[Paul Richards]

and kingsley


what else is a 'must-see' around here???

[Paul Richards]

more specifically,
are any of these courses below in the area from tullymore to forest  dunes to kingsley?

thanks again


TIMBERSTONE GC
 IRON MOUNTAIN
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
TREETOPS SYLVAN (R.T. JONES)
 GAYLORD
 
RADRICK FARMS GC
 ANN ARBOR
 
LAKEWOOD SHORES (GAILES)
 OSCODA
 
 
 
 
RED HAWK GC
 EAST TAWES
 
R & S SHARF GC (OAKLAND UNIVERSITY)
 ROCHESTER
 
ELK RIDGE GC
 ATLANTA
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
TPC OF MICHIGAN
 DEARBORN
 
 
 
 
OAKHURST G & CC
 CLARKSTON
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
SHANTY CREEK (THE LEGEND)
 BELLAIRE
 
THOUSAND OAKS GC
 GRAND RAPIDS
 
SHANTY CREEK (CEDAR RIVER)
 BELLAIRE
 
THOROUGHBRED GC
 ROTHBURY
 
WARWICK HILLS G & CC
 GRAND BLANC
 
ISLAND HILLS GC
 CENTREVILLE
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
WILDERNESS VALLEY (BLK FRST)
 GAYLORD
 
 
 
 
SIGNAL POINT CLUB
 NILES
 
COPPER HILL G & CC (MARSH/HILL)
 OXFORD
 
TREETOPS NORTH (TOM FAZIO)
 GAYLORD
 
GRAND TRAVERSE R (THE BEAR)
 ACME
 
DUNMAGLAS GC
 CHARLEVOIX
 
HAWKSHEAD G. RESORT
 SOUTH HAVEN
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
GRAND HAVEN
 GRAND HAVEN
 
RATTLE RUN
 ST. CLAIR
 
LOCHEN HEATH GC
 WILLIAMSBURG
 
PILGRIM'S RUN
 PIERSON
 
BELVEDERE
 CHARLEVOIX
 
GREYWALLS
 MARQUETTE
 
ANGELS CROSSING
 VICKSBURG
 
LITTLE TRAVERSE BAY GC
 HARBOR SPRINGS
 
GARLAND (MONARCH)
 LEWISTON
 
BOYNE MOUNTAIN (MONUMENT)
 BOYNE FALLS
 
EGYPT VALLEY CC
 ADA
 
THE FORTRESS
 FRANKENMUTH
 
GARLAND (SWAMPFIRE)
 LEWISTON
 
POHLCAT GC
 MT. PLEASANT
 

 

[Jeff_Brauer]

Paul,

You mention Radrick Farms, which I saw years ago - early Dye.  But, have you seen the UM course if you are going to AA?  Together, I think they are worth the trip, along with Indianwood in Lake Orion if you are anywhere in MI.  

I don't know many of the rest.  You have probably seen Warwick Hills onand TPC on TV, and while nice, I figure they are not to your tastes.  A couple of those are Jerry Matthews courses, which have gotten great reviews - while not a well known designer, he has a few up there that apparently break his father's mold pretty well.

[Andy Troeger]

Paul,
I cannot help you as much on this one as your previous query. I played Kingsley and Tullymore on a trip last summer and drove straight from Kingsley to Tullymore after 36H at Kingsley. Pilgrim's Run is about 30 minutes from Tullymore if I remember correctly, but a little south and west, we also played there and I would recommend it.

Belvedere was another course always recommended here on GCA that I don't think would be too far from Kingsley. I didn't end up seeing that one though. The Gaylord/Boyne courses couldn't be too far away either.

[Paul Richards]

one last thing, if anyone has a direct number to forest dunes - the one on the website keeps sending me into voicemail hell - i'd appreciate it

866-DUNESMI (386-3764)


this one doesn't connect me to anyone and mostly disconnects you


does anyone have another number to the club that actually works?

especially the pro shop??

[Tom_Doak]

Paul:

Forest Dunes is in Grayling very close to I-75.  Gaylord is another 20-30 minutes north of there, with Black Forest and Treetops.

Lakewood Shores and Red Hawk are over on the Lake Huron shore, 1 1/2 hours east of Forest Dunes.

Shanty Creek is between Gaylord and Traverse City (which are an hour apart).  Belvedere (and Dunmaglas) are in Charlevoix which is an hour north of T.C. on the lake.  Kingsley is 20 min. south of T.C.

I don't think any of the courses you mentioned are between Kingsley and Tullymore on the way back downstate.

Timberstone and Greywalls are in the Upper Peninsula, several hours' drive from any of the courses mentioned, so I think that's a separate trip.  

[Buck Wolter]

Arcadia Bluffs isn't too far out of the way between Tullymore and Kingsley.

(edit) Just checked Google maps -- 45 Miles from Kingsley to Arcadia -- well worth the drive.

[Ken Fry]

Paul,

I kept the ones I've played regardless of location.


SHANTY CREEK (THE LEGEND)
 BELLAIRE
 
Fun course.  Would be in the area you're discussing.  Typical northern Michigan course where you feel secluded in the woods.  Some interesting challenges but nothing on par with Kinglsey.

THOUSAND OAKS GC
 GRAND RAPIDS
 
Not a fan of this place.  Quite a bit of elevation change on property but over the top mounding and some holes just feel shoe horned in.  Rees Jones design where last time I played the greens were running about 13 on a stimpmeter.  Too much for the movement built into the greens.  Quite a few built up tees for downhill tee shots.  In Grand Rapids and well out of your way.


SHANTY CREEK (CEDAR RIVER)
 BELLAIRE

Weiskopf's course.  Again, quite a bit of elevation change.  Last time I played it was developing into a "housing development" course.  A lot of out of bounds.  Quite a bit of challenge and again a fun course to play.  It's about a 15 minute drive from Shanty Creek.
 
ISLAND HILLS GC
 CENTREVILLE
 
Last I had heard, the island holes which really made this course had been eliminated.  Not sure of the status at this time.  Almost on the Indiana border so well out of your way.
 
SIGNAL POINT CLUB
 NILES

My old stomping grounds.  A private little 9 holer with two sets of tees on each hole and two flags in each green.  Gets VERY little play, so conditioning is always excellent.  A Robert Bruce Harris course I feel works great for the clientele.  Not very long but a fun course.  It's just north of South Bend, IN but I wouldn't drive very far to play it.  There are far better courses to the west like Lost Dunes and The Dunes Club.

HAWKSHEAD G. RESORT
 SOUTH HAVEN

I haven't been a fan of Arthur Hills' courses since working at The Golf Club of Georgia many years ago.  I'm not bashing, just not my taste.  This course is a lot of fun to play.  There are still some elements I don't care far (hazard positioning) but the course is a good one to play if you're in the SW section of Michigan.  Again, this is quite a distance from where you'll be.

GRAND HAVEN
 GRAND HAVEN

Old course.  Very tight (they're trying remove trees but playing corridors are still tight).  Nice course to play if around Grand Haven.
 
PILGRIM'S RUN
 PIERSON

Great place if you're near Grand Rapids.  Sits about 30 minutes north of the city and a great place to play.  Nice movement on the property and fun.  18th hole always elicits strong feelings (love it or leave it).  A definite play if near the area.

ANGELS CROSSING
 VICKSBURG

GCAer Jim Thompson's course.  Great place.  Just south of Kalamazoo so again you need to be in the correct part of the state but worth the trip.

 EGYPT VALLEY CC
 ADA
 
In Grand Rapids.  I'll be nice and give you the anti-drug slogan, "Just say no."
[/color]

Tom Doak's High Pointe is just outside of Traverse City.  If you can get on, Crystal Downs is a MUST play under any circumstances.

Ken

[Andy Troeger]

Ken,
I have not played Island Hills either since they took out the two holes on the actual island in favor of putting homes on it. However, I believe that has been done for the last couple years. I never went back to play it, the unique portion of the course had to do with the holes on the island. If they're not in play, the course would be just another nice CCFAD type I think. Worth playing if right in the area, but probably not worth the side trip.

I'd put it ahead of Whittaker Woods though for a trip from South Bend both in terms of value and the course itself being more playable.

[Paul Richards]

Anybody even know if Forest Dunes is even open yet for the season??


Perhaps that's why I am experiencing voicemail hell..........

[Nathaniel Amrine]

Paul -

As an employee of Grand Haven Golf Club I can tell you that our course has really come along in the past three years after a successful rejuvenation.

In the late 90's to early 2000's the trees along this sandy stretch of Lake Michigan were beginning to overtake the playability of the course. It went from "one of the toughest" in Michigan to one of the most un-playable and unfriendly.

Since 2005 they have refreshed the courses look, brought back several natural dune blow-outs, taken away trees that allow shot-making and made it the "beautiful old lady" that it was seen as in the late 70's to late 80's when Golf Digest rated it America's top 75 eleven times. The Matthews family was in on the rejuvenation, so it's vision holds true. This was of course before the large investment in golf courses in the mid to late 90's.

It's a great challenge, unique to the shoreline and a real test of golf.

Pilgrims Run, Angels Crossing and Hawkshead are all fantastic.

Island Hills was once a treasure - because of it's unique routing on the island. No course could claim to have such. It still runs with the "best finishing holes in the Midwest" slogan that the Chicago Sun-Times and Midwest Golf Magazine gave it, but that slogan was given far before the routing was changed in favor of housing (what golf course can't give into developments? $$$).

The new holes feel too contrived - completely man made, especially the awkard 15th. Ray Hearn's original work is simply not their anymore. For better Hearn, see Yarrow outside of Kalamazoo when you're down at Angel's Crossing. They have a great $25 rate after 5 pm. $2 Oberon's too!!!

 

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