Golf On The Edge Of Perfection
The beauty of a good architect is that the course looks as if it has always existed.
Overlooking three thousand feet of majestic Lake Michigan frontage, Arcadia Bluffs Golf Club offers more than spectacular shoreline views.
Savor seasonally - inspired Sunroom, Lakeview Room into Adirondack chairs alig in to The Lodge or Cottages Undulating and open, this seaside Irish links-style course comfortably appointed gues is revered for its wind-swept native grasses, sod-walled iconic Nantucket-Estate sty bunkers, wide fairways and spacious greens – and renowned along hole 2. for the challenges each of its unspoiled, artfully crafted From the ever-changing win holes presents mind and body. selection to ever-shifting sw The landscape is so engaging, you may decide to stay awhile. soul, Arcadia Bluffs is an un
fare in The Main Dining Room, & Bar, or open-air patio. Settle gned with the horizon. Or check s at Arcadia Bluffs, featuring st rooms perched above the yle Clubhouse and located
nds that impact your club weeps of sky that impact your nparalleled golf experience.
Arcadia Bluffs embodies the classic principles a strategies found at the greatest links courses of and Scotland. The property is pitched from eas affording views of Lake Michigan from every h
and f Ireland st to west hole.
Ranked among the U.S.’s Top 50 Public Golf Courses by both Golf Magazine and Golf Digest, Arcadia Bluffs emerged from an old cherry orchard in 1999. The land was rutty, with a large ravine slashing the southern border and another dividing it across the middle. Pines and hardwoods covered the bottom third butting up to Lake Michigan.
Henderson shares these bel if you can advance the ball to make a golf course hard. design a course for all level
Less than a year after spying a dramatic parcel of land that was for sale along Highway 22 south of Arcadia, owners were walking the terrain with Warren Henderson, a world-class architect who had honed his skills crafting courses with award-winning designers and golf professionals.
“You can always build a gre wanted to find them.”
“From the first moment this property shouted links-style, an Irish design where dramatic land formations prevail,” Henderson said. “I couldn’t imagine a highly manicured golf course on this landscape.”
Arcadia’s craggy canvas cha
The size and design of Arca by the property’s grandeur, accommodate the surround misconception, noted the a moving a massive amount o
“What we did was a consid maintain the course’s rugge “But there’s a lot of authent
liefs: Golf is a much better game with strategic thought. It is easy . It’s a much greater challenge to ls of players.
allenged him further.
een,” Henderson reflected. “We
adia’s greens were inspired crafted to complement and ding land formations. A great architect, is that this required of dirt.
derable amount of shaping to ed appearance,” Henderson said. ticity here.”
Exposure to the winds coming off Lake Michig the decision to incorporate the naturally rough out appearance of the bunkers, as if nature her revealed these all important strategic elements. a very stark contrast to the manicured areas in are situated and bring a fresh perspective, at lea players from North America, on the bunker as
gan lead to h, scratched rself had . They are n which they ast to most a hazard.
The Par 5 - 1st hole
Championship 519 Black 498 White 459 Red 355 The east end of the property was bisected by a ridge line and wind break of cottonwood trees. The first hole was routed through this ridge, subtly saddling out the natural landform, providing a sweeping transition through the fairway and up into the elevated green.
The Par 3 - 2nd hole
Championship 189 Black 154 White 144 Red 124 The large old tree next to the green amplifies the left side of the frame in this setting. The right side is set off by the large transitional bunker that works up to the base of the slope to what is the highest point on the property. This large hazard to the right is a unique blend of the formalized sod face of the revetted section and the scratched out sandy area. The hole also presents the first full on view of Lake Michigan from the tee.Â
The Par 5 - 3rd hole
Championship 530 Black 502 White 467 Red 372 Playing from the highest point on the property number three plays to a green that is categorized as a ‘skyline’ green, creating the false impression that it is the limit of the horizon and that the lake can be found lurking beyond its surface. In actuality the limit of the bluff line lies two more holes to the west. The putting surface, due to its open exposure to the wind, is one of the more subtle surfaces on the course. The wide approach is actually part of its defense. The best angle into this green is from the right.
The Par 4 - 4th hole
Championship 415 Black 367 White 311 Red 279 The selection of the right club from the tee is affected by the wind and the preference of either a downhill/side-hill second shot for the long hitter or more of a blind shot down into the green should fairway metal be selected from the tee. The punchbowl-style green is nestled into a natural depression. Â This type of green, in combination with its size and the angle of approach, requires creativity in the selection of the correct line. It is often best to play to the side opposing the pin placement so that the surrounding slopes will feed the ball into the preferred uphill position.
The Par 5 - 5th hole
Championship 583 Black 583 White 557 Red 439 This hole features a Biarritz green inspired by the original designed by Willie Dunn at the Biarritz Golf Club of France. A Biarritz green by definition is two distinct plateaus separated by a swale that runs perpendicular through the green. Arcadia’s Biarritz green is a rarity among golf designs, as it is one of only a few par fives in existence with a Biarritz putting surface. Like the original, it requires a carry over a hazard and sits hard against the bluff of the lake.
The Par 3 - 6th hole
Championship 195 Black 160 White 149 Red 80 After playing holes three through five directly at the lake you turn your back and face the uphill par three that plays into a naturally existing hollow framed by a horseshoe shaped land form. The broad green was set up to accommodate the length of the hole that is accentuated by the rise in elevation. Accuracy on this hole is emphasized by how the green is segmented into a series of small pin locations.
The Par 4 - 7th hole
Championship 472 Black 429 White 409 Red 350 This long par four plays uphill and was set up to be forgiving off the tee as the landing area is one of the widest on the course. Hole seven places a premium on long iron play with the second shot. The decision was made to not have any imposing bunkers guarding the green. There are two sod-faced bunkers that will collect shots that are short and right. Unlike the rest of the course, these bunkers are framed by a stand of trees that serve as a buffer to 15 green.
The Par 4 - 8th hole
Championship 449 Black 389 White 352 Red 295 The sod-wall bunkers found on eight and on hole one were the genesis for the sod-wall bunkers that punctuate Arcadia Bluffs. Players coming into the green from the right need to be mindful of the uphill grade and the intimidation the bunkers invite.
The Par 3 - 9th hole
Championship 203 Black 176 White 162 Red 134 The green of this genuine par three is settled into the head of the valley that extends all the way down to 11 green. The hole is unique as it plays more difficult to front pin locations. Come up short and the false front of the green will draw shots down into the approach. Shots beyond the pin when it’s placed near the front will leave players with challenging, fast downhill putts.
The Par 4 - 10th hole
Championship 481 Black 424 White 399 Red 359 Reminiscent of playing through the towering dunes of classic Irish courses, hole number ten winds down between two large ridge lines into a green fronted by a sentinel bunker. The result is a dramatic and isolated fairway, very different to most other areas of the golf course.
The Par 5 - 11th hole
Championship 633 Black 594 White 563 Red 477 Angles define this hole, as they are strategic with every shot you make. Carry the ridge line from the tee and you’ll add 50-plus yards to your drive and arrive on the right side of the fairway. Your next shot should favor an angle that allows you to approach the bluff-side green from the left.
The Par 4 - 12th hole
Championship 431 Black 431 White 378 Red 293 The strategy of the tee shot on this hole is anchored around the natural landform that blocks out the view of the preferred line of play. The routing identified this stretch as the perfect par four to complement the beauty of the position along the adjoining lakeshore. With the tee box set against the edge of the bluff, the fairway is receptive to a left-to-right shot into westerly winds.
The Par 3 - 13th hole
Championship 240 Black 190 White 160 Red 135 The native ravine required little skill to see the beauty and beast of this ready-to-play par three. The distance to carry the chasm isn’t nearly as foreboding as implied and the green is quite large. Chose your club wisely as prevailing winds can add as much as three club lengths to your selection. Savor the views.
The Par 4 - 14th hole
Championship 340 Black 340 White 304 Red 245 Hole 14 plays up through two high ridge lines that come down abruptly to the edge of the fairway, placing a premium on accuracy off the tee on the shortest par four on the course. The green is wrapped by tightly mowed short grass and fronted on the right side by a small but very deep sod-wall bunker.
The Par 5 - 15th hole
Championship 519 Black 464 White 464 Red 358 The strategy on this reachable par five is related to the position of the tee shot that will allow the best angle into the green in two. Visually, players will be drawn to play up the left side from the tee, but this leaves a shallow angle into the green and forces a carry over the left green-side bunker. The right side of the fairway provides the open approach to the green.
The Par 4 - 16th hole
Championship 486 Black 459 White 441 Red 376 This hole makes great use of one of the most important aspects of links golf – the ground game. Playing considerably shorter than the 486 yards suggests you will want to avoid the rutty, sandy contours that parallel the right side of the fairway. The best approach to the green is a low shot that lands short and roles up from the left.
The Par 3 - 17th hole
Championship 176 Black 167 White 150 Red 129 This is the most demanding of the par three holes from an accuracy standpoint. Hole 17 plays to what is essentially a tabletop green extending like a plateau from the adjacent ridge. Playing uphill from a protected tee, the wind must be factored as the ball rises towards its intended target.
The Par 4 - 18th hole
Championship 415 Black 367 White 311 Red 279 The view from 18 tee is unique in that it affords players a stunning 360 degree view of the golf course, clubhouse and lake; a chance to visually summarize their experience of the entire property before teeing off. Finishing holes on great golf courses should be the final challenge of an individual’s endurance, both mentally and physically. The 18th at Arcadia Bluffs also requires players to trust their club selection as the green is elevated some 50 feet above the fairway, resulting in a blind shot to very undulated putting surface. The ability to score on this closing hole will be a result of maintaining one’s focus for the last hole; a fitting end to a course that presents options at every turn.
Embraced by the prevailing winds of Lake Michigan at the property’s highest point, The Lodge at Arcadia Bluffs opened in 2010 as a second-story addition to the course’s Nantucket-styled Clubhouse. The Clubhouse’s original footprint was expanded 7,500 square feet to accommodate Arcadia’s fifteen, spacious new guest rooms. The timeless, seaside design will endure well into the next century.
Collectively, the updated 16 includes a community sittin and large-screen television; personal showers; an inviti The Sunroom, a carpeted, c The Dining Room with pan can be reserved for private
6,000-square-foot design ng room with beverage station ; additional locker space and ing corporate meeting space; and climate-controlled extension of noramic Great Lake views that parties.
Listen. In The Lodge at Arcadia Bluffs – whether your guest room faces the sunrise or overlooks a horizon of blue – you can hear the quiet. Arcadia Bluffs took extraordinary steps when it came to isolating and segregating sound. Walls are doubledry-walled and doubled-studded with an air pocket. It’s something you’ll notice the moment you enter. Each elegant room caters to guests with a king-sized,
pillow-topped bed and dow balcony, tiled shower with c heads, self-controlled air co as well as free WiFi, an Ipo for two. The Cottages at Ar private lodging. These four with King or Twin Bed cho comfort for you to relax an
wn comforter, private walk-out conventional and rainfall shower onditioning and geothermal heat, od/MP3 player radio, and meals rcadia Bluffs provide exclusive r bedroom/four bath Cottages oices, have 1900 square feet of nd enjoy Arcadia Bluffs.
Situated on Michigan’s Gold Coast, Arcadia Bluffs promises a dramatic full-service dining experience. Beyond spectacular, panoramic views of Lake Michigan, The Dining Room features seasonally-inspired fare with locally-chosen produce, a cherry wood bar with seating for ten, and dining arrangements ranging from intimate tables for two to round tables for small groups.
Michigan flair are offered fo an array of appetizers, salad House specialties include M Stuffed Lake Michigan Whi
Guests are welcome to selec multi-course evening of gou Dining Room’s award-winni Menus change daily and breakfast is served seven days per of bottles cradled in temper week in season. Specialty brunch items including Eggs Bene- cases with glass doors — wi novices alike. dict, House-Smoked Salmon Hash or a Frittata Margherita are presented Saturdays and Sundays. A wide selection of soups, salads, sandwiches and burgers served with Northern
or lunch. Dinner menus feature ds, small plates and entrees. Mediterranean Rack of Lamb, itefish and Tenderloin Filet.
ct items for a small meal or urmet fun. Additionally, The ing wine inventory — hundreds rature-controlled, cherry wood ill delight wine aficionados and
“It is tru of Arcad world-c expectat are gree want th
On-Cart GPS
Greeter
Personal Caddie
uly the pleasure of our staff to serve the guests dia Bluffs. Two things make all the difference: a class facility and a world-class experience. The tion is perfection. From the moment our guests eted to the moment they book their next visit, we hem to have the best experience they’ve ever had.” – Bill Shriver, President & Chief Operating Officer
There are few places you can go in the world tha have a feel to them. This is one of those places.
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