[JWinick]

Planning a golf trip in the middle of August.   Any ideas of good places to play?   We have one day open and trying to get some ideas.   

[Ron Csigo]

Belvedere Golf Club in Charlevoix. 

[jonathan_becker]

Belvedere Golf Club in Charlevoix. 

Exactly.

Jon,

I played 36 there last week and absolutely loved it.  It's pure old school.

[Sven Nilsen]

I'll third that nomination.  Belvedere should not be missed if you have the time to drive up to Charlevoix.

If you're coming from the south and have some time to kill, consider Tullymore.

[George Freeman]

Planning a golf trip in the middle of August.   Any ideas of good places to play?   We have one day open and trying to get some ideas.   

Jon,

What is already on the agenda?  Hope all is well buddy.

[JWinick]

Looks like Kingsley Club and Aracadia Bluffs so far....  Working on Saturday.   You should grab a foursome and join us!

[George Freeman]

I would start by asking who you're going up with?  If is with 3 other GCA nuts, I'd say go play Belvedere for sure.  If you're with golfers who aren't that into GCA but look more for the "wow factors" and good conditioning, I would suggest Forest Dunes in Roscommon or even up to Bay Harbor.

[Tim Pitner]

I'm considering a similar trip . . . does anyone want to hazard a Doak scale rating for Arcadia Bluffs?  I know opinions differ--I guess what I'm trying to figure out is whether people are more in the 6-8 range or something else entirely.  

[George Freeman]

I'm considering a similar trip . . . does anyone want to hazard a Doak scale rating for Arcadia Bluffs?  I know opinions differ--I guess what I'm trying to figure out is whether people are more in the 6-8 range or something else entirely.  

Tim,

Arcadia is definitely worth a visit if you're in the area and have never experienced it, unless that means passing up invites to the Kingsley Club or Crystal Downs...

[JWinick]

I was disappointed in Arcadia the first down.   Hated the Par 5/Par 3/Par 5 start which ensures a crowded start to the round.   However, I may have just had a bad day and I am giving it another shot.   

[Peter Pratt]

I like Arcadia quite a bit, and I love the 3rd hole, a superb risk-reward short par-5 with a skyline green. I'd also consider Doak's Black Forest, an hour or so from TC, or Treetops' Smith course, a little farther away. For a cheap surprise, go for Champion Hill in Beulah--it's a poor man's Kingsley with some very good holes.

[George Freeman]

I was disappointed in Arcadia the first down.   Hated the Par 5/Par 3/Par 5 start which ensures a crowded start to the round.   However, I may have just had a bad day and I am giving it another shot.   

I think the 2nd and 3rd holes are pretty good at Arcadia; especially the 3rd.

So what type of golfers are you heading up with?

[JWinick]

One was captain of the U of M golf team, the other is about a 20, the other about an 8.   

I was disappointed in Arcadia the first down.   Hated the Par 5/Par 3/Par 5 start which ensures a crowded start to the round.   However, I may have just had a bad day and I am giving it another shot.   

I think the 2nd and 3rd holes are pretty good at Arcadia; especially the 3rd.

So what type of golfers are you heading up with?

[George Freeman]

One was captain of the U of M golf team, the other is about a 20, the other about an 8.   

I was disappointed in Arcadia the first down.   Hated the Par 5/Par 3/Par 5 start which ensures a crowded start to the round.   However, I may have just had a bad day and I am giving it another shot.   

I think the 2nd and 3rd holes are pretty good at Arcadia; especially the 3rd.

So what type of golfers are you heading up with?

GCA or non-GCA type?  As mentioned in my earlier post, the answer will effect my suggestion for which course I think you should play.

[JC Jones]

George is correct.  If they are GCA nuts, they will appreciate Belvedere (they may even if they don't).  However, if they are a more typical golfer, then Arcadia, Forest Dunes, Bay Harbor or even the Bear might be more appreciated.

I'm not sure what the Doak scale is, but the Jones scale gives Arcadia a 4.  The course is in a beautiful setting and the greens can be fun but the whole place is entirely contrived and, as you mentioned, the routing/pacing leaves a lot to be desired.

Also, all of the above, including Belvedere, should be given up if you have the chance to play Kingsley or Crystal Downs. 

[Andrew Lewis]

I'd agree with George's comment that the type(s) of golfers who are with you might dictate the preferred option.

I think that Forest Dunes is a very solid course with a good balance of holes presenting you-figure-it-out options, and holes that ask the player to hit a certain type of shot.  Good variety in the length and look on the par 4's, and interesting contrast between the more "woodsy" front nine and the open scrub on the back.  Very walkable, with the only annoyance being the distance from 9 green to 10 tee.  Top it off with relatively firm conditions (at least when I was there in June), immaculately conditioned greens and a par-3 19th hole to settle any open bets.  The only caveat is to call and check their aeration schedule...you do NOT want to play after they punch the greens.

Bay Harbor can inspire an equal number of "wows" as "uggghs" depending on the crowd.  I play it as part of an annual trip with non-GCA friends and it's usually in great shape, but I'd say that I tolerate it more than I enjoy it.

Arcadia certainly inspires a lot of discussion and strong opinions on this board.  I'll simply say that I like the course and there are few places that are better for dinner and wine at sunset than their back porch, but I have been consistently troubled by the pace of play.  Perhaps the way to counteract that is to walk and carry (or take a caddy) so that the round has a better rhythm to it than the start/stop of sitting in a cart...something I think I'll try the next time I'm there....

[JWinick]

None are GCA guys.

One was captain of the U of M golf team, the other is about a 20, the other about an 8.   

I was disappointed in Arcadia the first down.   Hated the Par 5/Par 3/Par 5 start which ensures a crowded start to the round.   However, I may have just had a bad day and I am giving it another shot.   

I think the 2nd and 3rd holes are pretty good at Arcadia; especially the 3rd.

So what type of golfers are you heading up with?

GCA or non-GCA type?  As mentioned in my earlier post, the answer will effect my suggestion for which course I think you should play.

[Michael Barnett]

IF there are no other GCA guys in the bunch, I'd probably suggest playing Arcadia once.  I agree with JC here, it struck me as about a 4; and I personally wouldn't even consider passing up a single round at either Kingsley or Crystal to play AB.  However, acknowledging the visuals are quite impressive, the course might go over bigger in your group than it did in mine.

[Jud_T]

JW,

What dates exactly are you planning on being up?  I might rate Arcadia slightly higher than JC but would agree that it's not a must play.   

[Steve Lang]

  if you play belvedere.. would they like to play some real hills  like these very close?




and some drop shot par 3's

[Mike Demetriou]

Couldn't agree more - Arcadia's views and setting will win over a large number of golfers, regardless of the fact that the course is really weak.  This topic has been discussed quite well in the last year or so, but I never get tired of discussing NoMi golf.  (can we coin a new term here?). Do a search for this topic, I think you'll find a really good thread that George, JC and others weighed in on back about six months ago???

I'm curious to hear the off the beaten path suggestions as well.  I can remember, from my pre-GCA days, really enjoying a course called Hidden River. Is it still around? Has anyone really enjoyed it recently? A very cool routing that played both sides of a river, if not a little too tree lined at parts.

[George Freeman]

Jon already stated that Arcadia was on the agenda...so enough with all this Arcadia talk 

[George Freeman]

Steve, what course is that?

Thanks,
George

[Brian_Sleeman]

Steve, what course is that?

That's Dunmaglas, just south of Charlevoix.

If you're anywhere in that neck of the woods, Belvedere beats it 10 times out of 10 in my opinion. 

Dunmaglas has got some strange and abrupt elevation changes (extremely difficult site), and a few spectacular views, but the golf isn't the best.

[Steve Lang]

  North side of Lake Charlevoix

Brian,  Slam Dunmaglas all you want.. for a scratch to 20 hcp ranging group.. there's some fun and challenging tee looks for everyone.. you didn't travel all that way to lay up now did you?


belvedere's qualities are not in doubt, but some may consider it just a very smart muni type course, subtle if not mundane on front

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