The Golf Explorer: Volume 4, Issue 1

ESCAPE TO MICHIGAN

New Along Lake Michigan

AMERICAN DUNES

Explore Bay City Traverse City Tourism

lays out the welcome mat

M A RC H - OC TO B E R A-Ga-Ming Golf Resort, Kewadin michigangolfexplorer.com

Rounding The Fairways:

Petoskey

go round

for round

It’s where everything comes together. Where you can swing away the mornings and sip easy in the a ernoons. Where every fairway and friendly smile seems to remind you that you’re in a pre y great place.

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of Michigan

Thornapple Pointe, Grand Rapids, MI Photo by Nile Young

Four Championship Courses

one resort

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Welcome to

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Contents 22

HARBOR SHORES ADDS ANOTHER CHAPTER OF KITCHENAID SENIOR PGA CHAMPIONSHIP

the KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship returns to Harbor Shores and its 18-hole, Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course in Benton Harbor as the golf destination celebrates its 10th anniversary

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GREAT ESCAPES

a compilation of some of the great spots to wind up and unwind at in the Great Lakes State

33 LINKS AT BOWEN LAKE

the Gowen, Michigan public course reinvents itself as a destination for golfers and groups

40 THE DISH: BAY CITY

Costela Brazilian Steak House brings an authentic churrascaria experience to Bay City, Michigan

44 ROUNDING THE FAIRWAYS: BOYNE CITY, CHARLEVOIX, PETOSKEY

The Golf Explorer’s annual golfing tour series returns with a look at Boyne City, Charlevoix, and Petoskey in northwestern Michigan

52 THE CLUBHOUSE VERNACULAR

an architectural firm that has become known for its clubhouse and hotel designs on golf courses in North America and abroad

34 CREATING A CLASSIC DETROIT LEGACY the journey of the Rocket Mortgage Classic to Detroit and its vision for the future

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COURTESY ROCKET MORTGAGE CLASSIC | BZA PR

SHOP

GET UP AND GO

DINE

The paradise of golf in Northern Michigan is more than a mani-

GOLF SPA

CASINO

cured 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

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SOLUTION IN DYNAMICS

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THE FAIRWAY DESTINATION

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AMERICAN DUNES

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Q&A: PROTECTING YOUR PLAY

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CRAFTED: THE WINE SERIES

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Callaway Golf Company’s Odyssey releases two new putter models to its Stroke Lab family lines

the Grand Haven Golf Club’s reinvention as a destination that not only honors veterans, but also serves as a vehicle to provide support to spouses and children of America’s fallen and disabled service-members

a look at some of the great wineries and vineyards along the Lake Michigan Shore Wine Trail and Old Mission Peninsula

DIRECTORY 68 70 64 83

West North East Upper Penninsula

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in this year’s edition, The Golf Explorer once again highlights some of the great golfing destinations in the state

a conversation with Dr. Kevin Howard, DO, orthopedic surgeon at University of Michigan Metro Health about some prospective remedies for mitigating joint pain on and off the course

THE SCORECARD: AN INDUSTRY OUTLOOK

a snapshot of the state of the golfing industry at both the state and national level

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AT THE TABLE: TREVOR TKACH

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ARRIVALS

a conversation with the President and Chief Executive Officer at Traverse City Tourism and how golf’s story plays a role in the regional story

COURTESY CALLAWAY GOLF COMPANY

From the editor In many ways, golf is more than a game.

The competitive event has endured for centuries and it has also come to represent more than the mental and physical strength of an individual player, but an economic tour de force that has the ability to connect others, preserve the natural landscape, and be a vehicle for philanthropic initiatives. Beyond the course, golf encompasses clubhouses where families gather and events are held; and entire cities play host to renowned competitions, showcasing local community craft and culture.

For this 2020 edition, we begin with a return to the Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course at Harbor Shores Resort along with the KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship as the golf course celebrates its 10th anniversary. We also tour the state, highlighting great golf destinations, escapes, and havens—and nearby places to dine and unwind in our annual Rounding the Fairways feature.

In this issue, we consider the journey of the Rocket Mortgage Classic to Detroit and the legacy it hopes to leave behind; the clubhouse and hotel design work on golf courses by Archiventure Group PC; and the design and engineering in Callaway Golf Company’s Odyssey Stroke Lab Black Ten and Stroke Lab Black Bird of Prey putters released late 2019; and the reinvention of Grand Haven Golf Club as American Dunes Golf Club— and its vision to honor veterans, fallen heroes, and their families.

We also pause a moment at the table, in conversation with the President and Chief Executive Officer at Traverse City Tourism, and Dr. Kevin Howard, DO, orthopedic surgeon at the University of Michigan Metro Health; and to savor some of the wine produced in the Great Lakes State, and the authentic churrascaria experience at Bay City’s Costela Brazilian Steak House.

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

Rachel J. Weick Editor | SVK Multimedia and Publishing The Golf Explorer: Michigan’s Journal to Incredible Golf

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THE PERFECT COURSE FOR

PERFECT ROUNDS. 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.

Designer note More than just a cover Our 2020 cover selections take us across the state featuring some courses with plenty to offer for the upcoming season. Our first cover features A-Ga-Ming Golf Resort in Kewadin, shot by Nile Young photography. Our other covers feature supplied photography from HawksHead Links and Lakewood Shores Resort. We hope you enjoy the work we’ve put together for you in this issue and you find it helps get you excited for the upcoming season. Be sure to also go to michigangolfexplorer.com for the compliment to our print magazine with more current content covering the michigan golf industry.

As always I hope you enjoy the view.

ESCAP

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Christopher H. Pastotnik Creative and Design SVK Multimedia and Publishing The Golf Explorer Michigan’s Journal to Incredible Golf AN

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1:37 AM

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LEGAL Smith Haughey Rice & Roegge

MichiganGolfExplorer.com EDITOR Rachel J. Weick SENIOR WRITER Riley Collins CREATIVE AND DESIGN Chris H. Pastotnik PUBLISHER John C. Olsa ADVERTISING SALES John C. Olsa, johno@svkmp.com 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 Brenna Buckwald, Tyler Fleser, Greg Johnson PHOTOGRAPHERS Brian Walters Photography Nile Young, Nile Young Photography 18

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ACCOUNTING Pennell CPA Fred Pennell, CPA, CGMA Brian Furness, CPA FINANCE Lake Michigan Credit Union The Golf Explorer is printed once per year, with 120,000 copies printed and 110,000 via direct mail to our database.

PO Box 586 Hudsonville, MI 49426 (616) 379-4001 michigangolfexplorer.com/contact-us/ ©2020 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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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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1/27/20 11:38 AM

Get your 5 year subscription for just $20 and receive our digital issues each year in June and August.

Become an Explorer Exclusive Deals Special Offers Fresh Content Links To Our CVB Partners Book Your Tee Time Plan Your Stay purchase at michigangolfexplorer.com | follow on TGE_v3_hh.indd 1

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Harbor Shores adds another chapter of

KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship 22

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Text: R.J. Weick

T

he KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship, a major championship in senior golf, is returning to Harbor Shores Resort and its 18-hole, Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course in Benton Harbor, Michigan this May; once again bringing some of the game’s greatest players to compete on a course that is defined by its dramatic design and impact in the local region.

The championship, which is a 72-hole, stroke play format, will run the week of May 19 through May 24, 2020 at Harbor Shores, challenging players as the 18-hole layout traverses a diverse dune, hardwood, wetland, and ravine landscape. Recognized by the PGA Tour Champions and the European Senior Tour, the KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship invites eligible golfers to compete for a total purse of about $3.25 million with a winning share of about $585,000—and the title for one of the oldest major championships in senior golf.

“It is one of the few majors hosted on the seniors champion tour. I think they would regard it as the most coveted major for them at this point in their career,” said Joshua R. Doxtator, PGA professional, general manager at Harbor Shores. “We look forward to welcoming the players here and seeing them up close and personal at Harbor Shores.”

Inaugurated in 1937, the KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship is celebrating its 81st competition this year, which also happens to coincide with Harbor Shores’ 10th anniversary. The golf destination has hosted the event five times in as many years.

The course, which opened in 2010, hosted the championship in 2012, 2014, 2016, and 2018; and is the planned destination for the future 2022 and 2024 competitions as well.

Throughout the years, the competition has brought top players like Roger Chapman, Colin Montgomerie, Rocco Mediate, and Paul Broadhurst to the Michigan course—and has the potential to draw other well-known golfers this year such as Ernie Els, Steve Stricker and Jim Furyk.

“It is definitely a golf course that requires you to hit very precise approach shots into the greens. The golf course itself isn’t extremely long by major standards, but what it does—because of the green complexes and the difficult of them—is require you to hit very accurate shots into the greens to the different tiers or quadrants offered to the player. If you miss hitting it a little bit, it will definitely challenge you from a putting side of things,” Doxtator said.

“Someone said our greens are overly severe, but you definitely learn a lot as you play it more often. You learn where not to hit it and where you will be able to get away with a few here and there,” Doxtator added.

The creative vision of Nicklaus Design, Harbor Shores has been recognized for its design and environmental backstory since it

COURTESY PGA OF AMERICA

opened in 2010. Both a transformative reclamation development and a meticulous, artful landscape design project, Harbor Shores is the result of tearing down more than three million square-feet of dilapidated buildings and removing about 140,000 tons of waste from Paw Paw River and the site. Each hole features a metal sculpture and hand-blown glass by Joshua Andres and Jerry Catania, respectively, as well as names derived from plants inherent to the area.

“Jack Nicklaus developed and created this unbelievable golf course property that meanders through 500 acres of what was once desolate, forbidden factory and land.

It’s incredible to see it transform into what it is today. I think our celebration of this 10th anniversary and the commitment to the community that we have had in creating economic growth and development through jobs and tourism dollars,” Doxtator said.

“It’s all starting to come to fruition. It’s great to be a part of that, to see that, and ultimately see the best players in the world battle it out here in a town—Benton Harbor and St. Joseph—that has a population of 24,000 people,” Doxtator added.

Harbor Shores has long had a connection to its surrounding communities, such as giving back to the community by designating a portion of fees to maintain public areas in the Jean Klock Park, and in addition to its presenting sponsorship with Whirlpool and its brand KitchenAid, the Senior PGA Championship partners with local companies, such as in the creation of the Makers Trail 19th Hole.

“The PGA of America has an office onsite, year-round and working with them and local leaders, we have other partnerships that we utilize throughout the area and the region to help make the championship as successful as it is,” Doxtator said.

“There will be the Makers Trail out there with local craft breweries and distillers and places like that who participate in creating a unique experience for all the guests who are coming on site,” Doxtator added.

As the KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship returns for the fifth time at Harbor Shores, Doxtator said one of the most exciting aspects is having the opportunity to share the property with the world.

“It is your opportunity to really showcase what you have, what you are able to provide—not only from an entertainment side—and ultimately provide coverage to more than 500 million households around the world. It allows us to tell our story and celebrate a decade of dedication to this community,” Doxtator said.

“It is important we do our best to engage every guest or spectator who comes on site and anybody who watches coverage to really understand the meaning of Harbor Shores and why it exists.”

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4 award-winning courses

from torch lake to charlevoix

3 Beautiful locations • 72-Holes of Championship golf

We are frequently asked, “What is A-Ga-Ming?”. A-Ga-Ming represents many things. To the Native Americans, it is a word meaning “on the shore.” For families across the Midwest and the nation, it is a beautiful vacation destination, complete with lodging, dining, and relaxation. To the golf community, it is a 72-hole golf resort nestled on the shores of Torch Lake and Lake Michigan, in three beautiful Northern Michigan locations. For everyone, it means the perfect destination for group trips, membership & daily-fee-play, dreamlike weddings, celebrations and more!

Opened in 2005 as the third best new course in the country, Sundance exemplifies the extraordinary natural beauty of northwest Michigan with views of both Torch Lake and Lake Michigan. With wide, playable fairways, superbly sculpted greens, vast windswept bunkers, heather-clad mounding and spectacular vistas, Sundance will delight the scratch golfer or a newly fledged beginner. Sundance continues to be one of the premier golf courses in northern Michigan.

The original A-Ga-Ming 18 holes, Overlooking Lake Michigan Antrim Dells is back to its splendor as one renamed Torch in 2005 for the famous lake that the course overlooks, of finest golf experiences in northern continues to be a very scenic and Michigan. Former host of The Michigan Amateur, the course is in enjoyable round. The Torch is situated majestically on the ridges offering the best shape of its life! Built by spectacular views of Torch Lake. The Hall of Fame architect Jerry Matthews Torch is a challenging shot-makers who calls it one of his favorite designs, course that favors accuracy over length.

Antrim Dells now features four sets Water comes into play on 11 of the of tees along with some of the holes, as do mature stands of woods “Sweetest Greens in the North.”

From your first tee shot until your throughout the course. The Torch is one final putt you will enjoy the peace of the most scenic golf courses in all of northern Michigan. and tranquility of “The North.”

800.678.0122 • a-ga-ming.com

Golf Packages from $265 pp 2 Nights / 4 Courses

1 to 4 Bedroom Condos overlooking Torch Lake!

Charlevoix Country Club is a four-star Jerry Matthews design that offers golfers beautifully manicured bent grass fairways and large undulating putting surfaces. Water dominates the landscape, as many holes weave their way across a nice mix of open and tree lined holes with expansive surrounds of heather. There are many birdie and par opportunities to be had, but the last 4 holes are among the most challenging finishing holes in northern Michigan. This course proves to be worth the drive!!

LOCHENHEATH GOLF CLUB

Text: Tyler Fleser

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olf is a sort of meditation—a melding of nature and mankind’s ambition. Will Rogers, the famous American actor, columnist, and renowned socialite once said, “I guess there is nothing that will get your mind off everything like golf.”

This is the spirit golf carries with it no matter how tumultuous life becomes, no matter what company one is with, and no matter what green teed off on; all that matters is the golfer—the extension

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of the player that is the chosen club—and the ball.

We here at The Golf Explorer: Michigan’s Journal to Incredible Golf have collated an extensive list for everyone seeking the solace Rogers describes in the great state of Michigan. So, iron your favorite polo, let your mind wander as you select your best clubs, and take a journey as this list takes a tour of the top spots to wind up and unwind here in the Great Lakes State.

NORTHERN MICHIGAN LAKEWOOD SHORES RESORT Oscoda, MI ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ While Michigan’s natural beauty may enrapture golfers at many of the other clubs on this list, Lakewood Shores Resort provides a foreign feel with the convenience of close proximity to Michiganders, with a fascinating history to boot.

The property began as an experimental farm site for Carl E Schmidt, who was involved in the crossbreeding of cattle and bison to make newer, heartier breeds. Then, in 1986, Stan Alridge, owner of Indianwood Country Club in Lake Orion, MI acquired the property. Diligent in his goal to give golfers great dollar-value for their time, he turned the old farm into a golf resort, opening its first on-site lodging facilities in 1990.

Since then, the property has gone through miraculous evolution and expansion.

Heavily inspired by varying foreign influences, Lakewood’s three courses provide a tailored experience for golfers that gives the site ample replay value. Designed by Kevin Alridge, The Gailes takes the Scottish seaside to northern Michigan with 18 holes of immense double greens, winding burns, sod-filled bunkers, and long fescue grasses.

Another Alridge creation, Blackshire specifically evokes the well-known Pine Valley Club, featuring long rolling hills, hardwoods, and sizeable sand wastes. Rounding out the three courses is The Serradella, a more relaxing experience with less hazards than the former two courses, wide fairways, large putting areas, and a swath of perennials to accompany visitors during their time away from their busy lives.

Lakewood Shores is extremely accommodating to its guests. For those looking to practice, there are two large putting greens, a grass range, and a short game area. Scotland Cove, Lakewood’s 19th hole, even serves soup and sandwiches for golfers making the turn. Near the resort, visitors can hike or camp in the Huron National Forest area, as well as fish in Huron or Cedar Lake.

EVERGREEN RESORT Cadillac, MI ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Buried in 500,000 acres of northern Michigan forest lies the aptly named Evergreen Resort. Boasting two golf courses, two full-service restaurants, and 117 hotel rooms, this emerald property is sure to satisfy Cadillac-bound golfers and their families alike.

Originally founded as a resort overlooking Lake Cadillac in 1949 by Velma and Curly McGuire, the property first started as a single nine-hole course. Since then, the property has evolved to 27 holes including both the Spruce and Norway courses.

Spruce, the 18-hole, award-winning championship course, offers a classic challenge in the form of rolling hills, small greens, and pine-laden winds in sight of a sparkling Lake Cadillac. For a more casual experience, golfers can take to Norway, a nine-hole course set in a quiet Evergreen heart side alcove.

Once Spruce or Norway have worked up their visitors’ appetite, golfers can enjoy a hearty brewhouse meal at Curly’s Bar and Grill or fine regional cuisine from Passage North - The Grill at Evergreen Resort.

For those seeking to attune themselves with the outdoors, guests are welcome to hike, bike, snowmobile, or cross-country ski across trails planted throughout the expansive 327-acre property. In the event of inclement conditions, resort guests are also given access to an indoor pool, whirlpool, sauna, and pickleball courts for any of their other leisure needs. With Lake Cadil-

in a mix between open fields and northern wooded areas. With elevation changes of 85 feet, 65 unique sand bunkers, and a vast array of holes designs, the championship course is sure to provide the challenge and satisfaction every golfer seeks. For those who still need to work on the game, LochenHeath also gives access to its renowned practice facility which includes, two large grass tees, two putting greens, pitching and short game practice areas, sand bunkers, and teaching aids to help improve your game.

Nestled in one of Michigan’s crown jewels, Traverse City, LochenHeath is in close proximity to a plethora of fantastic attractions including award-winning wineries and brewhouses, critically-acclaimed resorts, and the majestic sand hills of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, which was named the “Most Beautiful Place in America” by Good Morning America in 2011.

EVERGREEN RESORT

lac in close proximity, visitors are always a moment away from fishing and beach-side lounge sessions, making Evergreen Resort the prime destination in Northern Michigan for any golfers or general leisure-seekers.

LOCHENHEATH GOLF CLUB Traverse City, MI ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Set in what used to be a traditional Traverse City cherry orchard, LochenHeath Golf Club invites golfers in with top-notch views, one-of-a-kind hazards, and a large course totaling at 7,280 yards. Built around luxury home sites, fans of elegant architecture and the beauty of northern Michigan can both enjoy this links-style property.

Designed by Florida architect Steve Smyers, LochenHeath’s course is built in sight of East Grand Traverse Bay, resting

OPPOSITE PAGE: COURTESY LOCHENHEATH GOLF CLUB; ABOVE: COURTESY EVERGREEN RESORT

CENTRAL MICHIGAN BUCKS RUN GOLF CLUB Mt. Pleasant, MI ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ July 1st, 2020 will mark the 20th anniversary for an absolute staple of Michigan’s golf community—Bucks Run Golf Club.

Almost a century-long history of hard work and dedication from Fisher Companies is to thank for the award-winning golf course’s beautiful location. The company’s most recent venture since starting as a gravel operation in 1925, Bucks Run’s 290-acre property is a golfer’s paradise that has been proactively offering its golfers new experiences ever since it opened in 2000.

The course takes golfers on a journey over natural wetlands, through woods, along winding rivers, and beside the coasts of lakes

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PILGRIM’S RUN

like Lake Fisher, an old quarry turned scenic water hazard. With attention to upkeep and with golfers’ best interests at heart, the course is currently trimming select trees to keep the golfing experience superb.

“When you’re 20 years in, as trees change, because the root structure goes underneath the green, its sucking all the moisture out. We don’t want to just get rid of trees, but we’re doing the ones that will help us prosper for the next 20 or 30 years,” said Jon Conklin, PGA member and general manager at Bucks Run. In addition to trimming foliage, the course has recently been given extra distance, making it reach almost 7,000 yards from the last tees.

“We’ve been praised over and over again by our customers [for our conditions], and its an important aspect of what we’re trying to do moving forward,” Conklin said.

What Bucks Run focuses on most however, and what Conklin noted is the key to their success for the past 20 years, is the comfort-level of their golfers. The course offers a view that rivals northern Michigan, but without any distractions. There are no housing developments. There are no highways or cars you can hear on any of the tees.

“We are a full-service facility. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, tablecloth, white linen; everything we do is to make everyone feel comfortable,” Conklin said. “I want a guy who plays Oakland Hills to have a great time, but I also want the person who only plays a few

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times a year—who is using their disposable income—I want them to feel comfortable. I don’t want them to feel out of place.”

Part of this comfort-centered service influenced Conklin and company to implement an extra tee option for golfers of every kind so they can set their drives at a distance that works for their level without compromising their self-esteem or the satisfaction of a challenge. Conklin also noted on his own experience with provided comfort as a tenant of service.

“We all know that disposable income is hard to come by. For some people it’s a oncea-year type of thing. I put it into thinking about myself. I’m a big skier. I know that when I’m going up north, by the time you’re dining or lodging and everything else, it’s an expense. It’s nice to put that in perspective for these golfers,” Conklin said. “I like going to places that are family-owned and operated. It really makes you feel comfortable when you’re there. It’s very friendly. There are some places that are bigger where you’re just another number.”

Conklin also remarked on how Bucks Run was the first golf course in the area to use GPS and how the success and sustainability of Bucks Run stems from the support of the club’s leadership and team. “[The team is] willing to take chances and do things a little bit out of the box. It’s amazing how we took to changes, how other people are doing it regularly. We’ve had it ingrained in our business philosophy for

years,” Conklin said. “Being a maverick also means the people you work for and with want you to be that way.”

Bucks Run also has more to offer other than its immaculate greens and comfort-focused service. The amenities feature a putting island to practice in paradise, the Quarry Grill for golfer’s dining needs, and an 18,000-square-foot clubhouse to cater any event. As for golfer’s visiting the greater Mt. Pleasant area, they can find food and entertainment around Central Michigan University’s campus. For those seeking thrills, Soaring Eagle Casino is only eight minutes away, along with high-stakes rewards, topbill concerts, and drinks aplenty.

EAGLE EYE GOLF AND BANQUET CENTER Bath Township, MI ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Whether the day calls for a casual linksstyle outing or a 27-hole golf enthusiast’s tour de force, Eagle Eye Golf & Banquet Center can offer up the perfect experience for anyone visiting East Lansing. Set just northeast from the Mitten’s capital, the enormous, award-winning property is built on what used to be a sod and potato farm. No strangers to obstacles, Eagle Eye’s designers dug up 800,000 yards of dirt to create eight unique bodies of water that effect twelve different holes and carefully plotted 97 sand bunkers ranging from three yards to two acres throughout the rolling greens.

NILE YOUNG PHOTOGRAPHY

The club houses six exclusively unique courses including both Timber Ridge, one of the only 12-hole golf courses in the country and Little Hawk, one of Michigan’s three natural grass putting courses. A well-seasoned golfer also has great reason to venture to central Michigan in the form of Hawk Hollow. Designed by Chris Lutzke and Pete Dye, the 27-hole champion course with a Jerry Mathews-inspired layout was opened in 2003. A 65,000-square-foot clubhouse rests in view of the unique 17th island green, developed considering dynamic shot values and re-playability for golfers seeking a thorough challenge. The clubhouse includes five banquet rooms, two restaurants, and even a fitness center.

After a long day, golfers aren’t far away from the state’s capital where they can reflect on their outing in Lansing’s Hopcat with a craft brew, talk clubs over a sublime seafood luncheon at Mitchell’s Fish Market, or plan their next outing over a gourmet steak dinner at Capital Prime.

APPLE MOUNTAIN Freeland, MI ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Located in the thumb of Michigan’s bay area is Apple Mountain. With a course that is sure to provide an engaging challenge for seasoned golfers and new golfers alike and amenities to make their stay more than a simple tour of the greens, Apple Mountain is a must-golf stop for anyone visiting the mitten’s east central side.

Opened in 1998 and designed by John Sanford, the 72-par championship course has a healthy mix of water hazards, sand bunkers, and bent grass fairways to keep any of the four tees interesting. Golfers can also hone their skills at the driving range, chipping area, putting green, and practice bunkers. In addition, Apple Mountain offers two dining experiences in the shape of Putters Pointe’s classic American fare or Mountain View Restaurant’s varied high-end cuisine and views.

As for Freeland, the city offers plenty of top-notch bars like the Log Cabin Bar & Grill and 2nd Street Sports Pub. For a family outing, visitors of the city can also visit Leaman’s Green Applebarn for cider, donuts, and an authentic Michigan apple orchard experience.

PILGRIM’S RUN Pierson, MI ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ At the southern tip of the Huron-Manistee National Forest, white pines and black oaks dot the landscape of Pilgrim’s Run. This 400-acre forest cove will melt away any inhibition golfers may be experiencing with its tranquil beauty and welcoming fairways.

Even the wildlife is reported to be friendly.

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Designs Inc. and opened in 1998, Pilgrim’s Run exhibits creeping bentgrass fairways, unique green complexes, and four tees for players of any level. The course promotes discounted packages with nearby hotels and offers casual dining in the Gravity Taphouse and Grille.

In close proximity to Cedar Springs, thirsty golfers can stop in for a craft beer at Cedar Springs Brewing Company, and families can greet furry new friends at Deer Tracks Junction.

COURSES NEAR GRAND RAPIDS THE GOLF CLUB AT THORNAPPLE POINTE Grand Rapids, MI ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Tucked in the crook of the Thornapple River, The Golf Club at Thornapple Pointe offers a picturesque water-laden view while golfers traverse a myriad of bentgrass fairways. This 18-hole course in Grand Rapids includes access to carts with GPS-yardage systems, real-time leaderboards for both

RAVINES GOLF CLUB

tournament and casual outings, and golf lessons for beginners of all ages. After teeing off across 7,000 feet of the river fairway, guests are only twenty minutes away from Grand Rapids, where an endless list of fine craft breweries and eclectic dining experiences lie in wait.

MACATAWA GOLF CLUB Grand Rapids, MI ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Built by architect Ray Hearn in 2005, this lakeshore course gives golfers a frontrow seat to Lake Michigan’s waves lapping on the shores of Holland. Amenities include a fitness center, tennis and pickleball courts, and a swimming pool. Even as winter takes its icy grip on the lakeshore, visitors can take part in state-of-the-art golf simulations hosted in the LiveGolf lounge. For those looking to settle somewhere along Michigan’s lakeshore, the course is hosted by the Eastbrook community which includes award-winning single-family homes and condominiums. After the game, goers can feel free to venture to Windmill Island Gardens, or Nelis’ Dutch Village for an authentic Holland reprieve.

RAVINES GOLF CLUB Saugatuck, MI ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Envisioned by Arnold Palmer himself, Ravines Golf Club is a top Saugatuck destination for those seeking only the most unique golf experiences. Established in 1999, the club has dedicated itself to keeping each hole an entirely different experience, complete with wide fairways, generous landing areas, and four tee positions per hole. Guests who find themselves needing new equipment for Ravines’ one-of-a-kind course can find it in the state-of-the-art pro shop and treat themselves to an authentic Arnold Palmer in the bar at Arnie’s Cottage. Less than 20 minutes away from Saugatuck’s pristine Oval Beach, splendid beach-side spirit bars, and plenty of local artisan shops, Ravines offers the cherry on top of the coastal sundae that is Saugatuck, Michigan.

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QUAIL RIDGE GOLF CLUB

THE MINES GOLF COURSE Grand Rapids, MI ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Built 150 feet above the old Gypsum mines, Mines Golf Course offers a robust golfing experience for the intrepid Grand Rapids golf enthusiast. The facility offers up both an 18-hole premiere course and a nine-hole par-3 for casual play. The main course features rustic hardwoods, loose sand-packed soil, rolling hillscapes, and forgiving tees. Once golfers sink their last putt, they are welcome to enjoy refreshments and classic American cuisine in the lounge area overlooking the ninth green. Located five minutes from downtown Grand Rapids,

TOP: NILE YOUNG PHOTOGRAPHY; BOTTOM LEFT: COURTESY THE GOLF CLUB AT THORNAPPLE POINTE; RIGHT: COURTESY QUAIL RIDGE GOLF CLUB

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Mines is the perfect location for Beer City locals and passersby alike.

QUAIL RIDGE GOLF CLUB Ada, MI ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Quail Ridge Golf Club is the brainchild of former PGA tour professional Randy Erskine and famous architect—as well as Michigan native—Raymond Hearn. Opened in 1998, Quail Ridge Golf Club is home to an 18-hole championship golf course with vibrant greenery and natural rural Michigan beauty. Key characteristics of the scenery involve large trees, Bermuda bentgrass greens, and blue water bunkers. While there are hazards, five sets of varying tees allow for an enjoyable outing, regardless of experience or skill level. Full facilities include a full driving range, putting green, and The Grille at Quail Ridge Golf Club where one can watch their favorite sports over a beverage from the full-service bar. For golfers looking to see what else Ada has to offer, Quail Ridge is only moments away from the Averill Museum, Gravel Bottom Craft Brewery, or any of Ada’s natural parks.

SOUTHERN MICHIGAN LYNX GOLF COURSE Otsego, MI ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Halfway from Grand Rapids to Kalamazoo lies Lynx Golf Course, one of the

premiere entertainment spots in southwest Michigan. Boasting a challenging and sense-provoking 18 holes of golf, as well as a litany of other activities, Lynx Golf Course seeks to satisfy visitors’ entertainment needs.

The course, built in 1999 by Chris and Jon Scott, features bent fairways and plenty of elevation changes including an 85-foot drop on the tenth hole from tee to hole. Golfers at Lynx are offered a full tree-top view and six holes along the flowing Kalamazoo River. Other golf facilities include a full driving range, chipping area, putting green, and pro shop.

While golf is the main attraction, Lynx offers its guests plenty of additional activities. The Lynx Grill offers a scenic view of the Kalamazoo River Valley and delicious, yet responsibly priced entrees. Other fun to be had at Lynx includes euchre night, comedy night, snowshoe-outings, cross-country skiing, and holiday parties.

For those heading south afterward, or for those seeking night on the town, Lynx is only 20 minutes away from one of Michigan’s best hidden gems, Kalamazoo. Here visitors can enjoy a show at the Kalamazoo State Theatre, find out about the city’s eclectic history at the Kalamazoo Valley Museum, or grab hand-crafted cocktails while being serenaded by one of Kalamazoo’s spectacular performing artists at The Union Cabaret and Grill.

HAWKSHEAD LINKS South Haven, MI ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ From the first hole at HawksHead Links, one can smell the fresh air rolling off the shores of Lake Michigan. Set moments away from the brisk, sandy beaches of South Haven, HawksHead is a prime example of quality golf and quality real estate.

The 18-hole resort course was built in 1996, designed by Arthur Hills, and maxes out at a little more than 7,000 yards. Littered with fescue grass and sandy dunes, the course embraces the variety and aesthetic of the lakeshore in every way, including gales that require golfers at longer tees to carefully assess their drives. However, HawksHead is more than just a golf course and features an entire resort in the vein of an English inn.

HawksHead Restaurant offers a comfortable pub vibe with gourmet dishes and a renovated Old English Tudor Mansion serves as guests’ place of respite.

As mentioned, visitors to South Haven will be minutes away from beautiful beaches, a maritime museum, and wine-tasting at Cogdal Vineyards.

HAWKSHEAD LINKS

COURTESY HAWKSHEAD LINKS

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Links at

Bowen Lake Text: Greg Johnson

B

e prepared to make more than one visit to The Links at Bowen Lake in Gowen, Michigan.

Vicki Korson, who with her husband Wayne Korson, became owner about two years ago of the West Michigan-based, 18hole public course near Greenville, is quick to tell golfers once they play she guarantees they will come back.

“Our goal is to give a great experience,” Vicki Korson said. “The saying we have is great golf, great food, great friends, and that is why people come back.”

The course is an original design of Bill Newcomb, a noted Michigan golf designer, that made its debut in 1998. Five sets of tees ranging from just a little more than 6,700 yards to new front tee positions at about 4,500 yards, welcomes golfers to stunning wetlands, rolling meadows, forest stands, and some dramatic sand bunkering across 170 acres. Carts are mandatory for the trip around the 30-acre Bowen Lake.

The lake is the backdrop and the centerpiece, offering great views—especially from the deck of the new clubhouse that was central to the investment the Korsons have made in the last two years. The clubhouse had helped the course become a destination for golfers and groups with a full-service restaurant open during the golf season.

The clubhouse isn’t the only recent improvement: cart-path work and tree removal to give golfers more room have been significant projects. The Golf Association of Michigan measured and re-rated the course last summer and Superintendent Bob Klingbeil consistently provides golfers with great playing conditions.

“The golfers tell us we have some of the nicest greens in the state, and they are nice size greens,” Korson said. “The scenery is gorgeous. The five sets of tees make it so any golfer can enjoy it, and it is not easy. I think the par-3s as a group are kind of the signature holes. They are really a great group.

People talk about them.”

The par-3s include a nice variety of looks and challenge, and from the middle

or gold tees measure 159 yards at the second hole, 153 yards at the sixth hole, 122 yards at the 12th hole, and 139 yards at the fifteenth hole. A few carries over wetlands are part of the challenge, but comfortable for the golfer who picks the tee positions that match their skill levels.

Wayne and Vicki Korson live at Canadian Lakes and are members at Tullymore Golf Resort in Stanwood. They said the reason they purchased The Links at Bowen Lake is because they forgot to ever talk about retirement.

“It’s the truth. Wayne is 71 [years-old], I’m 69 [years-old] and here we are owning and working at a golf course,” Korson said.

“We’ve never had one conversation about retirement. We like to have a challenge I guess, and we try to make this a great place

for people to come play golf.”

The Links Bar & Grill has helped make it a great place, and features a unique bottoms-up beer system, which is a beer dispensing unit using magnets and beer tubes.

“It’s part of the fun here,” Korson said.

“People tell us all the time that our pizza is the best they have had. We pretty much hear that every day. We have a great group of cooks and very nice bar style food. We do special events, too; steak and salmon the grill on the deck and Friday night specials.

We have a lot of people who come here to eat and they are not golfers.”

The course, clubhouse, and grill will open again on April 1, 2020 if weather cooperates. Membership options, public daily fee rates under $50 and other information is available at linksatbowenlake.com.

COURTESY LINKS AT BOWEN LAKE

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Creating a Classic Detroit legacy Text: R.J. Weick

D

etroit, a city rich in industry, music, and design, will once again host the PGA Tour this spring as touring professionals tee off on a classic Donald Ross course at the 120-year-old Detroit Golf Club as they vie for a total purse of $7.5 million during the Rocket Mortgage Classic. The tournament, which replaced the Quicken Loans National last year during its inaugural debut, kicks off Monday, May 25 and begins in earnest with competitive play on the 7,340yard, par-72 course on Thursday, May 28 through Sunday, May 31, 2020.

While the tournament marks another important stop on the PGA Tour for the 2019-2020 season, the event—and its location—builds upon an important milestone the Rocket Mortgage Classic set for Detroit and for Michigan in 2019 as the first ever PGA Tour event in the city and the first return to the state in almost a decade. The curation of such an event—and its success, noted by the PGA Tour with three Best Of awards—brought together a collaborative group of stakeholders who worked within a tight timeline of about 11 months to create an inaugural tournament of PGA Tour competitive caliber and put a spotlight on Detroit.

Jason Langwell, executive director of the Rocket Mortgage Classic and executive vice president of Intersport, said the journey to Detroit for the Rocket Mortgage Classic started back in 2014 when Quicken Loans Inc. became the title sponsor for the Quicken Loans National hosted by Tiger Woods in Washington D.C.. Quicken Loans, which is located in Detroit, introduced Rocket Mortgage as the first com-

prehensive online mortgage experience in 2015. When the initial agreement concluded, there was a conversation among leadership about bringing professional golf to downtown Detroit, which serves as the headquarters for its family of companies and nearly 17,000 employees.

“They had a conversation about renewal and said: ‘Look, we really like the PGA Tour as a marketing vehicle to help build our brand and our business. We like what it

stands for and what it does for the communities that is serves, think it fits for us, but if we are going to continue the relationship it has to be in Detroit, Michigan,’” Langwell said.

“In 2018 they made that decision to bring the event here. We were a little over 11 months out from the tournament date. The PGA Tour will tell you that you need about 18-to-24 months to bring a PGA Tour event together. We, as a team, as a community,

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY ROCKET MORTGAGE CLASSIC | BZA PR

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had a lot less than that, but we were up for it. We knew there was a demand,” Langwell added.

With less than a year to plan and coordinate the tournament and its week-long program, Rocket Mortgage by Quicken Loans looked to its longtime partner of Intersport to put a team together to work on programming and facilitating partnerships not only with the surrounding hospitality and culinary industries, but also with Michigan-based, Detroit-based, and minority-owned businesses to create an event that was authentic to the city and its spirit.

“We began engaging the community and it responded. Fast forward 11 months and a bunch of what we refer to as ‘blessed stress,’ we delivered what turned out to be a great event and what we wanted, which was an event that was a spotlight on the city of Detroit,” Langwell said. “It was an incredible journey and by far one of the greatest team efforts I’ve been a part of.”

With former Detroit Mayor Dennis W. Archer at the helm of the volunteer force as Volunteer General Chair, the inaugural Rocket Mortgage Classic quickly gathered the support of 2,000 volunteers for the event; as well as gained the support of local businesses in the community as premiere sponsors—JP Morgan Chase, Cadillac, Trion Solutions, Amerisure, Lending Tree, and DTE Energy—and vendors. From the Area 313 Celebrity Challenge held on Tuesday of the tournament week—a three-team, three-hole scramble competition featuring Dustin Johnson, Rickie Fowler, Bubba Watson, Jerome Bettis, Kid Rock, and Tom Izzo, among others—to the Saks Fifth Avenue-sponsored event at Shinola Hotel for players’ significant others, and the Level-

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wear lounge for PGA Tour caddies, the Rocket Mortgage Classic upped the ante when it came to events and hospitality.

“We had great feedback. For a year one event, the players’ feedback focused really in two areas: what is the experience like on the golf course and then what is the experience like in the community around it?

They have over 40 PGA Tour stops they can make, they choose about 20-to-25 and they evaluate it,” Langwell said. “We focused heavily on the player experience and the player family experience and they loved it.”

Langwell also noted the players loved the chance to play an old classic course like the one at Detroit Golf Club, which also features a 1916-built clubhouse designed by Albert Kahn.

“They liked the idea of going out and scoring, and they had the ability to do that here. The course is immaculately manicured and it played really well. Firm and fast is a priority of them and we were able to make this golf course firm and fast—and caught a great stretch of weather,” Langwell said.

“They don’t want stuff to be tricked up and this is a golf course that isn’t that way; it is classic in nature, it is right in front of them, and it is one, too, that I think they see the potential in,” Langwell added.

Now, as the team looks to its sophomore year, there is an intention to taking the feedback from players—as well as the community—to elevate competitive and spectator experience as well as improve authenticity and representation. From the course perspective, Langwell noted there was pos-

itive feedback on the greens, fairways, and placements, but going forward the team is looking at how to make modifications.

“We are exploring taking the rough up a little bit this coming year and over time looking at, now that we have ShotLink data—the tour provides us the data for every ball landed day by day throughout the course of the week—different bunker placements and what are things we can do to make it more fun and competitive to play,” Langwell said. “We are in that process right now for making modifications for year two and beyond.”

Langwell also noted as the team gathered input from community—which is viewed as a gift—the theme for the 2020 Rocket Mortgage Classic is “bigger and better.”

“What can we do to improve the experience? How can we take a great one and build from that base?” Langwell said.

A couple of the planned changes for the upcoming tournament comprise expanding its hospitality offerings, since it sold out its corporate hospitality in 2019 on a couple of different occasions; and adding a couple double-decker cabanas in Area 313 along the 14th, 15th, and 16th holes, where professionals are once again challenged to score an eagle, ace, and birdie respectively, or three-one-three, to win $313,000 with half designated for a charity of their choice and the other half allocated for a tournament charity. The 2020 Rocket Mortgage Classic will also see the expansion of its Lending Tree-sponsored lounge; fan zone programming, such as the addition of an

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY ROCKET MORTGAGE CLASSIC | BZA PR

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interactive, multi-sport activation; WiFi offering; Detroit-area cuisine; Detroit-based apparel and additional merchandising in terms of selection, quantity, and location on the property; and additional public grandstands and viewing decks throughout the entire golf course.

There is also a new $15, two-day ticket offered this year for Monday and Tuesday of the tournament, which Langwell noted they are quite excited about.

“We think it is the best value in Detroit sports and entertainment. For just $15, you can come out and have full grounds and practice round access on Memorial Day Monday and Tuesday,” Langwell said. “On Monday we are going to do a kids clinic with some great professionals, have a cookout on the golf course, and you can come back on Tuesday and have access to practice rounds and the best special event on the PGA Tour, which was the Area 313 Celebrity Challenge.”

In 2019 the Area 313 Celebrity Challenge earned the Rocket Mortgage Classic with PGA Tour Best Special Event award, which was one of the three total awards the tournament received. The PGA Tour also

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recognized it for Best Tournament Sales and with a new Fair Way Award for its diversity and inclusion efforts. Langwell noted the team was very fortunate and humbled to have walked away with the three awards and to have been nominated for a total of four in the first year of its operation.

“We are most proud of the Fair Way Award, which recognizes one PGA Tour event for their efforts in social responsibility, diversity, and inclusion. We made it a priority as an event and it is a huge priority for our sponsor Rocket Mortgage. Diversity and inclusion is core to the culture. We made an effort right out of the gate to, in everything we did, put diversity and inclusion first,” Langwell said.

“Former Mayor Dennis Archer is a great leader and was an obvious choice to come in and be our volunteer chair and he recruited an amazing team of people who were representative of our city. This was an event that needed to be that—if we are going to put a spotlight on Detroit, this needs to be an event that represents Detroit. We also made it a priority to hire Michigan-based, Detroit-based, and minority and diversity owned companies,” Langwell added.

Though excited to be the most awarded event, Langwell noted the awards are not the mission, but instead it is to make a significant impact on a number of charities in the community. The Rocket Giving Fund, a nonprofit organization managing the tournament, announced on Jan. 15, 2020 more than $1.2 million was given to nonprofits, seven beneficiaries, and Birdies for Charity recipients. Of the total $1.2 million, nearly $1.1 million was allocated to nonprofits in the city of Detroit and more than $912,000 went to its primary beneficiaries of Midnight Golf Program, Detroit Children’s Fund, Greater Palmer Park Community, First Tee of Greater Detroit, Rickie Fowler Foundation, Detroit Police Athletic League, and Detroit Golf Club Caddie Scholarship Foundation.

“The sell-outs and the awards all drive attendance, which drives dollars that can then be put back into the community to make a significant, incremental impact,” Langwell said. “That will be the legacy that is left by this event: that we leave Detroit much better than we found it.”

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY ROCKET MORTGAGE CLASSIC | BZA PR

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Text: R.Collins

O

pened in November 2018, Costela Brazilian Steak House brings an authentic churrascaria experience to Bay City, Michigan; the Tri-City area’s bay-side travel destination. The steakhouse is the first of its kind in the area, as its culinary practice is driven by the Churrasco tradition, which emerged in Brazil in the 18th century. The unique form of Brazilian barbeque was once the cuisine of Brazilian cowboys and has since, for centuries, evolved into an engrained piece of national and cultural identity that gradually made its way north, into the United States.

In Bay City, the Costela Brazilian Steak House pays homage by utilizing key aspects of the traditional process, such as mesquite wood-fire grills—operated at a searing 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit—to slow cook premium cuts of meat and reveal their com-

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plex natural flavors. Costela’s 14 cuts of USDA-certified, authentic Brazilian meats pair with produce from its gourmet Brazilian Market Table and Feijoada Bar, as well as a full wine and cocktail bar specializing in Caipirinha, a national Brazilian cocktail mixed from Cachaca liquor and fresh lime.

For this edition of The Golf Explorer: Michigan’s Journal to Incredible Golf, we explored Costela’s tribute to the increasingly popular Churrasco tradition in conversation with Executive Chef Ramiro Costilla.

Besides a deep appreciation for Churrasco, Costilla brings a preference for clean labels, impactful f lavors, and minimalistic seasonings to the menu, along with an overall approach focused on letting the natural qualities of each ingredient express themselves.

Executive Chef

Ramiro Costilla Costela Brazilian Steak House 110 Uptown Dr., Bay City, MI 48708

TGE: I’m curious as to how you arrived at Costela and what excited you about starting to cook there?

Costilla: We’re a family-owned restaurant group with five locations in the Tri-Cities.

Costela Brazilian Steak House is our latest venture. We were intrigued by the concept of churrascarias from the first time my brother, Jose visited a Brazilian Steakhouse in Seattle. Ever since then, we dreamed of bringing that same idea to our town, a place to hold celebrations—from milestone ones to low key ones—without being in a big, metropolitan city. What excited me to be here was the notion of being involved in the introduction of this wonderful and unique concept of Brazilian-style cuisine to the community. The opportunity came when the decision to open in the fall of 2018 was finalized.

What would you say is most significant to you about churrascarias or the churrasco tradition? What’s most enjoyable or unique to you?

The most significant thing, and most enjoyable too, about the churrasco, to me, would be the table-side carvings. It is unlike the typical dining experience where most of the magic happens in the kitchen and all the customer sees is the final presentation.

In a churrascaria, the carvings come out to you. This is one of the main concepts that we want to convey to our customers, that your meats go from grill to plate in a matter of seconds. It’s the same idea during a big cookout, which is personally my favorite thing, where you’re by the grill sampling what you’re grilling.

What’s most unique about Costela Brazilian Steak House is our 100 percent mesquite charcoal grills. We use no gas grills. We’re definitely proud of that because grilling with 100 percent mesquite provides a flavor profile that is accentuated in the final product.

ings, from robust to sweet.

We also offer in-house smoked cherry-glazed Atlantic salmon, Mediterraneanstyle ceviches, and more. And from our hot Feijoada Bar, one may find traditional Brazilian Feijoada and Jasmine rice and an assortment of soups and pasta dishes, specializing in seafood bisques. Once you’ve enjoyed the Market Table and Feijoada Bar, on your command, our Gauchos will start the Rodizio, a mouthwatering parade of certified angus beef cuts, including Picanha, filet mignon, bacon-wrapped filet, braised beef ribs, Alcatra sirloin, flank steak and garlic-tip Picanha, lamb chops and leg of lamb, Halal-certified chicken, heritage breed pork loin and ribs, and custom-blend sausage. We also offer the most popular and vegan-favorite brown sugar glazed pineapple.

It’s obviously a pretty traditional process overall, with nice simple ingredients added to make the flavor profile shine. Within this, do you find that there are ways to be creative or do you want to be creative with those boundaries at all?

It is definitely important to us to preserve the traditions of a churrascaria and the flavors of Brazil so our greatest creativity lies in our main focus to provide quality ingredients. We make it a point to work with the industry’s best innovators to develop and come up with out-of-the-box ideas which is what sets us apart. We offer a fusion of traditional Brazilian recipes and modern cuisine, from classic to trendsetting, all the while putting as much effort in making each experience as personal and unique as possible.

Our priority here in Costela is to provide our customers a memorable dining experience.

How has feedback been for this one-of-a-kind dining experience in the Tri-City area?

The community response has been amazing, which is what we expected from the Tri-City area. From the start, we have felt welcomed and supported. It has always been our goal to provide transparency, which is why we went with an open kitchen concept so that our guests may observe, firsthand, the top-notch quality of our products and the care and expertise we implement when preparing their food.

I’m curious, if you had to recommend one or two dishes or combinations for first timers, what would you choose, personally?

With the variety of fresh options in our Market Table and delectable bisques in our Feijoada Bar and expertly mesquite-grilled meats in our churrasco, and broad selections of drinks and spirits in our bar, what I’d recommend is for guests to try everything!

Are there any last thoughts you’d like to share?

I’d like to invite your readers to come to Costela Brazilian Steak House in Uptown Bay City to experience for themselves just what I’ve described. And to learn more about us, please visit www.costelabraziliansteakhouse.com and join us on Facebook for exciting news, events and specials we have planned for the upcoming months. We have seasonal menu changes that are not to be missed!

To make a reservation or learn more about this Bay City Churrascaria, visit Costela’s website at costelabraziliansteakhouse.com

We were talking about how the side additions are one of your favorite parts of the meal and I was wondering if you could walk me through the process of how a guest might put together a meal…

When our guests arrive, they are greeted by white tablecloth service followed by the server giving a fine-detailed explanation of Costela Brazilian Steak House’s churrascaria. Once the dining experience has begun, you’re invited to try a traditional Caipirinha or if you’re a wine aficionado, maybe select a bottle from our broad selection of wines, or perhaps an old favorite from our full-service bar. From here, our guests are invited to make their way to the Market Table where one may choose from the freshest greens, imported charcuterie and cheeses, olives, artisan breads and an assortment of dressPHOTOGRAPHY BY PHIL EICH

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Grand Rapids’ premier public golf facility

A must play while in Grand Rapids

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DUNMAGLAS GOLF COURSE

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TOP: COURTESY BOYNE GOLF; BOTTOM LEFT; COURTESY DUNMAGLAS GOLF COURSE; RIGHT : COURTESY LITTLE TRAVERSE BAY GOLF CLUB

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HARBOR POINT GOLF CLUB

Text: R. Collins

GOLF

BOYNE Golf Boyne Mountain Resort 1 Boyne Mountain Road, Boyne Falls, MI 49713 With 10 championship caliber courses and three resorts to choose from, the BOYNE Golf collection of properties offers a variety of ways to enjoy the game and some accompanying leisure time. Apart from lodging amenities like cozy log cabin suites, the Avalanche Bay Waterpark, and 415 skiable acres, the Boyne Mountain Resort in Boyne Falls offers elevated mountain side golf with an array of unique hazards and vista views. “[It’s] a world class golf experience and more activities than you have time to enjoy on any given day, even though the sun doesn’t set until 9:30 p.m. or 10:00 p.m.,” said Ken Griffin, director of golf sales and marketing at BOYNE Golf.

The Alpine course’s panoramic views of Deer Lake create a breathtaking visual respite alongside a playable, open layout; while The Monument—which pulls design influences from industry greats like Donald Ross and Pete Dye—offers surprises even for returning players in undulating greens and demanding fairways.

Boyne Highlands Resort 600 Highland Road, Harbor Springs, MI 49740 Similarly, the Boyne Highlands Resort to the north in Harbor Springs boasts five distinct and unforgettable golf courses which pay tribute to their biggest influencers—including the architect Arthur Hills— alongside health and wellness amenities, snow sports, and an array of dining and snacking options for a classic resort experience.

“The four courses at Boyne Highlands offer tremendous variety in their own right with The Heather and The Moor offering traditional parkland courses; the Donald Ross Memorial being a compilation of 18 Donald Ross holes from courses around the world; and the Arthur Hills offering tremendous views of northern Michigan on its journey over nine miles of cart path,” Griffin said.

Something that continues to distinguish Boyne Golf destinations is its repeat guests and an affinity for exceeding expectations, according to Griffin, whether in a major course renovation project or the upcoming transformation of Boyne Highlands’ Main Lodge into an upscale luxury hotel.

Bay Harbor Golf Club & The Inn at Bay Harbor Club | 5800 Coastal Ridge Drive,

Bay Harbor, MI 49770 Inn | 3600 Village Harbor Drive, Bay Harbor, MI 49770 In between the two resorts, on Little Traverse Bay’s south side, Bay Harbor Golf Club’s three courses, also developed by architect Arthur Hills, are formed into the site of a once-abandoned shale quarry, and the natural terrain features hardwood forest in some areas and rugged lakeside footing in others. The Inn at Bay Harbor places guests in the heart of Bay Harbor, with accommodations like the full-service spa and salon offering a lakeside respite and perhaps a spontaneous day of relaxation. Dining takes many forms at the club and inn, from a tea room to a vintage chop house, or The Links Grille, where lunch, dinner, and cocktails are served in an intimate atmosphere overlooking The Quarry’s finishing hole and the bay.

Crooked Tree Golf Club 600 Crooked Tree Drive, Bay Harbor, MI 49770 Designed by Harry Bowers and opened in 1991, the nearby Crooked Tree Golf Club in Petoskey also offers Arthur Hillsdesigned 16th, 17th, and 18th holes crafted to increase playability for this northern Michigan favorite. The challenging elevated terrain is forgiving, with scenic up-close vistas of Little Traverse Bay, and century-old hardwoods and meticulously carved greens are additionally striking.

Little Traverse Bay Golf Club and Restaurant 995 Hideaway Valley Dr, Harbor Springs, MI 49740

Water views from twelve of Little Traverse Bay Golf Club’s 18 holes, and four different tee complexes amongst the hilly terrain offer a challenging game and peaceful setting for this golf course and its restaurant and patio in Harbor Springs. The full-service restaurant, situated at the heart of the golf course, also holds views of Little Traverse Bay and is open to the public for lunch and dinner all week.

Dunmaglas Golf Course 9031 Boyne City Rd, Charlevoix, MI 49720 Tucked away on the edge of a nature reserve and Lake Charlevoix, the 6,897yard Dunmaglas Golf Course offers secluded routing and distinctive sightlines for a serene 18 holes.

“We’re 360 feet above the water and you can see all the way to Beaver Island on a clear day; and you can see Lake Charlevoix and the beautiful rolling hills,” said Mike Pung, owner of Dunmaglas Golf Course.

“I say it’s in the top five views in Michigan; nobody has argued that it wouldn’t be in the top eight.”

Though the course underwent a significant renovation to make it more playable after Pung acquired the property decades ago, it still offers a challenge to first time visitors and returning Dunmaglas fans alike.

“What you see is what you get; it’s very fair but we have hundred-foot elevation changes even on one hole, so you need to play it two or three times because people will use the wrong club and hit it too short or too far until they understand the up and down is different,” Pung said. “The ones

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BELVEDEREGOLF CLUB

that do that realize it’s very playable—not easy—but very playable; you just have to manage it.”

The scenic privacy offers a favorable setting for weddings and events at the rustic course-side barn, as well as the course’s accompanying lodging. The Cottages at Dunmaglas are tucked between the clubhouse and 18th green and offer eight condos with two bedrooms, full baths and kitchens, laundry, private balconies, and more.

Hidden River Golf and Casting Club 7688 Maple River Rd #9726, Brutus, MI 49716 The quiet, family-owned golf and casting club at Hidden River offers 18 holes, a fishing guide, and catch-and-release-style fishing outings for visitors seeking to add variety to their golf outing. The par-73 course, designed by Michigan native Bruce Matthews III, is laid out in a tranquil setting that the course’s Rainbow Room Restaurant, and its patio overlooking the Maple River, also take advantage of.

Three flat holes interspersed with tall hardwoods characterize the first part of the course while the mischievous remaining sections offer trouble in the form of forest, wetlands, and narrow fairways. The back nine holds shorter holes—only one par four being more than 400 yards—creating some relief from power playing but still requiring careful precision.

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Harbor Point Golf Club 8475 S Lake Shore Dr, Harbor Springs, MI 49740 Harbor Point Golf Course is one of the oldest courses in northern Michigan, and its land has hosted games dating back to the late 1800s. The 18-hole golf course, designed by David Foulis, sports ratings around 68 from the black and green tees, making it a brisk, enjoyable round with small, quick greens.

“It’s a fun old-style golf course that they’ve kind of restored back to some of its older bones; they have the heather grass on the edges of some of the fairways. The topography rolls a bit more and it plays better when its dry, fast, and firm. Nice charming feel and good playability as well as time to play,” said Shaun Bezilla, PGA golf professional at Harbor Point.

As for northern Michigan’s affinity for holding beautiful golf courses with some of the best settings and views in the country, Harbor Point fits right in, added Bezilla, but it is also known for being walkable and playable.

“Harbor Point is a very classic, old resort course; one of the few very walkable golf courses in the area. It plays less than 6,000 yards so it’s not overly long; if you’re a good wedge player and putter you have a good chance to score quite well,” Bezilla said. “In the scheme of what golf is today, it’s a fun course to play and it doesn’t beat

you up but it also challenges even the good players.”

Belvedere Golf Club 5731 Marion Center Rd, Charlevoix, MI 49720 Located just outside Charlevoix, the historic Belvedere Golf Club has been part of northern Michigan’s natural fabric since 1925 when it was designed by architect William Watson, and it is similar to many courses of the British Isles.

In 2017, the club was restored in many ways to its more historic character by architect Bruce Hepner, after original architectural drawings of the Belvedere Golf Club were found in a print shop scheduled for demolition in downtown Charlevoix.

Restoration efforts included converting greens to their original size and adding five new tee boxes. Additionally, 17 bunkers were added or taken out. Hepner has completed other historic restorations by legendary designers such as Donald Ross, A.W Tillinghast, Alister MacKenzie, and Watson.

“The unique thing about Belvedere Golf Club is that the entire golf club is the original design and layout,” said Dennis Joy II, head PGA golf professional at Belvedere Golf Club. “The greens at Belvedere have never been redesigned or reseeded; they are the original Watson design. The walk from green to the next tee is minimal throughout COURTESY BELVEDERE GOLF CLUB

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the golf club, with the longest walk being from the number nine green to the number ten tee.”

The club has hosted 40 Michigan Amateur Championships every year until 1988, and the competition has returned two times since. In 2025, Belvedere is scheduled to host another, in conjunction with the club’s 100-year centennial celebration.

“Belvedere Golf Club is a historical treasure in Northern Michigan. One of the most prominent clubs in Michigan with a history that rivals any other,” Joy said. “Playing at Belvedere is pure golfing treat. No GPS, no alcohol sales, no radios, no beverage carts; just pure golf on a minimalist William Watson-designed club.”

STAY

Stafford’s Perry Hotel in Petoskey 100 Lewis St, Petoskey, MI 49770 With roots that trace back to 1899, the Perry Hotel by Stafford Hospitality has overlooked the Little Traverse Bay for more than 115 years, capturing the charm of the lake town and its surrounding historic Gaslight District with comfort and elegant style through extensively restored interiors and exterior.

The landmark hotel, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Sites, holds 75 guest suites and an array of dining options, from a fresh brunch in the H.O Rose dining room and spirited Noggin Room pub on the lower level, to a summer grille and the Rose Garden Veranda restaurant. Guests can enjoy cozy economy rooms or bayside deluxe rooms overlooking the Rose Garden Veranda and Little Traverse Bay, king suites, and a variety of options in between, making it ideal for larger or multifamily groups seeking a unique respite along the coast.

Terrace Inn and 1911 Restaurant 1637-1549 Glendale Ave, Petoskey, MI 49770 This historic 38-room hotel in Bay View, Petoskey offers vintage charm and an enticing getaway on the Bay Harbor shoreline, surrounded by bluff-side Victorian cottages with views of Little Traverse Bay. Opened in the summer of 1911, the historic site seeks to preserve the friendly, home-like atmosphere guests have been accustomed to for more than a century.

At the inn, lodging options from cozy cottage rooms to King Whirlpool suites packed with amenities like kitchenettes and jetted tubs come with breakfast included.

The former tea room on-site was also converted into the pet-friendly, fully furnished Garden Apartment with a private entrance with room for four. The apartment’s past roles have included an ice cream parlor and

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café, and stylistic touches like the furnished kitchen and ice cream stools give nods to its historic character. For a savory night in, the 1911 Restaurant offers an array of appetizers, entrees, and desserts; as well as a diverse single malt scotch list and extensive wine roster showcasing some of the area’s finest bottles.

Trout Creek Condominium Resort and Vacation Rentals 4749 Pleasant view Rd, Harbor Springs, MI 49740 In Harbor Springs, Trout Creek Condominium Resort and Vacation Rentals serves as a home base for the adventurous family getaway. The resort’s lodging options are as versatile as the year-round activities it offers, with everything from one-bedroom-and-bathroom to five-bedroom and three-bathroom apartments available. Apart from its many golf packages, Trout Creek offers countless activities to the year-round golf explorer or active vacationer, from hiking and snow shoe trails, fishing ponds, and tennis courts, to swimming pools, hot tubs, saunas, a game room, and a fitness center.

Inn and Spa at Bay Harbor Golf Club 3600 Village Harbor Drive,

Bay Harbor, MI 49770-8577 The Inn and Spa at the Bay Harbor Golf Club combines 45 holes of championship golf with a full-service spa and salon, extensive dining options, access to boutique shopping, and nearby marina access for an exceptional Michigan resort experience.

The inn is designed with elegant tributes to grand hotels of the 19th century, with lodging options ranging from comfortable hotel rooms to private cottages. The unique qualities of northern Michigan are even present at the spa, where warmed Petoskey stones and fresh lavender are utilized in luxurious treatments.

Apart from creating an active, refreshing getaway, The Inn and Spa offer a range of dining options from a light bite and tea room, casual café and fresh breakfast buffets overlooking Little Traverse Bay, to a vintage chophouse and wine bar with an upscale lounge. In the warmer months, the Cabana Bar provides live entertainment and a laid-back atmosphere alongside a full menu and refreshing cocktails.

EXPLORE

Pure Mish Sailing Charters 00970 Marina Drive, Boyne City, MI 49712

Canadian Lakes, Michigan ….it’s the GOOD life.

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Organize a customized trip on the calm waters of Lake Charlevoix with the help of Pure Mish Sailing Charters and captain Dan Mishler. Mishler’s sloop-rigged boat and expertise provide foundations for a variety of lake excursions, such as a leisurely day on the water, a sunset cruise, or a multiday expedition. Sailors can bring their own beverages, food, and towels, and the boat is stocked with two private staterooms, a full galley, shower, salon, and comfortable cockpit.

Great Lakes Center for The Arts 800 Bay Harbor Dr, Bay Harbor, MI 49770 Just outside of Petoskey, the Great Lakes Center for the Arts is northern Michigan’s answer to the state-of-the-art venue and arts organization northern Michigan has needed to showcase its many regional and international performances and cultural events. The center, opened formally in 2018, is a social and cultural hub that is active year-round with rich fine and performing arts programming, including theatre, music, dance, film, and educational events. It’s premier summer season alone featured selections with Emmy and Golden Globe award-winning vocal performances,

indoor & outdoor pool fitness area cross county skiing oudoor ice rink snow tubing tow green fees at 2 short courses

Canadian Lakes is a private residential community located just an hour north of Grand Rapids.

Access to all of Canadian Lakes with inclusive amenities is yours with property ownership for less than $700 annually.

Canadian Lakes, Michigan | 10690 Pierce Rd. Canadian Lakes 231.972.7651 | canadianlakes.org

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Go to CanadianLakes.org to learn more and plan a visit.

2/5/20 12:18 PM

SPA AT INN AT BAY HARBOR a Buddy Holly inspired musical, and more.

Odawa Casino 1760 Lears Rd, Petoskey, MI 49770 A staple of Petoskey entertainment, the Odawa Casino’s 50,000-square-foot gaming floor is stocked with new games and beloved classics, and its nightlife offerings comprise the O Zone and Rendezvous Lounge, and performances at the 900-seat Ovation Hall. From full-service restaurant to buffet and café, Odawa also offers dining options for quick bites or relaxed, paced evenings, and its accompanying AAA three-diamond resort hotel offers 127 guest rooms, 10 luxury suites, and comfortable amenities like an indoor pool and hot tub, and views of Little Traverse Bay. Wildwood Rush Zip Line Canopy Tours 2575 Boyne City Rd, Boyne City, MI 49712 Head south to Boyne City to experience an invigorating zipline tour through lush northern Michigan tree canopies. One of Michigan’s largest and first fully certified zip line facilities, Wildwood Rush was established in 2011 on 50 acres of land just outside of the city to add a sustainable and adventurous new recreational program for adventuring in northern Michigan and experiencing the area’s natural ecosystem.

Wildwood Rush was founded on values for forest preservation, and it was designed to minimize tree removal.

More than 7,000 feet of zip lines weave through the forest canopy, sky bridges, and tree-top platforms with views of Lake Charlevoix. Those interested in pushing their boundaries can participate in races on the 1,200-foot triple racing zip line that reaches speeds over 40 miles per hour.

SIP

Petoskey Farms Vineyard & Winery Vineyard & Winery Tasting Room 3720 Atkins Rd, Petoskey, MI 49770 Downtown Petoskey Tasting Room 207A Howard St, Petoskey, MI 49770 Petoskey Farms Vineyards and Winery is part of the Bay View Wine Trail and its tasting room is also tucked among downtown Petoskey’s shops, venues, and eateries. Sample an array of dry and sweet red, white, and fruit wines from the porch, which is heated on brisk fall days; or pair them with a wood fired pizza. At the family-owned vineyard, enjoy wine tastings from a covered outdoor patio overlooking the 22-acre property and its scenic view of the countryside.

Crooked Vine Vineyard and Winery 8370 Lakeview Rd, Alanson, MI 49706 Located a short distance away is the family-owned boutique winery, Crooked Vine

Vineyard and Winery, which takes advantage of its placement in Michigan’s newest American Viticultural Area by growing wine grapes that are relatively new to market, with an approach that seeks to showcase their natural qualities. Crooked Vine selections run from dry reds and whites to semi-sweet and sweet options; and on the drier end is the Marquette Reserve 2018 dry red table wine. Some sweeter options comprise blackberry wine, “Just Peachy Sangria,” and the frontenac gris, a crisp, a semi-sweet white table wine with layers of tropical flavors, peach, and apricot. Enjoy any choice from the covered porch with panoramic views of Petoskey hills and views of the nearby lakes.

Petoskey Brewing Company 1844 M-119, Petoskey, MI 49770 Petoskey Brewing Company’s roots reach back to 1898, when the original “Old Building” was completed. The four-story structure holds traces of 19th century brewing practices, which relied heavily on gravity for the process, and the heartily constructed building has remained relatively untouched since its construction over a century ago.

The modern Petoskey Brewing Company’s year-round taps, in kind, offer classic mainstay pours in two sizes and canned four packs, from a lager and American IPA to a Belgian dubbel. Additionally, the pub menu offers hearty “munchies” alongside classic pub fare, gourmet sandwiches, and paninis.

Beards Brewery 215 E Lake St, Petoskey, MI 49770 After outgrowing its former production facilities and relocating in 2017, Beards Brewery has grown to include a restaurant overlooking Little Traverse Bay, alongside a recently updated outdoor patio space that

features a tap tree, bonfire, and grill menu.

Additionally, Beards Brewery has 24 beers on tap and more than 100 recipes on rotation, and its offerings range from a variety of ales—from cream to scotch—as well as a saison, stouts, and an English style pale ale. Cider offerings include The Sauce, their firsts collaboration with Petoskey Farms Vineyard and Winery, and the list has since expanded with Carrot Cake and Apple Pie ciders.

For a savory pairing, Beards Brewery has an expansive, locally-inspired menu, ranging from wings in house barbecue rub and tossed in a choice of five sauces, to larger bites like soba noodles, sliders, pizzas, and beer battered fish and chips. Beards Brewery also hosts a variety of rotating events at the pub or on the road, from visiting musicians and food pairings to events like the Michigan Beer and Wine Festival.

This Petoskey mainstay’s status in the wider Michigan brewing scene is further solidified by Beards Brewery Co-Owner Peter Manthei’s recent election to the Michigan Brewers Guild’s 2020 board of directors.

Stiggs Brewery & Kitchen 112 S Park St, Boyne City, MI 49712 Stiggs Brewery’s production of quality craft beer takes place in its more-thana-century-old building, which was once the White Timber Logging Company.

The handcrafted, on-site brewing process includes locally-sourced hops, malts, and other ingredients. A consistently evolving lineup of more than 30 taps focuses on seasonal, signature, and more experimental brews, and other additions include local ciders, hand-crafted cocktails, Michigan wines, Northwoods Soda Company beverages, and other beer from Michigan breweries.

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DINE

Chandlers in Petoskey 215 1/2 Howard St, Petoskey, MI 49770 Located in Petoskey’s historic Gaslight District, Chandlers has been a Petoskey favorite since 1999. The space is an intimate 50-seat dining area with a ten-seat bar and a brick courtyard for dining in the warmer months. The progressive American-focused menu changes seasonally and incorporates fresh local fare and is characterized by generous seafood dishes, classic sweets and dessert drinks, brunch specials, and fresh Sunday brunch drinks. The wine cellar, surrounded by 400 varietals of wine and seating up to 50 guests, makes for a cozy and unique location for semi-private and private events.

Legs Inn 6425 N Lake Shore Dr, Cross Village Township, MI 49723 Legs Inn, a family-owned establishment for 100 years, specializes in Polish cuisine, and it is evidenced in an extensive menu that includes Polish lunch and dinner platters, appetizers, and desserts, alongside some international and American classics like goulash and Chicago-style hot dogs. Dishes like pierogis, hunters stew with polish sausage, potato pancakes, and Zurek sour soup comprise some of Legs Inn’s classic Polish

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dishes, while locally caught Great Lakes Whitefish makes its way into regional and American favorites. The historic site where Legs Inn is located also doubles as a music venue and is paired with outdoor garden dining and lakeside rental cottages which are located in a private wooded area with beach and water access, and near historic resort towns and attractions.

Sage 1760 Lears Rd, Petoskey, MI 49770 Within the Odawa Casino, Sage restaurant offers a memorable dining experience among a sophisticated atmosphere. A 16-foot wine tower attended by a steward ensures a favorable wine pairing with Sage’s gourmet fare, including seafood, prime beef, and fresh ingredients. The kitchen’s creativity shows in starters like honey and lavender shrimp or roasted mushroom gnocchi, and entrees like roasted duck enchiladas and thick-cut porterhouse steaks with braised cipollini and roasted shiitake mushroom demi.

day at the resort. A selection of 40 beers, spirits and hand-crafted cocktails pair with American pub fare featuring innovative twists on traditional dishes, as well as creative vegan and gluten free options.

Palette Bistro 321 Bay St, Petoskey, MI 49770 The first restaurant in the Wineguys Restaurant Group collection, Palette Bistro is a Petoskey café with bay views and gourmet Mediterranean dishes and wines. Combinations like roasted chicken Panzanella, chickpea chorizo gyros, margherita pizza, and paella offer savory tastes unique to the area, while settings like the secluded wine bar, private outdoor areas, and spacious upper levels offer different places for events like wine dinners. Another unique facet of the bistro lies in its rotating collection of art works by regional and local artists, such as sculpture, photography, and oil and pastel paintings.

Forty Acres Tavern @ Boyne Mountain 1 Boyne Mountain Rd, Boyne Falls, MI 49713 The Forty Acres Tavern, located in Boyne Mountain Resort is a local gathering space or place to refuel after an active PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY BEARDS BREWERY

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BAY HARBOR YATCH CLUB

The clubhouse vernacular Text: R.J. Weick

“G

olf course design, as I’ve learned through many of the designers we’ve worked with, is its own very specific, emotional, technical, and spiritual journey, and an environmental and landscape one,” said James. D. Nordlie, AIA, president of Archiventure Group PC in Denver, Colorado; Harbor Springs, Michigan; Dana Point, California; and Naples, Florida. “We are there to enhance the golf experience and not overpower it, so the clubhouse becomes a focal point for going out, coming back, and accommodating the many needs of a golf business.”

Archiventure Group is an architectural firm specializing in the design of residential, commercial, and resort projects.

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establishment in 1984, Archiventure is also known for its clubhouse and hotel designs on golf courses in North America and abroad. Its work on the fairway has taken the firm to Michigan-based Tullymore Golf Club, Stanwood; Oakhurst Golf & Country Club, Clarkston; Forest Dunes Golf Club, Roscommon; Bay Harbor Golf Club, Petoskey; and Grand Traverse Resort & Spa, Acme; and as far as the Republic of Georgia, China, India, Russia, Vietnam, and Barbados.

The firm, which is backed by a team of principals and associates, offers client services such as programming, site feasibility, construction administration, and architectural, space, urban, and environmental design—and at its core, embraces a philosophy that architecture is a symbol and a reminder of the hopes and values of society. Each project is meant to deliver a

distinctive architectural statement through a collaborative design process among client, contractor, consultant, and the design team—ultimately ref lecting a consideration for cultural, functional, environmental, and human needs.

“It is creating something workable, inspirational, timeless, and sensitive out of nothing. The design process, if it is done well, is a very rewarding and painstaking process. To do it well, you can’t just throw it together. You have to be your own toughest critic,” Nordlie said. “Design is from nothing to something and I guess that is why I’m in my late 60s and still motivated.”

Prior to launching his own firm, Nordlie began to define his architectural career after graduating from the University of Colorado with a Master of Architecture and then working at Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP in Denver and then at Perkins

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Eastman in New York City as a senior designer and project manager. Nordlie, a Michigan-native hailing from Birmingham and alum of Cranbrook, returned to Denver to launch Archiventure Group and began doing work back in Michigan in the residential and commercial fields to facilitate seeing his family more often.

Archiventure Group worked on the Birmingham Bloomfield Arts Center addition as well as the 151 West Jefferson Tower with Heller-Leaks Architects, and then the firm served as the architect for Bay Harbor Yacht Club and Bay Harbor Golf Club along with JJR, an Ann Arbor-based firm, Nordlie said quite a bit of golf club work in Michigan and Ohio quickly followed.

By the early 2000s, Archiventure Group had expanded its hospitality and golf work to India, China, Vietnam, Russia, and other international locations—which helped the firm during the economic downturn from 2008 to 2012. Currently, the firm still works throughout the Midwest, Colorado, California, Florida, and Arizona, and has planned projects in Vietnam, Ireland, and potentially Zimbabwe, Russia, and Mauritius.

“The golf business has changed and there aren’t as many new clubs being constructed so we are having to go farther to find our work,” Nordlie said.

“Now the problem is the world is very 54

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disruptive politically, so we are being forced into areas that are sometimes war zones, so we have to pick and choose where it is safe to work. I do it because I enjoy the diverse culture and travel, but also, you’ve stepped way out of the box to try to do something different,” Nordlie added.

Whether it is a Hindu, Buddhist, and Islamic-inspired clubhouse at a 27-hole, Nicklaus-designed course; a sweeping modern design in Europe; a traditional shingle-style in Ohio; or the elegant grandeur atop a rolling terrain in Michigan; there is a respect for the surrounding environment, culture, and history, and a skillful management of the multifunctional needs inherent to clubhouses.

“It is f low, access, food and beverage, locker rooms, instruction, gathering, and families. The building type is a very diverse and complex building that is interesting to design. If you mix in the history of golf and then the culture and history of the local area, it becomes a very interesting piece of architecture,” Nordlie said.

“It is fun and it gets you out in nature and in unique areas anywhere in the world.

I decided many years ago I would try to find building types that allowed me to go to places I had never been before,” Nordlie added.

In terms of the project type, there are a number of different matters that need

to be considered when approaching a new clubhouse, lodging, or related work on golf courses. Nordlie noted the projects are often driven by budget, membership, usage, capacity, size of the site, and views—both inward and outward related to the course— and f low of the building for users, members, guests, staff, service, and delivery.

“The experience starts as you approach the building and it continues throughout the use of the building, out to the golf course and back, and then as you leave.

There is a sensitivity issue of not overpowering the site and also working with the golf designer, who really—as I tell my designers—if their course was not there, nobody would come to see my building,” Nordlie said. “I have an extreme respect for the golf designers we work with and they have been equally as kind to refer new work to us.”

The budget itself can play a rather large role in driving the design process for a golf clubhouse, inf luencing the balance between spatial requirement and aesthetic look of the building. Understated elegance or dramatic statement also has to be comfortable and maintainable without exceeding the budget, since the bottom line also often includes food and beverage, golf course maintenance, pro shop, and hospitality and lodging. Nordlie said it is a puzzle of putting the right pieces together so the end user only sees a comfortable, inviting,

and workable f low—and equally enjoyable experience—while having all of the supporting elements needed for a clubhouse to function.

“When we are in hotels, the most important part sometimes is the back of house. It’s a challenging building type and you want to work it into the history and culture,” Nordlie said. “Tullymore was a fairly tight budget, smaller building, and more of a closed community of residents and guests so we tried to make it look like the building had been there for a while so it grows naturally into the site and the site naturally embraces it.”

For Forest Dunes, Nordlie noted while now the venue has cottages and other lodging, the setting at the time was more for the elite golfer who f lies in specifically to play Tom Weiskopf or Tom Doak courses and the clubhouse had to ref lect that it was a standalone destination.

“The clubhouse was mainly a statement for high-level member user with a sense of discovery and tradition,” Nordlie said.”

Though Nordlie said there is rarely an “Aha!” moment during the process due its complex design, there are times late at night when he is sketching that the plan starts to settle down, the massing begins to build up, and the façade and nature of it comes to life.

“It takes care and a strong willingness to be a tough critic of yourself to get it right. I think in the end you have a gel point where you have refined everything inside and outside schematically and then OAKHURST GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY ARCHIVENTURE GROUP P.C.

you have to put it into workable drawings that are well done, that are well-detailed,” Nordlie said. “It’s about the people. There has to be a chemistry there; it is a very team-based operation. It is not me coming in and telling them what they need to do: it is back and forth.”

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Text: R.J. Weick

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he green is often the equalizer of all play on the course. Even a perfect game from tee-off and navigation of hazards to avoiding surrounding rough culminates in a test of mental and physical strength—and performance of equipment.

It becomes a game of inches, if not millimeters, where the slightest inconsistency or miscalculation is the difference in all that stands before player and golf hole.

In October 2019, Odyssey, a Callaway Golf Company global brand, announced the release of two new putter models to its Stroke Lab family lines. Innovative in design and engineered for performance, Odyssey Stroke Lab Black Ten and Odyssey Stroke Lab Black Bird of Prey are a solution in dynamics and consistency, ultimately meant to improve a player’s stroke from backswing and face-angle impact, to alignment, ball speed, and ball direction.

Sean Toulon, senior vice president of Callaway and general manager of Odyssey, stated the new Stroke Lab Black Ten and Stroke Lab Black Bird of Prey Putters are truly remarkable with all of the premium technologies and performances offered.

“Stroke Lab has revolutionized the putter category by fundamentally improving the rhythm and consistency in a golfer’s stroke,” Toulon said. “We’re combining it with all the forgiveness from these super high MOI head shapes with one goal in mind: to help every golfer make more putts.”

Odyssey has produced putters in the game of golf since its founding in 1991 and became part of the Callaway Golf Company’s global brand portfolio in 1997.

Callaway, headquartered in Carlsbad,

COURTESY CALLAWAY GOLF COMPANY

California, has become one of the world’s largest golf equipment and active lifestyle companies since its establishment in 1982.

Founded by Ely Callaway, the golf company strives to create innovative, high-performance golf clubs, golf balls, and other equipment, and has grown its portfolio of brands to include: Odyssey, OGIO, TravisMathew, and Jack Wolfskin.

“High MOI mallets have benefits in putting in terms of forgiveness, much like they would in drivers, so when you miss the center of the face, which everyone does even with a putter, you maintain more ball speed and directional control. It is a category we are always interested in and try to be leaders in,” said Luke Williams, senior global product director for Odyssey at Callaway.

“We wanted to have a launch at the end of the year at a time when we normally don’t to create some excitement in the market and keep Odyssey front-of-mind. We came up with these two shapes and felt like they were a good pair to put out together,” Williams added.

The Odyssey Stroke Lab Black Ten and Odyssey Stroke Lab Black Bird of Prey complement an existing line of Stroke Lab putters—six mallets and four blades integrated with White Hot Microhinge inserted in the face—where a unique weighting strategy has had an impact in rhythm, tempo, consistency, and head swing. By using a multi-material shaft of graphite and a steel tip—with more mass concentrated in the tip—Stroke Lab putters redistribute the weight with an added 10 grams to the head using two sole weights and an added 30 grams to the grip-end.

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For the Odyssey Stroke Lab Black Ten and Odyssey Stroke Lab Black Bird of Prey, multi-material head construction, hi-def alignment, and a new Microhinge Star Insert are not only meant to create more stability and increase ease to setup at address, but also a firmer feel and sound of impact.

Williams noted the larger, oversized mallets have extremely high MOI—higher than any other putter in their line—and are extremely easy to align with the hi-def alignment aide.

The Ten and Bird of Prey are both offered in a double-bend option, and the Ten is also available with an S-neck option for players who like a little more face rotation in their stroke. The Ten, in particular, was prompted

by Tour player interest in its style of putter.

“Whenever we are designing a line of putters, we will have a range of shapes. We have some traditional blades we would have in the line, like One and Nine—Double Wide is a new model for us—but we want to have a range where we have conventional mallets and have some progressive mallet shapes,” Williams said. “We want to have that broad offering with a little bit of something for everyone.”

Williams also noted the industrial team led by Austie Rollinson, chief designer for Odyssey at Callaway, will conduct a lot of exploration particularly around progressive

mallet shapes since those are new and tend to push convention.

“We will do a lot of ideation around concepts for more progressive mallets and then we whittle that down, refine them, and maybe combine ideas in order to come up with a couple that we think are unique and can be exciting in the marketplace,” Williams said.

Though Callaway and Odyssey unveiled Odyssey Stroke Lab Black Ten and Odyssey Stroke Lab Black Bird of Prey on October 15, 2019, with putters available nationwide as of November 1, 2019, the Stroke Lab Black Ten had already been put in play on Tour by a number of players, such as Phil Mickelson, who had previously used Callaway’s Nine and Eight shape with a more traditional blade and toe-hang. “[Mickelson] was really pleased with how it was performing for him. He was someone we probably wouldn’t have expected to move into the Ten, so I think that was a little bit eye-opening for us and showed us the putter really has a broad appeal,” Williams said.

“It has exceeded our expectations for sure. Bringing this shape out got a lot of attention and a few consistent comments we get is the players just love the way it sits on the ground. It sets up very consistently, it is

very square at address, the line angle looks good to the eye, they like the shape, and it is very easy to align,” Williams added.

Both Stroke Lab Black putters also feature the new Microhinge Star Insert, which builds upon the technology of the White Hot Microhinge, but is firmer and has more sound since the grooves were taken out. The White Hot Microhinge face insert was introduced with the initial release of the Stroke Lab putters in January 2019 and combined Callaway’s White Hot-feel with embedded microhinges across the face to promote topspin and distance control.

“When you are designing golf clubs, it is really balancing the form and the function.

Sometimes what the function would dictate may be a shape or form that is not going to be pleasing to golfers’ eyes. We could have a putter that performs better than anything on the market, but if nobody wants to look down at that putter, no one is going to pick it off a rack and hit putts with it, then it doesn’t matter,” Williams said.

“Design is very subjective. What some people like and others maybe don’t, so the challenge is coming up with new designs that will excited golfers, that will get them to want to try something, and then having not only the performance that they are expecting, but also a look that excites them.”

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American Dunes Text: R.J. Weick

T

ucked behind the windswept, towering sand dunes on the eastern shore of Lake Michigan in Ottawa County, Michigan, where pines have become as characteristic as the maple, beech, and hemlock before them, a golf club is undergoing a shift in direction of its own. Initially carved and shaped into the sandy soil by Bruce Matthews Sr. and Jerry Matthews, the Grand Haven Golf Club has welcomed generations of players to tackle the pinedense course for more than 50 years.

It quickly established itself as a top public course in the nation and re-emerged as a golf destination when Rooney Golf Group LLC acquired the golf club in 1998. Less than a decade later, it became known as the birthplace of the Folds of Honor Foundation after the Grand Haven Golf Club hosted the nonprofit organization’s first fundraising event in 2006 benefiting families of fallen heroes in Michigan.

Yet, time, as it is often want to do, proved hard on the course as trees began to tighten the fairways and the economic hardship of the 2008 recession lingered on the greens. With an unfavorable prospect of the club as it was headed for bankruptcy, Lt. Colonel Dan Rooney, PGA professional, chief executive officer and founder of Fold of Honor Foundation, and co-owner of the former Grand Haven Golf Club, decided to pursue a vision of reinventing the golf course as a destination that not only honored veterans, but also served as a vehicle to provide support to spouses and children of America’s fallen and disabled service-members. “[Lt. Colonel Rooney] didn’t want to see 60

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it go under and not be a golf course, because it was the first location that an event was held to raise money for a young man whose father was killed overseas in our military service. It raised a little over $8,700 and it eventually turned into the Folds of Honor Foundation that has give more than 20,000 scholarships to date to spouses and children of our military members,” said Doug Bell, PGA professional, general manager of the American Dunes Golf Club in Grand Haven.

“He had this vision of doing something great. He spoke to a few very strong supporters of Folds of Honor and friends of his around the country and they said: ‘Let’s do it. Let’s invest and make this thing a special place,’” Bell added.

Grand Haven Golf Club’s role as inaugural host is a significant one, as the event would go on to inspire the Folds of Honor Foundation and Patriot Golf Day that has awarded nearly $22 million in educational support since 2007. In the course of 13 years, approximately 24,500 scholarships have been awarded, with about 4,500 granted in 2019 alone. Bearing this in mind, Lt. Colonel Rooney turned to long-time supporter of the foundation, Jack Nicklaus, who was named Honorary Chairman of Patriot Golf Day in 2017, to have a dialogue about the idea of reimaging the Grand Haven Golf Club as American Dunes Golf Club.

Though Nicklaus noted at the time he had largely left the golf course design business to focus on charity work with his wife, Barbara Nicklaus, and turned over the design work to his sons and staff, Nicklaus

agreed to take a look at the course, according to Bell.

“He flew up with Barbara, took a look at the golf course, thought about it, called [Lt. Colonel Rooney], and asked, ‘the goal of this project is the money will go to charity?’

The answer was ‘yes,’ so [Nicklaus] said, ‘I’m all in; I’ll design you a golf course,’” Bell said.

Nicklaus and Nicklaus Companies LLC team returned the following spring to begin initial planning and design work for an 18-hole Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course, with construction and tree removal breaking ground in late March and April of 2019. With an initial vision of transforming the Grand Haven Golf Club course into a user-friendly, high-quality golf experience, Nicklaus and Nicklaus Design began reshaping the land into a layout that players would return to over and again.

“As the project developed and [Nicklaus] made multiple visits, the design shifted a little bit and became a bigger golf course, a longer golf course, while still keeping in mind the average person who enjoys the game from a relaxation standpoint,” Bell said.

The design team, which not only comprised Nicklaus and Chris Cochran, senior designer at Nicklaus Design, but also Superior Golf Concepts and Jon Scott Agronomic Consulting, among others, also pay homage to the landscape, where windblown sandy soil is an inherent and unique characteristic to the region. Overgrown and tree-dense, the course has been opened up and left to breathe with wild dunes— or waste bunkers—traveling up along the

right, left, or across each hole.

“We took a golf course that was a bowling alley, that was so tight that it was claustrophobic to the average player who didn’t play here every day, and though we haven’t removed every tree from the property, we have removed enough that they opened it up and exposed all of the sand dunes that are in this area,” Bell said. “You can’t play a hole without it coming into play right, left, or in front of you.”

Bell also noted not only are the dunes an exciting element of the design, but also having more space in the layout, which is a movement in course design that has become popular in the last decade or so.

“I’ve been very fortunate to have played some of the best courses in the country— and in the Caribbean—that have come online in the last 10-to-15 years and there is a trend to see more open space, bigger and wider fairways, less trees, and let the elements and wind come into play,” Bell said.

“If we want to make it a little bit fast and firm, we could challenge some people who are pretty good players,” Bell added in reference to the new American Dunes Golf Club course.

By November 2019, major earthwork had been completed with nine holes seeded—six of which had tees, greens, and fairways mowed. Bell noted the club will head into spring with grass growing on nine holes and three additional holes shaped, approved, and irrigated. The three holes are scheduled for seeding first thing in the spring along with the driving range. The remaining six holes were shaped throughout the course of November, December, and part of January by bulldozer and are awaiting approval by Nicklaus in the spring.

“One gentleman stayed behind, the main shaper on the project, and shaped the final six holes. We had a few visits by the architect team and got it to a stage where we are waiting on a visit by Nicklaus in mid-April,” Bell said. “He will take a look at those final six holes and make sure they are how he envisioned them, how he wanted them, and if he blesses them—says to irrigate and seed—it will just need irrigating, handwork to touch them up, seeding, and then letting her grow in.”

Though both course and name will change, Grand Haven Golf Club’s legacy for supporting veterans and service-members— and those lives touched by them—will endure. Historically, the club has featured signage, flags, and brochures commemorating its relationship with the nonprofit organization, and now when the club re-opens as of August 1, 2020 with its first nine holes, it will feature an immersive educational experience that begins the moment players step into the parking lot.

“I’m sure many people came here,

played golf, went home, and never realized that this is where it started or even knew about what Folds of Honor was or is; that is just a numbers game. Going forward, there will not be a chance that you can’t. As soon as you pull in the parking lot, you are going to know you are at someplace different,” Bell said.

“When you start to walk to the clubhouse, you are going to walk up through the story of Folds of Honor from its beginnings to current day. You may even be walking in the boot prints of KIAs; you will have plaques on either side of you with names of scholarship recipients; and if a person shows up and didn’t know, they get inside and our staff will take it from there,” Bell added.

The educational experience will also extend beyond the clubhouse out onto the fairway, where each hole will feature stories of military veterans, fallen heroes, service-members, and Folds of Honor Scholarship recipients that will rotate every so often. Bell said the intent is to honor all veterans of all services and branches, with the goal of moving people.

“The plaques will change out and tell a different story so if a person visits multiple times, they will have a different understanding and depth of how Folds has touched the lives of so many kids, wives, and husbands across the country,” Bell said.

“We know people will come for the golf course—in all likelihood it may be [Nicklaus’] last golf course—and [Lt. Colonel Rooney’s] hope is when they leave, they will pick up the phone and call a buddy or family member that has served, or a friend who may have lost a family member in the services and take them out for coffee, beer, or dinner. He wants people to be moved beyond golf,” Bell added.

Weather dependent, American Dunes Golf Club’s grand opening for the completed 18-hole Jack Nicklaus Signature Course is anticipated for spring 2021. Bell also noted Nicklaus has donated his services to the project along with Lt. Colonel Rooney and his partners, who have decided they will not take anything back out of the project. Once American Dune Golf Club makes a profit, 100 percent of all funds will be donated to the Folds of Honor Foundation.

Bell, who has a personal tie to the foundation through his wife and step-children, who lost their father at a young age in military service and are Folds of Honor Scholarship recipients, said he is excited to have the opportunity to be a part of the American Dunes story.

“I’m excited to be here and steer the ship with our family story and just do all we can for all the other scholarship recipients and families we have met in the last many years,” Bell said. “When somebody is applying for that scholarship, it isn’t because things are all rosy in the family.

It’s nice to be able to give back, work long hours, and know it is going to an end goal that is different than in the past.”

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WHITE PINE WINERY

Crafted:

the wine series Text: R. Collins

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For decades, Michigan has been generating a name for itself as a premier wine-making destination within the Midwest and broader United States, with about 208 wineries dotting its landscapes by 2017, according to the Michigan Craft Beverage Council. In Michigan, wine making constitutes an approximately $2.1 billion industry that spreads along the eastern coast of Lake

Michigan, where the state’s piece of the famed 45th parallel lies, and beyond.

Northwestern areas like the Old Mission and Leelanau Peninsulas have long held credibility and recognition as Michigan’s “wine country,” where traditional and innovative methods of wine making are constantly being cultivated and practiced.

However, the Lake Michigan Shore

ABOVE : WHITE PINE WINERY; OPPOSITE PAGE: LEMON CREEK WINERY

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Wine Trail to the south has also gained momentum as a prominent destination of its own, and Michigan’s largest American Viticultural Area, or AVA, which extends from Fennville in the north to St. Joseph and Kalamazoo, before bending south to the Michigan and Indiana border.

Its location also reaps the benefits of Michigan’s dynamic four seasons; the warmth of lake waters to the west and protective frosting of lake effect snow can create unique late bud bursts in the spring and growing seasons that roll well into the fall, with opportunities to nurture tender budded grape varieties in the winter.

In this issue of The Golf Explorer: Michigan’s Journal to Incredible Golf, we decided to take a closer look at the wineries and vineyards—and their savory offerings—that stud the Lake Michigan Shore Wine Trail, as well as the Old Mission Peninsula’s mainstays—and some newer additions—to the north.

Lake Michigan Shore Wine Trail NORTH Fenn Valley Vineyards Winery: 6130 122nd Avenue, Fennville, MI 49408 Downtown Saugatuck Tasting Room: 310 Butler Street, Saugatuck, MI 49453 Located five miles from Lake Michigan

and just south of Holland, the 240-acre Fenn Valley Estate in Fennville, Michigan has been producing world-class wines from the lakeshore’s bounty of grapes vines since 1973, when its family-owned-and-operated vineyard and winery complex was established.

Fenn Valley’s 90 acres of vineyard land were originally fitted with grape varieties like vidal, chancellor, and vignoles, which were later joined by vinifera varieties like riesling and chardonnay in the 1970s, and pinot noir and pinot gris soon after.

The winery utilizes the lake effect cast

by Lake Michigan into the state’s western regions, producing cold tender grapes and other varietals with the help of the moderate climate and the vineyard’s naturally sandy, sloping terrain. From these conditions, the winery creates crisp, well-balanced white and sparkling wines, as well as canned ciders and fruit wines made from regional staples like cherries, blueberries, and even peaches and raspberries under the right conditions.

Though the same climate can create a trickier environment for producing high quality red wines, Michigan has proven its ability to produce delicious, award winning options time after time. Fenn Valley’s varieties are no exception; nearly 40 years of experience and the unique lakeside location result in reds like the modest, crisp merlot

with chocolate and dark fruit undertones, or the pleasantly dry meritage blend.

Also to the north: Cogdal Vineyards - 7143 107th Ave, South Haven, MI 49090 CENTRAL White Pine Winery 317 State Street, St. Joseph, MI. Located central on the trail, in the port town of St. Joseph, White Pine Winery is known for producing aromatic whites such as riesling and pinot gris, and fruit-driven reds like merlot and syrah.

White Pine Founder and Michigan Wine Collaborative President Dr. Dave Miller, whose educational tenure in the wine industry includes 12 years on Michigan State University’s research winery production team, credits the uniqueness of White Pine wines to Michigan’s unique soils and climate, as well as a traditionally-driven, hands-on approach to wine making in some instances.

“I use Old World wine making techniques, which include a lot of hands-on work like stirring lees in barrels, barrel aging of red and some white wines, and so on. The extra work shows in the texture and complexity of the wines,” Miller said.

For new White Pine visitors looking to gather an idea of its offerings and approach to the art of wine making, Miller recom-

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plete ripening. A love of the land also drives the sustainable effort; from composting and reutilizing winery waste water, to utilizing weed growth as a natural snow fence in the winter and vine growth pacer in the summer.

“We love being part of the local agricultural community and sharing with our customers our love of our land,” Miller said.

Also central on the trail: 12 Corners Vineyards - 1201 N. Benton Center Road, Benton Harbor MI 49022

mends two of the winery’s original f lagship wines: the Reserve Riesling—made in the style of a German kabinett—and the Bordeaux-style Serendipity red blend.

With just a 10 percent alcohol content thanks to a prematurely halted fermentation process, the riesling’s leftover trace of natural sugars balances its acidity and touches lightly on the palate. As for the Serendipity, 12 months of French oak barrel

aging yield complex f lavors, aromas and tannins for structure according to Miller, who noted that its shelf life—easily 10 years—is as promising as a fresh pour.

Another unique aspect of White Pine’s wine production is its focus on sustainable practices. No synthetic fertilizers are used in the vinicultural process, and a canopy management system opens fruit to more sun exposure, enabling an even and com-

EAST Lawton Ridge Winery 8456 Stadium Dr, Kalamazoo, MI 49009 The location for Lawton Ridge Winery’s production, tasting room, lab, and private tasting and class space is as notable as the red and white wine varieties it produces.

The 4,400-square-foot facility, located in the heart of Kalamazoo, Michigan is a converted 1930s diner built on the roadway that once served as the main highway between Detroit and Chicago. It is also one of the few wineries in the area, making it an equally rare stop on the Lake Michigan Shore Wine Trail.

The winery’s formation is also rooted in its location, which neighbors Kalamazoo College and Western Michigan University.

A handful of WMU graduates established the vineyard in the early 1970s on a former peach orchard near Lawton, Michigan, which was rich in high grounds, and soon became home to varietals like chambourcin and pinot grigio. The vineyard’s harvests appeared in its first commercial vintage in 2007 and its first in-house vintage in 2008, as well as in some of St. Julian’s wines nearby in Paw Paw, Michigan.

As for recent selections, reds like Azo Red, a supple semi-dry wine with hints of black raspberry, and the Two-Handed Red, a dry blend with a peppery finish, have garnered several awards regionally and internationally, including the Indy International Wine Competition and the Michigan Wine Competition. Since Lawton Ridge distributes wines in select regional locations, an in-house visit makes for a special trip along the continually developing wine trail.

Also to the east: Warner Vineyards Tasting Room - 19 N Whittaker St, New Buffalo, MI 49117 SOUTH Lemon Creek Winery Berrien Springs Winery: 533 East Lemon Creek Road, Berrien Springs, MI 49103 Grand Haven Tasting Room: 327 North Beacon Blvd., Grand Haven MI, 49417 Lemon Creek Winery’s roots can be traced back to 1834 when the Lemon family first arrived in Berrien Springs, and they are distinguished by more-than-a-century of grape- and fruit-growing experience.

With over 100 unique holes, you’re sure to enjoy the greener side of Benzie County when you play our scenic fairways and take in the views of our dramatic vistas. For more on golf, events or lodging, go to visitbenzie.com.

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According to the winery, the land hosted the first commercial planting of sauvignon blanc in the state of Michigan, and the winery continues the tradition with a sauvignon blanc ice wine edition.

A summery semi-sweet like the Silver Beach Sauterne with its ripe pineapple, honey, and peach f lavors marks the sweeter offerings of Lemon Creek’s diversified collection, while reds like the 2017 Meritage packs six red wine grape varietals into a concentrated meritage to round out drier offerings.

The family farms encompass more than 300 acres of loamy, rolling vineyards and orchards, with approximately 170 acres of grapes for wine and 60 acres of fruit varieties, which are either pre-picked or can be picked by guests. Apart from interactive seasonal picking, the winery also offers home winemaker events, wine festivals, wine tastings, culinary events, and fruit-season farmer’s markets to connect with visitors and create a distinctive wine trail getaway.

Also to the south: Hickory Creek Winery - 750 Browntown Road, Buchanan, MI 49107 OLD MISSION PENINSULA NORTH 2 Lads Winery 16985 Smokey Hollow Road, Traverse City, MI 49686

Sustainable farming and a specialization in cool climate red wines, sparkling wines, and small-run white wines distinguish 2 Lads Winery’s 58 acres on the Old Mission peninsula. Also unique is the multi-level, 10,500-square-foot production facility itself, which houses gravity f low and gentle handling systems to save energy while processing juice and wine to yield preserved natural aromatics and develop complexity.

Accessible red blends like the 2018 Rola Red and mature picks like the acclaimed 2016 Cabernet Franc mark the winery’s red spectrum, while a collection of four white wines—plus a rosé—brings lighter offerings to the banquet. The tasting experience is deepened by 90-minute tasting tours— and curated small bites—that are available to visitors interested in learning about the winemaking process from vine to bottle.

Also to the north: Chateau Chantal - 15900 Rue Devin, Traverse City, MI 49686 CENTRAL Tabone Vineyards 14916 Peninsula Drive, Traverse City, Michigan 49686, United States Tabone Vineyard’s focus on bright, dry, fruit-forward, small-batch wines is evidenced on its 30-acre Old Mission Peninsula site, where grape varieties like pinot gris, riesling, and chardonnay grow

alongside apples, peaches, and cherries.

From the bottle, dry, sweet, and semisweet wines alike have been acclaimed by both regional and international wine competitions, marking the winery’s stance in the regional market since its establishment, which was pre-dated by nearly two decades of grape-growing experience in the area.

The 2014 Estate Reisling was part of Tabone’s first commercial production— which was limited to just 74 cases— and it received a gold medal at the Indy International Wine Competition in 2019.

Additionally, the crisp and lightly tropical, 100 percent estate grown 2017 Semi-Sweet Pinot Gris won double golf from the Tasters Guild International Wine Judging competition in 2019.

Brys Estate Vineyard and Winery 3309 Blue Water Road, Traverse City, MI 49686 On a 91-acre site—once a cherry orchard—the vines on Brys Estate Vineyard and Winery’s property have quadrupled in number since the estate’s first planting of vinifera grapes in 2001. The vines produce varietals for a 2016 Artisan Merlot and 2017 Artisan Dry Riesling, both packed with rich fruit f lavors, from plum and fig jam, to white peach and apricot, respectively.

In 2017, the estate also released its Signature Red Reserve, a full-bodied red MARI VINEYARDS

OPPOSITE PAGE: COURTESY TABONE VINEYARDS; ABOVE: MARI VINEYARDS

MICHIGANGOLFEXPLORER.COM

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wine softly underscored by f lavors like coffee beans, vanilla, licorice, and chocolate, alongside the distinctive qualities of aged French Oak. The f lowering f lavors in Brys Estate’s wines are mirrored in its Secret Garden and garden shop, where more than 6,000 lavender plants f lourish amongst strawberry and blueberry patches, and a fresh f lower and herb garden.

The estate further tailors its tastes to season, offering timely favorites like pinot noir or riesling rosé and spiked hot apple cider, alongside a seasonal upper deck offering elevated views of East Grand Traverse Bay and the sprawling vineyard at its threshold.

Also central: Bowers Harbor Vineyards - 2896 Bowers Harbor Rd, Traverse City, MI 49686 SOUTH Mari Vineyards 8175 Center Rd. Traverse City, MI 49686 In 2006, an initial cross-planting within Mari Vineyard’s mysterious first seven vine rows led to its first vintage called Row 7 which, quite appropriately, had a unique f lavor of its own.

“This is a field blend made from our very first plot of grapes planted in 1999,” said Jenna Viega, marketing and events manager at Mari Vineyards. “The grapes

were haphazardly planted by a well-intentioned mistake, and ended up making our most popular wine.”

Building on the success of Row 7, the vineyards now house more than 60 acres holding approximately 20 grape varieties, from petit verdot and refosco to syrah and chardonnay.

“Additionally, I would highly recommend trying our rieslings,” Viega said.

“Our winemaker, Sean O’Keefe, studied in Germany. He’s known for creating true ‘acid bomb’ rieslings, comparable to those of the Rhine region in Germany.”

Mari’s commitment to raising the profile of Michigan’s red wine offerings is also paired with a commitment to sustainability, which includes a 31,000-square-foot carbon-neutral building. Production also includes a hoop house system used by about 10 percent of the vineyard to raise grapes to an unprecedented maturity level, creating f lavorful, full bodied red wines, Viega explained. In addition to its range of award-winning reds, an exciting new project will yield a new product in Mari’s diversified portfolio.

“We are embarking on a big cider experiment, where we will release a rotating stock of apple ciders, some even made using pressed grape skins from the 2019 harvest,” Viega said. “We will also see new

reds released as well as the return of some old favorites.”

Also to the south: Black Star Farms - 360 McKinley Rd E, Traverse City, MI 49686 Complement a trip along the Lake Michigan Shore Wine Trail with this collection of golf courses, or the Four Winds Casino Resort in New Buffalo.

Lake Michigan Hills Golf Club 2520 Kerlikowske Rd Benton Harbor, MI 49022 Harbor Shores 201 Graham Ave Benton Harbor, MI 49022 Ravines Golf Club 3520 Palmer Dr Saugatuck, MI 49453 Whittaker Woods Golf Club 12578 Wilson Rd New Buffalo, MI 49117 Four Winds Casino Resort 11111 Wilson Rd New Buffalo, MI 49117

MARI VINEYARDS

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COURTESY MARI VINEYARDS

MICHIGANGOLFEXPLORER.COM

GRAND TRAVERSE RESORT & SPA

Acme | 54 Public | grandtraverseresort.com | 800-236-1577 NILE YOUNG PHOTOGRAPHY

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BERRIEN Berrien Hills

Benton Harbor 18 Public berrienhills.com 269-925-9002

Blossom Trails

ALLEGAN Chesire Hills

Allegan 27 Public chesirehills.com 269-673-2882

Clearbrook

Saugatuck 18 Public clearbrookgolfclub.com 269-857-2000

Diamond Springs

Hamilton 18 Public diamondspringsgolf.com 269-751-4545

HawksHead

South Haven 18 Public hawksheadlinks.com 269-639-2121

Lake Doster

Plainwell 18 Public lakedostergolf.com 269-685-5308

Lake Monterey

Dorr 9 Public N/A 616-896-8118

Lynx Golf Course

Otsego 18 Public lynxGC.com 269-694-5969

Orchard Hills

Shelbyville 27 Public orchardhillsgc.com 269-672-7096

Ravines

Saugatuck 18 Public ravinesgolfclub.com 269-857-1616

South Haven GC

South Haven 18 Public N/A 269-637-3896

Winding Creek

Holland 27 Public windingcreekgolfclub.com 616-396-4516

BARRY Gun Ridge

Hastings 9 Public gunridgegolf.com 269-948-8366

Benton Harbor 27 Public blossomtrailsgolfclub.com 269-925-4951

Brookwood

Buchanan 18 Public golfbrookwood.com 269-695-7818

Chikaming CC

Lakeside 18 Private chicamingcc.org 269-469-5484

Whittaker Woods

New Buffalo 18 Public golfwhittaker.com 269-469-3400

Coldwater 18 Public bellavistagolf.com 517-238-6085 bronsongolf.com

Golf Club of Coldwater

Coldwater 18 Semi-Private golfclubofcoldwater.com 517-279-2100

Dunes Club

Iyopawa Island

Grand Beach

Quincy GC

New Buffalo 9 Private N/A 269-469-5539 New Buffalo 9 Public N/A 269-469-4888

Harbor Shores

Benton Harbor 18 Public HarborShoresLife.com 269-927-4653

Indian Lake Hills

Eau Claire 27 Public indianlakehills.com 269-782-2540

Lake Michigan Hills

Benton Harbor 18 Public lmhgolf.com 269-849-2722

Lost Dunes

Bridgeman 18 Private lostdunes.com 269-465-9300

Orchard Hills

Buchanan 18 Private orchardhillscc.com 269-695-5722

Paw Paw Lake

Edwardsburg 9 Public N/A 269-663-6463

Bella Vista

Bronson 18 Public 517-369-6745

Coldwater 9 Public N/A 517-238-2216 Quincy 9 Public N/A 517-639-4491

CALHOUN Alwyn Downs

Marshall 18 Public N/A 269-781-3905

Battle Creek CC

Battle Creek 18 Private battlecreekcc.com 269-962-6121

Bedford Valley

Battle Creek 18 Public gulllakeview.com 269-965-3385

Binder Park

Battle Creek 27 Public binderparkgulf.com 269-979-8250

Cedar Creek

Battle Creek 18 Public cedargolfclub.com 269-965-6423

Park Shore

St. Louis 18 Public hiddenoaksgolf.com 989-681-3404

Spruce Ridge

Ithaca 18 Public N/A 989-875-4612

Dowagiac 36 Public hampshire36.com 269-782-7476 Cassopolis 18 Public parkshoregolfclub.com 269-445-2834 Dowagiac 18 Public golfspruceridge.com 269-782-5827

CLARE

Ithaca 18 Public N/A 989-875-3841

Pine River CC

Clare 18 Public fireflygolflinks.com 989-386-3510

Alma 18 Private pinerivercc.net 989-463-4610

Snow Snake

Ridge

Harrison 18 Public 989-539-6583

showsnake.net

The Tamaracks

Harrison 18 Public thetamaracks.com 989-539-5441

CLINTON Chardell GC

Bath 9 Semi-Private N/A 517-641-4123

The Emerald

St. Johns 18 Public emeraldgolfcourse.com 989-224-6287

Hawk Hollow

Duck Lake

Falcon at Hawk Hollow

Albion 18 Private ducklakecc.com 517-629-8650

Northstar

Firefly Golf Links

Eagle Eye at Hawk Hollow

Eau Claire 18 Public N/A 269-944-1611

Gratiot CC

Overbrook

Farwell 18 Public golfeagleglen.com 989-588-4424

Custer Greens

Battle Creek 9 Public N/A 269-968-7398

Hidden Oaks

Eagle Glen

Pebblewood

Battle Creek 18 Public cedargolfclub.com 269-979-7277

GRATIOT The Fields

Ithaca 18 Public thefieldsgolfcourse.com 989-875-4612

Cedar Farms

Pipestone Creek

Charlotte 18 Public N/A 517-543-0570

Hampshire/Dogwood Trail

Watervliet 18 Public pawpawlakegolfcourse.com 269-463-3831 Bridgman 18 Public golfpebblewood.com 269-465-5611

Twin Brook

Bath 27 Public hawkhollow.com 517-641-4295 Bath 18 Public hawkhollow.com 517-641-4295 Bath 9 Public hawkhollow.com 517-641-4295

Middleton 9 Public golfoverbrook.com 989-236-5357

Breckenridge 9 Public N/A 989-842-1510

HILLSDALE Hillsdale Golf & CC

Hillsdale 9 Private N/A 517-437-2201

Jenkings GC

Litchfield 9 Public N/A 517-542-3121

Lake LeAnn GC

Jerome 9 Public N/A 517-688-3445

Mill Race

Jonesville 9 Public millracegolfcourse.com 517-849-9439

White Oaks

Hillsdale 18 Public N/A 517-437-3434

IONIA Candlestone Inn

Plym Park

Marshall CC

Highland Hills Golf Club

Point O’ Woods

Marywood

Prairie Creek

Huckleberry Creek

Mullenhurst

Delton 18 Public N/A 269-623-8383

Benton Harbor 18 Private pointowoods.com 269-944-1433

Signal Point

The Medalist

Royal Scot

Iron Horse

Yankee Springs

Woodside

Morrison Lake

Bath 12 Public hawkhollow.com 517-641-4295

Saranac 18 Public N/A 616-642-9528

Twin Oaks

Portland CC

Legacy At Hastings

Hastings 18 holes public legacyathastings.com 269-945-2756

Wayland 27 Public playyankeegolf.com 269-795-9047

Niles 9 Public N/A 269-684-7331

Niles 18 Private signalpointgolf.clm 269-683-7073

Marshall 18 Public marshallcountryclub.com 269-781-1182 Battle Creek 18 Public marywoodgolf.com 269-968-1168 Marshall 18 Public themedalist.com 269-789-4653

Oakland Hills

Battle Creek oaklandhillsgolfclub.com 269-965-0809

18 Public

Riverside

Battle Creek 18 Public N/A 269-964-0291

Springbrook

Springfield 9 Public springbrookgolf.net 269-441-7529

Tomac Woods

Albion 18 Public tomacwoods.com 517-629-8241

Turtle Creek

Burlington 18 Public N/A 517-765-2232

CASS LYNX GOLF COURSE | WEST | ALLEGAN COUNTY

Otsego | 18 Public | lynxGC.com | 269-694-5969 LYNX GOLF COURSE

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MICHIGANGOLFEXPLORER.COM

De Witt 18 Public highlandhillsdewitt.com 517-669-1559 De Witt 18 Public golfprairiecreek.com 517-669-1958 Lansing 27 Public royalscot.net 517-321-6220

St. Johns 9 Public N/A 898-224-7342

EATON Bonnie View

Eaton Rapids 9 Public bonnieviewgolf.com 517-663-4363

Centennial Acres

Sunfield 27 Public centennialacres.com 517-566-8055

Grand Ledge CC

Grand Ledge 18 Public grandledgecountryclub.com 517-627-2495

Ledge Meadows

Belding 18 Public candlestone.com 616-691-7713 Pewamo 18 Public N/A 517-593-3305 Belding 9 Public doublerranch.com 877-794-0520

Portland 18 Public oldpcc.com 517-647-4521

Rolling Hills

Ionia 9 Public golfionia.com 616-527-3480

Shadow Ridge

Ionia shadowridgegolfclub.com 616-527-1180

Portland 18 Public willowwoodgc.com 517-647-1984

ISABELLA

Cassopolis 9 Public N/A 269-445-3143

Grand Ledge 18 Public ledgemeadowsgolfcourse.com 517-627-7492

Dowagiac Elks

Olivet CC

Mt. Pleasant CC

Dowagiac 18 Public N/A 269-782-5685

Olivet 9 Public N/A 269-749-9051

9 Public

Willow Wood

Bucks Run

Diamond Lake

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Edwardsburg 18 Public fourlakescc.com 269-699-5701

Garver Lake

BRANCH

Bronson GC

Four Lakes

Mt. Pleasant 18 Public bucksrun.com 989-773-6830 Mt. Pleasant 18 Private N/A 989-772-1591

KENT

Sand Creek

Links of Edmore

Comstock Park 18 Public alpinegolfmichigan.com 616-784-1064

Saskatoon

Whitefish Lake

Pines

Lake Isabella 18 Public thepinesgolfcourse.com 989-644-2300

Pleasant Hills

Mt. Pleasant 18 Public pleasanthillsgolfcourse.com 989-772-0487

Pohlcat

Mt. Pleasant 18 Public pohlcat.net 989-773-4221

Riverwood Resort

Mt. Pleasant 27 Public riverwoodresort.com 989-772-5726

Waabooz Run

Mt. Pleasant 18 Public soaringeaglewaterpark.com 989-292-8891

Winding Brook

Shepherd 18 Public wbgc.8m.com 989-828-6618

KALAMAZOO Angels Crossing

Vicksburg 18 Public golfangelscrossing.com 269-649-2700

Crestview

Kalamazoo 18 Public crestviewgcofkalamazoo.com 269-349-1111

Eastern Hills

Kalamazoo 27 Public kmgagolf.com 269-385-8175

Grand Prairie

Kalamazoo 9 Public grandprairiegc.com 269-388-4447

Gull Lake CC

Richland 18 Private gulllakecc.com` 269-629-9714

Gull Lake View Resort

Augusta 108 Public gulllakeview.com 269-432-7971

Hickory Ridge

Galesburg 27 Public golfhickoryridge.com 269-382-6212

Indian Run

Scotts 18 Public irgolfclub.com 269-327-1327

Kalamazoo CC

Kalamazoo 27 Private kalamazoocountryclub.com 269-345-6149

Maple Hills

Augusta 9 Public golfmaplehills.com 269-731-4430

Milham Park

Kalamazoo 18 Public kmgagolf.com 269-344-7639

The Moors

Portage 18 Private moorsgolf.com 269-323-8873

Oakland Hills

Battle Creek oaklandhillsgolfclub.com 269-965-0809

18 Public

Olde Mill

Schoolcraft 18 Public oldemillgolfclub.com 269-679-5625

The Prairies

Kalamazoo 18 Public prairiesgolf.com 269-343-3906

Alpine

Arrowhead

Lowell arrowheadontheweb.com 616-897-7264

Belmont 18 Private blythefieldcc.org 616-361-2661

Boulder Creek

Silver Lake CC

Rockford 18 Private golfslcc.com 616-874-7595

Sparta Moose GC

Briarwood

Stonewater CC

Caledonia 36 Public briarwoodgolfclubs.com 616-698-8720

Broadmoor

Caledonia 18 Public golfbroadmoor.com 616-891-8000

Cascade Hills CC

Grand Rapids Twp. 27 Private cascadehillscc.com 616-949-0810

Cedar Chase

Cedar Springs cedarchasegolfclub.com 616-696-2308

18 Public

Egypt Valley

Ada 36 Private egyptvalley.com 616-676-2626

Sparta 9 Private moose50.org 616-887-9126 Caledonia 18 Private stonewatercc.com 616-949-0570

Thornapple Pointe

Grand Rapids 18 Public thornapplepointe.com 616-554-4747

Thousand Oaks

Grand Rapids 18 Private thousandoaksgolf.com 616-447-7750

Tyler Creek

Alto 18 Public tylercreekgolf.com 616-868-6751

Watermark CC

Grand Rapids 18 Private watermarkcc.com 616-949-0570

Grand Rapids 18 Public englishhills.net 616-784-3420

Falls at Barber Creek

Kent 18 Public thefallsatbc.com 616-675-7345

Gracewil East & West

Walker 36 Public gracewil.com 616-784-2455

Indian Trails

Grand Rapids 18 Public indiantrailsgc.com 616-245-2021

Ironwood

Byron Center 18 Public ironwoodgc.com 616-538-4000

Kent CC

Grand Rapids 18 Private kentcountryclub.com 616-363-5811

L.E. Kaufman

Grand Rapids 18 Public accesskent.com/golf 616-538-5050

Lincoln CC

Grand Rapids 18 Public lincolnccgr.com 616-453-6348

Links at Bowen Lake

Gowen 18 Public linksatbowenlake.com 616-984-9916

Maple Hill

Grandville 18 Public maplehillgc.com 616-538-0290

Marquette Trails

States GC

Rogue

Sparta 18 Public theroguegolfclub.com 616-887-7182

Chase Hammond

Muskegon 18 Public chasehammondgolfclub.com 231-766-3035

Eagle Island

Muskegon 9 Public N/A 231-773-7171

Fruitport GC

Muskegon 18 Public fruitportgolfclub.com 231-798-3355

Hickory Knoll

Montague 36 Public hickoryknollgolf.com 231-894-5535

Lincoln GC

Muskegon 18 Public lincolngolfcourse.com 231-766-3636

Ravenna Creeks

Ravenna 18 Public N/A 231-853-6736

Stonegate

Twin Lakes 18 Public thestonegategolfclub.com 231-744-7200

University Park

Muskegon 9 Public muskegoncc.edu 231-773-9131

Westwind

Muskegon 18 Public N/A 231-7738814

Whitelake CC

Whitehall 18 Private whitelakegolfclub.com 231-893-4232

NEWAYGO Briar Hill

Fremont 18 Public briarhillgolf.com 231-924-2070

Northwood

Fremont 18 Public N/A 231-924-3380

Ludington 18 Public hemlockgolfclub.com 231-845-1300

Lincoln Hills

Ludington 18 Semi-Private lincolnhillsludington.com 231-843-4666

Lakeside Links

Ludington 27 Public lakesidelinks.com 231-843-3660

MECOSTA Canadian Lakes CC

Stanwood 36 Private clpoc.org 231-972-7651

Clear Lake

THE MINES | WEST | KENT COUNTY

Grand Rapids | 18 Public | minesgolfcourse.com | 616-791-7544 H3 DESIGNS

Big Rapids 18 Public clearlakegolfclub.com 231-796-8200

Falcon Head

Big Rapids 18 Public falconheadgc.com 231-796-2613

Tullymore

Byron Center 18 Private railsidegolf.com 616-878-1140

Whitehall 18 Public bentpinegolfclub.com 231-766-2045

Hemlock Golf Club

The Pines

Railside CC

Bent Pine

Montague 27 Public octgolf.com 231-894-5076

Ludington 9 Private N/A 231-843-6355

St. Ives

Ada 18 Public quailridgegc.com 616-676-2000

Muskegon 18 Public golfoakridgegc.com 231-798-3660

Old Channel Trail

MUSKEGON

Moss Ridge

Oakridge

MASON

North Kent

Grand Rapids 18 Public pinesgolfcourse.com 616-538-8380

18 Public

Muskegon 18 Private muskegoncc.com 231-755-3737

Epworth Heights

Katke

Rockford 18 Public northkentgolf.com 616-866-2659

Pierson whitefishgolfandgrill.com 616-636-5260

Muskegon CC

Baldwin 18 Public marquettetrailsgc.com 231-898-2450

The Mines

Grand Rapids 18 Public minesgolfcourse.com 616-791-7544

Six Lakes 9 Public N/A 989-427-3241

Ravenna 18 Public mossridge.com 231-853-5665

LAKE

English Hills

Red Arrow

Vicksburg 18 Public N/A 269-649-1931

Scott Lake

Belmont 18 Public bouldercreekgolfclub.com 616-363-1330

Quail Ridge

Kalamazoo 9 Public kmgagolf.com 269-492-7800

Alto 36 Public saskatoongolf.com 616-891-9229 Comstock Park 27 Public scottlake.com 616-784-1355

Blythefield CC

Ridgeview

Kalamazoo 18 Public ridgeviewgolf.com 269-375-8821

18 Public

Marne 9 Public sandcreekgolf.com 616-677-3379

Big Rapids 18 Public ferris.edu/katke 231-591-3765 Stanwood 18 Public stivesgolf.com 231-972-4837 Stanwood 18 Public tullymoregolf.com 231-972-4837

MONTCALM Brookside

Gowen 18 Public brooksidegolf.com 616-984-2381

Glenkerry

Greenville glenkerrygolfcourse.com 616-225-4653

18 Public

BUCKS RUN | WEST | ISABELLA COUNTY

Mt. Pleasant | 18 Public | bucksrun.com | 989-773-6830 NILE YOUNG PHOTOGRAPHY

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St. Joe Valley

Sturgis 18 Public N/A 269-467-6275

VAN BUREN

Beeches

South Haven 18 Public beechesgolfclub.com 269-637-2600

Heritage Glen

Paw Paw 18 Public heritageglengolf.com 269-657-2552

Jeptha Lake

Bloomingdale 9 Public jepthalakegolf.com 269-427-7502

Lake Cora Hills

Paw Paw lakecorahillsgolfclub.com 269-657-4074

18 Public

Lawton GC

Lawton 9 Public N/A 269-624-2051

THORNAPPLE POINTE | WEST | KENT COUNTY

Grand Rapids | 18 Public | thornapplepointe.com | 616-554-4747

Pilgrims Run

Pierson 18 Public pilgrimsrun.com 888-533-7742

Ramshorn

Fremont 18 Public golframshorn.com 231-924-2640

Summer Breeze

Fremont 9 Public N/A 231-924-9759

Village Green

Grand Haven grandhavengolfclub.com 616-842-4040

18 Public

Thoroughbred

Rothbury 18 Public doublejj.com 231-894-3939

OSCEOLA

Birch Valley

Sears 18 Public N/A 231-734-9112

Spring Valley

Hersey 18 Public N/A 231-832-5041

Zeeland 9 Public N/A 616-875-4653

Sand Creek Golf Course Spring Lake CC

Spring Lake 18 Private springlakecc.com 616-842-4200

Sunnybrook CC

Grandville 18 Private sunnybrookcc.com 616-457-1100

Terra Verde

Nunica 18 Public terraverdegc.com 616-837-8249

Wallinwood Springs

Jenison 18 Public wallinwoodsprings.com 616-667-0003

West Ottawa GC

Holland 27 Public westottawagolfclub.com 616-399-1678

Western Greens

Marne 18 Public westerngreensgolf.com 616-677-3677

Wuskowhan

West Olive 18 Private wuskowhan.com 616-738-6000

Eagle Ridge

Glennie 18 Public eagleridgegolfclubofglennie.com 989-735-3500

Greenbush GC

Greenbush 9 Public greenbushgc.com 989-724-6356

White Pine National

Hubbard Lake 18 Public whitepinenational.com 989-736-3279

ALPENA

Alpena Golf Club

Alpena 18 Public alpenagolfclub.com 989-354-5052

Wildwood Lakes

CHARLEVOIX

Cheboygan 18 Public N/A 231-625-2770

Wolverine 9 Public wildwoodlakesgolf.com 231-525-8949

CRAWFORD

Lake CC

OTTAWA

Sturgis 18 Private klingerlakecc.com 269-651-7453

Zeeland 18 Public crestviewgolf.com 616-875-8101

Three Rivers 36 Public pineviewgolf.com 269-279-5131

Pine View

Sauganash

Three Rivers 18 Public sauganashgc.com 269-278-7825

MICHIGANGOLFEXPLORER.COM

Charlevoix GC

Charlevoix 9 Public cityofcharlevoix.org 231-547-3270

Dunmaglas

Charlevoix 18 Public dunmaglas.com 231-547-4653 Jordan 9 Public mallardgolf.com 231-536-3636

Roscommon 18/Reversible Public forestdunesgolf.com 989-275-0700

Fox Run

Grayling foxruncc.com

Grayling Country Club

EMMET Beaver Island Golf

Beaver Island 9 Public beaverislandgolf.com 231-448-2301

Birchwood Farms

Boyne Falls 9 Public N/A 231-535-2848

Harbor Springs 27 Private birchwoodcc.com 231-526-2166

Springbrook Hills

Boyne Highlands Resort

Boyne Falls 18 Public springbrookgolf.com 231-535-5155

Walloon Lake CC

Petoskey 18 Private walloonlakecc.com 231-535-2992

Harbor Springs 72 Public boyne.com 800-GO-BOYNE

Bay Harbor

Bay Harbor 27 Public boyne.com 231-439-4028

ANTRIM

A-Ga-Ming Resort The Chief

Elk Rapids 9 Semi-Private golfelkrapids.com 231-264-8891

Hawk’s Eye

Bellaire 18 Public golfhawkseye.com 866-868-8181

Centennial Farm

Bellaire 18 Public N/A 800-745-8277

Lakes of the North

Mancelona 18 Public lakesofthenorth.com 231-585-6800

18 Public 989 348-4343

Grayling 18 Semi-Private graylingcountryclub.com 989-348-5618

River’s Edge

Elk Rapids GC

Green Valley

Charlevoix 18 Semi-Private chxcountryclub.com 231-547-9796

Roscommon 18 Public forestdunesgolf.com 989-275-0700

Alpena 18 Public riversedgealpena.com 989-354-5558

Island Hills

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Pinecroft Golf Plantation

Scotland Yards

Lincoln 18 Private lostlakewoodsclub.com 989-731-8197

Centreville 18 Public islandhillsgolf.com 269-467-7261

Hudsonville 18 Public gegolfclub.com 616-457-3680

Rippling Rapids

Lost Lake Woods Club

The Rose

Gleneagle

Mistwood

Mallard

Harrisville 27 Public loggerstrace.com 989-724-5611

Intimidator

Crestview

Cheboygan 9 Semi-Private mullettlakecc.com 231-627-5971

Loggers Trace

Bellaire 18 Public golfthechief.com 231-533-9000

LeRoy 18 Public golftherose.com 231-768-5060

Mullett Lake CC

Thompsonville 36 Public crystalmountain.com 231-378-2000

Charlevoix CC

ALCONA

Sturgis 18 Public greenvalleygolfnow.com 269-651-6331

Reed City 9 Public N/A 231-832-5616

Crystal Mountain Resort

Indian River 18 Public indianrivergolfclub.com 800-305-4742

Forest Dunes/The Loop

Kewadin 54 Public a-ga-ming.com 800-678-0122

Tustin 9 Public N/A 231-829-5455

Indian River

Beulah 18 Public clgolfclub.com 231-882-4061

Boyne Falls 45 Public boyne.com 800-GO-BOYNE

ST. JOSEPH

Tustin Trails

Crystal Lake

Boyne Mountain Resort

Marne 9 Holes Public sandcreekgolf.com 616-677-3379

Hart 18 Public colonialgolfhart.com 231-873-8333

Cheboygan 18 Public cheboygangolf.com 231-627-4264

Beulah 18 Public pinecroftgolf.com 231-882-9200

Allendale 18 Public gvsu.edu/meadows 616-331-1000

Golden Sands

The Colonial

Cheboygan Golf & CC

Frankfort 18 Private N/A 231-352-9933

Shamrock Hills

Gobles 18 Public N/A 269-628-2070

Onaway 18 Public blacklakegolf.com 989-733-4653

Meadows GC

Benona Shores

Shelby 18 Public oceanagolfclub.com 231-861-4211

Crystal Downs CC

Black Lake

Charlevoix 18 Semi-Private belvederegolfclub.com 231-547-2611

West Olive 18 Public golfpigeoncreek.com 616-875-4300

Oceana GC

Champion Hill

Beulah 18 Public championhill.com 231-882-9200

Holland 18 Public macatawagc.com 616-212-2600

Pigeon Creek

New Era 18 Public grandviewgc.com 231-861-6616

CHEBOYGAN

Lake Ann 27 Public mistwoodgolf.com 231-275-5500

Macatawa Golf Club

OCEANA

Grand View

BENZIE

Forest Dunes

Pheasant GC

Silver Lake 9 Public goldensandsgolfcourse.com 231-873-4909

East Jordan 9 Public yenyne.com 231-582-7609

Belvedere

Newaygo 18 Public villagegreengolfcoursemi.com 231-652-6513

Shelby 18 Public benonashores.com 231-861-2098

70

Grand Haven

Ye Nyne Olde Holles

Bellaire 72 Public shantycreek.com 231-533-8321

Peacock Ridge

Marcellus 18 Public thegolfcourses.net 269-646-3300

COURTESY THORNAPPLE POINTE

Shanty Creek Resort

TULLYMORE | WEST | MECOSTA COUNTY

Stanwood | 18 Public | tullymoregolf.com | 231-972-4837 COURTESY TULYMORE

Wilderness

Carp Lake 9 Public golfwilderness.com 231-537-4973

GRAND TRAVERSE Bay Meadows

Traverse City 18 Public baymeadowstc.com 231-946-7927

Crown Golf Course

Traverse City 18 Public golfthecrown.com 231-946-2975

Elmbrook

Traverse City 18 Public elmbrookgolf.com 231-946-9180

Grand Traverse Resort

Acme grandtraverseresort.com 800-236-1577

PILGRIMS RUN | WEST | NEWAYGO COUNTY

Pierson | 18 Public | pilgrimsrun.com | 888-533-7742 NILE YOUNG PHOTOGRAPHY

54 Public

Interlochen

Interlochen 18 Public interlockengolf.com 231-275-7311

LochenHeath Chestnut Valley

Harbor Springs 18 Public chestnutvalleygolf.com 231-526-9100

Crooked Tree

Petoskey 18 Public boyne.com 231-439-4030

Harbor Point

Harbor Springs 18 Semi-Private harborpointgolfclub.com 231-526-2951

Hidden River Golf & Casting Club

Mackinaw Club

Carp Lake 18 Public mackinawclub.com 231-537-4955

Maple Ridge

Brutus 36 Public mapleridgegc.com 231-529-6574

Petoskey Bay View

Petoskey 18 Private pbvcc.com 231-347-2148

True North

Brutus 18 Public hiddenriver.com 231-529-4653

Harbor Springs 18 Private truenorthgolf.com 231-526-3300

Little Traverse Bay

Wequetonsing

Harbor Springs 18 Public ltbaygolf.com 231-526-6200

Harbor Springs 18 Private N/A 231-526-5351

Williamsburg 18 Private/limited Public lochenheath.com 231-938-9800

Mitchell Creek

Traverse City 9 Public N/A 231-941-5200

Traverse City CC

Traverse City 18 Private tcgcc.com 231-947-9140

IOSCO Lakewood Shores Resort

Oscoda 54 Public lakewoodshores.com 800-882-2493

Red Hawk

Oscoda 18 Public redhawkgolf.net 877-733-4295

Tawas Creek

East Tawas 18 Public golftawascreek.com 989-362-6788

Bahle Farms Golf Course

Suttons Bay 18 Public traversecitygolf.com 231-271-2020

Wicker Hills

Hale 18 Public wickerhillsgolf.com 989-728-9971

KALKASKA

Arcadia 36 Public arcadiabluffs.com 800-494-8666

Grand View

Kalaska 18 Public grandviewgolf.net 231-258-3244

Timber Wolf

Kalaska 18 Public timberwolfgolfclub.net 231-258-5685

Twin Birch

Kalaska 18 Public twinbirchgolf.com 231-258-9691

Dunes

Empire 18 Public dunesgolf.com 231-326-5390

Mountain Flowers

Bear Lake County Highlands

Bear Lake 18 Public golfbearlake.com 231-864-3817

Chestnut Hills

Bear Lake 18 Public chestnutgolf.com 231-864-2458

Fawncrest

Wellston 9 Public fawncrestgolf.com 231-848-4174

LEELANAU

Glen Arbor thehomesteadresort.com 231-334-5000

MANISTEE Arcadia Bluffs

9 Public

Manitou Passage

Cedar 18 Public manitoupassagegolfclub.com 888-656-7572

Sleeping Bear

Cedar 18 Public N/A 231-228-1870

Sugar Loaf the Old Course

Cedar 18 Public sugarloaftheoldcourse.com 231-228-2040

Fox Hills

Manistee 9 Public N/A 231-723-3809

Heathlands

Onekama 18 Public heathlands.com 231-889-5644

Manistee Country Club

Manistee 18 Public manisteegolfandcc.com 231-723-2509

MISSAUKEE Stoney Creek

Lake City 18 Public stoneycreekgolf.biz 231-839-7777

Missaukee Golf Club

Lake City 18 Public missaukeegolfclub.com 231-825-2756

Save the long drive for the golf course!

NONSTOP FROM 35 CITIES AND GRROWING

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71

Michigan's Largest Bourbon Selection

HOME OF

Friday Night

Rock Star STEAKS

616-868-9961 | Thealtobar.com

MACATAWAGC.COM 616.212.2600 US-31 West on New Holland St. Between 136th & 144th Avenues, Holland, Michigan

• Semi-private golf club • 18 hole championship golf course • Private pool & fitness memberships available • LiveGolf Studios • Brand new high definition PGA golf simulators and lounge • Recently renovated banquet facility • The perfect venue for events up to 300 guests • Vaulted ceilings, large windows & spectacular views of the golf course • Open to the public dining at RedRock Grille

TWO MUST PLAY LAKESHORE COURSES! The legendary Arnold Palmer Signature course in Saugatuck.

A Golf Digest “must play!”

• Only Arnold Palmer golf course in West Michigan • 18 hole public golf course • Elegant & modern event venue • The perfect venue for events up to 200 guests • Rustic-country ambiance • High ceilings, floorto-ceiling windows & picturesque views of the golf course 2 Hours North of Chicago Grand Rapids

196

Just 30 minutes from Grand Rapids

94

Chicago

90

Ravines

ravinesgolfclub.com 3520 Palmer Drive, Saugatuck, MI 49453 Call 269.857.1616

MONTMORENCY

The Loon/The Lakes

Elk Ridge

Gaylord 36 Public loongolfresort.com 877-732-4455

Thunder Bay Resort

Gaylord 18 Public loongolfresort.com 800-743-7529

Atlanta 18 Public elkridgegolf.com 989-785-2275 Hillman 18 Public thunderbaygolf.com 800-729-9375

OGEMAW Apple Valley

West Branch 18 Public applevalleygolf.com 989-345-2971

The Dream/ The Nightmare

West Branch 36 Public westbranchgolf.com 989-345-6300

Edgewood Greens

Prescott 9 Public N/A 989-873-5427

Greenbriar

Lupton 18 Public greenbriargolf.net 989-473-4900

West Branch CC

West Branch 18 Public westbranchcc.com 989-345-2501

OSCODA Cedar Valley

Comins 18 Public N/A 989-848-2792

Fairview Hills

Mio 9 Public N/A 989-848-5810

Garland Resort

Lewiston 72 Public garlandusa.com 877-442-7526

Sidewinder

Mio 18 Public sidewindergolf.com 989-826-8020

OTSEGO

The Ridge

Michaywe

Gaylord 36 Public michaywe.com 888-746-3742

Natural at Beaver Creek

Gaylord 18 Public golfthenatural.com 989-732-1785

Treetops Resort

Gaylord 81 Public treetops.com 800-444-6711

PRESQUE ISLE Rogers City CC

Rogers City 18 Public rogerscity.com 989-734-4909

Eldorado

Cadillac 18 Public golfeldorado.com 231-779-9977

Emerald Vale

Manton 18 Public emeraldvale.com 231-824-3631

Evergreen Resort Cadillac evergreenresortmi.com 866-291-8136

27 Public

Lakewood on the Green

Cadillac 18 Public N/A 231-468-3344

Brookwood CC

Burton 18 Public imarecreation.com 810-742-4930

ROSCOMMON Birch Point

St. Helen 9 Public N/A 989-389-7009

Burning Oak

Roscommon 18 Public N/A 989-821-9821

Fox GC

Roscommon 18 Public N/A 989-422-2497

Pine View Highlands Houghton Lake pineviewhighlands.com 989-366-9806

18 Public

Quest Golf Club

Houghton Lake 18 Public questgolfcourse.com 989-422-4516

White Deer CC

Black Forest/Wilderness Valley

Roscommon 9 Public yeoldcountryclub.com 989-275-5582

Gaylord CC

Briar at Mesick

Ye Olde CC

Gaylord 36 Public blackforestgolf.com 231-585-7090

WEXFORD

Gaylord 18 Public gaylordcountryclub.com 231-546-3376

Mesick 18 Public thebriaratmesick.com 231-885-1220

Otsego Club

Bunker Hill

Cadillac 9 Public N/A 231-775-3330

Captain’s Club

ARENAC Huron Breeze

Au Gres 18 Public huronbreeze.com 989-876-6868

Pine River

Standish 18 Public pinerivergolfclub.com 989-846-6819

Singing Bridge

Tawas City 18 Public N/A 989-362-0022

BAY

Essexville 18 Public baycounty-mi.gov/golfcourse 989-892-2161

Bay Valley Resort

Bay City 18 Public bayvalley.com 989-686-3500

Beech Hollow

Freeland 18 Public beechhollowgolf.com 989-695-5427

Green Hills Golf Club

Pinconning 18 Public N/A 989-697-3011

Maple Leaf

Freeland 27 Public twinoaksgolffreeland.com 989-695-9746

White Birch Hills

Bay City 18 Public N/A 989-662-6523

GENESEE Atlas Valley CC

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MICHIGANGOLFEXPLORER.COM

Coyote Preserve

Fenton 18 Public coyotepreserve.com 810-714-3206

Davison CC

Bay County GC

Twin Oaks

74

Copper Ridge

Davison 18 Public golfcopperridge.com 810-658-7775

Fenton 18 Public fentonfarms.com 810-629-1212

Bay City 18 Semi-Private baycitycountryclub.com 989-684-6313

Midland 18 Public golfsandyridge.com 989-631-6010

COURTESY A-GA-MING RESORT

Clio CC

Clio 18 Private cliocountryclub.com 810-686-0211

Bay City CC

Sandy Ridge

A-GA-MING RESORT | SUNDANCE | NORTH | ANTRIM COUNTY

Grand Blanc 18 Public captainsclubatwoodfield.com 810-695-4653

Davison 18 Private davisoncc.com 810-658-5211

Linwood 27 Public golfmapleleaf.com 989-697-3531

Kewadin | 54 Public | a-ga-ming.com | 800-678-0122

HARBOR SHORES | WEST | BERRIEN COUNTY

Benton Harbor | 18 Public | HarborShoresLife.com | 269-927-4653 NILE YOUNG PHOTOGRAPHY

Onaway 18 Public stoneylinksgolfcourse.com 989-733-2683

Prudenville 18 Public golfwhitedeer.com 989-366-5812

Gaylord 36 Public otsegoclub.com 800-752-5510

Cadillac CC

Cadillac 18 Public golfcadillac.com/countryclub 231-775-9442

Stoney Links

Black Bear Resort

Vanderbilt 18 Public golfblackbear.net 866-983-4441

Caberfae Peaks

Cadillac 9 Public caberfaepeaks.com 231-862-3000

Fenton Farms Flint Elks CC

Grand Blanc 18 Public N/A 810-743-0730

Flint GC

Flint 18 Private flintgolfclub.com 810-743-6100

Flushing Valley

Flushing 18 Public flushingvalleygolfclub.com 810-487-0792

Genesee Valley Meadows

Swartz Creek 18 Public N/A 810-732-1401

Goodrich CC

Goodrich 18 Semi-Private goodrichcountryclub.com 810-636-2493

Jewel

Grand Blanc 36 Public jewelgolf.com 810-694-5960

Kearsley Lake

Flint 18 Public flintcitygolf.com 810-736-0930

Loch Lomond

Flint 9 Public N/A 810-695-7900

Mott Park

Flint 18 Public flintcitygolf.com N/A

Springmeadows CC

Linden 18 Private springmeadowscountryclub.com 810-735-7836

Sugarbush

Davison 18 Public sugarbushgolfclub.com 810-653-3326

Swartz Creek

Flint 27 Public flintcitygolf.com 810-766-7043

Tyrone Hills

Fenton 18 Public tyronehillsgolf.com 810-629-5011

Vienna Greens

Clio 18 Public N/A 810-686-1443

Warwick Hills

Grand Blanc 18 Private warwickhills.org 810-694-9215

GLADWIN Gladwin Heights

Gladwin 18 Public N/A 989-426-9941

Sugar Springs

Gladwin 18 Public sugarsprings.net 989-426-4391

HURON Bird Creek

Port Austin 18 Public birdcreekgolf.com 989-738-4653

Caseville GC

Caseville 9 Public N/A 989-856-2613

Century Oaks

Elkton 9 Public centuryoaksgolf.com 989-375-4419

Harbor Beach CC

Harbor Beach 9 Private N/A 989-479-3423

Hidden Harbour

Caseville 9 Public N/A 989-856-3991

Pointe Aux Barques Village

Port Austin 9 Private pointeauxbarques.com 989-738-7585

Scenic Golf & CC

Grand Blanc 18 Private atlasvalleycountryclub.com 810-636-7977

Pierce Park

Flint 18 Public flintcitygolf.com N/A

Pigeon 18 Public scenicgolfandcountryclub.com 989-453-3350

Beachwood Greens

Seifert Golf Course

Ubly Heights

Briar Ridge

Southmoor

Mt. Morris 9 Public N/A 810-686-4200 Montrose 18 Public braiarridgegolf.com 810-639-4653

Grand Blanc 9 Public N/A 810-655-8070 Burton 18 Public N/A 810-743-4080

Ubly 18 Public ublyheights.com 989-658-2374

Verona Hills

Bad Axe 18 Public veronahillsgolf.com 989-269-8132

Lenawee CC

Adrian 18 Private lenaweecountryclub.com 517-265-2142

Macon GC

Clinton 9 Public N/A 517-423-4259

Raisin Valley

Tecumseh 18 Public raisinvalleygolfclub.com 517-423-2050

Wolf Creek

Adrian 18 Public N/A 517-265-3944

Woodlawn

Adrian 18 Public N/A 517-263-3288

LIVINGSTON Chemung Hills

Howell 18 Public chemunghills.com 517-546-7706

BLACK LAKE | NORTH | CHEBOYGAN COUNTY

Dunham Hills

Onaway | 18 Public | blacklakegolf.com | 989-733-4653

Hartland 18 Public dunhamhills.com 248-887-9170

NILE YOUNG

Gauss Green Valley

Metamora Golf and CC

Grande Golf Club

Rolling Hills

Greenbriar

North Branch 18 Public washakiegolfrv.com 810-688-3235

Jackson 18 Public N/A 517-764-0270

CRYSTAL MOUNTAIN RESORT | NORTH | BENZIE COUNTY

Thompsonville | 36 Public | crystalmountain.com | 231-378-2000

Jackson 18 Public grandegolfclub.com 517-768-9494

BRIAN WALTERS PHOTOGRAPHY

INGHAM Branson Bay

Mason 18 Public bransonbay.com 517-663-4144

Brookshire Inn

Williamston 18 Public brookshiregolfclub.com 517-655-4695

College Fields

Okemos 18 Public collegefields.net 517-332-8100

Chisholm Hills

Lansing 18 Public chisholmhills.com 517-694-0169

Country Club of Lansing

Lansing 18 Private cclansing.org 517-484-4567

Eagle View

Mason 18 Public eagleviewgolfclub.com 517-676-5366

El Dorado

Mason 27 Public eldorado27.com 517-676-2854

Forest Akers

East Lansing 36 Public golf.msu.edu 517-3551635

Groesbeck

Lansing 18 Public lansingmi.gov/parks 517-483-4333

Timber Ridge

East Lansing 18 Public golftimberridge.com 517-339-8000

Walnut Hills

East Lansing 18 Private walnuthillsgolf.com 517-332-8647

Wheatfield Valley

Williamston 18 Public wheatfieldvalley.com 517-655-6999

Willow Creek

Stockbridge 9 Public N/A 517-851-7856

JACKSON

Meridian Sun

Haslett 18 Public meridiansungc.com 517-339-8281

Jackson 36 Public experiencejackson.com 517-750-3636

Hills

Brooklyn 18 Public hillsgolfcourse.com 517-592-2110

Lakeland Hills

Burr Oak

Parma 18 Public N/A 517-531-4741

Calderone Farms

Grass Lake 18 Public calderonegolfclub.com 517-522-6661

Cascades

Jackson cascadesgolfcourse.com 517-788-4323

18 Public

Clark Lake

Ironwood Links

Haslett 9 Public N/A 517-339-9445

Hickory Hills

Jackson 18 Public N/A 517-764-4200

Jackson 18 Public arborhillsgolfclub.com 517-750-1400

Concord 18 Public concordhillsgolfcourse.com 517-524-8337

Lake of the Hills

Pleasant Lake 27 Public hankerdhills.com 517-769-2507

Jackson 18 Public lakelandhillsgolf.com 517-764-5292

Brooklyn 18 Public clarklakegolfcourse.com 517-592-6259

Mason 18 Public ironwoodlinks.com 517-676-3116

Hankerd Hills

Arbor Hills

Indian Hills

Okemos 9 Public ihcustomgolf.com 517-349-1010

Brooklyn 18 Public greenbriargolfclub.com 517-592-6952

Concord Hills

Country Club of Jackson

Jackson 27 Private countryclubofjackson.com 517-482-5347

Country Town

Springport 9 Public N/A 517-857-4653

Pine Hollow

Sparrow Hawk

Jackson 18 Public N/A 517-787-1366

Waterloo

Hartland Glen

Lapeer 18 Public N/A 810-664-2281

Hartland 36 Public hartlandglen.com 248-887-3777

Washakie Golf/RV Resort

Hawk Meadows

LENAWEE Adrian 18 Public N/A 517-263-8081

Demor Hills

Morenci 18 Public demorhills.com 517-458-6679

Manitou Beach devilslakegolfcourse.com 517-547-3653

Hunter’s Ridge

Howell 18 Public golfhuntersridge.com 517-545-4653

Centerview

Devil’s Lake

Howell 36 Public hawkmeadows.com 517-546-4635

18 Public

Huntmore Club

Brighton 18 Public huntmoregolfclub.com 810-225-4498

Huron Meadows Metropark

Brighton 18 Public metroparksgolf.com 810-231-4084

Ironwood

Howell 18 Public golfironwood.com 517-546-3211

Evergreen

Hudson 9 Public N/A 517-448-8017

Hantz GC

Kensington Metropark

Brighton 18 Public metroparks.com 810-227-8916

Lakelands Golf

Tecumseh 18 Private hantzgolfclubs.com 517-423-3930

Brighton 18 Private lakelandsgolf.com 810-231-3000

Irish Hills

Jackal

Onsted 9 Public N/A 517-467-2997

Brighton 18 Public jackalgolfclub.com 810-229-9581

Whiffletree Hill

LAPEER Arcadia Hills

Attica 9 Public arcadiahills.com 810-724-6967

Castle Creek

Lum 18 Public castlecreekgolfclub.com 810-724-0851

Greenbriar

Mayville 18 Public N/A 989-843-6575

Deer Run

Hadley Acres

Metamora 18 Public N/A 810-797-4820

Red Cedar

Ella Sharp Park

Lapeer CC

Jackson 18 Public ellasharppark.com 517-788-4066

18 Public

Concord 18 Public whiffletreehill.com 517-524-6655

Horton 9 Public N/A 517-688-3350

Lansing 9 Public N/A 517-351-3254

Faulkwood Shores

Howell faulkwoodshoresgolf.com 517-546-4180

Grass Lake 18 Public waterloogolfcourse.com 517-522-8527

Webberville 18 Public oaklanegolf.com 517-521-3900

Oak Lane

Metamora 18 Semi-Private metamoragolf.com 248-969-2120

Lapeer 18 Public lapeercountryclub.com 810-664-2442

MANISTEE NATIONAL GOLF & RESORT | NORTH |

MANISTEE COUNTY

Manistee | 36 Public | Manisteenational.com | 231-723-8874 BRIAN WALTERS PHOTOGRAPHY

MICHIGANGOLFEXPLORER.COM

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75

Majestic

Hartland 18 Public majesticgolfclub.com 810-632-5235

Heather Hills

Romeo 18 Public heatherhills.net 586-798-9033

Macomb 9 Public N/A 810-598-5010

Tee J’s

Links at Lake Erie

Monroe 18 Public linksatlakeerie.com 734-384-1177

Holly 18 Public bramblewoodgolf.com 248-634-3481

Bramblewood

Maple Grove

Brentwood

Brighton 36 Private clubcorp.com 810-522-4709

Macomb 18 Public hickoryhollowgc.com 586-949-9033

Hickory Hollow

Timberwood

Rush Lake Hills

Maple Lane

Warfield Greens

Fraser 9 Public N/A 586-293-9887

Rochester Hills 9 Private mybrookwood.com 248-651-4820

Timber Trace

Michigan Meadows

Monroe 18 Private mgcc.net 734-241-5190

Wolcott Mill Metro Park

Old Town

Cattails

Raisin River

Copper Creek

Oak Pointe CC

Pinckney 18 Public rushlakehills.com 734-878-9790 Pinckney 18 Public timbertracegolfclub.com 734-878-1800

Whispering Pines Pinckney whisperingpinesgc.com 734-878-0009

18 Public

MACOMB Bello Woods

Macomb 27 Public N/A 586-949-1200

Bruce Hills

Sterling Heights 54 Public maplelanegolf.com 586-754-3020

Casco 18 Public golfmichiganmeadows.net 586-727-7029

Orchards

Washington 18 Public orchards.com 586-786-7200

Pine Valley

Ray 27 Public pinevalleygolfcc.com 586-752-9633

Burning Tree

Rammier

Cedar Glen

Cherry Creek

Shelby Township 18 Public cherrycreekgolf.com 586-254-7700

Cracklewood

Macomb 18 Public cracklewood.com 586-781-0808

Fernhill

Clinton Township 18 Public fernhillcc.com 586-286-4700

Glacier Club

Washington 18 Public glacierclub.com 586-781-2288

Gowanie GC

Mt. Clemens 18 Private gowaniegc.com 586-468-1431

Greystone

Washington 18 Public golfgreystone.com 586-752-7030

MIDLAND

Sterling Heights 18 Public rammiergolf.com 586-264-4101

Richmond Forest

Lenox 18 Public richmondforestgolf.com 586-727-4742

Midland CC

Midland 18 Private midlandcc.com 989-832-8866

MONROE

Stony Creek Metro Park

Shelby Township 18 Public metroparks.com 586-781-4242

Sunnybrook

Sterling Heights 27 Public sunnybrookgolfandbowl.com 586-977-9759

Sycamore Hills

Macomb 27 Public sycamorehills.com 586-598-9500

Sandy Creek

Copper Hills

Oxford 27 Public copperhills.com 248-969-9808

Coyote

Wesburn

Edgewood CC

Ottawa Lake 45 Public whitefordgolf.com 734-856-4545

9 Public

Farmington Hills 9 Public coppercreekgolf.net 248-489-1777

Devil’s Ridge

Carrington

Cherrywood

S. Lyon 18 Public cattailsgolfclub.com 248-486-8777

Thorne Hills

Rockwood 18 Public wesburngolf.com 734-379-3555

Carleton 18 Public N/A 734-654-6201

Brookwood

New Hudson 18 Public coyotegolfclub.com 248-486-1228

Carleton Glen

Temperance 27 Public bedfordhillsgolf.com 734-854-4653

White Lake 18 Public brentwoodgc.com 248-684-2662

Monroe 18 Public sandycreekgolf.com 734-242-7200 Carleton 18 Public thornehills.com 734-857-2332

Scalawags

St. Clair Shores 18 Public scsgolf.com 586-294-2000

Sand Wedge

Bedford Hills

Ottawa Lake cherrywoodgolfclub.com 734-856-6669

St. Clair Shores CC

Monroe 9 Public oldtowngolfcourse.com 734-242-4476

Ottawa Lake 18 Public N/A 734-854-4909

Midland 36 Public curriegolf.com 989-839-9600

Romeo Golf Club

Chesterfield 18 Private scalawagsgolfclub.com 586-949-6080

Monroe Golf & CC

Currie Golf

Monroe 18 Public carringtongolf.net 734-241-0707

Washington 36 Public romeogolfsouth.com 586-752-9673

Lambertville 18 Public N/A 734-854-6777

Monroe 36 Public raisinrivergolf.com 734-289-3700

Plum Brook

Sterling Heights 18 Public plumbrookgolfclub.com 586-264-9411

New Baltimore 18 Public cedarglengolfclub.com 586-725-8156

Ray 18 Public metroparks.com 586-749-3415

Oak Ridge

New Haven 36 Public oakridgegolf.com 586-749-5151

Romeo 18 Public golfbrucehills.com 586-752-7244

Macomb 18 Private burningtreegolf.com 586-493-9500

Ray 18 Public timberwoodgc.com 586-784-6000

Whiteford Valley

OAKLAND Bald Mountain

Lake Orion 27 Public baldmountaingolf.com 248-373-1110

Oxford 18 Public devilsridgegolfclub.com 248-969-0100

Commerce Township 18 Private edgewoodcountryclub.org 248-363-7112

Evergreen Hills

Southfield 9 Public cityofsouthfield.com 248-796-5000

Farmington Hills

Farmington Hills 18 Public fhgolf.com 248-476-5910

Fieldstone

Deme Acres

Bay Pointe

Auburn Hills 18 Public fieldstonegolfclub.com 248-370-9354

Dundee GC

Beacon Hill

Bloomfield Hills 18 Private flcc.us 248-332-8300

Petersburg 18 Public demeacres.com 734-279-1151

West Bloomfield 18 Public oakmanagement.com 248-360-0603

Dundee 18 Semi-Private N/A 734-529-2321

Commerce Township 18 Public beaconhillgolf.com 248-684-2200

Fire Creek

Beech Woods

Giant Oak

Birmingham CC

Temperance 9 Semi-Private N/A 734-847-1234

Southfield 9 Public cityofsouthfield.com 248-796-5000

Temperance 27 Public giantoakgolfclub.com 734-847-6733

Birmingham 18 Private bhamcc.com 248-644-4111

Green Meadows

Blackheath

Monroe 18 Public greenmeadowsgolf.com 734-242-5566

Rochester 18 Public blackheathgolfclub.com 248-601-8000

Legacy

Bloomfield Hills CC

Ottawa Lake 18 Public playlegacy.com 734-854-1101

Bloomfield Hills 18 Private bloomfieldhillscc.org 248-644-6262

Lilac

Boulder Pointe

Newport 18 Public lilacgolf.com 734-556-7555

Oxford 27 Public boulderpointe.net 248-969-1500

Forest Lake CC Fountains

Clarkston 18 Public golfthefountains.com 248-625-3731

Franklin Hills CC

Franklin 18 Private franklinhills.com 248-851-2200

Glen Oaks

Farmington Hills 18 Public destinationoakland.com 248-851-8356

Glenlore

Commerce Township 18 Public glenlore.com 248-363-7997

Great Oaks CC

Rochester 18 Private greatoakscc.com 248-651-5200

Hampton

Rochester Hills 9 Public golfthehampton.com 248-852-3250

Heather Highlands

Holly 18 Public heatherhighlands.com 248-634-6800

Heathers Club

Bloomfield Hills 9 Private heathersclub.com 248-334-9770

Hickory Hill

Wixom 9 Public N/A 248-624-4733

Highland Hills

Highland highlandhillsgolfclub.com 248-887-4481

18 Public

Independence Green

Farmington Hills 18 Public N/A 248-477-7092

Indian Springs GRAND TRAVERSE RESORT | THE WOLVERINE NORTH | GRAND TRAVERSE COUNTY

Acme | 54 Public | grandtraverseresort.com | 800-236-1577 COURTESY GRAND TRAVERSE RESORT & SPA

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MICHIGANGOLFEXPLORER.COM

EVERGREEN RESORT | NORTH | WEXFORD COUNTY

Cadillac | 27 Public | evergreenresortmi.com | 866-291-8136 COURTESY EVERGREEN RESORT

White Lake 18 Public metroparks.com 248-625-7870

Indianwood CC

Lake Orion 36 Private iwgcc.com 248-693-9100

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

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

Better than the beverage cart Northern Michigan is famous for its wine, beer, and spirits. (In fact, the Travel Channel lists Traverse City as one of the best cities for wine snobs and a top beer destination in North America.) Hop on a Traverse Wine Coast tour bus with your choice of more than forty wineries.

If you’re feeling more adventurous, try a kayak brewery tour, which combines craft beer and great exercise. Or stop by a distillery, where you’ll find small-batch vodkas, whiskeys, and gins.

off the cart path

game fuel

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

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

Loftyviews

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

after the 18th hole Seeking the TC nightlife? Try your luck at winning green at a casino. Catch a concert in an intimate venue. Celebrate at one of Traverse City’s many festivals. Or just head downtown for evening in a laidback brewpub or modern cocktail lounge.

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

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

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

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Stonycroft

Bloomfield Hills 18 Private stonycroft.com 248-647-1294

Stony Creek

Washington 18 Public metroparks.com 586-781-9166

Sylvan Glen

Troy 18 Public golftroy.com 248-619-7600

Tam O’Shanter CC

W. Bloomfield 18 Private tamoshantercc.com 248-855-1900

Tanglewood

S. Lyon 27 Public tanglewoodlion.com 248-486-3355

Twin Beach CC

W. Bloomfield 9 Private twinbeachcc.com 248-363-3335

BOYNE HIGHLANDS RESORT | NORTH | CHARLEVOIX/EMMET

Harbor Springs | 72 Public | boyne.com | 800-GO-BOYNE COURTESY BOYNE

Knollwood CC

W. Bloomfield 18 Private knollwoodcountryclub.net 248-855-0825

Lincoln Hills

Birmingham 9 Public ci.birmingham.mi.us 248-530-1670

Links of Novi

Novi 27 Public linksofnovi.com 248-380-9595

Lyon Oaks

Wixom 18 Public destinationoakland.com 248-437-1488

Maples Club

Novi 9 Public N/A 248-669-6557

Moose Ridge

South Lyon 18 Public mooseridgegolf.com 248-446-9030

Mulberry Hills

Oxford 18 Public mulberryhills.com 248-628-2808

Mystic Creek

Milford 27 Public mysticcreekgc.com 248-684-3333

The Myth

Oakland 27 Public golfthemyth.com 248-693-7170

Normandy Oaks

Royal Oak 9 Public ci.royal-oak.mi.us 248-554-0019

Oakhurst

Clarkston 18 Private oakhurstgolf.com 248-391-3300

Oakland Hills

Plum Hollow CC

Bloomfield Hills 18 Private wabeekcc.org 248-855-0700

Rochester 18 Public pinetrace.com 248-852-7100

Southfield 18 Private plumbhollowcc.com 248-353-3553

Pontiac CC

Waterford 18 Public pontiaccountryclub.com 248-682-6333

Pontiac Municipal

Pontiac 18 Public pontiac.mi.us 248-858-8990

Prestwick Village

Highland 18 Private pvgcc.com 248-887-1762

Rackham Golf Club

Huntington Woods 18 Public rackhamgolfcourse.com 248-543-4040

Red Oaks

Madison Heights 9 Public destinationoakland.com 248-541-5030

S. Lyon 27 Private walnutcreekcc.net 248-437-7337

Westbrooke

Novi 18 Public N/A 248-349-2723

Westwynde

Oakland Township 18 Public westwyndegolf.com 248-608-7820

SAGINAW Freeland 18 Public applemountain.com 989-781-6789 Freeland 9 Public bayougolfclub.net 989-781-8181

Waterford 9 Public silverlakegc.com 248-673-1611

Somerset Park

Reese countylinegolfcourse.com 989-868-4991

Byron 18 Public hawkmeadows.com 810-266-4660

Twin Oaks

Belle River

Freeland 27 Public twinaksgolfclubfreeland.com 989-695-9746

Valley View Farms Saginaw valleyviewfarmgolf.com 989-781-1248

18 Public

ST. CLAIR Memphis 18 Public bellerivergolfcourse.com 810-392-2121

Black River

Port Huron 18 Public blackrivergolfclub.com 810-982-9595

Deer View

SANILAC

Imlay 9 Public deerviewgolf.com 810-395-7495

Sandusky 9 Public N/A 810-648-2256

Kimball 18 Public forelakes.com 810-982-3673

E M S Links

Huron Shores

Port Sanilac huronshoresgolfclub.com 810-622-9961

18 Public

Lakeview Hills

Lexington 36 Public lakeviewhills.com 810-359-8901

Marlette GC

Fore Lakes

Golden Hawk

Casco Township 18 Public N/A 586-727-4681

Holly Meadows

Capac 18 Public hollymeadows.com 810-395-4653

Leaning Tree

Wales 18 Public leaningtreegolf.com 810-367-3528

Willow Tree

Sandusky 18 Public woodlandhillsontheweb.com 810-648-2400

SHIAWASSEE Corunna Hills

Corunna 9 Public N/A 989-743-4693

Marysville CC

Casco 18 Public N/A 586-727-7029

Middle Channel

Harsens Island 18 Public N/A 810-748-9922

Pine Shores

St. Clair 9 Public pineshoresgolf.com 810-329-4294

Fortress

Frankenmuth 18 Public zehnders.com 989-652-9229

Green Acres

Bridgeport 18 Public greenacresgc.net 989-777-3510

Kimberly Oaks

Springdale

Birmingham 9 Public ci.birmingham.mi.us 248-530-1669

Hemlock 18 Public maplehillgolfclub.com 989-642-8204

Pine Lake CC

Springfield Oaks

Pleasant View

MICHIGANGOLFEXPLORER.COM

Willow Brook

Twin Brooks

Chesaning 18 Public twinbrooksgolfcourse.com 989-845-6403

Saginaw 18 Public thecreekandvalley.com 989-781-0050

Pine Knob

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Laingsburg 18 Public pinehillsmi.com 517-651-7781

Crooked Creek

Lake Orion 18 Private paintcreekgolf.com 248-693-4695

Davisburg 18 Public destinationoakland.com 248-625-2540

Pine Hills

9 Public

Troy 9 Semi-Private somersetparkapartments.com 248-643-8737

Orchard Lake 18 Private pinelakecc.com 248-682-1300

Merrill 18 Public N/A 989-643-7475

Beech Hollow

Paint Creek

Clarkston 18 Public pineknobmansion.com 248-625-4430

Twin Bridges

Owosso CC

Bridgeport 9 Public bridgeportgolfgrille.com 989-777-1750

County Line

Silver Lake

Owosso 18 Private owossowcountryclub.com 989-723-1470

Saginaw 18 Public thecreekandthevalley.com 989-781-4653

Michigan Meadows

Sanctuary Lake

Clarkston 18 Public shepherdshollow.com 248-922-0300

Swan Valley

Woodland Hills

Rochester Hills 18 Private thewyndgate.com 248-652-4283

Freeland 18 Public beechhollowgolf.com 989-695-5427

Shepherd’s Hollow

Perry 18 Public glenbriar.com 517-625-3800

Saginaw 18 Public thesawmill.com 989-793-2692

Wyndgate CC

Royal Oak 9 Public ci.royal-oak.mi.us 248-554-0027

Orchard Lake CC

Glenbriar

Sawmill

Marysville 18 Public cityofmarysvillemi.com 810-364-4653

Bridgeport GC

West Bloomfield 18 Public shenandoahcc.net 248-682-4300

Dutch Hollow

Durand 18 Public N/A 517-288-3960

Melvin 9 Public N/A 810-387-4001

White Lake 18 Public destinationoakland.com 513-892-3469

Rochester Hills Royal Oak

18 Private

White Lake Oaks

Bayou GC

Rochester 18 Public N/A 248-852-4800

Saginaw saginawcountryclub.com 989-793-2860

Marlette 9 Public marlettegolf.com 989-635-3009

Riverbank

Shenandoah

Oxford 18 Public oxfordhillsgolf.com 248-628-2518

Walnut Creek CC

Apple Mountain

South Lyon 18 Public riverbankgolfclub.net 248-486-6251

9 Public

Wabeek CC

Red Run

Royal Oak 18 Private redrungolfclub.com 248-548-7500

Oakland University

Oxford Hills

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Pine Trace

Commerce Township unionlakegolfcourse.com 248-363-4666

Troy 18 Public golftroy.com 248-619-7600

Orchard Lake 18 Private orchardlakecountryclub.com 248-682-2500

Oakland Township 27 Public mytwinlakesgc.com 248-650-4960

Union Lake

Bloomfield Hills 36 Private oakland-hills.com 248-644-2500 Rochester 36 Private oakland.edu 248-364-6300

Twin Lakes

Saginaw CC

St. Charles 18 Public kimberlyoaksgolf.com 989-865-8261

Maple Hill

Saginaw 9 Public N/A 989-791-4768

FOREST DUNES | NORTH | CRAWFORD COUNTY

Roscommon | 18 Public | forestdunesgolf.com | 989-275-0700 BRIAN WALTERS PHOTOGRAPHY

Eagle Crest

Ypsilanti 18 Public eaglecrestresort.com 734-487-2441

Fox Hills

Dearborn 18 Public dearbornhills.com 313-563-4653

Ypsilanti

Detroit GC

Hickory Creek

Superior Township 18 Public hickorycreekgolf.com 734-454-1850

Hudson Mills Metropark

Dexter 18 Public metroparksgolf.com 734-426-0466

Huron Hills

Ann Arbor 18 Public a2golf.org 734-794-6246

Inverness CC

Chelsea 9 Private inverness-mi.com 734-475-8746

Lake Forest

Ann Arbor 18 Public lakeforestgc.com 734-994-8580

BRIAN WALTERS PHOTOGRAPHY

18 Public

Ypsilanti 27 Public pineviewgc.com 734-481-0500

Rattle Run

Willow Spring

White Oaks

Goodells whiteoaksgolfcourse.com 810-325-9292

9 Public

Willow Ridge

Ft. Gratiot 9 Public N/A 810-982-7010

TUSCOLA

Vassar 18 Public golfthewillow.com 989-871-9703

WASHTENAW Ann Arbor CC

Ann Arbor 18 Public annarborcc.com 734-426-4693

Barton Hills CC

Ann Arbor 18 Private bhcconline.com 734-663-8511

Brookside

Caro GC

Saline 18 Public brooksidesaline.com 734-429-4276

Rolling Hills

Northville downingfarmsgolf.com 734-486-0990

Caro 9 Public N/A 989-673-7797 Cass City 9 Public rollinghillsgolfcc.com 989-872-3569

Downing Farms

18 Public

Brushwood

Northville 9 Public brushwoodgc.com 734-420-3200

Chandler Park

Detroit 18 Public chandlerparkgolfcourse.com 313-331-7755

Country Club of Detroit

Grosse Pointe Farms 18 Private ccofd.com 313-881-2090

Dearborn Heights 36 Public warrenvalleygolf.com 313-561-1040

Waters Edge

Grosse Ile 9 Semi-Private grosseile.com 734-675-0777

Western CC

Redford 18 Private westerngcc.com 313-531-1240

Westland GC

Westland 18 Public cityofwestland.com 734-721-6660

West Shore CC

Grosse Ile 18 Private golfwestshore.com 734-676-1944

Whispering Willows

Livionia 18 Public golflivonia.com 248-476-4493

Willow Metro Park

New Boston 18 Public metroparks.com 734-753-4040

Woodlands of Van Buren Woodside Meadows Wyandotte Shores

Lochmoor Club

Lower Huron Metro Park Meadowbrook CC

Travis Pointe

Plymouth 18 Public braeburngc.com 734-453-1900

Warren Valley

Lakes of Taylor

Detroit 18 Public golfnewrogell.com 313-255-4653

WAYNE

Dearborn 18 Private tpcmichigan.com 313-436-3000

Lake Erie Metropark

Stonebridge

Brae Burn

TPC Michigan

Wyandotte 9 Public wyandotte.net 734-224-7270

Northville 18 Private meadowbrookcountryclub.com 248-349-3600

Ann Arbor 18 Semi-Private mgoblue.com/umgc 734-662-2582

Taylor Meadows

Taylor 18 Public taylormeadowsgolf.com 734-287-2100

Inn at St. Johns

Salem Hills

University of Michigan GC

Southgate

Southgate 18 Public southgatemi.org 734-258-3004

Romulus 18 Public N/A 734-782-5136

Belleville 18 Public metroparks.com 734-697-9181

Ann Arbor 18 Private travispointe.com 734-662-2582

Romulus 18 Public N/A 734-721-0430

Inkster Valley

Grosse Pointe Woods 18 Private lochmoreclub.com 313-886-1010

18 Public

Shady Hollow

Wayne 18 Public thewoodlandsgc.com 734-729-4477

Rustic Glen

Timbers

St. Clair River CC

St. Clair 18 Private scrcc.net 810-329-7300

Livionia 18 Public golflivonia.com 734-464-6325

Taylor 18 Public lakesoftaylorgolf.com 734-287-2100

Ann Arbor 18 Public stonebridgegolfclub.net 734-429-8383

Vassar Golf & CC

Idyl Wyld

Rolling Meadows

Northville salemhillsgolfclub.com 248-437-2152

Vassar 18 Public N/A 989-823-7221

Plymouth 18 Public hilltopgc.com 734-453-9800

Brownstown 18 Public metroparks.com 734-379-0048

Sherwood

St. Clair 18 Public rattlerun.com 810-329-2070

Westland 9 Public N/A 734-422-1970

Reddeman Farms

Saline 18 Public rusticglen.com 734-429-7679

Vassar 18 Public timbersgolfclub.com 989-871-4884

Belleville 9 Public golfharbourclub.com 734-699-8844

Plymouth 27 Public innatstjohns.com 734-414-0600

Whitmore Lake 18 Public golfrmcc.com 734-662-5144

Fort Gratiot 18 Private phgc.net 810-385-4447

Gross Ile 18 Private gigcc.com 734-676-1166

Radrick Farms

Chelsea 18 Public reddemanfarms.com 734-475-3020

Port Huron GC

Grosse Ile CC

Inkster 18 Public inkstervalleygolf.com 734-722-8020

Ann Arbor 18 Private radrick.umich.edu 734-998-7040

Gagetown 9 Public N/A 989-665-9971

Redford 18 Public redfordtwp.com 313-592-8758

Polo Fields

Ann Arbor & Ypsilanti 36 Private polofieldsccmi.com 734-998-1555

Port Huron 18 Public porthuronelkslodge.com 810-984-1204

Glenhurst

Hilltop

Pine View

Port Huron Elks

Gateway

Romulus 18 Public gatewaygolfclub.org 734-721-4100

Links at Whitmore

Pierce Lake

COURTESY APPLE MOUNTAIN

Fox Creek

Livionia 18 Public golflivonia.com 734-471-3400

Hawthorne Valley

Chelsea 18 Public piercelakegolf.com 734-475-5858

APPLE MOUNTAIN | EAST | SAGINAW

Fellows Creek

Canton 27 Public fellowscreekgolf.com 734-728-1300

Harbour Club

Whitmore Lake linksatwhitmorelake.com 734-449-4653

Freeland | 18 Public | applemountain.com | 989-781-6789

Detroit 36 Private detroitgolfclub.org 313-345-4400

Leslie Park

Ann Arbor 18 Public a2golf.org 734-994-1163

Williamsburg | 18 Private/limited Public | lochenheath.com | 231-938-9800

Dearborn Hills

Plymouth 63 Public foxhills.com 734-453-7272 Ypsilanti 18 Public ytown.org 734-485-0881

LOCHENHEATH | NORTH | GRAND TRAVERSE COUNTY

Dearborn CC

Dearborn 18 Private dearborncountryclub.net 313-561-0800

New Rogell

Northville Hills

Northville northvillehillsgolfclub.com 734-667-4653

18 Public

Detroit 18 Public palmerparkgolfcourse.com 313-883-2525

Pheasant Run

Canton 27 Public golfphgc.com 734-397-6460

Pine Creek

Belleville 18 Public N/A 734-483-5010

Riverview Highlands

Rouge Park

Detroit rougeparkgolfcourse.com 313-837-5900

Munising 18 Public picturedrocksgolfcourse.com 906-387-2146

BARAGA L’Anse GC

L’Anse 9 Public N/A 906-524-6600

CHIPPEWA

Palmer Park

Riverview riverviewhighlands.com 734-479-2266

ALGER Pictured Rocks

27 Public

18 Public

Munoscong GC

Pickford 18 Public munosconggolfclub.com 906-647-9812

Oaks at Kincheloe

Kinross 18 Public kinross.net 906-495-5706

Rock at Woodmoor

Drummond Island 18 Public drummondisland.com 906-493-1006

Sault St. Marie

Sault St. Marie 18 Public saultgolfing.com 906-632-7812

Tanglewood Marsh Sault St. Marie tanglewoodmarsh.com 906-635-0617

18 Public

MICHIGANGOLFEXPLORER.COM

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Wild Bluff at Bay Mills Resort

Brimley 18 Public wildbluff.com 906-248-3617

DELTA

TimberStone

Iron Mountain 18 Public pinemountainresort.com 9 06-776-0111

GOGEBIC

MACKINAC

Grand Hotel 18 Public 906-847-3331

Mackinac Island grandhotel.com

Hessel Ridge

Gogebic CC

Country Meadows

Ironwood 18 Public N/A 906-932-2515

Hessel 18 Public hesselridge.com 906-484-2107

Lacvieux Resort

Escanaba CC

Watersmeet 18 Public lvdcasino.com 906-358-0303

Engadine 18 Private hiawathaclub.com 906-477-6592

Escanaba 9 Public N/A 906-786-1565

Escanaba 18 Public escanabacc.com 906-786-4430

Gladstone

Gladstone 18 Public gladstonegolf.com 906-428-9646

Highland

Bark River 18 Public highlandgolfclub.net 906-466-7457

Nahma GC

Nahma 9 Public N/A 906-644-2648

Terrace Bluff

Gladstone 18 Public terracebay.com 906-428-2343

Tri-Valley Garden

Garden 9 Public N/A 906-644-2693

DICKINSON Eagle Mountain

Iron Mountain 18 Public N/A 906-744-0003

HOUGHTON

Les Cheneaux

Cedarville 9 Public lecheneaux.org 906-484-3606

Calumet GC

Calumet 9 Public N/A 906-337-3911

Portage Lake GC

Houghton 18 Public mtu.edu/golf 906-487-2641

Wyandotte Hills

Toivola 9 Public wyandottehills.com 906-288-3720

Wawashkamo

Mackinac Island 9 Public wawashkamo.com 906-847-3871

MARQUETTE

Gentz Homestead

Marquette 9 Public N/A 906-249-1002

Northern Michigan University Golf Club

IRON Crystal Falls 9 Public crystalfalls.org/golfing 906-875-6647

George Young Recreation

Iron River 18 Public georgeyoung.com 906-265-3401

Marquette 36 Public marquettegolf.org 906-225-0721

Red Fox Run

Gwinn 18 Public redfoxrun.com 906-346-7010

Wawonowin CC

Oak Crest

Pine Grove

Newberry CC Newberry Indian Hills

Norway 18 Public oakcrestgolf.com 906-563-5891

Iron Mountain 18 Public pinegrovecc.org 906-744-3493

9 Public

Marquette Golf & CC/ Greywalls

Iron River ironrivercountryclub.com 906-265-3161

LUCE 18 Public 906-293-8422

Champion 18 Public wawonowin.com 906-485-1435

MENOMINEE

N/A

LAKEWOOD SHORES RESORT | NORTH | IOSCO

Oscoda | 54 Public | lakewoodshores.com | 800-882-2493 COURTESY LAKEWOOD SHORES

Marquette 18 Public NMU.edu/golfcourse 906-227-3111

Crystal View

Iron River CC

Hiawatha Club

Stephenson 9 Public indianhillsgolf.net 906-753-4781

North Shore

Menominee 18 Public northshoregolf.net 906-863-8421

Riverside

Menominee 18 Public riverside-up.com 906-863-4837

SCHOOLCRAFT Indian Lake

Manistique indianlakegolfcourse.com 906-341-5600

18 Public

Sweetgrass

Harris 36 Public islandresortandcasino.com 800-682-6040

ONTONAGON Big Spruce

Blue Crossing 9 Public N/A 906-827-3727

lakewoodshores.com/custompackage Use Promo Code: GolfExpo Couples Getaway Packages Weekday Packages

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7751 Cedar Lake Rd. Oscoda, MI 48750 • 800.882.2493 • lakewoodshores.com 84

1 COM || LakewoodShores_1.2_GEv4i1.indd MICHIGANGOLFEXPLORER.

2/11/20 12:19 PM

Stay & Play Packages Available Minutes From Downtown Grand Rapids 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 or call 616.791.7544

BOYNE HIGHLANDS

The fairway destination

86

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MICHIGANGOLFEXPLORER.COM

Text: Brenna Buckwald

Only one thing can make spending a day playing golf even better— staying the night in a resort and waking up the next day ready to do it all over again. Luckily, for people who love to golf in Michigan, there is a plethora of fantastic golf resorts scattered across the fondly known Mitten State.

In this latest edition, The Golf Explorer: Michigan’s Journal to Incredible Golf highlights some of great golfing destinations. These resorts not only supply golfers with unique courses, but also with comfortable places for respite, and plenty of attractions and activities to occupy them when they’re not on the course.

BOYNE Golf Bay Harbor Golf Club Bay Harbor, Michigan Boyne Highlands Resort Harbor Springs, Michigan Boyne Mountain Resort Boyne Falls, Michigan Ken Griffin, director of golf sales and marketing at Boyne Resorts, takes pride in the fact that BOYNE is a carefully controlled golf experience that is consistent in its quality across all ten courses that they offer.

“We have a lot of competitors that may have two courses, three courses, and some may even have four. There’s nobody else, in fact it’s a short list even in the U.S., where you have this many holes of golf, in those close proximity, all controlled by one company,” Griffin said.

“If you go to Myrtle Beach they are marketed together, but there are 40 different courses and 20 different ownerships.

This is a golf experience where we can control the experience from the time you drive in to the time you leave,” Griffin added.

With ten unique courses and three different resort locations—Bay Harbor Golf Club, Boyne Highlands Resort, and Boyne Mountain Resort—all within roughly fifteen minutes of each other; the avid golfer has a large selection of courses to play based on their personal preferences for the game.

At Bay Harbor Golf Club, visitors have the option of playing the courses such as: Links, a course situated on the Lake Michigan Shoreline, inspired by courses in Ireland that hug the North Atlantic coastline, offering grand views of the water as the game is played; Quarry, designed

by Arthur Hills, designed to leverage its location in and around a giant shale quarry, making for a one-of-a-kind course with features including 40-foot gorges, stone cliffs, natural ponds, and waterfalls; and the Preserve, a harbor located in a hard wood forest, close enough to Lake Michigan to hear the soothing sounds of crashing waves.

Ranging in levels of difficulty, The Heather, Arthur Hills, Donald Ross Memorial, and The Moor are all courses located at Boyne Highland Resort.

Designed by Robert Trent Jones, Sr., The Heather was opened in 1966 as BOYNE Golf ’s first course, and has been named 2019 National Course of The Year by the National Golf Course Owners Association, and 2018 Michigan Golf Course of the Year by the Michigan Golf Course Association.

Designated as an AJGA Championship Course, The Moor is widely regarded

by BOYNE members as a favorite for its twists and turns worked into the 18 holes.

In a phenomenal mountainside setting, also offering views of Deer Lake, The Alpine is one of three courses located at Boyne Mountain Resort. The Monument, constructed with design ideologies borrowed from famous golf course architects such as Donald Ross, Dr. Alister Mackenzie, Robert Trent Jones, George Fazio and Pete Dye, and Crooked Tree Golf Club are the final courses offered by BOYNE Golf.

“I’ve always said this and we backed it up with a survey this year, we don’t have a top one or two courses. We did send a survey out and there were four courses really close and one not far behind. We sent it out to our whole golf database,” Griffin said. “It came back even stronger than I thought, because we try and maintain that high level.”

BOYNE Golf not only maintains that high level of quality among its courses, but also among the resort stay at any of their three resorts—Inn at Bay Harbor, Boyne Highlands Resort, and Boyne Mountain Resort—for their guests. With the ability to choose lodging from the options of a standard hotel room, a condo, a townhouse, with varying locations and views, guests’ stay can be very personalized according to what experience they want to get from their vacation.

Each resort location has attractions outside of golfing that make it a fun stay for guests. At Inn at Bay Harbor, guests can relax at the spa and salon, enjoy local shopping, or splashing around in the lakeside pool. Boyne Resorts also offers a vari-

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ety of dining experiences, from a quick burger before heading onto the course, to elegant moonlight dinners.

Grand Traverse Resort and Spa Acme, Michigan With three exceptional championship courses—The Bear, The Wolverine, and Spruce Run— Grand Traverse Resort is a perfect getaway for golfers looking to play in the picturesque beauty of the lower peninsula.

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Designed by Jack Nicklaus and open to the public on June 17, 1985, The Bear’s features that make it cherished by many— it’s Scottish terraced fairways, tiered greens, deep grassy roughs, moguls and mounds, and deep pot bunkers— are also the trademarks of the course that led Golf Digest to rank it the 18th toughest course in America, an opinion shared by many visiting golfers who have experienced the challenge of finishing the 18 holes.

Spruce Run, Grand Traverse Resort and Spa’s original resort course, has gone

through many modifications among the years to become the course it is today. In the 1970s, the original nine-hole public golf course was expanded to 18 holes.

Former University of Michigan Golf Coach William Newcomb redesigned the course in 1979, as a 6,741-yard, par72 course, and renamed it The Resort Course.

Gary Player’s first signature course in Michigan, The Wolverine, features lowland terrain with wetlands dispersed around the first nine holes, and hilly highland terrain with views of East Grand Traverse Bay on the back nine. This course is enjoyable for players of all skill levels, offering four sets of tees to accommodate golfers’ range of abilities.

Guests staying at Grand Traverse Resort can enjoy the many entertainments the area provides, other than the beloved sport. Nearby, Turtle Creek Casino, which is also owned by the Grand Traverse band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, is only an eight-minute drive from the resort, and is great for guests who want to mix up their vacation with a break from golfing.

For guests looking for recreation that is still active and outdoors, and even closer to their temporary home, Grand Traverse Resort also offers the opportunity to learn f ly fishing, at Orvis Fly Fishing School.

Students have the option of private lessons, one-day, or two-day schools.

With Traverse City in close proximity, guests have the option of making the short trip and enjoying everything the city has to offer during their stay—shopping downtown, visiting the Dennos Museum Center, lounging on the beaches of Clinch Park, or enjoying the wide variety of restaurant options that the city offers.

Crystal Mountain Thompsonville, Michigan Widely known as a destination booked for ski trips, Crystal Mountain in northern Michigan also features two challenging golf courses: Mountain Ridge and Betsie Valley courses.

Mountain Ridge presents beautiful views as the course weaves through forests and reaches high elevations in its 18 holes of championship-level golf. Betsey Valley golf course, having recently gone under a $1 million renovation, also embraces its environment in creating a unique course with stunning views.

Open to the public, Crystal Mountain’s practice and learning center is the place to go for beginning golfers, or players looking to improve or add to their skillset.

Spanning a massive 10 acres of land, the center features a driving range, which encompasses a covered hitting area, a putting green, and two multi-tiered chipping

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A-GA-MING GOLF RESORT greens with bunkers.

With a selection of different types of lessons offered, golfers visiting the practice and learning center can specialize their golf instruction to themselves; choosing lesson length or lessons specific to their skill level.

Crystal Mountain is unique in that it provides year-round entertainment for families; even in golf ’s off-season. The resort provides a plethora of winter season activities on site for families to partake in; including downhill and cross-country skiing, fat-tire snow biking, snowshoeing, ice skating, and taking horse-drawn surrey rides.

Art admirers can hike the onsite Michigan Legacy Art Park and view more than 50 sculptures and poetry stones throughout the 1.6-mile-trail. To be enjoyed in the warmer seasons, archery and outdoor laser tag are available for the competitive guests wanting to practice their aim in challenging games outside of the golf course.

A-Ga-Ming Golf Resort Kewadin, Michigan “Everything we do is geared around people who love to golf,” said Mike Brown, owner and general manager at A-Ga-Ming Golf Resort.

When making this statement, Brown was referring not only to the resort’s four unparalleled courses— Sundance, Antrim Dells, Torch Course, and Charlevoix Country Club— but also the resort stay as a whole that completes the golfer’s ideal getaway experience.

“Golfers love the comradery of golf.

That’s the whole idea. It could be college buddies that are a couple years out of college, or just a foursome, but having a condo to stay in is a real draw. A place where they can play cards and hangout,” Brown said. “People just enjoy the experience much more than a hotel room. That’s kind of our bread and butter.”

A-Ga-Ming provides the option of staying at any of their three onsite lodging locations; Maplewood Ridge, Cedar Hollow and Vista Town homes. The many options for room type and lodging size is enough to make anyone’s stay customizable to their travel group. At any of the three locations, patios and grills for outdoor cookouts are included.

Since 1996, when the original A-GaMing course, now called Torch Course, was first opened, A-Ga-Ming Golf Resort has presented golfers with beautifully built courses overlooking Torch Lake.

Now home to four courses, all offering views of water of some sort—Torch Lake or Lake Michigan—even the competition of the game can’t break the serenity of the

natural lake-side views.

Brown named Sundance, built in 2005, as one of the resort’s anchor courses.

“Jerry Matthews, a local Michigan architect, was the lead architect, and he just built a really playable golf course.

Golf is kind of a hard game, I’m sure every golfer would attest to that, so having a course with big fairways and big greens, that looks like it’s hard, championship level, and being very playable is what people love about it,” Brown said.

“Out of all of the golfers that play for the whole summer, they probably shoot one of their better scores when they play on Sundance. When you play a good score you’re in a good mood, you’re having fun, and you want to come back,” Brown added A fan of Jerry Matthews’s architectural work, the resort acquired their second course designed by Matthews, Antrum Dells, in 2010. Having bought their fourth course, Charlevoix Country Club, in 2010, has drawn a lot more golfers looking to spend days golfing with variation in game play while on vacation to the resort.

“Being able to add the fourth course just a few years ago, it allowed us to keep all of our golfers in house. Obviously, they have to travel a little bit, ten or fifteen miles up the road, but it’s still all of our property so they can expect the same quality. All of the same food, the same hot dogs, you’re going to get a similar experience,” Brown said.

Otsego Resort Gaylord, Michigan Drawing in golfers to the small town of Otsego in Allegan County, Otsego Resort

displays two golf courses, The Classic Course and The Tribute Course, for players who love more traditional courses.

Designed by William H. Diddel in a traditional “country club” style, The Classic Course overlooks the Sturgeon River Valley, and offers a quick-paced straight forward game to golfers looking for relief from some of the more complicated courses in the area. Situated only a mile from Downtown Gaylord, the course has become the founding course of the Gaylord Golf Mecca.

Covering 1,100 acres around the Sturgeon River Valley, The Tribute Golf Course guides players through natural forestry, greenery, the f lowing river valley, and stunning elevation changes—and is a course suited for all levels of play.

Otsego Club welcomes the individual traveler or group vacationers with cozy units styled for a northern Michigan experience stay. With 80 guestrooms and suites across five different lodging locations—Hilltop Lodge, Blue Spruce Lodge, Tyrol Lodge, Loft, and Chalet—guests of Otsego Club can tailor their stay based on their own needs and desires.

There are three different dining options available on-site at Otsego Club; guests can enjoy a sit down meal of pastas, sandwiches, burgers, and entrees at Duck Blind Grille; a quick bite in between games at The Pro Grille, located conveniently at the pro shop next to the putting range; or in the winter season, for the golfers who have made this resort their year-round vacation home, The River Cabin provides a cafeteria-style dining environment.

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Garland Lodge and Golf Resort Lewiston, Michigan Home to four championship golf courses set in 3,000 acres of Michigan wildlife, Garland Lodge and Golf Resort utilizes the elements of the natural environment to create an organic golf experience.

Garland is for the golfer that is looking for absolute convenience; having every course entrance within walking distance of the golf shop, guests can choose which course to play with ease of access— Fountains, Monarch, Swampfire, and Ref lections.

Golf course designer Ron Otto designed all four of Garland’s courses to embrace the elements of their environment. He was able to design challenging and unique courses without swiping away the feeling of being immersed in the wilderness.

Fountains was ranked as 12th of the Best Golf Courses in Michigan 2018 by Golf Advisor. With an emphasis on strategy, the course offers six packs of par-3s, par-4s, and par-5s, and just like its name, incorporates fountains into the gameplay.

One of the shorter games, Swampfire, features a plethora of natural bodies of water, with acres of ponds, lakes, and wetlands.

For guests looking to stay overnight, the resort offers lodging types to suit all group sizes and needs. At their very own Garland Lodge, guests can stay in king

bed and two bed guestrooms, or, for bigger groups or guests looking for a roomier space, the penthouse suite provides two bedrooms and two bathrooms, the master bath including a Jacuzzi tub, as well as a spacious living area and full-sized kitchen.

Single and double villas, golf cottages, and condos and French villas are also available for guests staying overnight. The golf cottages sleep four to six people, feature a gas fireplace creating a cozy space in each living room, and are located right on the Fountains course. With only a few available to rent, the condos take a more modern route with an open f loor plan, jacuzzi tub, and patio available for grilling and enjoying the natural views and fresh air. The French villas, with options for either two- or three-story units, offer fully equipped kitchens and laundry facilities, providing ease comfort for those planning extended stays with the golf resort.

Tullymore Golf Club Stanwood, Michigan A stay at Tullymore Golf Resort allows the golfer, and non-golfer, to fully immerse themselves in the game of their choice—whether that is out on either of the two distinct courses, Tullymore Golf Course, or St. Ives Golf Course; or inside at the Topgolf Swing Suite, an arcade that welcomes all ages and skill levels to play virtual golf, or other games such as dodge-

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ball, baseball, or hockey.

Designed by course architect Jim Engh, Tullymore Golf Course has been drawing visitors back since it first opened in 2002. The same year as it opened, the course was named by Golf Digest, number one new upscale course in America, and it continues to live up to the name.

Since then, Golf Digest has honored the course by including it in their list of the 100 Greatest Public & Resort Courses in America, ranking the course in the top 15, numerous times.

Tullymore course weaves its way through wetlands, meadows, and wooded areas, presenting beautiful natural scenery to golfers as they play through the course. Featuring five par-3 holes and five par-5 holes, the course is also adaptable to the individual’s skill level, with multiple sets of tees offered.

Golf course architect Jerry Matthews utilized the natural environment in creating St. Ives course; carved from glacial tills, presenting dramatic elevation changes of 40 to 80 feet, secluded woodlands, and wetlands, it is a course with subtle transitioning elements in the surroundings, continuing to grab and hold the attention of golfers as they play through the course. First opened in 1995, St. Ives has been awarded with a five-star rating from Golf Digest, as well as being named among the Top 10 courses in America for women by Golf for Women magazine.

Staying at Tullymore is staying in the lap of luxury, no matter which housing option—The Residence Club, Tullymore Custom Cottages, or The Lodge at Tullymore—you choose for your stay.

The Residence Club, with four units available, is within walking distance of Tullymore Clubhouse, and each unit comes with f lat screen TVs as well as the non-digital, but just as intriguing views of the 18th Fairway at Tullymore, from each patio or deck connected to the units.

Tullymore Custom Cottages have four similar cottages available, located in a quiet cul-de-sac, each one has four bedrooms and four and a half bathrooms, as well as a stone fireplace and patio for guests to enjoy.

In a secluded woodland setting, The Lodge at Tullymore features 10 bedrooms and a community kitchen and living room, housing entertainments such as a pool table, poker tables, and f lat-screen TVs. For guests looking to stay in a hotel, there are two locations available; The Inn at St. Ives, and The Hideaway.

Tullymore offers two restaurants to choose from—Tap Room at Tullymore, an irish style pub, and St. Ives Grille, a more casually styled pub open for lunch and dinner.

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Forest Dunes Golf Club Roscommon, Michigan Golf course architect Tom Doak’s reversible golf course design, The Loop, is a check off the bucket list for golfers looking for a unique golf experience, and an experience they can get in the small town of Roscommon, Michigan, right at Forest Dunes.

One big infinity sign, the two courses intertwining The Loop, the Black course and The Red course, run opposite each-other in difficulty levels from start of game to finish; the Black course beginning with trickier holes and easing up as the course is played, and the Red course being a more traditional game, starting with simpler holes for players to warm up on. Adding f lair to the already unique course, Forest Dunes just added electric golf cars for The Loop experience.

The Loop is not Forest Dunes’ only course available; with three others—the resort’s namesake, Forest Dunes; Hilltop putting course; and Par 3 Course—guests have an array of original courses to choose from.

The Forest Dunes course, opened in 2002 and designed by British Open Champion Tom Weiskopf, sits in the Huron National Forest, and features natural challenges built into the game, including open meadows, hardwoods, century-old red and jack pines, rugged native dunes, scruffy sand areas and water features to play around.

Currently under construction, the 10-hole, par-3 course is on its way to being revealed with its grand opening in summer of 2020. Golf course designers Riley Johns and Keith Rhebb have paired up to create a shorter, but visually stimulating, course. One of the highlights of the course will be the first hole and the 10th hole,

crossover holes with a tree protecting from direct ball f light issues.

For the golfer that wants to stay and play, Forest Dunes offers two lodging options onsite: Lake Ausable Lodge, which features 11 standard rooms and two suites; or for guests looking for more privacy and space, staying in one of the villas or cottages.

Guests dining at Sangomore’s Restaurant experience the small-town charm as they eat delicious traditional American cuisine in one of the three restaurant’s settings. The grand dining room presents intricate woodwork in its design, f loor-to-ceiling windows for views of the Forest Dunes course, and a fieldstone fireplace adding to the overall ambience. The restaurant’s covered outdoor area is highlighted in cedar and stone, has a full-service bar, and is divided into three wings, each featuring a stone wood-burning fireplace and a big screen TV. For a more casual dining experience, the grille room and bar serves lunch and dinner, and welcomes guests to the patio for drinks by the fire pit.

Gull Lake View Golf Club & Resort Augusta, Michigan “Being a resort that’s been here over 50 years and family-owned, there’s just a friendly atmosphere. We’ve always been known for service friendliness. There’s an ease to our whole resort that makes everyone feel comfortable,” said Bill Johnson, vice president of Gull Lake View Golf Club and Resort.

A large part of what makes staying at Gull Lake View Resort so enjoyable for guests is how comfortable the lodging is. Located on the Gull Lake View East course, the Fairway Villas sleep four people, have two bathrooms, a full kitchen,

a balcony or patio, and a community barbecue area. The villas are within walking distance of the main clubhouse, Gull Lake, and the resort’s local restaurants.

For guests seeking an upgraded lodging experience, deluxe suites and luxury cottages are also available.

Gull Lake View provides guests with two exceptional dining options: Blue Stem, located across from the golf course Stoatin Brae; and Charles & Darl’s Smokehouse & Grille. Blue Stem offers a relaxed atmosphere for a sit-down meal of modern American cuisine, as well as a full-service bar. Charles & Darl’s menu can be enjoyed from the comfort of guests’ own lodging, or in the actual barbecue restaurant, with the option of ordering to go or dining in. Charles & Darl’s serves breakfast through dinner.

Guests of Gull Lake View are not only impressed with the lodging and food that the resort has to offer; the six championship golf courses—West Course, East Course, Stonehedge North, Stonehedge South, Bedford Valley, and Stoatin Brae— are a large part of what draws guests back every year.

With four of the six courses at Gull Lake View designed by members of the Scott family, every course is consistent in its quality, each one earning a rating of 4.5 stars or higher from Golf Digest.

The resort’s newest edition, Stoatin Brae, provides golfers with sweeping views of the surrounding landscape, the linksstyle course sitting at one of the highest points in Kalamazoo County.

“People come and stay with us, and many of them have been coming back for over 30 years,” said Johnson, attributing the resort’s success to the excellent service and amenities provided to guests during their stay, on and off the courses.

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Q&A:

Protecting your play Dr. Kevin Howard, DO

Text: R. Collins Beginning with bent knees, the anatomy of a golf swing involves working several joint groupings on the body, from wrists and elbows to hips and ankles.

The twist of the upper body grinds back down onto the pillar of the lower, and it ends as swiftly as it began. One thing that is as familiar for some golfers as a graceful swing is the eventual joint issues that it can also create, not to mention the task of walking a hilly course. Many golfers can eventually experience arthritis or joint discomfort and even severe pain, but with the marvels of modern surgery and medicine, some work can be done to mitigate these issues or make them disappear.

For this issue of The Golf Explorer: Michigan’s Journal to Incredible Golf, we spoke with Dr. Kevin Howard, DO, orthopedic surgeon at the University of Michigan Metro Health campuses in Rockford and Wyoming, Michigan, to discover some prospective remedies for mitigating joint pain such as hip and knee replacement surgeries, as well as tips for stopping pain before it starts, on and off the course.

A practice offering both hip and knee replacement operations and different approaches to both, Metro Health provides patients with the resources and knowledge to take control of their pain and healing process, and to get back to their game.

In your own words, what are some of the most common reasons people may need hip or knee replacement surgery?

Dr. Howard: The real reasons out there should be pain and limited activity that can’t be controlled in any other way. Other methods [for control] could include assisted devices like a cane or walker or medications like anti-inf lammatory medications or glucosamine.

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What are some activities that might wear down these vital joint areas maybe more than others?

That’s the problem, is so many of us were athletically inclined when we were younger and even had injuries, but there are a whole lot of other people out there who have not had an injury and it always shocks them when they come in and say “how did this happen?” You scratch your head, because you really don’t know; it can happen to almost everybody. It’s always surprising too when someone on the small side comes in and they have these joint problems and people often think it just applies to people who are carrying a little extra weight and it’s not—it’s a problem with everybody.

Do you think that could hint at it being genetic for some people?

They’ve never been able to show that, but we sure see it in familial lines. We’ll see someone coming in who can say “my sister and my brother and both my parents have had their joints replaced or portions replaced” …but we really don’t know.

Certainly, post traumatic problems—for people who’ve played a lot of sports— can happen. Maybe someone had a torn meniscus 15 years or 20 years ago and they come in and where that shock absorber was removed many times, they have significant wear and it spreads to other parts of the knee from where the meniscus was removed.

How might a patient know if they end up needing to have hip or knee replacement surgery?

The first thing that’s normally done is they’ll get an x-ray if they’re complaining of pain in their joint. You can look at an x-ray and tell if someone has arthritis by certain characteristics: you’ll see bone spurs forming; you’ll see joint spaces that narrow down; and you’ll potentially see loose bodies or pieces of bone f loating inside the knee. All of those are things that we look at on x-ray and of course by the time of the physical examination we verify that any findings we see on x-ray correlate with the location of the patient’s pain. You have to put the mystery together to solve the problem and solve why they’re in the pain.

Would you mind taking me through the pre-op, surgery, and rehabilitation process at Metro Health?

Preoperatively normally, for anyone 55 [years-old] or over, the surgeon that sees you will obviously ask about your medical history, but many times people need to have a pre-op physical EKG and some other things to make sure that they’re healthy enough to undergo the surgery—

we don’t want to cause problems by putting someone through surgery.

Metro offers something called their Joint Camp, which is where people actually go to a conference headed up by Mary Brady…she’s the orthopedic coordinator at the hospital and she answers questions and takes them on a tour, shows them rooms, shows them physical therapy. She really does a nice job of trying to relieve the anxiety, because certainly it’s stressful to undergo any type of surgery; but joint replacement is a one-way trp. Once you take that step, you’re not saying “hang on I want to go back to what I had.” It’s a big commitment and that’s why people really should [consider] all the measures they can prior to undergoing a surgery like that.

I was reading one statistic that said approximately 5-to-12 out of 100 people need to repeat the surgery in 10 years. It sounds like there’s a pretty good success rate with people needing to repeat this surgery, even in a decade, being relatively low...

Again, there are a lot of the reasons why they may need that that we’re trying to control for as much as we can. Some of the things that may lead to a repeat surgery are if you’re on the heavy side or if you have some sort of immune compromise such as diabetes, or don’t have adequate sensation such as neuropathy.

There’s a number of health issues that can contribute to it so if we’re doing a really good job as surgeons, we should be screening for those things and making sure people are making sure of their increased risks and if those are too high telling them that it’s not a good idea to do it.

The healing process is different for everyone, but typically how long would you say that can take for someone?

Well, hips recover faster than knees.

Most people are starting to do most of their regular activities with their knee replacement at I would say six-to-12 weeks and it varies by the patient; whereas hip replacements I would say between two-tosix weeks people are really getting back to their activity levels.

One of the things that can make a difference too is how they are done. For hip replacements, there are different options for them; the surgeon has a choice for how he does it. You may have read a little about the anterior versus posterior approach and it makes a difference on recovery for people. Most people have it done through the front—anterior approach—and never even have to go to physical therapy. That’s a little bit of the difference, but the success rate on posterior approach is very, very

good too. The way it’s done can lead to different times for recovery, so patients are kind of aware of that; they’re looking at the internet.

In your opinion, what can people like golfers do to improve their joint health? Any tips on the course or before or after surgery?

We know that stretching before and after you play is very important in maintaining your f lexibility; that includes not only your lower extremities, but also your back. There are various sources out there that show different golf stretches and it really helps to stay limbered up and stay loose, which means maybe in the off-season doing some form of regular exercise that keeps you moving, whether it’s practicing your swing somewhere indoors or practicing your stretches and exercises on a regular basis.

Is there any thing you’d like to add?

The other thing that people are doing for their joint health is there are some supplements out there that are helping people stay active longer; one of them is glucosamine. You may have seen Osteo Bi-Flex or chondroitin or Cosamine DS, and there’s all kinds of name brands out there but they all come down to what’s called glucosamine.

We think that there was a large study by the government years ago that showed that for a certain number of people they had the equivalent pain relief as some of the prescription anti-inf lammatories without all the side effects, so I have a number of patients who are taking glucosamine who say “I can tell the difference,” and at the same time we have people who say “I took it and it never helped.” So, it’s like anything, but it doesn’t cost you much and there’s very few side effects or problems with it; why wouldn’t you try it?

That’s interesting to hear that there’s sort of a supplemental solution like that that’s come out and seems to be helping some people.

Yes, and there’s multiples of those.

Besides glucosamine there’s turmeric.

Bromelain is an extract from pineapple and there’s a number of those [supplements]. Not that you want to substitute medicine for those, but many people find those things make them feel better and keep them active longer.

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The scorecard:

an industry outlook Text: R.J. Weick

To the competitive enthusiast, golf is a numbers game.

It is a sport where success is often determined by the lowest number, though each hole, round, and course are a little more nuanced than that, offering a range of par-levels and surprising landform obstacles rather than a single, static goal.

There is, of course, much more to the game than numbers as it has been used as a vehicle to foster community, lifelong skills, philanthropic investment, and land preservation— and as an industry, golf is an economic tour de force.

In the United States, golf is an estimated $84.1 billion industry with an overall economic impact of about $191 billion as of 2016, according to WE ARE GOLF, which is a coalition of leading golf organizations such as: Golf Course Superintendents Association, PGA Tour, PGA of America, USGA, U.S. Golf Manufacturers Council, and World Golf Foundation. The industry comprises nearly two million jobs with a wage income of about $59 billion and about 15,000 facilities.

In Michigan alone, golf employs roughly 60,000 individuals with wages paid by courses reaching $1.4 billion, according to the Michigan Golf Alliance. The industry’s economic impact is valued at about $4.2 billion and covers roughly 127,500 acres of managed greenspace—28,000 acres of which provide wildlife habitats as forest and wetlands.

Though the relationship between the numbers realized on-course, as a player secures a birdie or par on a hole, may seem intangible, there is a direct and symbiotic relationship between them. Drawn to the fairway, by competitive nature or to experience the natural landscape, golfers— professionals and amateur enthusiasts alike—play a role in the larger outlook of the golf industry and economy in the state.

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Association—said as a seasonal state, it is really important for that economic impact to be realized by all and players should feel good when they are out on the course playing a round of golf knowing that they are helping to support the economy in Michigan.

“Golf courses are really a part of our community and communities are a part of golf courses. It is not just golf that happens there if you think about it; it’s weddings, it’s fundraisers, it’s family events, it’s bridal showers, it’s baby showers, and it’s your monthly Rotary luncheons,” Paisley said.

“It has really changed; it’s not just golf.

Golf itself is a community, but the communities are as much a part of the golf course; they are so intertwined.”

The Michigan Golf Course Association, or MGCA, is a nonprofit organization promoting and preserving the best interests of the industry in terms of private and public sectors—essentially serving as the voice of golf business in the state. It also focuses on education and advocacy initiatives, such as securing a strategic partnership with the Small Business Association of Michigan to provide free memberships for MGCA members.

“In a nutshell, we represent the owners and operators of golf courses in Michigan.

The course is really who we serve and our members are the staff the courses,” Paisley said. “We may be dealing with the owner

of the golf course, the operator, the PGA, or the superintendent. The landscape of the golf industry in Michigan has changed with who is running the daily public golf course; so our name changed a couple of years to ref lect that.”

Despite the rough start to the decade as the industry—and others across the board—faced severe national economic recession and huge disruptions to the day-to-day business of things, the golf industry at the national and state level have endured. The oversaturation of golf course supply has continued to stabilize in the last 10 years to meet a more sustainable supply and demand in the market.

In 2018, the supply declined by 1.2 percent throughout the nation—attributed to an ongoing correction—and yet still remains “the best-supplied golf market in the world” with more than 16,600 courses and 14,600 facilities, according to the 2019 Golf Industry Report by the National Golf Foundation.

Chris Sobieck, general manager at Watermark Properties in Grand Rapids, Michigan, said the golf market has solidified itself, but about 10 years ago when Golf Now came into the market really strong with its online tee-time system and deals, it was a challenge many golf courses had to address.

“We were coming out of that recession in 2009 when there was a little bit of panic

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that golf courses needed to get into that bargaining game to get golfers interested in playing their golf courses. We had a deterioration of rates and that was problematic,” Sobieck said.

“The healthy golf courses survived, but we have seen quite a shakeout where quite a few golf courses have gone away, those that went into the bargain process.

We have fixed costs in golf and even if you lower your rate, you have to have that many more people,” Sobieck added.

Sobieck, who is the manager of the golf operations for Watermark Properties, oversees seven facilities in Michigan; four of which are private, two are public, and one is considered a semi-private golf course. He noted the strategy for Watermark Properties was to try to stay out of the bargain game at the time, and instead focused on adding value to the golf experience rather than cutting costs, such as at The Golf Club at Thornapple Pointe in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

“It allowed us to come out at the other end in a really good place, but it was the biggest challenge: the bargain tee times. We know everyone wants a deal—I mean, I want a deal. Who doesn’t go to Expedia and other websites to look for the best deal and look at eight different airlines? But there is a different experience between, say, Spirit and Delta,” Sobieck said. “[Spirit] went the bargain route and make you pay for all this, pay for all that, and that’s great depending on your circumstance, but for a family of four, it is really challenging. You have to look at those types of things and how you go about your business.”

Now, as the industry is poised at the beginning of a new decade, the situation has changed. Between the investment in energizing youth and engaging new demographics, golf courses are looking to stay ahead of the aging curve as the Baby Boomer generation reaches retirement and past golf.

“I think we have a lot of positive energy in the game. We have a lot of great young players playing on Tour, which generates excitement too for kids. You’ve got Rickie Fowler, Lexi Thompson, Justin Thomas, and younger players who are athletes,” Sobieck said. “Golf has become a cooler game. It used to be not seen as an athletic event, but it has really turned athletic and more athletes are starting to play.”

Sobieck attributes the PGA Junior League and other junior programs for engaging younger players into the game, which is the future, and the investment in the experience has drawn another generation to golf: millennials.

“Millennials really seem to want a great experience and that is why we focused on that as well,” Sobieck said.

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“They are willing to pay the money, but they want to get their money’s worth.”

It is estimated that nearly 24.2 million people, aged six-years and older, played on-course in the U.S. in 2018, which is up from 23.8 million in 2017. Off-course alternatives, such as Topgolf and Drive Shack, saw an additional 9.3 million people engaged; bringing golf ’s overall participation to about 33.5 million, according to the 2019 Golf Industry Report. The report also estimated the game’s total reach to be about 107 million in 2018 between participants and the roughly 74 million who consumed other media, such as television or content.

Of those who participated, juniors— six-to-17-years-old—and young adults— 18-to-34-years-old—comprised 35 percent of on-course golfers, or about 2.5 million and 6.1 million participants, respectively.

Women represented about 23 percent of on-course and 44 percent of off-course play at 57 million and those players newly introduced to the game in 2018 comprised

31 percent female, 26 percent non-Caucasian, and 62 percent under the age of 35-years-old, according to the 2019 Golf Industry Report.

“It excites me to see the growth of the game continue, meaning we are seeing a lot more women and a lot more children involved. Golf courses, our members, recognize that you have to have that family-fun component. I think it is very exciting to see, because as I mentioned, it is not just golf that happens, it is other things around it,” Paisley said. “Golf courses are becoming more and more creative and recognizing the fact that there are all different segments of golfers.”

At the national level, the 2018 season marked the third-wettest year on record since 1895 as reported by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association and the 2019 Golf Industry Report. In 2019, Michigan’s season followed it by another wet and cold start. Despite the slow start, Paisley said she was amazed at the number of golf courses that reported

THE GOLF CLUB AT THORNAPPLE POINTE

having record years.

“Our rounds report, put out by the National Golf Foundation, at the end of August for our region was up overall by nine percent from year-to-date last year.

To be that far ahead at the end of summer over last year is wonderful,” Paisley said.

“It shows that golf is up.”

Though public courses are quite reliant on good weather—private courses are more insulated from f luctuation based on its dues structure—Sobieck noted Watermark Properties’ public courses had a reasonably f lat or slightly positive season despite the wet spring and fall.

From an association standpoint, the MGCA also reached historic numbers with 26 new members joining in 2019.

Paisley noted the organization has about a 90-to-96 percent retention rate and losing very few members is another sign that golf is doing well.

“Our corporate membership, suppliers

to the golf courses have also increased in the last year, so this is also an additional sign of financial health for the industry overall,” Paisley said.

Though weather, staff recruitment and retention, and engaging new players will remain challenges for the industry moving forward, there is a general energy and excitement as the Michigan golf industry looks to a new decade.

“What excites me is the enthusiasm I see. I’m a newer golfer after a several year break, but it was really neat to be in a clinic with other women who were just as excited as I was and to have that trickle down to see more families out there.

There really is a golf course for a golfer at every level. I like to say everyone is a golfer, they might just not have realized it yet,” Paisley said.

“I love the beauty of a golf course and I love that it takes me away from the rest of my world for a little bit. I wasn’t intro-

duced to the sport until 20 years ago so I wasn’t raised in that environment, but I’ve always loved golf courses. There is just so much of our environment that is so beautiful that you have a chance to appreciate,” Paisley added.

For Sobieck, who has been playing the game as long as he can remember, golf itself has a lot of positives and has tried to give back to the game through coaching high school and collegiate teams and focuses on developing women programs.

“It is a big thing for me, because my daughter plays the game, played in college, and seeing her play the game and what it has done for her confidence; it is just a great resource avenue for a positive experience,” Sobieck said. “It is a great positive game. You are out in nature, you are with others, it is a community, and hopefully we can spread that to as many people as possible so we can grow the game and provide a better experience.”

BY NILE YOUNG PHOTOGRAPHY

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At the table:

Trevor Tkach Text: R.J. Weick

For Trevor Tkach, president and chief executive officer at Traverse City Tourism in Traverse City, Michigan—formerly the Traverse City Area Convention and Visitors Bureau—the regional story is a compelling one and, for the city, it is about the indoor and outdoor experience that often goes hand in hand. While a self-described novice golfer, Tkach recognizes the importance of the industry and its role in the larger northern Michigan story—and is excited about what the future holds for both.

The Golf Explorer: Michigan’s Journal to Incredible Golf had the opportunity to catch up with Tkach to learn more about his role—and the game of golf—in the Traverse City region.

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Tell me about your role at Traverse City Tourism and what you do on a daily basis.

Tkach: I am the CEO of Traverse City Tourism and have been for just over three years. I’m a native of Traverse City and prior to this job, I was the Executive Director of the National Cherry Festival in Traverse City, which celebrates and promotes the cherry industry and agriculture in northern Michigan and across the state. It is one of the biggest agricultural festivals in the country. So, I have a great deal of passion and history with the region that I represent now.

On a day-to-day basis, I’m talking about it, pitching stories, celebrating, promoting, and advocating for our region.

There are basically three big areas we PHOTO BY BETH PRICE

MICHIGANGOLFEXPLORER.COM

focus on and those are marketing and partnerships, destination and development, and policy and funding. It is where a lot of my time goes.

I’m marketing the area, I’m selling it, and I’m looking at ways to enhance the experience in our destination either by doing a better job of telling the story or physically trying to enhance the assets we have. We also work on big issues like Pure Michigan funding or legislation that effects travel.

How does golf play into that? How do you view golf ’s role for the region?

We are lucky. We live in a state where there are more than 600 public courses, which is phenomenal. As a state, we have so much great storytelling to do when it comes to golf and when I travel with Pure Michigan and my colleagues from across the state—Gaylord, Petoskey—we in northern Michigan definitely like to talk about the great golf that we have.

It is a great selling point, especially if you take into consideration the timing and seasonality in Michigan where we, in Traverse City, have worked hard to penetrate markets like New York, Washington D.C., Atlanta, and more recently— and effectively—Dallas and even into Houston. In those southern states, it is extremely hot in the summer and we know there are a lot of golfers in that space.

Dallas has proven an effective campaign; if we can go down and tell a compelling story about cooler temperatures, freshwater, and excellent golf—and we really do have excellent golf—that sells.

It sells really well and we see more direct f lights, non-stop f lights, to-and-from destinations like Dallas who is committing year-over-year to increase capacity of f lights and total dates of f lights.

From a national standpoint, golf can be a very important piece of the puzzle in trying to solidify and increase our number of travelers into markets in the spring, summer, and fall.

Do you play?

I play a little bit. I’m no pro.

What drew you to the game, beside what you do for work?

Honestly, I’m not an intense golfer by any stretch of the imagination, but I think having been in the industry and in circumstances in my lifetime that have allowed me the opportunity to play golf in a lot of places and see a lot of variety in golf, Michigan and especially the Traverse City region, have some really premiere offerings. For somebody who lives here, we could easily take it for granted, how great golf is here. Having seen other things now and coming back to the great state of

Michigan and playing here, we are blessed: the prices tend to be more affordable, the variety of courses—from fairly novice to very challenging—and the environment that you are playing in; the beauty, the splendor.

I love being outdoors. It is a big part of my lifestyle. I have three young kids and my wife, and we like to be outside yearround. We ski in the winter, we hike trails in the spring, and then in the summer, the boys like to hit the golf course. We like to see it, be outdoors, smell the grass, and have fun together. For us, for my family and me, it is less about the competitive nature of golf and more about the experience of being outdoors and having a good time with your friends.

What excites you about the game— from either a playing or industry standpoint—looking forward?

It’s interesting—I’ll address it from an industry standpoint—I think a lot of us in Michigan and across the country have been somewhat anxious about the future of golf. It doesn’t necessarily fit the model of today’s athlete or just today’s consumer, where people are expecting to get things done quickly. There is an immediacy to everything, and golf is more of a slow, deliberate game that is meant to be enjoyed. I think there was a point in time where there was less interest in the game and maybe saw a drop off a little bit in demand to play 18 holes or to play in general.

I think that has f lattened out. At least in northern Michigan, I can say things have started to pick back up. When I talk to the courses in the Traverse City area—it never probably dipped as much as some of the other markets dipped—we definitely heard stories of many courses getting back to record-breaking years in total number of rounds, which is great.

It’s compelling. It lets us know golf is still in high demand and may be more ref lective of the economy than of people’s willingness to commit time to the game.

It is good, because we have such premiere offerings. You can get on our courses and see Lake Michigan or go deeper into the woods and play some challenging courses with amazing undulations, bunkers, traps, and just unbelievable terrain. We do stand out, we are different, and it fits well into the story that we tell.

We tell a good outdoor story and a good indoor story in Traverse City. Golf is a big part of the outdoor story, but a lot of times that outdoor experience is linked to some really, great, indoor experience.

From an experiential standpoint, golf fits really well into what we have to offer and it plays well for the consumer who wants to get more out of the travel than just golf,

who wants to have fine dining, or who wants craft beers or local wines.

What is one shot or one golf experience that you have had that you will never forget?

We had a group of international golfers in town this past September. It was a great event; really spectacular. We had travel agents, writers, and group business decision makers—a lot of higher-level people from groups from all across the globe.

I had one day where I could go golf with the group and have some fun with them and it happened to be my birthday.

We were playing The Bear, which is really, really challenging and for a novice golfer like me, that is a tough one. We were playing with the group, we were having fun, and it was the last hole—I’m no scratch golfer—and the last hole we played, I played it perfectly.

It was one of those days and I think it is what brings a lot of us back: everything lines up on that one hole or that one shot. I sank probably a 60-foot putt to finish that hole. It had been a long day, challenging one in the wind, but we all just go bonkers.

We’re so happy, because it’s a good finish to what was a challenging, but beautiful day.

“As a state, we have so much great storytelling to do when it comes to golf.”

— Trevor Tkach

president and chief executive officer, at Traverse City Tourism That is the one that is fresh in my mind. Most of my memories of golf courses are looking for balls in the woods, so that was a good one to see the ball roll all the way across the green on The Bear golf course at Grand Traverse Resort & Spa— and see it go in.

If you could choose any three people to play on a foursome for a round, who would it be?

It’d be my kids. Yeah, I’d play with my kids. I’m a busy person, my attention gets pulled in a lot of different directions and I absolutely cherish and covet the time I get with my family. I’ve got three kids and I’ll tell you what, there is no three people more important in the world to me than them and that is who I’d want to be on the course with.

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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.

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.

CHARLEVOIX MUNICIPAL AIRPORT (CVX) Charlevoix

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.

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

Boyne Highlands. . . . . . 1hr. 30 min.

GAYLORD REGIONAL AIRPORT (GLR) Gaylord

Garland Lodge and Golf Resort. . . . . . . . . . . . 40 min.

Black Lake. . . . . . . . . . . . . 1hr. 10 min.

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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.

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.

Links at Bowen Lake. . . . . . . 40 min.

Pilgrims Run . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 Min. Macatawa Golf Club. . . . . . . 45 Min. Lynx . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 min.

Ravines. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 Min. Tullymore Golf Club and Resort. . . . . . . . . 1hr. 20 min.

Harbor Shores . . . . . . . . 1hr. 40 min.

Bucks Run. . . . . . . . . . . . . 1hr. 50 min.

Harbor Shores . . . . . . . . . 1hr. 50 min.

HARBOR SPRINGS AIRPORT (MGN)

Harbor Springs

Boyne Highlands. . . . . . . . . . . 5 min.

Bay Harbor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 min.

Boyne Mountain. . . . . . . . . . . 35 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.

MANISTEE COUNTY BLACKER AIRPORT (MBL)

Manistee

Crystal Mountain. . . . . . . . . . 31 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.

PELLSTON REGIONAL AIRPORT (PLN)

Pellston

Boyne Highlands. . . . . . . . . .

Bay Harbor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Boyne Mountain. . . . . . . . . . .

Black Lake. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

20 min.

30 min.

55 min.

60 min.

WEXFORD COUNTY AIRPORT (CAD) Cadillac

Evergreen Resort. . . . . . . . . . 10 min.

Crystal Mountain. . . . . . . . . . 39 min.

Forest Dunes . . . . . . . . . 1 hr. 20 min.

BOYNE HIGHLANDS

BAY HARBOR

HARBOR SPRINGS AIRPORT (MGN)

BLACK LAKE

BOYNE MOUNTAIN AIRPORT (BFA)

CHARLEVOIX MUNICIPAL AIRPORT (CVX)

BOYNE MOUNTAIN

A-GA-MING

GAYLORD REGIONAL AIRPORT (GLR) GARLAND RESORT & GOLF CLUB

TURTLE CREEK CASINO GRAND TRAVERSE RESORT

LOCHENHEATH CRYSTAL MOUNTAIN

FOREST DUNES LAKEWOOD SHORES

WEXFORD COUNTY AIRPORT

EVERGREEN RESORT

MT. PLEASANT MUNICIPAL AIRPORT (MOP)

PILGRIMS RUN

MACATAWA GOLF CLUB

THE MINES

TULLYMORE RESORT

BUCKS RUN

MBS INTERNATIONAL APPLE AIRPORT (MBS) MOUNTAIN

QUAIL RIDGE

THORNAPPLE POINTE

RAVINES GUN LAKE CASINO LYNX

HARBOR SHORES

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CITY

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