The Golf Explorer - 2023

ROUNDING THE FAIRWAYS: Michigan’s Upper Peninsula

ESCAPE TO MICHIGAN

GROUNDS TOUR: A Gallery of Great Golf

IN CONVERSATION: Pelz Golf Schools

DESTINATION ESCAPES: Where to Stay and Play

MARCH-OCTOBER 2023

Shanty Creek Resort

michigangolfexplorer.com

ROUNDING THE FAIRWAYS: Michigan’s Upper Peninsula

IN CONVERSATION: Pelz Golf Schools

DESTINATION ESCAPES: Where to Stay and Play

MARCH-OCTOBER 2023

Island Resort and Casino - Sweetgrass

michigangolfexplorer.com

GROUNDS TOUR: A Gallery of Great Golf

ROUNDING THE FAIRWAYS: Michigan’s Upper Peninsula

ESCAPE

IN CONVERSATION: Pelz Golf Schools

MARCH-OCTOBER 2023

Lynx Golf Course

michigangolfexplorer.com

DESTINATION ESCAPES: Where to Stay and Play

Exactly where you should be.

When you’re true to who you are, you’re true to where you are. Come join us.

TraverseCity.com

of Michigan

Greywalls, Marquette MI

Photography by Craig Moore

18 SHANTY CREEK RESORT WELCOMES HAWK’S EYE | Shanty Creek Resort recently acquired Hawk’s Eye Golf Club, bringing its golfing portfolio to a total of 90 holes across five different courses

20 SPRINGTIME IN MICHIGAN’S CAPITAL | discover the amenity-rich destination of Lansing this spring, where championship golf courses, sporting events, retail, rich history, and a vibrant food and beverage scene await

25 THE MT. PLEASANT VACATION DESTINATION | from golfing and gaming, hiking trails and eclectic dining, to public art and craft brews, this centrally located destination offers adventure and exploration for every season

30 IN CONVERSATION: PELZ GOLF SCHOOLS | in this edition, we speak with Stefan Carlsmith, managing senior instructor at Dave Pelz Golf, to learn more about the schools’ short game philosophy and timeless game strategy

34 DESTINATION ESCAPES OF THE GREAT LAKES | the latest edition of destination escapes and resorts highlighted for their on-course and aftergolf opportunities

48 WOMEN’S GOLF DAY | the weeklong celebration and global movement uniting women and girls across the world

53 GROUNDS TOUR | a visual gallery of courses around Michigan for both the beginning and experienced golfer alike

68 STEALTH 2 | the new line of drivers building upon the groundbreaking Stealth Carbonwood family, introducing more forgiveness

GET UP AND GO

The paradise of golf in Northern Michigan is more than a manicured green, orchard-lined fairway or battling The Bear. More than award-winning course design, spacious Clubhouse or veteran instructors. It’s having all of those things at your fingertips. You won’t believe it if you haven’t seen it. Get up and go at grandtraverseresort.com/golf.

Encounter one of West Michigan’s finest upscale public golf facilities. This magnificent course was built on over 400 acres and bears the hallmark of premier design and construction, with bentgrass fairways, distinctive green complexes, and 6 different yardages to play from! Pilgrim’s Run is a “must play” for golfers who enjoy the combination of tranquility, beauty, and great golf!

“Top 10” Golfweek’s Best Public Course by State, 2020

#1 Ranked Golf Course for “Staff Friendliness.”

The Golf Advisor Staff 2018

“Top 10 Hidden Gems in the U.S.” 2014 The Golf Channel

Course record 29-36= 65

PGA Tour Two-Time U.S. Open winner Lee Janzen

Photography by M-Buck Studio

Contents

72 ROUNDING THE FAIRWAYS: THE UPPER PENINSULA | this year, we head north to explore some of the incredible golf destinations in the Great Lakes State’s Upper Peninsula

82 DESIGN ON COURSE | the coastalinspired residence set on Oakland Hills Country Club’s North Course, built by PRM Custom Builders of Bloomfield Hills, designed by Brian Neeper Architecture P.C. of Birmingham, as an inviting retreat for clients with an avid golfing lifestyle

86 LIFE ON THE LINKS: TULLYMORE

| from luxury condominiums to custom residential homes, The Villages at Tullymore offers a lifestyle and a community at a golfing resort destination

90 A LEGACY OF HOPE | American Dunes Golf Club in Grand Haven, Michigan marks the birthplace of the Folds of Honor Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to meeting sacrifice with hope, and after two golf seasons, is well on its way to leaving a lasting legacy

93 THE DIRECTORY | a list of partner courses in Michigan

98 THE LOCHENHEATH

EXPERIENCE | the newly private golf destination is dedicated to providing comprehensive club service, a signature experience, and breathtaking vistas across its course

101 WINE UP NORTH | recognized for more than its waterfront shorelines and championship golf courses, northern Michigan has been making a name for itself since its winemaking debut in the 1960s, in tasting rooms and national competitions alike

105 THE OUTLOOK | a look at the state of the golf industry and the hope for the new season from several local golf course professionals

110 ARRIVALS | a map of airports in the state

MichiganGolfExplorer.com

EDITOR

Rachel J. Weick

CREATIVE AND DESIGN

Robin Vargo

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Riley Collins

Diane Kolak

PUBLISHER

John C. Olsa

ADVERTISING SALES

John C. Olsa, johno@svkmp.com

Kim Amesbury, Advertising Sales kamesbury@comcast.net

CIRCULATION

David Fant, Market Mapping Plus

PRINTING AND MAILING

Walsworth Printing & Holland Litho

CONTRIBUTORS

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Brian Walters Photography

Nile Young, Nile Young Photography

LEGAL

Smith Haughey Rice & Roegge

ACCOUNTING

Pennell CPA

Fred Pennell, CPA, CGMA Austin Roberts, Senior Accountant

FINANCE

Lake Michigan Credit Union

PO Box 586 Hudsonville, MI 49426 (616) 379-4001 michigangolfexplorer.com/contact-us/ ©2023 All rights reserved. Contents may not be reprinted or reproduced without written consent of publisher.

Advertising rates found at michigangolfexplorer.com

SVK Media & Publishing is not responsible for unsolicited materials or contributions.

Nile Young | PHOTOGRAPHER

With a portfolio spanning more than 400 courses across the globe, Nile Young is among the foremost photographers in the industry. His library includes some of finest golf properties in the world, including: The Old Course at St Andrews, Michigan’s Arcadia Bluffs, Tucker’s Point in Bermuda, Florida’s StreamSong Resort, Wisconsin’s Whistling Straits, and Mexico’s Mayacoba. Nile’s expertise extends to lifestyle, portraiture, and architectural imagery for many of the world’s top resort brands, including Wyndham, Walt Disney World Golf, Four Seasons, World Golf Village, Hilton, and Waldorf Astoria, among others.

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facebook.com/ michigangolfexplorer/

His work has been published in such notable titles as Golf Magazine, Golf Digest, and Links Magazine, as well as the Sports Illustrated and Jack Nicklaus calendars.

Inrecent years, golf has experienced tremendous growth as more people engage with the game as an industry, as a recreational activity, and as a sport. Participation in the United States rose to nearly 41.1 million participants in 2022 as both on-course and off-course play drew new and experienced players to fairways and greens across simulated and physical landscapes, according to the National Golf Foundation.

Initiatives like the American Golf Industry Coalition’s Make Golf Your Thing, and the Women’s Golf Day, are also expanding access and inclusivity to the sport. Through the American Golf Industry Coalition, roughly $1.05 million has been awarded to approximately 155 organizations working to increase participation among those often underrepresented—Black, Latinx, Asian, Indigenous, veterans, individuals with disabilities, and LGBTQ+ communities—since May 2021. Women’s Golf Day, which is returning for its eighth annual celebration this season, has become a global movement to unite women and girls through opportunity and community across the world.

For nearly two decades, the Folds of Honor Foundation has been dedicated in its mission to meet sacrifice with hope as it leverages golf to fund scholarships for families of America’s fallen or disabled military and first responders—a vision and birthplace commemorated in a Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course Design as American Dunes Golf Club in Grand Haven, Michigan. In 2022 alone, the course collaboratively helped fund roughly $1.1 million for the foundation, ultimately letting 220 families know they and their loved ones had not been forgotten.

In this edition, we take time to highlight a few of these initiatives and their impact as we travel once more throughout the Great Lakes State to some of the great places to stay, play, and explore.

Welcome to The Golf Explorer: Michigan’s Journal to Incredible Golf.

Rachel J. Weick Editor | SVK Multimedia and Publishing

The Golf Explorer: Michigan’s Journal to Incredible Golf

DESIGNER NOTE

CRYSTAL 36

BOTH 18-HOLE CHAMPIONSHIP COURSES: RATED FOUR STARS BY GOLF DIGEST.

The Mountain Ridge course is a quintessential Up North challenge. The Betsie Valley course is scenic, playable and, after a major renovation, better than ever. The Golf Learning Center earned a Golf Digest Editors’ Choice Award as one of the Best Golf Schools in the U.S. Reserve lodging, tee times and lessons at crystalmountain.com or call 877-288-9775.

Have it all with the best of them all at Gun Lake Casino! Feel like a winner the second you start playing with over 2,500 of the hottest slots, 50 tables of your favorite games, the best poker room in west Michigan and our new high-limit room with high stake slot machines. After you’ve had your fill of the action, treat your tastebuds to expertly prepared dishes from Shkodé Chophouse, unique eats and treats from CBK, and great bar food and LIVE sports at 131 Sportsbar & Lounge. Come see what playing with the best is all about at Gun Lake Casino.

Shanty Creek Resort

WELCOMES HAWK’S EYE TO EXPAND PORTFOLIO

About 31 miles northeast of Traverse City, Michigan, tucked within a series of winding trails off the eastern shore of Lake Bellaire, Shanty Creek Resort has been a mainstay for traveling golfers in the region, and those exploring nationally.

A showcase of finely sculpted Michigan topography and award-winning hospitality, the four-season golf and ski resort welcomed Hawk’s

Text: R. Collins

Eye Golf Club into its portfolio of courses in 2021 to become one of the top 10 largest golf resorts in North America. The resort now boasts five course options across its over 5,000-acre property, featuring classic layouts from Tom Weiskopf, Arnold Palmer, William Diddel, and Warner Bowen. Now with Hawk’s Eye under its wing, Shanty Creek has more variety than ever for Michigan golf fans across its five, 18-hole championship courses.

“There are not many resorts that can say they have 90 different holes to play in a five-mile radius, so golfers can play a different course each day, have a totally different experience from one course to the next—and do it all without having to get in their car once—during their stay,” said Lindsey Southwell, director of marketing at Shanty Creek Resort in Bellaire.

The course packs on the intrigue thanks to the unique challenges featured on each hole, allowing a new personal play experience each time golfers set foot on the course. This, coupled with the course’s showcase of well-loved Northern Michigan land characteristics—the undulations, the scenic interactions between woodland and water, and overall serenity—are Southwell’s favorite aspects of the course

“When John Robinson designed the course, it’s clear he had a keen sense of his surroundings and played to those strengths in his design. It really is the quintessential Northern Michigan golf experience,” Southwell said.

Now under the Shanty Creek umbrella, Hawk’s Eye also benefits from the diligent maintenance each of the resort’s courses undergoes each season, with a significant amount of time and resources spent on elevating the course to resort standards so far. Within the year, Southwell finds that Hawk’s Eye is quickly becoming a favorite even among strong counterparts like Cedar River and The Legend.

“It’s truly a hidden gem,” Southwell said. “In my opinion, it won’t be hidden for too long—it’s just that great of a course.”

Springtime IN MICHIGAN’S CAPITAL

Michigan’s capital grew in recognition as an auto manufacturing powerhouse in the late 1800s before it transformed into a destination for Big Ten sports fans, festival enthusiasts, and avid golfers alike. Throughout the area, visitors can find subtle nods to Lansing’s history while also enjoying a growing list of modern amenities, including several championship golf courses offering different styles of play. Though unique, each course in the area showcases the rolling green topography, picturesque forested areas, and quaint streams that have come to signify Michigan golf for many.

“With 30 courses within a 30-mile radius, Michigan’s capital region is a great golf destination,” said Lori Lanspeary, CTA, marketing and community engagement manager at the Greater Lansing Convention and Visitors Bureau. “Centrally located in the state, golfers do not need to drive far to find remarkable and lush green courses.”

In terms of course offerings, area favorites Eagle Eye Golf and Banquet Center and the Forest Akers Golf Courses hold signature appeals for their links-style, championship course and collegiate reputations, respectively. Eagle Eye’s eponymous course presents enjoyable challenges from any of the five tee sets on each hole, and even surprises golfers with a replica of

Text: R. Collins

the island green at the TPC Sawgrass on the 17th hole. Visitors’ green fees include driving range access, and pre-play is complemented by two practice putting greens. The property is home to five courses, as well as a putting course and the Michigan PGA’s headquarters. Visitors can find several styles of play, from Eagle Eye’s links-style championship design to Woodside Golf Course, a rare 12-hole course showcasing Michigan hardwoods and challenging contours.

Just north, Forest Akers is nestled on the campus at Michigan State University, and it is home to the university’s Big Ten golf programs, championships, and two pro shops dedicated to quality MSU gear. Both award-winning courses on the property—East and West—are open to the public, and when not in play, visitors can utilize the Golf Center’s 20,000-square-foot putting green, 18 covered and heated yearround hitting stations, three-acre bentgrass practice tees, and more.

Nearby both destinations, several new hotels offer ample rest points for busy travelers and golfers. The Courtyard by Marriott Lansing Downtown is located in the heart of downtown, near

PHOTOGRAPHY: TOM GENNARA (TOP); LANSING CVB (BOTTOM)

the home field for the Lansing Lugnuts, the city’s minor league professional baseball team. For those who want a bigger taste of on-campus vacationing, the Graduate East Lansing hotel is the area’s newest offering overlooking the Michigan State University campus, where it faces a singular

view of the Lansing skyline from its rooftop bar.

“Your visit to East Lansing is not complete without a stroll through the campus of Michigan State University,” Lanspeary said. “Although the campus is one of the largest in the country, the north part contains museums, gardens and, of

course, the venues where Spartan athletes play.”

Both hotels are also located near plenty of Lansing’s popular restaurants, breweries, distilleries, and shops. One, aptly named Lansing Brewing Company, is a historic venue positioned in the heart of Lansing’s Stadium District; it first welcomed visitors in 1897 as more laborers arrived on Lansing’s growing automotive scene. For the variety seekers, the newly opened Lansing Shuffleboard and Social Club along the Lansing River Trail offers five different restaurants, across an approximately 15,000-squarefoot entertainment complex, including an organic Italian kitchen and a Himalayan snack shop. Between the area’s new multi-seasonal activities and tried-and-true mainstays, Lansing reflects the vibrance of many Michigan cities in the spring and summer months, as barriers between indoors and the surrounding outdoors disappear, and sidewalks become busy.

“East Lansing is home to Michigan State University and is full of youthful, vibrant energy,” Lanspeary said. “During the summer months, Albert Avenue is taken over with games, Adirondack chairs, picnic tables, and it is the perfect outdoor location to sit, relax, and enjoy sipping craft beers from Jolly Pumpkin or HopCat.”

PHOTOGRAPHY: JAMES LENON

The Mt. Pleasant Vacation Destination

Known for its Division I collegiate sports teams, as well as its nationally renowned Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort, Michigan’s Mt. Pleasant area is a centrally located vacation destination that also boasts a diverse range of championship golf courses within a half hour of the city’s downtown core. Of these courses, Bucks Run Golf Club is located just northeast of downtown and tucked into a scenic bend in the nearly 92-mile Chippewa River.

For Emily Rohdy, PGA, head golf professional at Bucks Run, the course is popular among visiting golfers because of its quintessential “up north” feel—and thoughtful guest service—without the lengthy drive.

“When you are playing each hole, the dense wooded areas make it feel like you are the only ones on the course,” Rohdy said. “It also offers breathtaking views of

Text: R. Collins

Lake Fisher, which can be seen from at least six holes on the course, as well as a fine dining experience at our very own Quarry Grill where we have indoor and patio seating.”

Rohdy describes the course as generous off the tee but challenging when approaching the greens. The 18-hole championship golf course was designed by Jerry Matthews across about

290 acres of scenic Michigan topography, including natural wetlands, wooded areas, river frontage, and picturesque lakes.

The course’s narrow landing tees and fast, subtle-breaking greens keep play interesting and constitute favorite course features for Rohdy, who also enjoys the dining experience at the Bucks Run clubhouse’s covered outdoor

patio, which boasts panoramic waterfront views and a relaxed atmosphere.

“Our chefs bring over 20 years of experience and provide some of the best quality meals around in my opinion,” Rohdy said. “It’s an excellent way to spend an evening or weekend while taking in the beautiful views of Lake Fisher.”

Mt. Pleasant offers much more in the way of

BUCKS RUN GOLF CLUB

CHIPPEWA RIVER HUNTER’S ALE HOUSE

scenic spring and summer dining. For outdoor patio fans, Chris Rowley, CMP, executive director of Mt. Pleasant Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, recommends The Brass Cafe, a new American cuisine and craft beer favorite; Ponder Coffee Company, a waffle-lover’s destination and craft coffee spot; or Max and Emily’s Eatery, which also organizes free concerts on the streets of downtown Mt. Pleasant throughout August.

Visitors are invited to pull up a lawn chair and enjoy the summer evenings among music. Another concert series can be found at Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort, which this season includes Brooks & Dunn with special guest Scotty McCreery on June 15th and Kane Brown with special guests Chris Lane and Restless Road on August 3rd.

The casino is well-traveled thanks to its more than 13,000-person concert venue, seven dining options, and a resort complete with a spa and child care offerings. Like the rest of Mt. Pleasant’s amenities, it is also centrally located and convenient for day trip adventures, whether they begin with a morning golf outing or patio brunch.

Additional hours downtown can be spent enjoying the Mt. Pleasant Craft Beer Festival’s variety of local food vendors, live music, and craft brews from Michigan, or exploring public art during downtown’s Art Walk Central in August. Visitors can also enjoy authentic foods, crafts, traditional dance, and storytelling at the

Saginaw Chippewa Pow Wow, which has been hosted in the area for over 20 years.

With a wide range of activities that take visitors from indoors to outdoors, day to night, there are plenty of opportunities to enjoy one of central Michigan’s top golf destinations all spring and summer long.

PHOTOGRAPHY: MT PLEASANT AREA CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU

Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort is the ultimate place to have a winning time; and with good reason, as it is home to Michigan’s largest gaming floor! Whether you love playing for triple sevens or putting on a mean poker face, all guests can really win big with one of the largest collections of (and biggest variety of) slot machines and table games in the whole State of Michigan. In addition, you can continue your hot streak over at the bingo hall.

Getting hungry? Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort presents a variety of top-notch, award-winning dining options that’ll suit anyone’s fancy. Whether you like to dig in to thick, juicy steak or enjoy an All-American burger and milkshake, you’ll experience the kind of dining you’re looking for – no matter what your taste palate desires.

And what’s dinner without a show? When it comes to entertainment, Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort has been voted the Best Outdoor Concert venue in Michigan, and has won countless awards for bringing in top-tiered talent to the middle of the state.

When you’re ready to call it a night, one of our 516 AAA 4 Diamond rated well-appointed guest rooms and suites will offer you unrivaled luxury and comfort. Pamper yourself in surroundings beyond compare as you choose from five distinctive room categories.

Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort is YOUR GETAWAY.

.

REIMAGINED

Pelz Golf IN CONVERSATION:

For many golfers, the real test of the game comes after leaving the tee box, when all short game strategy is put on display and can make or break a run.

Founded by American golf coach and short game expert Dave Pelz, Pelz Golf Scoring Game Schools have positioned themselves as an invaluable resource for all things short game play, from chipping and pitching to sand play and putting.

Pelz, who has taught numerous PGA, LPGA, and European Tour players, established the school series around 30 years ago to share his foundational knowledge of the short game, and today the schools offer several programs and day clinics to serve a variety of golfers with varying skill sets. All Dave Pelz Scoring Game Schools are located at prime golf clubs across the United States and Europe, including the Grand Traverse Resort and Spa in Acme, Michigan.

Text: R. Collins

For this edition of The Golf Explorer: Michigan’s Journal to Incredible Golf, we spoke with Stefan Carlsmith, managing senior instructor at Dave Pelz Golf, about the schools’ short game philosophy and timeless game strategy.

TGE: When was the school established?

Carlsmith: This school has been in its format for about 30 years, and it has had the same short game and putting focus for that time. Dave found early on that that’s the focus people needed, and he really stayed out of people’s backyards in terms of the power game and instead just focusing on chipping, pitching, wedge, bunker, and putting strategy. It’s specialized, but in a very big part of the game of golf. We say 65 percent of golf happens from 100 yards in, so it’s an important part of the game.

TGE: What are some common issues with short game play that people experienced back then as they do now? Just timeless issues in the short game.

Carlsmith: First off, it’s a lack of focus on that particular part of the game. Golf is a challenging game to get your foot in the door and quite honestly, when people take the game up, they have to learn to keep up with their friends and actually have fun playing the game. The person who swings and misses isn‘t having that much fun and the person playing with them isn’t having fun.

The most common thing that I would see in our instructional world is people show up with little attention to the short game, because they’re focused on hitting the ball far without losing it. There’s a lack of awareness of what makes sense to do in the short game and, unfortunately, with many parts of golf, it’s a counterintuitive game. So many people come to golf and do what they think would instinctively work, but it ends up being the wrong thing. It’s very much a knowledge-based issue, and what we find quite often is the students who show up to our schools find they’re not getting any better no matter how hard they work on the long game; now it’s time to focus on the other aspects of the game.

GOLF CLUB

TGE: Are there a couple important insights you’ve gained into short game play over the years?

Carlsmith: There are some very common themes that people do incorrectly in the short game and it’s amazing how people of different skill levels make the same mistakes. Some people are able to overcome them with sheer talent where others are not. We have our game plan for short game and putting that we’ve been sticking to for many years. Dave often tells me how fortunate he feels that the information he came up with was good enough to last this period of time. We haven’t been reinventing the wheel these past 30 years; the principles are the principles, and they still work.

There are things that can make it simpler to learn your short game or putting, but it doesn’t mean this is easy, and it can be counterintuitive so you may not instinctually do it. One of the biggest things I’ve seen in my career at Pelz is how a mid-range player could make an amazing amount of change to the way they score by just not messing up the easy stuff. It’s one of those things where some people just don’t focus on the part of the game that will make them score better.

The other thing is golf is unique in sports, because we play it all our lives and there are very few games where you’re constantly getting information from your friends, the internet, and golf magazines that can continually contradict one another. In tennis, when playing against your friend, when you’re halfway through, your friend doesn’t say “I think you’d be better off if you went a little higher on your serve,” whereas in golf, someone is always willing to give information to someone they see struggle, and in general, the information may be completely wrong and lead people down the wrong path.

TGE: Who comes to Pelz Golf?

Carlsmith: This golf school is a unique golf school in the sense that Dave approaches the game with a NASA background, so he approaches it as a scientific researcher. He started with Tour pros, whereas most known golf pros start working with struggling golfers and kids and start making a name for themselves. He worked the other way around and his teaching style is inverted. He put together a class for elite golfers and their friends who were very good golfers, and it turns out the information that the very good golfers needed ended up being the same information that the struggling golfers needed. When he first did the class, he was dealing with quite a few low-handicap golfers, and as it turns out, his strategy works for the masses. There are fundamental truths to the game of golf, and you’ll play better if you know what those are.

DREAM GRAND GO

30+ golf courses within 30 minutes.

Thornapple Pointe Golf Club

DESTINATION ESCAPES OF THE GREAT LAKES

Torch Lake and Lake Michigan.

The sign of spring at the onset of each golf season is often a reminder to plan golf vacations to any number of wonderful resort destinations found in the state. Playand-stay opportunities and endless after-golf activities are assisted by long daylight hours in Michigan throughout the summer season. This year, The Golf Explorer: Michigan’s Journal to Incredible Golf guides visitors through the state and a number of the incredible stops that golfers and non-golfers alike might enjoy, from golf and dining to gaming and wine tours.

A-GA-MING GOLF RESORT 627 Ag A Ming Drive | Kewadin, Michigan

Just north of Traverse City, Michigan, A-GaMing Golf Resort’s main location is nestled overlooking the shores of Torch Lake. Featuring resort anchors courses of Sundance Course and Torch Course, A-Ga-Ming’s golf portfolio also comprises Antrim Dells and Charlevoix Country Club to offer a 72-hole golf resort near both

The Torch Course, A-Ga-Ming’s original design, winds through the bluffs on the west side of Torch Lake. Playing at 6,700 yards from the back tees, the course is playable from there and the tees ahead giving each player plenty of options. Joining Torch Course in 2005, Sundance Course presents an open layout carved through the bluffs between Torch Lake and Grand Traverse Bay. Co-owners Mike Brown and Larry Lavely are dedicated to the careful stewardship of the property and are invested in providing exceptional conditions for those who visit the fairways at A-Ga-Ming.

There are a number of accommodation options at the resort, offering any group size the ability to stay right on the property for a multiday golf escape. Maplewood Ridge Condominiums, Cedar Hollow, and the Vista Townhomes capacity range from one bedroom up to four bedroom townhomes. Dining options are also available, including Duffers and the Sundance Brick Oven. For those interested in making A-Ga-Ming home or a destination retreat, resort real estate and rental ownership is available.

Set near the shores of Lake Michigan to the

north on U.S. Route 31, Antrim Dells offers what Brown describes as “fair and fun” for each guest. The roughly 10-minute drive from the resort property of A-Ga-Ming makes a 36-hole day trip convenient and accessible. The Sunset Bar and Grill onsite at Antrim Dells is well known for its prime rib special and the whitefish delivered fresh daily from John Cross Fisheries located in Charlevoix.

To complete the 72-hole journey, travel north once more on U.S. 31 to the east side of Charlevoix to arrive at Charlevoix Country Club. Designed by the late Jerry Matthews, renowned course designer, offers something unique from the past. By today’s standards, the 6,520 yards might not be long, but it is perfect for shot-makers to enjoy. The forward tees are set up at under 5,000 yards and present a great balance for couples golf. Dining at Charlevoix Country Club brings guests to Shanahan’s Pub, where specialties include the Black Pearl salmon, whitefish piccata, and a host of burger options.

A-Ga-Ming Golf Resort also offers special event options across its properties, such as for larger weddings hosted at its Torch Pavilion.

Text: TGE Staff

A-GA-MING GOLF RESORT

BOYNE GOLF

Bay Harbor Golf Club

5800 Coastal Ridge Drive | Bay Harbor, Michigan

The Highlands at Harbor Springs

600 Highland Drive | Harbor Springs, Michigan

Boyne Mountain Resort

1 Boyne Mountain Road | Boyne Falls, Michigan

Crooked Tree Golf Club

600 Crooked Tree Drive | Petoskey, Michigan

Spanning 10 quality courses, BOYNE Golf delivers an ultimate golf getaway. Beginning with Boyne Mountain Resort in Boyne Falls, The Alpine and The Monument brings elevation changes, dramatic northern terrain, and lake views across its combined 36 holes. With a shared starting point at the summit of its mountain overlooking Deer Lake, guests will have an opportunity to view the world’s longest timber-towered suspension bridge known as SkyBridge. Stretching more than 1,200 feet and connecting the peaks of McLouth and Disciples Ridge, the bridge is available to walk year-round.

In 2021 and 2022, Boyne Mountain Resort completed an update, with upgraded suites at Edelweiss lodge along with a new measure of sustainability, resulting in solar power aspects accounting for approximately 20 percent of the resort’s power. For after-golf activities with the family, be sure to visit the Adventure Center and the popular Avalanche Bay Water Park. The resort’s Fitness and Wellness Center also offers

guests a host of classes that include tai chi, yoga, barre, and aqua aerobics, among others.

To the north, The Highlands at Harbor Springs, formerly known as Boyne Highlands, is home to the first course in the BOYNE Golf portfolio: The Heather. Established in 1966, The Heather began a tradition of hospitality for all four seasons. Golfers can also tee-up at the Arthur Hills, Donald Ross Memorial, The Moor, and the Cuff Links Executive Par 3, which is a nine hole course located near The Highlands Day Lodge.

Ken Griffin, director of golf sales and marketing at Boyne Resort, noted that the entire

resort is seeing more and more couples’ trips and an exceptional increase in the growing market of women’s golf trips. Proximity to Harbor Springs, Petoskey, Boyne City, and Walloon Lake village also offer guests a myriad of convenient, after-golf experiences.

The BOYNE Golf portfolio also features Crooked Tree Golf Club’s 18 holes set atop a bluff overlooking the Bay Harbor Village and Lake Michigan beyond it. With six sets of tees and nice options from the forward tees, the course’s green complexes require a plan to score well despite not being exceptionally long from the back tees.

BOYNE/BAY HARBOR

BOYNE/BAY HARBOR

To complete the BOYNE Golf experience, Bay Harbor Golf Club and The Inn at Bay Harbor welcomes visitors to its beautiful setting with 27 holes composed of three distinct layouts. The Preserve offers a classic path through hardwood forests hugging Lake Michigan, while the Quarry—as its name suggests—cuts through lakeside rock formation and offers a degree of a challenge as it pairs with one of the other two nine-hole layouts. The Links, the third nine-hole design, rungs along the bluff above Lake Michigan. Sunset golf or golf cart tours are popular activities with the views before dinner at Bay Harbor Golf Club’s Links Grille.

Direct flights from Cherry Capital Airport with more than 20 cities serviced, along with Boyne Mountain’s recent $4 million upgraded and reopened 5,200-foot-long airstrip, offers a selection for those flying. The width of the airstrip is now 100 feet wide and able to handle much larg-

er aircraft. A large investment into all the course’s cart paths, several holes, and infrastructure has been a key part of Boyne’s success and their plan to make every vacation an enjoyable one.

CRYSTAL MOUNTAIN 12500 Crystal Mountain Drive | Thompsonville, Michigan

This exceptional, four-season resort hosts 36 holes of championship golf set across Crystal’s Mountain Ridge and Betsie Valley courses. A recent renovation of the Betsie Valley course has introduced new tee boxes, and an expansive forest floor clearing, along with several forest management initiatives. This has opened up views throughout the course along with a more enjoyable walk if that is what the guest choos-

es. Mountain Ridge is set among the towering pines with panoramic views of the local forests. Always a favorite with visitors, Mountain Ridge will be host to the 30th Anniversary of the Michigan PGA Women’s Open Tournament.

Crystal Mountain also offers tailored golf instruction through its Golf Learning Center, which is a 10-acre practice facility, and individual lessons and golf schools at the Crystal Mountain Golf School. With more than 60 years of collective experience, Crystal Mountain Golf School’s three Class A teaching professionals work with players of all ages and play levels. The school also leverages state-of-the-art TrackMan 4 Technology to help individuals improve their game.

There are a number of amenities for guests to explore after golf such as the extensive menu selection at The Thistle within Kinlochen, where casual and fine dining highlights a farm-to-table

CRYSTAL MOUNTAIN

CRYSTAL MOUNTAIN CRYSTAL MOUNTAIN

menu and live music can be found. The resort’s Crystal Spa also offers a number of services for guests, including body treatments, massage, nails, and skin care. Special packages are highlighted by the Couples Spa Retreat, and the popular Crystal Spa Days.

The Michigan Legacy Art Park is a yearround amenity located onsite at Crystal Mountain. Featuring more than 50 sculptures, poetry stones, and an outdoor amphitheater, the Art Park is an experiential journey on a two mile hiking trail winding through a densely wooded 30-acre preserve.

Crystal Mountain also offers many choices for lodging rentals, or for those wanting to make the resort home, such as condos and townhomes, fractional ownerships, resort homes, and land for sale along with real estate nearby the resort. Nearby attractions include the awardwinning Iron Fish Distillery of Thompsonville, and those with gaming on their schedule; the Little River Casino north of Manistee is also just a short drive from the resort.

FOREST DUNES GOLF CLUB

high-quality courses with the group of people that you are with,” said Don Helinski, director of operations at Forest Dunes Golf Club.

6376

Forest Dunes Drive | Roscommon, Michigan

“More than anything, it is about the experience. We have a true getaway located within the Huron National Forest and like any good golf course, it is off the beaten path and away from many of the distractions in life. It is about enjoying our

Located in Roscommon, the club has 54 holes of championship golf along with the Bootlegger Short Course and The Hilltop Putting Course. The beginning of the resort starts with the nationally acclaimed and ranked, Forest Dunes Course. Created by the late Tom Weiskopf, the front nine is carved through the Huron Forest, while the more rugged, more open back nine reminds the player of visuals of such great layouts as Pine Valley. If you are a fan of the 17th, driveable par-4 hole at The Waste Management Phoenix Open,

designed by Weiskopf, you might want to take a chance at the Forest Dunes 17th hole. A host of incredible par-3s, with a favorite being the 9th, leads back to the majestic clubhouse designed by Jim Nordlie, AIA, and his team at Archiventure Group of Denver, Colorado. After 18 holes at Forest Dunes, if all bets are still tied, or you just need to have one more swing, the 19th hole, or BYE hole, is about a 100 yard shot intended to settle all “differences” in the group.

The Loop course debuted in 2016 and was designed by the renowned course designer, Tom Doak and Renaissance Golf Design. The LoopRed travels counterclockwise, while The Loop-

FOREST DUNES GOLF CLUB

THE GOLF, EPIC.

Black reverses course layout every other day to provide a distinctive experience players can come back to time and again. The Dual at The Loop challenges players to take on both the Red and Black routings in the same day for 36 holes of golf. The event is held three times a season, with a popular registration lottery.

Forest Dunes offers that special getaway for golf and relaxation, starting with the Lake AuSable Lodge located 35 yards from the first tee of the Forest Dunes Course. The lodge offers a number of room and suite configurations throughout its two-story, Adirondack-inspired architecture featuring cedar shake siding and stone on its exterior. Additional accommodations include the Forest Dunes Villas and cottages with various amenities, floor layouts, and number of rooms to host a number of group sizes. Helinski noted “it is what makes Forest Dunes so special, the amount of options for golf and lodging create the golf group atmosphere not often found.”

There is also the Bootlegger Bar located behind the 18th green on the Forest Dunes course and The Grille, offering full-service bar, lunch, and dining menus—such as the Hot Honey Salmon—and Durant’s Room can host private dining and corporate events, accommodating up to 24 guests.

In terms of travel, drive time to Forest Dunes from Chicago is just under five hours. Detroit is about three hours away and Grand Rapids is about a two-hour, fifteen-minute excursion. Traverse City Airport, or TVC, is located roughly 65 miles away and private travelers have the three options of Roscommon County Airport, or KHTL, Grayling Army Airfield, or KGOV, and Roscommon Conservation Airport, or 3RC, to choose from. The latter of which are all located less than 20 miles away and shuttle service is available through Forest Dunes with advanced scheduling.

GARLAND LODGE AND GOLF RESORT

4700 North Red Oak Road | Lewiston, Michigan

Nestled among 3,000 acres of northeast Michigan wilderness, Garland Lodge and Golf Resort offers a true golfer’s paradise with 72 holes across its Swampfire, Monarch, Fountains, and Reflections courses. Regardless of the course one plays, the day starts at one clubhouse, centrally located for access to all lodging, dining, and golf amenities.

In 2022, Garland Lodge and Golf Resort undertook a number of renovations from investing in its cart paths to its Double Villa accommodations. A new fleet of golf carts are also planned to be unveiled in 2023. David Sanderson, president and chief operating officer, noted that 2022 was another record year with bookings set to outpace in 2023.

The resort is located five-and-a-half hours from Chicago, about three-and-a-half hours from Detroit, and just under three hours from Grand Rapids, Michigan. From Traverse City’s airport, TVC, it is just a short drive east to the resort, and additional private air travel service is available to travelers through Gaylord, or GLR, and Alpena, or KAPN.

From its immersive golfing experience, and the dining options of the Tamarack Dining Room and Antlers Bar and Grill, to the outdoor Tiki Bar located adjacent the putting green, Garland Lodge and Golf Resort is a destination escape. The resort has also invested in improvements to its Wi-Fi and internet speed, and lodging options range from one- and two-bedroom options in the Garland Lodge, the Lodge Penthouse, Single Villas, and Double Villas, to French Villas, Condominiums, and four-bedroom Golf Cottages fully equipped with kitch-

PHOTOGRAPHY: GARLAND LODGE AND GOLF RESORT

GARLAND LODGE AND GOLF RESORT

en, stove, dishwasher, gas fireplace, and an outdoor deck and grill.

For those with an affinity for the natural landscape, be sure to look back on the 11th hole on the Monarch course, as it is considered the best view for the rather large bald eagle nest. There is also another viewing point on the 10th hole on the Reflections course.

GRAND TRAVERSE RESORT AND SPA

100 Grand Traverse Village Blvd. | Acme, Michigan

The Grand Traverse Resort and Spa stands as an iconic silhouette just east of Traverse City, Michigan, offering 54 holes of golf across its three courses, The Bear, designed by Jack Nicklaus, The Wolverine, designed by Gary Player, and Spruce Run, designed by Bill Newcomb. Each of its courses originate out of The Clubhouse located a short walk from the hotel, and the 900-acre property has amenities that span all ages, offering a complete vacation experience. A recent $10 million renovation of the 242 rooms at the resort hotel adds to guest accommodations to include condominium rentals along the golf courses.

Several dining options at the resort include Aerie, located at the top of the tower on the 16th floor, offering panoramic views of the region. Aerie has been a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence recipient from 2017 to 2021, where an extensive wine and cocktail menu offers a true getaway for the vacationer. Other options include The Grille located at the main golf clubhouse, Jack’s Taproom inside and just off the main lobby of the hotel, along with the Sweetwater American Bistro. The

PHOTOGRAPHY: NILE YOUNG (TOP); GRAND TRAVERSE RESORT (BOTTOM)

GRAND TRAVERSE RESORT AND SPA

GRAND TRAVERSE RESORT AND SPA

GRAND TRAVERSE RESORT AND SPA

Grand Lobby bar also offers an evening beverage atmosphere to conclude the day.

Spa Grand Traverse, located inside the resort, offers several services from the mid-week, pickme-up to full-service packages for resort guests and northern Michigan residents alike. The professional staff offers a wide array of services such as massage, skin care, nail care, and hair design, and the Spa has been honored as one of Top 100 Spas by Spas of America. The resort also offers a full-service health club, tennis, children’s care, and indoor and outdoor pools.

Eric DeBoer, advertising and creative manager at Grand Traverse Resort, noted this year, the resort will host its second annual Wolverine Weekend on June 10 and June 11, 2023 in which it is anticipated to host special guest Hunter Dickinson of the University of Michigan basketball team. Golf, meet-and-greets, special events, and activities have been planned for the weekend to curate the ultimate fan experience in a relaxed atmosphere.

To the east, just a short drive or a shuttle ride hosted by the resort, Turtle Creek Casino & Hotel awaits with its 56,000-square-foot casino floor, renovated contemporary hotel, sports betting, and dining options like Bourbons 72 Steakhouse.

PHOTOGRAPHY: EVAN SCHILLER (TOP); HARBOR SHORES RESORT (BOTTOM)

HARBOR SHORES RESORT

HARBOR SHORES RESORT

From golf packages and 525 guest rooms to roughly 86,000 square-feet of space designed for meetings and conventions, Grand Traverse Resort offers the complete corporate retreat home base.

HARBOR SHORES RESORT 201 Graham Avenue | Benton Harbor, Michigan

First opened in 2010, Harbor Shores Golf Course, a Jack Nicklaus signature course on Lake Michigan, was made possible from the restoration of the land it sits on—a process that included demolishing more than 3 million square-feet of dilapidated buildings and removing roughly 140,000 tons of waste materials from portions of the Paw Paw River and other areas around the property. The revitalization of the land made Harbor Shores Resort possible, marking Benton Harbor as a must-visit golf destination for many.

“Our story is one-of-a-kind; just understanding what was here prior to the golf course, and everything it took to put it in place. When you basically transform 550 acres of land that was once abandoned by factories and things along those lines, doing an overall restoration to the land to bring wildlife back and to bring economic dollars back to Benton Harbor, I think that is a big part of the guest experience,” said Joshua Doxtator, PGA, general manager of Harbor Shores Resort.

“When people play the golf course, they’ll see signage of what was there before and what it looks like now, and it is nothing short of a miracle from a transformation side of things,” Doxtator added.

Harbor Shores is a not-for-profit development that strengthens its local community. A portion of the green fees is used to maintain the public areas in Jean Klock Park and its 12-mile walking system—promoting community health on-and-off the resort’s own golf course. Any revenue that falls above the operating expenses is also granted back to the community for job training and educational programs.

Through a partnership between Harbor Shores and the Benton Harbor Arts District, Josh Andres, a metal sculptor, and Jerry Catania, a glassblower, who both have studios in the Benton Harbor Arts District, crafted sculptures for every hole on the course. The metal sculptures feature at least one piece of blown glass and hold a plaque describing one of Jack Nicklaus’ major championships. Also tying in the local environment, each hole was named after plants indigenous to the area.

Doxtator noted that the course opening in 2010, the Champions for Change Golf Challenge, created a legendary moment within the golf community. At this event, Jack Nicklaus, Johnny Miller, Arnold Palmer, and Tom Watson competed in the 18-hole scramble with rotating two-man teams. A video from the opening event of Nicklaus showing Miller how to make a 102-foot putt on the 10th green, has since surpassed a few million views on YouTube across multiple accounts, although many people still don’t know that the famous moment took place at Harbor Shores.

After successfully hosting the KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship in 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018, and 2022, Harbor Shores is excited to host the championship again in 2024.

When staying with Harbor Shores, guests have the option of booking one of 92 luxury guest rooms at The Inn, or a high-rise condominium.

Some of the benefits of staying at The Inn at Harbor Shores are the resort’s multitude of dining options—Plank’s Tavern on the Water, Rise & Vine, and Torch & Tapas—as well as a full-service spa, indoor and outdoor pools, and a fitness center to be enjoyed during one’s stay. While The Inn sits just a few blocks from the club, The Champions and Golf Villas sit adjacent to the clubhouse and first tee. The Champions Villa features 2,000 square feet with four baths, full kitchen and golf side patio. Your golf package can be customized and the staff at Harbor Shores specializes In making your golf vacation unique. Several packages and options are available, with their Champions Package including unlimited golf.

Golfers don’t have to wait until they get back to their lodging to visit a restaurant, though. Doxtator indicated that two dining options are

PHOTOGRAPHY: HARBOR SHORES RESORT (TOP); LAKEWOOD SHORES RESORT (BOTTOM)

LAKEWOOD SHORES RESORT

HARBOR SHORES RESORT

Guests of Harbor Shores can also spend some time out on the area’s waters, either with a kayak rental on the Paw Paw River, or a boat rental to take out on Lake Michigan.

“We have a relentless focus on knowledge, learning, and improvement, and I think that is the core of who we are,” Doxtator said. “There is no better story in golf than the transformation of the community, and the support of the community through the game of golf.”

LAKEWOOD SHORES GOLF RESORT

7751 Cedar Lake Road | Oscoda, Michigan

In 1986, Stan Aldridge, owner of Indianwood Country Club in Lake Orion, Michigan, purchased the original golf course and all of the adjoining land in Oscoda, Michigan. The resort began to take shape in 1990 with the opening of the first onsite lodging complex, with plans to include a second course quickly following. The Gailes, designed by Kevin Aldridge—son of Stan Aldridge—is patterned after some of the great seaside courses in Scotland offering a unique golf experience in the northeast part of Michigan. The Gailes opened to national recognition earning and

additional lodging soon followed, with plans put in place in 2001 for the third course, Blackshire. Now with three courses and the addition of the 18-hole Wee Links pitch and putt, Lakewood Shores is a full resort experience. Serradella, the original course represents a parkland style designed by Bruce Matthews with minimal hazards and forced carries, catering to the resort golfer and enjoyment on the course. The aforementioned Gailes creates a Scottish links experience, while Blackshire takes its characteristics from the great Pine Valley Golf Club in New Jersey and was also designed by Kevin Aldridge. While not a replica, Blackshire incorporates the rugged feel of hardwood forests, large sand waste areas, and the challenging undulating green complexes.

Craig Peters, PGA professional and general manager, who has also served as director of golf at Lakewood Shores for the past 36 years, shares that they have kept the original mission to this day; to offer a unique resort experience at a great value to the guests. Peters shared that Lakewood Shores has found the “sweet spot” of impressive course conditions and great rates, with golf packages available to fit any needs.

Large groups, couples, and the regular foursome escaping for a weekend can get a 54 hole or more experience while staying right on property with 152 rooms to accommodate guests. After-golf activities are plentiful as well, from the private beach at Cedar Lake perfect for swimming, jet skiing, canoeing, kayaking, and fishing, to Lake

Huron a few minutes away as well. The resort is located about three hours from Detroit and four hours from Grand Rapids, and for those wishing to fly, Alpena’s airport, or KAPN, located one hour north of the resort. Lakewood Shores offers the complete resort getaway, 54 holes of unique golf, lodging, dining, and after-golf activities, and for our Canadian golfing friends, be sure to check out special package offers online.

SHANTY CREEK RESORT

Summit Village

5780 Shanty Creek Road | Bellaire, Michigan

Cedar River Village

2400 Troon S | Bellaire, Michigan

Schuss Village

1826 Schuss Mountain Lane | Mancelona, Michigan

Hawk’s Eye Village

2620 Hawk’s Eye Drive | Bellaire, Michigan

Shanty Creek Resort is an iconic year-round recreational and hospitality destination. With four distinct villages set across 5,500 acres of Michigan landscape, Shanty Creek has become known for its expansive wintertime and summertime

located on the 14th hole of the Harbor Shores course, including North Pier Brewery and North Pier Restaurant.

SHANTY CREEK RESORT

recreational activities—including its comprehensive golfing experience. With its newly acquired Hawk’s Eye Golf Course of Bellaire, the resort now offers 90 holes of golf for guests to enjoy throughout its five course portfolio.

At Shanty Creek, guests can utilize the resort shuttle that traverses to and through the four resort villages—Summit Village, Cedar River Village, Schuss Village, and Hawk’s Eye Village. Guests have the freedom to stay at one of the villages and not miss out on golf or activities at the

others, since travel is made simple by the resort transportation system.

The Cedar River Village offers guest accommodations at the Slopeside condominiums as well as rooms and suites in the architecturally modern offering, The Lodge at Cedar River. Cedar River Golf Club is yet another beautiful creation by Tom Weiskopf, known throughout the golf course architecture industry for his unique designs and his love of drivable par-4s, succeeding once again with a layout that imbues a sense

of “this is going to be fun” to guests.

Overlooking the 18th green at Cedar River, The River Bistro offers year-round patio seating for guests to enjoy the expansive menu while offering billiards and other after-golf activities inside the tavern area. Cedar River Village also offers the privately available Topgolf Swing Suite, which is an immersive social experience offering guests, golfers and non-golfers alike, a fun indoor opportunity to enhance the golf escape at the resort.

During the long summer days, guests visiting Schuss Village can enjoy Warner Bowen’s 1972 creation, Schuss Mountain Golf Club. Schuss Mountain features more than 7,000 yards of timbers, wetlands, and terrain, and is one of Michigan’s early creations that helped build the “get up north” golf retreat, the village offers accommodations with several choices from Bergrand Condo and the Vienna Woods homes.

Designed by one of the most renowned and loved golfers of all time, The Legend Golf Club at Shanty Creek opened in 1986, bringing Arnold Palmer’s name to northern Michigan. The course’s reputation is built on the club’s multiple elevation changes, unique doglegs, and an opportunity to enjoy the natural views as guests play the course. Shanty Creek has adopted a rotation course closure schedule to allow each of the courses to heal and allow course maintenance time and opportunity to keep course conditions at the highest level.

The resort’s newest addition, Hawk’s Eye Village, introduced the John Robinson-designed,

SHANTY CREEK RESORT

SHANTY CREEK RESORT

Hawk’s Eye Golf Club to the resort. This acquisition was the last piece to a90-hole resort offering from Shanty Creek. Several options for golf packages, retreats, group meetings, and more are on offer at the four villages. Real estate options are available as well through Deborah Alexander of Coldwell Banker Schmidt, Realtors in Bellaire if guests would like to make Shanty Creek home or invest in the rental program options. The quaint downtown of Bellaire is just down the hill and around the bend, offering unique shops, Mammoth Distillery, and a favorite stop for all golfers and guests, Short’s Brewing Company.

TULLYMORE GOLF RESORT

11969

Tullymore Drive |

Stanwood, Michigan

Centrally located an hour and fifteen minutes north of Grand Rapids, Michigan, Tullymore Golf Resort is home to St. Ives Golf Club and Tullymore Golf Club, both par-72 courses set within 800 acres of woodland and wetlands. Featuring 36 holes of golf, two clubhouses complete with pro-shops, three restaurants, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, fitness and recreation facilities, and live entertainment, Tullymore is an amenity-rich destination.

First opened in 1995, St. Ives is an award-winning golf course designed by the late Jerry Matthews, a prolific and renowned golf architect. Carved out of glacial till, the course offers dramatic elevation changes of up to 80 feet. Guests traverse through woodlands, wetlands, and the rugged highlands that present multiple shot choices and wonderful views of the area.

In 2002, Tullymore Golf Course was introduced as a challenging addition to the resort’s portfolio as it meanders through woods, wetlands, and meadows. Designed by Jim Engh, renowned golf course designer, Tullymore features multiple sets of tees and a number of par-3 and par-5 holes throughout its layout. It is located just a short drive from St. Ives and guests wind their way back to the clubhouse, which was designed by Jim Nordlie, AIA, of Archiventure Group of Denver, Colorado. There are five par-3s, all unique in distance and appearance, with the back-to-back fourth and fifth holes sharing the difference in club selection offerings. The fourth hole plays over the water from the back set of tees, but offers an easier approach from the left on the forward and middle tees. The fifth hole, however, sees the narrow and very deep green well protected by mounds and bunkers. The course also offers five par-5s with a couple of the reachable par-5s offering a nice mix of scoring opportunities.

Matt Golden, chief executive officer and general manager at Tullymore Golf Resort, noted that the resort is an excellent destination without the longer drives as a three hour excursion from Chicago, a two-and-a-half hour trip from Detroit, or an hour travel from Grand Rapids. Custom golf packages that include both courses can be tailored to the group needs, and there are a number of accommodations onsite from The Inn at St. Ives, The Hideaway, and The Lodge at Tullymore, to the three- and four-bedroom units available in The Residence Club overlooking the 18th fairway.

For those wishing to make Tullymore home, The Villages at Tullymore features a number of neighborhoods like the Village of Camelot, where resort-style living meets luxury condominiums or the Village of Hamlet, where custom home builds are nestled around Hamlet Lake. Tullymore also welcomes special events like corporate meetings and weddings, where a party of 300 can be accommodated at either St. Ives or Tullymore with several options based on the size of the event. The Tap Room at Tullymore and the St. Ives Grille complete the resort experience backed by talented culinary teams and, in the case of The Tap Room, panoramic views of the 18th hole.

TULLYMORE GOLF RESORT

BET ON GREEN

YEAR!

Sweetgrass and Sage Run: dramatically different, but equally exceptional!

WOMEN’S GOLF DAY

On the first Tuesday in June of 2016, as women gathered on a links-style course set against the backdrop of the Boston skyline to unite and celebrate through the game of golf, a dynamic and powerful spark was lit. Envisioned as more than just a sporting event, that single day would prove to be transformative for an initiative that has since been realized as a global movement uniting women and girls across the world. Now, seven years later, Women’s Golf Day has developed into a weeklong celebration for 2023, launching May 30th through June 6th.

Initially a one-day, four-hour experience bringing together new and experienced golfers alike, the event was designed to be a simple and accessible platform for women and girls to connect and to learn skills that could last a lifetime. Featuring a choice between lessons or playing a round of nine holes for the first two hours of the format,

Women’s Golf Day then invites attendees to come together for a two-hour social celebration, with the idea that it would help to establish a network of friends and golf professionals in the industry and support a continued interest in the game.

Elisa Gaudet, founder of Women’s Golf Day and president of Executive Golf International based in West Palm Beach, Florida and Europe, noted though inspiration for the event was in-part recognition in the potential for bringing more women into the sport, it was also about representation and creating opportunities for women. Gaudet also noted the format addressed many of the pain-points women expressed were often barriers to staying interested in the sport, such as it was too long, it was historically not welcoming, and they didn’t feel represented.

“It is really hard to want to do something if you don’t see yourself represented. I am not as concerned with making women league players or that they have to go out and be some super-

Text: R.J. Weick

star golfer. Women should have equal, or as much opportunity as they can, and it’s about creating as much opportunity as possible for women to try golf, to get involved, because we all know it leads to career advancement, to friendships, to a thousand things, and it is about bringing women to the forefront of the conversation. This is what we are creating,” Gaudet said.

“It’s more than just getting more women to play, I think it is giving them more opportunity within any industry, and the ability to make those connections, and empowering them professionally and personally,” Gaudet added.

Since 2016, Women’s Golf Day has been hosted at golf courses and retailers in more than 1,200 locations across 80 countries, with a 68 percent growth in participating locations taking place between the first and second year alone as it grew to 711 locations in 46 countries. Upon registering, each location is encouraged to make the social element of the event their own, such as by creating a charity element, inviting speakers, hosting business development events, or holding a pop-up shop.

“WGD is a template of what we can do on a broader scale at each event in each club, hopefully they take it and run with it, because we are kind of just the spark. We can’t be everything to everybody, we can’t run ongoing events—there are amazing teaching professionals out there—so I think this was just a way to bring attention and critical mass, because anything in critical mass is going to get attention, and to show women what is possible,” Gaudet said.

“I’m excited because we grow each year. This year, for the first time, we have a weeklong celebration, May 30th to June 6th, and locations can choose the day that is best for them to host the event, giving everyone more opportunity for activation. It is not just a high-five, ‘happy women’s golf day,’ it’s actually an activation, it’s events happening all over the globe and people should go and participate and recommend a friend, a mom, a sister, anybody, to do it and do it with them,” Gaudet added.

Launching May 30, 2023, the eighth annual Women’s Golf Day kicks off with a global digital event that began in 2020 known as WGD Palooza. The virtual event, which begins at 10:00 a.m. EST, will feature livestreaming on Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram with insights, entertainment, and celebration from movers and shakers in the industry, as well as giveaways from top brands like Callaway Golf, Titleist, FootJoy©, PGA TOUR Superstores, Troon Golf, and more. The celebration will then feature a week of events at various locations throughout the world.

“The week is kicked off by WGD Palooza, a digital day, that is for everybody. It was birthed out of COVID and it’s a fun, very fast-moving series of interactive videos and there is a chat where everybody can participate—men, women, juniors—and our partners are on there with videos and there are giveaways after each segment. It’s fun, it’s informative,” Gaudet said.

“It’s a nice way to kick off the week of global celebrations and then any day during that week,

a location can host an event, so we just encourage locations that still haven’t, to register and to host an event. When they do, a digital marketing kit, and everything, is supplied as well as support. We make it very easy for them,” Gaudet added.

Women’s Golf Day, as a collaborative effort backed by a dedicated team, retailers, organiza-

tions, and golf management companies, has since garnered the support of organizations like ANNIKA Foundation, Asian Golf, EGCOA, European Tour, European Tour Properties, The First Tee, The Golf Channel, International Golf Federation, NGCOA, NGCOA Canada, NGF, PGA Tour, Topgolf, and The World Golf Foundation, to name a

few. It has also partnered with other organizations like PGA of America, FootJoy, Titleist, USGA, The R&A, PGA TOUR Superstores, RBC, Glove It, Invited Clubs, Golf Town, and Callaway Golf. In 2021, Callaway and Topgolf collaborated with Women’s Golf Day as Gaudet, along with women in C-suite positions in the industry, rang the Opening Bell for the New York Stock Exchange, which marked the launch of WGD Palooza.

“It was such an honor to ring the Opening Bell at the New York Stock Exchange on the same day as our first-ever WGD Palooza,” Gaudet stated in response to the event. “Women’s Golf Day continues to create more opportunity and unity

for women through golf. WGD has helped bring women to the forefront of the conversation and we greatly appreciate the opportunity the NYSE gave us to further amplify our message.”

Women’s Golf Day, which features social media hashtags like #bringafriend, #makeafriend, and #wgdunites, has tapped into one of the most fundamental elements of the human experience, connection, and has placed it central to its mission as it welcomes experienced, enthusiast, and new players alike to golf courses, clubhouses, and retail locations—at a time that has felt never more relevant. There is an objective to make sure people have opportunities irrespective of experience, and to tran-

scend race, religion, language, geography, economic status, gender, ability, and sexual orientation.

In the last seven years, Women’s Golf Day events have taken place in: Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Belgium, Bahrain, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Canada, Cayman Islands, Costa Rica, Croatia, China, Cyprus, UAE-Dubai, Egypt, England, Estonia, France, Guatemala, Honduras, Hong Kong, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Thailand, Uganda, U.S., and Vietnam, among many others.

Gaudet, who noted the team had no idea how global the movement would truly become, noted the social part tends to appeal to women more rather than being inspired by seeing professional players on TV, and for her, golf is all about the connection.

“It’s the connection you have with nature, the connection you have with people you are playing with—with friends or whatever group you participate in—and then, if you are an observant person, the connection with yourself,” Gaudet said. “Because of the time you have out there, you have some time for reflection and to discover more about yourself, who you are, all the things that come along with golf, but I think it does really lend itself to a lot of time to think.”

To Register to Host an Event: womensgolfday. com/register/

PHOTOGRAPHY: COURTESY OF WOMEN’S GOLF DAY

4

award-winning courses

4 from torch lake to charlevoix

3 Beautiful locations • 72-Holes of Championship golf

Welcome to A-Ga-Ming Golf Resort, a 72-hole golf resort nestled on the shores of Torch Lake and Lake Michigan where you’ll nd inclusive stay and play packages with unlimited golf, private club memberships, a fairytale wedding venue, and so much more. is premier golf resort is a beautiful vacation destination, complete with lodging, dining, and relaxation.

Sundance exempli es the extraordinary natural beauty of northwest Michigan with views of both Torch Lake and Lake Michigan; wide, playable fairways, superbly sculpted greens, and vast windswept bunkers.

One of the most scenic golf courses in all of northern Michigan, and a challenging shot-makers course that favors accuracy over length, Torch is situated majestically on the ridges o ering spectacular Torch Lake views.

Former host of e Michigan Amateur and built by Hall of Fame architect, Jerry Matthews who calls it one of his favorite designs, Antrim Dells now features four sets of tees along with some of the “Sweetest Greens in the North.”

Charlevoix Country Club is a four-star Jerry Matthews design that o ers golfers beautifully manicured bent grass fairways, large undulating putting surfaces, expansive surrounds of heather and many birdie and par opportunities.

The Call of the Green

It started in early November. The feeling that creeps in when your clubs have sat dormant for too long. Now the call gets louder with every beautiful day. With our impossibly blue skies and 16 gorgeous courses within 30 minutes of each other just waiting to test your skill, it’s time to answer the call.

PILGRIM'S RUN GOLF CLUB

Pierson, Michigan

A truly custom home requires a truly custom approach.

At Visbeen Architects, we create imaginative, stunning spaces. Some are homes, some are offices, and some are retail environments. All share a deep understanding of purpose: knowing who will use these spaces, and how they will use them.

THE MINES GOLF CLUB

Grand Rapids, Michigan

THE GOLF CLUB AT THORNAPPLE POINTE

Grand Rapids, Michigan

RAVINES GOLF CLUB

Saugatuck, Michigan

LYNX GOLF COURSE

Otsego, Michigan

HAWKSHEAD GOLF COURSE

South Haven, Michigan

APPLE MOUNTAIN Freeland, Michigan

BLACK LAKE GOLF CLUB Onaway, Michigan

Stealth 2

TaylorMade Golf Company, a leading manufacturer of high-performance golf equipment, has become known for pushing the boundaries of industry technology as its ever-evolving target of high-performance takes on the challenge of redefining elements like form, function, acoustics, and materiality. In 2022, the Carlsbad, California-based company introduced a groundbreaking line known as the Stealth™ Carbonwood family of drivers, realizing a roughly 20-year explorative journey with the idea of a carbon face driver. And earlier this year, TaylorMade built upon that relentless pursuit of innovation with the launch of its Stealth 2 Plus, Stealth 2, and Stealth 2 HD drivers, combining speed and carbon with more forgiveness.

“There are two main ways to produce forgiveness in a driver, by optimizing the face and by optimizing the body. Building off the 60X Carbon Twist Face in the original Stealth that led to ball speed gains for golfers across various skill levels, with Stealth 2 we challenged ourselves to bring more forgiveness in each of the three models,” stated Tomo Bystedt, senior director of product creation at TaylorMade, in a press release. “We accomplished that through introducing our modified face construction focused on forgiveness on the outside of the face, and a brand-new, carbon-based modular body construction.”

Featuring the innovative 60X Carbon Twist Face of its predecessors, Stealth 2 Carbonwood drivers reconsider TaylorMade’s Inverted Cone Technology, which was developed to expand the Coefficient of Restitution, or COR, zone for more ball speed and distance on off-center hits. Redesigned with a thicker face at its center and a thinner face on the edges, the new ICT is intended to maintain ball speed on off-center hits, increasing forgiveness through careful engineering that distributes speed around the perimeter.

It is a development made possible through its very composition, since the Stealth 2 drivers feature more carbon by volume than any other material in its construction—a roughly 75 percent increase in the Stealth 2 Plus while nearly dou-

ble in Stealth 2 and Stealth 2 HD. The use of the lighter, and less dense, material, particularly in the Carbon Reinforced Composite Ring, reduces its weight in the face by roughly two grams, allowing the team to reduce mass from the 60X Carbon Twist Face and relocate discretionary mass to create a more pronounced ICT. With its combined Carbon Crown, Carbon Reinforced Composite Ring, Carbon Sole, and 60X Carbon Twist Face, Stealth 2 then allows for additional mass to be added to the front and rear weights, which is intended to enhance Moment of Inertia, or MOI, or forgiveness. Compared to the Stealth Plus, the Stealth 2 Plus saw a nine percent increase in MOI, according to TaylorMade.

“The modular carbon body construction of Stealth 2 represents our commitment to carbon as the leading material in every TaylorMade driver we produce. It was clear that the breakthroughs we had with Stealth were just the beginning in terms of the performance we can extract from this technology platform,” Bystedt stated. “A primarily carbon-based head construction is revolutionizing where we are able to position mass in a driver and this allows us to

finely tune the launch, spin, and MOI in each of the three Stealth 2 driver models.”

Stealth technology like the 60X Carbon Twist Face, Inertia Generator, and Thru-Slot Speed Pocket™ can be found across each model of the Stealth 2 drivers, as well as a sound profile carefully engineered through a combination of shape, thickness, and a carbon panel curvature. While ergonomics and aesthetics are critical in golf club design, the team also designates a lot of engineering resources behind the sound and feel of clubs since the smallest vibration change can impact how a

club feels in the hand. It is a challenge that is familiar terrain for TaylorMade, as it worked on creating the bright and powerful sound and feel profile for the Stealth family of drivers—and the acoustics of the SIM2 drivers before that.

“In the mid-2000s, our research team developed an understanding that the weight of the face can affect impact efficiency, more specifically, the lighter the face, the more efficient the impact and the better the ball speed. We realized titanium faces could only take us so far and carbon would be the face material of the future,” stated Brian Bazzel, vice president of product creation at TaylorMade, in a 2022 press release. “This breakthrough design of a lightweight carbon face in Stealth, has created a whole new starting line, a new era of drivers, a new threshold of performance and a new platform for more innovation.”

The breakthrough, which began in 2000, went through a number of milestones and iterative design solutions. There was a prototype in 2003 featuring a titanium cover; a composite face for the limited-edition, Gloire™ Reserve driver released in select Asian regions in 2013; the development of a 60-layer carbon face in 2016; and the completion of a state-of-the-art plant in 2021 to support the high-volume production of composite parts. And it was the design of nanotexture technology that could produce the ideal amount of friction between the face and the ball that made the driver ultimately a reality in 2022.

Today, TaylorMade adds another chapter to that more than two-decade journey with its Stealth 2 drivers, where the reconstructed Stealth 2 delivers high MOI performance, Stealth 2 Plus is now considered the lowest spinning driver in the family, and Stealth 2 HD is the most stable and forgiving of the line. The Stealth 2 HD Women’s driver also features a lighter head weight than the standard HD to enhance clubhead speed and maintains the high MOI for easy, high launch with a draw bias, according to TaylorMade.

Stealth 2 and Stealth 2HD are available in 9-, 10.5-, and 12-degree lofts, while Stealth 2 Plus is available in 8-, 9-, and 10.5-degree lofts. Stealth 2 HD Women’s are available in 10.5- and 12-degree lofts, and custom shaft and grip options are available across all drivers. Additional personalization is also available through the MyStealth 2 program, in which face color, ring color, crown finish, lop line, sightline, weight colors, and headcover offer unique colorways and finishes for the Stealth 2 Plus model.

ROUNDING THE FAIRWAYS:

The Upper Peninsula

Text: TGE Staff

The Golf Explorer: Michigan’s Journal to Incredible Golf’s yearly tour of fairways heads north to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula for this annual edition. Known for its outdoor adventures, the Upper Peninsula is also host to some incredible golf destinations from The Rock Golf Course at Drummond Island in the east and Timberstone in the west, as well as a number of entertainment venues in between.

THE ROCK GOLF COURSE

33494 S. Maxton Rd. | Drummond, Michigan

To the east, The Rock Golf Course at Drummond Island Resort and Conference Center offers great golf in a true destination atmosphere. Located near the island’s northwestern coast, the course was designed in 1989 by Harry Bowers and is home to wildlife that can often be seen traversing its fairways during a round. The Drummond Island Resort and Conference Center is open all year for retreats and corporate events. After golf, explore the largest freshwater island in the United States by foot, ATV, or pedal through trails in the woods, while enjoying lodging options at vacation cabin and villa rentals dotted throughout the wooded resort. The resort offers several stay-and-play packages to accommodate a number of group sizes.

MACKINAC ISLAND

The Jewel Course

1 Grand Ave | Mackinac Island, Michigan

Wawashkamo Golf Club

British Landing Road | Mackinac Island, Michigan

Heading west, another island destination named by Travel + Leisure as the “Best Island in the Continental U.S.” has welcomed visitors for centuries to its car-free streets full of horse-drawn carriages. Featuring recreational activities like hiking, kayaking, and biking, and landmark attractions like Arch Rock, Fort Holmes, and Anne’s Tablet, Mackinac Island is an escape in time. The season begins on May 4 with the opening of Fort Mackinac and kicks off a host of events and openings for visitors to en-

MACKINAC ISLAND

MACKINAC ISLAND

MACKINAC ISLAND

MACKINAC ISLAND

MACKINAC ISLAND

joy, continuing with the Biddle House, featuring the Mackinac Island Native American Museum, which opens on May 12. The Sip and Sail sunset cruises begin in May as well and run throughout the summer and fall months. During the month of June, the Lilac Festival Grand Parade takes place on the 18th and the Independence Day grand celebration showcases two fireworks displays at dusk for the Fourth of July.

The island is also home to The Jewel Golf Course at Grand Hotel and the nine-hole course known as Wawashkamo Golf Club. The Jewel begins with the Grand, located across the street from Grand Hotel, welcoming guests to nine holes of lush landscaping, expertly manicured tees, and scenic views of Lake Huron and Round Island. The Woods is set in the interior of the island featuring an additional nine holes, in which the 10th tee is reached after a scenic horse-drawn carriage ride, clubs on board, visiting views rarely seen by travelers to the island.

Wawashkamo Golf Club was built in 1898 and has been recognized as one of the oldest continuously played courses in Michigan. Designed by Alex Smith, a golf course designer from Scotland, the course is built upon the historic site of the 1814 Battle of Mackinac Island and is relatively treeless. Considered as one of “America’s Historic Golf Landmarks” by Golf Digest, the course’s development parallels the history of the island, with much of the old world reminiscence still in place today.

Lodging and accommodations on the island range from bed and breakfast destinations, and downtown suites and penthouses, to island hotels, providing an array of solutions for visitors to find a member spot for their stay. Mackinac Island’s Grand Hotel has welcomed guests since 1887, an enduring landmark of hospitality and charm. The hotel’s season and its full calendar of events kicks off with its opening weekend on May 5th through May 7th.

BAY MILLS RESORT & CASINO Wild Bluff Golf Course

11386 West Lakeshore Drive | Brimley, Michigan

Located along the shores of Lake Superior in Brimley, Bay Mills Resort and Casino features a 143-room waterfront hotel, gaming, and an 18-hole, championship golf course known as Wild Bluff Golf Course. The resort and casino, which is owned and operated by the Bay Mills Indian Community, announced a $65 million renovation in 2022 that would not only increase its room capacity to 143, but also add a spa and massage therapy rooms, a new deli, fitness center, arcade, pool with splash pad, and increased conference space. The outdoor expansion would also see new fishing piers and marina upgrades among other features of enhancement.

Centrally located amid destinations like Tahquamenon Falls, The Soo Locks, and Point Iroquois Lighthouse, as well as miles of hiking and cycling trails, the resort offers a complete destination vacation along the scenic Lakeshore Drive. Wild Bluff, designed by Mike Hus-

by, offers large fairways and a twist on many with the addition of casino themes related to the Bay Mills casino. Wild Bluff also offers a great value with course conditions valued a top priority and in-season rates that will surprise golfing guests.

MACKINACISLAND.ORG (TOP); WAWASHKAMO GOLF CLUB (BOTTOM)

WAWASHKAMO GOLF CLUB

MACKINAC ISLAND

GREYWALLS COURSE AT MARQUETTE GOLF CLUB

1075 Grove Street | Marquette, Michigan

While Marquette is well known as the hometown of Northern Michigan University, the city is also home to a unique golf creation by course designer Mike DeVries and his Greywalls addition to the Heritage at Marquette’s Golf Club. Greywalls, which opened in 2005, embraces the rugged beauty of its area, where players are taking through diverse terrain, contoured slopes, dramatic elevation changes, and bunkered rolling links, while still offering that special view of Lake Superior.

Marquette Golf Club, a 36-hole destination, originally debuted a nine-hole layout known as the Heritage course in 1926. The course was designed by William Langford and Theodore Moreau, with a second nine design added in 1969 by David Gill. The front nine is known for its gently rolling terrain, while the back nine offers dramatic slopes and a challenging finish.

Downtown Marquette is known for its many bars and restaurants for after-golf fun.

PHOTOGRAPHY:GREYWALLS (TOP); BAY MILLS RESORT (BOTTOM)

GREYWALLS

BAY MILLS RESORT & CASINO

A favorite place to stay is The Landmark Inn located on the north side of downtown. Those traveling by air can utilize the Sawyer International Airport, or MQT/SAW, from connecting cities of Chicago and Detroit via American Airlines and Delta.

ISLAND RESORT & CASINO

W 399 US 2 & 41 | Harris, Michigan

Located in Harris, Michigan and serving as the anchor of the Upper Peninsula’s Perfect 4-Some package, the Island Resort and Casino offers 36 holes of championship golf across its Sage Run Golf Club and Sweetgrass Golf Club.

Sweetgrass, featuring a parkland layout and a celebration of the Hannahville Indian Community with hole names inspired by traditional Potawatomi clans, villages, allies, medicines, and symbols, was recognized in 2021 as the Michigan Golf Course of the Year and in 2022 as the Jemsek National Course of the Year. The course also hosts the LGPA Epson Tour Island Resort Championship, welcoming spectators, volunteers, sponsors, and 156 players from across the globe for the 12th time in June.

Designed by Paul Albanese, Sage Run is a prairie links style course that offers a different style and layout than its sister course. Featuring timbers, open vistas, strategic bunkering fescue grasses, and a natural drumlin, Sage Run has also

been ranked among the nation’s best new courses. Both courses are included in the Perfect 4-Some package, which also includes the Upper Peninsula destinations of Greywalls course and Timberstone® Golf Course in Iron Mountain, Michigan. The packages are designed to accommodate a variety of group sizes and are offered in three- and four-night lodging options with four rounds of golf.

The Island Resort and Casino also features a 454-room hotel with a number of amenities for golf and gaming guests. Families can enjoy Splash Island, while Drift Spa lends a quiet elegance of relaxation for others. Featuring nature-based treatments, Float Therapy, and a number of other offerings, Drift Space embraces traditions of Native American healers and is dedicated to renewal in mind, body, and spirit.

ISLAND RESORT & CASINO

ISLAND RESORT & CASINO

Entertainment at the resort includes Club Four One, offering local and national acts throughout the calendar year, and Bonkerz Comedy Club, where comedians take over September through May every Sunday or Thursday night. The Island Showroom hosts nationally recognized acts with upcoming shows like 38 Special and Three Days Grace, which have already sold out. Dining amenities also include 5 Bridges Bar, Horizons Steakhouse, Firekeeper’s Restaurant, T. McC’s Sports Bar, and Reef Pizza.

Gaming at the resort has evolved and grown

through the years. Now hosting the TwinSpires Sportsbook, Island Resort and Casino offers a complete gaming experience with the Island Poker Room, Hannahville Bingo, more than 1,100 slot machines, and all of the favorite table games like Blackjack, Craps, Three Card Poker, Let It Ride, and many more.

Featuring an immersive gaming experience, a full-service resort, spa, an RV park, two championship golf courses, and 13,000 square-feet of convention and meeting space, the Island Resort and Casino is a one-stop destination in the Upper Peninsula.

TIMBERSTONE® GOLF COURSE AT PINE MOUNTAIN RESORT

N3332 Pine Mountain Rd. | Iron Mountain, Michigan

Designed by Jerry Matthews, Timberstone® Golf Course is intentionally crafted to highlight the balance of golf and nature, a harmony of sport and landscape. Nestled into Pine Mountain, the 18-hole course features elements like a first tee located at the bottom of a mountain, a slow ascent throughout the front nine, to a back nine that ends near the top with the 18th hole tee box—aptly named Double Black Diamond in ode to winter skiing activities—dropping dramatically to the finishing green.

The course was opened in 1996 to a host of awards, such as being ranked among the top courses in the state and among the best in the nation. In 2019, the resort underwent a $10 million renovation and completed an update to all lodge rooms and condominiums as well as its common areas. The resort also offers a complete golf vacation and several activities for after golf including The Sitzmark Bar and Famers Restaurant—the latter also serving as the U.P. Sports Hall of Fame. The resort also offers the destination wedding atmosphere with hosting availability up to 350 guests.

Timberstone® is a part of The Perfect 4-Some package, in which Greywalls of Marquette Golf Club and Island Resort and Casino offer four rounds of golf for a number of group sizes for either three- or four-night stays. For those traveling by air, Timberstone® is located less than five miles from the Kingsford, Michigan-based Ford Airport, or IMT, through Delta airlines from Minneapolis and Detroit.

TIMBERSTONE GOLF COURSE

ISLAND RESORT & CASINO

Michigan’s Golf Coast

As soon as the snow melts—and until it falls again—golf is the game in northern Michigan. Long summer days, bay breezes, and vibrant greens make for perfect conditions. Designer courses from legends like Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player are nestled between forests and lakes. Even the spring and fall seasons bring their own beauty, with cherry blossoms and autumn color sure to take your breath away.

But a great round of golf on one of 25 courses is just the beginning when endless amenities and attractions are waiting to be explored in Traverse City and beyond.

BETTER THAN THE BEVERAGE CART

Northern Michigan is famous for its wine, beer, and spirits. (In fact, the Travel Channel lists Traverse City as one of the best cities for wine snobs and a top beer destination in North America.) Hop on a Traverse Wine Coast tour bus with your choice of more than forty wineries. If you’re feeling more adventurous, try a kayak brewery tour, which combines craft beer and great exercise. Or stop by a distillery, where you’ll find small-batch vodkas, whiskeys, and gins.

OFF THE CART PATH

GAME FUEL

There are few places where you can summit a pine-covered hill, stroll along the lake, and follow the river’s path through peaceful forests on a single hike. Hundreds of miles of dedicated hiking and biking trails can be found in Grand Traverse, Leelanau, and Benzie counties, so swap out your spikes for hiking boots and hit the trails.

There’s nothing wrong with a club sandwich after your round, but the foodie scene in northern Michigan is not to be missed. Stay on the golf resort’s property for a four-star meal or explore farther afield to choose from restaurants serving global cuisines, contemporary American fare, and even fresh-caught fish like whitefish, salmon, and walleye.

Good Morning America called Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore the most beautiful place in America, and they weren’t wrong. Lake Michigan stretches out with the majesty of an ocean while towering bluffs and sand dunes reach toward the sky. Enjoy a leisurely trip down the Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive and brave the Dune Climb for a once-ina-lifetime experience.

AFTER THE 18TH HOLE

Seeking the TC nightlife? Try your luck at winning green at a casino. Catch a concert in an intimate venue. Celebrate at one of Traverse City’s many festivals. Or just head downtown for evening in a laidback brewpub or modern cocktail lounge.

BEYOND THE PRO SHOP

Uncover the perfect souvenir alongside a fascinating bit of history at the Grand Traverse Commons. The former state asylum is one of the largest preservation developments in the country. Eclectic shops, award-winning dining, guided tours, and soaring architecture are just a few of the attractions tucked in this historic gem.

THE BEST BUNKERS

Everyone wants to be in the sand when you’re at the beach. And really, that vacation vibe is what northern Michigan is all about. Pack a picnic and savor the sun on your face, your toes in the sand, and the crystal blue waters beckoning beyond.

With accolades from Golf Digest and Golf Magazine, the “Golf Coast” of the Midwest is a pretty great place to be. Find yourself there at traversecity.com

Design on course

For Paul Mooney, owner, manager, and founder of PRM Custom Builders in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, a successful project is one that aligns in terms of client vision, overall design, level of finish, and its setting; where the process supports the residential custom build journey as homeowners seek to

invest in a home that supports their architectural vernacular tastes and personal lifestyles. To him, it is an experience that often starts with open and clear communication. It is about listening to clients to define design, style, layout, and fine details; and informing them throughout the process of the decisions that need to be made, when to make them, and how those will impact timing and cost. Though it is a process

Text: R.J. Weick

that often presents variables and challenges, it is also an exciting and personal one, where the relationships developed with homeowners and industry professionals can last long after completion of a custom home.

“Myself and the PRM team take a lot of pride in what we do, and I am proud of the work each and every one of us puts forth in every project,” Mooney said. “We strive to do things at a high level, in every aspect, and that starts with setting clear expectations, defining roles of everyone involved in the project, and listening to your clients by taking their lifestyles into consideration in every aspect of the home.”

PRM Custom Builders is a full-service residential building company specializing in custom, luxury home building and renovation work, established in 2009. The company, which strives to enhance the lives of its clients throughout the entire build process, is committed to developing and preserving lasting relationships, leveraging its communication-driven approach to foster strong working relationships with homeowners, architects, designers, and other trade professionals.

For the last 13 years, PRM Custom Builders has developed a portfolio of custom residential work across architectural vernacular and style from contemporary and modern farmhouse to craftsman colonial throughout southeastern Michigan communities, such as: Beverly Hills, Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills, Franklin, Grosse Pointe, Royal Oak, and Detroit, among others. Each space is meant to be a reflection of those who will ultimately inhabit and experience it, serving as functional inspiration for homeowners or clients. Led by Mooney, who is a licensed builder and realtor with nearly two decades of experience in the luxury home industry, PRM Custom Builders offers services like renovation and historical restoration as well as detailed site analysis, design and planning, cost analysis, and construction management.

“A home needs to function at a very high level in order for it to serve the daily needs of its occupants and if you don’t think about all the details and how each space is going to be used and function, if those details get overlooked, if those details are not well-defined, you can be left with a homeowner having a bit of regret or ‘I wish I would have done this,’” Mooney said. “You never want to be in that position after you made the investment you made in building a large custom home.”

For the clients of this coastal-inspired residence set on the rolling bentgrass undulations of Oakland Hills Country Club’s North Course, the vision was to build a home with an inviting, casual atmosphere and interior layout that supports an avid golfing lifestyle. Defined by an exterior materiality of stone and cedar shingles, the home exudes waterfront, colonial style with its gambrel rooflines, classic white windows, and expansive views of the golf course beyond.

Mooney noted the property had initially been acquired by PRM Custom Builders with the intention for future development and while the team had spoken with several prospective

clients, the goal was not to build a home for future resell in mind, but rather work with the right client to envision a timeless residential style that would be contextual to the Oakland Hills Country Club community.

“When we ultimately met our clients, they had a vision of wanting a casual lakefront or

coastal style home, which transpired into the shingle style, Dutch Colonial architecture in the finished home with the cedar roof, the gambrel roof accents, and with the sweeps and the brackets. It’s a timeless look and I think it is pretty unique to the area,” Mooney said.

“The goal wasn’t to just come up with some

standard design; we wanted to build something that was going to be unique, appropriate for the location, and also specific to our clients’ lifestyle and their design tastes and preferences. They are avid golfers, they spend a lot of time with their family golfing in northern Michigan, golfing here, and so it was important that the style aligned with their lifestyle,” Mooney added.

Established in 1916, Oakland Hills Country Club is a private golf club in Bloomfield Township featuring two, 18-hole courses designed by Donald Ross. Its South Course, which officially debuted in 1918, has hosted 17 Major Championships and welcomed well-known players like Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Gary Player, and Ben Hogan to its fairways that has earned a moniker of “The Monster” by Hogan after it was modernized and strengthened by Robert Trent Jones in 1950.

With its two courses and its clubhouse’s stately presence, Oakland Hills became a national golf destination that witnessed the highs and lows of golf history, from the drama and thrill of the game itself and the delight of recovering South Course revisions long thought lost to time. While

a devastating fire burned the historic clubhouse to the ground in February 2022, plans are already in the works to invest roughly $80 million in rebuilding a replica of the iconic design.

For this home located on the North Course, its site is a landscape characteristic of the undulations inherent to fairway and greens design, featuring a direct view of the 17th hole. The course, which pivoted at the onset of the depression to operate as a semi-private club known as North Hills Golf Course, was also redesigned by Robert Trent Jones in the late 1960s as it became a private course for Oakland Hills once more. The golf course architect, whose philosophy was “to make every hole a hard par but an easy bogey,” reimagined the North Course with changes like reversing the first and ninth holes with the 15th and 16th holes, designing roughly an additional 70 bunkers, and lengthening the course from 6,300 yards to about 6,668 yards.

Mooney noted the midcentury ranch and pool that had existed at one time on the property had been removed, and the new footprint of the custom build used 110 feet of the 150-foot-wide lot.

“We were working with great soil. It was very sandy, and we had good support from the neighborhood and the community. Neighbors were excited that we weren’t just looking to build something on a cost-basis to maximize profit. They were excited we wanted to build something unique and special for the right client. Everything aligned in terms of the design, the level of finish, the style of the home, the architecture—it all fit perfectly within the setting,” Mooney said. “I think that really shines through to me as being a major success within the project.”

Through a series of design meetings, the collaborative team of PRM Custom Builders and Brian Neeper, AIA, of Brian Neeper Architecture P.C. in Birmingham, Michigan, curated a vision that reflected a number of style and material in-

spirations, and functional elements. On the exterior, its materiality is textural and natural, blending granite stone sourced from upstate New York, cedar shingle siding, colonial-style white windows, and a navy hue with slight gray undertones. Its south-facing façade also features an expansive bluestone patio that is mirrored on the front of the home and carried throughout its interior in the mudroom and front entry, blurring traditional boundaries of indoor and outdoor spaces.

“That natural stone aesthetic carries through, from the outside through the inside,” Mooney said.

“The views are just really spectacular. There is no separation really between the course and their backyard, so the idea with the design of the house, too, is we wanted to maximize the views whether you are in the kitchen or dining room, great room, or main-floor primary suite. The vision was to maximize those sightlines throughout the home as well as on the upper floor where there are three guest suites that are south facing overlooking the North Course,” Mooney added.

Its interior features roughly 6,100 square-feet on the main and upper levels with an additional 2,200 square-feet on the lower level, which is complete with a workout room, full bedroom suite, media area, and finished bathroom. There is an inviting and casual element throughout its interior footprint, as timeless features are warmed by natural materials such as the vertical, riftsawn white oak doors, solid poplar in the trim and moldings, and engineered rift- and quartersawn white oak hardwood floors. Custom cabinetry designed and built by Cole Wagner Cabinetry LLC of Rochester Hills, Michigan is paired with Ashley Norton hardware, and the eight-inch-wide, hardwood floors were finished and distressed onsite by PRM Custom Builders.

Mooney noted the casual layout following an east-to-west concept features a sizeable mudroom with a large walk-in closet, main floor laundry and half bathroom, a kitchen and casual nook space, informal dining room, and a screened porch beyond that overlooks the golf course.

“The owner has five children and design questions that came up during construction were: were they going to entertain, and when they have their family in town for the holidays and throughout the years, where would they gather for dinner? So, we had the concept of a kitchen with a casual nook overlooking the golf course with a three-sided surround with glass to maximize the views. Style-wise, the home is casual,” Mooney said. “They wanted more of a dayto-day, casual living, but yet still maintain a very high-level of function and very high-end materials throughout the home.”

The home also has a two-sided bar that carries into a custom-made, interior wine room featuring thermal-insulated glass, chemically treated metal framing, a spray-foamed perimeter to ensure it was 100 percent air-tight, and externally conditioned to create an overall clean look and special finish. Its floor was also finished with bluestone and reclaimed barnwood on the

walls, infusing natural materiality into the space, and custom-made wine racks with integrated low voltage lighting.

Other features of the home comprise a formal great room with 11.5-foot-tall ceilings, shiplap and beadboard elements, a staircase that serves as a visual connection and main feature, an office space, and a primary suite overlooking the golf course, located opposite the garage and utilities area. The primary bathroom is also complete with a steam shower, heated white marble floors, and pearlescent tile in the shower.

“Everything is built and finished at a very high level and yet there is still a casual element

within the home that carries through, which I feel is very much reflective of our clients and when you can signify your clients’ personality and their lifestyle and you can signify that within the home that you build, within a special location such as this on Oakland Hills, it made for a very successful project,” Mooney said.

This project was also featured in The Golf Explorer: Michigan’s Journal to Incredible Golf’s sister publication, The Custom Build, presented by Great Lakes By Design in 2022.

From its exclusive setting less than two miles from Lake Michigan, and nestled between South Haven and Saugatuck, HawksHead Links offers world-class golf, fi ne dining, superb accommodations, special events, and beautiful weddings. The 7,003-yard, par-72 golf course designed by Arthur Hills, a renowned golf architect, winds through sand dunes and woodlands in southwestern Allegan County.

Vacation cottages

Four-bedroom, four-bathroom cottages—featuring a common kitchen and dining room—are located on the back nine of HawksHead and provide a serene golf or beach vacation escape for families or friends.

LIFE ON THE LINKS:

Tullymore

Dew mists off the hilly terrain and still water reflects an endless sky as you prepare to tee off on a cool morning. You’re about to golf a five-star course, one of two that settle into nearly 700 acres of Michigan wilderness between thick forests and a smattering of blue lakes. St. Ives Golf Course and its sister course to the south, Tullymore Golf Course, beckon golfers to the Canadian Lakes area, known for decades as a summer cottage destination.

For all its natural splendor and rural character, Tullymore Golf Resort is surprisingly close to large cities in the southern reaches of Michigan, only about one hour north of Grand Rapids and less than three hours from Detroit’s outskirts. Its easy proximity makes it a popular weekend destination for those who prefer time outdoors to time on the road.

Text: Diane Kolak

But what if you could take it up a notch and walk right out your front door to this lifestyle? Residents at Tullymore have chosen this convenient and rewarding life—one with plenty of time for golf, but also one with access to year-round indoor and outdoor recreation, two welcoming clubhouses, a creative restaurant, an Irish-style pub, and a spa set in an active community of all ages and lifestyles.

Matt Golden, chief executive officer and general manager at Tullymore, is also a resident at the resort.

“I love the neighbors. I love being right around the corner from world-class golf and great dining. When you’re a member of Tullymore, you get access to tennis courts, swimming pools, volleyball courts, and fitness facilities. It’s all within minutes of my house,” Golden said. “The neighborhood brings us together, of course. But being members of the club, we will

often see each other at dinner and on the golf course, too.”

Golden explained that Tullymore has its share of snowbirds, but, increasingly, more residents choose to stay through the peaceful winter when activities shift toward cozy gatherings like playing euchre or mahjong, wine dinners, yoga classes, and trivia nights. Last winter, the resort hosted a fat-tire bike race on the St. Ives course. Tullymore also lies within minutes of access to the Dragon Trail at Hardy Dam, a 29mile non-motorized multi-sport trail which, on completion, will meander 47 miles around scenic Hardy Pond.

The resort’s residential options, all of which include membership and careful construction by Ministrelli Builders LLC of Stanwood, are as varied as its activities. Their popular duplex condominiums offer a carefree lifestyle in a spacious 1,836-square-foot layout with two bed-

rooms, three bathrooms, a gourmet kitchen, luxury finishes, and a two-car garage.

For more space or individuality, a custom home within The Villages at Tullymore in the neighborhood surrounding Hamlet Lake is ideal. Known as the Village of Hamlet, several thoughtful designs in this neighborhood range in size from around 2,000 square-feet to 4,250 square-feet with an array of features and styles to suit various needs and tastes. The one- and two-story homes feature exteriors of stone or brick mixed with clapboard siding, gabled roofs and attached garages. Many lots offer the option of a walkout basement.

One popular plan, The Glin, has around 2,500 square-feet and can be customized with different entry options, window styles, and exterior finishes. The layout emphasizes outdoor living with two sets of French doors flanking a fireplace, a breakfast bay with sliding doors, and a main bedroom suite that overlooks backyard views from both the bed and the oversized bathtub.

A few spec homes are always under construction, and residents are welcome to choose one, bring their own ideas, or work with their own architect to design a plan that fits their needs and the resort’s classic but varied aesthetic. Whether it becomes a permanent home or a convenient summer getaway, Tullymore is a lifestyle, a community, and a place that’s not so far away.

Summer Golf Packages

2 Nights/3 Rounds

Weekdays (June 11 - Sept. 7)

From $339 p/p p/stay

Weekends (June 2 - Sept. 23)

From $369 p/p p/stay

Spring/Fall Golf

Starting

PHOTOGRAPHY: TANGO & ASSOCIATES, TULLYMORE

A LEGACY OF HOPE

Text: R.J. Weick

The Folds of Honor Foundation, a nonprofit organization providing scholarships to spouses, children, and families of America’s fallen or disabled military and first responders, has made it its mission to bring hope to those families during what is often the heaviest and the darkest of moments after loved ones have made the ultimate sacrifice. Its symbol, a folded flag, is both a reminder and an inspiration of those moments and a call to action to not only honor those who have given their lives, but also an opportunity to empower their family members from every walk of life through educational opportunities.

It is a vision that has since grown into a movement, as Lt. Col. Dan Rooney, USAF, founder and chief executive officer of Folds of Honor, has helped steward the organization since its humble origins as a small golf tournament hosted at the former Grand Haven Golf Club in Grand Haven, Michigan in 2006. Lt. Col. Rooney, an F-16 Fighter Pilot with three combat tours in Iraq and a PGA Golf Professional, was profoundly moved to hold the event after witnessing the procession of the flag-covered casket carrying the remains of Corporal Brock Bucklin to family on the tarmac. The

Folds of Honor Foundation was established a year later and since 2007, the organization has awarded more than 44,000 educational scholarships. In 2022, the Folds of Honor Foundation granted nearly 9,000 scholarships alone for the ’22-’23 academic school year, and throughout its history, roughly 41 percent of all scholarships awarded represent minority recipients.

When the Grand Haven Golf Club officially shuttered its operations in 2018, a small group of people came together to preserve the course as the birthplace of Folds of Honor. Envisioned as a haven, a tribute, a memorial, and a place of celebration, the golf course was reimagined as American Dunes with a Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course design. Dubbed fondly at times as “the church Jack built,” American Dunes represents more than a collaboration of time, skill, investment, and passion, but a commitment to support one another and the stories of those who may be physically gone yet are never forgotten.

“American Dunes represents a collaboration of countless like-minded patriots, who want this golf course to forever stand as a tribute to the birthplace of Folds of Honor, a safe haven for veterans who find rehabilitation through the recreation of the game, and a backdrop to celebrate our country and those who fought for its freedom,” stated Lt. Col. Rooney.

American Dunes, which is a 7,213-yard, par72 course sculpted through the iconic sand dunes inherent to western Michigan and the shores of Lake Michigan, features 30 bunkers, Triple Seven bentgrass greens, and generous, rolling fairways. The design reflects an artistic vision on par with the mission behind the experience. It reimagines the former tree-lined facility into a course full of drama and reverence, incorporating Nicklaus’ 18 major championships in names for each hole and plaques to honor the fallen and their legacy, and a Folds of Honor recipient.

The course, which debuted in 2021, is also committed to raising funds and awareness for the Folds of Honor Foundation and announced it had helped fund $1.1 million for the nonprofit organization in 2022 alone after just two golf seasons. Doug Bell, PGA, general manager at American Dunes, noted the funds represent more than just the course and its pledge to donate 100 percent of its profits to the nonprofit, but a vision and an idea that has inspired individuals and organizations across the country.

“We don’t want people to look at it and read that we, American Dunes, donated $1.1 million, but because the golf course is in existence with its mission in place, not only are people coming here to play golf and have specific events that raise money, but people all around the country—other groups that support Folds of Honor—are using American Dunes as a revenue tool, as an auction item, and when you add it all up, cash in the bank to Folds of Honor, because we exist, was $1.1 million. That is 220 military families who will receive a scholarship next year,” Bell said.

“[The owners] are blown away. We are blown away as staff. We are proud and the mission is coming true. Lt. Col. Dan Rooney had a vision to save the golf course from bankruptcy, create something so special that people will come, play it, and be inspired, you know, play your most patriotic round. People are coming from all over the country to do it and it’s working,” Bell added.

And that vision has inspired players to make the trip to the Grand Haven-based, Jack Nicklaus course, to purchase merchandise and make direct donations, to honor a family member with a plaque on the Wall of Honor through an annual $313 donation that goes directly to Folds of Honor, and to be in community at CAVU Fighter Squadron Bar, where sponsored mugs are visible above the bar. It has also led to American Dunes hosting specific events like the Western Chapter of the Michigan PGA’s Pro

Am, which raised $6,500 for Folds of Honor after expenses like green fees and food.

The Community Bankers of Michigan, a nonprofit based in Lansing, Michigan, also held an outing at American Dunes in 2022 in which nearly $105,000 was donated to Folds of Honor after a single day, and a Dallas, Texas-based chapter auctioned a foursome trip of eight rounds for $6,500—which led to a second trip raffled, bringing their investment to roughly $3,000 and a donation to Folds of Honor at around $9,000. Rounds to be auctioned were also sent to New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Florida, Louisiana, and Texas, and in the case of one country music concert held in South Carolina, eight of those rounds were sold at $14,000, twice, to net $25,000 for Folds of Honor. Bell noted in the case of one individual who won eight rounds traveling from Baton Rouge, the plan is to stay a few days to play three additional courses in the state.

“Personally, as a long-time, golf professional in Michigan, Michigan golf stands right at near the top in the country and if people come here, they get to play some serious quality golf courses. The industry is huge in the state and for us to sit in the state and be a part of that and add to that legacy is awesome,” Bell said.

While Bell noted the course at American Dunes may not be everybody’s favorite—as it was never intended to be or designed to be perfect— he and the team behind the course are thankful for those who have taken the time to try it and been inspired by their founding vision to support the families of fallen or disabled military members and first responders. Folds of Honor expanded its mission in September 2022 to begin

providing opportunities for families of fallen or disabled first responders as well, such as firefighters, police officers, EMTs, and paramedics, to offer hope and inspire unity. The announcement was made in reverence to those who gave their lives during September 11, 2001. Whether the course is around for 10, 15, or 20 years or longer, Bell said its legacy is envisioned as one that supported an organization that has and continues to help thousands of families.

“There is no negative to helping a family that needs help in their darkest time. Or it might be 15 years later. We might have a service member who

is killed serving or so wounded that they qualify, but when that happens, the kids are three years old and now 15 years later they are looking for a scholarship to go to school. It lets them know they weren’t forgotten about 15 years ago,” Bell said.

“I think Folds is doing incredible things. I’ve personally seen it within my family. I’m blessed to have helped raise a couple children who are recipients because their father died in service. I’ve seen other recipients and how it has affected them that somebody didn’t forget about their mom or their dad,” Bell added.

Friday, June 23, 2023

7:00 PM – 11:00 PM

Irish/Scottish Cèilidh (party!) in the Pub Tent with Live Music! Music begins at 7:00 PM

$20 Admission Cash bar

June 23 & 24, 2023

HOLLAND, MICHIGAN

Traditional Irish and Scottish foods | Celtic Genealogy Assistance | Vendors of Celtic goods | Irish Pub tent | Scottish Clan Tents | Kids area

Saturday, June 24, 2023

9:00 AM – 11:00 PM

Highland Games begin 9:30 AM Festival grounds open until 8 PM (Music continues until 11:00 PM)

$10 (13 & older)

12 & under - FREE

FOR TICKETS, VISIT: HollandCelticFestival.eventbrite.com

Are you interested in being a part of the festival? We welcome inquiries from Celtic Merchandise Retailers, Irish & Scottish Food Vendors, and Scottish Clans. Visit our website!

www.HollandCelticFestival.org

info@HollandCelticFestival.org

Facebook.com/HollandCelticFestival

HOLLAND CELTIC FESTIVAL HOLLAND MI 49423

DeZwaan Windmill photo by Norm Hoekstra. Other photos by Erika Tinney & Cassie Veen-Haveman

RAVINES GOLF CLUB | WEST | ALLEGAN Saugatuck | 18 Public | ravinesgolfclub.com | 269-857-1616 NILE YOUNG

SHANTY CREEK RESORT | NORTH | ATRIUM Bellaire| 72 Public | shantycreek.com | 231-533-8321

COURTESY SHANTY CREEK

THE MINES GOLF CLUB | WEST | KENT COUNTY Grand Rapids | 18 Public | minesgolfcourse.com | 616-791-7544

THE GOLF CLUB AT THORNAPPLE POINTE | WEST | KENT COUNTY Grand Rapids | 18 Public | thornapplepointe.com | 616-554-4747 COURTESY THORNAPPLE POINTE

TULLYMORE GOLF RESORT | WEST | MECOSTA Stanwood | 36 Public | tullymoregolf.com | 231-972-4837 COURTESY TULLYMORE

THE LOCHENHEATH EXPERIENCE

Since its reopening in 2011, LochenHeath Golf Club in Williamsburg, Michigan—just east of the nation’s cherry capital of Traverse City—envisioned a future as a private club. After it became a reality in 2021, the club experienced great success as a new private golf destination. For Kevin O’Brien, PGA, General Manager of LochenHeath, its continued appeal for prospective and existing members is its high-quality golf, pristine golf course conditions, privacy, and signature vistas.

“The golf course is an exceptional design on an incredible piece of property, and the reason members are going to join is for the golf, along with an exceptional culinary experience. LochenHeath has a warm and welcoming membership. Our goal is to provide LochenHeath members a private, low-volume, exclusive destination golf club focused on like-minded golfers and bestows a true championship-level golf experience.” O’Brien said.

Text: R. Collins

The course is carved from over 300 acres of historic cherry orchards hugging the Lake Michigan coastline, and with club membership, members are invited to enjoy the stretch without hurry. The club hosts four membership tiers—national, seasonal, and resident, along with corporate and national corporate—allowing members a comfortable fit for their lifestyle and preferences. Foundationally, a significant benefit of the club’s private status is its allowance for careful, attentive maintenance that may not be possible otherwise.

“The course sits on a wonderful piece of property with elevation changes of up to 85 feet and views of the water from at least 13 holes on the course. It has great movement to the land, and its setting above East Grand Traverse Bay provides wonderful vistas,” O’Brien said.

“When you’re a private club with a low volume of rounds, the conditioning is exceptional. It also allows you to not have to make a tee time when coming out to play. Members who like to practice will find that LochenHeath has one of the best practice facilities in the Midwest,” O’Brien added.

When at the club, members and their guests can enjoy well-appointed spacious Member Cot-

tages, featuring four en-suites, an expansive common living area, a gas fireplace, and comfortable appointments throughout. Golfers can unwind with a powerful wall shower and overhead waterfall feature after a great day of golf. The relaxing outdoor deck overlooking the bay and beautiful sunsets will become a favorite gathering place at the end of a perfect day.

O’Brien’s favorite holes are the 15th hole, a par-3; the 14th hole, a par-4; and the 7th hole, a par-5, but he notes that there is something for everyone thanks to golf course architect Steve Smyers’ unique melding of links-style and parkland-style design features across the course. Generous fairways encourage breezy play and total views of the course’s scenic vistas, while wooded pockets keep play exciting and add to the intimate, private feel.

With its relaxed, low-round pace and attention to course maintenance and cultivating luxury amenities, LochenHeath Golf Club attracts members in search of top-quality Northern Michigan golf to be enjoyed at their leisure and in a picturesque, private setting.

Wine Up North

industry insiders explain what’s new and remarkable for 2023 and beyond.

Savvy tourists who visit the Traverse City, Michigan region know that the area is prized for more than its ubiquitous water views and choice golf courses. Here along the two peninsulas that reach northward from the city into Lake Michigan, you can “wine” down an active day at your choice of dozens of wineries and tasting rooms. The region has come a long way since its winemaking debut in the 1960s and is now considered one of the finest wine regions in the Midwest. As the Northwest Lower Michigan wine region adapts to its relatively newfound respect on a worldwide level,

Chateau Chantal Winery and Inn on Old Mission Peninsula is one of the area’s oldest and most recognized wineries, with its European-style chateau tasting room set high on a ridge overlooking both East and West Grand Traverse Bays and popular events like Jazz at Sunset, special wine dinners, and cooking classes. The friendly tasting room, freshly renovated for 2023, offers dry, sweet, and specialty wines along with cocktails, hard cider, and beer in a casually elegant setting. Take in the views on the expansive patio and sample a flight with their San Francisco Chronicle Double-Gold winners,

Text: Diane Kolak

Pinot Grigio and Semi-Dry Riesling; their alltime best-seller, Late Harvest Riesling; or their unique Auxerrois, a fruity and dry but lush wine not commonly grown in Michigan.

On the narrow Old Mission Peninsula, all the wineries are within a few miles of one another, making a grand tour easy—but don’t expect to belly up for a quick whirl down the menu. Most wineries now encourage a more relaxed and memorable experience by serving flights and full glasses along with creative food options.

Northwest of Traverse City lies Leelanau Peninsula, where the wineries are more numerous and dispersed over its larger land area. For a classic Leelanau wine experience, don’t miss the complementary pairing of Good Harbor Vineyards near Leland and Aurora Cellars just north of Lake Leelanau. The wineries are both owned by Simpson Family Estates, Leelanau Peninsula’s largest grape growers, and they present two different styles of the Leelanau wine experience.

At Good Harbor, wine lovers have for decades stopped along Michigan Route 22,

or M-22, to enjoy approachable, affordable, high-quality wines in a casual, outdoorsy atmosphere with a variety of seating to suit Michigan’s fickle weather. Notably, Good Harbor’s Pinot Grigio has swept awards, including an honor as the only Michigan wine selected by VinePair for their “50 Best Wines of 2022.”

Similarly bursting with accolades—including three Jefferson Cups two years in a row, a feat unmatched by any other winemaker—is Aurora Cellars, a short drive away through the charming narrows town of Lake Leelanau and into the green, rolling hills. Here, the same winemaking team designs a different portfolio that further displays the family’s long agricultural history in a more upscale, Tuscan-style setting. Try their truffles from Grocer’s Daughter Chocolate Shop of Empire, Michigan, custom-made to pair with either a red, white, or sparkling flight.

Don’t miss a meandering drive to the northern reaches of Leelanau, where some of the most inventive wine experiences are still developing. Near Northport, Leelanau’s “tip-of-the-pinky

town,” industry newbies Nicole and Bo White have revived an old winery with a decidedly fresh perspective and a hands-on approach to building a place where community and hospitality are paramount. Dune Bird Winery serves cool-climate wines for a variety of palates and has an enthusiastic staff that will help you find your favorite. With the intention of making everyone feel truly welcome, Dune Bird also offers a full coffee and espresso bar, creative non-alcoholic drinks, and a menu of hot tapas-style plates designed for sharing and savoring.

The rustic-modern tasting room and lawn surrounded by farmland feel especially homey and comfortable when local musicians perform, which is often. Though it’s one of the newest wineries in Leelanau, it’s quickly becoming a beloved local hangout where tourists are just as welcome. If you’re here for the wine try AV8, a dry red blend named for the Whites’ love of flight, or sip on Pure Leland Bubbly, a sparkling pinot gris that sold out as fast as they could pour it last year.

Aurora Cellars

Winery & Vineyard

7788 E Horn Rd

Lake Leelanau, Michigan

Auroracellars.com

Chateau Chantal Winery and Inn

15900 Rue Devin Traverse City, Michigan

Chateauchantal.com

Dune Bird Winery

5620 N Manitou Trail

Northport, Michigan

Dunebirdwinery.com

Good Harbor Vineyards

34 S Manitou Trail

Lake Leelanau, Michigan

Goodharbor.com

Leelanau Peninsula Wine Trail

Lpwines.com

Old Mission Peninsula Wine Trail

Ompwinetrail.com

Whether you ’re looking for a ride on the course, at the cottage or just around the neighborhood, we’ve got you covered. We have a huge selection of new and used vehicles, plus the custom accessories to make it yours!

We also offer:

 Full Service Retail

 The Only Factory Authorized Warranty Support in Michigan and Northern Indiana

 Free Delivery Anywhere in Michigan or Indiana with New Car Purchase

THE OUTLOOK

Text: R.J. Weick

More than just an industry or simply a game, golf often represents any number of functions to people and to communities across the globe. It can serve as a creative and recreational outlet, a mental and physical challenge, a catalyst and platform, and an opportunity for shared social connection, cross-collaboration, and professional networking. It is both an economic engine and a vehicle of environmental stewardship, where careful planning can deliver landscaped assets for people, communities, and businesses.

While there are challenges and dynamics of the industry that endure, such as enhancing the vitality and diversity of the sport, golf in recent years has experienced a figurative renaissance

that it hasn’t seen in decades. As an industry, the United States golf economy is still considered a roughly $84 billion engine with a total economic impact of $192 billion, including direct, indirect, and induced impacts, according to the American Golf Industry Coalition. The coalition, formerly known as We Are Golf, was initially founded in 2009 and rebranded in 2022 to address two opportunities it had identified for the industry: bringing greater diversity to the sport and building on the momentum the game had experienced since the pandemic.

Some of its initiatives include emphasizing diversity, equity, and inclusion—which led to the launch of Make Golf Your Thing in 2021—contributions to the economy at the state and national level; charitable giving; health and wellness benefits; and environmental and sustainability efforts.

While the industry represents roughly $59 billion in total wage income for approximately two million jobs in the U.S., there is an additional impact of about $4 billion that can be seen in the 143,000 charity events that are held annually with approximately 12 million participants across 13,000 golf facilities. In the U.S. alone, the golf course supply represents roughly 43 percent of a total global portfolio, and courses in urban areas are typically seven-to-10 degrees cooler, providing a vital accessible, greenspace destination, according to the American Golf Industry Coalition.

And when it comes to participation, 2022 marked the fifth straight year overall of traditional, on-course golfers, according to the National Golf Foundation, or NGF. In 2021, there was an estimated 25.1 million total number of on-course golfers who played at green grass facilities, and ac-

AMERICAN DUNES GOLF CLUB

cording to NGF, that number saw a net increase of 500,000 golfers to 25.6 million in total.

“What we are seeing is we continue to grow on-course. It has grown 1.3 million in the last three years just for green grass increases and that had not happened in 20 years,” said Ken Griffin, director of golf sales and marketing at Boyne Resorts in Petoskey, Michigan. “But the real gains are away from the course, whether it be a Topgolf, a driving range, or a simulator—and this includes simulators in bars—it increased 13 percent.”

In January 2023, NGF released a 2022 U.S. Golf Participation report that broke down the total 41.1 million total participants in the golfing industry into those who participated in off-course only, those who participated in on-course only, and those who participated in both. For off-course only, which includes venues like Topgolf and Drive Shack, standalone driving ranges, and simulators or golf screen setups, there were 15.5 million participants in 2022. It also showed that the average age for those who participated in off-course only was 31 years old, 40 percent of them were nonwhite, and 41 percent of them were female.

At a national level, the American Golf Industry Coalition’s Make Golf Your Game initiative alone has provided more than $1 million in funding to grassroots organizations across the country through 2022. The grant funding is intended to make the game more accessible than ever to players of all backgrounds, identities, and abilities, as well as attracting diverse talent, creating inclusive workplaces, and diversifying vendors and suppliers equipping the industry.

Compared to on-course only, participation reached 13.2 million with an average age of 46 years old, 28 percent female, and 22 percent non-white. And for those who played both oncourse and off-course, 23 percent were female

and 22 percent were non-white, with an average age of 42 years old.

“For the first time ever, this off-course segment surpasses the on-course segment of golf. It was basically tied last year and so there are more younger people, more female, more non-white players experiencing golf than ever before and I think that trend is going to continue,” Griffin said.

In Michigan, it is an industry valued at roughly $4.2 billion for its impact and is considered seventh in the nation for total annual economic output per state, according to the American Golf Industry Coalition. And for many of the courses located in the state, 2022 only built upon the successes of 2021.

“I don’t know how to describe it, except to say it was just an unbelievably successful year. We budgeted very aggressively, anticipating a good year, and we exceeded that budget by probably 10 percent,” said Dave Sanderson, director of golf at Garland Lodge and Golf Resort in Lewiston, Michigan. “It was an incredibly successful year.”

Griffin noted for Boyne Resorts and its 10 courses across its BOYNE Golf portfolio, the team had major concerns when the pandemic forced courses to close for roughly six weeks after experiencing steady gains in the previous decade. However, once on-course play was re-opened and considered one of the few activities the public could participate in during 2020, the results were pleasantly surprising.

“We have seen steady increases over the last three years, including last year, and this is not just for Michigan. We’ve always had a large percentage of people coming from Michigan, but part of that growth or what happened in COVID is we haven’t lost those traditional golfers,” Griffin said.

“The most pleasant surprises were we saw more couples coming out and playing, we saw more fam-

ilies coming out and playing with the kids, and we saw more generational players, like in the evening. They’ll come out at times when it is not quite as busy and they will be introducing younger family members to the game,” Griffin added.

Griffin also noted another area of growth that came as a bit of a surprise was that they didn’t lose nearly as much participation from outside markets as they had anticipated due to the pandemic shutdown.

“We have more people flying in from more places to play our courses than we ever have. So, we maintain the old, grow or expand the demographics of who is playing, and then expand the market for where they are coming in from. We are fortunate, because Traverse City has really over the last five years expanded access into northern Michigan with direct flights and we are benefiting from that greatly,” Griffin said. “Now, they have flights from 17 U.S. cities in the summertime into Traverse City.”

Mike Brown, general manager and co-owner of A-Ga-Ming Golf Resort in Kewadin, Michigan, said the resort, which features four destination courses, experienced another year of growth that has carried over since 2020 as more people got into the game of golf.

“They either had more time or had a flex schedule, so we saw more men playing, more women playing, more families playing, and it has been a third year in a row of that same build up and now these people are probably life-long golfers if they’ve tried it and liked it and stuck with it,” Brown said. “Everything seems to be trending up, which is good, so it was very positive for the golf industry and us definitely.”

Ian Ziska, PGA Head Golf Professional at American Dunes Golf Club in Grand Haven, Michigan, noted while the course wasn’t open to take full advantage of the boom in 2020, it has experienced an active tee sheet and active supporters ever since it held its grand opening in May 2021.

“For us, our big thing is to maintain that strong number of players each year is communication and providing a good, consistent experience. The challenge coming up is going to be capacity in a lot of cases, because there are some places that are overwhelmed and don’t have enough room for the golfers who want to play—a great problem to have as an operator—but I think it is important to continue that success,” Ziska said. “You have to take great care of your customers with proper guest service and ensure the product you offer is consistent and of quality, so people know what they get when they are coming to your facility.”

The course, which is a redesigned Jack Nicklaus signature that pays homage to the Grand Haven site as the birthplace of Folds of Honor, is located just a few miles from the shores of Lake Michigan. Ziska said as a young golf course, each year gets better conditions wise, and the team is excited about the golf product they have to offer guests as Jack Nicklaus’ most patriotic design.

“I think in general, the golf product is going to get better with age and that is one thing that we are

A-GA-MING GOLF RESORT

very excited about, just to see it develop and come to life. We have been fortunate that we have gotten great feedback from our guest service and the full experience here,” Ziska said.

“We are trying to find the sweet spot as we are new, we are truly writing our history each day that we are open and we are growing and we have growing pains. We have to manage capacity, we have been overwhelmed with just outstanding support of who we represent and the mission that we have to support the Folds of Honor Foundation. The other thing is, like anybody in the Midwest fights the fight with weather, trying to find that sweet spot for delivering quality product and matching the fee structure to match conditions,” Ziska added.

While weather and economic uncertainty endure as challenges and unknown variables for the golfing industry, maintaining the growth the industry has experienced in the last few years is top-of-mind.

“I think we need to continue to capitalize on retaining the new customers we’ve attracted over the last few years. I think we need to continue to evolve our offerings with non-traditional types of rounds, nine-hole rounds, six-hole rounds, fun contest-type clinics, experience-type offerings, and taking the successes that Topgolf and some of those folks have had and making the game more about fun. I think that is important. Service, proper pric-

ing, and effective marketing are always going to be constants no matter what,” Sanderson said.

“The other biggest challenge probably is the inflationary pressures that all businesses across the country are facing, the golf industry is no exception. Fertilizer expenses, labor expenses, and food and beverage cost of sales expenses frankly have gone up faster than we have been able to react to due to a competitive market,” Sanderson added.

Brown also noted the economy and inflation are factors one has to always keep an eye on, especially as those prices could inhibit accessibility in the long run.

“It is not something that can continue without us being able to turn around and raise our prices. You don’t want golf to get out of hand, because then you start outpricing the middle class, the working class. You don’t want it to be an elitist game, because that is a select few individuals. That is the first thing staring you in the face, so being able to control the cost and keep the supply and the demand in balance is going to be the key,” Brown said.

He went on to say investing in youth programming is important to build customers down the road and is excited about the simulator the resort has built for year-round play.

“We have 300-plus members and not all of those members [leave for the season], so you have a lot of people who are here in the wintertime who are always looking for activities to do, especially in

northern Michigan if they are not able to go outside. We are continuing to build on that demand and the momentum we’ve built over the last three years by being able to keep those customers yearround now,” Brown said. “Whether it is outside in the summer or now we can do it inside in the winter, it becomes social too with the likes of indoor hitting centers. The growth has been pretty big in that segment.”

Sanderson also noted opportunity wise, there are a number of new offerings planned for this upcoming season at Garland Lodge and Golf Resort and his hope for the industry is that the unsustainable growth the sport has witnessed the last few years stabilizes into a more sustainable trend, and that the sport continues to evolve.

“I hope we continue to evolve the game so that it is not perceived as some stuffy game that is too expensive, that takes too long, by creating different playing models. I’d love to see the PGA, USGA, and the Tours continue to emphasize bringing new people to the game,” Sanderson said. “The Golf Association of Michigan has a phenomenal program called Youth on Course that is designed to get kids outside, get them exposed to the game in fun ways.”

For BOYNE Golf, which has invested in expanding its one-week youth camp into a daycamp experience and multiple-week Get Golf Ready lesson programming, the upcoming season

BOYNE

is an exciting prospect—one that began last summer as people began booking tee-times earlier in the year. In the last decade, Griffin noted the time of year in which the team started bookings has been moved back from early January to the fall of the previous year and now the prior summer.

“We started talking about launching this summer last April and our reservations team actually started reaching out to guests in late May, early June. We actually had 80-to-100 days last summer where we were selling two seasons, so we are excited because bookings are ahead of the pace they have ever been and last year was a record year,” Griffin said. “We are going to do everything we can to try to maintain it, but people are excited to get out there and they are willing to book earlier than they ever have and that is a good sign.”

To Ziska, who noted the interest in golf ebbs and flows and while currently the industry is on a good wave, it is probably going to flatten out a bit and one of the big things to pay attention to is capturing as many new players who began playing or have been reenergized to be involved in the last couple of years.

“I think people are finally starting to realize it is something you can get out and do no matter what is going on and it’s a wellness offering, it is a great place to do business. There are several benefits to playing the game of golf and I just hope in the next few years we are able to capture the majority of those new players and those current players as we manage the capacity of this wave of golf,” Ziska said.

“The big thing is that we as operators don’t

take this positive movement in the game lightly and we capitalize on it to the point where it is sustainable as best it can be. I think it is important to us as golf professionals that we don’t overlook this and we do something the right way to keep taking great care of customers so they continue to play golf,” Ziska added.

While industry challenges remain, there is an excitement in the air as golfers in Michigan dust off their drivers and look to the course, and for those who have made the sport a life-long passion and career, it is an affinity that runs the gamut.

“To me, personally, I have been in the business for over 40 years. When I was younger, in high school and college, I was very competitive and very into sports. What I love most about golf is that occasionally during a round of golf, I can participate at the highest levels of the sport,” Sanderson said. “I can stick an approach shot, I can make a long putt, and that is an exhilarating feeling. And the other thing is I like being outside, I like the competition with one’s self and competing against the golf course and playing partners.”

For Griffin, Boyne Resorts is fortunate because its two main drivers are very social sports— downhill skiing or snowboarding, and golf—that can gap generations, and for him, golf is a chance to get out and relax.

“It gets you to experience the outdoors. There is a healthy component,” Griffin said. “I get out and enjoy it and get to spend social time with friends or have business time. They say there is no better way to get to know somebody you are going to do

business with than to ride around with them in a golf cart for four, four-and-a-half hours, because you get to know each other on a different level. I just think golf is a great sport.”

Brown noted golf is a great recreational sport from both a social and competitive perspective.

“For me, it is a recreation. It is a great sport. There are so many friendships that are built in the game of golf, and you just learn a lot about people who you play with when you are out there doing it with them quite a bit. It is definitely one of the best games in our country for sure,” Brown said. “The new generation, there are a lot of exciting players and so I think the continuity of the game is in good hands.”

And for Ziska, golf is a game that often humbles one, but the skills built on-course can translate to a lot of good values off-course, as in the sport, the player often makes their own destiny.

“Why I love the game of golf is that it is something everybody can do. You can be great at it, or you can be avid and still enjoy it. You are around people, which I think is really healthy and good for a lot of people. It’s good to be around people and engaged in some aspects. I do love the game of golf because it provides that,” Ziska said. “I think it is a game that is great for anybody to enjoy, it’s humbling, and it combines wellness and competition, which are just two of the best things you could possibly have.”

GARLAND LODGE & GOLF RESORT

Canadian Lakes is a private recreational communtiy located an hour North of Grand Rapids. Membership is exclusive with property ownership and annual membership is less than $825.

Arrivals

The moment the rubber touches the tarmac and the plane begins to slow, there is an inevitable pull causing passengers to sit at the edge of their seat. A slight anticipation often fills the cabin, and for those headed to the green it may be piqued by a curiosity of stepping onto a new course or excitement of returning to a cherished fairway.

ALPENA

Regardless of the destination, there are a number of options for out-of-state travelers to choose from as they book their flight to the Great Lakes State. Take a look at some of the airports providing convenient access to incredible golf in Michigan.

BOYNE

ISLAND RESORT & CASINO

DELTA COUNTY AIRPORT

CRYSTAL MOUNTAIN

BAY HARBOR

CHARLEVOIX MUNICIPAL AIRPORT (CVX)

BOYNE HIGHLANDS

HARBOR SPRINGS AIRPORT (MGN)

BOYNE MOUNTAIN AIRPORT (BFA)

BOYNE MOUNTAIN

BLACK LAKE

A-GA-MING LOCHENHEATH

SHANTY CREEK

GARLAND RESORT & GOLF CLUB

GAYLORD REGIONAL AIRPORT (GLR)

TURTLE CREEK CASINO

GRAND TRAVERSE RESORT

FOREST DUNES

WEXFORD COUNTY AIRPORT

MT. PLEASANT MUNICIPAL AIRPORT (MOP)

TULLYMORE GOLF RESORT

PILGRIMS RUN

BUCKS RUN

SOARING EAGLE CASINO

APPLE MOUNTAIN

LAKEWOOD SHORES

AMERICAN DUNES GOLF COURSE

MACATAWA GOLF CLUB

RAVINES

HAWKSHEAD

HARBOR SHORES

THE MINES

THORNAPPLE POINTE

EAGLE EYE

CAPITAL REGION INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (LAN)

MBS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (MBS)

1/4 slice orange rind/pith

1 Luxardo brand cherry

Splash of soda

Splash of simple syrup

2 dashes of bitters

— muddle in a cup

— add 2 oz. of George T. Stagg

— strain over large ice ball

— garnish w/torched orange peel

WOODFORD RESERVE KENTUCKY MULE

Copper mug packed with ice

1.5 oz. Woodford Reserve

Pinch of lime

Top with Gosling ginger beer

FACEBOOK - THE ALTO BAR INSTAGRAM - @THEALTOBAR

RUSSELL RESERVE 10 YEAR

MANHATTAN

1.5 oz. pour

Capfull of sweet vermouth

2 dashes of bitters

2 Luxardo brand cherries, wash juice off spoon

Pour over large ice

Garnish with a torched lime slice

SAZERAC

1.5 oz. (generous) Sazerac Rye

2 dashes bitters

1 dash simple syrup

1/4 oz. Absente

— in shaker stir w/ice then pour over a large cube

— garnish w/lemon twist

GEORGE T. STAGG OLD FASHIONED

Photography by H3 Designs