Crystal Downs is a world class layout that is just a bit remote for the typical tour player- although Watson used to visit on occasion.
I spent five years there, and in that time we had a few visits from touring professionals. Brad Faxon and Mark McCumber showed up on separate occasions, but both are into golf course architecture as a business. Brett Quigley made the four hour drive up from the Flint area when the Buick Open was last played a few years ago simply to play one of the classics. Most of the CBS announcing team has been there at one time or another, but always separately; Ian Baker-Finch, Peter Oosterhuis, Bobby Clampett, and Gary McCord all made independent visits.
Ben Crenshaw first played there in 1985 and soon after gushed about the course in an interview, and many members attribute that to the uptick in membership demand. He has been back there once or twice since.
It is certainly out of the way, but I was impressed - especially with Brett Quigley - that the folks who really get it and are into great golf make the trip.
Brian:
Ben Crenshaw's first visit was in 1986, not '85 ... I know because I still have the scorecard. [Fred birdied the last hole to beat him by one.] He was there on Thursday afternoon, and won the Buick Open three days later, and mentioned his visit in his interviews afterward. He was also wearing a nice Crystal Downs shirt a couple of weeks later at the PGA (at Inverness) when he tossed his wedge in the air on the 18th hole, and it came down and hit him in the head, and he bled all over the golf shirt.
However, as far as I know, and contrary to Jack Crisham's post, I don't believe Tom Watson has ever played at Crystal Downs. His family had a place up near Walloon Lake, and I was told the course he played most often was Wequetonsing.