Hilton Head Island: Perfect for Golfers (and Pirates)

By Shane Sharp

The old joke goes, the South Carolina Lowcountry has attracted two types of people over the past 300 years: pirates and golfers. This collection of barrier islands and low-lying coastal plains stretching from Myrtle Beach south to Daufuskie Island is one of the country’s most unmistakable landscapes. Its covert coves and shallow waters were perfect for privateers like Blackbeard and Stede Bonnet who preferred to remain hidden when they weren’t raiding coastal communities.

As for golfers – more relevant to this missive – the Lowcountry’s scenic atolls attracted dozens of big-name developers over the past 50 years. None bigger than Charles Fraser, whose company forged The Sea Pines Resort from the live oaks and loblolly pines of the island’s south end. With development came golf courses, and with them came notable architects like Pete Dye, Robert Trent Jones Sr., Rees Jones, Michigan’s Arthur Hills, and George Fazio to make their mark.

Fast forward to 2022 and there are over 30 resort, semi-private and public and courses on and around Hilton Head Island. Paired with a vast array of accommodations, “Golf Island” offers a diverse range of golf vacations, from epic bucket list and buddy trips to family and couples’ getaways. 

Fall is the optimal time for planning an excursion in 2023, so here are a few itinerary ideas to get the ball rolling toward the hole.

On-Island

A proper golf buddy trip on this 70-square-mile atoll entails a selection of courses from The Sea Pines Resort, Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort and the Heritage Golf Collection. Sea Pines is home to famed Harbour Town Golf Links (PGA Tour’s RBC Heritage Classic) – designed by Pete Dye and Jack Nicklaus – Heron Point (also designed by Dye) and Atlantic Dunes, the island’s newest course wrought by Davis Love III’s firm Love Golf Design. 

Just a few miles down Highway 278 is 54-hole Palmetto Dunes featuring a formidable triumvirate: the Robert Trent Jones, George Fazio, and Arthur Hills courses. The Heritage Golf Collection ups the ante even further with 18-hole Oyster Reef, 36-hole Palmetto Hall, 36-hole Port Royal Golf and Racquet Club, and 27-hole Shipyard Golf Club. 

Sea Pines and Palmetto Dunes both offer ample rental homes and villas, fully fashioned with all the amenities of home, including flat-screen TVs, washers and dryers, wireless internet and fully-equipped kitchens. Nearby dining and nightlife options abound, with more than 250 bars and restaurants spread around the island. The “BarMuda Triangle” just outside the Sea Pines gates is home to five bars, while Main Street Village is a bit lower-key, with shops and restaurants.   

Off-Island 

Centered on the charming riverfront town of Bluffton, a golf trip taking place just off the island begins at Old South Golf Links, a long-time local favorite. Designed by Hilton Head-based architect Clyde Johnston, Old South plays along the Intracoastal Waterway with front and back nine views that are among the best in the region. Holes are hemmed by oak forests and pastures and marked with several tidal marshes. 

Next up is neighboring Hilton Head National, designed by Gary Player and Bobby Weed. “National,” as the locals refer to it, serves up two decidedly different nines: Weed’s nine presents larger greens with more severe undulations, while Player’s nine offers smaller, flatter putting surfaces. Both facilities offer golf packages with the Hilton Garden Inn, located less than a mile from either venue. This pair makes for the perfect 36-hole combo with minimal time spent in transit. 

Old Town Bluffton, situated on the shores of the May River just minutes from the Hilton Garden Inn, is the place to grab a warm meal, a cold drink and relax with friends. Over the past decade, it has emerged as one of the South’s most desirable small towns. Old Town has a little bit of everything, from rustic seafood joints and fine dining to coffee shops and galleries.

Couples Getaway

With its award-winning restaurants, boutique accommodations and women-friendly courses, Golf Island is the perfect getaway for couples who love the game and spending time together on the golf course. Harbour Town and Oyster Reef feature multiple tees rated for women, as do several other island layouts. Generally, forward tees at many courses limit the number of forced carries over water, especially at Harbour Town, where Alice Dye’s input is undeniable. 

Best bets for lodging include the Inn and Club at Harbour Town, steps away from the first tee and the charming Old Town Bluffton Inn, a 14-room boutique property in the heart of all the action. Couples flock to Main Street Village, home to several award-winning restaurants and specialty shops, as well as Shelter Cove, with its myriad of shops and restaurants set on 285 acres of saltwater coastline across from Palmetto Dunes.

Family Golf Vacation

A record number of juniors took up the game in 2020 and 2021, and the uptick in youth participation continues to surge in 2022. Hilton Head Island, Bluffton and Beaufort are all family-friendly destinations in their own rights, with various camps, activities and other programming offered throughout the year for golfers of all ages and skill levels. 

On the island, the summer is peak season for family vacations, and Sea Pines typically offers its annual FUNdamentals Camp teaching kids the basics of the game, including rules, etiquette, short game and full swing fundamentals. Port Royal’s “family play” afternoon nine-hole rates are ideal for logging actual on-course time, while the new Toptracer Range at Palmetto Dunes features 14 hitting bays and a variety of gaming options. 

Planning Your Trip

Log onto the easy-to-use website, www.HiltonHeadGolfIsland.com, for course and accommodation overviews, seasonal golf packages, area information or to request a golf trip quote. It's a one-stop shop to customize stay-and-play packages for any size group, any time of year, for the golf trip of a lifetime.

Toptracer Adds Fun, Teachable Moments

The new Toptracer Range at Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort has quickly proven to be a smash hit. Guests are  enjoying the experience of interactive golf entertainment at the Robert Trent Jones golf driving range, which is a facility powered by the same Toptracer technology used during televised PGA Tour events to track the shots of the world’s best players.

Toptracer incorporates high-speed cameras, coupled with sophisticated computer algorithms, to provide instantaneous ball tracking information to guests using the range. The Palmetto Dunes Toptracer Range facility features 14 hitting bays, plus a VIP area all with high-speed cameras, TV monitors, technology and games. Casual seating is available. Each bay can host up to four players. The VIP area is recommended for 8-10 people. Now, guests can enjoy night play at Toptracer Range, seasonally & weather permitting. Guests can also enjoy a wide variety of handheld menu options.

Southern Comfort, Nature Abounds in Louisiana

The Louisiana Audubon Trail mixed with the urban attractions of New Orleans

By Tom Lang

If you’re a Michigan golfer looking forward on the calendar at options to play golf in the South, and you favor purely natural settings like those which are certified by Audubon, one option could be the Louisiana Audubon Golf Trail.

I had the chance to explore four such courses on the ‘trail’ plus one urban parkland course in ‘NOLA’ in a recent trip with several media buddies. One location was steeped in opportunities to also go fishing on a huge, well-stocked lake along the remote border of eastern Texas. Other locations were set up for the gaming and entertainment nightlife – plus the TPC of Louisiana course that hosts the PGA Tour’s Zurich Classic is close enough to the city of New Orleans to enjoy all the urban trappings that so many travelers enjoy adding to their itineraries for some spicy variety.

The playing order can vary, but we started with the urban course first, not far from the airport – the Bayou Oaks South Course at City Park. Near the Gulf of Mexico coastline, City Park was devastated and completely submerged below Hurricane Katrina. Now since repaired and renovated with the help of Reese Jones, Bayou Oaks is part of the smaller version of the overall property that had multiple courses. It’s a typical flat land course you’ll find near many similar large regions of water, but was fun and playable enough that golfing two foursomes ahead was former NFL New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton, if that’s any barometer for you.

The TPC of Louisiana was a former swampland filled in to create the playground for the pros, yet it remains open to the public so they can experience the same tournament conditions. In 2016, Michigander Brain Stuard won the Zurich Classic there, that sent him to the 2017 Masters. 

“I think it has a nice mix of holes,” Stuard told me recently. “It’s got some birdies holes obviously and then it’s got a good set of four par 3s, Holes 9 and 17 specifically. Really good holes, and depending on which way the wind’s blowing, can be tough. I’ve just always thought of it as a fun course to play.”

When I told Stuard my favorite stretch of 3 consecutive holes were numbers 7-9, he agreed.

“Yes, No. 7 is a cool par 5,” he said about the double dog-leg creation of Pete Dye’s. “If you hit a good drive, you can get it up around the green (on second shot). Number 8 has a fun little green (on the drivable par four) where you have to hit a good wedge in to have a good putt at…And obviously 9 is a tough par 3 that has no real bailout. (With water left) if you bail out to the right, it’s a tough up and down. I agree, that’s a fun little stretch.”

When staying in NOLA, travelers have all the traditional options. There’s the French Quarter, seafood, seafood and seafood, the Sazerac House Museum which touts the invention of the cocktail in the early years of what natives called ‘Coffee Houses’ – and the incredible National WWII Museum. It’s a must see and a great option if the weather one day is not conducive to golfing, or even if it is. The historic museum truly takes a half day or more to explore it all. You can absorb the history among incredible and artistic displays, which shares the war history from a unique perspective.

The museum also owns The Higgins Hotel across the street, an incredible lodging treat dripping in classic New Orleans history. Its profits go into promoting education at the museum. 

Heading west on the trail, golf options include the Koasati Pins at Coushatta Casino Resort in Kinder; the Tamahka Trails Golf Course at Paragon Casino in Marksvile, and Cypress Bend Golf Course on the shores of Toledo Bend Lake. The latter massive collection of fresh water is from a dammed up river, stretching 65 miles long and splitting Louisiana with Texas.

This year Koasati Pines was voted No. 1 course in the state by GolfPass.com. It regularly hosts the Notah Begay III Invitational for many of the best junior golfers in the country, and this year will receive some golf TV coverage. In general, the lowland is relatively flat like the large rice patties nearby, and sports wide fairways, all of which are secluded from each nearby hole. It has large greens and offers a 19th hole par 3 to settle any ties. It’s also the longest course in Louisiana, measuring 7,617 yards from the tips.

Nearby is a great water flow (the Ouiska Chitto River) with white sandy beaches that attract canoeists and tubing for those who want to be outdoors, but golf is not their No. 1 activity. This Allen Parish location is also filled with tons of guided hunting and fishing, historic sites, and Native American celebrations.

Tamahka Trails Golf Course is a fun resort course with some elevation changes not found at the prior three courses. I liked the mix of long and short holes, the par 3s and the one drivable par 4 (which by the way, layup). My favorite stretch of holes were No. 15-17. The first is a par three with a beautifully framed backdrop of trees, followed by a shorter par 4 hard dogleg to the right. The drive can easily be swallowed up by one of many small bunkers at the fairway’s bend, then comes a second shot to an elevated green on the opposite side of a creek. The 17th is the drivable par four but with a green set slightly to the left of center, making it tougher to reach.

The entire property, with casino structures, will get an ongoing $30 million upgrade.

As of publication of this May edition, Cypress Bend is starting a major strip-down renovation. The large rolling hills along the freshwater lake shore are truly Up North Michigan-esque – a totally made-up word simply to inspire a picture in your mind. All new grasses are coming, with a handful of holes being re-routed to make even better use of the water views and golf strategies. Give it a couple years to be re-worked and grown in, but if your buddies love to fish and play golf in a deadly-quiet remote location, this could become one of your best trips-you-never-expected-nor-thought-about-before.

BOYNE Golf: One Resort, Three Locations, 10 Times the Fun

By Tom Lang

   There is no question the last couple of years have altered the way people look at and experience the game of golf. 

• More people are playing golf than ever before, recorded at 24.3 million golfers nationally, and climbing, with rounds played expanding too.

• Women and youth are providing new golfers to total participant numbers as well.

• Travel choices have changed as many people stayed closer to home.

   In all three categories, and many more, BOYNE Golf has been able to accommodate the game the past couple years as well as anyone I have witnessed.

   One shift in particular has been the number of Michigan golfers returning to Boyne that have perhaps traveled elsewhere for their buddy trips or vacations. They are rediscovering why The Heather at The Highlands was voted National Golf Course of the Year in 2019 – or why both Golf Digest and Golfweek have placed Boyne’s Bay Harbor Links/Quarry two 9s on their top 100 Public Courses in America list (at No. 63 and No. 81, respectively in the U.S.).

   Arguably the biggest endorsement was FORBES Magazine, with contributor Scott Kramer picking Boyne as one of the top golf resorts in the country, recommending Boyne right along with the likes of Pebble Beach, Bandon Dunes, Pinehurst, American Club/Destination Kohler, and Kapalua in Hawaii.

   Kramer wrote these comments about BOYNE Golf: My favorite of all, this Northern Michigan destination is actually three resorts with collectively ten golf courses spread over a fairly close stretch. There’s Boyne Mountain Resort with two layouts that offer spectacular views; The Highlands with four outstanding courses on-site, as well as a par-3 that plays up and down a ski hill; and the luxury property Bay Harbor Golf Club with 27 simply magnificent and scenic holes—many of them along the shore of Lake Michigan. Within five minutes lies Boyne’s Crooked Tree Golf Club that’s carved through stands of centuries-old hardwood, while perched on bluffs high above Little Traverse Bay. The variety of golf here is collectively refreshing, the scenery amazing, and the staff always welcoming. Go in the fall, when the leaves start changing color—thank me later.

   Statistics show that “local” golfers have been giving BOYNE Golf a try again with the increased desire to stay closer to home during the pandemic. Data also shows their friends are flying in from other parts of the country in record numbers to join them, thanks to direct flights from 17 large American cities now coming into the Traverse City Airport. Cities like Phoenix, Dallas, Newark, Minneapolis, Denver, Boston, Philadelphia, Atlanta and Orlando, just to name about half. Michigan has always been a popular summertime destination with its mild 70-80-degree weather days for those golfers living in the heat-oppressive South – but recently that influx has blossomed even more.

   Whether their buddies get a house together in northern Michigan or utilize Boyne accommodations like the Ross Cottages at The Highlands, Disciples Ridge Condominiums at Boyne Mountain or Crooked Tree Cottages near Bay Harbor, it’s time for Michiganders to rediscover what BOYNE Golf has to offer with its championship-conditioned courses and growing amenities all over resort grounds.

   All-New: The Highlands, for men, women and kids

   A branding refresh was announced in December for The Highlands at Harbor Springs – Boyne’s long-time property to the north of Petoskey and east of Harbor Springs – which by the way are in themselves two of northern Michigan’s most delightful small towns with a mix of old historic charm and modern conveniences.

  The rebranding of The Highlands is part of Boyne’s 2030 Transformational Journey – a plan that continues to reinvigorate founder Everett Kircher’s vision of a grand, 4-seasons resort. While tons of changes and improvements have taken place the last 60 years to separate the property from its former defunct Harbor Highlands ski area, Boyne is taking even further steps this decade to serve golfers and skiers alike.

   The recently completed major renovation of 87 rooms in the Main Lodge is a game changer, especially for women and couples seeking a hotel lodging experience that is commensurate with the quality of the courses – plus more room and lobby remodels are on the way.

   My recent hotel stay in the updated section of the hotel was impressive. The bathrooms are stunning, and the seating and bedroom areas have improved use of space and style. Information provided by the property explains how the changes took place to blend traditional English countryside with contemporary features, such as classic materials from tufted leather headboards and rich wood built-in cabinetry to wainscoting and metal elements.

   Bathrooms feature marble floor and wall tiles, fixtures from British manufacturer Lefroy & Brookes, with hand-casted, forged, polished, and assembled taps, Euro-style toilets, custom designed lighted mirrors, vanity toe kick nightlights, and local art decorating the walls. 

   Golfers of all age and skill levels can already enjoy the new TrackMan Range at The Highlands’ Ross Golf Center, plus custom club fittings when combined with the popular GEARS technology. There have already been significant upgrades to both the Ross Memorial Course and The Moor (with more stories to come in future magazines), plus new snow-making equipment.

   Golf Digest magazine named BOYNE Golf Academy its Editor’s Choice as a Best Golf School and Academy in the U.S. with its BOYNE Golf Academy, the Couples Golf School, and Junior Day Camps – truly a family resource for golf improvement if you’re ever going to find one.

   Kids aged 17 and under play golf free with a paying adult after 2:00 p.m. – and during standard tee times, with just a cart fee. On Sundays after 2:00 (Family Fundays) at The Monument, The Moor and at Crooked Tree Golf Club, a family of four (mom or dad, two juniors) can play for free as long as one adult pays the normal rate.

   The List Goes On and On:

   BOYNE Golf has won so many awards and/or placement on top lists that there is no way to catalogue them all here.

   But one that stands out to me the most is being named by Golf Digest as a Top 33 destination for women’s golf trips in 2022. Six tee boxes on every single one of Boyne’s 10 golf courses assure that all participants have choices that fit their comfort level to make it fun to play the game, and, they can all play together.

   There is the Women’s Golf School – and for those who don’t want to golf, or do but get aches and pains from doing so – Michigan’s largest spa can be found at Boyne Mountain plus a full-service spa at Inn at Bay Harbor. A few years ago, my wife tried the spa at Boyne Mountain and called it “the best one ever.”

   Rounding out potential experiences for families and couples include:

• Paved Bike Paths from Boyne Valley Trail from Boyne Mountain to Boyne City and the Little Traverse Wheelway from Harbors Springs, through Petoskey and Bay Harbor, ending in Charlevoix

• Avalanche Bay at Boyne Mountain, Michigan’s largest Indoor Waterpark

• Depending on the resort, it’s a 30-60 minute drive to Mackinaw City, the gateway to historic Mackinac Island.

   If all that is not enough to plan your golfing vacation, visit: www.BOYNEGolf.com or call 866-966-6910 and a BOYNE Guest Experience Agent can help will all kinds of information on resort options, golf courses and activities to formulate your own memorable trip.

Tiger’s Spring Training Has Golf Options Too

By Dave Daubert

Note: at the time of publishing, it had not yet been determined when baseball Spring Training would begin due to the initial MLB lockout.

Central Florida is always abuzz when Spring Training is in session for the Detroit Tigers and the Tiger faithful fill Joker Marchant Stadium. The lovely weather that accompanies the end of winter is perfect for outdoor activities, and what better way to enjoy the cool mornings and sunny afternoons than on a golf course, unless the Tigers are playing at Publix Field-home of course.

Within the city limits of Lakeland, there are reasonable and playable tracks open to the public: 

Wedgewood Golf Club in north Lakeland is probably the closest in proximity to Joker Marchant and is a regulation 18-hole, par 70 layout that stretches to 6,400 yards. It is open for public play with competitive pricing, three sets of tees, and 122/70.1 slope/rating. Call for tee times at 863-858-4451 or visit www.GolfWedgewood.com.

Links of Sandpiper is located in a residential retirement community just off I-4, and was reimagined by the new owner Dave Tavlin. This well-manicured 6,000+ yard beauty is a fun track to enjoy an 18-hole round for the young-at-heart. While walking or riding the comfortable rolling terrain of Sandpiper, take a few moments to view the interesting trickling streams, water features and tree carvings Tarvin placed throughout his remodel. The par 70 course has four sets of tees so everyone can have a good time capped off by some tasty offerings at the Sandpiper restaurant and bar. Visit www.LinksofSandpiper.com or call 863-858-4451.

Huntington Hills Golf Club is the northernmost venue and a Ron Garl-designed par 71 with a slope/rating of 126/73 situated in a residential community full of challenging holes. The 6,788 yard layout with 5 sets of tees will definitely test your mettle and mental abilities. The course has large TifEagle greens, newly reworked bunkers and lush fairways. The clubhouse was recently remodeled and is a great place to enjoy a beverage and light fare. With a large driving range and sizable practice putting green, I recommend this spot to work on your game. Give them a call to book your tee time at 863-859-3689.

Schalamar Creek Golf & Country Club is east off of Highway 92 and another club located in an active adult residential complex. The 6,200-yard par 72 layout sits among giant live oaks and ponds that come into play. The friendly staff and members do make playing here a fun day on the links. There are four sets of tees to make your game fit the appropriate distance and a great mix of risk/reward shots to tantalize your thoughts. Cold libations and tasty morsels await you in the downstairs restaurant with more friendly faces.  Visit www.Schalamar.com or call 863-666-1623.

Lakeland's municipal golf offering is a 27 hole complex, Cleveland Heights Golf Club, a member of the Florida Historic Golf Trail with a mix of three nines that will challenge even the best of the bunch. Get your tee time reservation in asap because "the Heights" is always busy in season. Reasonable and delicious food, a full bar and plenty of seating allow locals who don't golf to visit for lunch and specialty dinners. Call 863-834-2377 or visit www.ClevelandHeightsGolf.com.

Just a few minutes from "the Heights" is the Sanlan Golf & RV Resort with another 27 holes of pristine golf bordered by the Banana Lake and the Sanlan Bird & Wildlife Sanctuary on over 765 acres. For those Wolverine RVers, this is the perfect stay & play place during spring training. The three distinctive nines are Alligator, Bobcat and Cougar at an average of 3,000 yards apiece, with a huge driving range, pitching and chipping area, practice putting green and bunker work. Visit www.Sanlan.com or call 863-665-1726. 

Last but not least, The Club at Eaglebrooke is the premier semiprivate golf course and southernmost in Lakeland. This classic links-style 6,900- yard beauty with 100 feet of elevation change will challenge the best Tiger fan with its ever-present lakes and length. There are 5 sets of tees so all players can enjoy their round. The staff is welcoming and ready to help with some instruction on their well-maintained practice facilities. After the round you can enjoy a cold one and great fare in their lovely clubhouse. Call 863-701-0101 or visit www.Eaglebrooke.com.

There you have it. You can choose your challenge amongst these Lakeland golf venues and still enjoy Tigertown any day.

Besides golf, Michiganders can enjoy a visit to Bok Tower Gardens in Lake Wales, Legoland in Winter Haven, the Florida Strawberry Festival March 3-13th in Plant City, Frank Lloyd Wright Visitor Center with 13 architectural buildings, Polk Museum of Art, or enjoy a stroll around Lake Mirror Park and Hollis Botanical Gardens near downtown Lakeland.

Pinehurst and Southern Pines: Golf’s “Title Town”

By Brad King

   While savoring its rich history, the Home of American Golf also eagerly anticipates its championship future.
  The Pinehurst-Southern Pines-Aberdeen region’s excitement boils down to two words: championship golf. Next up is the 77th U.S. Women’s Open Championship at Pine Needles Lodge and Golf Club in Southern Pines from June 2-5, 2022. This will be the fourth Women’s Open at Pine Needles, where Annika Sorenstam (1996), Karrie Webb (2001) and Cristie Kerr (2007) notched previous titles.

   In addition, the Country Club of North Carolina (CCNC) recently played host to the 2021 U.S. Junior Amateur. It was the third USGA event contested at CCNC since the club’s debut in 1963. 

   Meanwhile, the USGA is busy constructing a second home at Pinehurst Resort & Country Club called “Golf House Pinehurst,” which will eventually be the site of the USGA’s equipment research and testing center, turfgrass agronomy and management offices, along with a museum and welcome center. The resort’s crown jewel, Pinehurst No. 2, was awarded  the USGA’s first U.S Open anchor site, with five championships scheduled from 2024 through 2047. For the second time in 2029, No. 2 will host both the U.S. Men’s and Women’s Opens in back-to-back weeks.  

   Other exciting news includes construction of The Lodge at Pinehurst hotel, a 64,000-square-foot, 34-room hotel on Pinehurst Resort’s campus that will overlook The Cradle Short Course. Plans for the hotel include meeting spaces, locker rooms, a fitness center and a bar.
  The Cradle has been an overwhelming smash hit with all golfers, particularly with the millennial crowd. Golfers can pay $50 and play as many holes as they like on the Gil Hanse-designed, par-3 layout. The Cradle is now a “must play” — 789 yards of the most fun you’ll enjoy on a golf course.

   The Resort recently acquired one of the Village of Pinehurst’s most iconic hotels, The Magnolia Inn, along with Villaggio Ristorante & Bar. The Magnolia has served as the gateway to the Village since it opened in 1896, less than a year after Pinehurst was founded.

   Of course, there is plenty of additional golf buzz around the famed Sandhills, including a rousing renovation of Southern Pines Golf Club, a vintage Donald Ross-designed course dating to the early 1900s that is now under management of the company that owns and operates Pine Needles and Mid Pines. 

   Architect Kyle Franz says the Southern Pines GC project evoked the essence of a Ross original, staying true to the well-preserved routing while removing elements that have been added through the years. More than 700 trees were removed, accentuating dramatic vistas throughout the property. The Ross greens have been revamped and the bunkers restored. Franz also uncovered Ross’s “Lost Hole” — which is not part of the current routing — while researching historic materials prior to the restoration. 

   Other major renovation work has been done on area courses recently including Hanse’s facelift of Pinehurst No. 4, along with The New Course at Talamore Golf Resort, a popular Rees Jones original, and the neighboring Mid South Club, designed by Arnold Palmer.  

   At the now private Dormie Club, there’s a new, spacious and stylish 16,000-square-foot clubhouse, along with 15 cottages and a standalone pro shop among numerous other upgrades at the only original Bill Coore-Ben Crenshaw design in North Carolina.
  The Home of American Golf remains proud of its past — and equally excited about its future. For the latest news about nearly 40 area courses and package information, please visit  www.HomeofGolf.com.

BOYNE Golf: One Resort, Three Locations, 10 Times the Fun

By Tom Lang

   There is no question the last couple of years have altered the way people look at and experience the game of golf. 

• More people are playing golf than ever before, recorded at 24.3 million golfers nationally, and climbing, with rounds played expanding too.

• Women and youth are providing new golfers to total participant numbers as well.

• Travel choices have changed as many people stayed closer to home.

   In all three categories, and many more, BOYNE Golf has been able to accommodate the game the past couple years as well as anyone I have witnessed.

   One shift in particular has been the number of Michigan golfers returning to Boyne that have perhaps traveled elsewhere for their buddy trips or vacations. They are rediscovering why The Heather at The Highlands was voted National Golf Course of the Year in 2019 – or why both Golf Digest and Golfweek have placed Boyne’s Bay Harbor Links/Quarry two 9s on their top 100 Public Courses in America list (at No. 63 and No. 81, respectively in the U.S.).

   Arguably the biggest endorsement was FORBES Magazine, with contributor Scott Kramer picking Boyne as one of the top golf resorts in the country, recommending Boyne right along with the likes of Pebble Beach, Bandon Dunes, Pinehurst, American Club/Destination Kohler, and Kapalua in Hawaii.

   Kramer wrote these comments about BOYNE Golf: My favorite of all, this Northern Michigan destination is actually three resorts with collectively ten golf courses spread over a fairly close stretch. There’s Boyne Mountain Resort with two layouts that offer spectacular views; The Highlands with four outstanding courses on-site, as well as a par-3 that plays up and down a ski hill; and the luxury property Bay Harbor Golf Club with 27 simply magnificent and scenic holes—many of them along the shore of Lake Michigan. Within five minutes lies Boyne’s Crooked Tree Golf Club that’s carved through stands of centuries-old hardwood, while perched on bluffs high above Little Traverse Bay. The variety of golf here is collectively refreshing, the scenery amazing, and the staff always welcoming. Go in the fall, when the leaves start changing color—thank me later.

   Statistics show that “local” golfers have been giving BOYNE Golf a try again with the increased desire to stay closer to home during the pandemic. Data also shows their friends are flying in from other parts of the country in record numbers to join them, thanks to direct flights from 17 large American cities now coming into the Traverse City Airport. Cities like Phoenix, Dallas, Newark, Minneapolis, Denver, Boston, Philadelphia, Atlanta and Orlando, just to name about half. Michigan has always been a popular summertime destination with its mild 70-80-degree weather days for those golfers living in the heat-oppressive South – but recently that influx has blossomed even more.

   Whether their buddies get a house together in northern Michigan or utilize Boyne accommodations like the Ross Cottages at The Highlands, Disciples Ridge Condominiums at Boyne Mountain or Crooked Tree Cottages near Bay Harbor, it’s time for Michiganders to rediscover what BOYNE Golf has to offer with its championship-conditioned courses and growing amenities all over resort grounds.

   All-New: The Highlands, for men, women and kids

   A branding refresh was announced in December for The Highlands at Harbor Springs – Boyne’s long-time property to the north of Petoskey and east of Harbor Springs – which by the way are in themselves two of northern Michigan’s most delightful small towns with a mix of old historic charm and modern conveniences.

  The rebranding of The Highlands is part of Boyne’s 2030 Transformational Journey – a plan that continues to reinvigorate founder Everett Kircher’s vision of a grand, 4-seasons resort. While tons of changes and improvements have taken place the last 60 years to separate the property from its former defunct Harbor Highlands ski area, Boyne is taking even further steps this decade to serve golfers and skiers alike.

   The recently completed major renovation of 87 rooms in the Main Lodge is a game changer, especially for women and couples seeking a hotel lodging experience that is commensurate with the quality of the courses – plus more room and lobby remodels are on the way.

   My recent hotel stay in the updated section of the hotel was impressive. The bathrooms are stunning, and the seating and bedroom areas have improved use of space and style. Information provided by the property explains how the changes took place to blend traditional English countryside with contemporary features, such as classic materials from tufted leather headboards and rich wood built-in cabinetry to wainscoting and metal elements.

   Bathrooms feature marble floor and wall tiles, fixtures from British manufacturer Lefroy & Brookes, with hand-casted, forged, polished, and assembled taps, Euro-style toilets, custom designed lighted mirrors, vanity toe kick nightlights, and local art decorating the walls. 

   Golfers of all age and skill levels can already enjoy the new TrackMan Range at The Highlands’ Ross Golf Center, plus custom club fittings when combined with the popular GEARS technology. There have already been significant upgrades to both the Ross Memorial Course and The Moor (with more stories to come in future magazines), plus new snow-making equipment.

   Golf Digest magazine named BOYNE Golf Academy its Editor’s Choice as a Best Golf School and Academy in the U.S. with its BOYNE Golf Academy, the Couples Golf School, and Junior Day Camps – truly a family resource for golf improvement if you’re ever going to find one.

   Kids aged 17 and under play golf free with a paying adult after 2:00 p.m. – and during standard tee times, with just a cart fee. On Sundays after 2:00 (Family Fundays) at The Monument, The Moor and at Crooked Tree Golf Club, a family of four (mom or dad, two juniors) can play for free as long as one adult pays the normal rate.

   The List Goes On and On:

   BOYNE Golf has won so many awards and/or placement on top lists that there is no way to catalogue them all here.

   But one that stands out to me the most is being named by Golf Digest as a Top 33 destination for women’s golf trips in 2022. Six tee boxes on every single one of Boyne’s 10 golf courses assure that all participants have choices that fit their comfort level to make it fun to play the game, and, they can all play together.

   There is the Women’s Golf School – and for those who don’t want to golf, or do but get aches and pains from doing so – Michigan’s largest spa can be found at Boyne Mountain plus a full-service spa at Inn at Bay Harbor. A few years ago, my wife tried the spa at Boyne Mountain and called it “the best one ever.”

   Rounding out potential experiences for families and couples include:

• Paved Bike Paths from Boyne Valley Trail from Boyne Mountain to Boyne City and the Little Traverse Wheelway from Harbors Springs, through Petoskey and Bay Harbor, ending in Charlevoix

• Avalanche Bay at Boyne Mountain, Michigan’s largest Indoor Waterpark

• Depending on the resort, it’s a 30-60 minute drive to Mackinaw City, the gateway to historic Mackinac Island.

   If all that is not enough to plan your golfing vacation, visit: www.BOYNEGolf.com or call 866-966-6910 and a BOYNE Guest Experience Agent can help will all kinds of information on resort options, golf courses and activities to formulate your own memorable trip.

Sweetgrass, A Jewel of the U.P., Selected National Golf Course of the Year

By Tom Lang

First came Michigan.

Soon it will be national.

The Sweetgrass Golf Course located near Escanaba at the Island Resort and Casino will soon be awarded the National Golf Course of the Year, sources that could not say so publicly have indicated to me. Typically, the National Golf Course Owners Association (NGCOA) makes its announcement in late January at the annual Business Conference in Orlando.

The Michigan Golf Course Association named Sweetgrass the 2021 Michigan Golf Course of the Year in October; and as a regional winner it was then considered for the NGCOA honor known officially as the Jemsek National Golf Course of the Year. The award goes beyond playing a golf course to recognize a course that epitomizes exceptional course quality and management excellence, makes important contributions to its communities and the game and is a model of operations to its peers.

One source indicated that Sweetgrass beat out Streamsong Red in Florida, another regional candidate.

“When we received the Michigan Golf Course of the Year award back in October, we were very excited," said Tony Mancilla, general manager of Island Resort & Casino. "Michigan has a lot of great courses, so just winning our state was huge. You have to do more things for the game and help promote golf, and we’re doing that on a lot of different levels."

Island Resort & Casino, Michigan’s Upper Peninsula’ largest resort destination, sits 13 miles west of Escanaba in Harris, and is owned and operated by the Hannahville Indian Community, a federally recognized Potawatomi Indian Tribe. The casino first opened as a bingo hall in 1981, then in 1991 expanded with the Chip-In Casino on its present site. The late 1990's saw the expansion of the casino, a showroom and convention center. The next decade brought further major expansion, with the 11-story Palm Tower rooms, more restaurants, and more golf. 

One of the resort's two courses, Sweetgrass, opened in 2008 to rave reviews. Designed by Paul Albanese, Sweetgrass features an open layout with some of golf’s most fun greens to putt (Redan, Biarritz, Island and Double-Green). Throughout the course, golfers will also come across a rich history of the Hannahville Indian Community, with holes named after traditional Potawatomi clans, villages, allies, medicines and symbols. The dedication to nature and the area’s heritage makes for a unique golf experience. The course also plays host to the Symetra Tour's Island Resort Championship.

The resort management takes pride in its contribution to the community through the Island Resort Championship, which debuted in 2011 and has become the premier community event in the region. The Strong Kids Campaign - YMCA is the event's official charity and guarantees that all kids, regardless of income, have an opportunity to receive free YMCA memberships. Other local charities and nonprofits have also received more than $250,000 raised from the tournament's ticket sales. 

“The Symetra Tour event raises about $100,000 each year, and that’s about one-quarter of the entire YMCA annual funding in membership scholarships," explained Mancilla. "It gives underprivileged kids of economically struggling families a chance to rent time at the YMCA."

The YMCA golf program is also supported by this effort, providing clubs for kids to use and youth golf clinics for them to participate in during the tournament.

“I think the biggest thing is having the pros play and the kids watch them," Mancilla said. "It’s exciting when they're here playing. They are young golfers trying to make their way and find something, and trying to accomplish a huge goal. And we’re right in the middle of it, watching. Hopefully the little kids will think they can do it, too.”

Sweetgrass features masterfully crafted rockwork with a prairie links style. The course challenges with an island green on number 15 and a pair of spectacular waterfalls that greet golfers as they play up the twin par five 9th and 18th holes to an enormous, shared green. My one career hole-in-one is at Sweetgrass.

Green complexes like a Biarritz and a Redan, along with historic wood and iron bridges rescued from other areas in the state, are compelling design components and part of the story of the course – along with links to its Native American roots. 

Sweetgrass has been ranked by Golfweek, GOLF Magazine and Golf Digest in various ‘best-courses’ lists. 

“It’s my own philosophy and the Native American philosophy that we always try to make the design fit the land, and truly allowing it to reflect the principles of Native Americans’ respect for the land,” said course designer Paul Albanese, a Michigan transplant from east coast Harvard and now a Plymouth resident.

“This also worked as inspiration for stories to share throughout the course. We put some wooden posts in the side of a hill (along the fairway) that are representative of (the remains of) a fort, from the 1650’s,” Albanese said about one of the design elements at Sweetgrass. “And the green complex itself worked out very nicely to be a redan style green. And a redan is the French word for fortress.”

New, Bigger Accommodations Now Open

A brand-new development now weaved into the fabric of the property is a hotel expansion that opened on New Year’s Eve.

The hotel expansion, at an investment of $33 million, connects to the south end of the current 11-story Palm Tower. It has 138 new guest rooms and suites (bringing the property’s guest room total to 454), the Horizons Steakhouse located on the top floor featuring the best views in the region, and Splash Island, a new family waterpark. 

Guest rooms also include specialized golf and spa suites featuring a luxury experience with hot tubs and a unique option of getting in-room massages. There will also be 34 rooms that can be converted into 17 family-style suites for people who want to bring children to the new waterpark and pool areas. 

Mancilla said the new hotel was developed out of necessity. 

“Our demand and backlog of guests who wanted to get in on the weekends had become overwhelming,” he said. “The waiting lists of 150 to 200 people every weekend made us realize how much we needed new rooms, another top dining option, and additional options for the family. On the golf side, this elevates our status as a premier golf destination.”

This expansion provides an added perk for golfers with the luxurious golf suites. The 675 sq ft suites are complete with a King, double queen, and a common area, all with breathtaking views of the Sweetgrass Golf Course – perfect for foursomes looking for added space and a fun environment.

“Over the past ten years and with the addition of Sage Run, we have become a very popular destination for golfers,” Mancilla said. “Adding the new rooms and golf suites will be an exciting lodging option and make their overall experience that much more enjoyable.”

 Sweetgrass will be the third Michigan property in the last four years to become National Golf Course of the Year.  Stoatin Brae, part of the Gull Lake View Resort family of courses, won the 2021 award, and The Heather at Boyne Highlands was the winner in early 2019.

 “That doesn’t surprise me because we have a really strong golf state,” Mancilla added. “Golf is so important to Michigan, and our tourism economy. We have a lot of people who are enthusiasts and people who own these courses are doing what they can to grow the game. Whoever comes out of the state of Michigan is going to be a strong candidate for the National award.”

Disney World Golf

By Dave Daubert

When Walt Disney sketched his original plans for the Central Florida resort that opened in 1971, he set aside a large area and simply labeled it as "golf." While not a golfer himself, Disney recognized the game would have an important role as he created a new family destination to build on the success of California's Disneyland, which did not have a golf amenity. Through ties with Arnold Palmer that began in that first year and continues today through Arnold Palmer Golf Management, the resort now sees upwards of 200,000 rounds played annually at its four courses.

Disney Golf celebrated its 50th anniversary along with Walt Disney World, and while the sport is just one of the resort's many amenities and activities, it has played an integral role in the guest experience over the past five decades.

The late Arnold Palmer's ties extend back those 50 years, when he served as a consultant for the Walt Disney World Open Invitational, a PGA TOUR event that would first be held at the property later that year and then continue under various formats and names (most commonly as the Walt Disney World Golf Classic) for 42 years.

Palmer even took an inaugural test ride on the Disney monorail on the same day he became a consultant. Jack Nicklaus won the first three titles, starting a legacy of champions that would include winners such as Tiger Woods, Payne Stewart, Raymond Floyd, Ben Crenshaw, Vijay Singh and David Duval.

Disney's three championship 18-hole golf courses originally designed by Joe Lee include the Palm, which was renovated and reimagined by Palmer in 2013 and shortly thereafter earned industry recognition as the U. S. renovation of the year. The Magnolia, the site of the Disney Classic, and Lake Buena Vista courses both have bunkers shaped like Mickey Mouse's head. The 9-hole Oak Trail is a family friendly layout that's particularly conducive to walking beginners, seniors and those with time constraints. The Disney Golf resort has been ranked by Golf Digest as one of the top destinations for a family golf trip.

"We have a commitment to being guest-centric creating an all-encompassing experience that is uniquely Disney while providing the opportunity to play where champions were crowned," said General Manager Bruce Gerlander, PGA. "We task ourselves with melding the flair of the resort with upholding the classic traditions of the game of golf that our founder, Mr. Arnold Palmer, stood proud and tall for, every day of his life."

For guests (and families) overwhelmed with luggage, Disney Golf rents golf clubs as well as golf shoes, and there is complimentary transportation to the courses from the Walt Disney World Resort hotels. Disney Vacation Club members have access to a low-cost membership that includes eight rounds of traditional golf (four at Oak Trail and four twilight rounds), eight rounds of Foot Golf, and complimentary buckets of range balls.

While the courses at Disney World are challenging enough for the game's best golfers, they're also friendly enough to accommodate players of all abilities. It's another reason the Disney Golf courses have become known as ‘The Happiest Place on Turf,’ a nod to Disney's official tagline of ‘The Happiest Place on Earth.’

"Obviously playing and winning there is great, but it's mostly about the family," said Davis Love III, another former winner during the PGA TOUR's 42 year run at Walt Disney World. "We played the parent-child tournament, and the kids looked forward to it. We rode the monorail and staying right there at the golf course is just so much fun. I have great memories of Disney golf."

For more information, visit www.GolfWDW.com.

Hilton Head Golf Island’s Perfect 4-Day Itinerary

Golfers offered choices of 26 Courses, Spacious Lodging and World-Class Dining

Getting from the Great Lakes State to Hilton Head “Golf Island” is easier than ever for have-clubs-will travel Michigan golfers. Delta offers direct seasonal service from Detroit Metropolitan Airport to Savanah Hilton Head International Airport (SAV). And year-round, one-stop flights are offered on a variety of airlines into both SAV and the very convenient Hilton Head Island Airport (HHH).

With 26 courses spread over Beaufort, Bluffton and Jasper counties, Michigan golfers have plenty of championship caliber layouts to choose from. The mid to late fall is the perfect time to visit the Lowcountry, with highs in the 70s in November and 60s in December. Winter brings highs in the 50s and 60s with plenty of sunshine. 

Here’s a sample itinerary including iconic on-island venues, like The Sea Pines Resort, and upstart off-island options, like Old South Golf Links. 

Where to Play – Day One

Opened in 1982, Oyster Reef Golf Club is the scenic Rees Jones-designed layout recognized by Golf Digest as one of the best new courses in the U.S. Tipping out at 7,000 yards with a 139-slope rating, Oyster Reef continues to beguile experienced players while also appealing to average and novice golfers with its spectacular setting. 

If you missed a meal in transit, grab a much-needed bite to eat and a cold beer at the new LagerHead Tavern, which showcases Southern comfort food with a twist. Local favorites include slow-smoked Smithfield ham and grilled oysters plucked from the nearby May River.

Day Two

Atlantic Dunes by Davis Love III is the newest course at The Sea Pines Resort, having opened in 2016. It was forged from what was once the oldest course on Hilton Head Island, the resort’s Ocean Course. Love Golf Design, led by Scot Sherman and Mark Love, restored the property’s coastal aesthetic, restoring natural dune lines and adding coquina shells and native seaside grasses. 

Stick around Sea Pines in the afternoon for a round on Heron Point by Pete Dye, formerly the Sea Marsh Course. Dye returned in 2014 to oversee a series of enhancements, including softening green surrounds and contours, enlarging several putting surfaces and adding new ornamental landscape. 

Day Three

No Sea Pines experience is complete without a round at famed Harbour Town Golf Links, home of the PGA Tour’s RBC Heritage. This Dye/Nicklaus collaboration epitomizes Lowcountry course design replete with live oak-lined corridors, diminutive greens and Dye’s trademark bulkheads lining languid lagoons.

Walking off the 16th green and toward the tee box on the par-3 17th, the Calibogue Sound comes into view with yachts and sailboats passing leisurely by. Harbour Town culminates with one of America’s most famous finishing holes, the par-4 18th playing into the iconic Harbour Town Lighthouse.

Post-round, settle in for a signature cocktail at Links, an American Grill, in the stunning new Harbour Town Clubhouse. If it is remotely close to dinner (or not), order up one of Links’ signature filet, strip or porterhouse steaks.

Day Four

The Robert Trent Jones Course at Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort is widely considered the island’s No. 2 pitcher, drawing upon a baseball analogy. Having opened in 1967 just two years before Harbour Town, the two courses’ histories are inexorably linked. 

Jones’ former protégé Roger Rulewich updated the course in 2002, elevating the fairway on the signature par-5 10th hole for even better views of the Atlantic Ocean. Credited with designing the majority of the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail in Alabama, Rulewich spent considerable time reworking every tee box and green. 

Before heading out for an afternoon round on Palmetto Dunes’ George Fazio Course, make time for lunch at Big Jim’s BBQ, Burgers & Pizza at the Robert Trent Jones Course clubhouse. Big Jim’s is open seven days a week serving three meals a day, making it easy for golfers to grab a bite around their tee times. 

The George Fazio Course is Hilton Head Island’s only par-70, and with a slope of 144 from the 6,873-yard back tees, it’s considered by many to be the most difficult resort course on the island. With just two par 5s and a series of meaty par 4s, proper tee selection is paramount. 

Extended Stay and Play

For a northern golfer extended stay, the Bluffton area just off the island is a veritable golf destination unto itself. Start with Old South Golf Links, one of the region’s best kept secrets when it comes to pure Lowcountry golf. Designed by local golf course architect Clyde Johnston, Old South is the only area public course playing along the Intracoastal Waterway. 

The front and back nine views, with MacKay Creek and the Calibogue Sound in the distance, are among the best in the region and are a great way to welcome your golf group to the Lowcountry. 

The variety of indigenous terrain is also worth noting – oak forest, pastures and tidal marshes are all on display, and in play. The finishing stretch, holes 16 through 18, is vintage Lowcountry with target fairways and greens requiring carries over marshland. 

Hilton Head National, a neighbor of Old South, has long been considered one of the region’s best public venues. The design is a Gary Player, Bobby Weed collaboration, with PGA Tour design consultant Weed crafting the front nine and Player the back. 

Similar to Old South, Hilton Head National is a “core” golf experience devoid of residential development. The par-4 sixth is widely considered the course’s signature hole. Just 300 yards from the back tees, the largest lake on property runs along the entire right side and behind the green complex.

Where to Stay

For sheer convenience on the island, it’s hard to top a rental home or villa at The Sea Pines Resort or Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort. These vacation residences have all the amenities of home, including flat screen TVs, washers and dryers, wireless internet and fully-equipped kitchens. 

Off island, Old South Golf Links and Hilton Head National offer golf packages with the Hilton Garden Inn, located under a mile away from both courses. Two-, three- and four-night stay-and-plays are available with special features.

For a more authentic Lowcountry Flavor, head to the Old Town Bluffton Inn, situated in the heart of downtown in walking distance to bars and restaurants aplenty. Myriad privately-owned vacation rentals are also available for larger groups, or those in search of more indoor and outdoor space. 

Dining and Nightlife

There are more than 250 restaurants on Hilton Head Island covering the spectrum from local watering holes to fine dining establishments. For a true taste of Lowcountry waterfront dining, check out Skull Creek Boathouse or Skull Creek Dockside. 

Hit the Main Street area for Italian at Frankie Bones or a dry aged steak from WiseGuys. And whether it’s breakfast, lunch or dinner, do not miss the chance to visit Java Burrito for the region’s best “Fresh Mex” and espresso. 

Off island, Old Town Bluffton is the place to be. Situated on the shores on the May River, this quaint burg is ideal for grabbing a warm meal, a cold drink and relaxing with friends. Old Town delights northern visitors with its Antebellum homes, historic churches, and unique shops, all connected by Spanish moss-covered streets. 

Get the night started with a flight of hand-crafted ales at the Saltmarsh Brewing. Then, head to Captain Woody’s for a plate of Lowcountry seafood while taking in the views from the rooftop deck. Open until 2 a.m., Old Town Dispensary is a good spot to grab a night cap. 

Expert golf vacation planners are available to help you design your Hilton Head Golf Island golf trip. Click here to complete a brief form and to receive a custom quote.

Pinehurst Sandhills Region Shines in Early Fall

By Tom Lang

A late October trip to Pinehurst Resort and the surrounding region was a wonderful step back in historical time wrapped up in modern features that added up to four great days enjoying mildly warm fall weather in North Carolina.

My experience is shared in order of the four courses played: Southern Pines, Talamore’s New Course, Pinehurst No. 2 and Tobacco Road on the final day on the way back north toward Raleigh-Durham Airport, and easy non-stop round-trip flight out of Detroit on Delta Air Lines.

Southern Pines:
This more-than-a-century-old course designed originally by Donald Ross has the look and feel of what it must have been like to play golf in North Carolina more than 100 years ago. Recently updated greens were transformed from bent grass to hybrid to make for very nice putting surfaces in more seasons – but the remainder of the course has a raw, rough-and-tumble feel and look with natural land features that are not sculpted by a bulldozer. 

The entire experience is like that of a truly virgin landscape with a handful of modern agronomy improvements via interesting green complexes and a wide variety of shot angles. Waste bunkers with pockets of naturally eroded sand in the elevation change areas, and scrub brush throughout, define the course's main obstacles, but they still allow for hittable recovery shots. 

The layout is walkable from every green to the next tee, not surprising with Ross, but the hills will make it a decent workout if taken on by foot. The recent renovation also included lengthening the routing by about 300 total yards.

“It’s just beautiful here; I don’t think there’s a bad hole or a bad view,” said cart partner Greg Warfel of Richmond VA, who works at GolfTech as an instructor. “There’s good width in the fairways without being boring about it. This course gives you a lot of interesting visuals that tighten up the hole but then you get up on the fairway and think, ‘there’s more space than I thought.’”

Talamore:

A totally different look and feel from Southern Pines is Talamore Golf Resort, about 10 minutes away. It is a well-manicured course with no waste sand areas but rather well-defined bunkers and only one lake to cross, off the 18th tee. Several sand bunkers are deep with tall grass faces like links courses found in Great Britain, to challenge even the best sand players.

Most fairways are wide but play roomier in that any golf balls that leave the fairway typically find all other vegetation cleared out from under the thousands of stately pine trees, and covered with the Sandhills region obligatory pinestraw, making recovery shots fairly easy.

“This is a fabulously maintain course,” said playing partner Jason O’Brien, a pilot for United Airlines living in the region, and former pilot for Kalitta Air freight at Willow Run Airport. “You cannot beat the conditions year-round. What I really like about it though is it truly challenges you to hit every club in your bag. It’s not driver, wedge. And there’s holes you might hit driver but you should have hit 5-iron.”

Pinehurst No. 2:

When checking a place like Pinehurst off your golfing bucket list, it's easy to feel a little uneasy heading into your day. But rarely have I felt so comfortable in an iconic location for golf. The staff and the overall ambiance felt very relaxing for a place stepped in so much potentially intimidating history.

The best thing I heard all day came at the first tee when our caddy said, "you'll only need to carry three golf balls today"... His way of saying there are so few places on No. 2 to lose your prized white circular possessions. 

My stretch of three favorite holes on the front nine were 3-5, and on the back nine 15-17. The third hole is a par 4 with the green set right of the fairway with an elevated green surrounded by bunkers front left and sand waste front right. Donald Ross’ former home is to the left. No.4 starts at the most-elevated tee box on the course to start a very long downhill par four hole (474 yards from the tips). Then hole 5 is a medium length par five that turns left for the final approach shot to a somewhat crowned green that's hard to hold.

On the back, No. 15 is a par 3 with a classic Donald Ross depression running across the front of the green complex. But what jumps out is seeing the long par five No. 16 in the background as if it's a continuation of the hole, both of course framed by stately tall pines. No. 16 is the most picturesque hole on the layout with a pond to clear off the tee before the fairway gently turns left. The green complex is very harrowing with a combined massive bunker and sand waste area guarding the right side – and of course a severe Donald Ross false front. No. 17 is another stunning par 3 with challenging sand bunkering and waste areas to avoid left and right – but for photo purposes is very pleasing to the eye.

Note: The Cradle Short Course (all par 3s) at Pinehurst Resort was a ton of fun and loaded with golfers of all ages, including many women. It equally rivals the Bootlegger at Forest Dunes, which plays a little longer on most holes.

Tobacco Road:

A course built on and in a former quarry that mined sand and other minerals is without a doubt a very unique property. The biggest concern shared with other golfers knowing that it was my last stop on the trip advised about the large number of blind shots, which I found out were caused by huge hills of mining leftovers, combined with even bigger gouged out earth used as hazards of sand waste area. We’ll give it a few extra points for being designed by an MSU grad, the late Mike Strantz.

The elevated views were spectacular with the green grass/tan sand features contrast, in which one look announced, ‘you are not getting around this course today on the ground.’ The modern-course features set up well for target golf for golfers who like that style. My wife talked with a foursome that said they have so much fun there they were going out in the afternoon for another round.

The 4-night stay was very comfortable at Hilton Garden Inn in Aberdeen, a wonderful new hotel catering to visitors in the region. Excellent in-house, fair-priced restaurant and bar with great sleeping rooms and amenities like an outdoor pool and small putting green outside the front lobby says you’re at the Home of Golf.

The Irish Links Experience Without the Big-Course Green Fees

By Tony Dear

You’ve saved and planned for months/years and, at last, you’re heading east across the Atlantic to the Emerald Isle for two weeks of world-class golf and the sort of hospitality you’ve read about in tourism guides but didn’t think actually existed. 

Your itinerary has been set in stone for ages and likely includes any number of fabled links – Royal County Down, Royal Portrush, Portmarnock, Co. Louth (Baltray), The European, Waterville, Tralee, Connemara, Carne, Enniscrone, Co. Sligo (Rosses Pt), Donegal (Murvagh), Ballyliffin and Rosapenna where Michigander Tom Doak’s amazing new St. Patrick’s course opened in June.

It’s a pretty impressive list of venues from which to choose. What will make your trip even more memorable though, is finding an obscure links course your friends won’t know about but which you have time to visit having played a big-name course in the morning. At the lesser-known links, you’ll find the same expansive landscapes and firm, sandy turf as at the more famous courses, but you’ll pay half or even a third as much to play them and be welcomed like a long-lost member.

Here are 10 of the best on the island of Ireland with green fees ranging from €35 (about $41) to £105 (about $146).

Southeast
Rosslare – Co. Wexford (60 minutes south of the European Club)
It says so much about the golf in this country that a course like Rosslare, designed by Fred G. Hawtree and five-time Open champion JH Taylor and opened in 1925, is barely known outside it. The club abandoned its original nine holes for 18 on a superb stretch of linksland a little further north in 1925 and since then little has changed. Rosslare is a fairly standard out and back routing about the same width as the Old Course at St. Andrews and possesses the sort of humps, hollows, cropped turf and random contours that make links golf such an adventure.
€50 – rosslaregolf.com 

Arklow – Co. Wicklow (15 minutes south of The European Club)
Hawtree and Taylor laid out the course on classic linksland in 1927 since when a few changes have had to be made due to the ever-meddlesome Irish Sea. Eddie Hackett, the Godfather of Irish course design, was called upon to restore some lost holes in the 1970s and, toward the end of the century, Eddie B. Connaughton, who specialized in turf care and agronomy but also redesigned a number of courses, made several alterations. Arklow is a wonderful round of golf, with the thrilling front-nine providing most of the highlights.
€45 – arklowgolflinks.com

Northeast
Ballycastle – Co. Antrim (25 minutes east of Royal Portrush)
The delightful Ballycastle, one of the Golfing Union of Ireland’s (GUI) founding clubs, begins with five parkland holes on the south side of Cushendall Rd and which circle Bonamargy Friary, a Franciscan foundation established in 1485, before crossing the road and heading for the coast. After three or four pure links holes, the course begins to climb the high ground above Glenshesk, one of the Nine Glens of Antrim. The views from the top of the cliff over Rathlin Island, the North Atlantic and the Mull of Kintyre are spectacular. You drop back down to sea level at the short 17th then finish with the linksy 18th. Ballycastle may only measure 5,876 yards, but it’s quite a journey.
£105 – ballycastlegolfclub.com 

Corballis Links – Co. Meath (5 minutes north of The Island, 25 minutes north of Portmarnock)
After a hugely enjoyable, though somewhat stern, morning round at Portmarnock or the nearby Island GC, you will enjoy the opportunity to shoot a lower (much lower) number at the Par 66 Corballis Links. Now owned by Fingal County Council, the course has existed in one form or another since 1906, though today’s layout was created by American architect Ron Kirby in 2004-05. It is, in short, an absolute blast to play with so many quirks and so much character you may find yourself juggling your itinerary to make room for another visit.
€35 – corballislinks.com 

Laytown and Bettystown – Co. Meath (20 minutes south of Co. Louth)
I’ll never forget the day I first played L&B in September 1997. After meeting him in the clubhouse, the club secretary escorted my friends and I to the first tee chatting all the way and generally making us feel like the most important non-members to ever play there. I’ve also heard about the German visitor who arrived at the 18th green to see the Flagge Deutschland flying on the club’s flagpole. I don’t know if this sort of thing happens with every visitor, but it gives you an idea of the sort of club we’re talking about. Anyway, the course, originally laid out in 1909 but later totally rebuilt by club pro RJ Browne, is everything a great links should be – all fescue/marram-covered dunes, firm fairways, hollows, rises, sea views and fun greens.
€95 – landbgolfclub.ie

Northwest
Portsalon – Co. Donegal (75 minutes west of Ballyliffin, 25 minutes east of Rosapenna)
One of the nine clubs that together formed the GUI in 1891, Portsalon was originally designed by Charles Thompson, pro at the County Club (now Royal Portrush). Today’s course, however, is really the result of Pat Ruddy’s phenomenal redesign in 2000 when the former journalist and founder/designer of the European Club built nine new holes and left only five of the originals untouched.
€100 – portsalongolfclub.ie

Dunfanaghy – Co. Donegal (25 minutes west of Rosapenna)
British soldiers are said to have whacked balls here as far back as 1740, but it wasn’t until 1906 that the golf club officially formed. The course was designed by six-time Open champion Harry Vardon (he’d won four of the six when he first visited Donegal) whose narrow routing alongside Killahoey Beach runs from west to east and back again, turning for home at the exquisite 124-yard 9th hole which crosses an arc of beach sand. 
€60 – dunfanaghygolfclub.com 

Strandhill – Co. Sligo (20 minutes south of Co. Sligo, 45 minutes east of Enniscrone)
Eddie Hackett extended Strandhill’s original nine holes to 18 in 1973 creating a Par 70 of about 6,350 yards (the club’s scorecard uses meters) that is a fabulous follow-up to your morning game at Co. Sligo. Bordered by Cullenamore Beach, Strandhill Beach and the lower slopes of a 1,000 ft limestone hill called Knocknarea, Strandhill is another of those courses that might not appear on your starting itinerary, but which you’ll be so pleased you added along the way.
€100 - strandhillgolfclub.com

Southwest
Castlegregory – Co. Kerry (45 minutes east of Ceann Sibeal, 45 minutes west of Tralee, 60 minutes south of Ballybunion)
It's likely a fair chunk of your trip to Ireland will be spent in Kerry where legendary links courses seem to proliferate. But after a morning round at Waterville, Tralee, Ballybunion, Ceann Sibeal (Dingle), Dooks or Hog’s Head (Lahinch and Doonbeg are just a little way further north in County Clare), you’ll appreciate the change of pace at Castlegregory, a wonderfully natural links nine-holer bordered by the Atlantic to the north and Lough Gill to the south. Other great nine-hole courses that will fill sunny evenings, when there’s enough light to play until a little after 10pm, include Cruit Island, Spanish Pt, Achill Island, Mulranny and Gweedore.
€40 (for 18 holes) – castlegregorygolflinks.com

Lahinch (Castle) – Co. Clare (adjoining Lahinch)
A number of Ireland’s great clubs have more than one course. Royal County Down has the Annesley and Royal Portrush the Valley. Portmarnock has a third nine called the Yellow while Ballybunion boasts a ‘secondary’ 18 designed by Robert Trent Jones - the Cashen. Co. Sligo’s 36 holes include the Bomore Links, Enniscrone’s the Scurmore Course. Carne has the Kilmore Nine, Castlerock the Bann Nine. With the addition of St. Patrick’s, Rosapenna now has 63 holes while Ballyliffin has 45.

And, in addition to its world-renowned Old course designed by Alister Mackenzie in 1927, Lahinch offers visitors the Castle Course which occupies flatter ground to the east of its more illustrious sibling. Whether you’re tuning up for, or winding down from, a round on the Old, you’ll enjoy a relaxing saunter round the Castle whose first nine holes were designed by Englishman John Harris and opened in 1963 with the second nine debuting in 1975.
€40 – lahinchgolf.com

(Note: the difference in currency between Northern Ireland and the Republic. As part of the United Kingdom, Northern Ireland's currency is the Pound Sterling - £. The Republic, meanwhile, deals in Euros - €. There isn’t much difference between them - at the time of writing £1 = €1.17). 

Thunder Bay Golf and Elk Tour

A golf weekend experience like no other

By Tom Lang

One year ago, I took part in one the most unique golf weekend experiences I have ever had, and a bonus was taking my wife along and – even though she is not a golfer – she enjoyed herself very much. 

In other words, automatic bonus points.

As people think about fall golf, and even activities for the wintertime, this month seemed like a good opportunity to re-introduce this property. Thunder Bay Resort, located in Hillman, is due west of Alpena on Michigan’s ‘sunrise side.’

Thunder Bay Resort not only includes good golf – along with package deals that combine Red Hawk Golf Club in Tawas City and Black Lake to the north – but the main attraction on this eastside swing is Thunder Bay’s award-winning Elk viewing carriage ride. It is complete with gourmet dinner and wine tasting inside a modernized yet rustic-looking cabin in the woods. In the winter, the Belgian horse-drawn carriage is changed over from rubber tires to be fitted with sleigh runners and people bundle up under their own blanket for the tour through the 160-acre Elk nature preserve on the way to dinner. 

‘Over the River and through the Woods’ is not just a music lyric in this case. 

It’s what you literally experience as the Thunder Bay Resort Elk tour meanders through the only wild Elk preserve within range of dozens of states. In non-Covid years, thousands of travelers come in from other regions across the U.S. to participate. 

“Some people think the Elk are tame, and we can get quite close to totally wild Elk as well, but most of these animals have never been touched by a human being – we keep them as close to totally wild as we can,” said the original and current property owner at Thunder Bay, Jack Mathias, age 80. He first developed the front 9 of the now 18-hole course in 1971 – meaning this is the property’s 50th anniversary year.

The ride is an excellent look at, and history lesson for, the Elk habitat in Michigan. On the Saturday evening we went along, up to three dozen Elk were easily seen, with one coming up to within 15 feet of the carriage to graze. At the time in 2020 it was only the second carriage ride of the season due to prior Covid restrictions, so a few other Elk that were initially close by were spooked to see humans for the first time in several months and scampered away.

The dinner was very good and – although the spouse and I rarely touch wine – the wine tasting was done well and my wife found an ‘Ice Wine’ from Modern Craft Winery in Au Gres, MI that she fell for.

Accommodations at Thunder Bay Resort were built in the early 1990s. They are roomy and comfortable and according to my spouse (she has the sensitive nose) they smelled fresh, without any hint of mustiness. The overnight choices range from condominium style Chalets to Suites in 2-and 3-story buildings along the second hole. There’s approximately 70 bedrooms on the property.

There is also an RV Park that on our trip was filled with many high-end motor coaches, from Texas, Florida and Alabama.

“The second most inquiries we get from the website come from Texas,” Mathias said. “We’re the only people doing something like the Elk Tour that’s east of the Rockies. We get rave reviews, and almost everybody says we exceeded their expectations. Our word of mouth is very good, and when it comes to couples’ golf getaways, I am reasonably confident that we can compete with just about anything you can do anywhere.”

For two years running, the Elk Tour has been recently awarded the "Best of the Best" in the "Adventure" category by Destinations Magazine.

“Some people think the Elk are tame, and we can get quite close to totally wild Elk as well, but most of these animals have never been touched by a human being – we keep them as close to totally wild as we can,” said the founder and current property owner at Thunder Bay, Jack Mathias. He first developed the front 9 of the now 18-hole course in 1971 – meaning the property is more than 50 years in operation. 

The sleigh ride is an excellent look at, and history lesson for, the Elk habitat in Michigan. On the Saturday evening we went along, at least three dozen Elk were easily seen, with one coming up to within 15 feet of the carriage to graze. 

The dinner was very good and – although the spouse and I rarely touch wine – the wine tasting portion was done well and my wife found an ‘Ice Wine’ from Modern Craft Winery in Au Gres, MI that she fell for.

Virtually every weekend on the year-round calendar has Elk rides with dinner and wine. Occasionally the resort offers ‘Murder Mystery Weekends’.

Accommodations at Thunder Bay Resort were built in the early 1990s. They are roomy and comfortable and according to my spouse (she has the sensitive nose) they smelled fresh, without any hint of mustiness. The overnight choices range from condominium style Chalets to Suites in 2-story buildings along the second hole. There’s a rough equivalent of 70 bedrooms on the property.

There is also an RV Park for summertime, that on our trip was filled with many high-end motor coaches, from Texas, Florida and Alabama.

“The second most inquiries we get from the website come from Texas,” Mathias said. “We’re the only people doing something like the Elk Tour that’s east of the Rockies. We get rave reviews, and almost everybody says we exceeded their expectations. Our word of mouth is very good, and when it comes to couples’ golf getaways, I am reasonably confident that we can compete with just about anything you can do anywhere.”

Here’s a sampling of TripAdvisor ratings I found online:

January, 2022: 

“It has been a childhood wish to ride a horse drawn sleigh in the snow. This was such a relaxing two-night package. My husband and I enjoyed the room, the resort bar and grill. Good cocktail selection. The ride included elk viewing and dinner. The weekend exceed expectations.”

Valentines Weekend, rater from Grosse Pointe Farms:

“It was pretty nippy (below zero) the night we went on the sleigh ride, but we were kept warm by sitting on a wool blanket and having one thrown over our laps (both provided by the resort). This trip was so worthwhile because it's rare to do this kind of thing without having to go out West. We've done a similar sleigh ride/dinner in Snowmass, Colorado, and this one is just as lovely. Lucky for Michiganders to have this right in our backyard!”

When Spring Arrives for Golf:

Three golf experiences are included in the summertime traditional Getaway Package – at Thunder Bay, plus Red Hawk and Black Lake – three courses combined as a loop to hit Red Hawk in Tawas on the way north, two nights at Thunder Bay, then finish at Black Lake to the northwest on day 3. But they can be played in any order golfers desire.

Thunder Bay doesn’t have a famous designer’s name affiliated with the layout, but it’s a nice parkland style course surrounded by trees. The first three holes start out with tree-lined fairways before Holes 4-7 open up on a piece of land across the street with wider fairways and large greens. Once the routing goes back across the same residential road, you’ll never encounter a straight fairway again, sans the par 3s. Every hole 8-18 has some amount of turn in them that in all but one case hides the green from view of the tee box.

Ponds dot the course to serve as drainage and hazards. Reaching the 3rd, 8th and 11th greens requires going over the edge of ponds, while 12 and 17 require full-flight approaches over water. 

Although it was abundantly clear Thunder Bay is a buddies’ trip destination, lots of couples were also out playing together, a refreshing change from most courses.

Red Hawk is an excellent Arthur Hills design north of Tawas situated on a gorgeous track of land. Holes 2-4 might be my favorite run of holes, but that certainly doesn’t mean the fun stops early. 

No 2 is a drivable par 4 to an elevated green surrounded by bunkers so if your sand game still needs work it’s best to layup off the tee. No. 3 is a stunning par 3 with a huge drop off from the tee. It’s tempting to club down for that very reason but it’s still a good poke to get your ball there. No. 4 is a beautiful par 4 that turns right to left as it glides downhill – just a picture-perfect setting (which honestly can describe plenty of holes on the course).

Black Lake was designed by Rees Jones at the UAW property near the top of our mitten. Jones might have created the routing and some green complexes, but God did the land design. A handful of holes have ravines to clear off the tee, which also highlights the several elevation changes on site. 

As long as accuracy is maintained in your golf game, the sand bunkers can be viewed as artistry instead of hazards. Several greens have two-tiers offering multiple pin placements, with the 12th hole par 3 the most dramatic in the two different levels to conquer par. All in all, a great place to culminate a fun weekend getaway.

For more information and pricing, visit: www.thunderbayresort.com

Fall Renewal in North Carolina’s Sandhills

By Brad King

This fall, there is a sense of rebirth around the Home of American Golf.

At Southern Pines Golf Club, the classic Donald Ross hidden gem is one of the oldest golf courses in North Carolina’s Sandhills region of Pinehurst, Southern Pines and Aberdeen. Southern Pines GC just unveiled an 18-month renovation improvement project headed by architect Kyle Franz — who comes full circle reimagining a variety of Ross designs, following his previous award-winning work at Pinehurst No. 2, Mid Pines Inn & Golf Club and Pine Needles Lodge & Golf Club.

Franz says the golf course will evoke the feel of a Ross original, staying true to the well-preserved routing while removing elements that have been added through the years. More than 700 trees have been removed, accentuating dramatic vistas throughout the property. The Ross greens have been revamped and the bunkers restored. Franz also uncovered Ross’s “Lost Hole” — not part of the routing — while researching historic materials prior to the restoration. “Much of the property is transformed,” said Franz. “You really get a good sense for Ross’s golf course and where we’re going with everything.” 

Meanwhile, the United States Golf Association (USGA) is establishing a second home in Pinehurst. “Golf House Pinehurst” will be the site of the USGA’s equipment research and testing center, and turfgrass agronomy and management offices, as well as a museum and welcome center — all of which will be accessible to the public. The USGA tabbed the resort’s No. 2 Course at its first U.S Open anchor site, with five championships scheduled through 2047. Plans for a new, 64,000-square-foot, 34-room Lodge at Pinehurst hotel on Pinehurst Resort’s campus overlooking The Cradle par 3 short course and the Thistle Dhu 18-hole putting course include meeting spaces, locker rooms, a fitness center and bar. 

Following the completion of the recent thrilling 2021 U.S. Junior Amateur at the Country Club of North Carolina’s Dogwood & Cardinal courses, the Sandhills will continue a great run as host site for several more prestigious events. Just around the corner is the 2022 U.S. Women’s Open at Pine Needles and the 2023 ACC Men’s Golf Championship at CCNC’s Dogwood Course. The big-time events will be culminated by the fourth U.S. Open Championship, on Pinehurst No. 2, in June of 2024.

Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw completed a restoration of Pinehurst No. 2 in 2011 that brought back many of the design characteristics from Donald Ross’ own 1935 renovation. The Granddaddy of American Golf opened in 1907 and as golf lovers know has hosted dozens of major tournaments over the decades. 

History was made during the summer of 2019, when the recently redesigned Pinehurst No. 4, along with No. 2, served as the site of the 36-hole match-play final of the 119th U.S. Amateur Championship. Architect Gil Hanse and his design partner Jim Wagner’s version of No. 4 that debuted in 2018 is nearly unrecognizable from its predecessors. Pinehurst No. 8 opened in 1996 to commemorate Pinehurst’s centennial year. Architect Tom Fazio incorporated signature Ross features into the design, including dips and swales around the greens, sloping greens and false fronts.

Pine Needles is another legendary Ross masterpiece, already having served as the site of three U.S. Women’s Open Championships, the 2019 U.S. Senior Women’s Open and the upcoming 2022 U.S. Women’s Open. To play at Pine Needles — and, of course, its sister course across Midland Road, Mid Pines — is to live and breathe Donald Ross golf. Mid Pines was impeccably restored by Franz in 2013. The renovation was honored with GOLF Magazine’s Best U.S. Resort Renovation and Restoration of the Year.

The Village of Pinehurst Area Chapter of the National Golf Course Owners Association named the New Course at Talamore its “Course of the Year 2018.” The prestigious award came after a major restoration. Talamore’s partner property, the Arnold Palmer-designed Mid South Club, also underwent a similar golf course restoration and greens conversion along with numerous other club enhancements. Both have also risen in state rankings since then.

And, of course, Tobacco Road Golf Club in Sanford has changed the face of Pinehurst-area golf ever since architect Mike Strantz’s masterpiece debuted in 1998. If you are planning a trip to the region, booking a round at Tobacco Road is something you need to seriously consider.

And there are plenty more outstanding, if lesser known, layouts in the area that are especially enjoyable during autumn’s picturesque appeal.

Legacy Golf Links in Aberdeen is a memorable Jack Nicklaus II Design, with more than 7,000 yards picturesquely routed around five lakes and renovated in 2012. Legacy’s Mini Verde greens are immaculate and its collection of par 3s are regarded among the area’s best. The challenging variety of holes, wide fairways and strategic use of water hazards make Legacy a true championship test — one of the few courses in the region to play host to a USGA National Championship. 

Deercroft Golf Club in Wagram is worth the drive. Franz has also helped keep Deercroft scenic and challenging, yet fair without being tricked up. Come experience “the best-kept secret in the Sandhills,” according to Golf Digest.

Longleaf Golf & Family Club has been touted as “The Most Playable Course in Pinehurst” by Golf Digest. Designed by Sandhills native Dan Maples, Longleaf’s front nine is more links style with the back more tree lined with nice elevation changes. Be sure to check out their six-hole, par-3 short course, “Bottlebrush.” Owned by U.S. Kids Golf and home to the U.S. Kids Golf Academy, each hole ranges from 50 to 100 yards and is fun for the whole family. 

Designed in 1976 by Peter Tufts III, godson of Ross, 7 Lakes Country Club in West End has a history and heritage of excellence in course design. This classic design delivers a spectacular golf course emphasizing the traditional and classic design elements that present a true Sandhills experience.

Fall golf in the Pinehurst, Southern Pines and Aberdeen area is hard to beat. This year, during an ongoing season of rebirth, the region treasures its past, while focusing on an exciting future. 

Fall packages and latest news at www.HomeofGolf.com

Stalk the Cat: PohlCat Golf Course

By Tom Lang

Many golfers in Michigan enjoy taking on courses designed by former PGA Tour players such as Nicklaus, Palmer, Weiskopf and Crenshaw. We are fortunate to have a handful of their courses in our state. 

The layouts are usually fun and interesting because those players got their design background from playing golf courses all across the globe, then blended the features of those courses with their own personal style of the type of holes they’d like to play. 

We are equally blessed that mid-Michigan has a wonderful 18-hole course that falls into the same category – designed by a former PGA Tour winner, but with one special caveat: golfers can actually talk to him, pick his brain and maybe take a golf lesson because he works there every day. 

We’re talking about Dan Pohl, a former PGA Tour champion (twice in 1986), Ryder Cup player and past Vardon Trophy winner (both in 1987) and led the Tour twice in Driving Distance – who was born and raised in Mt. Pleasant and now helps run the PohlCat Golf Course.  He designed the course in the early 1990s, and not long after severe back injuries slowed down and eventually ended his playing days on Tour. All totaled he earned 70 top-10s on Tour. 

There is something special about having a person with Pohl’s background and professional golf experiences working daily at a high-level, award-winning golf course balanced with reasonable rates, anchored in a Midwestern community. For one, the pro shop and grill are littered with genuine, personalized PGA Tour memorabilia that set a really fun mood for golfers before and after their special round. 

Almost 40 years since he tied for first at Augusta National in The Masters in 1982, there’s still a passion in his eyes and enthusiasm in his voice when he serves the golfing guests who stop in for a round, or some excellent food in the Den grill room – or to enjoy a cold one from some three dozen beer options and local craft brews, on the very large veranda overlooking the 18th. 

And that passion rubs off on the rest of the staff who want to give each golfer a great experience – golfers like 11-handicap Gayle Ruhl, a woman who is not a member but said she plays the course at least once a week. 

“I think PohlCat is more challenging for my game,” Ruhl said in comparison to other area courses. “I like the yardages, and it’s more fair now that they changed some of the tee boxes. I think the staff is great and they’re very friendly – that’s another reason I come out here.” 

Playing the Course: 

The PohlCat has an intriguing opening four holes and even better closing four holes (aesthetically anyway) in my opinion – and frankly the other 10 in between are pretty darn good.  In fact, if you asked the designer himself, the toughest part of the course is the middle stretch that is much more wide open than the bookend quartet of holes. 

“Those last four holes are such a good combination of length (variations), open, little doglegs, things I look at,” Pohl said this spring. “But really the meat and 

The Par 3 17th at Pohlcat

potatoes of this golf course are right in the middle of the course; 7-12 are good a 6-hole stretch with par 4s and 5s and the toughest par 3. So that area, you really have to play your golf ball. I look at it like you have to score early and score late; even though the beauty of it in those first four and last four, they are probably the more getable holes for scoring.” 

No. 1 gets things started as a par 5 dogleg with no trees in play, but a brook to clear and water to avoid on the edges after the fairway turns left to the green. No. 2 (my favorite) is a par 4 with a drop off at the end of the fairway where golfers must clear the Chippewa River to the green framed by trees in the shallow valley below.  

Depending on which tee boxes the grounds crew sets up your day, No. 4 can have a straight shot at the par 4 down the right fairway or when going down the left, golfers must turn a little right to access the green. 

“I’ve played golf all over the world, and this golf course flows as well as any that I’ve played,” Pohl said. “You don’t get stagnant with one look, or stagnant with one shot selection (like all draws or cuts). In my estimation, when people come out, they could play it over and over and never get stale.” 

Jump to Hole 15 and you’ll find an attractive dogleg left that would otherwise be a drivable par 4. Then comes 16, a mid-range par 5 with three massively-tall pine trees splitting the fairway that can cause fits on your way to a 3-tiered green. 

“I think that’s the hardest ‘easy’ hole out here (at 455 yards from the white tees),” said GM Dean Paesens. “You can play it in a variety of ways; you could even hit 6-iton, 6-iron, 6-iron and get to the green staying out of trouble. You can hit driver over the wetlands and it’s getable in two – and it’s getable in six,” he added with a chuckle.  

The par 3 No. 17 is the course’s signature hole with a carry over the elbow bend of the Chippewa River about 90 feet below, to a bowl-shaped green complex that’s been expanded recently when new tee boxes were also added. Don’t hurriedly play the par three 17th hole; relish it – because 18 (my second favorite) will come soon enough. 

The PohlCat has long been a fan favorite stopping point in Mt. Pleasant for golfers heading Up North. Several times I have placed it on my top-10 places to play fall golf with its wide variety of tree colors. 

After the Round: 

The bar and grill area mentioned above is on the quality high-end of what most public courses offer. The hamburgers, chicken options and various wrap sandwiches are excellent.  All can be enjoyed indoors with a bank of windows along the 100-foot-plus veranda or enjoyed outdoors where you can heckle your golf league buddies coming up 18 – or just relax with one of the nicer in-land views in Michigan that’s not on a Great Lake. 

The clubhouse has a 300-seat banquet hall to compliment the permanent structure outdoors located near the expansive driving range/practice area that seats about half that number. Both provide the community great options for weddings, proms, graduations and charity outings. 

If you’re not hitting the ball well before or after the round and want a lesson with a Ryder Cupper, that pretty rare opportunity is available in group and corporate outing settings. 

“You are welcome to play out here, we are excited to have you here – and we want you to come back again,” Paesens said. “The last five years (since an ownership change) we’ve been able to connect better with the community, there’s more local traffic here, people are embracing the PohlCat and it’s becoming home to a lot of people now.” 

Are you next? 

Great Golf in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula

Island Resort & Casino shines as a must-play Midwest golf destination  

By Tom Lang

There are many great golf destinations across the Midwest, with an abundance of them in Michigan – including locations in our natural-resources-rich Upper Peninsula. 

From southern Michigan to northern lower Michigan, golfers have a plethora of places to get their game on. While many of these destinations have received high accolades and plenty of attention, Michigan’s Upper Peninsula provides great, award–winning golf as well. 

For this golfing adventure, you can road trip north on I-75 crossing the scenic and historic Mackinac Bridge and turning left on U.S. 2 for one of the prettiest 2.5-hour drives in America, along the U.P.’s southern shoreline on Lake Michigan, to Island Resort and Casino in Harris, MI. There are also very affordable, and one of my favorite, flights from Detroit Metro into Escanaba. 

The Island Resort and Casino is one of the Midwest’s largest golf, casino and entertainment resort destinations, spanning more 408,000 square feet. The resort has over 300 guest rooms, including spacious suites and many dining options like the signature 5 Bridges Steak and Seafood House, 5 Bridges Pub, Firekeepers Restaurant, and T. McC’s Sports Bar making it an all-encompassing destination that you won’t want or need to leave. On the casino floor, guests can enjoy over 1,200 slots, a poker room, craps, blackjack, Spanish 21, three-card poker, let-it-ride, roulette and bingo.   

New This Year and Coming Soon: 

We’ll get to the golf course experiences in a minute… I think you’ll want to hear what’s new for this year: golfers can now add sportsbook entertainment to their golf vacation. TwinSpires, the official online wagering site for Churchill Downs and the Kentucky Derby, announced its official partnership with the resort in January.  

Through TwinSpires, golfers can now add to their gaming experience by betting on their favorite sports including the PGA Tour, NBA, NFL, NHL, MLB, MLS and many more at one of the convenient 14 kiosks located in and just outside of T. McC’s Sports Bar. TwinSpires Sportsbook offers all the betting options – straight bets, parlay bets, teaser bets, live bets, futures, and proposition bets. 

The resort has been immensely popular amongst golf groups and buddy trips looking for a combination golf and gaming escape. The growing popularity of golf, gaming and resort getaways drove the need for a $30 million expansion that will be completed later this year. More than 100 new hotel rooms are coming, which are being connected to the south end of the current 11-story Palm Tower. Many rooms will have excellent elevated views of the award-winning Sweetgrass Golf Course and will allow for golfers to stay together in larger golf suites.  

A high-end dining venue and convention space are also planned for the top floor, as well as a pool and water park.  

Consider all of this, plus the current, luxurious Drift Spa, with its variety of high-end spa services and access to the resort’s saltwater pool, steam rooms and sauna, the destination will become a popular escape for buddies, couples and now families.   

Golfing Splendor on Site: 

Now for the great golf – which has been described as “unforgettable” and maybe sometimes “under-rated.” The resort’s original golf course is the exceptional Sweetgrass Golf Club, built in 2007 and home to the Island Resort Championship, one of the premier stops on the LPGA Symetra Tour, which will return again this summer June 11-13.  

Designed by Michigan resident Paul Albanese and ranked among the top 20 public courses in Michigan (which is saying a lot since Michigan, overall, is one of the nation’s top states for golf), Sweetgrass features masterfully crafted rockwork with a prairie links style. The course boasts an island green on number 15 and a pair of spectacular waterfalls that greet golfers as they play up the twin par five 9th and 18th holes to an enormous, shared green.  

Classic green complexes like a Biarritz and a Redan along with historic bridges rescued from other areas in the state are compelling design components and part of the story of the course – along with links to the Native American roots of the Hannahville Indian Community.  

To complement Sweetgrass, a few years ago the resort added another championship course, Sage Run, which was also designed by Albanese. Opened in 2018, the course, which Albanese said was inspired by the “rough and rugged” appeal of Northern Ireland’s Royal County Down, is also beautiful, but a definite 180-degree site in comparison to Sweetgrass. Built on a natural ridge formed by glaciers, golfers not only have to find the fairways, but the correct side of the fairways to set up ideal scoring opportunities and avoid the thick rough.  

The course showcases exceptional variety, including holes like the par 3 fifth, which plays significantly uphill – and the short par 4 reachable 16th which dares you to take on an uphill shot to a blind landing area. Sage Run is beautiful and challenging and built in a thrilling and breathtaking natural setting. Sage Run received a major honor being named to Golf Digest’s prestigious list of “Best New Courses, 2019.” 

As previously mentioned, Island Resort and Casino is owned and operated by the proud people of the Hannahville Indian Community. It’s no surprise that utilizing and properly caring for the land is their top priority – making a good match for Albanese, who incorporated legends and tales about the Potawatomi Tribe into every hole. 

“It’s my own philosophy and the Native American philosophy that we always try to make the design fit the land, and truly allowing it to reflect the principles of Native Americans’ respect for the land,” said Albanese, a Michigan transplant from Harvard and now Plymouth resident. “This also worked as inspiration for stories to share throughout the course. We put some wooden posts in the side of a hill (along the fairway) that are representative of (the remains of) a fort, from the 1650’s,” Albanese said about design elements at Sweetgrass. “And the green complex itself worked out very nicely to be a redan style green. And a redan is the French word for ‘fortress’.” 

Turns out, great golf in the northern part of Michigan doesn’t stop in Traverse City, Petoskey or Gaylord. In the endlessly scenic Upper Peninsula, there is a bounty of outstanding golf and a bevy of captivating tourist attractions. Yet don’t take my word for it; try a stay and play for yourself. I’m confident you’ll keep going back.  

For more information about Island Resort and Casino and its golf packages, visit www.islandresortgolf.com or call 877-475-4733.