Boring old person OT - Suggest a golf course I should play
Short preface, COVID and a lower back injury laid me pretty low and one of the things that brought me back was a golf trip to North Carolina with an old friend I hadn’t seen in years. I got a chance to play Tobacco Road (never thought I’d enjoy the work of a Sparty that much) & The Cradle at Pinehurst, and it did what it does to many middle aged men, started an addiction. In my earlier days it was drugs or Jordans and now it is playing different golf courses. This year I have made it my goal to play 52 different courses, today I played 40 (Heathlands @ TPC Toronto).
Being from the Southern Ontario area we aren’t blessed with the variety of world class courses Michigan is. Our best courses are private and while I do alright and was blessed with a great life, it wasn’t exclusive country club great. I’m planning to do a Michigan trip to see how many great courses I can fit in. The obvious ones being the loop and Arcadia bluffs, but I'd love some local suggestions. I think greywalls may be a drive too far for this trip but I’d love to play your quirky local public course. Any and all suggestions are welcome. Like I said I’m a childless 41 year old with no children and a very understanding wife, golf is 90% of my personality now. Don’t live in Michigan, drop your favorite anyways, I’ve set a goal to try and play as many Gil Hanse courses as I can so who knows I may be close to where one of your favorites are.
as someone who played Torrey Pines South after Rees Jones ruined it, your axiom about muni's doesn't always hold unfortunately. I did have a great experience playing George Wright in Boston with is also a Ross and hasn't been retouched. Wild and completely different experience than I'm used to.
I have Roseland on the list when I go to visit family in Windsor. My swing coach has nothing but great things to say about it
The pro at Roseland told me that whenever they cut the greens for a tournament the first few days after the tournament are miserable because the rounds take 5-6 hours - the greens are so difficult, so they don't cut it at all for a few days.
The Bear, The Wolverine, and Spruce Run are 3 public courses at Grand Traverse Resort. They were top notch about 25 years ago, but not sure how they compare anymore.
All three are pricy for what you get. I really like the Wolverine.
The Bear is an early Jack Nicklaus design -- it is stupid. A decent amount of target golf plus on the sides of the fairways, you have a foot or two of rough then a steep slope down about two feet for a rough-rough that is well below the fairway. Do not want to play again.
I played just about every course in the state with some "credentials". Crystal Downs and Kingsley are about the only ones I haven't played. Here is my top 10
1) American Dunes
2) Lost Dunes
3) Arcadia South
4) Oakland Hills South
5) Eagle Eye
6) The Loop
7) Point O Woods
8) Lochenheath
9) Forest Dunes
10) Sweetgrass
If you have an in to play Lost Dunes please let me know. One of the most exclusive courses in the state.
I used to have a connection at Point O Woods -- got to play it a few times. Fabulous (private) course.
I am a member at Lochenheath. We went fully private (again) a couple years back. I love (almost) everything about the course.
American Dunes is the recently rebuilt old Grand Haven Country Club. Played GHCC on my wedding day morning in 1995. Got to play American Dunes for the first time last year. I thought it was very nice and really well done. I may have to play it a couple more times to really appreciate it, though. I wouldn't put it #1 in the state, but your list is a great effort at quantifying the subjective.
Just played a really nice old local course in Buchanen, MI (SW MI) called Brookwood. Amazingly well kept and very difficult course for the price. Also played Milham Park in KZoo. Really old Muni course, but absolutely immaculate.
Greywalls is definitely worth the drive. You can get a package with three other courses--Sage Run, Sweetgrass and Timberstone. I thought Sweetgrass was pretty average but the other two are fantastic.
Forest Dunes & The Loop
Looks like you've got THE bug. If you are looking for places to play around the country (even around the world), you really should visit golfclubatlas.com where a bunch of golf course architecture nuts hang out (even Gil Hanse). You will get much more interesting options there than a typical magazine 100 lists.
And if you enjoy Hanse's work I would highly recommend seeking out Tom Doak courses as well. You won't be disappointed.
If you ever get out to PNW, shoot me a DM.
I've been ducking that a little out of abject fear of what I can become. I've already got a Utah/Nevada trip planned for the fall and am turned a trip to ThunderBay for a wedding into an excuse to drive to northern Minnesota to play the quarry and giants ridge and the wilderness at fortune bay. As mentioned I have a very understanding wife.
Doak is next on the list for me. I am trying to play the modern architects of that style like doak, hanse, core & crenshaw, dmc.
I am certain I will be up that way in the next 2/3 years to play chambers and bandon so I will absolutely look you up
In mid-Michigan, I saw Buck's Run mentioned. I like the track a lot. Other mid-Michigan courses if you want to consider that area: Apple Mountain is fun. Pohl Cat is old, but not bad. The Legend is a really nice course.
In Northwest Michigan, I'll leave out all the obvious ones mentioned above. Two that I haven't seen mentioned: Manitou Passage is a slightly re-done Arnold Palmer designed course. Great location, fun track. Another one I played a number of times, but not in the last 10 (15?) years is Mistwood which is notable because it is cheap plus has 27 holes available.
My wife and I went on our honeymoon to Carmel-by-the-Sea and I was able to see, but not golf, Pebble Beach. I've wanted to put in my 120 strokes on that course ever since then.
I regret not getting out to Pebble Beach years ago, when it was only expensive, not sell-both-kidneys-capital-E Expensive.
I did the math not too long ago and it was cheaper to go to Scotland for a week than to go to Pebble/ the Monteray Peninsula.
We have a wedding in LA this summer and my wife has never done the drive down the coast. So as part of the trip we're doing Yosemite, but I'm going to squeeze in Pasatiempo instead of Pebble/Spyglass. Mostly because its expensive but not ruinously so. Its on the list but I'd almost rather spend the money trying to buy my way on to Ohoopee Match Club or take my chances with timing to get on tara iti/cape kidnappers
If you are in LA, you should definitely play Rustic Canyon.
Pebble is worth a play for any golfer with any interest in architecture. And there are strategies to play for less money. I would not bother with any other courses there as they are all extremely over priced.
Pasa is a lot of fun and other than Pebble, that would be my choice in the area.
I've played Rustic a few times and for the money I do not think there is a better public course on earth. Someone said they rank courses by how many holes they remember and I think I could do at least 12 with my eyes closed at Rustic. It's in my top 5
I believe Pasatiempo is undergoing renovation and only one 9 is open, may want to verify before you go.
Pierce Lake in Chelsea is a fantastic course, and defies expectations for a county-owned golf course.
If you are going to Arcadia Bluffs. There are a lot of nice courses up in Traverse City/Boyne/Gaylord areas.
1. Forest Dunes is always one of the top rated courses in MI.
2. Kingsley Club - private but if you know a member it's a must.
3. Treetops - all the courses are really nice. Really fun par 3 course Threetops.
4. Boyne/Boyne Highlands - all nice courses.
5. Sundance (Ah Ga Ming) - was a really fun course.
6. Manistee Golf and Country Club - public can play and price is pretty cheap (pretty close to Arcadia). Not the nicest course but has that old school country club feel and it's right along Lake Michigan.
Also, Pierce Lake in Chelsea is also a challenging muni.
Pat's Par Three :)
Anyone remember it? Is it still there?
If you’re up for a little bit further drive, Maumee Bay State Park Golf Course is a fun course in northwestern Ohio. It’s about an hour drive from Ann Arbor. Haven’t played it in years, but have always loved that course.
What do you mean "middle aged man"? (42 here). As someone who has 4 young kids in multiple youth sports, I have no idea what anyone means by YOUR passions and identity. Haha. I've tried playing hockey this year to be like my kids. I'm horrible, but it's fun to pick up something new at this age. Have fun on your 52 course quest young buck.
Corales at Punta Cana Resorts in Dominican Republic