OT: Golf, Eagle Eye
My son and I are planning a golf weekend in August. Our plan was to drive from Cincinnati to AA on Friday night, play the UM course on Saturday, drive to Arcadia Bluffs and play there on Sunday, drive back to AA, play UM course again on Monday and drive back to Cincy after. Called Arcadia Bluffs today and learned they are entirely booked for all of August. So I went looking for another course for Sunday. I emailed "stay and play" requests to Forest Dunes and Tullymore. Pending the responses from those places, what do the MGoGolfers think of Eagle Eye? Pictures look pretty great, and that's an easy drive from AA.
Hang on, let me call Shea and get back to you!
I played in a golf league with my dad at Eagle Eye and Hawk Hallow (right across the street from each other). They’re both challenging, fun courses that are in great shape. There’s an island green on 17 which is always a good way to run up your score :)
TreeTops - Jones
Instead of playing U of M twice, play Radrick Farms one of those rounds
Jack Nicklaus has a brand new course in TC, can't remember the name, I believe some of the greens fees goes to Vets
Make sure to book Acadia Bluffs another time. World Class.
I think the Jack Nicklaus course you're talking about is American Dunes in Grand Haven.
Playing buddies used to joke about the old Grand Haven Golf Club that Jack Nicklaus couldn't score there.
I've played all of those courses, and they're all nice. I'd order them: 1)Forest Dunes / the Loop, 2)Tullymore and St Ives, 3) Eagle Eye. JMHO
If you're set on making the trip up north I'd suggest Bay Harbor, but it's a much further drive than Arcadia though. Treetops and Forest Dunes are great, but they're a different experience. Golfing on Lake Michigan gives you the feeling of being on an ocean course.
Just spent a week with my sailboat docked in Bay Harbor and will second how wonderful it is to play on Lake Michigan like that.
My parents have had a condo at Treetops for over a decade and I’ve played all the courses dozens of times - someone mentioned the Jones course above - the only thing I’d add is that it can be a brutal track for average golfers.
I usually recommend the Smith course to friends who are casual golfers - most of the tees are elevated and have long, fantastic views. Significantly more forgiving than the Jones course. And of course it’s worth following that round up with an evening roll around Threetops, which is just a ton of fun.
Cheers.
Isn't Treetops the resort Sammies trashed several years ago?
Harbor Shores in Benton Harbor is another great destination. It's a Nicklaus course that hosts the Senior PGA Championship every other year. The views of Lake Michigan are spectacular.
Redacted, not worth it
Cool story bro time: A family friend of mine was the judge who ruled in favor of the developers of Harbor Shores. City leased the land to the developers, who were then sued, as some people disagreed that a golf course was "public use" (as the deed to the land stated the land needed to be).
After the judge's ruling, he got all sorts of criticism locally, including some people who accused him of a biased ruling because he was a golfer or that he was getting free golf out of this deal. Funny thing is, I don't think he's ever picked up a golf club in his life.
Pilgrim's Run is another good option on the way back from up north but Eagle Eye and Hawk Hollow are both solid courses.
Redacted
I second Darkstars' opinion on Pilgrims Run. Great course for the price!
Eagle Eye is a plenty good course. It's not truly elite like Arcadia, but it's solidly in the upper tier of Michigan courses. The fact that it's much closer to AA than most of the other obvious contenders is a plus.
Tullymore/St. Ives are both nice courses. Tullymore is higher rated, St. Ives is quirkier. They have good lodging options since it's in the middle of nowhere. No idea if they are booked.
I'm guessing that Forest Dunes will likely be booked, that's what I've heard from other people.
American Dunes in Grand Haven, mentioned above, is a pretty cool destination course. Just opened in May, Nicklaus design, benefits the Fold of Honor Foundation. Green fee isn't cheap ($150) and times can be hard to come by but if you email them they'll let you know if they have availability. Grand Haven is also a great place to spend the rest of your day during the Summer. I want to say it's about 2h30m from AA though.
Pilgrim's Run north of Grand Rapids on 131 is beautiful, another great option that's further than Eagle Eye (but not as far as Arcadia). Best course in Michigan south of US10 and West of I75 if you ask me.
Eagle Eye is one of my favorite courses. Best Course in the Lansing area. Forest Dunes is very nice!
The Links 9 at Bay Harbor has phenomenal views of the Little Traverse Bay! The Quarry 9 is unique and interesting.
Bay Harbor has some of the best views of any golf course in Michigan. A must play.
Double post!
Quick go to GroupGolfer.com and get the $100 stay and play at Manistee National. Stay on site. 2 nice courses. Insane value. Expires tonight.
Eagle Eye is outstanding but if your hearing up to Arcadia then maybe play Belvedere in Charlevoix, Classic old old school. Bring your bourbon.
You may want to consider Gull Lake View Golf Courses.
It's between Battle Creek and Kalamazoo.
Gull Lake View East and Stonehedge South I would say are their best.
Stonehedge North and Stoatin Brae would follow.
Bedford Valley and East are the easiest.
JMO.
Here's the link.
Eagle Eye is a great course. I would also look into Eagle Crest, which is Eastern's home course.
Manistee Golf and Country Club is underrated. I grew up a half hour from there and had never heard of it. Manistee National gets all the attention (and of course, Arcadia is a short drive away). But I tried Manistee Golf & CC recently with a buddy and we loved it! We just played the back 9, but it has 2 greens and 2 tee boxes on the back along a cliff overlooking Lake Michigan, and another green and tee box on the front. It’s a short course, not terribly difficult, but it’s in very good shape. Highly recommend!
For certain worth a play, if its full Hawk Hollow across the street is a 27 holes Matthews design, a nice alternative.
I'm also with the previous poster who mentioned Radrick Farms in Ann Arbor, which imo is better than the UM course. Only played it twice and recall you have to have some tie to UofM to play it. Pete Dye had his hand in both Radrick and Eagle Eye.