Lochenheath near Traverse City to be resurrected from the dead?

[Mike Cirba]

I really enjoyed Lochenheath a great deal...lost of very difficult holes with some very visually appealing bunkering as Smyers is often wont to do.

It would be great if both Lochenheath and, more invaluably, High Pointe could be resurrected.

[Joe Hancock]

If I remember the information correctly, Mike Husby left Candlestone GC to be a part of this resurrection., Let's hope they keep Smyers in the loop if they think they need to make architectural changes.

Joe

[Scott Warren]

What’s the story with this course? I was just tooling around on Google Maps and came across the aerial and a really cool-looking dual-fairway short four at the southern end of the course.


Judging by the crisp appearance in what I assume is a recent aerial image, the resurrection went well?

[Ronald Montesano]

http://www.lochenheath.com/

[Ken Fry]

What’s the story with this course? I was just tooling around on Google Maps and came across the aerial and a really cool-looking dual-fairway short four at the southern end of the course.


Judging by the crisp appearance in what I assume is a recent aerial image, the resurrection went well?

The course successfully reopened and operated as a public course, then a semi private and now private with some limited outside play.

It's not a bad course.  For a real estate routing, the course use to flow pretty well until two front nine holes were removed to increase real estate offerings and the two holes you point out were added.  I'm not a fan of the two new holes and it's a shame the front nine holes couldn't be added back in.  It's a beautiful piece of property.  I've enjoyed my rounds there although I've found it's a polarizing course like other Steve Smyers courses.  There are some blind shots here and there which strikes people as unusual if it were a public course but the initial project was for a private course.

With High Pointe gone, Lochenheath is far better than anything in the area except Kingsley.

Ken

[Jason Topp]

It has been quite a few years but I remember enjoying the course.  I saw it as a good option if you are travelling to the area, but not necessarily a reason to make a trip.

[Tom_Doak]

With High Pointe gone, Lochenheath is far better than anything in the area except Kingsley.

Personally, I don't agree with this, unless you are drawing a fairly tight circle around Traverse City.  There are a bunch of reasonably good courses in northern Michigan, they're just not that close to T.C.  I guess I would rather play Lochenheath than The Bear, but I haven't felt the need to play either for 10 years now.

[Ken Fry]

With High Pointe gone, Lochenheath is far better than anything in the area except Kingsley.

Personally, I don't agree with this, unless you are drawing a fairly tight circle around Traverse City.  There are a bunch of reasonably good courses in northern Michigan, they're just not that close to T.C.  I guess I would rather play Lochenheath than The Bear, but I haven't felt the need to play either for 10 years now.

Tom,

My circle was relatively tight around T.C.  The only course I'd throw in to be close is Cedar River.  I'd make the trip to Belvedere if T.C. wasn't the destination.

I know you're not a fan of Lochenheath but I genuinely enjoy it.  You've spent much more time in the area than I have.  We agree on the courses at Grand Traverse.  Within 20 miles of T.C. what would you recommend over Lochenheath?

Ken

[Sinclair Eaddy]

Played there on a trip is September that included Crystal, Kingsley, Forest Dunes and Arcadia. It was an afternoon 18 after playing Kingsley in the morning and the course is certainly worthy of being included in a larger itinerary. Fantastic piece of land with some strong holes and some that seem squeezed in and lacking in interest. Above average conditions and the staff was very friendly. As I said, a good afternoon round with really nice views. Obviously the Downs was the highlight of the trip. I’d be curious to hear from Tom how the work on #2 green was received by the members? Unfortunately we had to play to a temporary.

[Mike Schott]

It's been many years since I played Lochenheath, before the housing was built, when it first went public. It was before I had a strong interest in architecture. I remember it having a number of fun interesting holes with the middle of the course having more trees than the perimeter. Haven't seen it since the housing went in.