Golf Club Atlas
GolfClubAtlas.com => Golf Course Architecture Discussion Group => Topic started by: Jonathan Cummings on June 23, 2005, 06:27:37 AM
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Just returned from a group trip to the Gaylord/TC area. I had no idea what financial straits many of those courses are in. You can join Kingsley Club for next to nothing. A wonderful Weiskopt effort - Forest Dunes, has no hope of recovering their investment. It's been passed from owner to owner now landing at the feet of the Carpenter's Union. Seems to be just the tip of the iceberg. Sad too as there are a number of quality layouts in NMich.
JC
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Jonathan,
There are are a number of great courses in Northern Michigan, that's the big problem. Too many of them for such a short season and not a huge increase in summer traffic.
Ken
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What is the cost to join Kingsley Club?
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8) Jonathan,
We toured Forest Dunes last summer and they were finishing the grand clubhouse... I questioned the economic model for teh Roscommon area.. easpecially with out any real close lake front or river property.. that's the main ticket up there...
Don't dismiss the strength of Union's in Mich!
I'd have to say the prices have been elevated in NMich for 10+ years,.. too many Chicagoans visiting, driving up prices! 8)
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As I've gotten quite a few requests to qualtify my "next to nothing" comment and I think the club would not care that I posted this, Kingsley will offer you a membership for $15k with dues set at $2500/year. Forest Dunes, south of Gaylord and almost as good, will give you a membership for essentially the monthly dues.
JC
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All you can play at Black Forest Monday through Thursday for around $50 might be the best value for quality golf I know of.
Amazing to me that this course isn't more appreciated.
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Shooter,
I agree....Black Forest is a very good deal and I enjoy the course. Same for Belvedere and Heather.
Mike
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>Don't dismiss the strength of Union's in Mich!
I believe that Black Lake is also owned by a union.
They were rated about 4th in the state by GD in 2003.
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Kingsley will offer you a membership for $15k with dues set at $2500/year.
I know that the Kingsley Club has different levels of membership. Are you quoting the economics of their "national" level - which applies to those who don't live near the club? Is there a limit on the number of rounds a "national" member can play per year?
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John - you'd have to contact them for details but honestly, how many local members could they have??
We played Black Forest with Tom and owner Mike Bider. Until Tom toughens BF up it is way to easy! ;)
JC
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As a displaced Michigander, I wonder just how bad the golf economy is? I still have a home in Frankfort and I heard that my old haunt, The Frankfort Golf Club ( fairways cross the road 6 times) was sold. Any truth to that?
Steve
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If $15k and $2500 is low, I won't even mention ours....
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John - you'd have to contact them for details but honestly, how many local members could they have??
We played Black Forest with Tom and owner Mike Bider. Until Tom toughens BF up it is way to easy! ;)
JC
Way too easy? ;D... yeh, & I don't snore ::) :o... are they ever going to finish the driving range that they cleared but never finished?
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I'm not sure the golf market in northern Michigan was ever a very good one. It's a 3 month season when the vacationers are there and there's a lot of good golf to be had. Many new courses were built to support housing developments or resorts and never could stand on their own. Some beautiful courses, though....
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I used to live in Northern Michigan (Lake Ann). It is of no suprise to me about the financial difficulties. This should be a little word or warning for "True North" which is a Jim Engh course trying to go private after this year in Harbor Springs. Northern Michigan has too many good public courses: Arcadia Bluffs, Black Lake, Black Forest, Tullymore, Red Hawk, The Gailes, Otsego Club, High Pointe, Bay Harbor, The Heather...list goes on and on. So it is tough for the area to support a lot of expensive private courses. Kinglsey Club is a great course that will get its membership base eventually. I am looking at joining there right now.
Forest Dunes is a nice track as well....right near I-75 but too close to Gaylord to try and be private.
Brian...you are right about Marquette. I joined your club earlier this year through the national membership program and I still don't know how that is profitable for the club. I play 2-3 rounds a year and I've made the money back.