The Golf Explorer Volume 3 Issue 2: A Michigan Summer by SVK Multimedia & Publishing

E SCA PE TO M I CH I G A N

Destination Escapes Lakeshore Drive Professional Profiles 2 019 S u m m e r I s s u e

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Welcome to

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SAUGATUCK, MI NILE YOUNG PHOTOGRAPHY

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Contents 24

MICHIGAN RESORTS CROWN OPEN CHAMPIONS |

the men and women who played for the Michigan titles at two northern resort courses

MACATAWA RENOVATION | change is in the air at Macatawa Golf Club

GRAND TRAVERSE RESORT AND SPA

ACME, MI

PHOTOGRAPHY: ANDY WAKEMAN

MICHIGANGOLFEXPLORER.COM

30 DESTINATION ESCAPES | a few of the great resorts and destinations in Michigan

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.

Owned and Operated by the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians

Contents 42 THE LAKESHORE DRIVE |

the shoreline golf offering water, waves, wind, sunsets, dunes, and bluffs

52 LEADING INITIATIVE |

the woman changing the field of golf programming across Michigan

72 THE PROFESSIONALS:

BEHIND-THE-SCENES PROFILE | a look at some of the PGA golf professionals, owners, and managers behind golf courses in Michigan

80 ARRIVALS

IN GOOD SPIRITS |

a family distillery on the outskirts of Traverse City producing true crafted spirits

HARBOR SHORES GOLF CLIUB BENTON HARBOR, MI PHOTOGRAPHY: NILE YOUNG

MICHIGANGOLFEXPLORER.COM

From the editor There is nothing quite like the vibrant greens of summer beneath a bright sunlit blue sky; especially when savoring a breeze off a well-conditioned course set overlooking a Great Lakes shoreline or listening to the creak of hardwood trees inland. From the great red pines east of Roscommon, and the windswept orchard bluffs in Arcadia, to the meandering berms off Lake Huron in Oscoda, and the bluegrass set above gypsum mines in Grand Rapids; Michigan golf is a diverse—and beautiful—representation of what the state has to offer players and tourists alike.

In this latest summer digital issue of our annual golf lifestyle publication highlighting the game, the people, and the destinations in the Great Lakes State, we take a moment to highlight some of the great golfing resort escapes as well as take a drive up the Lake Michigan shoreline. We review the results of this year’s Michigan Open Championship and Michigan Women’s Open Championship tournaments and the renovation work taking place at Macatawa Golf Club. We also discuss the design of golf courses with a Michigan-based golf architect; and the innovative work the President of the Golf Association of Michigan and founding member of the Michigan Women’s Golf Association continues to advocate for and lead. We talk with the founder behind a family-owned distillery in Traverse City and a few of the managers and owners behind some of the great courses in the state. It is our pleasure to welcome you to the 2019 summer digital edition of 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

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LEGAL Smith Haughey Rice & Roegge

MichiganGolfExplorer.com EDITOR Rachel J. Weick CREATIVE AND DESIGN Chris H. Pastotnik | H3 Designs PUBLISHER John C. Olsa ADVERTISING SALES John C. Olsa johno@svkmp.com

The Golf Explorer is printed once per year, with 200,000 copies printed and 181,200 via direct mail to our database.

Kim Amesbury, Advertising Sales kamesbury@comcast.net

Jamie Jewell, Advertising Sales jamiej@svkmp.com CIRCULATION David Fant, Market Mapping Plus PRINTING AND MAILING Walsworth Printing & Holland Litho CONTRIBUTORS WRITERS Riley Collins & Greg Johnson PHOTOGRAPHERS Brian Walters Photography Nile Young, Nile Young Photography 20

ACCOUNTING Pennell CPA Fred Pennell, CPA, CGMA Brian Furness, CPA

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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.

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1/30/19 9:36 AM

Nile Young | PHOTOGRAPHER

Riley Collins | STAFF WRITER

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.

A Detroit-area native with a continual craving for learning, Riley has traveled nationally and internationally to gather new perspectives and creative and professional inspiration. After moving around the state of Michigan—studying writing and making new friends—Riley has since settled in downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan where she earned a B.A in Writing and Rhetoric and General Business minor at Grand Valley State University. She has experience working with content management systems, editing works of non-fiction, and writing for a diverse grouping of Michigan-based publications. When not writing or reading, Riley enjoys watching live music and casually studying different languages.

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MICHIGAN RESORTS CROWN

Open Champions Text: Greg Johnson

ANIKA DY, 2019 MICHIGAN WOMEN’S OPEN CHAMPION

MICHIGANGOLFEXPLORER.COM

rand Traverse Resort and Spa, and its famous award-winning course, The Bear, once again hosted and helped determine a Michigan Open Champion for the year. This time it was mini-tour-pro Eric Lilleboe of Okemos, Michigan. Not long after, Crystal Mountain Resort and its Mountain Ridge Course, which is home to the Michigan Women’s Open for 17 consecutive years, was the site where one of its own, Anika Dy of Traverse City, a cart attendant at Crystal this summer, claimed first place at the Michigan Women’s Open. At Grand Traverse, Lilleboe was declared the winner of the 102nd Michigan Open Championship presented by Grand Traverse Resort & Casino, Yamaha Golf Cars Plus, and Lake Trust Credit Union after the final round was rained out. Lilleboe, who had a five-shot lead on the field through three rounds, won the first-place check of $8,000 out of the total purse of $55,000, and said winning the Michigan Open is tops in his golf career. “It is special for me,” Lilleboe said. “It is my home state’s open and I beat a lot of great players. It feels different, because I didn’t have to face down those final round nerves of coming up 18 and needing to make a putt or anything like that; but it is sinking in that my name is going to be on that [James D. Standish Jr. Trophy] forever with some amazing other names. It is really cool. I’m happy to be champion.” Lilleboe shot a 7-under par at 65 on The Bear Wednesday to make it to 13-under par. Barrett Kelpin of Kalamazoo, a PGA Tour Latinoamérica player and the 2012

ERIC LILLEBOE, 2019 MICHIGAN OPEN CHAMPION

Michigan Open champion, finished second at 8-under par, with only five shots off the lead. “You always want to play four rounds if you can, but it has been a long week and I know the PGA would have played it if it was possible,” Kelpin said. “Some weeks you just can’t get it in. Monday was a long day. I was ready to go do it again today, but [Lilleboe] played really well this week. He did great, so it is great he is the champion. It’s great for him. I know what he is feeling.” Michael Nagy, a mini-tour player from Manistique, and Willie Mack III, a mini-tour player from Grand Blanc, finished in a tie for third at 5-under par, and minitour player Brett White of Caledonia and the week’s top amateur, Zach Sudinsky of Ypsilanti, an Eastern Michigan University golfer, were next at 4-under par. Lilleboe, who heads for the PGA Tour’s Rocket Mortgage Classic pre-qualifier and a qualifier for the John Deere Classic as well, said he hit his driver well the first two rounds, caught some breaks in the third round and saved some pars with his putter. He also noted that his final shot in the tournament ended up being a 65-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole Wednesday that dropped.

“It was a good way to end it,” Lilleboe said. “I just didn’t know that was the end. I feel really fortunate and really happy at the same time.” In his trophy ceremony Lilleboe thanked the resort and called The Bear the perfect venue to decide a state champion. “It’s a great golf course that tests every part of your game, and it’s always in wonderful shape,” Lilleboe said. “I really enjoy playing The Bear, and it means something more to say you won a championship on it.” Two weeks later at Crystal Mountain during the Michigan PGA Women’s Open, Dy had a sizzling putter on the back nine and had a five-shot victory in the 26th Championship. The 17-year-old, who is now a cart lot attendant at the resort, grew up playing the Mountain Ridge Course where she shot a final 4-under par at 68 with a 4-under par at 32 on the back nine. “This is my fifth or sixth year playing in this and I’ve never done very well,” Dy said after closing with a 12-under par at 204 in total. “This year I just really felt it. I’m super happy to be able to win at my home course. Being here at Crystal MICHIGANGOLFEXPLORER.COM

helped so much. This tells me the work I have been doing is working, and that if I keep going good things will come in time,” Dy added. As a recent Traverse City West High School graduate headed to the University of Michigan in the fall, and an amateur golfer, Dy couldn’t win the first-place check in the $40,000 tournament. Dy is just the second amateur to win the open championship that draws professionals and amateurs from across the country, and the youngest to ever win. Breanne Hall of Kentwood, who is now the women’s golf coach at Illinois State, won in 2003 while playing golf for the University of Toledo. Haylee Harford of Leavittsburg, Ohio, who was playing in her first professional tournament after just graduating from Furman University; and mini-tour professional Macy Hubbard of Mason, Ohio, who charged in the final round with a 66; tied for second at 7-under par with 209. They will split first- and second-place money for $5,250 each. Mini-tour pro Bryana Nguyen of Columbia, Md., shot 65 for 210 and fourth place and $3,500. Defending champion Elizabeth Nagel, a Symetra Tour player, tied for fifth with a closing 71 for 212. Professional Sarah Bae of Pinehurst, N.C., shot 68 and also finished at 212. Dy, a three-time Division 1 high school state champion and Michigan’s unprecedented three-time Miss Golf, said some nerves and a few poor shots kept her at even-par through the front nine. Then she hit it to about two feet for birdie on the par-4 10th hole and made three consecutive birdies starting at the 13th hole with birdie putts of three feet, 10 feet, and eight feet. “All my putts were going in on the back nine – that’s what I remember. My irons started clicking. The key that helped me win this week was that even when I got in a bad spot, I’ve played this course so many times that I know what I have to do and where I have to go. I’m comfortable here in almost any spot, and I was able to stay calm and just focus on my game,” Dy said. “I didn’t know I won, because I did not look at the leaderboards on the course at all. I didn’t want to get my

hopes up. I just tried to keep it going. I think I handled it well not thinking about anything too much. I just focused on my game and hitting good shots, and not letting what other people do affect me,” Dy added. Dy also thanked her Crystal Mountain family in her trophy speech. “Crystal is such a special place,” Dy said. “I’ve always been welcomed here and treated so well here. I had great support from everybody. I grew up here. This feels great to win a great championship here.” 26

MICHIGANGOLFEXPLORER.COM

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PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY MACATAWA GOLF CLUB

novation

Text: Greg Johnson

he Macatawa Golf Club course is in great shape and a fun play, according to Chris Sobieck, general manager of Watermark Golf Properties. “We made the viewing a little better behind [hole] 18, but that was it,” Sobieck said. As for the clubhouse, it is getting a $2 million renovation. “What haven’t we done with the clubhouse?” Sobieck said. Sobieck is General Manager of golf and sports for the Watermark Properties, which now include the four private clubs in the Grand Rapids, Michigan area: Watermark, Thousand Oaks, Sunnybrook, and StoneWater. The portfolio also comprises the public Thornapple Pointe in Grand Rapids, the public resort of Ravines in Saugatuck, and most recently, the semi-private Macatawa Golf Club in Holland. Sobieck said the Macatawa clubhouse is a wonderful facility that has everything. “We just changed a lot of stuff around and added some things,” Sobieck said. Some of the changes consist of: moving the banquet space from the lower level to the upper level and can serve about 300 people; the lower level is now the restaurant for the facility and a sports bar space has been added; four golf simulators will be part of the sports bar area of the facility—similar to Thornapple Pointe’s winter offering—and the women’s locker room was moved so all golf is on one side of the facility. “We’ve really made the lower level a neat space now,” Sobieck said. “There’s such great room to do things, and the banquet space on the upper level now is just a really beautiful space overlooking the golf course.” Sobieck also said pool renovations are ahead and include a new pool. As for golf, it remains open to public play, but there are more than 200 members at Macatawa Legends. “It’s a hybrid for us now,” Sobieck said, in reference to Macatawa. “We have the four privates, the totally public, the resort public, and now this semi-private that takes public play, and that’s the way we are going for right now.” Membership crossovers remain for the four private courses in the Grand Rapids area, and those members still receive a preferred rate if they want to play Thornapple Pointe, Ravines, or Macatawa Legends. For now, joining Macatawa gives that member the opportunity to play Ravines for just cart fees. “We have some complicated things in membership, but in reality, joining one of our private clubs gives you access for the best rate at seven golf courses,” Sobieck said. “Where else can you get that?” Sobieck also noted there is a possibility that Macatawa could become a totally private club in the future, but it is not in the plans at this time. While Watermark purchased the golf course and clubhouse, Sobieck noted the real estate of the original Macatawa project is still owned by Eastbrook Homes. The Macatawa course is an original design of Holland-based, award-winning, architect Raymond Hearn. It has large undulating greens with classic bunkering, unique water features, and five sets of tees that allow it to be played from nearly 7,000 yards to about 5,000 yards. MICHIGANGOLFEXPLORER.COM

escapes

DESTINATION

Text: Greg Johnson

MICHIGANGOLFEXPLORER.COM

et away without leaving Michigan, and it can feature golf, fine dining, and even romance. Long summer days and brilliant sunsets lead to early golf, late golf, early dinner, late dinner, and a sunset to boot. Several resorts in Michigan provide all of the above. Take a look, take your pick, take your clubs, and take your time.

GRAND TRAVERSE RESORT AND SPA 100 GRAND TRAVERSE VILLAGE BLVD., ACME, MI

TURTLE CREEK CASINO

7741 MICHIGAN ROUTE 72 EAST, WILLAMSBURG, MI

A beautiful vacation afternoon and sunset for a couple is easy to find here. Grand Traverse Resort and Spa welcomes golfers, couples, and those who just want to experience a full-service resort. It starts with three golf courses: The Bear, designed by legend Jack Nicklaus, which has hosted the Michigan Open Championship the last two years and 27 times overall; the friendlier to the average golfer course The Wolverine, designed by legend Gary Player; and the original course on the property, the classic Spruce Run designed by William Newcomb. Grand Traverse Resort and Spa is not just about golf, or the spa, or the Resort’s sister property Turtle Creek Casino & Hotel—and yet it can be if the guest chooses. It can also be a little bit of everything, or just some of a few things. The Resort also comprises: indoor and outdoor swimming pools and hot tubs, an indoor water playground for the kids, a 100,000-square-foot Health Club with indoor and outdoor tennis, a private Beach Club on Lake Michigan’s Grand Traverse Bay, the Cub House licensed day care center, day camp for kids, nearly 900 acres of northern Michigan landscape to explore, about 86,500 square-feet of versatile meeting space, a roughly 7,000-square-foot Spa Grand Traverse, nearly 600 guest rooms and condominiums, the Gallery of Shops, and multiple food and beverage outlets including the distinctive Aerie Restaurant & Lounge on the 16th floor of the Resort’s glass Tower. PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY GRAND TRAVERSE RESORT AND SPA BY ANDY WAKEMAN

MICHIGANGOLFEXPLORER.COM

TOP LEFT: GRAND TRAVERSE RESORT AND SPA; TOP RIGHT: TURTLE CREEK CASINO & HOTEL; CENTER PAGE AND BOTTOM LEFT: THE HOMESTEAD; BOTTOM RIGHT: MANITOU PASSAGE 32

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PHOTOGRAPHY TOP: COURTESY GRAND TRAVERSE RESORT AND SPA; BOTTOM: COURTESY THE HOMESTEAD

Nearby is the Turtle Creek Casino & Hotel where excitement, fun, and winning happens all year long. Shuttles run through and around the resort and casino at the convenience of guests. Couples will give the nod to Aerie for a romantic setting. The restaurant, an award winner, has an unmatched view of the Grand Traverse Bay area and the finest in contemporary dining.

THE HOMESTEAD

1 WOOD RIDGE ROAD, GLEN ARBOR, MI

MANITOU PASSAGE

4600 CLUB DRIVE, CEDAR, MI

Off the course, this year-round resort popular for skiers in the winter also has multiple lodging options from single deluxe hotel rooms to spacious condos that house large groups. Dining is top-notch, including room service or at the restaurants, which range from the Thistle Pub and Grille at the Kinlochen Lodge by the pro shop to the Wild Tomato Restaurant and Bar. The resort also offers an art park, a spa, a fitness center, biking, a water park, and more. It has something for any and all families in addition to great golf. Couple will gravitate toward a ski lift ride up the mountain to take in views, perhaps enjoy a picnic or some live music, and the cozy, romantic dining at the Thistle Pub is a perfect ending to any day.

A few years ago, The Homestead in Glen Arbor, Michigan realized in one calendar year guests from all 50 American states, five Canadian provinces, and three foreign countries traveled and stayed in the heart of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. A little while after that, the ABC morning show “Good Morning America” named the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore as The Most Beautiful Place in America. Viewer votes put it way out ahead of places such as Aspen, Colorado, Sedona, Arizona, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, and Grand Tetons in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. The Homestead bills itself as a top resort for romantic and family vacations, weekend getaways, weddings, family reunions, and corporate meetings on Lake Michigan—and fills the bill across the board. Spa and salon services, tennis, boating, swimming, fine and casual dining options, and great golf is close by at the resort’s sister property, Manitou Passage Golf Club. Arnold Palmer’s design company fashioned 18 holes in 1998 where each has a view of Lake Michigan, and it fits with Palmer’s design philosophy of building courses that all levels of players can enjoy. Manitou Passage has classic lines, native grasses, and the great views. The final three finishing holes were all a part of a restoration and renovation a few years ago, and all improved dramatically. Manitou Passage Golf Club offers a variety of golf packages through the Homestead.

CRYSTAL MOUNTAIN

12500 CRYSTAL MOUNTAIN DRIVE, THOMPSONVILLE, MI

Crystal Mountain Resort in Thompsonville, Michigan has a myriad of options for the traveler that includes some great mountain golf, a tribute to the arts, great dining options, and a variety of outdoor activities. The Mountain Ridge course, designed by Bill Newcomb, highlights the golfing at the resort. Putts that appear to slope away may actually slope up with the mountain contours. It’s very resort-playable, and yet comes with championship credentials. The PGA Michigan Women’s Open Championship has been played there for about 16 years. The Betsie Valley course is a Paul Albanese renovation of the original course at the resort, and worth the play, too. It’s not as taxing as the Mountain Ridge, in large part because it is built in the flatter valley area around the mountain. PHOTOGRAPHY TOP: BRIAN WALTERS; BOTTOM: COURTESY CRYSTAL MOUNTAIN

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TREETOPS RESORT

3962 WILKINSON ROAD, GAYLORD, MI

Treetops Resort has the golf with five courses by noted designers Robert Trent Jones Sr. and Tom Fazio. It also has more in terms of its dining options, great views, and a somewhat-signature, laid-back, we-are-on-vacation aura. The full-service resort is creative with its promotions and partners, like the Gaylord Golf Mecca marketing group, and finds ways to incorporate craft beer fun, couples packages, and golf. The Couples Jamborees for golf are very popular, and Meet The Pro, Meet The Brewery, is pure fun for adults. The resort is also known for its support of military causes and hosting groups of golfers from all points on the map. For the golf enthusiast, there is the famous Threetops, one of the nation’s best par-3 courses; and also the original Masterpiece by Jones; the Premier by Fazio, which is his only design in Michigan; and the Signature and Tradition designed by noted golf instructor and designer Rick Smith, who used to be a partner in the resort. Smith also designed Threetops. Couples may opt to take a nice walk around the two resort campuses that are just a few miles apart. Dining in Legends on the Hill gives great food and great dining option; and all tastes can be answered with the Hunter’s 34

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TOP: TREETOPS RESORT; BOTTOM: GARLAND RESORT PHOTOGRAPHY, TOP: COURTESY TREETOPS RESORT; BOTTOM: COURTESY GARLAND RESORT

VISIT LAKE MICHIGAN GOLF

MANISTEECOUNTY

Manistee Golf & Country Club on Lake Michigan - Open to Public

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9 COURSES,

WITH 2 OVERLOOKING LAKE MICHIGAN

ORDER A FREE TRAVEL GUIDE ACCESS INSIDE TIPS DIRECTLY FROM THE GOLF PROS AT OUR MANISTEE COUNTY COURSES IN OUR ALL NEW TRAVEL GUIDE

VisitManisteeCounty.com/Golf 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.

Grille and The Sports Bar as other options. Couples will also like the newly renovated rooms and the accessibility to nearby Gaylord, Michigan’s cozy streets, restaurants, and more.

GARLAND LODGE & GOLF RESORT 4700 NORTH RED OAK ROAD, LEWISTON, MI

This resort offers rustic charm—especially in lodging— beautiful natural and landscaped surroundings, four golf courses, and a variety of dining options, among other

amenities. It’s off the beaten track in Lewiston and could define the word rustic, especially with its log-cabin-style-architecture main lodge. Couples will enjoy the get-away-from-it-all feel, the flowers that pop all around, and the restaurant choices: Antler’s Bar & Grill, the Tiki Bar, and the Tamarack Dining Room for that date night or celebration event. Those who want to explore golf will find roughly 3,000 acres of beautiful Michigan meadows, lakes, streams, hardwoods, and pines. Eagles nest among the trees and

GARLAND RESORT

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PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY GARLAND RESORT

highlight the great variety of wildlife that calls Garland home. Fountains, Monarch, Reflections, and Swampfire— beyond having great names—are championship caliber and work the golfer through challenges, trees, and nature. They also reflect their names. This is more than a getaway resort: it’s a stay-for-as-long-as-possible spot with its abundance of golf and scenery. For the golfer, the Fountains and Reflection courses have a unique combination of six par-3s, par-4s and par-5s designed by former owner Ron Otto.

JOIN

US AT

BOYNE GOLF

250 HEATHER DRIVE, HARBOR SPRINGS, MI

Boyne Resorts is one of North America’s premier resorts with a trio of Michigan destinations that include 10 golf courses that are all within a 45-minute-drive of one another. Options away from golf are multiple in one of Michigan’s most beautiful vacation areas. Spas, waterfront dining, sandy beaches, watersports, gaming, microbreweries, wineries, hiking, biking, tennis, zip-lining, and shopping, among others are at hand.

CLEMENTINE’S

IN BEAUTIFUL DOWNTOWN

SOUTH HAVEN

CHAMPIONSHIP GOLF COURSE RESTAURANT • INN 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.

Two new vacation cottages!

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_1.2V_GEv3i1.indd 1

523 Hawks Nest Drive | South Haven, MI 49090 269.639.2121 | HawksHeadLinks.com ||

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The Inn at Bay Harbor and Bay Harbor Golf Club— Boyne’s flagship properties near Petoskey—features 27-holes with the three golf course combinations of Links/ Quarry, Quarry/Preserve, and Preserve/Links; designed by Arthur Hills. It also features Lake Michigan views and fine dining that is unrivaled. Couples will find the spot impossible to resist for romance. Downtown Petoskey is just a few minutes away, and it features classic restaurants like Chandler’s where many have dined throughout the years. Nearby, Crooked Tree Golf Club is perched on the bluff overlooking Bay Harbor and is complemented by a worldclass hotel and located along a spectacular five-mile stretch of Lake Michigan shoreline.

Boyne Highlands, rated the No. 1 Golf Resort for Value by Golf.com and located near Harbor Springs, features 72 holes of golf. The Heather was designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr., while the Hills Course was crafted by Arthur Hills. The resort also features The Donald Ross Memorial, which is a rendition of the legendary architect’s great holes from around the country; and the always-fun, Moor course. Boyne Mountain in Boyne Falls features the two, 18hole courses of The Monument and Alpine; along with the Mountain Grand Lodge & Spa. It is also a family friendly destination with the Avalanche Bay Indoor Waterpark, junior golf camps, and various kid golf programs. Dining or hanging at the beach on Deer Lake is special, too.

BOYNE GOLF: BAY HARBOR

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COURTESY EVAN SCHILLER

GET READY FOR

GORGEOUS GREENS. Crystal Mountain’s two championship golf courses offer beautiful views and unique challenges at every turn. Home to one of the most decorated golf schools in the country, Crystal’s instructional programs can enhance your skills on the course. Stick around to see what makes the Mountain so special – first class lodging, fine dining, spa and fitness center, plus plenty of off-course activities.

MAKE IT YOUR MOMENT. Plan the perfect golf vacation at CrystalMountain.com/Packages or call 877.288.9775.

Grand Rapidsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; premier public golf facility

A must play while in Grand Rapids

thornapplepointe.com | 616.554.4747 7211 48th St. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49512

The Lakeshore drive

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NILE YOUNG PHOTOGRAPHY

HARBOR SHORES RESORT

Text: Greg Johnson

t’s Lake Michigan lakeshore golf from the southwest corner of the state at Harbor Shores in Benton Harbor, with continuing stops at The Ravines in Saugatuck, Old Channel Trail in Montague, Lakeside Links in Ludington, Dunmaglas near Charlevoix, A-Ga-Ming Resort in Kewadin, Little Traverse Bay in Petoskey, and Harbor Point in Harbor Springs. The lakeshore game is served with seemingly all elements possible: water, waves, wind, sunsets, sunrises, dunes, boulders, and bluffs. Bring the clubs, some sunblock, windbreaker, and sunglasses, and enjoy.

HARBOR SHORES RESORT

201 GRAHAM AVE., BENTON HARBOR, MI _________________________________________________________________________

Josh Doxtator, a PGA professional and the new general manager this year at Harbor Shores Resort in Benton Harbor, wants to create a brand as one of the top Midwest golf destinations in the country. He has the property to make it happen—a Jack Nicklaus-designed course on Lake Michigan with views of Lake Michigan. Doxtator comes from Green Bay, Wis., and Thornberry Creek at Oneida—the official course of the Green Bay Packers and host of an LPGA tournament. His background also includes working at Trilogy of Vistancia Golf Club in Peoria, Ariz. He thinks Harbor Shores is remarkable. “It meanders over 500-plus acres with seven miles of waterfront on Lake Michigan and the Paw Paw River,” Doxtator said. “I know people say it takes time to get between holes, but overall the property is amazing. It took great creativity to put together a golf course with this many different characteristics all in one place.” He sees a course that offers challenging golf, as evident by it serving as a four-time site for the KitchenAid PGA Senior Championship, which it will host again in 2020, 2022 and 2024 under the latest agreement with the PGA of America. Harbor Shores in a nutshell is a beach, golf, and residential waterfront community, and the 18-hole course is an award-winning design that features golf holes on four diverse terrains: parkland, sand dunes on the lake, woodlands, and wetlands along the Paw Paw River and Ox Creek. The development has made national news by reclaiming abandoned and polluted land as part of a non-profit effort. The beach holes, especially the difficult seventh hole with the tiny green on top of a dune, and the eighth hole, a fun par-4 that sweeps off the dune, are fabulous. Harbor Shores was honored in best new course rankings in 2010 by Golf magazine, Golf Digest and Golfweek, and has been honored as environmental leaders by the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America. MICHIGANGOLFEXPLORER.COM

RAVINES GOLF CLUB

3520 PALMER DRIVE, SAUGATUCK, MI ________________________________________________________________________

Arnold Palmerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s design company finished work on the Ravines Golf Club in Saugatuck in 1999 and it remains a favorite of the targeted Chicago crowd who has for years made vacation and cottage trips to the southwest region of the state. The popular southwest Michigan tourist town is just a few miles west on Lake Michigan. The golf course is inland, but on sandy soil natural to the area that features dramatic ravines cut by the glaciers of long ago. 46

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Just last year it was purchased by Watermark Properties joining its portfolio of golf courses in West Michigan. The Ravines is one of two public courses Watermark owns and runs, and they have pushed their marketing to Grand Rapids and a wider Michigan-based golf audience. Palmerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s designers always make sure the regular guy is taken care of via the wishes of their legendary late boss, and the Ravines has multiple tee options, some big green complexes and a few risk-reward shots to spice things up. A good working knowledge of the distances is required, because there is target golf involved around natural wetlands and the namesake ravines. The vistas and natural beauty NILE YOUNG PHOTOGRAPHY

LEFT: RAVINES GOLF CLUB; BELOW: OLD CHANNEL TRAIL GOLF COURSE

OLD CHANNEL TRAIL GOLF COURSE

8325 NORTH OLD CHANNEL TRAIL, MONTAGUE, MI ________________________________________________________________________

Each of the three nines at Old Channel Trail Golf Course in Montague near Muskegon were designed by different golf course architects, which provides varying challenges and characteristics, and it all centers around a high bluff overlooking Lake Michigan. It first opened as a golf facility in 1927 and The Woods’ nine is the oldest of the courses. It was designed by Robert Bruce Harris and is built in the style of the early era of golf in the U.S.: a links style with Scottish bunkers. The Meadow opened in 1966 and was designed by the late Bruce Matthews, who is in the Michigan Golf Hall of Fame for his design work across Michigan. It has rolling fairways and greens that fit the natural landscape as if it too has been around since the 1920s. The Valley rounds out the set of nines. It was designed by Jerry Matthews, Bruce Matthews’ son. Jerry Matthews is also in the Hall of Fame for his work in golf course design. The Valley opened in 1996 and wanders across and around a natural ravine area and through some large pines. It has a more modern feel to it, but still fits the natural terrain. All three courses have views of the shoreline, and feature four sets of tees to fit golfers of all ability levels. The facility also has a three-hole practice area, two putting greens, and a chipping green. Seasonal memberships for individuals, couples, seniors, and juniors are available. All memberships include unlimited greens fees, eligibility for member events and leagues, unlimited play on the practice holes, and three events for members.

of the course rivals the top spots in Michigan golf. There are two holes that stand out to most who play it: the par-5 14th hole indicates why the place is named Ravines—plus it features huge pine trees and the challenge of 626 yards from the tips—and the 17th hole, which plays to 180 yards from the back tee, and features what the course folks call an orchestra pit below the stage; otherwise known as the green atop a knoll. It’s a unique hole. The Grill Room in the aptly named Arnie’s Cottage is a perfect place to begin or end rounds. It’s comfortable, and as with all the Watermark properties, the menu and food is outstanding. They serve Arnold Palmers, too, of course. COURTESY OLD CHANNEL TRAIL GOLF COURSE

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LAKESIDE LINKS GOLF COURSE

DUNMAGLAS GOLF COURSE

Lakeside Links Golf Course is a 27-hole public golf course close to Lake Michigan and overlooks nearby Hopkins Lake. It’s just minutes from downtown Ludington and has been serving the area for more than 50 years. It’s affordable, family-fun golf for all ages and playing abilities at the facility. The sandy natural soil of the area is perfect for golf of any style, and the course is kept in consistently fine condition. Like most golf courses that have Lake Michigan located to the west, golfers should be prepared to play in the wind, but it is a friendly layout that winds around a few wetlands and has beautiful trees on a rolling countryside. The green complexes are natural and well-maintained and blend naturally with the rolling land. With three nines, golfers can find holes to play in quick fashion, and keep their wallet a bit thicker. The top deal is $50 for unlimited golf Monday through Thursday, and $60 on the weekend. They also have several other rates, such as senior rates; and memberships for the season are also part of the mix for those who want to make it their public course of choice.

Dunmaglas Golf Course, a sweeping and challenging golf course in a rustic setting among the trees of one of northern Michigan’s most popular tourist areas, has been a mustplay stop for golfers for several years. Now, golfers can stay and play due to The Cottages at Dunmaglas, which were developed in the last few years along with a wedding pavilion. The Cottages at Dunmaglas number eight and each are three-room condos, including two bedrooms with full baths conveniently separated by a full kitchen, living room, third full bath, and laundry. Separate front entrances to each room offer ease and privacy, while one can also experience beautiful views of the 18th green from each room’s balcony. The cottages are well-designed just like the course, which was founded in 1991 and built by Michigan Golf Hall of Fame member Larry Mancour. It has been ranked among the best 50 upscale course in the United States by Golf Digest and plays to a maximum of 6,897 yards though breathtaking scenery. Classic bunkering and green settings mark the course that is challenging from the back tee positions and easier to manage from the three other tee choices. Pay attention to the golf. It’s not easy, though it has been improved to give more room to the average golfer to navigate. The views of Lake Michigan, Lake Charlevoix, and Beaver Island are stunning.

5369 W. CHAUVEZ ROAD, LUDINGTON, MI ________________________________________________________________________

BELOW: DUNMAGLAS GOLF COURSE; LEFT: A-GA-MING GOLF RESORT

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9031 BOYNE CITY ROAD, CHARLEVOIX, MI ________________________________________________________________________

COURTESY DUNMAGLASS

A-GA-MING GOLF RESORT

627 AGAMING DRIVE, KEWADIN, MI ________________________________________________________________________

Charlevoix Country Club, the original Torch course, Sundance, and Antrim Dells make for a four-day collection of golf; and each offers a different golf experience for A-GaMing Resort, which has its main campus in Kewadin, Michigan. General Manager Mike Brown said the average golf package is four rounds, and they do it with four courses within 25 miles. “And they are all different,” Brown added. The original Torch course is classic, unique, and challenges the golfer to hit it straight. Michigan Golf Hall of Fame legend Chick Harbert designed it with Bill Siebenthaler and it tests iron play and short game, while giving beautiful scenery to enjoy. Sundance is one of the top works by Jerry Matthews in a state and resort rich with Jerry Matthews designs. It’s open, featuring a sweeping modern look in the green comCOURTESY A-GA-MING GOLF RESORT

plexes and yet a classic feel through the native grasses and mounding. This course can stand up to any level of play, from the big boys bombing from the back tee positions, to seniors and juniors looking for some help off the tee to well-designed fairways and big greens. Charlevoix Country Club plays in and around some natural wetlands for a challenge. It’s also a Matthews design that fits the natural landscape, which is not as sweeping and rolling as Sundance. Charlevoix demands strategy and thought on many shots, though Matthews did think of the average golfers and women when he made the design. The tee options make it playable for the smart golfer who picks the right tees. Antrim Dells is a rolling perfect example of northern Michigan golf and was also designed by Matthews in his younger days when he still worked with his father. Both of them are in the Michigan Golf Hall of Fame like Harbert. The resort can offer 350 rooms of various types, such as condominiums, and Brown reports they are always changing things and adding new things. MICHIGANGOLFEXPLORER.COM

LITTLE TRAVERSE BAY GOLF COURSE AND RESTAURANT

995 HIDEAWAY VALLEY ROAD, HARBOR SPRINGS, MI ________________________________________________________________________

Ted Frey Jr., then a Grand Rapids and Harbor Springs businessman and philanthropist, decided in the early 1980s to build a beautiful golf course on equally beautiful property overlooking Little Traverse Bay between Petoskey and Harbor Springs. “No real-estate,” Frey Jr. said and architect Jeff Gorney was elated. “I could think just golf course, and I did,” Gorney said. Little Traverse Bay Golf Course & Restaurant continues to be the personification of what Frey Jr. wanted along with the bonus of three-mile views that take in the bay, Round Lake, and Crooked Lake. Gorney managed to showcase the bay, build generous fairways with great views, and green settings that demand thoughtful second shots. The public is also welcome. It may look like a country club draped across a hill in a beautiful setting, but it doesn’t have membership and can be the country club for the day. The postcard scenery is evident from the first hole. The golfer tees off on a slope that descents 120 feet to the green. The view from the tee extends 35 miles over Little Traverse Bay, with Charlevoix over in one direction. The hole on the back nine, which usually leaves golfers talking, is the 625-yard, par-5, 15th hole. It’s a challenge with a great view of Crooked Lake all in one. 50

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COURTESY LITTLE TRAVERSE BAY GOLF COURSE AND RESTAURANT

HARBOR POINT GOLF CLUB

8475 S. LAKE SHORE DRIVE, HARBOR SPRINGS, MI _________________________________________________________________________

OPPOSITE PAGE/ABOVE : LITTLE TRAVERSE BAY GOLF COURSE; BELOW: HARBOR POINT GOLF CLUB

COURTESY HARBOR POINT GOLF CLUB

Area historians have determined a roughed-out course was in play at the Harbor Point location in Harbor Springs as early as 1896, or more than 120 years ago. That would make Harbor Point Golf Club one of the oldest courses in Michigan, and certainly the oldest of the Lakeshore courses along Lake Michigan. In 1899, Alexander F. Stevenson of Chicago and others formed a stock company to purchase the land and develop the course. The 18-hole course was designed by David Foulis, who was from a famous St. Andrews family of golfers. In 1941, the course was taken over by the Harbor Point Association. Harbor Point is a semi-private facility offering some public play from opening in early May through June 23 and from Sept. 2 to Oct. 14; and it is a treat to play. It’s 18 holes with a maximum yardage of about 5,900 yards and is known for its classic, well-maintained greens and the great views of Lake Michigan. It has been recognized as a great walking course, because of the course routing and easy rolling terrain. Shaun Bezilla, the PGA Golf Professional, said it is a relatively unknown gem in Michigan golf with a devoted membership. “We take on some public play on the fringes of the golf season to help support the club,” Bezilla said. “We are pretty far north so our season is limited, but the course is in great shape always, drains well, and is a joy to play. Anybody can play it, honestly. The big hitters might not need their drivers, but it is challenging in its own way and really fits all our golfers and all our members. It’s just a great golf experience.”

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Great Lakes, challenging courses, and lasting memories.

West Michigan offers a range of must-play courses all within driving distance once you land. Whether youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re looking to play one of Americaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s greatest, a local favorite, or a crown jewel overlooking the water, you will find nonstop flights from 29 cities to Ford Airport in Grand Rapids. Join us for a round or two, along with all the other attractions our part of the world is famous for. Schedule your next round trip at flyford.org.

Pictured: Arcadia Bluffs Golf Club, The Bluffs Course, hole number 5

flyford.org

GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN

COOLCITY “Golf and beer go hand-in-hand, for many golfers. And that’s reason enough to descend upon Grand Rapids.” Scott Kramer - Forbes, 2018

Pilgrm’s Run Golf Club

Leading initiative:

The woman changing the field of golf programming across Michigan Text: R. Collins

he game of golf has long been integrated into the fabric of many societies, but in recent years, its makeup has begun to change more dramatically as the types of programs—and golfers—have entered the sport. In 2018, there were approximately 5.7 million female, on-course golfers and women now comprise about 23 percent of golfers, which is an increase of about 13 percent from the previous five years, according to the National Golf Association. This steady growth and retention of the female golfer can partly be credited to the array of beginner and junior golf programs that have continued to spring into action around the United States—and the dedicated coaches and officials behind their mission. 54

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One such figure, Sara Wold, president of the Golf Association of Michigan and founding member of the Michigan Women’s Golf Association, has been participating in the growth of women’s and girls’ golf programs nearly her entire life, and continues seeking ways to make golf an inclusive game. “I’m a product of the 1960s, the women’s movement, and Title IX in the 1970s,” Wold said, in reference to considering her early background in women’s golf. “I don’t consider myself an activist, but I’m certainly an advocate and a supporter. You see that some things should be done—and should happen—and you work towards that. I’ve liked to work within the system, and I think that’s worked out very well although it’s taken a long time,” Wold added.

Wold has taken several steps to encourage the growth of women’s golf at all levels, from beginner and junior programs to senior golf competitions. Opportunities for participation and enjoyment at all levels of the game can create an appropriate range of options for women golfers looking to excel in skill and level of play, and for Wold, it begins with those programs that encourage youth players to participate and learn the game. In recent years, Michigan has participated in a variety of national programs aiming to educate and encourage young golfers, among them the Youth On Course program originally established in North Carolina in 2006 and the LGPA*USGA Girls Golf program established in Arizona in 1989. The program began with just 10 chapters, gradually expanded to more than 300 communities, and now reaches more than 50,000 girls through the game of golf each year. Wold founded the program’s Michigan chapter through the MWGA in 2007 and conducted it for three years. Since then, its purpose has been to bring golf to girls who may not typically have access to golf courses and to educate them on leading healthy lifestyles and being honest players. “It’s great to see the Drive, Chip and Putt and see the little girls play and respond to their success like the little boys do. I think we’ve come a long way and we have a lot of programs in place that are going to encourage this to continue,” Wold said. “Little girls, when they start out, the parents bring the whole family, so their siblings want to play too. It impacts more than just the young girls. A lot of our girls have gone on to play in high school teams and a couple in college teams. It does impact their lives, not just getting out to play, but getting scholarships and that sort of thing too,” Wold added. While she noted that there is often a disconnect between learning the game and getting out to play, Wold said the Youth On Course program has also been instrumental in establishing a presence in girls golf in Michigan. The program, directed in Michigan by Susan Smiley, GAM director of membership and communications, offers golfers the opportunity to play 18 holes at a variety of clubs for $5 or less, making it an affordable way for young golfers all across Michigan to participate and develop their skill. For Smiley, her passion for the program lies in its ability to provide opportunities to young golfers who may not usually have the opportunity to play. Smiley noted about 22 percent of participants in the GAM’s chapter of the Youth On Course program are girls, and women golfers comprise nearly 13 percent of overall GAM membership. “That’s encouraging to me that it seems like we’re trending to have more girls involved with golf and that more girls are signing up. I actually expect that percentage to grow as the program grows,” Smiley said. “[The program] is not in every single state yet, but that’s their goal—it started in California—and one of the things that we did here to get the word out about this program is work through the high school coaches so I think that’s one way more girls are getting involved,” Smiley added.

SARA WOLD, PRESIDENT OF THE GOLF ASSOCIATION OF MICHIGAN AND FOUNDING MEMBER OF THE MICHIGAN WOMEN’S GOLF ASSOCIATION.

Within its 29-region reach, the Youth on Course program offers similar opportunities for participation as players get older, from paid high school internships to caddie programs and college scholarships. The national growth in U.S. youth golf is a phenomenon being mirrored throughout the rest of the world, according to Wold, who has participated in the game in 28 countries so far. From her travels Wold has been able to observe golf from a variety of other perspectives; seeing firsthand its ability to reach many kinds of people. The reach of the game itself is something that continues to draw her to golf and nurture her passion for the game. “It’s the people that you meet. I’ve met so many wonderful people all over the world—I’ve played in about 28 countries—and the passion for golf is something we share,” Wold said. “I think that’s the part I really appreciate: the passion people have and wanting to give back. It’s also so exciting to see the young people and how well they play. These kids are just fantastic with what they’re doing.” From her experiences worldwide, and desire to make the game more inclusive to women, Wold has also developed a passion for making Michigan golf more inclusive to other minorities. It is a value shared by Smiley and ref lected at the core of the Youth on Course program as well as some of Wold’s other programmatic endeavors—namely the Diversity and Inclusion committee she proposed to the GAM and helped integrate. The Diversity and Inclusion committee, headed by Chairman Robert Ofoli, seeks to achieve a GAM community—from programs to personnel and volunteers—that MICHIGANGOLFEXPLORER.COM

ref lects the diverse communities in which the organization works. “As President, I started a diversity and inclusion committee not only to address bias, but also to invite all other diverse ethnic groups to play golf,” Wold said. “That’s one of the goals of the GAM: to invite groups like the Chinese Business Association in Detroit to come and hear about golf and what we do and to join us. I think Youth on Course addressees this as well, because we have such a diverse cultural participation of kids which addresses it at the roots.” Wold’s passion for the game and making it accessible to all prospective players has resulted in a number of accolades throughout her career. As the second woman to be elected as President of GAM, Wold’s career has helped structure golf for women and girls across the state and continues to do so.

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Apart from her involvement in inclusion efforts and in the growth of youth programs like Youth on Course and the LGPA*USGA Girls Golf program, Wold has also worked to establish more options for competitive play for women seniors in Michigan, assisting the MWGA in establishing the Michigan Women’s Senior Championship, now sponsored by the GAM. Wold also established the MWGA’s Hall of Fame in 2016 and was its first inductee with nine other inductees following in 2017; and has served as a Michigan Golf Foundation chairperson, being inducted into the organization’s own Golf Hall of Fame in 2003. She officiated the U.S. Women’s Open, several World Amateur Team Championships, and USGA championships around the world; and currently holds positions as President of the GAM, Rules Director at the MWGA, and Board Member for the Michigan Golf Foundation.

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In good spirits

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Text: Greg Johnson

ent Rabbish and his son Landis Rabbish opened Grand Traverse Distillery in Traverse City, Michigan and started producing true craft spirits about 12 years ago. The family distillery on the outskirts of Traverse City includes a custom-built, Arnold Holstein Still from Germany. The company’s website reports for the past decade that still has been utilized to produce the region’s premier spirits from grain to bottle, and that those spirits that have received international acclaim and awards. Rabbish said he and his son take pride in what they do. “We truly make our product: milling, mashing, fermenting, and distilling,” Rabbish said. “We are truly a local company making a local product and 95 percent of what we use to make our products are from local farms and businesses. We are not just a bottling company.” They make cuts by taste and not automation; barrels are emptied when the taste is perfect and not on a schedule; and each bottle is inspected and capped by hands. “We produce a genuinely handcrafted spirit,” Rabbish said. PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY GRAND TRAVERSE DISTILLERY

Rabbish and his siblings as youngsters uncovered a still hidden in the back of a barn on the family farm in Bay County. As the family story goes, grandfather George Rabish found a use for excess grain and corn. In 2005, Rabbish revisited the family tradition and formed Grand Traverse Distillery, and in 2007 had products on the market. He said the concept has always been the same: to create an exceptional locally-sourced spirit and waste not. He was a pioneer in jumpstarting Michigan’s craft spirit industry and resurrecting the legal micro-distillery for the first time since prohibition. Landis Rabbish is the head distiller and they employ a team of distillery professionals. The spirits are handcrafted with rye, wheat, and corn grown and harvested just a few miles from the distillery at Send Brothers Farm in Williamsburg, Michigan. Bins are delivered weekly and the distillery mills the yield into mash according to their recipe. They have won multiple awards from various sources, such as the 2018 Best Distillery from Michigan Meetings and Events, and Rabbish said this has been done without a sales force. “All our money currently goes into production, building, and equipment,” Rabbish said. “We just started MICHIGANGOLFEXPLORER.COM

having sales in the field downstate, but by next year I hope to have someone knocking on doors of golf courses. We just put all our effort into production. We are a grain to bottle facility and we don’t buy other products and repackage. We have a great list of spirits, and next we will start knocking on doors. We will go to the golf resorts. We know golfers like spirits, too.” In a previous career, Kent Rabbish was involved in a lot of golf outings, and he noticed overlap between good spirits, good cigars, and golfers. He has the whiskey, vodka, gin, and rum distilling part down. He often enjoys cigars. Golf, well, let’s just say he has a low bar for a good day on the golf course. “If I finish 18 holes and I’ve made one or two pars, I consider it a successful day,” Rabbish said. “That tells you a lot about the kind of golfer I am, though I do truly enjoy it.” Rabbish and his wife, Peg, play golf two-to-three times each year, and they don’t really have a favorite course. They do like to explore some, and one of the stops is often A-Ga-Ming Resort in Kewadin. Like any golfer or explorer, he enjoys the spectacular views on the collection of courses at the resort.

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PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY GRAND TRAVERSE DISTILLERY

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Here in

Traverse City,

GREAT things

just come together.

herever you golf, it should be in a pretty great place. It’s a place where the green is just half the story, and where the game only gets better after the 18th hole. When you find yourself in Traverse City, Michigan, you’ll find yourself in a pretty great place. Resort views from the 16th floor compete with 450-foot bluffs hovering Lake Michigan. It’s 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, wander 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 boutiques, 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. Find yourself there at traversecity.com.

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behind-the-scenes profile Text: Greg Johnson

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JOSHUA DOXTATOR | HARBOR SHORES RESORT

Josh Doxtator, a PGA professional and the first-year general manager at Harbor Shores Resort in Benton Harbor, Michigan, is busy creating a brand as one of the top Midwest golf destinations in the country. “What we have here with a Jack Nicklaus course that is on Lake Michigan is significant, and that’s a great thing for more people to know,” Doxtator said. “Ultimately, we want to deliver an exceptional golf experience and set ourselves apart.” Doxtator comes from Green Bay, Wis., and Thornberry Creek at Oneida—the official course of the Green Bay Packers and host of an LPGA tournament. His background also includes working at Trilogy of Vistancia Golf Club in Peoria, Ariz. “I’ve worked in different markets, larger than this, but I’ve had success in reaching goals,” Doxtator said. Doxtator is busy to that end with Harbor Shores, where the golf course has received rave reviews in its first 10 years. “From an architectural golf design aspect, what they managed to put together on this site is remarkable,” Doxtator said. “It meanders over 500-plus acres with seven miles of waterfront on Lake Michigan and the Paw Paw River. I know people say it takes time to get between holes, but overall the property is amazing. It took great creativity to put together a golf course with this many different characteristics all in one place.” Doxtator, who has been a golf professional for 14 years, admits The Golf Club at Harbor Shores is a hard golf course to play, but what he called a good hard. “There is plenty of landing areas and the green complexes, if you pick the right spots on the green, you have a chance to make more putts,” Doxtator said. “From a design perspective, I’ve always liked courses that make you think, and Jack definitely did that here. You need to think about where to play off the tee to get to certain pins, and it is one of those golf courses where the more times you play it, the better you will be able to plan for what you need to do.” Doxtator’s first spring in Michigan has been much wetter than he had hoped, but he said the course conditions are absolutely pure. He adopted 15-minute tee intervals and they have helped with a pace of play that is averaging about four-hours-and-25-minutes. “If you’ve played Harbor Shores you realize how good that is,” Doxtator said. “We have focused on the player experience. Having a service-driven method works for us. We chose not to chase rounds, but to focus on the quality of the round for the player here. I have a great team and we are getting great feedback from them on how it feels different here now. That’s great to hear. Our guests are saying good things about us and telling out story,” Doxtator added.

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY HARBOR SHORES RESORT

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DOUG BELL | AMERICAN DUNES Doug Bell, a PGA golf professional and general manager of what is becoming American Dunes Golf Club on the site of the former Grand Haven Golf Club (pictured), said Major Dan Rooney, who started the highly successful Folds of Honor, calls it synchronization of God’s plan. That’s how the former general manager at Manistee National Golf and Resort ended up moving to Grand Haven to not only oversee the construction of the new Jack Nicklaus-designed course near the shores of Lake Michigan, but also then manage the new golf facility that is also being created. It is what Rooney calls a Folds of Honor tribute to the men and women of the military, a safe haven for veterans who find rehabilitation through the recreation of the game, and a backdrop to celebrate the country and those who fought for its freedom. Bell met Ann Davis in 2000. She had previously lost her husband—U.S. Army helicopter pilot Jeff Davis— and had two young children: Hannah and Blake. “We became a family,” Bell said. “What has happened from there has been incredible. Ann is an incredible woman and her children are wonderful and they have become my family. I’m blessed. I would not be here without Ann, or her children. For some reason this has all come together. This is more than a career move for me.” Hannah Davis and Blake Davis have been Folds of Honor scholarship recipients. Hannah Davis has been an active speaker and successful fundraiser for the Folds of Honor in addition to a career in sales, and Blake Davis is a student in the Professional Golf Management Program 76

MICHIGANGOLFEXPLORER.COM

at Ferris State University and planning a career in golf like his step-father. Bell recently added PGA professional Ian Ziska, formerly of Ferris State’s Katke Golf Club, to his team at Grand Haven, and Nicklaus has been onsite several times. By late June, six holes had been completed and progress continues. The construction of American Dunes involves 18, individual hole sponsors and a small group of investors put together by Rooney, whose father John Rooney previously owned Grand Haven Golf Club and was the first to build a relationship with Bell. The target date to open the new golf course and facility is Memorial Day 2020. “American Dunes will proudly stand as a vessel to raise awareness and donations for Folds of Honor, while recognizing the legacy of Barbara [Nicklaus] and Jack’s contributions to our military,” Rooney said. Bell, who was at Manistee National for almost 21 years, has experienced construction and opening of courses three times in his career. He said this involvement goes far beyond any other project he has been involved with, and yet ties his experience with his family, Folds of Honor, and golf together. “There’s a greater cause involved here,” Bell said. “I’ve worked 90-hour weeks before in the golf business, because that is what we do sometimes; but this time my long weeks have a greater meaning.”

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY GRAND HAVEN GOLF CLUB/AMERICAN DUNES

BRAD DEAN | INTERLOCHEN GOLF COURSE Brad Dean, PGA professional and golf course owner, said things at Interlochen Golf Course in year three of his ownership involvement are awesome. “We have continually been upgrading the condition of the golf course and it is now the best it has ever been,” Dean said. “We’re told by golfers it is the best-conditioned of all those they have been playing in the area, which is great.” Dean also said play continues to increase, season-passes sold are way up, and more golfers are coming from out of the Traverse City area to play the golf course. “I’m absolutely pleased, it’s been a treat to make a plan and see, with everybody working together, it come together,” Dean said. “It has been a fun venture. Obviously there have been trying times, but overall it has been fun and is going according to plan.” Dean, who in 23 years as director of golf at Crystal Mountain Resort in Thompsonville, Michigan, built a reputation as one of the state’s top teachers, is not teaching in his role at Interlochen. “I can’t schedule the time to be on the lesson tee, because honestly I’m usually needed somewhere else,” Dean said. “I miss it some, but not a lot. This adventure has a new set of challenges and things that are rewarding.

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY INTERLOCHEN GOLF COURSE

I feel great about what we decided to do, and it is going awesome.” Dean said he has used all he learned in his many-hatsrole at Crystal Mountain in running Interlochen. “I actually manage a lot less people, but in the end it is all about providing the best product you have at the best price,” Dean said. Bradley’s Pub and Grill, the restaurant on site has been a big hit. They recently added a new outdoor covered seating area. “We’ve done a lot with the restaurant, with the course, we expanded the parking lot and repaved, and now it’s time to focus on operating it the best we can,” Dean said. Chris Danbrook is the superintendent of the golf course making the course condition improvements. Interlochen Golf Course is located just off United States Route 31 and about seven miles from Traverse City. It plays up to 6,600 yards from the back tees. It first opened in 1965 and Dean is the third owner of the facility. “It is a beautiful course with huge trees and a lot of water,” Dean said. “There are a lot of holes close together on 150 acres, but it works well. It’s a traditional course, with push-up greens, that is enjoyable to play. Come visit us. We have great golf and a great restaurant.”

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KYLE MIDDLETON | THE DREAM AND THE NIGHTMARE Kyle Middleton, who is in his third year as the director of golf for The Dream and The Nightmare Golf Courses, said efforts to market the course beyond the West Branch area and beyond the Detroit market visitors on their way up north are paying dividends. “We’ve aimed the marketing at the west side of the state, specifically Grand Rapids as a target area, and we are definitely getting more groups from that area,” Middleton said. “We have seen a lot of people and they are telling us they just heard about us, and some of those that came last year, we have seen them again this year. It’s going well so far.” The Courtemanche family, who owns The Dream and The Nightmare—and also includes a family member who owns nearby West Branch Country Club—started in the business with Green Hills Golf in Pinconning. Middleton has helped develop more stay-and-play business for the trio of West Branch venues, and now the family is planning on developing condominiums onsite to attract even more golfers. The courses currently have stay-and-play options, such as one called The Triple Play, with a local Quality Inn motel, and some local houses and cabins that house tourists and golfers. The Dream opened in May of 1997 and The Nightmare came on board in 2003. Both are carved from the natural woodlands of Michigan. Middleton moved over from West Branch Country

MICHIGANGOLFEXPLORER.COM

Club, where he had worked his way up from bag attendant to golf professional. He knows the facilities and the golf community especially well. “Now we’re just trying to expand that some,” Middleton said. “The weather hasn’t been great this spring, but some of it has missed us and we’re doing well.” Middleton, who also coaches the nearby Delta College men’s golf team, has an instruction program and a junior program and league for the golf facilities. “I give lessons and we have 45 juniors in our program,” Middleton said. “We understand that we have to get youngsters involved to keep the game growing and going in the right direction.” Club-fitting and many other services are also provided at the facilities. “The owners’ view of creating beautiful courses and providing great customer service—all offered to the consumer at a fair price—has evolved into a successful business model,” Middleton said. Middleton also noted construction on a new clubhouse could start in the fall, and that the condo project that is still in the planning stages, could start as early as next spring. “We have a lot going on, and a lot to offer golfers,” Middleton said. “My thing right now is to grow our marketing efforts, especially to the west side of the state where those golfers have just not heard about us before.”

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY THE DREAM

BRAD STEFFEN | THE MINES GOLF COURSE Brad Steffen, PGA professional, is in his fifth year at The Mines and fourth year as head golf professional, and had a chat with the course’s longtime superintendent, Kris Schumaker, about how busy they have been recently. “[Schumaker] was here back in 2004 when it was booming and he said it is looking close to that again,” Steffen said. Steffen has made marketing the golf course a focus since taking on the head professional job. “We used to get the comment from golfers that they never knew we were here, and that comment has gone away,” Steffen said. “The staff I’ve had has done a lot of good things in that area, and I think we are doing something right. We put in a new point of sale and used some marketing tools to bring golfers back.” League play is popular at the course, which Schumaker keeps in excellent shape. “We have days where we wish we could get more golfers out later in the day, but leagues are great for us, too,” Steffen said. “[Schumaker] really knows this course, and we have a lot of iron in our water here and he knows how to deal with that. We are busy, but keeping things in great shape and the crew is able to get to the small details, too.” Steffen admits, at 29-years-old, he is young for a head PHOTOGRAPHY CHRISTOPHER PASTOTNIK

golf professional and feels fortunate. “I enjoy it every day,” Steffen said. “Every day is different even though you are kind of doing the same thing.” A graduate of the Ferris State University Professional Golf Management Program, Steffen worked previously in Myrtle Beach, S.C., before returning home to Michigan. He grew up in Middleville. “I knew the area and the golf market and could tell right away that we had to let more people know about us,” Steffen said. “It’s helped that some golf courses have closed around here, but I also think it has been having a good course design, a good condition, and making sure the customers have a good round; those kind of things.” The Mines, designed by noted architect Mike DeVries of Traverse City, is built 150 feet above gypsum mines that were utilized as early as the 1860s, and thus the name. Features of the mines and the mining process were used in the construction of the course, and the water used to irrigate the course is pumped directly from the mines. It plays to par-70 at about 6,590 yards with four tee positions up to 4,730 yards. The fairways are bluegrass and the greens, bent. “The weather hasn’t been great this spring, but we’re doing well and hearing good feedback,” Steffen said. MICHIGANGOLFEXPLORER.COM

A Mike DeVries Design

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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 Mountain. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 min. Bay Harbor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 min. Boyne Highlands. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 min.

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

Otsego Club. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 min. Garland Lodge and Golf Resort . . . . . . . 40 min. HARBOR SPRINGS AIRPORT (MGN)

Bay Harbor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 min. Boyne Mountain. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55 min. Boyne Highlands. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 min.

Boyne Highlands. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 min. Bay Harbor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 min. Boyne Mountain. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 min.

Harbor Springs

CHERRY CAPITAL AIRPORT (TVC)

WEXFORD COUNTY AIRPORT (CAD)

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. Garland Lodge and Golf Resort . . . 1hr. 30 min. Boyne Highlands. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1hr. 30 min.

Evergreen Resort. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 min. Crystal Mountain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 min. Manistee National Golf & Resort. . . . . . . . . . 1 hr. Forest Dunes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 hr. 20 min.

Traverse City

CHIPPEWA COUNTY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (CIU) Kincheloe

Bay Mills Casino & Resort. . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 min. MANISTEE COUNTY BLACKER AIRPORT (MBL) Manistee

Manistee National Golf & Resort. . . . . . . 15 min. Crystal Mountain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 min.

Pellston

CHARLEVOIX MUNICIPAL AIRPORT (CVX) Charlevoix

PELLSTON REGIONAL AIRPORT (PLN)

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Cadillac

BAY MILLS CASINO & RESORT

CHIPPEWA COUNTY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (CIU)

BOYNE HIGHLANDS BAY HARBOR CHARLEVOIX MUNICIPAL AIRPORT (CVX)

HARBOR SPRINGS AIRPORT (MGN)

BLACK LAKE

BOYNE MOUNTAIN AIRPORT (BFA) BOYNE MOUNTAIN

OTSEGO CLUB

GAYLORD REGIONAL AIRPORT (GLR) A-GA-MING

GARLAND RESORT & GOLF CLUB

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Arrivals MT. PLEASANT MUNICIPAL AIRPORT (MOP)

PILGRIMS RUN

MACATAWA GOLF CLUB

TULLYMORE RESORT

THORNAPPLE POINTE

RAVINES GUN LAKE CASINO

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HAWKSHEAD GULL LAKE VIEW

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APPLE MOUNTAIN

QUAIL RIDGE

THE MINES

HARBOR SHORES

BUCKS RUN

EAGLE EYE/ HAWK HOLLOW GOLF CLUB

TIMBER RIDGE

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. Macatawa Golf Club . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 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. Harbor Shores. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1hr. 50 min. KALAMAZOO/BATTLE CREEK INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (AZO) Kalamazoo

Gull Lake View Golf Club and Resort . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 min. Lynx . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 min. Gun Lake Casino . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 min. Ravines. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 min. Hawkshead. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 min. Harbor Shores. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1hr. 15 min. CAPITAL REGION INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (LAN) Lansing

Eagle Eye/Hawk Hollow Golf Club . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 min. Timber Ridge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 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.

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FEATURING STOATIN BRAE - RANKED TOP 5 IN MICHIGAN With a total of 6 courses and “up-north” golf without the drive, why spend your time on the road when you could be on an unlimited golf package in Southwest Michigan? Located just minutes away from the entertainment of Downtown Kalamazoo, Gull Lake View makes a perfect location for your next golf trip or to live out the resort lifestyle you always dreamed of.

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