Michigan golf trip as a single

[JHoulihan]

I am hoping to get back to Northern Michigan. I recently read a blog by @MattBosela. Here he wrote about playing Forest Dunes, Arcadia Bluffs, Crystal Downs, Kingsley Club, and Oakland Hills/South. I have not played in northern Michigan since 2008 before my move to Chicago, where I currently live. Following is my proposed week long trip (for late 2014 or anytime during 2015). Please give any feedback regarding listed sites, order, and general comments.

Age 33
Current handicap 9.8
I prefer to walk rather that ride – unless 90+ degrees
I do NOT belong to a specific club and play at public tracks almost exclusively
Current 2014 total = 7 rounds (Score 75 to 103)

Travel from Chicago leaving east/north by car
Diamond Springs – Mike DeVries
The Mines – Mike DeVries
Pilgrims Run – Mike DeVries
Forest Dunes – Tom Weiskopf
Marquette Greywalls – Mike DeVries
Travel from upper peninsula southward back to Chicago

Other possible courses to add/substitute include
Tullymore
Lochenheath
Black Forest
Belvedere
True North
Kingsley Club – Private (Pro said could help me play 18 after stay at Forest Dunes)
Crystal Downs – Private (Rare chance to play here since do NOT know current member)

Thank you in advance for all comments.
No arrangements on where to stay/play have been made so I am open to multiple options
I plan to travel as a single (no wife or kids - so if others end up coming that is an added bonus but plan to make the trip no matter what)
Planning the trip is helping keep up the anticipation/motivation especially when cold outside
If you plan well, then the plan seems lost due to the sites and memories made.
If you plan poorly, then you wish you had done more homework.
Hopefully all of your feedback will make this the best trip in my short but exciting golf career.

Justin Houlihan
Chicago, IL

[Sven Nilsen]

I did a similar trip a few years back, mostly solo but met up with a GCA crew at Kingsley for a few days.  Definitely add in Belvedere (I played there one morning and made it to Marquette in time for a late round at Grey Walls that evening).

You might consider adding in a few of the Wisconsin courses to round out the tour.  Lawsonia isn't that far off your route, and Whistling Straits and Erin Hills are both on the way.

Sven

[Matt Bosela]

Thanks for reading Justin.

On a week long trip, I'm surprised you are leaving out Arcadia.  I know it's a polarizing course here but it's a good value if you play during twilight times.

[JC Jones]

Agreed regarding Arcadia.

You could do the trip like this:

Day 1 - Harbor Shores/Mines
Day 2 - Pilgrims Run/Arcadia
Day 3 - Forest Dunes (36)
Day 4 - Belvedere/travel to Marquette
Day 5 - Greywalls (36)
Day 6 - Travel to Lawsonia/Lawsonia
Day 7 - Return home

Depending on the time of year(summer), my guess is you could find many a GCA'er to meet up with you along the road.

[J_ Crisham]

Justin,  One option on the way up or back is Point O Woods. It's private but outside play can be arranged with a polite phone call. Pretty good test of golf- site of many past Western Ams.

[Neil Johnston]

The itinerary JC presents is awesome, however you should be prepared to log a lot of hours in your car, especially if you include Greywalls.

I don't mind the options where you set up camp and play most of your golf within a reasonable radius of that spot (Traverse City being perhaps the best option).

Also there are well priced flights out of Midway to nearby Manistee if you want to cut out additional time in the car.

Michigan golf is as good as it gets so you pretty much can't go wrong.

[PCCraig]

I would do a loop around Lake Michigan:

Start in Chicago
Drive over to South Bend, IN and play the Warren Course
Call Point O Woods and arrange access (Spend a night in New Buffalo)
Eat dinner at Redamaks in New Buffalo
Play Harbor Shores
Drive north and play Arcadia
Drive further north and play Greywalls and Forest Dunes
Loop around the UP and drive to Lawsonia (play 36)
Go play Erin Hills
(Another option is to go play WS and BWR at Kohler)
Fly out of Milwaukee if you can, or drive back down to Chicago and fly out of there

[Mike Schott]

Not a bad idea to play Lochenheath before it supposedly become private. Terrific layout with some very nice holes. You could play it in the morning and Belvedere in the PM with ease.

[Jud_T]

Don't forget the accompanying Brewery Tour-  Greenbush, Founders, Perrin, Shorts, Right Brain and Jolly Pumpkin!

[Andy Troeger]

Given that you live in Chicago and are within a few hours of most of the Wisconsin courses being mentioned, I'd stay on the east side of the lake for this trip. You can easily take a week with just public options in Michigan. If you can add Kingsley and/or Point O'Woods then even better! Some of these itineraries sound a bit too packed to me when you consider driving/golf/etc. And I just finished an 8,000 mile road trip that covered 22 states/42 courses, so I don't mind driving! Or maybe the thought of driving at the moment still frightens me...

I'm one that likes to try courses by different architects on each trip, but I'd encourage you to consider Tullymore (Engh). It makes a good 36 hole day with Pilgrim's Run. I haven't played all the courses on your original list, but I also like Arcadia.

[Howard Riefs]

I suggest reaching out to Pete Pittock. He made a similar Lake Michigan loop before the Midwest Mashie last fall.

If memory serves, he flew into O'Hare and proceeded north into Wisconsin to play Erin Hills and Lawsonia. From there, it was over to Greywalls and Kingsley, before coming back south through SW Michigan and back out of O'Hare. There may have been a few more courses sprinkled in. 

[Jon Cavalier]

I did a trip to Michigan last year and am going back for a 10-day trip Michigan/Chicago in mid-August.  I have played several of the courses you're considering and may play others this year.  Shoot me a message if you would like to discuss.

[George Freeman]

Justin:

Must plays (public):
Greywalls
Forest Dunes
Arcadia Bluffs

- In my opinion, Crystal Downs and Kingsley Club are the two best golf courses in MI, so if you can get on either of them, they would obviously jump to the top of the list.  More than most other courses on this list, multiple rounds on either/both would be a huge bonus.

- A couple more privates to consider if you have access:  Lost Dunes in Bridgman, Battle Creek CC, Muskegon CC.

- I will second Pat C's recommendation of the Warren Course in South Bend.

- Diamond Springs/The Mines/Pilgrims Run (aka the DeVries trail) works well.  You would do well to throw Point O'Woods into the mix while in that part of the state.

- I would stick to western/central MI, the UP and Wisc.  Trying to play metro Detroit courses on this trip would add a lot of time/miles.

- Lochenheath, Black Forest and Belvedere are all enjoyable in the northwestern lower peninsula region.  

- Neither Tullymore nor True North would be out of the way.

- If you're going through Petosky, you might as well play Art Hills's Bay Harbor (Quarry/Links).  Not loved on this website but a pretty spectacular setting nontheless.

- If you're set on going to Greywalls (which is REALLY good), you might as well do the entire loop around Lake Michigan.  It's 6 hours from Marquette to Chicago going through Wisconsin and 9 hours backtracking through Michigan.  Not to mention you would have the opportunity to play Lawsonia, Erin Hills and the Kohler courses (among others).

- I have not played Sweetgrass near Escanaba (MI UP), however that could be another option up there.  Ditto w/ Timberstone in Iron Mountain and Wild Bluff in Brimley.

Good luck.  As can be seen, there are A LOT of great options.  Bring your 5 Hour Energy.

Best,
George  
 

[Andy Shulman]

Yup.  A great lineup, but a lot of driving.  Forest Dunes is an easy walk.  Arcadia Bluffs, which you should play, will be a tough - but not impossible - one.

[Brian_Sleeman]

Another vote for going up through Michigan and swinging back through Wisconsin.  Marquette to Chicago is a little over 6 hours going straight through Wisconsin (41 to 43 to 94) - and about 10 hours going back through Michigan.  If you've gone all the way to Marquette, definitely play Greywalls twice and if you have time, check out the Heritage course there for a Langford/Gill mix.  Craig Moore, the super there, has done a nice job of expanding some of the greens and slowly bringing back the old features.  Definitely worth a play.

Sweetgrass would be right on your way home (unless you veered further west to hit Timberstone) and sounds like it is also worth a stop unless you have to drive straight back.  Can't recommend Lawsonia highly enough if you have an extra night on your journey back from the UP. 

Happy to answer any questions as I grew up in Marquette, was fortunate to watch Mike DeVries build Greywalls, and spent five years in the Traverse City area before ending up on the north shore of Chicago.

[Bob_Garvelink]

If it were me I would do the following.

Day 1 - 36 holes @ Forest Dunes
Day 2 - Otsego Club Tribute - Gaylord MI
Day 3 - Arcadia Bluffs
Day 4 - Greywalls
Day 5 - Sweetgrass

I played Timberstone a few weeks ago and it was in really poor shape as the greens were really really bad.  Keep us posted on what you decide and I strongly suggest skipping the mines and diamond springs.  Both nice courses but to many better options in Northern Michigan.

[Jason Topp]

I liked the Smith Signature course and the par 3 course at Treetops in addition to many listed on here. I suspect that was one of the few courses on which I beat Zuckerman so take my view for what it is worth.

[Jon Heise]

Another vote for going up through Michigan and swinging back through Wisconsin.  Marquette to Chicago is a little over 6 hours going straight through Wisconsin (41 to 43 to 94) - and about 10 hours going back through Michigan.  If you've gone all the way to Marquette, definitely play Greywalls twice and if you have time, check out the Heritage course there for a Langford/Gill mix.  Craig Moore, the super there, has done a nice job of expanding some of the greens and slowly bringing back the old features.  Definitely worth a play.

Sweetgrass would be right on your way home (unless you veered further west to hit Timberstone) and sounds like it is also worth a stop unless you have to drive straight back.  Can't recommend Lawsonia highly enough if you have an extra night on your journey back from the UP. 

Happy to answer any questions as I grew up in Marquette, was fortunate to watch Mike DeVries build Greywalls, and spent five years in the Traverse City area before ending up on the north shore of Chicago.

My ears perk up any time the word Greywalls pops up.  It's a totally unique place with wonderful folks up there.  You certainly need two trips around it though.  Though it'll never get the attention that the course up the hill gets, the Heritage is a great little track too.  Whatever you do, I'm crazy jealous of you.  Have fun!

[Ryan Bass]

Justin,

My small contribution.  I would consider the deal below.  I think they even gave me a $20 casino voucher with the package when I did it last year.  Greywalls is exceptional and a must play.  Sweetgrass is very good and worth playing.  Skip Timberstone.  Then travel South toward Lawsonia.  Let me know what date you're playing Lawsonia if ur interested in joining up.  I might even be able to meet up in the U.P. if the stars align right.

http://www.islandresortandcasino.com/sites/default/files/uploads/golf_rate_sheet_2014.pdf

[Garth Strohbehn]

Justin

I'm relatively new to the MI scene but I will say that Dunes Club should be high on your priority list. There's something very nice about having a second crack at a hole. Also agree with the Point O Woods suggestion Mr Crisham made above.

Should you be interested in coming further east to Ann Arbor, I'd be more than happy to set something up at either of the University courses (Mackenzie/Maxwell or Dye).

[Richard Hetzel]

There are so many GREAT courses all over (and far apart) in Michigan, I would pick 5-6 must plays and focus on those.

Arcadia Bluffs
Forest Dunes

add in Kingsley and Chrystal Downs if you can get access and go from there.

summer golf in Michigan is supreme