The following public golf courses make up the Great Lakes Golf Trail. They are the very best golf you can find in the region. In other words, no matter what course you chose, you can be sure you will find a great course. Also noted are our Editor's Picks of the Trail as well as golf courses that provide a Good Value on the Trail. Be sure to enable Java to view the golf photos.
ABERDEEN (Indiana) 219.462.5050
A-GA-MING RESORT - SUNDANCE (Michigan) This 2005 Jerry Matthews course is just northwest of Traverse City wedged in between the Grand Traverse Bay and Torch Lake. Wonderful routing and some great scenery. Matthews has made a very modern American Links style course here which utilizes the elevations and scenery. It is easily the stronger of the two A-Ga-Ming courses. The front nine eases you into the round but still give plenty of challenge. Then the ninth hole, perhaps on of the best par 5s in the Michigan, signal the beginning of a truly outstanding run of ten fantastic holes. Nine is a par 5 that tees off down hill around a slight dogleg with a bog on the inside. Then it rises to the pinnacle of the course with terraced bunkers to collect short shots. Take plenty club on your approach to this stadium green. The par 3 seventeenth is an absolute beauty with a steep downhill tee shot with the world famous torch lake as your backdrop. Nice full practice facility which includes driving range, putting green and chipping green.
ARCADIA
BLUFFS (Michigan)
This
Warren Henderson design from the Rick Smith design group is considered
one of the best, if not the best, golf course on the Trail. It brings
a serious Scottish links course to the Midwest, in the midst of all the "up-north"
courses in Michigan. Standing on
the veranda of the club house, you can see the spectacle unfold right in
front of you. The course flows down hundreds of feet from sandy bluffs
overlooking Lake Michigan to the very edge of the lake. Just about everywhere
you stand on this course you have a spectacular view. Every hole is a
postcard and you get a sense of golf paradise. The course has a raw look with
all the wild areas and wind blowing in off of the lake, but the fairways, greens
and bunkers are finely manicured. The first fairway is wide as
a railroad yard, but each following one seems to get a bit narrower. By
the time you get to eighteen, the fairway look like a winding sidewalks compared
to the first hole. Not only do you need to drive the ball well here, you need to work on your
lob shot for this course. There are many pedestalled greens where the only recovery
from missed approaches is a high soft lob. You will also find different approaches
to many greens. The best approaches are rewarded with a simple punch or
run up shot to a long green but approaches from less than optimal positions
to the same green will require semi-blind lobs over a deep sod-faced pot bunker to a narrow
greens. Then you need to deal with sophisticated undulated
greens which require shots to the correct zones. The eighteenth green has the most
undulations and zones. Onlookers from the clubhouse often get a kick out of all the
four
putts here, so take extra care on your approach.
AVALON LAKES (Ohio) 18 championship holes just outside of Youngstown, Ohio. Recent host of LPGA events, the outstanding course is always in excellent condition, even in the dead of summer. An old Pete Dye design, but no signature railroad ties. The classic but flat layout has undergone extensive re-contouring and is deceivingly challenging and beautiful. Pete Dye returned in 2002 to work his magic again. He made a very good course great. All greens are guarded and elevated. Lots of sand and water hazards. GPS systems on the cart. Excellent fast and true greens, with undulations. At least four of the par 4s require careful club selection from the tees due to hazards such as water and tight doglegs. Has been the Host of LPGA events in recent years. Four sets of tees and well marked. Expensive.
BAY HARBOR (Michigan) 27 fantastic holes in Petoskey, about an hour north of Traverse City. Arthur Hills, in collaboration with Stephen Kircher, has laid out one of his most spectacular routings in the Great Lakes region. Arthur Hills has always been known for great courses but he out did himself here. Completed in 1997, it claimed the top spot in Michigan for a long time. The property is part of Boyne Resort and is cetainly their crown jewel. It does have private members but rotates tee times so that members tee off on one of the three nines while the public will tee off on another. There are three distinct nines, the Links, Quarry and Preserve, and each presenting their own distinctive feel and look. The Links nine is the most popular and characterized by having its tall fescue lined holes in close proximity to Lake Michigan. While great views may help your attitude, winds that can whip up from the lake and play havoc with your game. Four of the nine Links holes are treeless and hard against the lake in a splashy Arthur Hills Scottish-like effort. Standing on the edge of the fairway of Links hole 7, you can look straight down 150 feet to the crashing waves of Lake Michigan. The views from the bluffs overlooking Little Traverse Bay are probably worth the heavy greens fee alone. The Quarry nine has the most interesting holes of the three nines where several holes play around, down into and out of a rock-side quarry. As a bonus, your final two holes on the Quarry play against the lake. The Preserve nine might be the strongest in terms of hole layouts. It rolls through mature birches and pines and incorporates marshes and even a double green. The entire complex is nicely tied together with mostly wide and forgiving fairways which lead you to good sized greens which are not overly undulated. Mr. Hills really did an outstanding job with the par 3 on all 27 holes, especially where the greens hang against the lake. The bottom line is that you cannot go wrong with any of the three nines, all are a blast to play. But if someone held a gun to your head, chose the Quarry and the Links.
BLACK DIAMOND
(Ohio) Located just a few miles south of Millersburg,
Ohio on Rt. 83. About a 1.5 hour drive from Cleveland
using I-71 and Rt. 83. Set in the serious foothills of
Amish country, draped with curtains of dense trees and rock
outcroppings, this incredible, par 72, championship course by
Columbus architect Barry Serafin will stun you with the
scenery and boggle your golf intellect. If you
prefer courses where the holes are straightforward and the
greens are fairly level, this is not for you. This course
requires strategy, shotmaking, and a great short game.
While not listed as a long course, it plays far tougher
than its length. You still need to hit your driver here,
although you might consider leaving it in the bag for two to
four holes, depending on how you are hitting it that day.
There is no other course quit like this in Ohio. Just
the view from the clubhouse overlooking holes one, nine and
ten is worth the drive alone. While there won't be any
professional tournaments here, the serious and recreational
golfer will appreciate, and sometimes curse, this wild
layout. The front nine is characterized by fairways that
are more forgiving and shorter than the back side but the
heavily undulated greens require shot making to the correct
pin position if you ever hope to score well. The back side is
reversed. While Serafin tamed the back side greens, he
requires you to be very good off of the tee to have a chance.
Some of the tee shots, particularly the daunting par four
12th, are simply terrifying at first look. Water to be
carried from the tee, water all down the left side, a mountain
on your right and 419 yards of a thin ribbon of a
fairway disappearing around a rise. However, this
hole, like most holes, gives you more than can be seen. You
really really need to play this one more than once and you
will learn that it is far more playable than it appears. In
fact, it's a blast to play. All lament the fact that
there is no pin sheet nor yardage book. This course does
seem to favor someone who can play a power fade off the tee.
Higher handicappers will struggle a bit more due to the
numerous carries and shot making requirements, but the four
sets of tees helps ease their pain. While every hole
sports something different, the most unusual hole is certainly
the 650 yard par 6. Some speculate that a par 6 is sort
of gimmicky but we found it nicely designed to give you a
deserved chance at a really good number. The second shot is the
key since the fairways narrows inside of 150 yards and trying to stuff a three
wood close the green brings hazards and a bunker into play. There is no way
to walk this course and even cart path only is a struggle.
Dollar for dollar, this course is perhaps one of the
best bargains in the Midwest with unbelievable twilight and replay
rates. Nice range and practice facility. Yardage of 6462
| 5880 | 5205 | 4689 and slope of 130 | 124 | 122 | 118
BLACK FOREST GOLF RESORT - BLACK FOREST (Michigan)
BLACK FOREST GOLF RESORT - VALLEY (Michigan)
BLACKTHORN (Indiana) 219.232.GOLF Located in South Bend Indiana, only two minutes from the toll booth exit. Designed by Dr. Michael Hurdzan, this course gets rave reviews, a 4 1/2 star course according to Golf Digest. A fantastic course routed through glacially sculpted terrain. Lots of elevation changes and heavy woods mixed in with a few great linksy prairie-type and superb conditions. Alternate routes to the greens and split fairways which unfolded into stunning green views. The par fives here are some of the best in the entire mid-west and worth the trip alone, especially the signature 15th hole. Great first hole and each nine ends with a beautiful but dangerous hole requiring several well placed shots. They even have a great par four practice hole called the "Blarney Hole," a cool storm shelter rehabbed from a cow barn that you drive your cart right through, and GPS on the carts. Great replay value and discounted twilight rates. Four sets of tees.
BLACKWOLF RUN - MEADOW VALLEYS (Wisconsin)
BLACKWOLF RUN - RIVER (Wisconsin)
BLUE HERON (Ohio) 330.722.0227. 27 Championship holes in Medina, Ohio. The Highland and Lake nines opened in the summer of 2005. The River nine is to open in 2006. This only Ohio Troon Golf establishment brings top notch conditions, amenities and service, but at a price. Even at this early stage, it is remarkably mature with a very attractive Clubhouse. Greens are hard but this is expected for new greens, but they putt very well. There is no doubt that this is the very best terrain of any golf course in North East Ohio. Stunning views from high elevations, deep gorges that must be negotiated, lakes to hit over, thick forests that eat wayward shots, you just have it all here. Plus it seems the developer has given plenty of respect to this course with minimal housing. Then there is the design of the course itself. A unique modern design with rolling and flowing fairways leading to many protected greens. Many forced carries from the tees and again to the greens, some quite daunting. You can pretty much play every hole several different ways. Good positioning and strategy are highly rewarded here. Unlike many spectacular courses around the country that are just to hard to be appreciated by the high handicapper, acclaimed golf architect John Robinson has done a magnificent job making an incredible course playable for Joe Six Pack. There remains plenty of trouble out there, no matter the tees selected. To fully appreciate this course, you need to understand what Robinson has done. Each nine seems to plays a different tune and you need to dance to the tune that is playing. The Highlands nine is an absolute shotmakers nine where your driver should pretty much stay in the bag except for perhaps one or two holes, unless of course, you're playing from the tips. Its not that its too tight for a driver, just that perpendicular hazards lurk out there around 220 to 260 all the time, even from the blues. You will find yourself puddle jumping around the Highlands and if you play it that way, you will be fine. The Lakes nine lets you use the driver more, but you can score as well hitting a fairway metal most of the time so long as you keep it out of the water residing on seven holes. The River nine looks great and should bring the driver out even more in 2006 where most of the hazards will be parallel to the fairways. Some long hitters get talked into playing the blue tees and then grumble about the Highland/Lakes configuration taking the driver out of their hands too much. They hit driver perhaps three times all day. They get a feeling the course is not well balanced. If you hit a driver more than 260 off the tee and are a mid-handicapper or better, suck it up and head to the tips. It is a totally different course from the tips and you will absolutely love it. Besides, the tips play shorter than you think and the fairways are pretty wide. For example, on Highland six which is a par 5, it is listed at 515 yards from the blues. However, the fairway runs out into a marsh at 230 yards. Step back to the black tees and its a whopping 609 yards but now you have plenty of room to bomb a driver plus the view is very cool. Perhaps the most difficult tee shot awaits all on the great par 5 Lakes first hole. Left is almost as bad as right. At Blue Heron, there is so much going on with each shots with incredible shot values that one can easy lose focus and let one's course management lapse. If that happens, you will pay. Outstanding practice facilities and a great GPS system on the cart. No walking. In time, this may soon be one of the best course on the Trail.
BOULDER CREEK (Ohio) 330.626.2828 par 72 championship course located just south west of Cleveland conveniently near the Ohio Turnpike. Opening in 2002, this spectacular course lies in heavily wooded terrain with mature pines and oaks covering hills, marshes and deep lakes. No houses ! (cross your fingers) From the second you step onto the first tee, you know your in for something special. While bunkered conservatively, there are plenty of grassy hollows and bumps in addition to the challenging terrain of water, elevation changes and mature pines to keep you on your toes. There are no lulls in this gem. Starting with hole number one, this great par 5 requires a good tee shot so that you can carry a large marsh on your second. An interesting split fairway at hole number 6 and a beautiful waterfall accompanies the par 3 seventh. You can actually see the par 4 ninth hole from the Ohio Turnpike. A long and accurate tee shot is preferred there because your second shot must carry a large lake and bunkers to get home in regulation. The grand golf opera finale occurs at the beautiful island par three 17th hole where wind always tricks you into under-clubbing. Then the monster 600 yard par 5 eighteenth where you will be rewarded you if you can get to the fairway downslope. This course requires every shot in your bag. Sometimes you need to work the ball left to right, other times right to left. At times you need length, others times strategy and accuracy. The course may appears difficult, but the architect has tried to build in forgiveness to make it enjoyable by all. Heavy rough and uneven lies makes keeping the ball in the fairway very important. Fast and challenging putting surfaces with interesting green complexes. This course has fantastic drainage. Even after torrential rains the day before, carts were still allowed on the fairways at 90 degrees. Everything about this place is turning out to be first rate and it has already earned high national accolades. It is reassuring to see the owner actively tweaking the course to make it all it can be. Great grass range. Five sets of tees.
BOYNE HIGHLANDS RESORT - DONALD ROSS MEMORIAL (Michigan)
BOYNE HIGHLANDS RESORT - HEATHER (Michigan)
BOYNE HIGHLANDS RESORT - MOOR (Michigan)
BUCKS RUN (Michigan) 989.773.6830 Located in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan. Designed by Michigan architect Jerry Mathews, this course exemplifies how a reclaimed quarry can turn into a first class golf course. Many mild elevation changes and great riverside holes with marshes. But the 34-acre quarry is the center piece of the entire complex. The quarry is completely filled in and has turned into a beautiful deep lake with five gorgeous holes playing all the way around it. The veranda of the clubhouse offers one of the nicest clubhouse views you will ever find. You will come away with the sense that this course has a wonderful natural feel natural despite the incorporation of a massive man made quarry. It also gets high points for its uniqueness and great conditioning. Many serious undulations on these greens force you to be aware of pin positions. A fascinating par 54 putt-putt course with true conditions is recommended if you have the spare time. The Indian casino Soaring Eagle as well as another great golf course, Pohlcat, are both down the road from Bucks Run. Those seeking a combination of gambling and golf will really enjoy this destination. Four sets of tees.
CHESTNUT RIDGE -TOM'S RUN (Pennsylvania)
THE CHIEF (Michigan) 800.968.0129 Opened in 2000 and located in Bellaire, between Traverse City and Gaylord. Cut mostly through wooded terrain and the high ground of Bellaire, Canadian John Robinson designed a very unique layout with plenty of Michigan "Up North" feel. Robinson gives you room off the tee, only to tighten up the approach with pedestalled greens and sparse chipping areas. Other times you need to be precise off the tee as well as your approach. There are few grip it and rip it holes here since much of the course is tight and tough for just about any golfer. It does play much longer than the yardage on the card. The first hole is the entire course in a nutshell. You've got to plan your line or you are in trouble. There is a constant presence of tall lumber lining the left side of the fairway and the opposite falls away into a ravine. The tree-lined side rises from the fairway with heavy rough and tall grasses which sometimes deflect balls back down to the short stuff but more often than not, the heavy grasses and uneven lies torment those intent on aggressive recovery shots. Now if your unlucky enough to miss a savior bunker on the right and end up in the ravine, take your stroke and distance. The approach is no picnic either since the green sits below your uneven lie defended with bunkers, ravines, and grassy hollows ready to rob you of par or bogie should your stray from your target even a little. The greens are receptive but expect a fast pace on the roll. This theme pretty much repeats itself for much of the course with wonderful twists in the story line. This is not your typical course where you can just bang it out there, direction and distance are key. There is almost always something to avoid. If you normally do not find many fairways you are going to find it a long round unless you take less club and register a fairway. The short par 4 fourth hole is almost like two par 3s in one. Your downhill tee shot most not only be accurate in terms of direction, you must also hit it the correct distance. If you do not manage that, you will be short of the corner or through the fairway, and either may turn your approach shot into a disappointing lay up. Hole 10 and 11 are absolute round killers so be forewarned. While this course is tough, the combination of nature and Robinson's fresh design makes this course stunning to the eye and thrilling to play, regardless of your score. If your looking for something different and engulfed by nature, here it is. Just don't expect something it is not.
COG HILL - DUBSDREAD (Illinois)
COPPER CREEK (Ontario) : A 2002 design by Carrick just north west of Toronto Ontario. This is one of the premier courses in the greater Toronto area. This course has two distinct styles of play, park land and American links. About half of the holes are cut through thick pine strands in a deep valley where bridges span over marshes and small creeks. The valley corridors leading to the greens often appear narrower than they really are but there is some room out there, just do not stray too far from the fairway because there is are no adjoining holes down there. The upper part of the course is more open and plays up and over gentle rolling terrain where the strategic bunkering and contouring is contrasted with wild grasses.
COYOTE PRESERVE (Michigan) : 810.714.3206 Located in Fenton Michigan, just north of the Rt.23 and I-96 interchange and north west of Detroit. This is an awesome 18 hole par 71 championship Arnold Palmer signature golf course. Currently the holes are miss-numbered with golfers starting on hole 10 instead of hole 1. As it is now, and probably into the future, you start with a par 4 and we will call it hole 1 here. The side which starts with a par 5 is hole 10. Arnold starts you off easy enough with a gentle and flat par four with several bunkers framing the fairway. Hole two begins to get interesting and by the time you are at the difficult pedestal par 3 third hole, you get the idea of what is to come. From there on out, you will go over and around deep ravines, up and down ridges and hills, navigate cavernous and punishing pot bunkers, and land soft wedges over think marshes into heavily undulating greens surrounded by large boulders. Like Arnold played the game, you have numerous opportunities to be aggressive and play the hero. When you finish your round, you may curse Mr. Palmer for his unusually difficult designs but we are certain you will thank the golf gods for this golf course. Every hole following the 4th could be a signature at any other course.
CRANBERRY HIGHLANDS (Pennsylvania) : 724.776.7372 Located just north west of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, off of the Pennsylvania turnpike. This designed by W.R. Love opened in 2002 and spans the tops of hills overlooking the hill country typical of the Greater Pittsburgh area. A fantastic designs that makes the course enjoyably playable even with all the elevations. This affordable course is owned by the City of Cranberry and should be the model for all municipalities. Even though it is only a par 70 with five par 3s and three par 5s, you have championship layout that is challenging for all levels of play. Most holes border each other but are separated by mounding and plenty of tall grasses giving the course a linksy feel. But a true links course it is not. While there are plenty of bunkers which are artfully positioned, none are pot bunkers like a links course. Further unlike a links course are the greens. Here they are pedestalled, hanging and well protected, requiring many soft high shots, especially to the back pins. There really aren't many trees on the actually holes that come into play but they are on the fringe of the course giving it a nice natural feel devoid of housing. Since the course occupies much "highland" of the Pennsylvania hills, wind can be a big factor at the highest part of the course. Pin position is very key here since the undulations of the greens are often significant.
CRIMSON
RIDGE (Ontario) : 866.667.4343 Opening in 2002, this Kevin
Holmes design is the best you will find in the Sault Ste. Marie area, on either
side of the border. These latitudes do not sport many great courses but here
is this gem just a few minutes north of Sault Ste. Marie casino in the golf barren north west Ontario. The greens are a bit tricky to maintain at high stimp meter numbers due to the less than optimal growing season at this latitude,
but that's the only knock on an otherwise stellar layout. Every hole is isolated from the other by evergreen forests, fantastic elevations and gurgling brooks flowing over glacial era crimson rocks. Not only is the scenery worth the trip but the layout is top notch with inviting fairways and wonderful greens complexes. Immediately
you are thrust into the spectacle and need to be on your toes as your long iron
or fairway wood must be played safely down into a gorge with a narrow fairway.
The wonderful variety holes includes two stylish short par 4s which tempt the long hitter to try
to transcend the obstacles but the short hitter tends to score better playing conservatively. As if the course is not good enough, when you arrive at the par 3 seventeenth hole, you might be witnessing the most beautiful par three in all the Great Lakes. Slightly uphill into a mountain side with massive boulders guarding against all short shots. Then your cart ride to the green takes you past two small waterfalls cascading into the forest. And for the finale, a
fantastic par 5 turns to the left hugging Crimson Ridge all the way down. From the height of the tees, you are treated to a spectacular thirty mile view which includes the International Bridge and the Straights of Sault Ste Marie
connecting Canada and Upper Michigan. A good draw and you can get home in two but a weak
fade will get you double.
CRYSTAL MOUNTAIN RESORT - MOUNTAIN RIDGE (Michigan)
CRYSTAL MOUNTAIN RESORT - BETSIE VALLEY (Michigan)
DEERHURST RESORT - HIGHLANDS (Ontario)
DREAM (Michigan) Par 72 Jeff Gorney design between Saginaw and Gaylord Michigan which first opening in 1997. Very easy access from I-75. A nice combination of traditional and modern designs utilizing serious elevations changes in excess of 100 feet through a dense Michigan forests. It is like a picture book of golf holes engulfed in the wilderness. Nicely bunkered to accent the flowing and rolling fairways. Excellent starting holes on 1 and 10 as wells as classic finishing holes on 9 and 18. The Dream has a more modern sister course named "the Nightmare" which is just 2 miles down the road.
EAGLES
NEST (Ontario)
: Another Doug Carrick masterpiece just north of Toronto, Ontario which opened
in 2004. This modern Scottish Links style course is considered one of the best
public courses in Greater Toronto. Much of the course resides in a quarry
so large that you hardly notice your inside it as the holes seamlessly flowing
in and around its inside bowl. The balance of holes flow over the tree lined hill
sides adjacent to the great pit. There are some
patches of growth here and there, but in true links like fashion, all the holes
are surrounded by heavy fescue, nobs and hollows. The mental imagery of
each tee shot is usually more challenging than the tee shot itself. Fairways
a well proportioned but there are plenty of gnarly leaf shaped bunkers lined
with fescue to deal
with. The real danger on this course are the many pot bunkers awaiting errant
shots. They are only a few feet deep at the most so you usually do not need
to worry about being swallowed up whole, but they do look mean. Course management is essential not only to stay clear of trouble but to
engage the many risk-reward opportunities where appropriate. The greens complexes
are very sophisticated with collection areas, pot bunkers and fescue fringes all in addition
to the difficult putting surfaces which seem to break more than expected. Even
simple chips are hard to notch close with ball falling away from pin locations.
The view from the tee at the par 3 eighth hole allows a long distance view not
just of the CN tower, but the entire Toronto skyline. It is hard to say that any hole is better than another but 16, 17 and 18 truly
raise the bar. The course has a helicopter landing pad next to the windsock
and excellent practice facilities. Very expensive but first rate all the way.
EAGLE STICKS
(Ohio):
800.782.4493 Located in Zanesville, Ohio, two
hours south of Cleveland. About as
mountainous as you get in Ohio. Lots of elevation changes,
great conditions and extremely scenic. Only a par 70 but
you would never know it. One of the very best
courses in all of Ohio. This Michael Hurdzan masterpiece
has beautiful panoramic views, and a cool variety of
different holes. Stunning natural beauty unfolds
before your eyes as each fairway invites you toward
the green. The finishing holes on the back and front
are perhaps the most awe inspiring in all of Ohio.
Tee shots are launched from high atop a bluff
overlooking the meandering fairways below where pot
bunkers and rock outcroppings await you. Very good price
for this type of quality and many great bargains are
available. Not much else in Zanesville to talk about
though. Four sets of tees.
FIELDSTONE (Michigan) : 248.370.9354 Located in Auburn Hill, Michigan, across the freeway from the Palace where the Detroit Pistons play. 18 championship holes designed by Arthur Hills which opened in 1998. Originally a nine hole Muny course, Arthur Hills transformed it into a fine layout which is partly wooded and partly links. Cool bridge over a road connecting the two sections portions of the property. If only all Municipalities could invest in open spaces this way.
FIRE ROCK
(Ontario) :
A 2004 modern industrial links golf course by Thomas McBroom, just west of London,
Ontario. The Oxbow River valley gives the course superb elevations on
the first and last holes of each nine with the balance of the course built upon
a shallow reclaimed sand and rock quarry. The underlying terrain of the
quarry holes is somewhat flat but McBroom gave it distinction by rounting through
the quarry digs and utilizing gravel spoil piles overgrown with wild grasses.
It may not appear so, but the par 4 fourth hole has its fairway split
by a large mound. Going right of the mound shortens the holes but is more
hazardous, left leaves a longer approach and trying to carry the mound is not
recommended.
FOREST CITY NATIONAL (Ontario)
FOREST DUNES (Michigan) 866.DUNES.MI 18 unique holes by Tom Weiskopf, about 15 minutes southwest of Grayling, Michigan. This expansive course has many golf great holes routed in natural sand dunes and an Audubon Signature Sanctuary forest of pines and ferns. Much of the course play through the solitude of the forest while others twist through the dunes in a sort of links like fashion. Weiskopf masterfully routed the holes to seamlessly fit into the environment. Much of the course has a bit of a rugged and wild feel which features dunes fashioned into waste areas surrounded and punctuated by wild grasses. Additional definition comes from the splashy, numerous and deep bunkers which are everywhere. While the terrain sports mild elevations, the utilization of every inch of elevation change coupled with natural contouring of tees, fairways and greens, makes the course feel more rolling than the underlying terrain. The par 3 ninth is completely over open water with little protection from the wind and usually features a small audience up at the clubhouse. If you fail to take enough club, you might opt for a stiff drink at the turn. The tenth hole contains a split fairway that at first glance might not appear so. Study your yardage book well. Sixteen is called "hell's acre," a brutal 231 yard par 3 over scrub brush and dunes. There is about twenty yards of an apron hidden in front of the green but anything short of that, you can forget about par and perhaps bogie. Don't ruin your round here. Seventeen offers a great chance for birdie with a short par 4 if you can stay our of the bunkers. Eighteen presents a perfect ending with a gorgeous and exciting par 5. Even though there is water behind the green, going for it in two is a good play for the long hitter because behind the green and before the water is a bunker and about ten yards of a collection area you might not be aware of. They are very proud of their greens here and rightfully so. They are large, undulated, always guarded and lightning fast and smooth. A first class full practice facility and clubhouse are at your disposal here, so take advantage of it. Four sets of tees and occasionally a fifth tee for juniors. Pricey and bring some bug spray.
FOWLER'S MILL - DYE COURSE (Ohio) 440.729.7569 18 championship holes designed by Pete Dye and a 9 hole short course (2,985 yards). Located just east Cleveland. A beautiful, natural and classic layout with excellent conditions. No gimmicks here, just great golf and no two holes alike. Although first opening in 1970, the Pete Dye design is timeless. It has the feel of a classic mature course with all the dangers and options of modern designs. A few undulations in the greens, but plenty of slope and roll. Absolutely scenic with wonderful mature trees. The Pete Dye 18 is definitely the better of the 27 but the third 9 has its own charm. Plenty of sand of water which includes a lake and numerous creeks and marshes. Wonderful natural elevation changes and two split fairways holes at 9 and 12. Present are the signature Pete Dye railroad ties and deep greenside grass hollows. Excellent starting hole to get rolling. The closing par 5 tops off the course which is a slightly downhill with a long, slow dogleg left to the elevated green. Position is key on your tee shot or you will have to lay up around the corner and have a long third to the green. Beware of the bunkers waiting on both sides to snag any misplayed shots. Fowler's Mill has been rated in various Top 100 Courses lists over the years. The only Ohio course to make the list in the old days. It still garners great respect and high points for tradition. Mat and grass range, but limited to irons. Four sets of tees.
GENEVA NATIONAL - PLAYER (Wisconsin)
GIANTS RIDGE - LEGEND (Minnesota)
GIANTS RIDGE - QUARY (Minnesota)
GRAND TRAVERSE RESORT - BEAR (Michigan) Located just outside of Traverse City and one of Jack Nicklaus's most difficult tests. Menacing pot bunkers, terrraced fairways and tucked away smallish greens means you better bring your A game. It is mostly a linksy type of layout with lots of tall grasses, but there is a fair amount of wooded holes and some water. Jack designed this course when he was going through his "make it really hard" golf architecture faze. Most courses play easier than they look. Well, this one really plays harder than it looks. It has a very high slope rating and has been the undoing of many fine golfers. Nevertheless, if you keep that in mind, you can really enjoy this course. There are a lot of fantastic holes.
GRAND TRAVERSE RESORT - WOLVERINE (Michigan) Gary Player has crafted a very fun resort style course here at the Grand Traverse Resort. Turtle Creek Casino is also located just down the street. Wide fairways and large undulated greens in a nice mix of marsh holes and hilly wooded holes. Definitely a couple strokes easier than the Bear and a blast to play, but not easy by any stretch. Player seemed to put the most effort into 18 as it is far and away the craziest hole. It plays down hill from the tee which seems easy enough, but there is OB and high grass on the right, a bunker on the top of the landing area and a road down the left. There are two big bunkers dead ahead, but their distance is an illusion. 99% of golfers cannot reach them from the appropriate tees and they are really designed to challenge your second shot if you tee shot falls short. .he Resort's gleaming signature hotel is the backdrop of your approach.
THE GRANDE (Michigan) : 517.768.9494. Located on the south east side of Jackson, Michigan. This par 72, 18 hole championship course by Ray Hearn has quickly become a favorite in the Midwest since its opening in 2001. Huge fast greens with tons of undulations. Check your pin sheet because there are 8 pin positions on these greens. A spectacular layout with unique holes, especially the par 5s. This course can be very tough and then you must contend with the difficult and protected greens. Several greens are over 45 yards in depth. Plenty of risk reward shots and strategic decisions abound. Nice moderate elevation changes accented by fancy oak leaf style bunkers.
GRAND NIAGARA - RIVER (Ontario)
GRAND NIAGARA - VINEYARDS (Ontario)
GREY HAWK (Ohio) : 440.355.4844 A par 72 championship golf course located 1/2 hour west of Cleveland, Ohio. A modern masterpiece from the Von Hagge design team which first opened in August of 2004. Von Hagge demonstrates how to dramatically use a bulldozer while not being too contrived. Ten very deep lakes were needed to get the material for the extensive mounding and contouring you'll find here, but the course does not resemble a manufactured Florida style course. Only three holes play through mature trees and some young trees have been planted throughout. There is no mistaking this course, it is a modern links style course where wind is always a factor. Here you will need to contend with over 82 bunkers, rough with difficult lies and tall grasses, bordering and dissecting lakes and streams and plenty of manufactured elevation changes. The course is tough and plays longer than indicated due to many raised and plateaued greens. The difficulty increases geometrically with the wind. Every green complex presents something interesting with a fair amount of undulation as well as tricky collection areas and grassy hollows. The par 4 third hole green is completely surrounded by sand. Only play driver on holes 7,8 and 9 if you are swinging well that day. You like par 5s? You get five stunning and varied par 5s which test your power, placement and courage. You will also find five beautiful but deadly par 3s, especially the signature island green at number 11. Bring plenty of balls to his course. The course resides in a new residential community and many of the homes have yet to be built. The mass of housing being built with its accompanying white stakes, detracts from this wonderful design and compromises the actual "links" design. If you build a course with no trees to showcase a windy "links" style course, stuffing tons of houses in between the holes sort of defeats the purpose of having no trees. I'll take trees over houses any day. If you're a railroad buff and a golfer, this may be your paradise. Great modern clubhouse and grass range. Five sets of tees.
GREYWALLS (Michigan UP) Opening in 2005, this Mike DeVries is part of Marquette Golf Club, in the upper penisulla of Michigan. Already the subject of great national reviews, the course's prominent features are rock outcropings and views of Lake Superior.