A FA D E I N TO AU T U M N
2 018 F a l l I s s u e
m i c h i g a n g o l f e x p l o r e r. c o m
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A Mike DeVries Design
Minutes From Downtown Grand Rapids
Newly Designed Clubhouse
Special Events and Outings
Ranked #20 in Michigan’s Best Public Access Courses, Golfweek 2013 America’s Best New Courses 2006, Golf Digest Visit minesgolfcourse.com to learn more and to book your tee time.
minesgolfcourse.com | 616.791.7544
Welcome to
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COURTESY THE GOLF CLUB AT THORNAPPLE POINTE
THE GOLF CLUB AT THORNAPPLE POINTE MICHIGANGOLFEXPLORER.COM
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Contents 18 THE SEASON IN REVIEW |
36 NORTHERN MICHIGAN IN COLOR |
22 FALLSCAPES |
44 REGIONAL ARTISTRY |
industry professionals weigh in on the 2018 season
destinations well-suited for a seasonal, weekend golf escape
30 OTSEGO CLUB AND RESORT RENEWS INTO FALL |
the golf course is under new ownership and open for the fall
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known for its fall color tour, this region has much to offer for a stay-and-play trip
the nearby golf courses with its own share of artistry as ArtPrize returns to Grand Rapids
56 THE PLENTIFUL PLAY |
the golfing hubs for those looking to squeeze in extra play before the end of season
BRIAN WALTERS PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OTSEGO CLUB AND RESORT
GOLF SPA SHOP DINE CASINO
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.
#gtresort Owned and Operated by the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians
Contents 52 TOPGOLF SWINGS
INTO TULLYMORE |
the golf destination looks to debut its luxury suite in late fall
66 ARRIVALS |
take a look at some of the airports providing convenient access to incredible golf in Michigan
62 AT THE TABLE: WITH MARY CARROLL |
the Make It Benzie and Benzie County Chamber of Commerce President talks golf and tourism
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COURTESY COURTESY APPLE TOP GOLF MOUNTAIN SUITE
From the editor Welcome to the fourth digital installment supplementing our annual lifestyle publication known as The Golf Explorer: Michigan’s Journal to Incredible Golf.
While Michigan’s weather inherently will draw the outdoor play to a close in the coming months, it has been a season full of camaraderie, renowned tournament stops, local league play, and association scrambles—and indoor opportunities abound throughout the state as technology brings new experiences for those enthusiasts reluctant to put the clubs away. In this fall issue, we touch on a few of the great places to escape this fall for those wanting to stretch the golfing season at the shoulders; catch the pulse of the industry as professionals weigh in on the season; and sit at the table with the President of Make It Benzie. As fall brings shortened hours and special rates, we invite you to peruse the pages—and with the air still balmy, explore the classic terrain of golf courses across the Great Lakes State. Rachel J. Weick Editor | SVK Multimedia and Publishing The Golf Explorer: Michigan’s Journal to Incredible Golf
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PILGR M’S RUN G
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CONTRIBUTORS WRITERS Greg Johnson Riley Collins
EDITOR Rachel J. Weick
PHOTOGRAPHERS Kevin Frisch, Fusion Media Strategies Evan Schiller Brian Walters Photography Nile Young, Nile Young Photography
CREATIVE AND DESIGN Chris H. Pastotnik | H3 Designs
CIRCULATION David Fant, Market Mapping Plus
PUBLISHER John C. Olsa
PRINTING AND MAILING Walsworth Printing Holland Litho
MichiganGolfExplorer.com
ADVERTISING SALES John C. Olsa johno@svkmp.com
The Golf Explorer is printed once per year, with 83,000 copies printed each issue and 79,000 via direct mail to our database. PO Box 586 Hudsonville, MI 49426 (616) 379-4001 michigangolfexplorer.com/contact-us/ ©2018 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.
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THREE RESORTS. TEN COURSES. ONE DESTINATION.
Bay Harbor Golf Club The Links • Hole #7
Boyne Highlands Resort Arthur Hills • Hole #13
NORTHERN MICHIGAN
Bay Harbor Golf Club The Quarry • Hole #6
Boyne Mountain Resort The Monument • Hole #18
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Contributors
Golf Explorer Package ALL-INCLUSIVE GOLF IN CADILLAC, MICHIGAN
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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. 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.
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CALL TO BOOK! 231-775-9947 Newly renovated rooms Two on-site restaurants Indoor pool, jacuzzi, and sauna Several partner courses nearby Prices are per golfer, based on double occupancy, and include all applicable taxes. Rates are not valid with current bookings, outings, or leagues. Subject to lodging and tee time availability. Valid throughout the 2018 season only.
Greg Johnson | WRITER Greg Johnson has written about Michigan golf for 34 years, and owns a media services business in Hudsonville. He serves as co-chair of the Michigan Golf Hall of Fame Committee, and in 2012, the Michigan Golf Course Owners Association presented him with the Bruce Matthews Lifetime Achievement Award.
The True Up North
EvergreenResortMI.com 7880 Mackinaw Trail, Cadillac, MI 49601 MICHIGANGOLFEXPLORER.COM
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The season in r
A-Ga-Ming Golf Resort 18
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COURTESY A-GA-MING GOLF RESORT
review
By Greg Johnson
W
hile a poor-weather-April may have delayed the golfing season, the great weather throughout the course of the summer in most regions has made up for it and generated positive feelings about the state of the game in Michigan. Call it good vibrations. “Most of my contacts with other golf course owners and operators has been pretty upbeat,” said Jeff Hoag, co-owner at Scott Lake Country Club in Comstock Park, Michigan. Scott Lake Country Club, or Scott Lake Golf and Practice Center, is a 27-hole public venue located just north of Grand Rapids, Michigan and has been co-owned by Hoag for nearly 43 years. “They are seeing the same things we are seeing—business is up a bit and the make-up of the players is better as in not so old, because some younger players are working into the schedule,” Hoag added. While the fabulous year overall at Scott Lake was attributed in large part due to the weather—which he admitted is the thing no one can control—Hoag noted they keep working on the things that the course can control. “Everything was great until Labor Day and I think Labor Day Weekend’s weather was just Mother Nature letting us know she is still in charge of our success sometimes,” Hoag said. “We’re almost finished with our par-3 course here and Patti Butcher’s instruction programs have been great for us; busy and exciting. We are seeing more families with those things, and that’s great. These days it’s harder to attract people to golf and you have to work at it.” The positive sentiment is echoed in the North, where Mike Brown, owner and general manager at A-Ga-Ming Golf Resort in Kewadin, Michigan, said he feels better about this year than last year. “Watching Tiger Woods play again and seeing enthusiasm in the television ratings is a great thing, and golf facilities that are doing a combination of things to bring new players to the game is a great thing. MICHIGANGOLFEXPLORER.COM
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We started here in 1996—the year Tiger turned pro—and honestly people were flocking to golf courses then. We didn’t even have to advertise,” Brown said. “I don’t think we will ever get to that point again, but there is enthusiasm again. We had a great weather summer and golf seems to be back on track to maintain some growth,” Brown added. A-Ga-Ming Golf Resort has become a destination for golfers throughout the years, offering 72 holes of golf across four courses in the Torch Lake and Lake Michigan area. The resort has also recently taken over ownership and management of the Charlevoix Country Club, and rebuilt the clubhouse after it experienced a fire. “There was nowhere to go, but up. It’s up 40 percent and that is great. At the rest of A-Ga-Ming, we are up six percent— that’s great. We just have to keep working and thinking of things to keep us going in that direction,” Brown said. While some in the golfing industry may rely on the older generation for another decade or so, Brown noted the industry needs to continue efforts in attracting new players and working to stay relevant. “At A-Ga-Ming we are in this for the long haul,” Brown said. Even Central Michigan, where classic layouts offer a weekend oasis, felt the effects of the good weather, despite the crisp start. Jon Conklin, manager and PGA golf professional at Bucks Run Golf Club in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, noted things are going very well for the market served by the course. “Purely speaking from a Bucks Run point of view, we are growing, and our rounds are growing a bit, but we also target a different type of golfer at our rate,” Conklin said. “We go after the core golfer disposable income, because we are a destination course. Those people still have money and enthusiasm for the game.” Conklin also noted the club continues to work at keeping league rounds up and doing more in the off-season, as well as building a base of new golfers, especially women. “It’s still a mostly male-dominated sport in terms of golfer percentages. If families play more and more women are involved it will help. Women make a lot of decisions in the household,” Conklin said. “It’s not the same as it used to be where dad plays golf on Saturday and Sunday, and comes home later in the day. It’s a different lifestyle now and we have to keep responding to that.” 20
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Thousand Oaks Golf Club
For Watermark Golf Properties, which comprises the clubs, such as Watermark Country Club in Grand Rapids, StoneWater Country Club in Caledonia, Sunnybrook Country Club in Grandville, and Thousand Oaks Golf Club in Grand Rapids, the summer has been a positive one. Chris Sobieck, general manager for Watermark Golf Properties, said the membership has increased at the four private clubs and the two public facilities have had a good season. “It’s great overall,” he said. Sobieck also said maintaining quality facilities in all areas remain the key for golf at the Watermark properties and he believes the industry. “We have strong, quality products, and great people working at them,” Sobieck said. “That makes it possible to have success.”
Sobieck also said the Watermark Properties do things to grow in their respective market, such as allowing high school teams to use facilities, presenting golf introduction and improvement programs for women and men through social and civic groups, and presenting junior programs of various sorts. While the outlook remains positive at Watermark, Sobieck noted his concern for the industry is for what he described as the mom-and-pop golf courses struggling, and in some cases closing. “We do what we can do, but I think the industry needs to find ways to support the smaller operations where people do come into the game,” Sobieck said. “Those are the kind of places that introduce a lot of golfers to the game, and we can’t overlook that. We need more people to play the game to stay healthy and grow the game.” COURTESY THOUSAND OAKS GOLF CLUB
Bucks Run Golf Club NILE YOUNG PHOTOGRAPHY
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Fallscapes By Greg Johnson
W
hile the fall often means football and color in Michigan, it is also a season well-suited for a weekend golf escape. The state offers a number of great regional destinations, such as Traverse City, Gaylord Golf Mecca, and Mount Pleasant, and the cooling weather also often means lower fall rates while having a chance to see the colors during a round of world-class golf. Jon Conklin, the general manager and PGA golf
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professional at Bucks Run Golf Club in Mount Pleasant, said Saturdays paired with home football games for Central Michigan University, golf, and beautiful colors are popular—as well as when the Chippewas are on the road. “Being in the center of the state, we can be a quick escape for golfers in the southern part of the state,” Conklin said. “We have great golf right here and are two hours less driving than going up north. We make time more valuable for the golfer.” Bucks Run offers 18 holes designed by Michigan’s COURTESY BUCKS RUN GOLF CLUB
Bucks Run Golf Club NILE NILE YOUNG YOUNG PHOTOGRAPHY
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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.
Cambria Hotel & Suites
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Championship Golf Course Restaurant • Inn 523 Hawks Nest Drive South Haven, MI 49090 269 · 639 · 2121 HawksHeadLinks.com
The recently constructed 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.
GOLF WEEK’S
BEST Hawkshead_13_GEv2i1.indd 1
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Golf Week 2016
BLACK LAKE
#9 “Best State-by-State Courses You Can Play”
GOLF CLUB
Public Welcome! • Rees Jones Award Winning Design • Top 100 golf courses from 2012-2017 on Golf Advisor #75
• Golf Digest 2013 — #39 on “America’s Top 50 Courses for Women.”
• Golf Digest 2013 — #69 on “America’s 100 Greatest Public Courses.”
• Golf for Women — Top 100 Women — Friendly Courses in 2001.
• Golf Week 2013 — #6 “Best Courses to play in Michigan.”
• Golf Week 2014 — #5 “Best Courses to play in Michigan.”
www.blacklakegolf.com 2800 Maxon Road, Onaway, Michigan • 989-733-GOLF (4653) 24
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own Jerry Matthews. The award-winning course rolls out around Fisher Lake and along and over the Chippewa River in playable fashion. Matthews designed the holes with multiple tee options. The allgrass putting course on the island of the lake is a must-experience for golfers, and Bucks Run has a popular restaurant in The Quarry Grill. “We take pride in being a destination; a resort really without the lodging.” Conklin said. “The fall is a great time to travel in Michigan obviously, and we market to the golfer who likes to travel some and seek out beautiful places to play.” Just down the road on the river is PohlCat Golf Course, which is a course designed by Dan Pohl—a former PGA Tour player and Michigan Golf Hall of Fame member. The course is cut through stands of trees and around multiple water hazards that at times offer a links-style look. Great variety in bunkers and green settings are at hand as Pohl was inspired by features he saw as he played around the world. Lodging and more is in the area at the Soaring Eagle Waterpark & Hotel, part of the Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort. Stayand-play options are available as the hotel, casino and resort work with the local golf courses. The Gaylord Golf Mecca was started as a cooperative marketing effort for the collection of golf in the Northern Michigan area 31 years ago. It marched onto the destination golf scene with classic courses, new modern masterpieces and more, and today comprises about 15 golf courses and nearly 20 lodging partners. The Robert Trent Jones Sr. Masterpiece course was the first built at Treetops nearly 31 years ago, and the resort has since added the Treetops North collection of courses, including the Premier by Tom Fazio, the Signature and the Tradition courses by Rick Smith and the popular ThreeTops par-3 layout, which was also designed by Smith. With a collection few resorts can match and arguably fit for a weekend all by itself, Gaylord also offers golfers a chance to choose other destinations in the local region to play. Roughly 10 miles to the Southwest of Treetops, the Loon Golf Resort offers the enthusiast and beginning golfer a number of courses, dining, and a comfortable four-bedroom, four-bath townhome lodging options.
LochenHeath MICHIGANGOLFEXPLORER.COM
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The resort has three courses in its portfolio known as The Loon, The Lakes, and The Ridge; which are all located within a short ride from each other on a luxury bus provided by the resort. The Loon was redesigned in recent years by noted golf teacher Butch Harmon, and it offers room for the average golfer to enjoy great Northern Michigan scenery. The Lakes Course is a Jerry Matthews design that offers six holes in a pine forest, six on alpine terrain, and six featuring a river, ponds, and the little lakes
in the area. The Ridge, designed by Mike Husby, is a trip through classic north woodland areas. To the North of Gaylord, Black Lake Golf Club in Onaway is an approximately 18 mile drive. It’s part of the Gaylord Golf Mecca group, and where architect Rees Jones designed a golf course for the UAW Black Lake Conference Center that opened in 2000. It is a classic design with imaginative bunkering. In addition, the once private UAW Conference Center with its great lodging options has been
2 Hours North of Chicago Grand Rapids
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Chicago
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open to the public for the last few years. One of the area’s most popular stayand-play options, and there are many, ties Black Lake with Gaylord Golf Club and The Michaywe’ Pines Golf Course. Gaylord Golf Club and The Pines are two of the original and most popular courses in the area; and The Natural at Beaver Creek Resort is a perfect example of the Northern Michigan lifestyle. It provides great golf with a well-appointed cabin with a fire pit outside for relaxation. The resort’s mantra is “play all day, relax all night.” Indian River Golf Club and its classic course joined the Mecca two years ago. The traditional gem was in part designed by legend Wilfred Reid. Otsego Resort in Gaylord recently had a closing with new ownership and the popular Tribute golf course is once again welcoming golfers. The Tribute and Treetops might have the best viewing spots of fall color in Michigan. Elevation changes are dramatic in the area, and at some points views stretch as far as 40 miles. In Traverse City, which delivers a number of social, dining, natural, and recreational attractions to the resident and visitor alike, golf and fall are set in a landscape of shoreline, rolling terrain, and wine country. Some outside play is still welcome at LochenHeath Golf Club as it continues to transition to private club status. Those looking for a private club up north should make sure to visit and play the highly regarded Steve Smyers-designed course that hugs East Grand Traverse Bay. Lodging and restaurant options in the area are bountiful, and Grand Traverse Resort and Spa provides for those who want it all in one spot. The resort features three golf courses including the Jack Nicklaus-designed The Bear, The Wolverine by Gary Player and Spruce Run by William Newcomb, not to mention year-round golf instruction, custom oncourse lessons by PGA professionals and special events and programs for golfers of all ages. In addition to golf, the Resort counts four indoor/outdoor pools and several indoor/outdoor hot tubs, and a popular indoor water playground for the kids. The 100,000 square-foot Health Club with five indoor tennis courts bustles with activity, and the Resort’s sister property is Turtle Creek Casino & Hotel.
Here in
Traverse City,
GREAT things
just come together.
Long, manicured fairways meet up with natural dune grass. MICHIGANGOLFEXPLORER.COM
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esort views from the 16th floor compete with 450-foot bluffs hovering Lake Michigan. This is a place where ancient glaciers left their mark in clear lakes and dramatic hills, today giving our 20 golf courses a natural, breathtaking setting. But then again, the finishing touches added by the modern powerhouses didn’t hurt either. Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Gary Player, Jerry Matthews and Tom Weiskopf all left traces on their respective stomping grounds. Truth is, the world is full of well-designed golf courses, so a truly worldclass golf destination needs to offer something more. Something genuine. It has to be a real place with its own story, its own flavor, its own soul. It has to offer something special once you leave the course. And that’s what sets Traverse City apart, because it brings so much together. On a single morning, you can finish a round of 18, wander down a magnificent beach and amble through the shops and stores of a friendly lakeside village. You could cast your line into one of America’s most famous trout streams, paddle the shores of a forest lake, search for delectable morel mushrooms on the wooded hillsides, or just take a drive through the most gorgeous display of spring wildflowers you’ll see anywhere. Shoppers love our shady, pedestrian-friendly downtown with its quirky bou-
tiques, restaurants, coffee shops and galleries, and the Grand Traverse Commons — a former mental asylum — offers some shopping and dining adventures of its own. And when that summer sun finally goes down, there’s still plenty to do. Nightlife in Traverse City can be an evening of acoustic folk in a dim brewpub, pulsating electronic in a Union Street bistro, or some gaming fun in a local casino. And for the record, we make some pretty great cherries. Officially we are the cherry capital of the world, but we’re adding more to that resumé every day. That same land that’s ideal for cherries is also a famous wine-producing region with nearly 40 wineries as well as a fast-growing hops and craft brew scene. And you won’t go hungry, either. Traverse City’s many restaurants have also created a national reputation for their fresh, innovative regional cuisine. With abundant shopping, comfortable lodging and vibrant culture, it’s easy to see why this “Golf Coast” of the Midwest has teed up a list of awards. Named #12 in Golf Digest’s list of the World’s Top 50 Golf Destinations, named “America’s Summer Golf Capital” by Golf Magazine, and recently ranked among the Top 10 Golf Cities in the U.S., golfers seem to all agree that this is a pretty great place. Visit traversecity.com
Want to give it a swing? MICHIGANGOLFEXPLORER.COM
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Otsego Club Resort
University of Michigan Golf Course
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COURTESY OTSEGO CLUB AND RESORT
renews into fall Text: Greg Johnson
Golfers, especially those who make regular treks to Otsego County to play the courses of the Gaylord Golf Mecca, have been elated to hear The Tribute course at Otsego Club and Resort is open and will stay open as weather allows this fall.
The Tribute
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The Tribute
“The Tribute is open, and we will be open for skiing this winter,” said Michael Bedells, the general manager of Otsego Club and Resort in Gaylord, Michigan. Otsego Club and Resort, which had shuttered its operations in the spring prior to ownership transition, was purchased by Gary and Kathie Vollmar of Lewiston, Michigan at nearly $1.8 million through online auction and officially closed on the sale in late August 2018. In the wake of the finalized purchase agreement with Osprey Recreational Properties in Brighton, Michigan, The Tribute reopened on September 1, 2018. Gary Vollmar, president of AMI Industries in Lewiston, Michigan, stated in an interview the Petoskey News Review that the potential for the resort is fabulous if done right and that the couple are very excited about it. Vollmar is a native of Cass City, a graduate of Central Michigan University, and 32
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a certified public accountant who worked with Walbro Corp., a Fenton-based engine management and fuel systems manufacturer. He purchased a division of Walbro in Indiana, and in 2003 started Aggressive Manufacturing Innovations, or AMI. AMI is a supplier to agriculture, construction, automotive and the marine industries with five facilities in Michigan. Bedells said Vollmar has told him he is in it for the long haul at the Otsego Resort, and that he wanted to open The Tribute— the jewel of the two-course golf and ski resort—to announce to the public that they are open. “We have been open in the hotel and for business meetings and weddings, but the golf was not open,” Bedells said. “The big push now will be to get to ski season and focus on that. We will have public skiing again this year.” Bedells said Vollmar has settled the many questions and rumors that have
floated around regarding the resort since 2012. “We just didn’t know what was going to happen the last few years, but [Vollmar] has let me know quite frankly that this is a long-term investment for him and that time and money will be invested to make it work,” Bedells said. Vollmar is a Lewiston resident, and he and his wife will also have a place at the resort. He considered placing an offer to buy Otsego in 2006 before it was sold to Osprey. He told the newspaper it is a beautiful piece of property and unique. “I’ve golfed the Tribute numerous times and it’s one of the nicest courses you’ll see,” Vollmar reportedly stated. “It’s a smaller resort with 81 rooms, but it’s a unique facility and being open year-round is big.” Bedells said The Tribute and The Classic courses were closed, but maintained by Osprey through the sales process. COURTESY OTSEGO CLUB AND RESORT
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“We will have golf through the fall, and the colors are amazing on The Tribute especially,” Bedells said. “We’re looking forward to the excitement of having golf going again and feeling great about the future. We are getting great response from the golfers.” Vollmar told the newspaper the resort will be run as it has in the past for the most part, and he anticipates a capital investment in improvements and equipment to exceed that of the resort cost within the next year. The Tribute is a Gary Koch-Rick Robbins design that was founded at the resort in 2001 to rave reviews. It has dramatic elevation changes and vistas in addition to sweeping modern golf design with classic elements. It plays up to 7,155 yards with multiple tee additions and has been a favorite of golfers who book through the Gaylord Golf Mecca marketing effort. “It’s great that the The Tribute is open,” said Paul Beachnau, executive director of the Gaylord Golf Mecca. “It’s a great golf course and especially beautiful in the fall. It’s been a perfect fit for the quality and quantity that is part of our 15 courses in the Gaylord Golf Mecca.”
COURTESY OTSEGO CLUB AND RESORT
Grand Valley StateThe University, Tribute The Meadows
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Northern Michigan in color By Greg Johnson
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NILE YOUNG
The trees bursting forth fall colors on Michigan’s Leelanau Peninsula are perhaps the best possible backdrop for, say, a Sleeping Bear Dunes visit, relaxation at The Homestead resort, a peninsula wine tour, and a round of golf or two at award-winning places like Manitou Passage Golf Club and Bahle Farms Golf Course.
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Of course, the visit to the dunes, the wine tour, and the golf are great in spring and summer, but fall beckons with colors that will show vividly during the next month or so. Curt and Connie Fjelstul are Dutton residents near Grand Rapids in the winter, but from early spring until the end of October, they are at their summer residence on the peninsula in northwestern Michigan. Curt, a 77-year-old, describes them as retired for 18 years and staying in Leelanau as long as possible each year since. “It’s hard to beat up here,” Curt Fjelstul said. Curt Fjelstul works in the golf shop at Manitou Passage Golf Club, while Connie Fjelstul works in the wine tasting room at Leelanau Cellars. “We are retired, but we have to do something,” Curt Fjelstul said. “We can’t just sit there and watch Kelly Ripa every day.” They stay active, and they stay in Leelanau until the color show in the fall is complete. “It’s captivating,” Fjelstul said. “I would say the spring when the farms turn white with cherry blossoms and the fall when the colors come out are equally beautiful.” Manitou Passage is an Arnold Palmer signature design course in Cedar, not far from the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, the place recently chosen by viewers of ABC’s Good Morning America as the Most Beautiful Place in America. The course rolls through meadows and forested land with stunning vistas of an area that is home to beaches and dunes and dramatic rolling landscape. Leelanau County alone has nearly 348 square miles of land and more than 2,000 square miles of water hazards in golfer terms. Manitou Passage first opened as the King’s Challenge course, but when a group led by Bob Kuras of the The Homestead purchased the golf course they adopted a name change. On the eighth-hole-tee the new owners discovered a view of what is known as Lake Michigan’s Manitou Passage, and a name was born. Palmer’s company, Wadsworth Golf Construction, and Peridian International, a land planning group, were brought in and a complete renovation of the facility and course was undertaken. The golf course now plays more than 6,668 yards of gorgeous land with classic design elements. Just recently it hosted the Leelanau Cup, a modified Ryder Cup style event in
which golf courses in the area are invited to bring teams. Lee Houtteman, the recent Michigan PGA Professional Championship winner, is the head golf professional at Manitou Passage. The course will stay open as the weather warrants throughout October, and especially during the next four-to-five color-blooming weeks. Fjelstul said even the design of the Manitou Passage golf course pays homage to the beauty of the area, es-
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Bahle Farms Golf Club
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pecially in the fall. “There are a couple holes that are elevated and when you look across the valley you see a lot of shades of yellow, red, green, whatever,” Fjelstul said. “It’s just beautiful.” Bahle Farms Golf Club in Suttons Bay also offers its set of views of the area as well. The course there is a 6,651-yard gem cut from rolling former farm land and adjoining forest areas. Cherry orchards are in play on the course that was designed by Gary Pulsipher, who is also the superintendent at the golf club. Bahle Farms and Manitou Passage have fall rates for golf, and the views are free. The Homestead folks will help visitors with ideas on where to go and what else to see when in the area. It is a four-season reCOURTESY BAHLE FARMS GOLF CLUB
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sort favored by those with family vacations, romance and meetings planned. A variety of lodging options and packages are available, and golf is among the many things the resort will help guests enjoy. As for wine, the Leelanau Wine Trail features 24 wineries that are located within the area’s diverse microclimates that are perfect to produce a variety of wine grapes. The trail is divided into three mini-trails for easy touring: the Sleeping Bear Loop, the Northern Loop and the Grand Traverse Bay Loop. Each tasting room along the trail offers its own unique experience. Fjelstul said he and Connie enjoy their life on the peninsula. “It’s a great area for a round of golf and a glass of wine,” Fjelstul said. OtsegoClub_1.3H_GEv2i1.indd 1
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Grand Rapids’ premier public golf facility
A must play while in GR thornapplepointe.com
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616.554.4747 7211 48th St. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49512 TOP: EVAN SCHILLER PHOTOGRAPHY; BOTTOM: COURTESY LITTLE TRAVERSE BAY
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The Golf Club at Thornapple
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COURTESY THE GOLF CLUB AT THORNAPPLE
Regional artistry By Greg Johnson
Golf is an art form in the minds of some, especially when considering its course architecture.
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It’s a kinship of sorts that is especially relevant during the next few weeks as ArtPrize, an international art competition, is held for 19 days in Grand Rapids, Michigan with more than $500,000 in prizes awarded, including $200,000 awarded based entirely on public vote. More than 2.9 million visitors have cast at least 3.2 million votes for artists from around the world in the competition where their works are displayed at various venues, indoors and outdoors, throughout the downtown area. This is the ninth year of the event and 26,000 visitors are expected on many of the days from Sept. 2018 through Oct. 7, 2018. From wandering the streets of down-
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town Grand Rapids, to strolling down the nearby fairway, one can appreciate the artistry and sculptural expression in the region this fall whether it is a painting installation or the design of a course at one of the four area golf locations. The Golf Club at Thornapple Pointe was designed by Bill Newcomb of Ann Arbor, Michigan, who has designed several popular golf courses across the state, even extending to the resort areas up North. The course, which is visible from Interstate 96 westbound from Lansing, is as nice as it looks with great conditioning, a fun design by Newcomb, and offering more room than appears along the Thornapple River. Quail Ridge Golf Club in Ada, MichLakewoods Shores The Gailes
Harbor Shores COURTESY QUAIL RIDGE GOLF COURSE
igan is the work of Raymond Hearn, a Holland-based architect who has designed award-winning layouts around the world and has in recent years been a dominant winner of renovation awards. Quail Ridge is a popular place, with Hearn artfully creating space for tee shots and giving golfers options as they move through the course. As a student of architecture, Hearn drew upon some classic design elements in bunkering and a dramatic large double-green, such as those found on the classic courses in Europe, takes the final shots to the ninth and 18th holes. Pilgrim’s Run Golf Club was designed in part by Mike DeVries, an award-winning international design-
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The Boathouse Beer Co.
Pilgrim’s Run Golf Course
er based in Traverse City, Michigan. While the location would require the most travel planning, since it is about a 30 minute drive North of the city off of United States Route 131, the flowing course is seemingly always in great shape and always welcoming—transporting a golfer away from it all. The green complexes—the most difficult part of the course—were designed by DeVries, who also did the work at The Mines Golf Course, which is located just a few miles from downtown. The Mines, which is blanketed across old gypsum mines, is a course with great public access and competitive pricing complemented by outstanding design elements and alternate tees on captivating par-3 holes. Each of the four courses cater to Grand Rapids area golfers, and invite visitors to delight in both the art of golf and ArtPrize with a club-for-the-day approach. The Mines Golf Course 48
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TOP: LC LAMBRECHT; BOTTOM: CHRIS PASTOTNIK
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VISIT
MANISTEECOUNTY michigan
CHESTNUT HILLS Par Yardage Slope Rating
ARCADIA ARCADIA BLUFFS Championship Tees Back Tees Middle Tees Forward Tees
PREMIER GOLF
Par Yardage Slope Rating
72 72 72 73
7,300 147 75.4 6,702 137 72.8 6,244 129 70.3 5,107 121 70.1
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The variety of courses in Manistee County rivals those in the best known areas of the state. The tree-lined fairways that cut through the national forest and the vistas of Lake Michigan are what sets Manistee County apart. All within thirty minutes of one another, seven championship courses and one executive courses grace the hills and valleys of Manistee County and welcome golfers of all skill levels each and every year.
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Par Yardage Slope Rating
Champ. Tees 72 6,477 124 71.1 72 6,114 120 69.4 Back Tees Middle Tees 72 5,359 111 66.0 Forward Tees 73 5,114 120 69.9
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Champ. Tees Back Tees Middle Tees Forward Tees
Par Yardage Slope Rating
72 72 72 72
6,569 139 72.3 6,030 128 69.1 5,336 120 65.1 4,437 112 66.4
MANISTEE GOLF AND COUNTRY CLUB Par Yardage Slope Rating
White Tees Red Tees Gold Tees
70 5,614 130 68.1 71 4,942 126 69.3 71 4,316 115 64.5
CITY OF MANISTEE
MANISTEE NATIONAL GOLF & RESORT Canthooke Valley
Blue Tees White Tees Gold Tees RedTees
Par Yardage Slope Rating
71 71 71 71
6,517 6,127 5,288 4,767
131 128 121 116
71.2 69.2 65.6 67.5
Cutter’s Ridge
Black Tees Blue Tees White Tees Gold Tees Red Tees
Par Yardage Slope Rating
71 71 71 71 71
6,654 6,321 5,819 5,301 4,571
149 144 130 128 125
73.9 72.0 69.1 67.6 68.8
MANISTEE CO.
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COURTESY TOP GOLF SUITE
Topgolf swings into Tullymore By Greg Johnson
I
n Stanwood, Michigan, the golf season will not end after the probable fall closing of the two championship golf courses at Tullymore Golf Resort. Instead, the resort and golf destination is becoming a year-round entertainment option for the sport as Tullymore opens its doors to a new indoor Topgolf® Swing Suite. The Topgolf Swing Suite will feature three simulators comprising nearly 84 golf course choices, comfortable lounge seating in a sports bar atmosphere, a private room for parties and events, HDTVs, and food and beverage service. The interactive, energy-intensive experience merges hospitality and entertainment in a single luxury suite, and is currently under construction at the St. Ives Golf Club clubhouse. “We’re shooting for that weekend after the date we have to close the courses,” said Dan Petersen, a golf professional at St. Ives Golf Club. “The construction is coming along.” The Topgolf Swing Suite is expected to open later this fall, with a target date of Oct. 20, 2018.
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COURTESY TOP GOLF SUITE
Matt Golden, chief executive officer and general manager of Tullymore, initially announced the coming attraction in May and stated at the time the resort has long been known as a premier destination in the Midwest and the addition of the Topgolf Swing Suite continues to set the golf club apart from other resorts and courses. “We’re excited about our collaboration with the team at Topgolf and look forward to this fall, when everyone can enjoy such a unique amenity here at Tullymore,” Golden stated in a release. The Topgolf Swing Suite games are designed for both golfers and non-golfers and up to eight people can play, eat, drink and hang out in each bay. The Topgolf Swing Suite can be rented for business and social gatherings, such as birthday and bachelorette or bachelor parties. “We are proud to team with Tullymore Golf Resort, which boasts two top-tier golf courses and an equally stunning resort,” said Ron Powers, president of Topgolf Swing Suite. “The truly unique interactive social experience features industry-leading full swing simulators that will entertain all ages and skill levels.” The new Topgolf Swing Suite adds to the resort’s golf experiences, which feature two distinct award-winning courses: St. Ives and Tullymore.
The Tullymore course on the Tullymore side of the large resort in the Canadian Lakes area was designed by renowned Colorado architect James Engh. It recently hosted an LPGA Symetra Tour tournament for three years, and is a sweeping modern design regarded as one of the state’s top resort and public courses. St. Ives Golf Club, which was the first course at the resort, is a prime example of the best design work by Michigan’s own Jerry Matthews. It is a parkland style course but offers a diverse selection of golf holes. The 36 holes of golf wind amid 800 acres. Tullymore also has multiple options for lodging, including the Inn at St. Ives, a cottage, condominiums, and rental homes, indoor and outdoor pools, and two clubhouses with dining service options. The resort has hauled in a page of awards and honors including being named Michigan’s number one Golf Resort and one of the Top 50 Golf Resorts in the U.S. in the 2010 Golf World Readers’ Choice Awards.
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Blackshire
The plentiful play By Greg Johnson
With only a few weekends remaining for those exploring the fairways in Michigan—weather dependent—there are several golfing hubs throughout the state that make a 54-hole weekend possible for the enthusiast. 56
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COURTESY LAKEWOODSHORES GOLF CLUB
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Blackshire
In Michigan’s far eastern region, Craig Peters of Lakewood Shores Golf Resort in Oscoda, welcomes golfers with three distinctive courses and a cost saving value. Lakewood Shores, which has a mission statement of providing some of the best golf in Michigan at a great dollar value, features not only The Gailes, Blackshire, and The Serradella courses, but also accommodations and dining nestled among hardwoods. The Gailes offers a links style golfing experience through the award-winning design work of Ken Aldridge and Bob Cupp—and when the beauty of Michigan topography is paired with a little wind, it transports players to seaside Scotland. It was named one of the best new resort courses by Golf Digest when it originally opened during the industry’s building boom in 1993, delivering double greens, meandering berms, sod-faced bunkers, and long fescue grasses. Blackshire, which was also designed by Kevin Aldridge, was inspired by the famous Pine Valley Country Club in New Jersey. Offering a rugged feel with hardwoods, large sand waste areas, and undulating greens, Blackshire is a classic perspective across nearly 200 acres. Lakewood Shores’ third full course is known as The Serradella, which was designed by Bruce Matthews. Parkland in design, The Serradella has minimal hazards, wide fairways, large greens, and incorporates stunning floral gardens. “We truly have three completely different golf courses here. They are part of our packages and we make them work for our guests,” Peters said. Across the state along the southwestern shoreline, golfers can also head to the rolling hills of Lake Michigan Hills, the natural sand area at Hawkshead, and some of the 58
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holes at the Jack Nicklaus-designed Harbor Shores for a weekend of non-stop play. Harbor Shores Golf Club, which has been transformed from neglected land into a premier destination for golfers with three breathtaking holes near the shores of Lake Michigan, demonstrates how sport—in this case, golf—can serve as a vehicle of economic development as part of a community revitalization project. Jack Nicklaus beams with pride each time he visits the course he designed in Benton Harbor, Michigan, and he loves to share the story of how the once-polluted-site became a stunning golf course. The course
features some links style holes, plays to the beautiful beach on sand dunes, rolls along the Paw Paw River in parkland style, and challenges seemingly at every shot. The beach holes, especially the difficult seventh hole with the tiny green on top of a dune, and the eighth hole, which is a fun par-4 that sweeps off the dune, are favorites of those who play the course. Harbor Shores has hosted the Senior PGA Championship in alternating recent years. It is a significant challenge from the back tees, but Nicklaus had other golfers in mind with the multiple tee options. Just a few miles from Harbor Shores,
Harbor Shores Golf Club TOP: COURTESY LAKEWOODSHORES GOLF CLUB; BOTTOM: NILE YOUNG PHOTOGRAPHY
located right off the highway, is the Lake Michigan Hills Golf Club. The Benton Harbor-area golf course, designed by Charles Maddox Sr., leverages the natural terrain with generous fairways and elevation changes. However, water is in play on nearly 11 of the 18 holes, and more than 50 bunkers await off-line shots in various places. Dogleg holes require some thought, especially in the middle of the back nine; and there are some undulations on the big greens. Elevated tees at the first and 10th hole offer fun shots as well as a great view of the course ahead. HawksHead up the lakeshore about 12 miles in South Haven is inland, but not far and built on windblown sand of the area. Arthur Hills fashioned 18 very different holes that wind beautifully across 6,900 yards of natural topography and native grasses. It’s not just the scenery that makes Hawkshead a winner though: Strong finishing holes, some great bunker complexes to consider and natural waste areas demand smart golf. The wind off Lake Michigan tends to swirl and change slightly in direction, too. Golfers must check the wind direction often.
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AT THE TABLE: with
Mary Carroll By Greg Johnson
M
ary Carroll, president for Make It Benzie and the Benzie County Chamber of Commerce, is a modest golfer. “Let’s just say I have the clubs and the outfit,” Carroll said. As President for two nonprofit organizations promoting the Benzie County in Michigan for the last 11 years, Carroll has overseen networking, marketing, and advocacy for the region in both tourism and business. Prior to her current role, Carroll also spent nearly a decade working in tourism for Mount Pleasant. With experience becoming familiar with the rolling hills of Benzie County and the classic layouts in Central Michigan, it comes as no surprise Carroll is no stranger to the course. The Golf Explorer: Michigan’s Journal to Incredible Golf had a chance to catch up with Carroll during the recent Make It Benzie and Chamber of Commerce annual golf outing at Crystal Lake Golf Club in Beulah, Michigan, where she was helping oversee its direction.
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Can you describe your golf game?
Carroll: I do golf, but I just go out for fun. I go locally, because we certainly have a lot of great golf options in Benzie. The golf courses are beautiful, and we have a great variety.
What do you like best about working in Benzie and tourism?
Carroll: The best part of tourism is always helping people have a great experience when they visit, and that’s in all aspects from where they stay and the things they do. It’s the fun part of the job. We have some great things to get them involved and make sure they are happy when they go home. That’s fun for me.
What are your specific duties?
Carroll: I oversee the operations of Make it Benzie, which is our rebranding of the visitors bureau and I also oversee the operations of the Chamber of Commerce. It’s [Chief Executive Officer] stuff, but also planning and marketing. I have a great team that works with me, and we have a beautiful visitor’s center. I enjoy my work and have a great place to work and great county to work in.
What is the hardest part of your job? COURTESY MAKE IT BENZIE
Carroll: The hardest part is making sure the things you do on a regular basis have a fresh feel. That’s a big reason why we rebranded as Make It Benzie. We work at coming up with new ways to present things. I think that’s something you have to do to keep drawing attention to the great things you have to offer.
What is the easiest part of your job?
Carroll: Being in Benzie where there is so much to offer from golf, shopping, dining, beaches, and beautiful lakes, to history, lighthouses, camping, or tubing down the Platte River, which may be my favorite thing to do. I love interacting with the people who visit us, too. I like to get feedback and hear their stories. I like to interact with them in person and even on the Internet. People are happy when they are here and happy when they leave.
Will you describe your ‘Dream Day’ in Benzie County?
Carroll: That’s easy: taking a tube down the Platte River. It’s kicking back, enjoying nature, and everything is calm and beautiful. It’s so relaxing. It’s getting a way from it all without having to get away from it all. I really can’t think of a better day for me.
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Fairfield We have had this plot of land in Northern Michigan for years. The transition from a small trailer to our dream home was a long time coming. When we met with Wayne, we knew he was the one to design our lake house. Sharing our ideas with him was an incredible experience. The beauty of the landscape is truly the main feature and now our home can house all of our guests, growing family, and celebrate all things lakefront living.
You dream it. We’ll draw it.
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616.285.9901 Chicago
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. 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. ALPENA COUNTY REGIONAL AIRPORT (APN) Alpena
Lakewood Shores. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 min. Black Lake. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 min. Forest Dunes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 hr. 40 min. BOYNE MOUNTAIN AIRPORT (BFA) Boyne Falls
Boyne Highlands. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 min. Bay Harbor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 min. Boyne Mountain. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55 min. Black Lake. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 min. Bay Mills. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 hr. 15 min. GAYLORD REGIONAL AIRPORT (GLR)
Gaylord
CHARLEVOIX MUNICIPAL AIRPORT (CVX)
Harbor Springs
Bay Harbor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 min. Boyne Mountain. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55 min. Boyne Highlands. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 min. CHERRY CAPITAL AIRPORT (TVC) Traverse City
Grand Traverse Resort & Spa. . . . . . . . . . 10 min. LochenHeath. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 min. Turtle Creek Casino. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 min. A-Ga-Ming Golf Resort. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 min. Crystal Mountain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 min. Boyne Mountain. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 min. Evergreen Resort. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 min. Bay Harbor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1hr. 15 min. Forest Dunes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1hr. 20 min. Otsego Club. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1hr. 20 min. Boyne Highlands. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1hr. 30 min. MANISTEE COUNTY BLACKER AIRPORT (MBL)
Manistee
Manistee National Golf & Resort. . . . . . . 15 min. Crystal Mountain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 min.
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Pellston
Boyne Mountain. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 min. Bay Harbor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 min. Boyne Highlands. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 min. Charlevoix
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PELLSTON REGIONAL AIRPORT (PLN)
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Otsego Club. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 min. HARBOR SPRINGS AIRPORT (MGN)
Boyne Highlands. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 min. Bay Harbor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 min. Boyne Mountain. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 min. WEXFORD COUNTY AIRPORT (CAD) Cadillac
Evergreen Resort. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 min. Crystal Mountain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 min. Manistee National Golf & Resort. . . . . . . . . . 1 hr. Forest Dunes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 hr. 20 min.
BAY MILLS CASINO & RESORT
BOYNE HIIGHLANDS BAY HARBOR CHARLEVOIX MUNICIPAL AIRPORT (CVX)
HARBOR SPRINGS AIRPORT (MGN)
BLACK LAKE
PETOSKEY/ HARBOR SPRINGS BOYNE MOUNTAIN AIRPORT (BFA)
BOYNE MOUNTAIN
A-GA-MING
OTSEGO CLUB
GAYLORD GAYLORD REGIONAL AIRPORT (GLR)
TURTLE CREEK CASINO GRAND TRAVERSE RESORT
TRAVERSE CITY
LOCHENHEATH
CRYSTAL MOUNTAIN
FOREST DUNES LAKEWOOD SHORES
WEXFORD COUNTY AIRPORT
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MANISTEE NATIONAL GOLF & RESORT
CADILLAC
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MANISTEE
EVERGREEN RESORT
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LAKEWOO D SH
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Arrivals MT. PLEASANT MUNICIPAL AIRPORT (MOP)
TULLYMORE RESORT
PILGRIMS RUN
GRAND HAVEN
GRAND RAPIDS
CAPITAL REGION INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
HAWKSHEAD GULL LAKE VIEW
KALAMAZOO
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SAGINAW
EAGLE EYE HAWK/ HOLLOW GOLF CLUB
LANSING
LYNX
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APPLE MOUNTAIN
THORNAPPLE POINTE
GUN LAKE CASINO
SOUTH HAVEN
BUCKS RUN
QUAIL RIDGE
THE MINES
RAVINES
MBS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (MBS)
GERALD R FORD INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (GRR) Grand Rapids
Thornapple Pointe. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 min. Quail Ridge. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 min. The Mines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Min. Gun Lake Casino . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 min. Pilgrims Run . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 Min. Lynx . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 min. Ravines. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 Min. Gull Lake View Golf Club and Resort . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1hr. 5 min. Tullymore Golf Club and Resort . . . 1hr. 20 min. Hawkshead. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1hr. 22 min. Bucks Run . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1hr. 50 min. KALAMAZOO/BATTLE CREEK INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (AZO) Kalamazoo
Gull Lake View Golf Club and Resort. . . Lynx . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gun Lake Casino . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ravines. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Hawkshead. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
25 min. 29 min. 30 min. 60 min. 60 min.
CAPITAL REGION INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (LAN)
Lansing
Eagle Eye/Hawk Hollow Golf Club. . . . . 15 min. MT. PLEASANT MUNICIPAL AIRPORT (MOP) Mt. Pleasant
Bucks Run . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 min. MBS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (MBS)
Saginaw
Apple Mountain. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 min. Bucks Run . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 min. Lakewood Shores. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1hr 45 min.
DETROIT
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LYNX GOLF COURSE | WEST | ALLEGAN COUNTY
Otsego | 18 Public | lynxgs.com | 269-694-5969 LYNX GOLF COURSE
QUAIL RIDGE | WEST | KENT COUNTY
Ada | 18 Public | quailridgegc.com | 616-676-2000 NILE YOUNG PHOTOGRAPHY
OTSEGO CLUB | TRIBUTE | N
Gaylord | 36 Public | otsegoclub.com | 800 COURTESY OTSEGO CLUB
EAGLE EYE AT HAWK HOLLOW | WEST | CLINTON COUNTY
Bath | 18 Public | hawkhollow.com | 517-641-4295 COURTESY EAGLE EYE
GRAND TRAVERSE RESORT | THE WOLVERINE
NORTH | GRAND TRAVERSE COUNTY
Acme | 54 Public | grandtraverseresort.com | 800-236-1577 COURTESY GRAND TRAVERSE RESORT & SPA
LOCHENHEATH | NORTH | GRAN
Williamsburg | 18 Private/limited Public | loc BRIAN WALTERS PHOTOGRAPHY
THORNAPPLE POINTE | WEST | KENT COUNTY
Grand Rapids | 18 Public | thornapplepointe.com | 616-554-4747 COURTESY THORNAPPLE POINTE
A-GA-MING RESORT | SUNDANCE | NORTH | ANTRIM COUNTY
Kewadin | 54 Public | a-ga-ming.com | 800-678-0122 COURTESY A-GA-MING RESORT
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EVERGREEN RESORT | NORTH | WEXFORD COUNTY
LAKEWOOD SHORES RESOR
Cadillac | 27 Public | evergreenresortmi.com | 866-291-8136
Oscoda | 54 Public | lakewoodshores.com
COURTESY EVERGREEN RESORT
COURTESY LAKEWOOD SHORES
NORTH | OTSEGO COUNTY
0-752-5510
ND TRAVERSE COUNTY
chenheath.com | 231-938-9800
RT | NORTH | IOSCO
m | 800-882-2493
PILGRIMS RUN | WEST | NEWAYGO COUNTY
Pierson | 18 Public | pilgrimsrun.com | 888-533-7742 NILE YOUNG PHOTOGRAPHY
WILD BLUFF AT BAY MILLS RESORT |
UPPER PENINSULA | CHIPPEWA COUNTY
Brimley | 18 Public | wildbluff.com | 906-248-3617 BUCKO TEEPLE
THE MINES | WEST | KENT COUNTY
Grand Rapids | 18 Public | minesgolfcourse.com | 616-791-7544
FOREST DUNES | NORTH | CRAWFORD COUNTY
H3 DESIGNS
Roscommon | 18 Public | forestdunesgolf.com | 989-275-0700 BRIAN WALTERS PHOTOGRAPHY
HAWKSHEAD | WEST | ALLEGAN COUNTY
South Haven | 18 Public | hawksheadlinks.com | 269-639-2121 BRIAN WALTERS PHOTGRAPHY
MANISTEE NATIONAL GOLF & RESORT | NORTH |
MANISTEE COUNTY
Manistee | 36 Public | Manisteenational.com | 231-723-8874 BRIAN WALTERS PHOTOGRAPHY
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SAVE YOUR LONGEST DRIVE FOR THE GOLF With six courses and "up-north" golf without the drive, why spend your time on the road when you could be on an unlimited golf package at Gull Lake View Resort. Just miles from everyday in Southwest Michigan. Packages start at $130 per-person.
(866) 988-3782
GULLLAKEVIEW.COM
HOLE 2, STOATIN BRAE Easily the most scenic golf course I’ve ever played in Michigan.
No other course in the area offers views like this. -- Brian P. Google Reviews
A Mike DeVries Design
Minutes From Downtown Grand Rapids
Newly Designed Clubhouse
Special Events and Outings
Ranked #20 in Michiganâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Best Public Access Courses, Golfweek 2013 Americaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Best New Courses 2006, Golf Digest Visit minesgolfcourse.com to learn more and to book your tee time.
minesgolfcourse.com | 616.791.7544
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