome. The hole course it really fun to play if you ask me. Go in playing the right tees and the mentality that you are going to feel like you have been teated unfairly at times and just enjoy yourself. It looks open, but drive the ball as straight as you can. The heather, hills and bunkers off the fairways can be brutal.

I have to agree on the staff from a comment above. I walk in there and they act like I was given a pardon by the governor to allow me to come and play their course. Shelling out $180, I expect to be treated better. I do not need or want my a** kissed, but I don't want to be treated like I am a PITA because I showed up to play.

[chickenpotpie]

Any recommendations for a place to play within an hour of Arcadia? Got a buddies trip scheduled for later this year. Will be playing Arcadia Thursday and Saturday, and Tullymore on the way home Sunday. Need somewhere to play Friday. Staying at a cabin in Arcadia, so anywhere 1 hour away is in play.

[pgagreg1]

[quote name='HackerDave' timestamp='1333372879' post='4629401']
[quote name='kkrenzke' timestamp='1333326564' post='4626585']
[quote name='chickenpotpie' timestamp='1333323253' post='4626251']
Oh and one other thing....stay on pace. The carts tell you if you are on or off pace. The rangers will come around every few holes and will make you skip a hole if you get too far behind (more than 10 minutes). So watch how long you go looking for balls in the heather. They don't care if no one is pushing you either, or at least they didn't with our group....we were behind, but no one was waiting on us.
[/quote]


Be prepaired ti 4 putt because if the insane greens...fun to play ONCE and then go to much more enjoyable courses in Northern Michigan...The Bear at Grand Traverse, Bay Harbor in Petosky, Cedar River and espicially Forrest Dunes...Sorry to pee on the Parade but us native, single digit native Michiganians do no play this course!!
[/quote]

You may be the only person in the world who thinks the Bear is more enjoyable than Arcadia Bluffs!!! Arcadia is one of my all time favorite courses and I have played a LOT of northern Michigan courses. Everything about it, including the greens, is a blast!! The Bear is like going to the dentist in my opinion ;-)
[/quote]


add me to the list, I played it once and that was enough. These days my vacation golf is spent on courses that are fun to play. Arcadia is visually stimulating but just not my kind of golf course. I love Cedar River and Forrest Dunes up north

[rex235]

[quote name='chickenpotpie' timestamp='1333746151' post='4666296']
Any recommendations for a place to play within an hour of Arcadia? Got a buddies trip scheduled for later this year. Will be playing Arcadia Thursday and Saturday, and Tullymore on the way home Sunday. Need somewhere to play Friday. Staying at a cabin in Arcadia, so anywhere 1 hour away is in play.
[/quote]


Since you're looking at an hour's drive time...

Public
The Heathlands (Onekama)

Semi Private
Manistee Golf and CC

Private
The Kingsley Club

Ultra Private
Crystal Downs CC


Good Luck!

[jdhallissey]

Hey I played it from the tips JUST FINE besides the punched greens (PUNCHED EVERYTHING) and 6- 3 putts. 1Ton and I had a blast don't lie LOL. Have fun the course is honestly not that hard but there are a few holes that will make you go wtf --how is this going to work. Yardage book is also your friend.

Chickenpotpie--- 8 from the tips (across the road is fun) We had to rush since a car was thinking it was the indy 500 and flying down the road.

[kalamazoo]

[quote name='chickenpotpie' timestamp='1333746151' post='4666296']
Any recommendations for a place to play within an hour of Arcadia? Got a buddies trip scheduled for later this year. Will be playing Arcadia Thursday and Saturday, and Tullymore on the way home Sunday. Need somewhere to play Friday. Staying at a cabin in Arcadia, so anywhere 1 hour away is in play.
[/quote]
try Cutters Ridge, its one of the 2 Maniste National Courses, and its a pretty fun. Cool layout on many holes. And its only 15 minutes or so from AB.