One of my summer vacations usually takes me to Glen Arbor, Michigan (just due West of Traverse City) and I do my level best to sneak away from the family and squeeze in 2-3 rounds of golf while there. If you have never been to the Traverse City area, I highly suggest you go. Just ask Tom Doak, he lives there!
Many courses have shuttered there recently; Lochenheath and High Pointe come to mind right away. A few years back I played The King's Challenge; an Arnold Palmer designed course that skirts it's way around an old ski resort. On a few of the holes, one can see the old, rusted ski lifts. I remember the golf course as either being really EASY in spots, or really TOUGH in spots. I believe it may have been designed as a housing development, yet it never took off. In fact, the parking lot to the club house was not even completely paved if I remember correctly.
I noticed that the King's Challenge Golf Club has changed hands, and is now called the
Manitou Passage Golf Club.
Does anyone know the original plan for the club/surrounding area? Did the new owners get this course at a deep discount (The Homestead Resort maybe?)? I would assume so in today's economy. According to the website they are renovating the course. Does anyone know who is in charge of said renovations, or what is actually being changed on the course? Did Arnie's firm re-do the course? Will it be a more player friendly layout?
I wonder if the new owners will be (or can be?) successful at Manitou Passage since it is NOT in a higher traffic area like High Pointe and The Grand Traverse Resort (sports 3, 18 hole layouts). The course is off the beaten path for sure.
Unfortunately, that area of Northern Michigan golf is either a fire sale or in dire straits....a short 5 month golf season sure can't help any. It's too bad, because it is a great golf destination.
Here are some pictures of The King's Challenge from June 2008: