Michigan Golf, Volume 10, Number 1 by Gemini Publications

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2008 contents

APRIL 2008 / VOL 10, NO. 1

From The Tips Michigan Course of the Year $10 million shape-up at Shanty Creek The greener side of golf is at Crystal Mountain Golf is looking U.P. in Michigan More lodging adds value to Lakewood Shores Resort Move over Mecca, Traverse City has something to say Glacier Club gets a make over

The Nature of the Game

30 17

The National Audubon Society and Audubon International share a love of birds and bird watching, but that’s where it ends. Janina Parrott Jacobs picks up the story on the environmental consciousness of Michigan golf course owners.

Michigan’s Major Plus One Jason Deegan gives us a peek at the 2008 PGA Championship coming to Oakland Hills CC August 4-10. Jason also tees up the 50th anniversary of the Buick Open at Warwick Hills CC.

MICHIGAN GOLF 2008

Michigan Golf Essays A selection of Michigan’s best golf destinations.

Playing to a Motown Sound Ain’t no mountain can keep you away from these temptations. Some are supreme while others top a list of must-plays.

The Capital of North American Golf That’s Michigan…home to more public courses than anywhere else. Michigan Golf has the directory of over 600 courses you can play. West Course Directory

North Course Directory

East Course Directory

U.P. Course Directory

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On The

Tee

www.geminipub.com www.michigangolfmagazine.com

The world golf spotlight shines on Michigan this August as the South Course at Oakland Hills Country Club in Bloomfield Hills plays host to the 2008 PGA Championship. The 1918 Donald Ross

On The Cover: Forest Dunes. Photo by Brian Walters/ Resort & Golf Marketing

design doesn’t much resemble the course where the 1922 Western Open was played and 12 major tournaments since then, but it remains one of the most venerable sites in all of golf. It should come as no surprise that the course Ben Hogan once dubbed “The Monster” at the 1951 U.S. Open will be even more of a brute since hosting the 2004 Ryder Cup. Architect Rees Jones was commissioned to touch up the place just a mite, adding 15 new tee stations that stretch the layout to nearly 7,500 yards. And for grins, 28 new bunkers now greet the world’s best golfers requiring greater precision off the tee. In this issue, Contributing Editor Jason Deegan offers a preview of the PGA Championship, as well as the 50th Anniversary of the Buick Open at Warwick Hills in Grand Blanc. Michigan ranks supreme in the world of golf. No state equals our number of 18-hole- equivalent public, daily-fee facilities. There was also a time when the Motor City ranked #1 in the world of music. We’ve taken creative liberties with Motown acts The Supremes, Four Tops and Temptations to showcase a jukebox of best bets for 2008. Michigan Golf is very pleased to announce the addition of Janina Parrott Jacobs as a contributing writer. Janina is the producer of the Michigan Golf Weekly television program, a former Detroit Free Press columnist, a contributor to Golf Digest and Private Clubs Magazine, and a scratch player. Her feature on page 30 lends attention to steps many golf facilities are taking to maintain an environmental consciousness. “We’re stewards of the land,” says Kathy Aznavorian, co-owner of Fox Hills in Plymouth, “which is ours only to borrow and leave better than we found it. People complain about golf courses taking up open spaces. Well, at least we aren’t a Meijer’s parking lot!” Going green is the In Thing. The Michigan Chapter of the Sierra Club has awarded Crystal Mountain their White Pine award on the merits of purchasing wind-powered energy credits to power one of their ski lifts. Congratulations to Bay Harbor, Michigan Golf Course Owners Association Course of the Year for 2007. You’ll find Bay Harbor and the other properties of Boyne listed in our course directory of more than 600 courses, along with sidebars of Michigan’s golfing and family resorts. Next round you play, take notice of what’s occurring around you: the birds, the wildlife, the habitat, and the ecosystems reliant on each of us to make it work for all of us. And by all means, don’t litter.

Publisher John H. Zwarensteyn Golf Magazine Director Randy D. Prichard Contributing Editor Jason Deegan Contributing Janina Parrott Jacobs, Randy D. Prichard Contributing Photographers Michael Buck, Kevin Frisch, Dave Richards, Brian Walters Design & Production Manager Scott Sommerfeld Assistant Design & Production Manager Chris Pastotnik Art Coordinator Kelly J. Nugent Designers/Production Assistants Melissa Brooks, Adam Murphy, Robin Vargo General Sales Manager Randy D. Prichard Advertising Sales Consultants John Olsa Advertising Sales Assistant/Coordinator Karla Warnock Circulation & Marketing Manager Scott T. Miller Circulation & Marketing Coordinator Jocelyn Burkett Circulation & Marketing Assistant Shane Chapin Finance & Administration Manager Pamela Brocato, CPA Accounting & Credit Assistant Bev Horinga Administrative Assistant Tina Gillman Receptionists/Clerical Assistants Rudolf R. Treece III, Linda Wilson Reprints Representative Randy D. Prichard (616) 459-4545 Michigan Golf Magazine is published biannually as a special supplement by Grand Rapids Magazine, a division of Gemini Publications. Publishing, editorial, circulation, production, advertising and marketing offices are located at 549 Ottawa, NW, Suite 201, Grand Rapids, MI 49503-1444. Telephone (616) 459-4545. Fax (616) 459-4800. Copyright ©2007 by Gemini Publications. All rights reserved. Any unsolicited photographic and editorial contributions to Michigan Golf Magazine should contain a self addressed and pre-stamped return envelope. Address all such inquiries to the golf magazine director. Our e-mail address is mgolfinfo@geminipub.com.

Swing Easy,

Randy Prichard Director

Member, the following Chambers of Commerce: Grand Rapids Area • Grand Haven Holland • Muskegon

www.geminipub.com

MICHIGAN GOLF 2008

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Michigan Golf News & Notes

Michigan Course of the Year

It should come as no surprise that the Bay Harbor Golf Club in Petoskey was named the 2007 Michigan Golf Course Owners Association course of the year. After all, the stunning 27-hole lakeside layout has been in the running for the award the last three years, when Fox Hills in Plymouth, Timberstone in Iron Mountain and Treetops Resort in Gaylord earned the honor. “One of the things that has been extraordinary for them, as the economy in Michigan has been struggling, they still continue to be a shining star and an example of what a great golf venue can be,” Kate Moore, MGCOA executive director says. “They are a great example of the resort community.”

BRIAN WALTERS/RESORT & GOLF MARKETING

MICHIGAN GOLF 2008

from the

Tips

The Summit of Northern Michigan Golf From the moment guests walk into the new Lakeview Hotel & Conference Center at Shanty Creek Resort in Bellaire they wouldn’t recognize it as the former Summit Hotel & Conference Center. The unique open floor plan, completed in January, features a lobby with a soaring ceiling of hardwood beams and windows that reveal stirring views of Lake Bellaire. It’s clear that Shanty Creek is in the midst of a rejuvenation, not just a $10 million renovation. “It will be a whole new Shanty Creek,” says Lindsey Southwell, public relations director for the resort. “It is hard to put into words where this place is going to be. Everybody is used to the old Shanty Creek. This will be so awesome.” The resort is closing one hallway at a time to remake the guestrooms, Southwell says, with the entire project finishing up this fall. Each of the 185 redecorated guestrooms will offer new furnishings, pillow top beds with plush comforters, new carpet and wall coverings, LCD flat panel televisions, electronic door locks, clock radios with MP3 capabilities, wireless internet, refrigerators and microwaves.

MICHIGAN GOLF 2008

COURTESY SHANTY CREEK

Perfect Vacation. Perfect Place.

From The Tips Come and play our 81 holes of championship golf on ﬁve distinctly different courses. Well-known as the pinnacle of golf in the Midwest, Treetops offers even more than spectacular courses and views. Complete your golf getaway with Rick Smith’s Golf Academy, a Ladies’ Golf School, full-service salon and spa, and award-winning Children’s Adventure Center, numerous outdoor activities and comfy accommodations in the Lodge, the Inn or one of our private condos or chalets.

From The Tips

3962 Wilkinson Road, Gaylord, MI 49735 • www.treetops.com • 1.888.TREETOPS Located off I-75 exit 282. Three miles east on M-32 through downtown Gaylord. Left on Wilkinson Road two miles to the resort entrance.

MICHIGAN GOLF 2008

from the

Tips

Greenside Crystal Mountain Resort in Thompsonville is the greenest resort in Michigan. And weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re not even talking about its two golf courses. The family-oriented four-season getaway was awarded the White Pine Award, given by the Michigan chapter of the Sierra Club to a group or organization dedicated to the protection of the environment. For a second straight winter, the resort purchased enough wind energy credits to power its high-speed quad chairlift, the Crystal Clipper. As a member of Green Lodging Michigan, Crystal continually institutes environmentally friendly practices in day-to-day operations, like a resortwide, in-room recycling program of paper, plastic, glass and metal items.

MICHIGAN GOLF 2008

COURTESY CRYSTAL MOUNTAIN

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From The Tips

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From The Tips

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from the

Tips

Golf the Best for Less Hard to believe, but golﬁng at the Lakewood Shores Resort (home of The Gailes) in Oscoda just got cheaper. The 54-hole resort is adding 72 new hotel-style rooms with the construction of three buildings adjacent to its suite-style condos. General manager and director of golf Craig Peters says the lodging should open by May. Each room will feature two double beds, doubling the resort’s occupancy from 160 people to more than

300. Golfers who stay in the new rooms can score a summer weekday golf package, starting at $199 for two nights and one round on each of the three courses, or a similar weekend package for $239.To build your own package, visit www.lakewoodshores.com. “We’re responding to the economy,” Peters says. “This will get our package pricing to an even better value.”

Glacial Peak Toledo-based architect Arthur Hills, founder of Arthur Hills/Steve Forrest and Associates, has left his indelible stamp on Michigan’s golf scene yet again. With more modern designs in Michigan than any architect except Jerry Matthews, Hills resurrected the Glacier Club in Washington Township last August. Now called The Glaciers and measuring over 7,300 yards, visitors will discover redesigned bunkers, reshaped green complexes, new cart paths and additional irrigation. The course is the centerpiece of the Glacier Club community of detached homes and condos that start in the $250,000s. To make a tee time, call 586-9929416 or visit www.glaciersgolf.com.

MICHIGAN GOLF 2008

TOP: COURTESY LAKEWOOD SHORES; BOTTOM; COURTESY GLACIER CLUB

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From The Tips

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Gull Lake View Inc., invites you to enjoy all the adventure, golf and leisure of Southwest Michigan in one incredible destination. Choose from 5 championship golf courses, rated 4 stars or higher by Golf Digest. Enjoy extraordinary dining and accommodations at the Gull Lake View Golf Club & Resort. Or book a permanent golf getaway for your family at two of Michigan's premier golf course communities, the Woods at Stonehedge and Cranes Pond.

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from the

Tips

Give Me a Read Within the last year, Harry N. Abrams has continued to publish golf titles worthy of any library. The “Golf Courses of the U.S. Open” by David Barrett ($50) chronicles the history of the tournament at some of the country’s greatest venues, including Michigan’s Oakland Hills Country Club. The “Seven Principles of Golf” by Darrin Gee ($16.95) could help your scores go down. Stunning photographs of the world’s best international courses highlight “Planet Golf” by Darius Oliver ($60). Web site: www.hnabooks.com.

MICHIGAN GOLF 2008

Sweeet! A New Course Seven reclaimed bridges. Two waterfalls. An island green. A cedar-studded hillside. These intriguing elements add visual appeal to the new 7,300-yard Sweetgrass Golf Club, scheduled to open in July as part of the Island Resort & Casino in Harris in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Architect Paul Albanese’s layout mixes long and short holes with doglegs that blend this way and that, sometimes through thick forests and others through open meadows. Albanese believes it should be considered among the best courses in the nation to open in 2008. “We started out with 30 or 40 great holes,” he says. “The challenge was to narrow it down to the best 18 holes. We wanted a nice rhythm. I think we accomplished that. There are no areas that were quirky or we couldn’t fit things in.” The course also serves as a tribute to the Hannahville Indian Community, a band of the Pottawatomie Nation that owns the resort. Albanese incorporated design elements, like a bear-claw-

shaped bunker on No. 6, to celebrate the tribe’s past. Each hole has a name and story behind it. “The tribe is very proud,” Albanese says. “We did it without it being a gimmick.” Each nine finishes with an epic par-5 careening around a 10acre water hazard. A massive steel bridge, one of seven rescued from the Michigan Department of Transportation, leads to an island green at No. 15. “The bridges are all different shapes and sizes,” Albanese says. “They give the course a unique flavor.”

From The Tips

From The Tips MICHIGAN’S PREMIER GOLF RESORT Highlighted by Golf Digest’s 18th Toughest Course - The Bear, Grand Traverse Resort & Spa is the beginning of an exceptional golf experience. From the spectacular Northwoods surroundings to our spacious Clubhouse, Grand Traverse is Michigan’s premier golf destination. Bring out the best in your game on three championship courses: The Bear, by Jack Nicklaus, The Wolverine, by Gary Player and Spruce Run.

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MICHIGAN GOLF 2008

from the

Tips

Traverse: Michigan’s Golfopolis For 21 years, the Gaylord Golf Mecca has dominated the Michigan market when it comes to selling itself as a golf destination. Traverse City is getting in the game, too. It published a golf guide in 2007 after adding a toll-free packaging number in 2006. “We haven’t been properly promoting Traverse City as the top-of-the-line golf destination it is,” says Brad Van Dommelen, president of the Traverse City Convention & Visitors Bureau. By calling 1-888-499-4503 golfers can choose among 19 participating golf courses and 20 lodging options in “Michigan’s Golf Coast,” including Grand Traverse Resort & Spa in Acme (bottom), Shanty Creek Resorts and Hawk’s Eye Golf Resort in Bellaire (middle), and A-Ga-Ming Golf Resort on Torch Lake (top). For more information, visit www.visit traversecity.com/golfdeals.

MICHIGAN GOLF 2008

TOP: COURTESY A-GA-MING; MIDDLE: HAWK’S EYE; BOTTOM; COURTESY THE BEAR

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From The Tips

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Destinations: Upper Peninsula We all sometimes think it is just too far to go, but now The Upper Peninsula has given three great reasons to pack up the clubs and head north. TimberStone at Iron Mountain, Greywalls at Marquette Country Club, and the soon to be open Sweetgrass Golf Club near Harris headline what is fast becoming the new place to play great golf in Michigan. Those who love Michigan golf are starting to realize what those in Wisconsin discovered years ago – superior golf awaits in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. The trip for those coming from under the bridge goes like this: The first stop will be at Sweetgrass at the Island Resort Casino in Harris, Mich., 150 miles west of the Mackinac Bridge. Slated to open in July of 2008, the Paul Albanese design (Moose Ridge, South Lyon to name two of his works) will no doubt be a course to remember. Ranging from 5,000 to over 7,300 yards in length, Sweetgrass has a tee station for every skill level. The Island Resort Casino adds that after-golf entertainment component our state is becoming so popular for. Look for Sweetgrass to introduce itself as one of the top new courses for 2008. Twenty-five miles west towards the Wisconsin border you’ll cross into the Central Time zone community of Iron Mountain, home to the five-star TimberStone Golf Club. This worth-the-drive destination earned the prestigious Michigan Golf Course of The Year award in 2004. Wonderful panoramic views and more than 300 feet of elevation change are part and parcel of this manageable 5,000- to 7,000-yard test of golf skill. Further into the course you’ll begin to take notice of a seemingly endless climb that ends at the famed par-three, 17th hole named Sagola for the small community you’ll see from the tee-top perch. The par five 18th hole carries you the rest of the way down the mountain allowing you to let it all hang out as you conclude a memorable round. While the golf is as good as it gets in Michigan, TimberStone Director of Golf Susie Fox and her staff are equally excited to announce a new clubhouse that’s due to open this season. There once was a time, not so long ago actually, that only a couple of really good courses lured Lower Peninsula golfers to the U.P. That changed with the addition of the No. 2 course you can play in Michigan according to Golfweek Magazine: Greywalls at Marquette Country Club. Located in Marquette, about an hour from TimberStone, this Mike DeVries design completes the U.P. Golf Triangle. DeVries’ courses (Kingsley Club, Pilgrim’s Run, Diamond Springs) are something special. He has a knack for the extra-ordinary. Greywalls shot out of the gate as the third Best New Upscale Public Course of 2006 by Golf Digest magazine. DeVries was limited with low levels of top soil, but he masterfully patterned the course through forested valleys, leaving majestic rock formations in place, giving the course a feel like no other in the state, and possibly the entire country. On a clear day, with views reaching out 50 miles or more, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore can be seen in the distance. Greywalls is not just a golf experience; it’s an exclamation to your golf season. Golf Packages, top level lodging, and dining await your group. Don’t let the Wisconsin folks have all the fun, plan a trip to the Upper Peninsula and enjoy. Visit Sweetgrass at www.islandresortandcasino.com; TimberStone at www. pinemountainresort.com and Greywalls at www.marquette golfclub.com. Don’t forget to bring back some fudge for your friends.

MICHIGAN GOLF 2008

The Nature o Gull Lake View East

MICHIGAN GOLF 2008

of the Game By Janina Parrott Jacobs

“Golf has a unique role to play in caring for our environment. By their very nature, golf courses provide significant natural areas that benefit people and wildlife in increasingly urbanized communities across North America. At the same time, golf’s use of chemicals, water, and other resources to maintain pristine golfing conditions is often criticized for threatening the quality of our environment.” — Audubon International BRIAN WALTERS/RESORT & GOLF MARKETING

MICHIGAN GOLF 2008

Many years ago on a well-known Michigan course, I tried to hit a wetland laden par-5 in two – and missed. Venturing into the muck and mud, a ‘natural area’ unknown to me at the time, I not only found my ball,

would it be shamefully unconscionable, but government agencies would object. Enter Audubon International (AI). You’ve heard the name before, as in John James Audubon, wildlife artist and keen

I have a confession to make. but 80 others in a 5 minute time span. What fortune! I basked in my own glory until discovering a sign yanked rudely out of the ground and tossed aside: ‘Environmentally Sensitive Area – DO NOT ENTER’. I dared not venture back into such a forbidden area, newly informed, despite my willingness to return the golf balls. Today, those signs are everywhere. How did they get there? In recent times, detractors have denounced golf courses as polluters of the environment directly conflicting with preservation purposes. This may have been true years ago but one can hardly say such shoddy craftsmanship goes on today. Not only

observer of birds. With that in mind, isn’t Audubon all about watching birds? And, what does that have to do with golf? To answer the question, one needs to clear up a common misunderstanding. Though they share the same namesake, Audubon International has absolutely nothing to do with the National Audubon Society. Perhaps the two groups share a love of birds and bird watching, but that’s where it ends. However, it is fitting that the younger Audubon International organization, formed in 1987, is also named after a man who was described as ‘triumphing over adversity’, possessing ‘strength and endurance’ and who ‘encap-

sulated the spirit of a young America’ during the early 1800s. Sounds like the portrait of a golfer to me. Actually, Audubon International oversees a number of programs, besides golf, which protect the environment. More specifically, the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf Courses (ACSP), created in 1991, is a highly specialized award winning certification program which educates, enhances, and protects the heritage of the game of golf. Divided into two separate affiliations, the ACSP is for already established golf courses which implement and document environmental management practices to earn their Sanctuary status. In 1993, the Audubon Signature Program was created solely for proposed projects still in the development stage which adhere to stringent practices as the course or project is being built and developed. There are three levels of the Audubon Signature Program: Gold, Silver, and Bronze. Membership in these depends upon the complexity of the

Though they share the same namesake, Audubon International has absolutely nothing to do with the National Audubon Society. Perhaps the two groups share a love of birds Forest Dunes

MICHIGAN GOLF 2008

and bird watching, but that’s where it ends. BRIAN WALTERS/RESORT & GOLF MARKETING

The porch is a long par 3.

Enjoy our Tea for Two Package, which includes unlimited golf on The Jewel, Afternoon Tea, a bountiful breakfast and generous dinner daily. $219* per person, per night, double occupancy. For reservations: 1-800-33GRAND or visit grandhotel.com. *Subject to availability; 6% Michigan sales tax and $6.50 per person baggage handling charge apply. The Jewel

project, the level of Audubon involvement in planning and follow-up, and at which stage of development the project was in. Currently, only one Signature Gold course exists in Michigan, and it is a dandy — Forest Dunes in Roscommon. In addition to stunning scenery, perfect conditioning, and an impeccable Tom Weiskopf design, the course was molded with local flair and talent. Michigan’s own Tom Smith, Executive Director of the

Michigan Turfgrass Foundation, ‘discovered’ the par-3 16th. “It was a pure hole, a natural dunes area,” said Smith. “We molded the course after this and basically re-did the whole back nine to isolate the turf areas among the natural dunes. Mr. Weiskopf designed the layout, but the look, well, everything that is not green, is mine. Fine fescue had been ordered to do the rough but was sent back when the dune concept was born.” Forest Dunes also sets the gold standard for excellence in many areas including chemical and pest management practices any golfer would value: use of low impact chemicals and organic based fertilizers, bi-annual soil

Left, Below: Gull Lake View

MICHIGAN GOLF 2008

testing, pesticides sprayed on a curative basis only, and use of grasses which are drought tolerant and have good disease resistance. True North in Harbor Springs is the only Silver Signature golf course in Michigan. Owner John Hover took over the club in 2006 and is continuing the journey toward certified status with talented course superintendent Steve Sump. A gorgeous mix of elevation, woodlands, ponds, and other natural surroundings maintained by natural methods set forth by AI, this course should headline your ‘must-play’ list, now that Hover has opened the course up for public play in 2008 and beyond. Wildlife commands the right of way here, where native areas cover 77 acres and the managed turf area is actually less, at 73 acres. Because the course is surrounded on three sides by state land and conservation easements, True North will enjoy true serenity for many years to come. Gull Lake View in Augusta is a complex consisting of 5 separate courses, all of which have been ACSP members since 1995. Co-owner and Grounds Director Charlie Scott stressed that we all need to be aware of our environmental situation. “Do people know how lucky we are in Michigan to have the water situation we do? In California it can cost over $250,000 per year for irrigation. Here, it costs me only what I pay to run the pumps,” he said. “We take seriously our role as protectors and stewards. We have to want to do it.” In keeping with the community outreach programs ACSP requires, Gull Lake works with the Kalamazoo Nature Center in monitoring 125 bluebird boxes on the course. Beginning in April, volunteers record species, band 10-14 day old birds, and chart their return. Tree swallows also make their nests on the course, migrate to South America, and return to the exact same box each year…..sort of the original GPS nav system! In the clubhouse pro shops there are recording stations where BRIAN WALTERS/RESORT & GOLF MARKETING

True North

golfers can write what they saw on the complex. One unique feature at Gull Lake is the latest project the Scott family has undertaken: Craneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Pond, which is a Silver Signature residential development. Basically a planned community, this sub-

division consists of detached condominiums where people will own the property jointly along with the open space. Walkways, paths, playgrounds, and a community park will comprise about 60 percent of the total 200 acre parcel and will follow the

Audubon guidelines. Fox Hills in Plymouth has been a Cooperative Sanctuary course since the early 90s. Co-owners and sisters Kathy Aznavorian and Sandy Mily, and their mother, Estelle Dul, felt that golf courses got a bad rap MICHIGAN GOLF 2008

because of their chemical and pesticide use. In order to turn a bad situation into a positive spin, they decided to learn what to do to minimize costs through better planning. “What amazed me was discovering what I didn’t know about a golf course environment,” said Aznavorian. Environmental education is vital at Fox Hills: Greens Superintendent Eric Niemur gives presentations to many civic groups; course personnel work with Salem Elementary School to observe bird nesting boxes, and like Gull Lake, a bluebird birdhouse course construction project was undertaken to correct a 50-year decline in the Eastern Bluebird. Inside the clubhouse, there is a display cabinet with authentic bird carvings for easier identification of species; and a special section of Fox Hills’ regular newsletter is devoted to environmental information. Aznavorian found that by using a diversity of plantings they could increase wildlife by changing host plants. Now there

are Baltimore Orioles, hawks, and even mink. Butterflies and hummingbirds love the trumpet vines surrounding the wedding gazebo. Natural prairie grasses require basically no maintenance, yet are great cover for birds, deer, and pheasant parades. Do people seek out Fox Hills because of their natural practices? Aznavorian replied, “No. It’s simply the right thing to do. We’re stewards of the land, which is ours only to borrow and leave better than we found it. People complain about golf courses taking up open spaces. Well, at least we aren’t a Meijer’s parking lot!” The newest club to join the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary fold is also one of the most breathtaking courses in the state: The Legend at Shanty Creek, in Bellaire. New course superintendent Chad Corp’s priority was to work towards ACSP status, which began in 2006. Chemical and fertilizer reduction programs are already in place and the outreach programs necessary to complete the certification are slated for

area schools in the near future. Corp hopes to gain ACSP designation by May 2008. “I’m an anti-fertilizer kind of guy. We hope educate people as to why some areas of the course are not as green, or why we’ll leave unmowed some fairways on par-3’s; but they’ll appreciate it when they see deer and foxes rummaging around in those long grasses,” explained Corp. Working on this designation does not come without price. Interestingly enough, the organic and healthy foods initiative enlightened humans are embracing in this country’s climate of ill-health and obesity applies to golf courses as well. By ‘feeding’ The Legend organic and micronutrient laden foods and fertilizers, Corp said that the need for pesticides, chemicals, and other fixes would be lessened. Though more expensive, with organic fertilizer’s $33.00 price tag per bag at almost twice the cost of normal fertilizers, the price is worth it for a safer and more attractive natural environment. Other public courses in the

Cedar River

MICHIGAN GOLF 2008

BRIAN WALTERS/RESORT & GOLF MARKETING

Cooperative Sanctuary Program up in northeastern Michigan are Black Lake GC in Onaway, owned by the UAW, and Bruce and Donna Wolfrom’s White Pine National in Spruce. Both courses are natural wonders whose owners take great pride in providing a terrific golf experience as well as a look at nature’s best handiwork. While Michigan is getting kicked in the teeth economically and is the butt of jokes around the nation, there are two positives no one can take away. First, the greatest gift is the state’s abundance of fresh water. Golf courses are serious about preserving this resource. Kathy Aznavorian had been unaware that their mowing practices of nipping turf up to the edge of ponds was detrimental. “We were unknowingly allowing chemicals and fertilizers to leach into the water,” she said. “Now, we leave the grass longer to trap the pollutants.” Certainly the

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golfers appreciate it too! Secondly, the homegrown Michigan Turfgrass Environmental Stewardship Program (MTESP) is recognized as one of the most effective programs in the nation. Founded at Michigan State University and in cooperation with the Michigan Turfgrass Foundation, the Golf Association of Michigan, and the Michigan Departments of Agriculture and Environmental Quality, over 240 member courses voluntarily implement measures to prevent pollution, protect water resources, enhance wildlife habitat, and reduce energy use. Of the 20 ACSP courses in Michigan, most are members of the MTESP as well. Once courses know about ACSP it would seem a no-brainer to join. In fact, a majority of Golf Digest Magazine’s top 100 cours-

es are ACSP members. Obviously quality equates with conscientiousness. So, why wouldn’t a course attain ACSP status if it is good for both the course and the environment? The answer lies in the perceived time, effort, and expense needed to work within the program. Larry Bowden, owner of The Natural in Gaylord had this to say: “I was a member of ACSP for six years until I lost my course superintendent who had the zeal for this. Unfortunately, I couldn’t continue though I still think it’s a great idea. Without the staff and support, you can’t do what needs to be done.” However, the ACSP maintains that by following the guidelines, growing out more natural areas saves work and greens personnel can spend time elsewhere. If you play at a course that is not

a member of either the ACSP or MTESP, encourage the owner to become one. If you own a course, consider joining. Contact Joellen Zeh, Program Manager at Audubon International at 518.767.9051 or check out the website at www.auduboninternational.org. MTESP can be contacted at www.mtesp.org or call 517.355.0271. Either way, everyone wins. As Michigan golfers, it’s up to us to patronize the hundreds of courses which take extra care in keeping their properties ‘green’ and……maybe not so green……..by preserving water and natural resources. Enjoy the sights and the sounds of nature doing what it does best: surviving. About those contraband golf balls. To ease my conscience, I donated them to a junior golf program.

Clockwise: Right: Gull Lake View: Below; Crystal Downs: Lower Left; Gull Lake View: Left; Fox Hills

MICHIGAN GOLF 2008

TOP RIGHT/LOWER LEFT: BRIAN WALTERS/RESORT & GOLF MARKETING; LOWER RIGHT: COURTESY CRYSTAL DOWNS; TOP LEFT: COURTESY FOX HILLS

ACSP Private Clubs In Michigan Bronze Signature: Wuskowhan, West Olive Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Courses: Crystal Downs CC, Frankfort Egypt Valley, Ada Forest Lake, Bloomfield Hills Lakelands, Brighton Spring Lake CC, Spring Lake Tournament Players Club of Michigan (TPC), Dearborn Washtenaw CC, Ypsilanti

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Ryder’s On The Storm BY JASON DEEGAN

American golfers who were blown away by British Players in the 2004 Ryder Cup are storming back to Oakland Hills this August, host course to the 2008 PGA Championship. Many, however won’t recognize the historic South course at Oakland Hills Country Club. The Bloomfield Township course that tamed Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Jim Furyk and the rest of the Americans at “The Cup” is longer and tougher than ever, refurbished last year by “Open Doctor” Rees Jones.

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Club officials worried about the course’s integrity after seeing elite college players at the 2002 U.S. Amateur bomb tee shots over fairway bunkers and hit wedges to what used to be challenging par-4s. Thanks to Jones, Oakland Hills, famously dubbed “The Monster” in 1951 by Ben Hogan, now has enough teeth to bite back. Oakland Hills grew from 7,099 yards to 7,446 yards, with 15 new tees and 28 new bunkers to pinch driving zones. The pond on the famous par-4 16th hole has been enlarged.

Only the third hole and those glorious greens remain intact. Some players have already experienced its wrath. More than 80 PGA Tour pros teed it up at a British Open qualifier last summer, with marginal success. Ryan Moore and Charley Hoffman shot 67s, but Matt Kuchar and Duffy Waldorf shot 75s. Brandt Snedeker told the Detroit Free Press it was “probably harder than Oakmont,” the 2007 U.S. Open site in Pennsylvania. “It wasn’t real fun to play,” he said. “It’s kind

of brutal.” Jones, who has renovated seven U.S. Open courses and six PGA Championship sites, said working on a course with such history has always been his dream. His father renovated the layout prior to Hogan’s historic win in 1951. “Oakland Hills is one of those wonderful rolling pieces of property where the holes fit like a glove,” Jones said. “When we made the changes, it was natural. If somebody blinked from 50 years ago to now, you wouldn’t know we touched it. My lasting impression is it has some of the most challenging greens in golf. We just enhanced the rest of it.” Over the years, Oakland Hills’ dangerous greens have neutralized the world’s best players, allowing underdogs who chip and putt well to contend, and in some cases, win majors held there. How else do you explain the heroics of Andy North (1985) and Steve Jones (1996), the last two U.S. Open winners to emerge from talented fields at Oakland Hills? Can Woods buck the trend and win his third straight Wanamaker Trophy? Or will ‘The Monster’ strike him down, too? Jones just hopes his family heirloom holds its own. “I don’t think it will ever be a monster again,” Jones admitted. “These guys are so good.” Local fans who were disappointed in an overcrowded Ryder Cup venue hindered by uninspired play from the Americans should enjoy a better experience at the PGA. One-day or week-long tickets are available at www.pga2008. com. “Spectators can pick their favorite players and watch golf all day,” Oakland Hills CEO Rick Bayliss Jr. said. “Southeast Michigan sports fans love major sporting events. This one is right up there with the best. We have the best players on one of the best courses in the world.”

BRIAN WALTERS/RESORTANDGOLF.COM

The Monster’s Majors Here’s a look at the Oakland Hills Country Club South course’s tournament pedigree and its champions since opening in 1918.

• 1922 Western Open, Mike Brady. • 1924 U.S. Open, Cyril Walker. • 1937 U.S. Open, Ralph Guldahl. • 1951 U.S. Open, Ben Hogan. • 1961 U.S. Open, Gene Littler. • 1972 PGA Championship, Gary Player. • 1979 PGA Championship, David Graham. • 1981 U.S. Senior Open, Arnold Palmer. • 1985 U.S. Open, Andy North. • 1991 U.S. Senior Open, Jack Nicklaus. • 1996 U.S. Open, Steve Jones. • 2002 U.S. Amateur, Ricky Barnes. • 2004 Ryder Cup, European team.

MICHIGAN GOLF 2008

History Has Its Place

BY JASON DEEGAN

FROM UNHERALDED PRO BRIAN BATEMAN TO GOLF SUPERSTARS TIGER WOODS AND VIJAY SINGH, THE BUICK OPEN HAS PROVIDED MANY MEMORABLE MOMENTS OVER THE YEARS. The tournament celebrates its 50th year June 23-29 at Warwick Hills Golf & Country Club in Grand Blanc. Billy Casper won the inaugural Buick Open in 1958, taking home a $9,000 check. By contrast, the 2008 tournament will dole out $900,000 for its champion. It’s actually the 44th tournament in Buick Open history – none was played from 1970-76 – but Buick Golf still wants to celebrate the significance of being around 50 years. It’s the 30th anniversary of being held exclusively at Warwick Hills (since 1978). “It’s going to be a big year for us,” says Larry Peck, Buick Golf’s marketing manager. “There’s so much history. We are putting together some special plans to really blow it out.” Only a black-tie gala June 7 at the Renaissance Center in downtown Detroit is set on the schedule, but Peck says “anything is on the table,” including potential concerts, extra parties, appearances by past champions like Casper and even a special clinic by Woods. Players love the tournament’s family-friendly environment and the chance to go low. “I really enjoy the tournament,” former U.S. Open champ Geoff Oglivy says. “The crowds are some of the most excitable crowds anywhere all year, so it’s fun.” Woods, Singh, Justin Leonard, Ben Crenshaw, Peter Jacobsen and Hale Irwin are among its impressive list of past champions. Woods, a two-time winner who is the Buick Open’s alltime leading money winner, says he enjoys its “intimate atmosphere.”

MICHIGAN GOLF 2008

“You recognize the same people on every green” every year, he says. Fans love to watch a vulnerable course give up scorecard fireworks. Billy Mayfair shot a PGA-Tour record 27 on the back nine in 2001. Woods had a career-best 28 birdies in 2006. Just last year, Bateman rolled in a 12foot putt for birdie on the final hole to avoid a playoff and collect his first PGA Tour win. “It’s a fantastic venue,” Wood says. “It’s an older golf course. It’s not a tricked up golf course. It’s right in front of you. You have to go out there and play it. As I said, each and every year, the greens are always perfect here. “With that in mind, you hit good shots around the hole. You know the putts are going in. They are not missing. So it’s always a treat to play on greens that are this good.” The bleachers around the par-3 17th hole pack in a rowdy crowd. The fans liven up the atmosphere by doing the wave or serenading players with songs. Sarnia native Mike Weir has received a rousing rendition of ‘Oh Canada.’ Peck says the 17th hole has earned its reputation as the second-most fun hole on the PGA Tour, behind the insane par-3 16th at the TPC of Scottsdale in Arizona. “It’s a great hole. The fans have a lot of fun with it,” Peck says. “It seems to get crazier every year. We love it. It is the heart and soul of the tournament.” For tickets, call (800) 878-OPEN or go to www.buickopen.pgatour.com.

Memorable Moments in Buick Open history • 1969 – Dave Hill becomes the first Michigander to win the Buick Open. The Jackson native won by two shots over Frank Beard for a $25,000 check. • 1987 – Robert Wrenn blistered Warwick Hills with a four-day total of 262, still the tournament record, to cruise past second-place finisher, Dan Pohl of Mount Pleasant, by seven shots. • 2001 – Although Kenny Perry won, it was Billy Mayfair who made headlines, shooting 61 in the final round, including a PGA-Tour record 27 on the back nine. • 2004 – Who can forget the buzz surrounding the final-round showdown with Vijah Singh and John Daly? Singh defended his crown by one stroke. • 2006 – Tiger Woods used a personal-best 28 birdies over the four rounds to secure his 50th career win. He celebrated with a cake after the round.

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TRUE NORTH

TRUE BEAUTY. TRUE LOVE. TRUE NORTH. YOU CANNOT BUY TRUE BEAUTY OR TRUE LOVE, BUT TRUE NORTH? ONE VISIT TO THIS HEAVEN ON EARTH and you’ll fall in love forever. Driving up the serpentine treelined road toward the pinnacle of the property and glimpsing only peeks at the course, you anticipate a rare treat. Finally the view opens up to the clubhouse, a gorgeous building of stone, dark woods, and many windows which bring the northwoods inside.

True North Golf Club was designed by noted architect Jim Engh, Golf Digest Magazine’s inaugural ‘Golf Course Architect of the Year’. True North made the top 10 in Travel and Leisure Golf Magazine’s ‘Best New Private Courses’ ranking in 2004. Don’t let the ‘Private Course’ notation dissuade you from visiting: new owner John Hover opened the course to public play and is keeping it that way for the foreseeable future. True North is a mix of elevation, woodlands, wetlands, and ponds maintained by natural methods worthy of the club’s distinction as a Silver Signature member in the Audubon International program. Nearby Harbor Springs is the perfect complement to the ambiance True North elicits: small town summer life reminiscent of fun-filled vacations and quaint seaside villages. Course conditioning at True North deserves Golf Digest’s exclusive ‘perfect 10’ rating, where faultless greens and unmarred fairways are the norm. Director of Golf Dave Mocini has been at True North since construc-

LOCATION: 5 miles north of downtown Harbor Springs ADDRESS: 2500 True North Drive, Harbor Springs, MI 49740 ARCHITECT: James Engh, Golf Digest’s 2003 Architect of the Year YEAR OPENED: Summer 2004 PHONE: (800) TRUENORTH WEB SITE: www.truenorthgolf.com

MICHIGAN GOLF 2008

tion began and is anxious to showcase the club to people who appreciate great golf in an even greater setting. “We try to keep the play well-spaced so that your experience here will not be marred by seeing groups of golfers everywhere.” The course traverses 325 acres and each hole has practically its own collection of hardwoods and pines lining the sides. However, the design is extremely playable with few forced carries and numerous elevated tees providing grandiose vistas that soothe the soul. It is difficult to pick a signature hole. They all are. The double fairway 555-yard par 5-18th offers one last chance of risk-reward. Choose your path wisely: any follies are spectator sport for golfers perched above on the outdoor deck overlooking the green complex. Autumn colors at True North are exceptionally breathtaking, especially on the par-5 7th. What could be better than emerald green grass, cerulean blue skies, and the vermilions, rubies, and golds of a northern Michigan October? Only you, playing golf in the middle of it.

ARCADIA BLUFFS

THE OCEAN-LIKE VIEWS, 3,100 FEET OF LAKE MICHIGAN SHORELINE, 160-FOOT COASTAL BLUFFS, THE DUNES, THE 50 SOD-WALLED BUNKERS, THE classic wood rakes and flagsticks: they all lead players to believe they’re teeing it up in Scotland or Ireland, not Michigan. There might not be a more scenic spot in Michigan, where the windswept landscape collides with the ice-blue waters of a Great Lake. Some would pay admission just to sit on the veranda and watch the sun set, golf withstanding. “It’s the best view in the world,” Arcadia Bluffs general manager William Shriver said. “I don’t care where you go. I challenge you to find a better setting than dusk on the porch and the sun going down. When the sailboats are out and the clouds and sun are pink, it is just breathtaking. It’s so peaceful. People come from all over the world just to see it.” Golf Digest ranks Arcadia Bluffs the tenth best public course in America for 2008, remarking that it is “golf at its absolute best.” Arcadia Bluffs’ commitment to a unique playing experience is evident in its amenities. The course has instituted a caddie program, one of the few public courses in the Midwest

with one. If you’re not up to walking, the carts are fitted with one of the best Global Positioning System yardage computers. While the view may captivate you, the 7,300-yard course demands your full attention. Designers Rick Smith and Warren Henderson crafted wide fairways, but danger lies in tough greens and dangerous bunkers. Some of the more than 120 bunkers are sod-walled bunkers. Long fescue grasses are scenic, flapping in the wind, but also penal. “The golf course’s defense is 50 yards and in,” Shriver said. No. 10, a 481-yard par-4, and No. 11, a 633-yard monster par-5, might be the two best back-to-back holes in the state, displaying the course’s beautiful natural dunes, which tower over either side of the fairway. Once the golf is over, linger longer at the Nantucket-style clubhouse perched on the apex of the 245acre property. The best part of your day might be eating dinner at The Sunset Grille inside the pro shop, where golfers soak up the expansive views of Lake Michigan. “The secret or the mystique of

Arcadia Bluffs is it all looks so natural,” Shriver said. “When you look at it, it looks like it has been here forever. The land and the property lent itself to looking like a great links course.”

LOCATION: 30 minutes north of Manistee on M-22 ADDRESS: 14710 Northwood Highway YARDAGE: 5,529/7,404; three sets of tees ARCHITECT: Warren Henderson/Rick Smith YEAR OPENED: 2000 PHONE: (800) 494-8666 WEB SITE: www.arcadiabluffs.com

MICHIGAN GOLF 2008

ST. IVES/TULLYMORE

THE VILLAGES AT TULLYMORE IS MICHIGAN’S NEWEST GOLF COMMUNITY, NESTLED AMONG 800 ACRES OF HARDWOOD FOREST AND WETLAND.

The area is surrounded by lakes and trails – perfect for an afternoon horseback ride or early morning fishing. This gracious community surrounds Tullymore, ranked among America’s Top 100 golf courses by Golf Digest. The Villages are located in the palm of Michigan, close to a wealth

of the state’s natural treasures. Lake Michigan is a mere 50-minute drive. Shopping, boutiques, galleries and one of Michigan’s largest casinos are all within a 40-mile radius. If you do nothing more than spend your time at home, however, you’ll be lavishly indulged. The 15,000 sq. ft. clubhouse, scheduled for completion in summer, 2008, features elegant verandas overlooking the 18th green, ample banquet facilities, sweeping floor to ceiling windows, complete pro shop and a restaurant offering cuisine prepared by a nationally renowned chef. In addition, plans are in place for a new spa and wellness center. Home Sites This master planned golf community features home sites that border fairways, lakes or brooks. Housing options range from 1800 sq. ft. luxury condos to lavish, 5000 sq. ft. designer homes. Through unique alliances with some of the area’s finest builders, The Villages is able to offer diverse housing options, designed to complement the remarkable natural landscape. Select your own builder, or have our

team handle the details for you. There are 197 single family home sites, starting from $69,500. Homes at the villages begin at $325,000. Luxury, ranch-style duet condominiums offer spacious floor plans and spectacular views, along with maintenance-free living, starting at $289,900. Fractional home ownership arrangements of custom, luxury deeded properties are managed by Registry Club International with a host of flexible worldwide residency options to fit your schedule. The Villages at Tullymore is the vision of Ron, Rich and and Bob Marino along with Peter Ministrelli, a seasoned golf community developer, who is responsible for creating some of California’s most successful and exclusive desert golf developments, including Artisan in Rancho Mirage, the Reserve in Palm Desert and Villaggio at Indian Wells Country Club in Palm Springs. To schedule your private tour, contact The Villages at Tullymore at 800-503-2630, or visit www.tully moregolf.com.

LOCATION: U.S. 131 to Stanwood, 15 minutes southeast of Big Rapids ADDRESS: 9900 St. Ives Dr., Stanwood 49346 YARDAGE: Varies by course ARCHITECT: St. Ives - Jerry Matthews; Tullymore - Jim Engh YEAR OPENED: St. Ives - 1995; Tullymore - 2001 PHONE: (800) 972-4837 WEB SITE: www.stivesgolf.com

MICHIGAN GOLF 2008

BOYNE

BOYNE AND ITS THREE UNIQUELY DIFFERENT PROPERTIES HAS NO EQUAL IN TOTAL GOLF OFFERINGS (144 HOLES), ACCOMMODATIONS (THE MOUNTAIN Grand Lodge, villas, cabins, lakeside cottages, condos, and Bay Harbor Inn), recreation for the entire family for every season (skiing, hiking, boating, Avalanche Bay water park, Solace Spa), and over 20 restaurants and dining choices on their three compounds. Bay Harbor, and its three distinctive nine-hole layouts, clearly set Boyne apart from other golfing or resort destinations. Sweeping shoreline bluffs, dunes, rugged rock formations and verdant woodlands converge on the shore of Lake Michigan’s Little Traverse Bay. Each course possesses a distinct character and flavor that challenge every skill level. This course is a classic on the short list of must-plays for any golf devotee. Four courses comprise the 72hole collection at Boyne Highlands. Ranked as one of the top 100 courses you can play by Golf Magazine, the Robert Trent Jones’ Heather course started Boyne’s golf legacy. Art Hills created an amazing spectacle of design and beauty at the self-titled Hills course; a layout that rewards finesse and patience. The Moor and Donald Ross Memorial courses are

Bill Newcomb designs. The Moor features numerous doglegs, marshes and water holes along its 7,179 yards, while the Memorial recreates the likeness of some of Donald Ross’ most famous holes from prestigious courses such as Pinehurst, Royal Dornoch, Inverness, and Oakland Hills. Boyne Mountain is a different golfing experience altogether. The Monument course begins with a scenic mile-long golf cart ride that takes you to one of the highest peaks in Michigan then sets you off 7,086-yard downhill ride. Sam Snead called the opening hole one of the most intimidating anywhere. The Alpine course starts at Boyne Mountain’s summit, too, and winds its way down the other side of the slope to Deer Lake. Spectacular views are everywhere. Fairways are wide and inviting. Blind shots are nonexistent. For all of its innocence however, strategic bunkers and water hazards can take their toll. The Crooked Tree Golf Club, perched on bluffs high above Bay Harbor, should not be overlooked among Boyne’s numerous offerings. The course was sculpted from

centuries-old hardwood stands, and these spectacular trees line some of the fairways. Its back nine opens to breathtaking views of Little Traverse Bay and Lake Michigan. Super Five Golf Weeks start at less than $900, including lodging and lessons. Golf packages begin at $129 per person.

LOCATION: U.S. 131/31 to Harbor Springs, north of intersection of Pleasantville Rd. and M-119; Boyne Mountain located on 131 south of Boyne City ADDRESS: Boyne Highlands, 600 Highland Dr., Harbor Springs 49740 ARCHITECT: Varies by course YEAR OPENED: Varies by course PHONE: (800) GO-BOYNE WEB SITE: www.boyne.com MICHIGAN GOLF 2008

FOREST DUNES

YOU CAN HEAR AND READ ALL THE ACCOLADES BESTOWED ON FOREST DUNES, BUT UNTIL YOU VISIT IT AND PLAY IT YOU WON’T TRULY UNDERSTAND. It is every bit a great golf course; one of the finest east of the Mississippi. From the Adirondack lodge-style clubhouse, to the opening tee, to the epic par 5s, to the demanding par 3s, to the actual 19th hole, to the untouched natural beauty of the setting; even the practice facility is in a class by itself.

Forest Dunes’ richness is owed to millenniums of glacial sand deposits, which over time, were covered with indigenous dune grasses and a mix of hardwoods and pine. Beckoned to the site, professional tour player and architect Tom Weiskopf saw immediately the potential for a remarkable golf course. The result is 7,100 yards of minimalist classic design incorporating a mix of parkland, timberlined and links-style golf. Approaching the first tee you get the impression that little was done to create this monument to Michigan golf. You’d be correct. Aside from the trees that were harvested for about 12 to 13 of the holes, there was little land moved in relationship to a course this size. Let’s understand, too, that the residential development that Forest Dunes sits within is 1,200 acres, excised from some 400,000 acres of surrounding Huron National Forest. The most remarkable holes are the gentle, opening par 4, the first par 5 (#4), the par 4, right dogleg eighth hole, the 440-yard, split fairway tenth hole – which introduces

LOCATION: Roscommon, MI ADDRESS: 6376 Forest Dunes Dr YARDAGE: 7,104 yards ARCHITECTS: Tom Weiskopf YEAR OPENED: 2003 PHONE: (866) DUNES-MI WEBSITE: www.forestdunesgolf.com

MICHIGAN GOLF 2008

you to the dune-scape back nine – and the bookend par 5s of 15 and 18 that punctuate your experience. Should any bets be unsettled after 18 holes, there’s the one-of-a-kind par 3 19th hole. Adding to Forest Dunes distinctiveness is this – it is the only Michigan golf course to earn Audubon International’s prized Signature Gold certification. Forest Dunes sets the gold standard for excellence in many areas including chemical and pest management practices, use of low impact chemicals and organic based fertilizers, bi-annual soil testing, pesticides sprayed on a curative basis only, and use of grasses which are drought tolerant and have good disease resistance. Stay and play packages are very attractive, with lodging provided via beautiful lakeside guest houses. Forest Dunes will someday be private. Make haste to include it among your golf plans this season.

THORNAPPLE POINTE

THE GOLF BOOM OF THE ’90S FOREVER CHANGED THE WAY WE PLAY THE GAME. THE COURSES WERE MUCH LARGER – IN LENGTH, WIDTH OF fairways, size of greens and fees. The so-called upscale course was born. Leading the parade in West Michigan was The Golf Club at Thornapple Pointe. It’s an immutable law of marketing to be first in a category, and as Thornapple braced for the inevitable competition, they didn’t rest on their laurels. Director of Golf Chris Sobieck and Superintendent Jack Thomasma are as passionate for the game and their profession as any two individuals you’ll encounter. If you doubt it, a visit and a trip around the course will convince you. It was they who introduced and oversaw significant course improvements which began in 2003. The original Bill Newcomb design now measures a tad over 7,000 yards. Eight new tee stations have been added since the 1996 opening, along with 20 additional bunkers and some slight routing improvements. Thornapple Pointe was the first to introduce on-cart GPS technology for pinpoint accuracy to the flagstick. A new, permanent pavilion west of the clubhouse that seats up to 300 was added in 2006.

Course improvements are enjoyed from the opening tee, where three new bunkers guard the left side of the 453-yard first hole. The right side fairway bunker has been repositioned and the fairway contoured with a left-to-right bend to accommodate the styling of the left-side bunkers. A directional bunker was placed on the left side of the fairway about 280 yards from the championship tee on the 433-yard third hole. A series of three bunkers now guard the right side. The most inspired re-creation from the 2003 redo is the par-4, 350yard 18th hole, formerly the ninth hole. Two new fairway bunkers are tucked into the right dogleg and the other perfectly awaits 250-yard tee shots to the middle of the fairway. The par-5s might be the biggest marvel of Thornapple Pointe. The 633-yard fifth is defined by a towering oak on a bluff. A series of bunkers on the edge of the Thornapple River leads to the deep green. The seventh requires a 175-yardplus carry over a deep ravine from the tips. The 551-yard 13th might be the signature hole, where tee loca-

LOCATION: South off of 28th Street on Thornhills Ave., 2.5 miles to 48th St.; east to course ADDRESS: 4747 Champions Circle, Grand Rapids 49512 YARDAGE: 4,878/6,821; 4 sets of tees ARCHITECT: William Newcomb TH YEAR OPENED: 1996 PHONE: (616) 554-4747 WEB SITE: www.thornapplepointe.com

tions are diverse, either from a bluff or over a river inlet. The fairway hugs the Thornapple River on the left and woods on the right. The 531yard 16th hole ends with a hillside green perched above the river. An exceptional golf experience awaits you at Thornapple Pointe.

ORNAPPLE POINTE MICHIGAN GOLF 2008

THOUSAND OAKS

KEEPING UP WITH THE JONES’ CAN BE TOUGH IF THE JONES WE SPEAK OF IS REES JONES, SON TO ROBERT TRENT JONES, SR. AND YOUNGER brother to Robert Trent Jones, Jr. It is only coincidence that his father collaborated with another famous Jones, Bobby, in designing Peachtree in Atlanta. Torrey Pines and Pinehurst have each been touched up by the socalled Open Doctor, who again will be in the spotlight as the PGA

Championship comes to the famed Donald Ross course at Oakland Hills, Detroit this summer. Does that set the stage well enough for you to understand the experience that awaits you at Thousand Oaks Golf Club in Grand Rapids? It should at least help. Jones would be the first to tell you that he just let the dramatic elevation changes and heavily wooded setting of the 430-acre site guide his creative hand. Since its 1999 debut, the course has ranked No. 4 on the Best New Affordable Public Course by Golf Digest and remains a Top 25 favorite. Grand Rapids Magazine readers have rated Thousand Oaks “best public course” four years running. With large greens and several teeing options, holes can dramatically change via numerous pin positions, changing the angle of attack into each green. Even if you miss a shot, the course is shaped to guide the ball back into the field of play. That allows for playability, even though there are challenges at every turn. Every detail seems oversized at Thousand Oaks. The fairways are as

large as runways, the greens as big as launching pads, and bunkers as deep as craters. A stretch midway through the round – with three par-5s in four holes – could make or break your score. The 530-yard ninth hole seems like a warm-up compared to the monstrous length of the 630yard 10th. New to Thousand Oaks is the much anticipated Golf Academy, a first class learning facility, with the latest innovative teaching equipment and instructors dedicated to making improvements to all facets of your golf game. The academy houses four indoor/outdoor hitting bays equipped with the latest technology for video swing and putting analysis, along with the addition of the MEGSA (Most Efficient Golf Swing Attainable) Perfect Practice swing machines. The Academy features private golf instruction as well as a wide variety of clinics, camps and schools.

LOCATION: 10 minutes north of Grand Rapids off East Beltline at 5 Mile Road, then East to course ADDRESS: 4100 Thousand Oaks Drive, Grand Rapids, MI 49525 YARDAGE: 5,328/7,147; 4 sets of tees ARCHITECT: Rees Jones YEAR OPENED: 1999 PHONE: (616) 447-7750 WEB SITE: www.thousandoaksgolf.com

MICHIGAN GOLF 2008

GRAND HOTEL

FOR THE GRANDEST OF MICHIGAN GOLF EXPERIENCES ONE MUST TRAVEL TO MACKINAC ISLAND, HOME TO AN 18TH CENTURY BRITISH FORTRESS and a 19th century national historic landmark. Boasting the world’s longest porch (more than the length of 2 football fields), a 500,000 gallon Ester Williams swimming pool, and 385 Victorian-style suites and rooms, the Grand Hotel is a destination like no other. If golf is the allure, then you’ll be greatly rewarded with a walk around The Jewell, Grand Hotel’s course. The Jewel is historic on its level. The original nine holes were shaped from the islands’ land formations in 1901. It was touched up in 1987. Jerry Matthews was commissioned in 1994 to add what is called the Woods nine. You’ll be escorted to the first tee via horse-drawn carriage. Be assured that a hotel that plants one ton of tulip and daffodil bulbs each fall and 125,000 bedding plants each spring goes to great lengths to make their golf course look immaculate. A native Michigander who’s entire life has been devoted to golf and course design, Matthews has fond memories of being called upon to contribute to the historical significance of The Jewel. “The hotel nine had real small

greens, reminiscent of the period it was built. We totally rebuilt them to take out some of the difficultly in relation to the way the game is played today,” commented Matthews. “On the Woods nine, we created a completely different look,” added Michigan’s leading course architect. “It offered a tremendous amount of natural beauty on very limited acreage.” Keep in mind, Mackinac Island prohibits the use of motorized equipment, making for a unique and interesting get away. Rated among Travel & Leisure magazine’s Top 500 Hotels of the World, The Grand Hotel has no equal on the coastal Great Lakes. Views of the Governor’s Mansion, Mackinac Bridge, Fort Mackinac and the island’s marina can be enjoyed from various vantage points on the course.

LOCATION: Mackinac Island ADDRESS: Mackinac Island, MI YARDAGE: 6,105 yards ARCHITECTS: Re-Design by Jerry Matthews YEAR OPENED: 1911 PHONE: (800) 33-GRAND WEB SITE: www.grandhotel.com

MICHIGAN GOLF 2008

EAGLE EYE/HAWK HOLLOW

A LOT CAN BE OWED TO IMAGINATION. TAKE DARRYL KESLER, OWNER OF DL KESLER AND SONS CONSTRUCTION IN LANSING. A BUILDER – A MAKER of things – by trade, he had a vision to create a golfing complex in East Lansing off Chandler Road. I doubt his original dreams ever fathomed what his vision has gifted the golfer. Today, Hawk Hollow is headquarters to the Michigan PGA, hosts the Michigan PGA Championship, warrants comparison to some of the finest golf complexes in the world,

and has earned him a Michigan Golf Course Owners Association Course of the Year honor. What’s going on? It began in 1996 when Mr. Kesler acquired a piece of property, hired architect Jerry Matthews, and began moving some earth to create the 18-hole Hawk Hollow. It made Golf Digest’s Best New Public Courses upon arrival. Mr. Kesler was just getting started. Hawk Hollow eventually grew to 27 holes and later came The Falcon, a quality, Scottish-style walking nine on the west side of Chandler Rd. And don’t overlook Little Hawk, one of only a handful of authentic, bentgrass, 18-hole putting courses in the world. Then there was a conversation he and architect Chris Lutzke must have had about the potato farm that now plays home to one of the top five courses in state, where the Championship is played, where Pete Dye said, “I never imagined this.” He was referencing Eagle Eye, a course he co-designed with Lutzke, who, in spite of an 18-year tenure with Dye’s firm, was a rookie on this project. On comparing Eagle Eye to his designs, Dye added: “Some of mine

LOCATION: Take I-69 to U.S. 127, south to Lake Lansing Road, east to Chandler 2.5 miles north ADDRESS: 15101 Chandler Road, Bath, MI 48808 YARDAGE: 5,151/7,308; 5 sets of tees ARCHITECT: Chris Lutzke YEAR OPENED: 2003 PHONE: (888) 411-4295 WEB SITE: www.hawkhollow.com

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are pretty bad. This one is good. It’s got a lot of ambience. It has a great look. This course is good enough for a major championship.” The tees are balanced and fair, from the blacks (6,908 yards) to the blues (6,444) and the whites (5,928). Thirteen holes feature water, adding up to 41 acres of liquid trouble. Mounds shrouded with thick, wispy grasses gobble up shots that are way off line, but wide fairs offer playability. Frog-haired bunkers give it an added touch. The dueling par-5s, at No. 9 and No. 18, hug a huge pound, each bending slightly in opposite directions. And lest we forget, the Signature Hole – the island green at No. 17, a legitimate replica to the famous 17th at the TPC of Sawgrass home of The Players Championship. The entire Kesler golf complex encompasses nearly two square miles, houses 54-holes of golf, the putting course, two stately clubhouses with banquet and conference facilities, three practice sites, and housing choices ranging from single family to condominium living to estate homes.

TREETOPS

THE VIEW IS GENERALLY BETTER FROM THE TOP, WHICH IS EXACTLY WHERE TREETOPS RESORT SITS: ATOP THE GAYLORD GOLF MECCA. Who could argue: four 18-hole championship golf courses penned by some of America’s great golf course architects – Tom Fazio (The Premiere) and Robert Trent Jones, Sr. (The Masterpiece). Rick Smith, the resort’s managing partner, is no slouch. His Signature course is among Michigan’s Top Ten on many lists. His ownership and guidance led the Michigan Golf Course Owners Association to honor Treetops as the Michigan Course of the Year for 2005. And lest I forget, Treetops is also home to the #1 par three course in the Nation, Threetops Perhaps better than any other Michigan resort, Treetops has found its way into the national golfers’ conscience, ranking with the likes of Pebble Beach, Pinehurst, Kiawah Island and Whistling Straights for name recognition. PGA tour professionals in the 2007 premier issue of their “Guide to Travel” voted Treetops their top golf destination as a “Golf Guy Getaway.” Since Smith and his partners purchased the resort in 2003, Treetops has continued to invest in capital improvements. It has added

a Starbucks internet café, a state-ofthe-art game room with five highdefinition televisions and a new children’s adventure center. The Rick Smith Golf Academy ranks among the best in the professional and amateur game. Director of Instruction Henry Young continually ranks high on lists determined by his students and peers and Jason Guss was recently included as one of the “Top 20 Instructors in the nation under the age of 40”. Treetops offers 238 lodging choices, from The Lodge, to The Inn, to Chalets and Condominiums with private putting greens. You won’t lack for a single amenity. While golf is the game at Treetops, it’s not the only thing to do. Sport and recreational activities include fly fishing, canoeing, hiking, skiing, tubing and snowshoeing in the winter months and a spa that’s nothing short of world-class: sauna, hot tubs, hot stones, massages, manicures, pedicures and hair styling. Treetops is also tops in value. The Major Championship Package in 08 offers 4 rounds of golf PLUS a round on Threetops and rates start as low as $412. Packages with

meals and lodging can be as low as $600 pp. Many other packages for less than half that are also available. Plan your trip now by visiting www. treetops.com.

LOCATION: Gaylord, MI, ten minutes from I-75 ADDRESS: 3962 Wilkinson Road YARDAGE: Varies by course. 81 holes of Golf ARCHITECTS: Rick Smith, Tom Fazio, Robert T. Jones Sr. YEAR OPENED: 1987; 2003 renovation IN-SEASON RATES: Call for packages and rates PHONE: (888) TREETOPS WEBSITE: www.treetops.com MICHIGAN GOLF 2008

GULL LAKE VIEW

ONE DESTINATION, ENDLESS POSSIBILITIES! GULL LAKE VIEW GOLF CLUB & RESORT INVITES YOU TO ENJOY THE ADVENTURE, GOLF AND LEISURE OF Southwest Michigan in one incredible destination. Choose from five championship golf courses, enjoy extraordinary dining and accommodations and check out our two premier golf communities, Cranes Pond and The Woods at Stonehedge. Located between Kalamazoo and Battle Creek, Gull Lake View is

family owned and operated. The foundation laid by Darl and Letha Scott nearly fifty years ago remains today as we offer the best combination of variety, playability, value and convenient travel time. Gull Lake View offers some of the most affordable golf packages on the market, starting at $93. Packages include lodging in the Fairway Villas and unlimited green fees on all five of our courses. The Fairway Villas are nestled in a densely wooded area surrounded by practice greens and bunkers. Each room has a kitchen, two bedrooms, two bathrooms, dining room, family room and a balcony or patio with views of the East Course. All five courses are rated 4 stars or higher by Golf Digest Places to Play and are certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuaries. Opened in 1963, the West is the original course. It is a mix of hills, valleys, woods and ponds blended into a mature test of golf. The front nine offers plenty of opportunity to hit driver and a tight, water hazard driven back nine provides a challenge to all golfers. The East course has many water hazards, hilly ter-

rain and small undulating greens that put a premium on accuracy and shot making. Our 36 hole Stonehedge facility is conveniently located three miles from Gull Lake View. Stonehedge South’s championship layout, rated 41/2 stars, is carved through the dense woods with tree-lined fairways and stone hedges. Stonehedge North offers grassy, wind blown holes, forested topography, elevation changes and large greens. Its six par 5’s, six par 4’s and six par 3’s provides entertainment and great scoring opportunities for all golfers. Bedford Valley, home to The Michigan Senior Open for more than 11 years completes Gull Lake View’s resume. Golf purists rave about Bedford’s shot values and challenging layout, featuring huge greens, large bunkers and fairways lined with mighty oaks and pines. Visit www.golfgulllake.com or call 877-592-2906 to book your 2008 golf vacation. See you on the links – The Scott Family!

LOCATION: M-59 in Augusta ADDRESS: Gull Lake View, 7417 North 38th St., Augusta, MI 49012 YARDAGE: 5 courses, 90 holes, varies by course ARCHITECT: Darl Scott Family, Charles Scott, Jon Scott, William Mitchell YEAR OPENED: First course opened in 1963 PHONE: (800) 432-7971 WEB SITE: www.GullLakeView.com

MICHIGAN GOLF 2008

PILGRIM’S RUN

THE JOY OF PLAYING PILGRIM’S RUN, ONE OF GOLF MAGAZINE’S “TOP 100 COURSES YOU CAN PLAY,” IS MADE MORE SO ONCE YOU KNOW THE STORY of how it came to be. The short version is the course was designed by Mike DeVries, author of the Kingsley Club in Kingsley south of Traverse City and most recently Greywalls in Marquette. The rest of the story is the owner allowed six employees, working under the tutelage of superintendent Kris Shumaker, to personally design three holes each. DeVries merely stitched all the holes together, designed the green complexes, and made the project doable. The result is a symphony of golf holes working in harmony with nature on 400 acres of mixed hardwoods, pines and wetlands in west Michigan. On the hierarchy scale, about half a dozen things make the list, whether it’s toothpaste, golf equipment, or golf courses. Ask those who have played Pilgrim’s Run to name their favorite courses and it’s likely to be among their top six; a remarkable experience among a crowded Michigan golf scene. It has helped put the Grand Rapids area on the map when it comes to great golf.

The clubhouse, built with cedar shake siding combined with the natural beauty of cut stone, opened in the spring of 1999, completing what is a full-service golf retreat. Shot values and playability work together throughout the course. Four major wetland/water hazards come into play. The second hole introduces the most challenging aspect of Pilgrim’s Run – the greens, which are undulating with tricky pin placements that require an accurate approach. The par-5 sixth hole must be its most photographed. From the tips, it measures only 498 yards. If it weren’t for a massive bunker in the middle of the landing area, the hole might be a cinch. The other par 5s – holes 1, 11 and 13 – lend clarity to why Pilgrim’s Run is a fan favorite. They are simply beautiful holes where birdie is nearly always in grasp providing you play the right set of tees for your game. If there’s a hole that keeps you coming back it has to be #18, a 250- to 280-yard par 4; a classic riskreward offering. Do you dare try to bomb it off the tee (with a forced carry over water the entire way)

with hopes of making the green, or do you hit a 200 yard safe shot to the right dogleg fairway, leaving you a lofted approach to the putting surface? Go tee it and deliberate the challenge yourself.

LOCATION: Pierson, 30 minutes north of Grand Rapids, U.S. 131 north to exit 110, west 1 mile to Newcosta Avenue north 4 miles to course ADDRESS: 11401 Newcosta Ave., Pierson, MI 49339 YARDAGE: 4,771/7,065; 4 sets of tees ARCHITECT: Kris Shumaker and Mike DeVries YEAR OPENED: 1998 PHONE: (888) 533-7742 WEB SITE: www.pilgrimsrun.com MICHIGAN GOLF 2008

RAVINES GOLF CLUB

A TRULY UNIQUE GOLF ENCOUNTER APTLY APPLIES TO THE RAVINES GOLF CLUB IN SAUGATUCK. NOTHING RIVALS ITS DEMANDING ARNOLD PALMER

design or natural landforms. Couple this with an expansive practice area, a charming clubhouse – Arnie’s Cottage – and award-winning food selections from the restaurant and you’ve experienced a day at the links unlike any other. The Ravines is a bon-a-fide Michigan Monster, measuring 7,132 yards from the tips with a slope of

142 and course rating 73.9. Shot placement is critical from the tee on virtually every hole. The golfer is immediately confronted at hole No. 1, measuring 409 yards, with a forced carry of 100150 yards from the tee. Thankfully there’s a more-than-generous area to land the ball in the fairway. Another forced carry is required to reach the green. If you’re playing the blues, or third set of tees, a good drive can reach the hazard that crosses the fairway about 100 yards from the green. Hole No. 4 is the first of the Fab Fives. It’s a bold 590 yards long and requires a big drive to make the corner of the right dogleg that sits almost exactly halfway between the tee and the green. This is a great golf hole but not the equal of the 529-yard No. 9 par 5. This gem requires a skillfully placed drive to avoid the trees to the right and the water hazard dead ahead. The best approach here is to play a couple of 200-yard shots from the tee and fairway leaving you a wedge into a green that’s neatly tucked behind the pond that’s accompanied you the length of the

fairway. Ravines Golf Club earns its lore on the backside where the namesake ravine resides. The gorge, if you will, is first witnessed at the par 3 twelfth hole. It measures 165 yards over the escarpment and you do not want to miss the green to the left. Not that there’s much room to the right, front or behind this green. The ravine doesn’t really come into play along the right side of the No. 11 fairway, a great golf hole by the way. But you will have to contend with the Michigan marvel on hole fourteen. This is a par 5 to beat all challengers. A cathedral of pine trees lines both sides of the fairway of this 623yard hole. But before you enjoy a walk in their early morning or late day shadows, you’ll need to blast a 250-yard shot from the tee to clear the 60-foot deep ravine. A fairway wood played to the right side of the fairway allows for a wonderful approach shot over a wetland to a fairly large green. The homeward par 5 is a shot maker’s layout that is best played as a three shot hole. Come tee it up and enjoy.

LOCATION: East of I-196 at Exit 41 at Saugatuck on 136th Avenue to Palmer Drive ADDRESS: 3520 Palmer Drive, Saugatuck 49453 YARDAGE: 5,054/7,132; 4 sets of tees ARCHITECT: Arnold Palmer YEAR OPENED: 1999 PHONE: (269) 857-1616 WEB SITE: www.ravinesgolfclub.com

MICHIGAN GOLF 2008

SHANTY CREEK

THE PRIDE OF NORTHERN MICHIGAN, SHANTY CREEK RESORTS HAS BEEN A MICHIGAN TRADITION FOR GENERATIONS OF GROUP GATHERINGS, OFFERING the thrill of adventure and the peace of a mountain retreat. With four championship golf courses, three accommodations choices, two glorious Michigan mountain peaks and pristine lake views, Shanty Creek Resorts draws golfers into the mountains and out of the ordinary! And with a $10 million renovation to Summit Villages’ Lakeview Hotel & Conference Center – golfers will see a new face at Shanty Creek Resorts, inspired by vistas of water and woods and the beauty Northern Michigan has to offer. Now more than ever is the time to visit Shanty Creek Resorts! More courses. More challenges. More fun. Shanty Creek Resorts is the place golfers are coming to peak their passion. Four different experiences await golfers visiting Shanty Creek Resorts: Cedar River Golf Course - Carved out of 500 acres of hardwoods by PGA tour player Tom Weiskopf, Cedar River Golf Course, a nationally recognized top 100 course, offers Shanty Creek Resorts’ longest play and largest greens. Limited on the flat lie, challenging golfers with wide fairways, dramatic elevation changes and

rolling greens, Cedar River also offers awe-inspiring views. The Legend Golf Course – From “The King” Arnold Palmer, Shanty Creek Resorts’ The Legend Golf Course cascades its challenges through 600 acres – from mountaintops to valley holes along and over sparkling waters. Sporting the tightest of fairways, formidable doglegs and breathtaking natural hazards, the course puts golfers in an enviable position – trying to read and play those challenging greens amid the stunning views of Lake Bellaire! Schuss Mountain Golf Course – Designed to showcase nature’s splendor on every turn of the course, Schuss Mountain Golf Course cuts straight through northern Michigan hardwoods. Flanked by thick forests, the course creates a natural focus on distant views of rolling hills, wetlands and wildlife, bringing nature and golfers together for an unforgettable experience. Summit Golf Course – Found high above Northern Michigan’s countryside, Summit Golf course offers golfers a classic, open course that winds grandly across the rolling hills of Shanty Creek Resorts. Sporting wide

fairways and a short game that’s challenging around and on the greens, Summit’s faster play is a perfect complement to the strategies of the resort’s other courses.

LOCATION: Just North off Traverse City ADDRESS: 1 Shanty Road, Bellaire, MI 49615 YARDAGE: Varies by course ARCHITECTS: Weiskopf, Palmer, Bowen, Diddel YEAR OPENED: 1965 PHONE: (866) 226-3422 WEB SITE: www.shantycreek.com/MIGolf

MICHIGAN GOLF 2008

A-GA-MING

PRISTINE, UNIQUE, CONTEMPORARY, TIMELESS, BREATHTAKING, CHALLENGING, EXHILARATING… ANY AND ALL OF THESE WORDS MIGHT BE USED TO describe your experience at A-GaMing Golf Resort. Sundance, northern Michigan’s premier resort course opened to rave reviews in 2005 and was listed among Golf Digest’s top upscale resort courses for that year. Designed by architect Jerry Matthews with assistance from international golf course shaper Steve

St. James, Sundance is perhaps the finest example of neo-classical links style design found in the great lakes region. Born of a landscape etched by the unyielding march of ancient glaciers and surrounded by a veritable artist’s palette of iridescent blues and greens, Sundance blends as seamlessly into the natural environment as do the wild trilliums that grace the surrounding forest floor. Sundance provides the ultimate golf experience for either the scratch golfer or the weekend duffer. Large undulating greens, beautifully sculpted fairways with receptive landing areas, and scenic vistas are sure to please even the most discriminating golfer. A-Ga-Ming’s original course, now named the “Torch,” continues to be a time-tested favorite for those favoring the challenge of a traditional woodlands course. The Torch meanders through a mix of mature hardwood forests, dense cedar groves and rolling terrain featuring the best views of Torch Lake. Twelve years ago the A-Ga-Ming legacy was transferred to it’s current owners, Mike Brown and Larry Lavely, whose vision for the future and conscientious stewardship is

LOCATION: Torch Lake ADDRESS: 627 A-Ga-Ming Drive, Kewadin, MI YARDAGE: Varies by course ARCHITECT: Sundance - Jerry Matthews: The Torch - Siebenthaller & Harbert YEAR OPENED: 1975, 2005 PHONE: (231) 264-5081: (800) 678-0122 WEB SITE: www.a-ga-ming.com

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guiding operations through an ambitious period of growth. In addition to the popular on site condominiums currently available for guest stays and golf packages, a 60 room lodge is proposed that will complement the 12,000 square foot clubhouse slated to open in 2008. Featuring commanding views of Torch Lake as well as both golf courses, the new clubhouse will have a full service restaurant, business conference facilities and a grand ballroom for weddings and other large functions. An overview of some of the other major changes designed to usher the resort into a four season facility include exclusive residential real estate developments and an ongoing renovation program to update the Torch course. Current residential offerings feature the Lakeview Ridge development, a private gated enclave limited to 14 single-family home sites and the cottages which will be upscale Northern Michigan inspired architecture.

MACATAWA LEGENDS

WHEN HAWTHORNE SUITES GOLF RESORTS TOOK OVER OPERATIONS AND MANAGEMENT OF MACATAWA LEGENDS GOLF AND COUNTRY CLUB IN Holland in 2007 they immediately introduced a new 18-hole layout to the golfing public. Macatawa Legends marked architect Raymond Hearn’s most recent contribution to Michigan golf. He regards it as one of his finer projects. “The golf course was designed to complement the surrounding residential development in a positive and harmonious manner. The two create one of the State’s most ambitious and significant developments in recent years,” said Hearns, who briefly stayed on with the development as general manager. “The ultimate goal of every golf course architect,” added Hearns, “is to create a very pleasurable experience in beautiful environments and settings while fairly challenging all levels of golfing ability. We believe each hole at Macatawa Legends Golf & Country Club will yield a truly unique and memorable experience. We are confident we have achieved this after many years of intense development associated with this fine golf course.” The golf experience at Macatawa Legends includes all the amenities

of a private club: a large and well defined practice range and putting greens, a well-stocked golf shop, neatly appointed locker rooms, a banquet area overlooking the course and the unique octagonshaped Legends Grille offering the best in casual dining options along with full bar service. The club also features tennis courts, one of the area’s finest outdoor family aquatic centers and a stately fitness center offering the finest and latest in exercise equipment. During the off season Macatawa Legends introduced Tom Webb as Executive Chef, in preparation of opening a new 6,000 square foot clubhouse which will feature a lounge, full-service restaurant and 220-person banquet and conference center. Webb began his culinary career with the Ritz Carlton Hotel of Boston, coming to West Michigan via Charley’s Crab and C.A. Muer. He was most recently with Boatwerks Restaurant of Holland. Five sets of tees allow you to enjoy the open, links-style play of Macatawa Legends from 4,900 yards to 7,200 yards. Wind will be the

biggest challenge at this course. Playing the fourth set of tees introduces six par 4s of over 400 yards. Stepping down to the whites and a length of 6,400 yards makes the course manageable for most midhandicappers.

LOCATION: Holland, MI ADDRESS: 4600 Macatawa Legends Blvd., Holland, MI 49424 YARDAGE: 7,246 ARCHITECT: Ray Hearn YEAR OPENED: 2005 PHONE: (866) 771-7800 WEB SITE: www.macatawalegends.com

MICHIGAN GOLF 2008

Hawk’s Eye Golf Resort

“The Spirit of The North” www.golfhawkseye.com & www.golfthechief.com (866) 483-5465

Hawk’s Eye Golf Resort has arrived. With two award winning courses and the finest accommodations in Northern Michigan, Hawk’s Eye Golf Resort has joined the upper echelon of resorts in the Midwest! It began with The Chief in 2000, which honored Northern Michigan golfers with what getaway golf is all about, challenging yourself in the breathtaking north and followed it up with what many feel is the finest course in Northern Michigan, the spectacular Hawk’s Eye. From the moment you arrive at the Resort and are greeted by the awe inspiring 12’ tall Indian Chief carving you know you are in for a truly dramatic and beautiful golf experience. “There is no better golf resort in Northern Michigan,” says P.G.A. Director of Golf, David Hill. “We are most proud of the fact that the readers of Michigan Golf Magazine voted Hawk’s Eye the 4th best course in all of Michigan. Our great tests of golf, the exceptional conditioning of our courses, and the finest accommodations anywhere enabled us to have another record year with our golf package sales up 35% over last year. Our 2 night, 2 round, 2 breakfast golf packages start at only $129 and we will once again be doing our Free Green Fee Replays (cart fee only).” Hawk’s Eye’s philosophy has always been “exceptional golf is not enough to separate yourself in Northern Michigan.” Whether you stay in The Legend Cottage Inn with swimming pool and grilling area; the fabulous 2 bedroom Chief Golf Cottages with 2 bathrooms,4 beds, full kitchens, large covered decks and grilling areas; or the brand new Hawk’s Eye Clubhouse Condos with full kitchens, 4 beds, fireplaces, jet tubs, swimming pool , 42” plasma TVs and huge covered decks overlooking the course, when your head finally hits the pillow after a beautiful day in the north it’ll be hard to wipe the smile from your face! You don’t have to stay at Hawk’s Eye Resort to golf Hawk’s Eye and The Chief. In season rates start at $49 at The Chief and $59 at Hawk’s Eye including cart. Both courses will again do their famous Free Golf Special April 11th - May 11th. All you pay is a cart fee on weekdays. There is a surcharge of $10 on weekends. Call Hawk’s Eye for details. After golf enjoy a steak fresh off the grill and great drink specials at Hawk’s Eye Clubhouse Bar & Grill. The Clubhouse also offers a putting course and bent grass croquet and bocce ball courts. You may also want to venture to The Dockside restaurant and enjoy a burger and beer as you watch the sun set over the world famous Torch Lake. Golf is not the only thing Bellaire has to offer, with its nearby casinos, beautiful lakes, great shopping and fine dining, you will be sure to create memories of a lifetime. For a golf package quote, tee time, or just to say “hi”, call 866483-5465 or drop an email to sbarr@golfhawkseye.com. Hawk’s Eye & The Chief are a must when you “Swing Up North”.

MICHIGAN GOLF 2008

Big Fore

Looking for the ultimate “Up North” golf package? Look no further… The Big Fore golf package combines some of the best courses that northern Michigan offers, along with spacious and luxurious accommodations. Reservations and tee times begin with a single call to either Trout Creek Condominium Resort or Hamlet Village Resort Condominiums in Harbor Springs. “This is the most complete golf package in northern Michigan,” says Darin Philport, owner at Hidden River and co-founder of the package. “The great thing about the package is that it offers superior conditions and service, yet we are still very competitive with our pricing due to the cooperation of the Big Fore partners.” The four courses are among the best in Michigan: Hidden River Golf & Casting Club in Brutus, Black Lake Golf Club in Onaway, Little Traverse Bay Golf Club in Harbor Springs and Dunmaglas Golf Club in Charlevoix. Trout Creek or Hamlet Village provides you with firstclass accommodations for your stay. Golf, lodging and dining arrangements can be made the way you wish before you arrive. Both resorts are located near Nub’s Nob ski resort in Harbor Springs and feature deluxe condominium-style lodging with indoor and outdoor pools and tennis courts. Both are minutes away from the Harbor Springs Airport and the marinas at Petoskey and Harbor Springs. Bruce Matthews III designed Hidden River on land dissected by the scenic Maple River. The course and clubhouse offer beauty at every turn, featuring top conditions and an upscale restaurant overlooking the Maple River. Rated one of the top women friendly courses in the USA, Hidden River is playable for all levels of golf. Five sets of tees will ensure that everyone can enjoy their round. Black Lake Golf Club is the award-winning design by Rees Jones, who is most known for his restoration work on U.S.

Open courses like Congressional CC and Bethpage Black. He utilized every feature found on the property, from cranberry bogs to a small sand quarry, to produce what may be his most charming design yet. Black Lake continues to be rated among the best courses in the US by publications like Golf Digest, Golf Magazine and Golf for Women. All have listed Black Lake in their current ratings for the Top 100 Public golf courses and women-friendly courses respectively. The course is open for all to enjoy and is a golfing experience you will not forget. Perched above the bay for which it was named, Little Traverse Bay Golf Club offers breathtaking views of Lake Michigan’s Little Traverse Bay and three inland lakes. The 6,895yard parkland course is cut out of the hills and meanders through hardwoods and pines. Many elevated tees and downhill holes add to a player’s enjoyment and confidence. A day of golf is accented by an evening of fine dining at the Little Traverse Bay Restaurant. With a 30-mile view of “the Bay and the Lake” as backdrop, this dining room affords guests a truly unforgettable culinary experience. The scenic links-style Dunmaglas Golf Club helps make the Big Fore Package one of the best values in golf today. Golfers enjoy spectacular views of Little Traverse Bay and Lake Charlevoix throughout your round. Rolling terrain and small greens make accuracy a premium. Tall fescue grass and pot bunkers add to its links-like charm. Several tee boxes enable all golfers to enjoy this Scottish-style masterpiece. Your Big Fore golf vacation begins at bigfore.com or dialing either (800) 748-0245 or (800) 678-2341. MICHIGAN GOLF 2008

Osprey Golf

Michigan’s premier golf experience!

sprey Recreation, best known for its commercial real estate holdings, has become a major player in the golf industry over the past few years by acquiring some of the top golf and resort destinations around Michigan. Osprey continues to expand its golf holdings in 2008 with its acquisition of the popular Otsego Club & Resort in Gaylord. Adding Otsego Club & Resort to its portfolio, along with Manistee National, Black Forest, Medalist, and Ridgeview, has given Osprey a total of eight golf courses making it one of Michigan’s largest golf operators. Osprey continues to make an impact on many of its properties with upgrades and renovations to improve the overall golf experience. The Otsego Club & Resort continues with on going renovations to the property that will certainly impress golfers. Lodge renovations at Otsego include relaxing leather furniture, plasma televisions, and new interior designs making the lodge a place where golfers will want to retire to after a round of golf. In addition to the Otsego Club renovations, Osprey has performed upgrades and renovations to enhance the Manistee National Golf & Resort in Manistee Michigan, as well as Black Forest in Gaylord. Osprey Golf has now created a way for golfers to experience the quality golf and ﬁne dining associated with many of the

MICHIGAN GOLF 2008

Osprey properties in one golf trip. The new Osprey Road Trip golf package is perfect for golfers to experience the best Michigan golf has to offer on the way up north and around the State. The Osprey Road Trip package is a way for golfers to experience any of the Osprey Golf properties. The package features six rounds of golf at any of the Osprey courses, and three nights lodging. For example, golfers can start out in Southern Michigan and play the Medalist in Marshall or Ridgeview in Kalamazoo on their way north to either Manistee National, in Manistee or Otsego Club & Resort, in Gaylord. At Manistee National, golfers can experience two fine layouts in Cutters Ridge and Canthooke Valley. Golfers heading to Otsego Club & Resort will find 72-holes of golf. The Otsego Club & Resort is led by the nationally recognized Tribute course, designed by NBC golf commentator Gary Koch, and the player friendly Classic course. Just down the road from Otsego Club are Black Forest and Wilderness Valley. Black Forest, designed by Tom Doak arguably the World’s most sought after golf course designer today - has been nationally ranked and very popular among the golf aficionados. Don’t forget to experience top dining at the Pontresina at Otsego Club. Visit www.ospreyroadtrip.com or call 888568-7346.

New Clubhouse Opening Spring 2008!

Country Club Memberships with first class amenities 18 H��

Near Lake Michigan Beaches and Historic Downtown Holland

Private Country Club 8 Neighborhood Communities Starting at $199,900 Custom Residential Build Lots Starting at $50,000 Condominium Hotel Ownership Starting at $129,900 Banquet & Conference Center

Macatawa Legends Golf & Country Club MACATAWALEGENDS.COM 616.738.7800 US-31 West on New Holland St. Between 136th & 144th Avenues, Holland, Michigan

THE NEW STANDARD FOR GOLF IN THE MIDWEST Eagle Eye Golf Club at Hawk Hollow is the result of a close knit partnership between Hawk Hollow Golf Properties and noted course designer Chris Lutzke in collaboration with Pete Dye. From the rolling landscape to the signature 17th Island Green the course has been designed to create magnificent shot values and challenges from each of four sets of tees while retaining playability. Eagle Eye is a “must play” for the serious golfer.

hole

The New Standard for Golf in the Midwest

3 MILES NORTH OF MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY HAWK HOLLOW-27 HOLES OF CHAMPIONSHIP GOLF EAGLE EYE-18 HOLES OF DISCRIMINATING CHAMPIONSHIP GOLF For reservations call: 1-888-411-hawk (4295) Online at www.hawkhollow.com

CHAMPIONSHIP GOLF Home of 45 Championship Holes

Hamlet Village 800-678-2341 or Trout Creek 800-748-0245

The Supremes: A BEVY OF MICHIGAN’S FINER OFFERINGS By Randy Prichard, Jason Deegan and Janina Parrott Jacobs

Arcadia Bluffs 68

MICHIGAN GOLF 2008

This is not a Top Ten list or a Best Courses in Michigan ranking. The Supremes are the sirens of Michigan golf, drawing players and raves from around the globe. As juxtaposition, we offer the 2008 Golf Digest list of Best In-State public golf courses. Arcadia Bluffs, Arcadia No course in Michigan rivals the 3,100 feet of Lake Michigan shoreline that underscores the setting for this 18-hole masterpiece. The greens can be a bit tricky (think big and undulating) and youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll need about two bills in prime season to play it, but those are about the only knocks on this course. Golf Digest rank: #1.

MICHAEL BUCK

MICHIGAN GOLF 2008

Bay Harbor Bay Harbor, Bay Harbor It’s the lakeside nine on the shore of Little Traverse Bay that gets all the accolades for this Art Hills design, but the Quarry nine is pretty special, too. The shoreline holes can be intimidating but are wonderfully crafted. Clubhouse views and atmosphere make playing golf here special. Boyne is Five Stars when it comes to providing the total golf experience. Golf Digest rank: #4

MICHIGAN GOLF 2008

Black Lake, Onaway Reese Jones has two Michigan public golf courses to his credit – Thousand Oaks in Grand Rapids and Black Lake. Owned by the United Auto Workers, this 18-hole classic is worth the drive. The secluded, wooded, wetlands setting is characteristic of many Michigan courses, only elevated to a higher level. Routing and bunkering distinguish Blacklake from other “up north” courses. Golf Digest

rank: #6 Cedar River, Bellaire When Tom Weiskopf was designing Forest Dunes, he was spending time at Shanty Creek Resort on Cedar River. While the two layouts are dissimilar in the setting, they share Weiskopf’s understanding of what makes for playability and shot value. Any number of holes standout at this supreme design, particularly the par 4 thirteenth. Golf Digest rank: unranked

Eagle Eye, Bath Some guys get lucky I guess. Chris Lutzke had been toiling as an apprentice with Jerry Matthews in Lansing for several years. When he broke away, he teamed with Pete Dye and created Eagle Eye. This course is great on many levels. It can be devilishly difficult but its open, links-style play sets it apart from most of its rivals. The dueling par 5s at holes number 9 and 18 may be the best in the state. Golf Digest rank: #13 Forest Dunes, Roscommon This uncommonly good course is unceremoniously among Michigan’s elite. The architect in golfing great Tom Weiskopf understands that people have to be able to effectively play courses – without suffering major trauma – to appreciate great designs. Tee options and playing areas abound at this impeccably groomed and scenic layout. There’s not a weak hole in the bunch. And the condition is a clinic in turf grass management. Golf Digest rank: #3 Greywalls, Marquette Due to it’s location (eight hours by car from Detroit), Greywalls plays more to the Wisconsin golfer than it does to Michiganders, but if you have designs on playing one of the states best courses, this one is Superior. Vistas of the biggest-of-Great Lakes is one luxury this Mike DeVries design lends to the experience, but that’s just frosting. Natural land formations and huge rock outcroppings lend a not-to-be-found-anywhere-else uniqueness to this course. Golf Digest rank: unranked Pilgrim’s Run, Pierson Family and old-fashioned values make Pilgrim’s Run a top destination. One of the first – and best – designs by newcomer Mike DeVries, this course abstains from alcohol and Sunday morning tee times. Bring a church bulletin and get a free cart. For the value, there may not be a better, more playable course in Michigan. Golf Digest rank: unranked Rick Smith Signature Course, Treetops, Gaylord Treetops, under the leadership of owner Rick Smith, won Michigan Course of the Year in 2006. His Signature course BRIAN WALTERS/RESORTANDGOLF.COM

played a role, but more importantly his hands-on attention to customer service and detail is what keeps this golf destination on the must-play list. Rick’s putting surfaces will be the most challenging test to your game, just as they are at Arcadia Bluffs, which he co-designed. Golf Digest rank: unranked Timberstone at Pine Mountain Resort, Iron Mountain This 2005 Michigan Golf Course of the Year has long been the shining star of the U.P. It is arguably architect Jerry Matthews’ best work. New for 2008 will be an expansive, open space pro shop with cathedral ceiling and fireplace, and practice facility. Golf Digest rank: #5 True North, Harbor Springs Any excuse to visit Harbor Springs on the coast of Little Traverse Bay is a good one. True North Golf Club, now routinely open to the public, is as good a reason to go north we can think of. The Jim Engh design recently earned

Audubon International Silver Signature status for sustainable design and management of their property. Golf Digest rank: #8 Tullymore, Stanwood Jim Engh designs might be the most “fun” golf courses in the

world. They’re playable, challenging, quirky and downright cool. Tullymoore has unique elements from daunting par-3s to drivable par-4s. This course wasn’t so much scraped from the earth as it was sculpted.

Dismissing the opening hole (a par 5 but a bit tight around the tee box and hole number 9 – quirky, uphill, left dogleg par 4), Tullymore is eye candy design and a great play. Golf Digest rank: #2

Greywalls

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BRIAN WALTERS/RESORTANDGOLF.COM

GOLF CLUB ��

GOLF CLUB �� MICHIGAN GOLF 2008

Detroit’s Four Tops By Jason Deegan

Just as lead singer Levi Stubbs and The Four Tops helped deﬁne the Motown Sound of the 1960s, these four courses – Shepherd’s Hollow, The Majestic at Lake Walden, The Orchards and Northville Hills -- helped deﬁne the course construction boom in metro Detroit that lasted nearly a decade (from 1993-2001). Shepherd’s Hollow 72

MICHIGAN GOLF 2008

COURESY SHEPHERD’S HOLLOW

The Majestic

Stubbs’ smooth baritone sound produced hits like “I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)” and “Reach Out I’ll Be There.” Much like the Four Tops, who are still touring today, golfers can expect these four chart-toppers to be around for a long time. The Orchards was the ﬁrst metro Detroit gem to hire a nationally recognized architect, besides Toledo-based Arthur Hills, to design a public course that embraced the “country club for a day” motif. Robert Trent Jones Jr. crafted the seamless layout that opened in Washington Township in 1993. Its status elevated among golf circles by hosting the 2002 U.S. Amateur Public Links championship. The Majestic at Lake Walden in Hartland Township was the ﬁrst Detroit area course to add style points to its golf experience. Players can take a boat ride across the lake to tee off on No. 10. The calming effect of the water elicits a serene feeling, much like listening to the Tops harmonize a doo-wop melody. The personality of the terrain at Shepherd’s Hollow in Clarkston, with its high ridges and swooping valleys, mimic the charm and charisma the Four Tops delivered to audiences in their heyday. All three nines by Hills are equally thrilling and challenging. The first Arnold Palmer design in Detroit, Northville Hills, surrounded by milliondollar homes in Northville, feels more like a private club. Target golf is the theme of a layout awash in wetlands.

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Book Your Next Outing

(586) 598-9500 sycamorehills.com

48787 North Avenue • Just N. of 21 Mile • Mt. Clemens COURESY THE MAJESTIC

MICHIGAN GOLF 2008

Temptations By Randy Prichard

At the height of Motown’s music popularity, a lot of good acts simply got over shadowed, if not lost. Maybe it’s just my imagination, but the same seems to have happened with many of the Motor City’s finer golf courses. And maybe that’s understandable, seeing how there are over 130 eighteen-hole public facilities in the counties of Macomb, Oakland, Livingston, Washtenaw, Wayne and Monroe. Westwynd Golf Club, Rochester Hills, Oakland County This public suitor is every bit the equal of its sibling, the private

Wyndgate, with all the accolades afforded a top act. Westwynd is an honest-to-goodness fabulous track at rates that rival the best values in southeast Michigan. Four sets of tees, bentgrass tee stations and greens, generous fairways, and impeccable condition. Get ready for an enjoyable round. Kensington Metro Park, Milford, Oakland County This course sets the standard for municipally run golf courses, ranking as one of the best in the country. It’s no brute, measuring only 6,300 yards from the tips, and green fees are equally appealing…less than $30. You’ll be singing My Girl from green to tee. Coyote Preserve, Fenton, Livingston County Roll your stone at one of only a few Michigan Arnold Palmer designs. Arnie understood the enjoyment of opening with a par 5 as this is one of the best ways to ease the golfer into his or her round. Coyote

Preserve is typical of many courses in the region, negotiating wetlands that are prevalent in Michigan, but they don’t crowd the course to the point of exhaustion. Timber Trace, Pinckney, Livingston County This is a course you can get next to time and again. It’s a big ole generous heap of golf course that’s pure enjoyment. Five sets of tees, expansive greens, bentgrass fairways, and a manageable layout that courses its way through more than a trace of timber. Sycamore Hills, Macomb, Macomb County Twenty-seven holes of Ain’t Too Proud Jerry Matthews golf design, measuring less than 6,400 yards from any of the 18-hole configurations. Expect the typical Michigan landscape: trees, lakes, rivers and ever-so-slight hills. Not a big hitters course, but a big hit with everyone who gives it a go.

Sycamore Hills 74

MICHIGAN GOLF 2008

BRIAN WALTERS/RESORTANDGOLF.COM

• Arnold Palmer Signature Design • Breathtaking Championship Golf • State-of-the-Art Practice Facility • PGA Professional on Staff • Casual Dining, Ravines Restaurant at Arnie’s Cottage • Available for Weddings, Banquets and Meetings • Home Sites

Ravines GOLF CLUB

an Arnold Palmer Signature Golf Course

3520 Palmer Dr., Saugatuck, MI 49453 269.857.1616 www.ravinesgolfclub.com 277263

MICHIGAN GOLF 2008

Now More Than Ever! Shanty Creek Resorts is completing its million upgrade to the new Lakeview Hotel & Conference Center. With 4 unforgettable championship golf courses, Shanty Creek Resorts promises more seasons— and more reasons—to play and stay! ®

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America’s Golf Capital

Michigan is the cathedral to American Golf – nearly 700 public courses with over 12,000 holes. No matter where you live or plan to visit, odds are you’ll be minutes from a place to tee it up. Mix in the Great Lakes, 11,000 inland lakes and 36,000 miles of rivers and streams and you have the makings of a memorable golf season.

MICHIGAN GOLF 2008

MICHIGAN GOLF DIRECTORY|west ANY PLACE YOU HAVE EVER WANTED TO GOLF IN WEST MICHIGAN

LAKE

OSCEOLA

CLARE

MASON

N E W AY G O OCEANA

ISABELLA M E C O S TA

MUSKEGON

KENT

MONTCALM

G R AT I O T

Branch CLINTON

IONIA O T TA W A

BARRY

CALHOUN

VA N B U R E N

KALAMAZOO BRANCH

CASS S T. J O S E P H BERRIEN

West Allegan 1 Cheshire Hills, Allegan, (269) 673-2882. chesirehills.com 2 Clearbrook Country Club, Saugatuck (269) 857-2000 3 Diamond Springs, Hamilton (269) 751-4545. diamondspringsgolf.com 4 Hawkshead Golf Course, South Haven (269) 639-2121. hawksheadlinks.com 5 Hidden Valley Golf Course, Shelbyville (269) 672-7866 6 Lake Doster, Plainwell (269) 685-5308. lakedostergolf.com 7 Lake Monterey Golf Course, Dorr (616) 896-8118 8 Lynx of Allegan, Otsego (269) 686-5969. lynxgolfcourse.com 9 Orchard Hills Golf Course, Shelbyville (269) 672-7096 10 Prairiewood, Otsego

HILLSDALE

(269) 694-6633 11 Ravines Golf Club, Saugatuck (269) 857-1616. ravinesgolfclub.com 12 Shagbark Golf Club, Plainwell (269) 664-4653 13 South Haven Golf Club, South Haven (269) 637-3896 14 West Shore Golf Course, Douglas (269) 857-2500

Barry 1 Mulberry Fore, Nashville 517) 852-0760 2 Mullenhurst, Delton (269) 623-8383 3 River Bend, Hastings (269) 945-3238 4 Yankee Springs Golf Course, Wayland (269) 795-9047

Berrien 1 Blossom Trails, Benton Harbor (269) 925-4951

The Resorts World-class resonates among Michigan’s myriad golfing resorts. Amenities and packages have never been better. This is your year to get your game fine tuned by the games best teaching professionals, too.

MICHIGAN GOLF 2008

1 Blackberry Patch Golf Club, Coldwater (517) 238-8686. blackberrypatchgolf.com 2 Prairie River, Bronson (517) 369-6745

Calhoun

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ALLEGAN

2 Brookwood, Buchanan (269) 695-7818 3 Lake Michigan Hills Golf Club, Benton Harbor. (269) 849-2722. lmhgolf.com 4 Spruce Ridge, St. Joseph (269) 782-5827 5 Paw Paw Lake, Watervliet (269) 463-3831 6 Pebblewood Country Club, Bridgman (269) 465-5611 7 Pipestone Creek, Eau Claire (269) 944-1611 8 Whittaker Woods, New Buffalo (269) 469-3400. golfwhittaker.com

1 Alwyn Downs Golf Club, Marshall (269) 781-3905 2 Bedford Valley, Battle Creek (269) 965-3385. gulllakeview.com 3 Binder Park, Battle Creek (269) 979-8250. bcparks.org/golf 4 Cedar Creek Golf Club, Battle Creek (269) 965-6423 5 Marywood Golf Course, Battle Creek (269) 968-1168 6 Medalist Golf Club, Marshall (269) 789-4653. themedalist.com 7 Oakland Hills, Battle Creek (269) 965-0809 8 Tomac Woods, Albion (517) 629-8241 9 Turtle Creek, Burlington (517) 765-2232

Cass 1 Hampshire, Dowagiac (269) 782-7476 2 Indian Lake Hills, Eau Claire (269) 782-2540 3 Park Shore Golf Club, Cassopolis (269) 445-2834 4 Spruce Ridge Golf Club/Resort, Dowagiac. (269) 782-5827

Clare 1 Eagle Glen, Farwell (989) 588-4424. golfeagleglen.com 2 Firefly Golf Links, Clare (989) 386-3510. fireflygolflinks.com 3 Snow Snake, Harrison (989) 539-6583. snowsnake.net 4 The Tamaracks, Harrison (989) 539-5441. thetamaracks.com

Clinton 1 Emerald at Maple Creek, The, St. Johns (989) 224-6287. emeraldgolfcourse.com 2a Hawk Hallow, Bath (517) 641-4295. hawkhollow.com 2b Eagle Eye at Hawk Hollow, Bath (517) 641-4295. hawkhollow.com 3 Highland Hills Golf Club, De Witt (517) 669-1559 4 Prairie Creek, De Witt (517) 669-1958 5 Royal Scot Golf Course, Lansing (517) 321-6220. royalscott.net 6 Timber Ridge Golf Course, East Lansing (517) 339-8000. golftimberridge.com

Eaton 1 Centennial Acres, Sunfield (517) 566-8055. centennialacres.com 2 Grand Ledge CC, Grand Ledge (517) 627-2495 3 Ledge Meadows, Grand Ledge (517) 627-7492. ledgemeadows.com 4 Twin Brook Golf Club, Charlotte (517) 543-0570. twinbrookgolfclub.com

Gratiot 1 Hidden Oaks, St. Louis (989) 681-3404. hiddenoaksgolf.com 2 Northstar Golf Club, Ithaca (989) 875-3841 3 Gratiot Country Club, Ithaca (989) 875-4612

Hillsdale 1 White Oaks, Hillsdale (517) 437-3434

Ionia 1 Candlestone Inn, Belding (616) 691-7713. candlestone.com 2 Huckleberry Creek, Pewamo (517) 593-3305 3 Morrison Lake Country Club, Saranac (616) 642-9528. 4 Portland CC, Portland (517) 647-4521 5 Willow Wood Country Club, Portland (517) 647-1984. willowwoodcountryclub.com

Isabella 1 Bucks Run, Mt. Pleasant (877) 892-8257. bucksrun.com 2 Holiday Greens (Holiday Inn), Mt. Pleasant (989) 772-2905 3 Pines at Lake Isabella, Weidman (989) 644-2300. thepinesgolfcourse.com 4 Pleasant Hills, Mt. Pleasant (989) 772-0487. pleasanthillsgolf.com

Gull Lake View, Augusta – Michigan’s oldest and one of the largest golfing resorts in the Great Lakes: five 18-hole championship courses near Kalamazoo. New Four Winds Casino is 60-minutes away in New Buffalo. Yarrow Golf and Conference Center, Augusta – A one-of-a-kind golf destination at perhaps Raymond Hearn’s best design. Yarrow plays host to numerous activities, including corporate teambuilding. Accommodations are top of the line. Double JJ Resort, Rothbury – A maverick of sorts among Michigan’s golfing resorts where horseback riding is as much a part of the flare as the 18-hole Thoroughbred golf course, a preeminent favorite. New Gold Rush water park and myriad lodging options add to the appeal.

MICHIGAN GOLF DIRECTORY|west 5 Pohlcat (Holiday Inn), Mt. Pleasant (989) 773-4221. pohlcat.net 6 Riverwood Resort, Mt. Pleasant (989) 772-5726. riverwoodresort.com 7 Winding Brook, Shepherd (989) 828-6618

Kalamazoo 1 Angels Crossing, Vicksburg (269) 649-2700. golfangelscrossing.com 2 Crestview Golf Club, Kalamazoo (269) 349-1111 3 Eastern Hills Golf Course, Kalamazoo (269) 385-8175. kalamazoogolf.org 4 Gull Lake View/East & West, Augusta (269) 731-4148. gulllakeview.com 5 Hickory Ridge Golf Course, Galesburg (269) 382-6212 6 Indian Run Golf Club, Scotts (269) 327-1327 7 Milham Park Golf Course, Kalamazoo (269) 344-7639. kalamazoogolf.org 8 Olde Mill Golf Club, Schoolcraft (269)679-5625. oldemill.com 9 Prairies Golf Club, The, Kalamazoo (269) 343-3906. theprairiesgolf.com 10 Ridgeview Golf Course, Kalamazoo (269) 375-8821 11 Stonehedge, Augusta (269) 731-2300. gulllakeview.com 12 Thornapple Creek Golf Club, Kalamazoo. (269) 344-0040. thornapplecreek.com 13 Yarrow Golf and Conference Center, Augusta. (800) 563-4397. yarrowgolf.com

Kent 1 Alpine Golf Club, Comstock Park (616) 784-1064 2 Arrowhead Golf Course, Lowell (616) 897-7264 3 Boulder Creek Golf Club, Belmont (616) 363-1330. bouldercreekgolfclub.com 4 Braeside Golf Course, Rockford (616) 866-1402 5 Briarwood Golf Club, Caledonia (616) 698-8720. golfbriarwood.com 6 Broadmoor Country Club, Caledonia (616) 891-8000 7 Cedar Chase Golf Club, Cedar Springs (616) 696-2308. cedarchasegolfclub.com 8 Deer Run Golf Club, Lowell (616) 897-8481 9 Golf Club at Thornapple Pointe, Grand Rapids. (616) 554-4747. thornapplepointe.com 10 Gracewil East & West, Walker (616) 784-2455. gracewil.com 11 Grand Island, Belmont. (616) 363-1262. grandislandgolf.com 12 Grand Rapids Golf Club, Grand Rapids (616) 949-2820

13 Indian Trails Golf Course, Grand Rapids (616) 245-2021 14 Ironwood Golf Course, Byron Center (616) 538-4000 15 Kaufman LE Golf Course, Grand Rapids (616) 538-5050 16 Lincoln Country Club, Grand Rapids (616) 453-6348 17 Links at Bowen Lake, Gowen (888) 715-4657. golfbowenlake.com 18 Maple Hill Golf Course, Grandville (616) 538-0290. maplehillgc.com 19 Mines, The, Grand Rapids (616) 791-7544. minesgolfcourse.com 20 North Kent Golf Course, Rockford (616) 866-2659 21 Pines Golf Course, Grand Rapids (616) 538-8380 22 Quail Ridge Golf Club, Ada (616) 676-2000 23 The Rogue, Sparta (616) 887-7182 24 Saskatoon, Alto (616) 891-9229. saskatoongolf.com 25 Scott Lake Country Club, Comstock Park. (616) 784-1355. scottlake.com 26 Thousand Oaks, Grand Rapids (616) 447-7750. thousandoaksgolf.com 27 Tyler Creek, Alto (616) 868-6751

Lake 1 Marquette Trail Golf Course, Baldwin (231) 898-2450

Mason 1 Hemlock Golf Club, Ludington (231) 845-1300. hemlockgolfclub.com 2 Lakeside Links Golf Club, Ludington (231) 843-3660

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Mecosta 1 Falcon Head Golf Club, Big Rapids (231) 796-2613. falconhead@net-port.com 2 Katke Golf Course, Big Rapids (231) 591-3765. katkegolf.com 3 Meceola Country Club, Big Rapids (231) 796-9004 4 St. Ives Golf Course, Stanwood (231) 972-4837. stivesgolf.com 5 Tullymore, Stanwood (231) 972-4837. stivesgolf.com

Montcalm 1 Birchwood Golf Course, Howard City (231) 762-4424 2 Brookside, Gowen (616) 984-2381 3 Whitefish Lake Golf Club, Pierson (616) 636-5260

Double JJ Resort

MICHIGAN GOLF 2008

MICHIGAN GOLF DIRECTORY|west/north Muskegon 1 Bent Pine, Whitehall (231) 766-2045. bentpine.com 2 Chase Hammond, Muskegon (231) 766-3035. chasehammondgolfclub.com 3 Fruitport, Muskegon (231) 798-3355 4 Hickory Knoll, Montague (231) 894-5535 5 Moss Ridge, Ravenna (231) 853-5665 6 Oakridge, Muskegon (231) 798-3660 7 Old Channel Trail, Montague (231) 894-5076. octgolf.com 8 Ravenna, Ravenna (231) 853-6736 9 Stonegate, Twin Lakes (231) 744-7200. stonegategolfclub.com

Newaygo 1 Briar Hill, Fremont (231) 924-2070. briarhillgolf.com 2 Brigadoon, Grant (231) 834-8200. brigadoongolf.com 3 Northwood, Fremont (231) 924-3380. northwoodgc.com 4 Pilgrims Run Golf Course, Pierson (888) 533-7742. pilgrimsrun.com 5 Village Green, Newaygo (231) 652-6513

Oceana 1 Benona Shores Golf Course, Shelby (231) 861-2098. westmichigangolf.com 2 Grand View Golf Course, New Era (231) 861-6616 3 Oceana Country Club, Shelby (231) 861-4211 westmichgolf.com/courses/oceana.htm 4 Thoroughbred/Double JJ Resort, Rothbury. (800) Double JJ. doublejj.com 5 The Colonial, Hart (231) 873-8333. westmichgolf.com

Osceola 1 Birch Valley, Sears (231) 734-9112 2 Rose Golf Course, LeRoy (231) 768-5060. golftherose.com 3 Spring Valley, Hersey (231) 832-5041

Ottawa 1 Crestview, Zeeland (616) 875-8101 2 Gleneagle Golf Club, Hudsonville (616) 457-3680. gegolfclub.com

Benzie EMMET

CHEBOYGAN

PRESQUE ISLE

CHARLEVOIX MONTMORENCY ANTRIM

OTSEGO

ALPENA

LEELANAU OSCODA KALKASKA

BENZIE GRAND T R AV E R S E MANISTEE WEXFORD

ALCONA

CRAWFORD

Charlevoix

OGEMAW

MISSAUKEE

IOSCO ROSCOMMON

3 Grand Haven Golf Club, Grand Haven (616) 842-4040. grandhavengolfclub.com 4 Macatawa Legends, Holland (866) 771-7800. macatawalegends.com 5 Meadows Golf Club, The, Allendale (616) 895-1000. webgolfer.com/meadows 6 Pigeon Creek, West Olive (616) 875-4300 7 Terra Verde Golf Club, Nunica (616) 837-8249. terraverdegc.com 8 Wallinwood Springs Golf Club, Jenison (616) 667-0003. wallinwoodsprings.com 9 West Ottawa Golf Club, Holland (616) 399-1678. westottawagolfclub 10 Western Greens Country Club, Marne (616) 677-3677. westmichgolf.com

St. Joseph 1 Green Valley, Sturgis (269) 651-6331 2 Island Hills, Centreville (269) 467-7261. islandhillsgolf.com 3 Pineview Golf Club, Three Rivers. (269) 279-5131. pineviewgolf.com 4 St. Joe Valley, Sturgis (269) 467-6275

Van Buren 1 Beeches Golf Club, South Haven (269) 637-2600. beechesgolfclub.com 2 Heritage Glen Golf Club, Paw Paw (269) 657-2552. heritageglengolf.com 3 Lake Cora Hills, Paw Paw (269) 657-4074 4 Shamrock Hills, Gobles (269) 628-2070 5 Peacock Ridge, Marcellus (269) 646-3300. peacockridge.net

1 Champion Hill Golf Course, Beulah (231) 882-9200. championhill.com 2 Crystal Lake Golf Course, Beulah (231) 882-4061 3a Crystal Mountain Resort, Mtn. Ridge, Thompsonville. (231) 378-2000 crystalmountain.com 3b Crystal Mountain Resort, Betsie Thompsonville. crystalmountain.com 4 Mistwood Golf Course, Lake Ann (231) 275-5500. mistwoodgolf.com 5 Pinecroft Golf Plantation, Benzonia (231) 882-9100. pinecroftgolf.com

North Alcona 1 Eagle Ridge, Glennie (989) 735-3500 2 Springport Hills, Harrisville (989) 724-5611 3 White Pine National, Hubbard Lake (989) 736-3279. whitepinenational.com

Alpena 1 Alpena Golf Club, Alpena (989) 354-5052. alpenagolfclub.com

Antrim 1a A-Ga-Ming, The Torch, Kewadin (231) 264-5081. a-ga-ming.com 1b A-Ga-Ming, Sundance, Kewadin (231) 264-5081. a-ga-ming.com 2 Antrim Dells Golf Course, Ellsworth (800) 872-8561. antrimdellsgolf.com 3 Bellaire Golf Course, Bellaire (231) 533-6531 4a The Chief, Bellaire (231) 533-9000. golfthechief.com 4b Hawk’s Eye, Bellaire (231) 533-9000. golfthechief.com 5 Farm, The, Bellaire (231) 533-6886 6 Lakes of the North, Mancelona (231) 585-6800. lakesofthenorth.com 7a Shanty Creek, The Legend, Bellaire (800) 678-4111. shantycreek.com 7b Shanty Creek, The Summit, Bellaire 7c Shanty Creek, Schuss Mountain, Bellaire 7d Shanty Creek, Cedar River, Bellaire

1 Belvedere Golf Club, Charlevoix (231) 547-2611. belvederegolfclub.com 2a Boyne Mountain Resort, Monument, Boyne Falls. 800-GO-Boyne. boyne.com 2b Boyne Mountain Resort, Alpine, Boyne Falls. 800-GO-Boyne. boyne.com 3 Charlevoix Country Club, Charlevoix (231) 547-1922 4 Charlevoix Golf Club, Charlevoix (231) 547-3268 5 Dunmaglas, Charlevoix (231) 547-4653. dunmaglas.com 6 Springbrook Hills Golf Club, Walloon Lake. (231) 535-2413

Cheboygan 1 Black Lake, Onaway (989) 733-4653. blacklakegolf.com 2 Cheboygan Golf & CC, Cheboygan (231) 627-4264 3 Indian River, Indian River (800) 305-4742 4 Rippling Rapids, Cheboygan (231) 625-2770

Crawford 1 Forest Dunes Golf Club, Roscommon (989) 275-0700. forestdunesgolf.com 2 Fox Run, Grayling (800) 436-9786. foxruncc.com 3 Grayling Country Club, Grayling (989) 348-5618

Emmett 1a Boyne Highlands Resort, Heather, Harbor Springs. (800)-GO-Boyne. boyne.com 1b Boyne Highlands Resort, Moor, (800)-GO-Boyne. boyne.com 1c Boyne Highlands Resort, D. Ross Memorial. (800)-GO-Boyne. boyne.com 1d Boyne Highlands Resort, Bay Harbor Bay Harbor. (231) 439-4028. boyne.com 1e Boyne Highlands, Hills, Harbor Springs (800) GO-Boyne. boyne.com

Manistee National Golf and Resort, Manistee – Osprey Group has amassed a collection of premiere golf properties in Michigan, among them Canthooke and Cutter’s Ridge, both of which have continually improved under Osprey’s guidance. On-site lodging, some of the best salmon and steelhead fishing in Michigan and the Little River Casino lend reasons to include this stop among your golf travel plans.

TimberStone 80

MICHIGAN GOLF 2008

Crystal Mountain, Thompsonville – The Midwest’s top ski resort is also home to two outstanding, 18-hole golf courses, one of the industry’s top teaching instructors, water park, hiking trails, water sports on the Betsie River, and more family fun than you can do in a week. Golf Magazine and Golf For Women regard Brad Dean and his teaching staff among the best in the business. Golf clinics and schools take enrollment throughout the season.

MICHIGAN GOLF DIRECTORY|north 2 Chestnut Valley Golf Course, Harbor Springs. (231) 526-9100 chestnutvalley.com 3 Crooked Tree Golf Club, Petoskey (231) 439-4030. boyne.com 4 Harbor Point, Harbor Springs (231) 526-2951 5 Hidden River Golf & Casting Club, Brutus. (231) 529-4653. hiddenriver.com 6 Little Traverse Bay Golf Club, Harbor Springs. (231) 526-6200 ltbaygolf.com 7 Maple River Golf Club, Brutus (231) 529-6574 8 True North Golf Club, Harbor Springs (231) 526-3300. truenorthgolf.com

Grand Traverse 1 Crown Golf Course, The, Traverse City (231) 946-2975. golfthecrown.com 2 Elmbrook Golf Course, Traverse City (231) 946-9180. elmbrookgolf.com 3a Grand Traverse Resort, The Bear, Acme. (800) 236-1577. grandtraverseresort.com 3b Grand Traverse Resort, The Wolverine, Acme. (800) 236-1577. grandtraverseresort.com 3c Grand Traverse Resort, Spruce Run, Acme. (800) 236-1577. grandtraverseresort.com 4 High Pointe Golf Club, Williamsburg (231) 267-9900. highpointegolf.com 5 Interlochen Golf Club, Interlochen (231) 275-7311. interlochengolf.com

Iosco 1a Lakewood Shores, Blackshire, Oscoda (800) 882-2493. lakewoodshores.com 1b Lakewood Shores, The Gailes, Oscoda lakewoodshores.com 1c Lakewood Shores, Serradella, Oscoda lakewoodshores.com 2 Red Hawk, Oscoda (877) 733-4295. redhawkgolf.net 3 Tawas Creek, East Tawas (989) 362-6262. tawasgolf.com 4 Wicker Hills, Hale (888) 216-6264. golfnorthernmichigan.com

Kalkaska 1 Grandview Golf Course, Kalkaska (231) 258-3244 2 Timber Wolf, Kalkaska (231) 258-5685 3 Twin Birch Golf Course, Kalkaska (231) 258-9691. twinbirchgolf.com

Leelanau 1 Dunes Golf Course, Empire (231) 326-5390. dunesgolf.com

2 King’s Challenge, Cedar (888) 228-0121. kingschallenge.com 3 Sleeping Bear, Cedar (231) 228-1870 4 Leelanau Club at Bahle Farms, Suttons Bay. (231) 271-2020. leelanauclub.com

Manistee 1 Arcadia Bluffs, Arcadia (800) 494-8666. arcadiabluffs.com 2 Bear Lake County Highlands, Bear Lake (231) 864-3817. golfbearlake.com 3 Chestnut Hills, Bear Lake (231) 864-2458 4 Heathlands, Onekama (231) 889-5644. heathlands.com 5 Manistee Country Club, Manistee (231) 723-2509 6a Manistee National Golf & Resort/ Canthooke, Manistee (231) 723-8874. manisteenational.com 6b Manistee National Golf & Resort/ Cutter’s Ridge, Manistee (231) 723-8874. manisteenational.com

Missaukee 1 Country Greens Golf Course, Lake City (231) 839-7777. countrygreens.com 2 Missaukee Golf Club, Lake City (231) 825-2756 golfmichigan.net/missaukeegolf

Montmorency 1 Elk Ridge, Atlanta (989) 785-2275. elkridgegolf.com 2 Thunder Bay Resort, Hillman (800) 729-9375. thunderbaygolf.com

Ogemaw 1 Apple Valley, West Branch (989) 345-2971. applevalleygolf.com 2 The Dream, West Branch (989) 345-6300. teedream.com 3 Green Briar, Lupton (989) 473-4900. greenbriargolf.net 4 West Branch Country Club, West Branch. (989) 345-2501. westbranchcc.com

Oscoda 1 Cedar Valley, Comins (989) 848-2792 2a Garland Resort/Reflections, Lewiston (989) 786-2211. garlandusa.com 2b Garland Resort/Swampfire 2c Garland Resort/Monarch 2d Garland Resort/Fountains

GOLF BENZIE COUNTY

Northern Michigan Preserved Great golf, not a great distance. Scenic fairways and breath-taking views. Eight unique and challenging courses.

Otsego 1 Black Bear Golf Resort, Vanderbilt (866) 983-4441. golfblackbear.net

Shanty Creek, Bellaire – New owners and $10 million in renovations has a way of getting one’s attention. If you haven’t visited lately, make plans now. Shanty has made moves to become the penthouse in providing the ultimate in the Northern Michigan golf experience. Two and three-day golf schools are available for beginners and golfers of all ages and skill levels. Hawk’s Eye, Bellaire – This resort features the signature course and The Chief with the highest slope rating in the state. Adjacent to Shanty Creek, the two have teamed to offer the ultimate in course selection, pricing and accommodations. Boyne (Boyne Falls, Harbor Springs, Bay Harbor) – 144 holes of golf on some of the most fabulous courses you’ll play anywhere, sparkling accommodations, water park and central to the complete Up North experience.

MICHIGAN GOLF 2008

MICHIGAN GOLF DIRECTORY|north/east (231) 775-9442 3 Eldorado, Cadillac (231) 779-9977. golfeldorado.com 4 Emerald Vale, Manton (231) 824-3631. emeraldvale.com 5 McGuire’s Resort/The Spruce, Cadillac (231) 775-9947. mcguiresresort.com 6 Wedgewood, Cadillac (231) 779-3980

ARENAC

GLADWIN HURON B AY

MIDLAND

TUSCOLA

SANILAC SAGINAW GENESEE

LAPEER S T. C L A I R

SHIAWASSEE MACOMB OAKLAND

INGHAM

Arenac 1 Huron Breeze, AuGres (989) 876-6868. huronbreeze.com 2 Pine River, Standish (989) 846-6819 3 Singing Bridge, Tawas City (989) 362-0022

Bay 1 Bay County Golf Club, Essexville (989) 892-2161. essexvillemi.areaguides.net 2 Bay Valley Resort, Bay City (989) 686-5400. bayvalley.com 3 Green Hills Golf Club, Pinconning (989) 697-3011 4 Maple Leaf, Linwood (989) 697-3531 5 Sandy Ridge, Midland (989) 631-6010. golfsandyridge.com 6 White Birch Hills, Bay City (989) 662-6523

LIVINGSTON

JACKSON

East

W AY N E WASHTENAW

MONROE

LENAWEE

Genesee 2a Black Forest /Wilderness Valley, Gaylord. (231) 585-7090. blackforestgolf.com 2b Black Forest/Black Forest, Gaylord 3 Gaylord Country Club, Gaylord (231) 546-3376. gaylordcountryclub.com 4a Otsego Club, The Classic, Gaylord (800) 752-5510. otsegoclub.com 4b Otsego Club, The Tribute, Gaylord (800) 752-5510. otsegoclub.com 5 The Loon, Gaylord (877) 732-4455 6 Marsh Ridge, Gaylord (800) 743-7529. marshridge.com 7a Michaywe The Pines, Gaylord (888) 746-3742. michaywe.com 7b Mountain Lake, Gaylord (989) 731-1300. mountainlakegolf.com 8 Natural at Beaver Creek, The, Gaylord (989) 732-1785. thenatural.org 9a Treetops Resort/Jones, Gaylord (800) 444-6711. treetops.com 9b Treetops Resort/Fazio, Gaylord (800) 444-6711. treetops.com 9c Treetops Resort/Smith Signature,

Gaylord, (800) 444-6711. treetops.com 9d Treetops Resort/Smith Tradition, Gaylord. (800) 444-6711. treetops.com

Presque Isle 1 Stoney Links, Onaway (989) 733-2683. stoneylinks.com 2 Rogers City, Rogers City (989) 734-4909

Roscommon 1 Burning Oak, Higgins Lake (989) 821-9821 2 Pine View, Houghton Lake (989) 366-9806 3 Quest Golf Club, Houghton Lake (989) 422-4516. questgolfclub@yahoo.com 4 White Deer, Prudenville (989) 366-5812

Wexford 1 Briar at Mesick, Mesick (231) 885-1220. thebriaratmesick.com 2 Cadillac Country Club, Cadillac

Brian O’Neill leads a talented staff in providing golf instruction, classes and private lessons throughout the season. Package deals available. Grand Traverse Resort, Acme – Host to the Michigan Open and home to six-time winner Scott Hebert, course improvements to The Wolverine, spacious setting, multiple lodging choices, fabulous food, and the best views of Grand Traverse Bay from The Tower. Home to the Jim McLean Golf School, regarded as one of the finest teaching academies in the profession. Timberstone at Pine Mountain Resort, Iron Mountain – Timberstone has stood tallest among the Upper Peninsulas best courses. You can now couple a trip to include the new Sweetgrass in Harris and Greywalls in Marquette. Bay Mills Resort and Casinos, Brimley – Views of Lake Superior, home to Canadian Tour course Wild Bluff, gaming and first rate lodging combine to

MICHIGAN GOLF 2008

1 Brookwood Golf Club, Burton (810) 742-4930 2 Captain’s Club at Woodfield, Grand Blanc. (810) 695-4653. captainsclubatwoodfield.com 3 Fenton Farms, Fenton (810) 629-1212 4 Genesee Valley Meadows, Swartz Creek. (810) 732-1401 5 Goodrich Country Club, Goodrich (810) 636-2493 6 Grand Blanc Golf & CC, Grand Blanc (810) 694-5960 7 Kearsley Lake Golf Club, Flint (810) 736-0930 8 Southmoor Golf Club, Burton (810) 743-4080 9 Sugarbush, Davison (810) 653-3326 10 Swartz Creek, Flint (810) 766-7043 11 Tyrone Hills Golf Club, Fenton (810) 629-5011. tyronehillsgolf.com 12 Vienna Greens, Clio (810) 686-1443

Gladwin 1 Gladwin Heights Golf Club, Gladwin (989) 426-9941 2 Sugar Springs, Gladwin (989) 426-1162

Huron 1 Bird Creek, Port Austin (989) 738-4653 2 Scenic Golf & CC, Pigeon (989) 453-3350 3 Ubly Heights, Ubly (989) 658-2374. ublyheights.com 4 Verona Hills, Bad Axe (989) 269-8132

Ingham 1 Branson Bay Golf Course, Mason (517) 663-4144 2 Brookshire Inn, Williamston (517) 655-4695 3 College Fields, Okemos (517) 332-8100. collegefields.net 4 Chisholm Hills Golf Club, Lansing (517) 694-0169 5 El Dorado, Mason (517) 676-2854. webgolfer/eldorado.com 6a Forest Akers-East, East Lansing (517) 355-1635. golfmsu.msu.edu 6b Forest Akers-West, East Lansing (517) 355-1635. golfmsu.msu.edu 7 Groesbeck/Lansing Municipal Courses, Lansing. (517) 483-4333 8 Mason Hills Golf Club, Mason (517) 676-5366 9 Oak Lane Golf Course, Webberville (517) 521-3900. oaklane.usgolfer.net 10 Meridian Sun Golf Club, Haslett (517) 339-8281 11 Wheatfield Valley, Williamston (517) 655-6999

Jackson 1 Burr Oak Golf Club, Parma (517) 531-4741 2 Calderone Farms, Grass Lake (517) 522-6661. calderonefarms.com 3 Cascades Golf Club, Jackson (517) 788-4323. cascadesgolfcourse.com 4 Clark Lake Golf Club, Brooklyn (517) 592-6259 5 Concord Hills, Concord (517) 524-8337. concordhills.com 6 Ella Sharp Park Municipal, Jackson (517) 788-4066 7 Gauss Green Valley, Jackson (517) 764-0270 8 Grande Golf Club, Jackson (517) 768-9494. grandegolfclub.com 9 Pine Hollow, Jackson

give this destination a leg U.P. on the competition. Drummond Island Resort and Conference Center, Drummond Island – Hundreds of islands dot the Great Lakes but none can boast of the accommodations on this rock, a resort built by pizza magnate Tom Monaghan. Reside at the luxurious Woodmore Lodge or any of the neighboring cabins. A-Ga-Ming Resort, Kewadin – Historic setting near Grand Traverse Bay on Torch Lake. The Torch has long been known for providing the most scenic views of Torch Lake. Sundance was added several years ago lending special appeal to this golf destination.

MICHIGAN GOLF DIRECTORY|east 10

11 12 13 14 15 16 17

(517) 764-4200. pinehollow.com Greenbriar, Brooklyn (517) 592-6952. jackson-mich.org/golfjackson/ courses/greenbriar Hankerd Hills, Pleasant Lake (517) 769-2507. hankerdhills.com Hills’ Heart of the Lakes, Brooklyn (517) 592-2110 Hickory Hills, Jackson (517) 750-3636 Lakeland Hills, Jackson (517) 764-5292. lakelandhills.com Sparrow Hawk, Jackson (517) 787-1366. sparrowhawk.com Waterloo, Grass Lake (517) 522-8527 Whiffletree Hill, Concord (517) 524-6655

Lapeer 1 Greenbriar, Mayville (989) 843-6575 2 Lapeer Country Club, Lapeer (810) 664-2442 3 Lum International Golf Club, Lum (810) 724-0851 4 Rolling Hills, Lapeer (810) 664-2281 5 Washakie Golf & Resort, Branch (810) 688-3235

Lenawee 1 Centerview Golf Club, Adrian (517) 263-8081 2 Demor Hills, Morenci (517) 458-6679. demorhills.com 3 Devil’s Lake, Manitou Beach (517) 547-3653 4 Raisin Valley, Tecumseh (517) 423-2050 5 Woodlawn, Adrian (517) 263-3288

Livingston 1 Hawk Meadows, Howell (517) 546-4635. hawkmeadows.com 2 Dunham Hills, Hartland (248) 887-9170. dunhamhills.com 3 Faulkwood Shores, Howell (517) 546-4180 4 Hartland Glen, Hartland

Sundance at A-Ga-Ming

5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15

(248) 887-3777 Hunter’s Ridge, Howell (517) 545-4653. ismi.net/huntersridge Huron Meadows Metropark, Brighton (810) 231-4084. metroparksgolf.com Ironwood, Howell (517) 546-3211 The Jackal, Brighton (810) 229-9581. jackalgolfclub.com The Majestic, Hartland (810) 632-5235. majesticgolf.com Marion Oaks, Howell (517) 548-0050 Oak Pointe, Brighton (810) 227-4541 Rush Lake, Pinckney (734) 878-9790 Timber Trace, Pinckney (734) 878-1800. timber-trace.com Whispering Pines, Pinckney (734) 878-0009. whisperingpinesgc.com The Preserve, Fenton (810) 714-3206. thepreserve.org

Macomb 1 Bello Woods, Mt. Clemens (586) 949-1200 2 Bruce Hills, Romeo (586) 752-7244. golfbrucehills.com 3 Cedar Glen, New Baltimore (586) 725-8156 4 Cherry Creek, Shelby Twnship (586) 254-7700. cherrycreekgolf.com 5 Cracklewood, Mt. Clemens (586) 781-0808 6 Fernhill, Clinton Twpship (586) 286-4700 7 Glacier Club, Washington (586) 781-2288. glacierclub.com 8 Greystone, Washington (586) 752-7030. golfgreystone.com 9 Heather Hills, Romeo (586) 798-3971 10 Hickory Hollow, Macomb (586) 949-9033. hickoryhollowgolf.com 11 Maple Lane, Roseville (586) 754-3020 12 Michigan Meadows, Casco (586) 727-7029 13 Wolcott Mill Golf Course, Ray (586) 749-3415. metroparksgolf.com 14 Oak Ridge, New Haven

�� 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24

(586) 749-5151 The Orchards Golf Club, Washington (586) 786-7200. orchards.com Pine Valley, Ray (586) 752-9633 Plum Brook, Sterling Hts. (586) 264-9411. plumbrookgolfclub.com Rammler Golf Club, Sterling Hts. (586) 264-4101 Richmond Forest, Lenox (586) 727-4742. richmondforestgolf.com Romeo Golf Club, Washington (586) 752-9673 Salt River, New Baltimore (586) 725-0311 Sunnybrook, Sterling Hts. (586) 977-9759 Sycamore Hills, Macomb (586) 598-9500. sycamorehills.com Timberwood Golf Club, Ray (586) 784-6000. timberwoodgolfclub.com

Midland 1a Currie Golf Club-West, Midland (989) 839-9600 1b Currie Golf Club-East, Midland (989) 839-9600

Monroe 1 Bedford Golf Club, Temperance (734) 854-4653. bedfordhillsgolf.com 2 Carleton Glen, Carleton (734) 654-6201 3 Carrington, Monroe (734) 241-0707. carringtongolfclub.com 4 Deme Acres, Petersburg (734) 279-1151 5 Giant Oak, Temperance (734) 847-6733. giantoakgolfclub.com 6 Green Meadows, Monroe (734) 242-5566 7 The Legacy, Ottawa Lake (734) 854-1101. legacybyarthurhills.com 8 Lilac Golf Course, Newport (734) 586-7555 9 Links at Lake Erie, Monroe (734) 384-1177. linksatlakeerie.com 10 Maple Grove, Lambertville (734) 854-6777 11a Raisin River-West, Monroe (734) 289-3700. raisinrivergolf.com

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27 Holes On Scenic Rolling Countryside

Women’s Charity Challenge

MAY 31 JUNE 22 JULY 20 AUGUST 17 SEPTEMBER 7 FOR MORE INFORMATION GO TO OUR WEBSITE AT

www.scottlake.com

CALL FOR TEE TIMES

616-784-1355

911 Hayes, N.E., Comstock Park MICHIGAN GOLF 2008

MICHIGAN GOLF DIRECTORY|east 11b Raisin River-East, Monroe (734) 289-3700. raisinrivergolf.com 12 Sand Wedge, Ottawa Lake (734) 854-4909 13 Wesburn Golf Club, Rockwood (734) 379-3555 14 Whiteford Valley, Ottawa Lake (734) 856-4545. whitefordgolf.com

Oakland 1 Bald Mountain, Lake Orion (248) 373-1110 2 Beacon Hill, Commerce Twp. (248) 684-2200. beaconhillgc.com 3 Beaver Creek, Oakland Twp. (248) 693-7170 4 Blackheath, Rochester (248) 601-8000 5 Boulder Pointe, Oxford (248) 969-1500. migrandgolftrail.com 6 Bramblewood, Holly (248) 634-3481 7 Brentwood, White Lake (248) 684-2662. brentwoodgolf.com 8 Cattails, S. Lyon (248) 486-8777. cattailsgolfclub.com 9 Liberty Golf Club, Clarkston (248) 625-3731 10 Copper Hills, Oxford (248) 969-9808. copperhills.com 11 Coyote, South Lyon (248) 486-1228 12 Devil’s Ridge, Oxford (248) 969-0100. devilsridge.com 13 El Dorado, Walled Lake (248) 624-1736 14 Fieldstone, Auburn Hills (248) 370-9354. fieldstonegolf.com 15 Glen Oaks, Farmington Hills (248) 851-8356. co.oakland.mi.us 16 Heather Highlands, Holly (248) 634-6800 17 Highland Hills, Highland (248) 887-4481 18 Indian Springs Metropark, White Lake (248) 625-7870. metroparksgolf.com 19 Kensington Metropark, Milford (248) 685-9332. metroparksgolf.com 20 Links at Pinewood, Walled Lake (248) 669-9802 21 Lyon Oaks, Wixom (248) 437-1488. co.oakland.mi.us 22 Mulberry Hills, Oxford (248) 628-2808. mulberryhills.com 23 Mystic Creek, Milford (248) 684-3333. mysticcreek.com 24 Oxford Hills, Oxford (248) 628-2518 25 Pine Knob, Clarkston (248) 625-4430. pineknobmansion.com 26 Pine Trace, Rochester

St. Ives

(248) 852-7100. pinetracegolf.com 27 Pontiac CC, Waterford (248) 682-6333 28 Pontiac Municipal, Pontiac (248) 858-8990 29 Rackham Golf Club, Huntington Wds. (248) 543-4040 30 Rochester Hills, Rochester (248) 852-4800 31 Shenandoah, Oakland Twp. (248) 682-4300 32 Shepherd’s Hollow, Clarkston (248) 922-0300 33 Springfield Oaks, Davisburg (248) 625-2540. co.oakland.mi.us 34 Stony Creek Metropark, Washington (586) 781-9166 35 Sylvan Glen, Troy (248) 879-0040 36 Tanglewood, S. Lyon (248) 486-3355. tanglewoodthelion.com 37 Twin Lakes, Oakland Twp. (248) 650-4960. twinlakesgc.com 38 Westbrooke, Novi (248) 349-2723 39 White Lake Oaks, Pontiac (513) 892-3469 40 Westwynd, Rochester Hills (248) 608-7820. thewyndgate.com

Saginaw 1 Bayou Golf Club, Freeland (989) 781-8181 2 Beech Hollow, Freeland (989) 695-5427 3 Crooked Creek, Saginaw (989) 781-0050 4 The Fortress, Frankenmuth (989) 652-9229. zehnders.com 5 Golf Club at Apple Mountain, Freeland (989) 781-6789. applemountain.com 6 Green Acres, Bridgeport (989) 777-3510 7 Kimberly Oaks, St. Charles (989) 865-8261 8 Mueller’s Valley View Farms, Saginaw (989) 781-1248 10 The Sawmill, Saginaw (989) 793-269. thesawmill.com 11 Swan Valley, Saginaw (989) 781-4945. swan-valley.com 12 Twin Bridges, Merrill (989) 643-7475 13 Twin Brooks, Chesaning (989) 845-6403 14 Twin Oaks, Freeland (989) 695-9746

Sanilac 1 Huron Shores, Port Sanilac (810) 622-9961

2 Lakeview Hills, Lexington (810) 359-8901. michigangolfcourses.com 3 Woodland Hills, Sandusky (810) 648-2400

Shiawassee 1 Dutch Hollow, Durand (517) 288-3960 2 Glenbrier, Perry (517) 625-3800 3 Pine Hills, Laingsburg (517) 651-7781 4 Willow Brook, Byron (810) 266-4660

St. Clair 1 Belle River, Memphis (810) 392-2121 2 Black River, Port Huron (810) 982-9595. blackrivergolfclub.com 3 Fore Lakes Golf Resort, Kimball (810) 982-3673. forelakes.com 4 Golden Hawk, Casco Twp. (586) 727-4681 5 Holly Meadows, Capac (810) 395-4653. hollymeadows.com 6 Leaning Tree, Wales Twp. (810) 367-3528 7 Marysville CC, Marysville (810) 364-4653 8 Middle Channel Golf Club, Harsens Island. (810) 748-9922 9 Rattle Run, St. Clair (810) 329-2070. rattlerun.com

Tuscola 1 The Timbers, Tuscola (989) 871-4884 2 Vassar Golf & CC, Vassar (989) 823-7221

Washtenaw 1 Brae Burn, Plymouth (734) 453-1900 2 Brookside, Saline (734) 429-4276 3 Downing Farms, Northville (734) 486-0990 4 Eagle Crest, Ypsilanti (734) 487-2441. eaglecrestresort.com 5a Fox Hills-Golden Fox, Pymouth (734) 453-7272. foxhills.com 5b Fox Hills-Fox Classic, Pymouth (734) 453-7272. foxhills.com 5c Fox Hills-Strategic Fox, Pymouth (734) 453-7272. foxhills.com 6 Green Oaks, Ypsilanti (734) 485-0881 7 Hickory Creek, Superior Twp. (734) 454-1850 8 Hickory Sticks, Ann Arbor

(734) 913-8140. hsgolfclub.com 9 Hudson Mills Metropark, Dexter (734) 426-0466. metroparksgolf.com 10 Lake Forest, Ann Arbor (734) 994-8580. lakeforestgc.com 11 Leslie Park, Ann Arbor (734) 994-1163. ci.ann-arbor.mi.us 12 Links of Whitmore, Whitmore Lk. (734) 449-4653. linksatwhitmorelake.com 13 Pierce Lake, Chelsea (734) 475-5858 14 Pine View, Ypsilanti (734) 481-0500. pineviewgc.com 15 Reddeman Farms, Chelsea (734) 475-3020 16 Rolling Meadows, Whitmore Lk. (734) 662-5144 17 Rustic Glen, Saline (734) 429-7679. rusticglen.com 18 Salem Hills, Northville (248) 437-2152 19 Stonebridge, Ann Arbor (734) 429-8383

Wayne 1 Chandler Park, Detroit (313) 331-7755 2 Fellows Creek, Canton (734) 728-1300 3 Fox Creek, Livonia (734) 471-3400 4 Glenhurst, Redford (313) 592-8758 5 Hilltop, Plymouth (734) 453-9800. americangolf.com 6 Idyl Wyld, Livonia (734) 464-6325. ci.livonia.mi.us/services/ parksandrec/idylwyldegolfcourse 7 Inkster Valley, Inkster (734) 722-8020 8 Lake Erie Metropark, Brownstown (734) 379-0048. metroparks.com 9 Lakes of Taylor, Taylor (734) 784-4653. taylorgolf.com 10 Northville Hills, Northville (734) 667-4653. northvillehills.com 11 Palmer Park, Detroit (313) 883-2525 12 Pheasant Run, Canton (734) 397-6460 pheasantrun@canton-mi.org 13 Riverview Highlands, Riverview (734) 479-2266 14 Rouge Park, Detroit (313) 837-5900 15 Shady Hollow, Romulus (734) 721-0430 16 St. Johns Golf Center, Plymouth (734) 453-1047 17 Taylor Meadows, Taylor (313) 295-0501 18 Warren Valley, Dearborn Hts.

Beaver Creek Resort, Gaylord – One of the original resorts and 22 golfing choices that helped put the “Mecca” on the map. Golf The Natural, a Jerry Matthews design which earned top honors when it debuted in 1992. Otsego Club, Gaylord – The crown jewel among Osprey Group’s growing Michigan golf holdings. The Tribute ranks among Michigan Golf’s Top Ten Public Courses, with room to roam…4,000 acres. Garland Resort, Lewiston – As authentic as Northern Michigan golf gets with four truly outstanding golf courses to fill your day from tee time to toddy time. Thunder Bay Golf and Resort, Hillman – The sun rises on golf at this east side resort. Packages include the Thunder Bay course, as well as Elk Ridge. Elk sightings are common and the hospitality five-star.

MICHIGAN GOLF 2008

BCV 2802 MI Golf Magazine ad

12/28/07

3:24 PM

Page 1

MICHIGAN GOLF DIRECTORY|u.p. KEWEENAW

HOUGHTON

BARAGA

ONTONAGON

LUCE MARQUETTE GOGEBIC

IRON

CHIPPEWA

ALGER SCHOOLCRAFT

MACKINAC

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MENONINEE

(313) 561-1040. waynecounty.com 19 Whispering Willows, Livonia (248) 476-4493 20 Willow Metro Park, New Boston (734) 753-4040. metroparksgolf.com 21 Woodlands of Van Buren, Wayne (734) 729-4477. thewoodlandsgc.com 22 Woodside Meadows, Romulus (734) 782-5136

Upper Peninsula Alger 1 Pictured Rocks, Munising (906) 387-2146. algercounty.com/prgcc/

Chippewa 1 Kincheloe Memorial, Kinross (906) 495-5706. kinross.net 2 Munoscong Golf Club, Pickford (906) 647-9812 3 Rock at Woodmoor, Drummond Isl. (906) 493-1006. drummondisland.com 4 Sault St. Marie, Sault St. Marie (906) 632-7812 5 Tanglewood Marsh, Sault St. Marie (906) 635-0617. golftanglewoodmarsh.com 6 Wild Bluffs at Bay Mills Resort, Brimley (906) 248-3617. wildbluff.com

Delta 1 Gladstone, Gladstone (906) 428-9646 2 Highland Golf Club, Bark River (906) 466-7457 3 Terrace Bluff, Gladstone (906) 428-2343. terracebay.com 4 Tri-Valley, Garden (906) 644-2693. gardengolfestates.com

Dickinson 1 Oak Crest, Norway (906) 563-5891

2 Pine Grove, Iron Mtn. (906) 774-3493 3 Eagle Mountain, Iron Mtn. (906) 774-0003 4 Timberstone, Iron Mtn. (906) 776-0111. timberstonegolf.com

Gogebic 1 Gogebic CC, Ironwood (906) 932-2515

Houghton 1 Portage Lake Golf Club, Houghton (906) 487-2641. aux.mtu.edu/golf

Iron 1 George Young Recreation, Iron River (906) 265-3401

Mackinac

If yo u o n ly t a k e year. . . one golf trip this

gn e rs T o p- n am e d e si 19 co ur se s s G re at pa ck ag e n ga hi ic M e ak Vi ews of L

After one golf trip to northwest Michigan, you’ll make it a yearly event.

Free Vacation Guide BoyneCountry.com 800-845-2828 Petoskey � Harbor Springs � Boyne Country

1 Grand Hotel Golf Club, Mackinac Isl. (906) 847-3331. grandhotel.com 2 Hessel Ridge, Hessel (906) 484-2107. hesselridge.com

Marquette 1 Chocolay Downs, Marquette (906) 249-3111 chocolaydownsgolfcourse.com 2a Marquette Golf & CC, Marquette (906) 225-0721. marquettegolf.org 2b Greywalls, Marquette (906) 225-0721. marquettegolf.org 3 Red Fox Run, Gwinn (906) 346-7010. redfoxrun.com 4 Wawonowin CC, Champion (906) 485-1435

Menominee 1 North Shore Golf Club, Menominee (906) 863-8421 2 Sweetgrass Golf Club, Harris (800) 682-6040. islandresortandcasino.com new for 2008

Treetops Resort, Gaylord – Robert Trent Jones, Jr, Tom Fazio, Rick Smith… some pretty heady names when it comes to golf: knowledge, instruction, design…you name it. Golf doesn’t get much better than at one of America’s leading golf resorts. Add the famed par 3 Threetops to the attraction and you can’t go wrong. St. Ives Resort, Stanwood – The addition of the Jim Engh designed Tullymore and first rate lodging facilities makes this centrally located 36hole resort a must visit. Lakewood Shores, Oscoda – Fifty-four holes of golf with each course distinctively different than the other. The Gailes reigns as one of Michigan’s top links-style layouts. Blackshire has been compared to Pine Valley. And Serradella is prim and properly positioned in between.

MICHIGAN GOLF 2008

MICHIGAN GOLF DIRECTORY|map ANY PLACE YOU HAVE EVER WANTED TO GOLF IN WEST MICHIGAN

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MAPS SPONSORED BY:

KEWEENAW

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L. Gogebic

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MICHIGAN GOLF 2008

The Gallery

For Spring and Summer Golf Specials Visit Michigan Golf Online at www.michigangolfmagazine.com 88

MICHIGAN GOLF 2008

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