[Brian_Sleeman]

Not to say at all that it isn't a fun track, I just happen to find Belvedere that much more fun.  Dunmaglas has its fans too, and you're right, it does present many opportunities for the hero shot.

[JWinick]

August 13-15.

JW,

What dates exactly are you planning on being up?  I might rate Arcadia slightly higher than JC but would agree that it's not a must play.   

[Anthony Fowler]

Having just visited the region, I would recommend Black Forest or Forest Dunes before Belvedere.  As others have indicated, Belvedere is fun and charming.  The conditioning was just okay when we played it (soft, spongy greens) while the playing conditions at the other two were perfect.  You couldn't go wrong with any of these three courses, but to me Belvedere feels like a great local course while the other two have more to remember and write home about. 

The greens at Forest Dunes are by far the flattest of the three courses in question, but the course makes up for it in other ways.  The sandy waste areas are a blast to play from, the course has a very "big" feel to it, and there are a number of memorable/strategic holes. 

Black Forest is quite challenging compared to the other two courses, but you will never get bored.  I think the greens are great, although many say that they are too severe.

Have a great trip.

[Chris_Blakely]

Steve, what course is that?

That's Dunmaglas, just south of Charlevoix.

If you're anywhere in that neck of the woods, Belvedere beats it 10 times out of 10 in my opinion. 

Dunmaglas has got some strange and abrupt elevation changes (extremely difficult site), and a few spectacular views, but the golf isn't the best.

Variety is the spice of life.

A course would have to be FAR AND AWAY superior to another to play it 10 times out of 10 over the other course. Belvedere is a very good course (and I like it more than Dunmaglas) but it is not that much better by juxtaposition with Dunmaglas to say one should play it 10 times out of 10 over it.  Also, on a golf trip where one is most likely looking for variety, why not recommend playing Belvedere and Dunmaglas in the same day.

On a side note, I would have loved to play Dunmaglas before it was softened – bunkers removed, grassed in, etc.

[Steve Lang]

  Belvedere would win 10 for 10 on walking over Dunmaglas..  Logistics make them very good partners for a day in October as suggested.. Be sure to goad the scratch guy to take on the blind over the hill tee shots..

note its probably hour and a half to two hours from Belvedere to Forest Dunes, (45 minutes east to Gaylord then another 20 min down to Grayling on I-75 and then SE over to FD coming off M-72)

Forest Dunes is very high quality, many challenging but not as exciting shots present like Black Forest, and a little pricey for me, but love the twilight there (its on our vacation rota ~ an hour away for us)

Black Forest is my home course while on vacation, usually first play (though we opened with Belvedere & playing with JC this year)  and I love it.. our nickname for it is "The Home of Unfinished Business"  and i walked it once, a long time and many pounds ago..  TD has said if he had one regret there, he "wouldn't have made it so hard".. but i'm glad it is what it is, score be damned

Black Forest and Forest Dunes would be very interesting day

[Peter Pratt]

Well, Shivas, perhaps I can be accused of hyperbole. I certainly wouldn't rank Champion Hill with most of the courses mentioned in this thread. Still, after 2 plays, I've found it a charming open course over rolling hills with some quirky and devilish greens. Its bunkering is nowhere as ingenious as Kingsley's. There's just something about the feel of the place that reminds me a bit of Kingsley.

[Chris_Blakely]

Belvedere would win 10 for 10 on walking over Dunmaglas..  Logistics make them very good partners for a day in October as suggested.. Be sure to goad the scratch guy to take on the blind over the hill tee shots..

note its probably hour and a half to two hours from Belvedere to Forest Dunes, (45 minutes east to Gaylord then another 20 min down to Grayling on I-75 and then SE over to FD coming off M-72)

Forest Dunes is very high quality, many challenging but not as exciting shots present like Black Forest, and a little pricey for me, but love the twilight there (its on our vacation rota ~ an hour away for us)

Black Forest is my home course while on vacation, usually first play (though we opened with Belvedere & playing with JC this year)  and I love it.. our nickname for it is "The Home of Unfinished Business"  and i walked it once, a long time and many pounds ago..  TD has said if he had one regret there, he "wouldn't have made it so hard".. but i'm glad it is what it is, score be damned

Black Forest and Forest Dunes would be very interesting day

I do not have to be able to walk every course that I play.  And sometimes, just sometimes, it is fun to play a course built on wild terrain that is not meant to be walked.    I do agree that Belvedere is more walkable than Dunmaglas; however, Dunmaglas is more walkable than numerous courses taht I have waliked.

Chris

[Richard Hetzel]

I would say Belvedere and either before or after add on the Ross Elk Rapids 9 hole course.

[Steve Lang]

Champion Hill in Beulah--it's a poor man's Kingsley with some very good holes.

Ooohh, Peter.  "A poor man's Kingsley."  I like the sound of that so much, I think I just got wood.

Tell us more....

Don't get too excited Shivas.. Champion Hill does have open spaces and is draped over the land nicely, BUT, unless you're in trouble, its still pretty much of an aerial game there and many of the hillside holes seem repetitive. There are several nice sections of the course and some exciting shots.. we had fun playing there in some wind, but after walking off the 18th I didn't have any kinda Kingsley moment of thinking about walking right back to the 1st tee.. maybe it was the lack of whiskey..

there was a thread with a lot of pics onetime

[Richard Hetzel]

I played Champion Hill 2 years ago, and Pinecroft at the end of June and it was FUN. I posted pics of Pinecroft on here as well......

Both are fun.

http://golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,44860.0/

[JC Jones]

I played Champion Hill 2 years ago, and Pinecroft at the end of June and it was FUN. I posted pics of Pinecroft on here as well......

Both are fun.

http://golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,44860.0/

Nothing is better than that picture thread of Belvedere you posted.

[Richard Hetzel]

I played Champion Hill 2 years ago, and Pinecroft at the end of June and it was FUN. I posted pics of Pinecroft on here as well......

Both are fun.

http://golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,44860.0/

Nothing is better than that picture thread of Belvedere you posted.

OK wiseacre! I will get on it! I PROMISE!

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