Photographic tour of Arcadia Bluffs

[Brian Cenci]

Many of you have probably played Arcadia Bluffs (located in the northern part of the Lower Peninsula in Michigan) but for those that haven't I've posted sort of a tour of the course from a few of my rounds there.

In my personal opinion Arcadia is in the top 5 or 6 in Michigan (which based on the quality of Michigan courses is saying something).  Somewhere slightly behind Crystal Downs & Kingsley and in the same class as Greywalls and Lost Dunes or Oakland Hills.  It is a great modern achievement, as the existing ground there was fairly flat.  Also, a bit of history, a huge erosion incident in which a drainage area between one of the bluffs washed out during construction into Lake Michigan (between 13 tee and 13 green).  This is significant because in Michigan it really initiated the strict enforcement of Part 91 for Soil Erosion and Sedimentation Control.  It was a blight during construction and received plenty of negative publicity but I think it was all for the good because not the state is consious of such issues. 

I know that some people don't like the manufactures look of the course and all the "contrived" business that people try to throw out there.  I think it is a great course and supplies plenty of different shots and holes.  To me, some of the tee shots (#10, #11, etc.) are the best anywhere. 

HOLE #1 - COMMENT:
A good "easy" beginning.  A relatively short part 5 with a sort of a two tiered green.  A wide landing area of the tee shot and a blind 2nd shot make for usually a 50 to 100 yard attack at the raised green.

Hole #1 (par 5) - tee shot:


Hole #1 - approach:


HOLE #2 - COMMENT:
Nice looking par 3 that is deceptive.  Usually a 180-200 yard shot (depending on tee and wind) to a two tiered green.  The large tree on the left contours the hole well.  The bunker on the right is deep and deadly.

Hole #2 (par 3) - tee shot:


Hole #2 - closer look at the green:


HOLE #3 - COMMENT:
Another par 5 that is one of my favorite tee shots anywhere.  You're elevated and as you look at the hole it looks as though the green in the distance is hanging over the water (really it's 800+ yards away).  The approach to the green is meant to be from the right on a raised 2nd fairway but its sort of blind and you're left to wondering where to go sometimes.  The green is scary, mostly because there is a huge bunker in front and it drops right off in the back.  Green is pretty flat.

Hole #3 (par 5) - tee shot:


Hole #3 - another look at the tee shot:


Hole #3 - yet another look at the the shot:


HOLE #4 - COMMENT:  A fairly unique par 4 and sort of any easy hole.  A fairway wood is all that is necessary off the tee as you favor the left.  The approach is great, downhill, to a bowl green.  Hole uses the ground well as you get closer to the water.

Hole #4 (par 4) - approach:


HOLE #5 - COMMENT:   Sort of a target par 5 for most people, unless your Dave Neveux who ignores the "don't go for the green in two" sign and can easily get home in 2.  Wide open tee shot which usually leeds to a controlled 150-175 yard 2nd shot to leave yourself 120-140 yards to the green over a mass of bunkers.  The green is a redan and very very difficult.

Hole #5 (par 5) - tee shot:


Hole #5 - approach:


Hole #5 - green:


HOLE #6 - COMMENT:
Uphill par 3 to a large complex green with many bumps and contours.  Good change of pace compared to the two other relatively longer par 3's on the front.

Hole #6 (par 3) - tee shot:


HOLE #7 - COMMENT:
Long long par 4 from the tippers.  Fairly wide tee shot and the approach is to an undulating mult-tiered green.

Hole #7 (par 4) - approach:


HOLE #8 - COMMENT:
A really different par 4 that some feel doesn't fit the course.  I happen to really like the whole as it gives a different, "less linksy" look.  The approach shot I think is a daunting tail because of a gigantic bunker protecting the entire front.  Also, the entire hill is uphill and requires really two solid shots.

Hole #8 (par 4) - tee shot:


HOLE #9 - COMMENT:
The last of 3 par 3's on the front nine.  A downhiller to another bowl type green.  Not one of my favorite holes on the course because I'm typically using the same club as #2.

Hole #9 (par 3) - tee shot:


HOLE #10 - COMMENT:
One of my favorite tee shots anywhere.  I love the fact that it looks like you're teeing off in some giant gourges.  It reminds me of pictures of the European Club in Ireland. 

Hole #10 (par 4) - tee shot:


Hole #10 - another tee shot look:


Hole #10 - yet another look from the tee:


Hole #10 - approach:


HOLE #11 - COMMENT:
Absolutely love this hole.  The tee shot is great and pretty much wide open.  The real tough part of the hole is the 2nd shot as the fairway gets really really restricted.  The setting for the whole is fabulous.  It is a bear from the way back tips at 620 or so.

Hole #11 (par 5) - tee shot:


Hole #11 - approach:


Hole #11 - closer approach and green:


HOLE #12 - COMMENT:
A picturesque par 4 that is very difficult because of the wind usually in your face or hurting slightly as a cross breeze.  The hole hugs a bluff and the opening tee shot asks to carry at least 200 yards over a wild looking bunker.  To be honest, I'm not crazy about the style of the bunker because it is much more wilder than the remaining on the course but overall a breathtaking hole.  I really like the green and approach though.  Ran talks about a course fitting its surroundings.  You look at the approach and the backdrop with a sailboat and I think it fits well.

Hole #12 (par 4) - tee shot:


Hole #12 - approach:


Hole #12 - green:


HOLE #13 - COMMENT:
A very difficult par 3 over a large ravine.  This hole can be tough when the wing is really blowing.

Hole #13 (par 3) - tee shot:


HOLE #14 - COMMENT:
A very short but somewhat difficult par 4.  I like the mounding on this hole.  It is a little target golf and the landing area ideally is about 100 yards from the green.

Hole #14 (par 4) - tee shot:


HOLE #15 - COMMENT:
Not one of my favorite holes on the course and a relatively short oar 5 but I think that it provides a welcome relief from 4 out of 5 tough holes to start the back nine.

Hole #15 (par 5) - tee shot:


HOLE #16 - COMMENT:
A tough downhill par 4.  Sort of a blind tee shot to a difficult downhill green.  I've made plenty of triples on this hole because there is death if you miss the green either left or right.

Hole #16 (par 4) - tee shot:


Hole #16 - approach:


HOLE #17 - COMMENT:
Not one of the easiest par 3's but this hole reminds me of Whistling Straits.  The play is to favor left off the tee and get a favorable bounce of the left hand rough or green.

Hole #17 (par 3) - tee shot:


HOLE #18 - COMMENT:
What a great finishing hole.  Not only is it a perched tee looking over most of the back nine with the large clubhouse in the back.  The second shot is tough to an extremely severe green. 

Hole #18 (par 4) - tee shot:


Hole #18 (par 4) - approach:

[Mike Benham]

Do they only allow left handed golfers?

[Sean_A]

Brian

Thanks for the tour.  The course looks really interesting.  I especially like photo below.  Nearly every archie in the world would feel compelled (or at least they do it without a compulsion) to slam a bunker into the right shoulder.  I wish similar restraint was practiced on some other holes.  The green sites look to be very cool.  Do they play as hard as they look?



Ciao

[Richard Hetzel]

Aracadia Bluffs is a TON of fun even though the greens are a bit contrived. I'll play it a second time this summer...hope you don't mind, here are some more pics...summer 2006.

[Tim Bert]

Do they only allow left handed golfers?

I think so.  Alan Gard and I (both lefties) played some golf in Michigan this September.  We were thinking about playing here as part of the trip.  When told that righty partner John Mayhugh would have to find somewhere else to play, we opted for Belvedere and High Pointe instead.

[Andy Troeger]

I think Brian makes some fine points. There are some really cool holes at Arcadia Bluffs. Its a very good golf course. I wouldn't put it quite as high as he does, or as high as some of the magazines do, but its a fine course and worth playing to develop an opinion on.

The greens are good fun but the pin setter the day we played set a few rather ridiculous ones--not that hard to do. I have a hard time faulting the greens for that though, on most good greens that are some unpinnable locations that might get used on occasion anyway.

Personally I have it behind Crystal Downs, Kingsley, Lost Dunes, Tullymore, and Point O'Woods in Michigan. I imagine people think I'm nuts for the last two--so it goes.

[Deucie Bies]

Wow!  What a difference a day makes.  I only saw the lake on holes 12 and 13 when I played.  I was not all that impressed with the course but these pictures make me want to go back and see the course on a good day.

[Mike_Cirba]

Yes, I played it left-handed, as well.

I believe that's the only option. 

[Jon Heise]

Well done tour!

Arcadia is a course I really did not like my first few times around.  I seemed irritated at all the artifical stuff that gets mentioned and the occasional silliness of the greens.  Ive grown to like it quite a bit now.  First off, it helped that my game has improved, as there are some areas of the course that you can find that are scorecard killers.  Another aspect is that I became more open to using the slopes and humps and bumps more than I did the first few rounds.  A shot to the far left fringe of that huge bowl green on #4 left me with a tap in birdie after travelling like 100' around the sloped green.  The setting is spectacular, but now I really appreciate the archetecture.

Cant wait to get back up there in the spring.  Rich, you better call me.

[Jim Colton]

What is it about these lefties at Arcadia?

FYI, I'm embarassed to know this, but there are some scenic, excrutiatingly detailed, and mildly entertaining youtube videos featuring Arcadia and a match between two GCA members floating out there in cyberspace.

[Brian Cenci]

Aracadia Bluffs is a TON of fun even though the greens are a bit contrived. I'll play it a second time this summer...hope you don't mind, here are some more pics...summer 2006.

Could you elaborate for me how the greens are any more contrived then say Whistling Straits, Kiawah or other similar style of courses and what about them is contrived?

-Brian

[Andy Troeger]

Seemed to me that the tiers at Arcadia were much more severe than Whistling Straits. I had multiple putts at Arcadia where pins where put below the tiers so if you were on top it was an automatic 10-15 footer no matter how good of a putt was struck. To me that's not the green's fault necessarily--Black Mesa has the same situation but the greens are usually kept slow enough and the pins set carefully enough to be manageable. I've only played Arcadia once so I might have caught the pin-setter on a grumpy day.

[Richard Boult]

http://delicious.com/golfclubatlas/Michigan

[Jay Flemma]

Great thread, great course.  Here's some I took:

sunrise




5, the biarritz





and 11...what a place to get engaged, the green overlooking the Lake...

[Will Haskett]

I agree with the silliness of the greens. Played there once, and I love the use of land and the hole designs, but it seems that the modern links course architect gets carried away with these carnaval greens, as I like to call them. Big tiers and mounds in the green. (I call it the Pete Dye Effect) The original links-style courses used the slopes and nobs, but in many situations are very flat greens with tricky undulations. I feel like some green complexes get too crazy nowadays.

As for Arcadia though, I want to play it badly again soon. My family has vacationed just up the road from there since I've been born, so only playing it once is my own fault.

The story about #13 is quite entertaining. I refer to it as the most expensive Par 3 ever made. Somebody told me that the DNR didn't take too kindly to the "repositioning" of the bluff when they got carried away doing the landscaping, and slapped a 7-figure fine on the developer. That's a lot of money for one forced-carry Par 3.

[Chuck Brown]

For my money, it is one of the most fun places to play in Michigan.  To me, the most remarkable thing is to whom authorship belongs.  I am no fan of Rick Smith's other courses; maybe this was one of his rare moments of genius.  I'm more than happy to give him credit if it really is his.  Otherwise, I'd like to know who gets the credit because I think enormous credit is due.

The place is run really, really well, by the way.  A magnificent faciilty from the time you turn in off the highway.  A bit out-of-the way in terms of ordinary Michigan vacation planning.  Kind of a Cruden Bay of Michigan.

I liked the greens.  I didn't think they were contrived at all.  They may not be in the same class as Crystal Downs, OHCC, UMGC, or Kingsley, but those are some world-class greens in that particular list.

These are some nice pictures -- it sure is a photogenic golf course, isn't it?

My question to both those who have played as well as those seeing it only on these pictures -- what do you think of the thick, stubby four-foot flagsticks?

[Will Haskett]

My question to both those who have played as well as those seeing it only on these pictures -- what do you think of the thick, stubby four-foot flagsticks?

I forgot about those little suckers. They are very charming, but absolutely brutal in terms of playing mind tricks. Every cart had GPS on it (I wish I could have walked it) and I never believed the yardage because the stick looked so small. 150-yard shots felt like 185 yards. No matter how much you told yourself to trust the distance, the mind is hard to convince.

I eventually got over it, but it annoyed me (in a humorous way)

[Wyatt Halliday]

Personally I have it behind Crystal Downs, Kingsley, Lost Dunes, Tullymore, and Point O'Woods in Michigan. I imagine people think I'm nuts for the last two--so it goes.

Andy,

Nuts or not, the time has come for a visit to Michigan. I always say next year is the year, but I always seem to find a poor excuse NOT to go.

The problem becomes which ones to play 36 in one day. From your list alone, my minimum stay would require five nights/six days which is more than I can sacrifice at this point in my life.

Anyone care to present a breakdown recommendation for three (golf) days only?? Please include the public options only.

How would you split rounds between:
Forest Dunes
Arcadia
Tullymore
Greywalls (I would think 36 minimum due to location)
High Pointe

Any others that you would forsake these to play?  

[Richard Hetzel]

Aracadia Bluffs is a TON of fun even though the greens are a bit contrived. I'll play it a second time this summer...hope you don't mind, here are some more pics...summer 2006.

Could you elaborate for me how the greens are any more contrived then say Whistling Straits, Kiawah or other similar style of courses and what about them is contrived?

-Brian

Brian,

Unfortunately, I have not played those courses, YET. The course is already super tough, toss in those greens and many will be in for a long day. Most of the greens have "severe" undulations.

My problem at Arcadia was not on the greens, but off the tee. Playing at 6300 yards rather than 6900 might have helped me some.

My goal was to break 100, I did with a 97 and i played the same Pro V1x the whole round.

[Brian Cenci]

Personally I have it behind Crystal Downs, Kingsley, Lost Dunes, Tullymore, and Point O'Woods in Michigan. I imagine people think I'm nuts for the last two--so it goes.

Andy,

Nuts or not, the time has come for a visit to Michigan. I always say next year is the year, but I always seem to find a poor excuse NOT to go.

The problem becomes which ones to play 36 in one day. From your list alone, my minimum stay would require five nights/six days which is more than I can sacrifice at this point in my life.

Anyone care to present a breakdown recommendation for three (golf) days only?? Please include the public options only.

How would you split rounds between:
Forest Dunes
Arcadia
Tullymore
Greywalls (I would think 36 minimum due to location)
High Pointe

Any others that you would forsake these to play?  

If you were coming from the southern states I'd go like this:

Day 1:  Tullymore & Forest Dunes (1.5 hr drive in between)
Day 2:  Kingsley Club & Arcadia (if you asked to play at Kingsley you could probably play)
Day 3:  Greywalls (36)

[Brian Cenci]

I agree with the silliness of the greens. Played there once, and I love the use of land and the hole designs, but it seems that the modern links course architect gets carried away with these carnaval greens, as I like to call them. Big tiers and mounds in the green. (I call it the Pete Dye Effect) The original links-style courses used the slopes and nobs, but in many situations are very flat greens with tricky undulations. I feel like some green complexes get too crazy nowadays.

As for Arcadia though, I want to play it badly again soon. My family has vacationed just up the road from there since I've been born, so only playing it once is my own fault.

The story about #13 is quite entertaining. I refer to it as the most expensive Par 3 ever made. Somebody told me that the DNR didn't take too kindly to the "repositioning" of the bluff when they got carried away doing the landscaping, and slapped a 7-figure fine on the developer. That's a lot of money for one forced-carry Par 3.

So do you not like greens from Devries or Doak then too?

-Brian

[Michael J. Moss]

Arcadia has been discussed quite a bit here. Never played it but the pics are a big help at capturing both the artistry and (not my words...) "artificiality." I think Jay Flemma's second image of the Biarritz says it all in terms of conveying an artificial look. Everything around the green - especially to the left - is just too busy.

The course is described as a Warren Henderson/Rick Smith design. I assume Mr. Henderson is a the golf course architect who designed it, and I guess Rick Smith, a noted golf swing instructor, was important in putting up front a recognized Michaigan brand name. Correct me if I'm wrong. Perhaps he's as passionate about golf course architecture as Ben Crenshaw.

What are some of Warren Henderson's other works of note?

Happy holidays one and all!

[Jeff Tang]

For my money, it is one of the most fun places to play in Michigan.  To me, the most remarkable thing is to whom authorship belongs.  I am no fan of Rick Smith's other courses; maybe this was one of his rare moments of genius.  I'm more than happy to give him credit if it really is his.  Otherwise, I'd like to know who gets the credit because I think enormous credit is due.

The place is run really, really well, by the way.  A magnificent faciilty from the time you turn in off the highway.  A bit out-of-the way in terms of ordinary Michigan vacation planning.  Kind of a Cruden Bay of Michigan.

I liked the greens.  I didn't think they were contrived at all.  They may not be in the same class as Crystal Downs, OHCC, UMGC, or Kingsley, but those are some world-class greens in that particular list.

These are some nice pictures -- it sure is a photogenic golf course, isn't it?

My question to both those who have played as well as those seeing it only on these pictures -- what do you think of the thick, stubby four-foot flagsticks?

I agree about the depth of perception problems the little flagsticks create.  It takes a while to get used to.  What I find comical about the flagsticks is I'm sure they're short and sturdy so that they won't blow over with the gale force winds.  Each of the four times or so that I've been to Arcadia, though, the wind has been about as calm as can be.  Perhaps it's more of a tip of the cap to some of the overseas courses more than it is a practical necessity. 

Regarding the greens they are some of the best putting surfaces I've ever played on.  I'd agree, though, that they're probably too quick for some of the slopes they have out there and if you're on the wrong side of the hole you have no chance.  The quickness does make it easier, though, to use the slopes to feed the ball to the hole from off the green when you have that as an option.

[Brian Cenci]

Arcadia has been discussed quite a bit here. Never played it but the pics are a big help at capturing both the artistry and (not my words...) "artificiality." I think Jay Flemma's second image of the Biarritz says it all in terms of conveying an artificial look. Everything around the green - especially to the left - is just too busy.

The course is described as a Warren Henderson/Rick Smith design. I assume Mr. Henderson is a the golf course architect who designed it, and I guess Rick Smith, a noted golf swing instructor, was important in putting up front a recognized Michaigan brand name. Correct me if I'm wrong. Perhaps he's as passionate about golf course architecture as Ben Crenshaw.

What are some of Warren Henderson's other works of note?

Happy holidays one and all!

So would the large dune on the right at #13 at Pacific Dunes be "too busy" as well?  How would that be any different?

-Brian

[Michael J. Moss]

Brian Cenci:

Perhaps it's the formalized look of the pits away from the left side of the 5th green. Understand, I am relying on the image, but they appear man made with flat bottoms. I feel they are not in harmony with the dunes and hummocks (love that word!) from which they've been carved out. To my eye, the ones way to the left, away from play, should appear more like sheeps scraped them out.

At Pacific Dunes, the blow-out bunker that makes up most of the dune to the right of 13, looks like it was there, built by nature, and utilized by Tom Doak. If not, it certainly appears that way. Either way, it's natural looking and beautiful, and preferable to the treatment of the bunkers on the 5th at Arcadia.

I will say this, you put together some wonderful images and an interesting thread.