A Coach’s Look at Black Lake and Gaylord Area Golf

By Robert McIntyre

Editor’s Note: Bob McIntyre was the long-serving coach of state champion Grosse Pointe South High School and in retirement plays golf more often around the state, sharing his views.

   If you were to close your eyes and imagine Northern Michigan Golf, what would it be?  

   I am not just talking about the elevation changes and a whole bunch of trees.  Fill in some details.  Solitude on each hole.  The course challenges, risk/rewards, views, and more.  The natural surroundings framing each hole.  The foliage acting as a barrier from everything outside the round, hole and swing.  Smells that are better than any Yankee Candle.  The sound is only the noise nature intended.  Details.

   The image you are thinking of is Black Lake.  

   “We've been driving forever and we’re only halfway there.” grumbles our aging buddy who left his man purse at the gas station in West Branch.  Circling back added 20 minutes to the drive.  Black Lake is up there all right.  It is secluded.  It is in the woods.  But, it takes me the exact same time to drive to Traverse City.  Black Lake is away from things in a good way.  Spoiler alert: The “man satchel” was in the car the whole time. 

   At Black Lake, the clubhouse is welcoming and fully functional at a high level.  Refreshments are reasonably priced.  The staff is friendly, helpful and nice to talk to.  The practice facilities are complete. The breakfast sandwich was superior.  All positives before starting the round.  We hosed down in carcinogenic bug repellent and headed for the first tee. 

   Prior to teeing off the starter will warn your group that the course will play 400 yards longer than the scorecard says.  I guess it was even validated in an article written by a more competent golf journalist some years ago.  Well, they're not wrong.  Move up a tee.  There are plenty of tee selections.  Using the correct one will still be more than a test of your game.  Really, when they play the Michigan Open Qualifier here, they play from the blues.  

   Moving around the course it is obvious what a healthy test of golf Black Lake is.  Challenging, well designed, nothing hidden, and fair.  The greens are as inviting as elevated greens can be.  The forced carries are appropriate when playing the correct tees.  The greens read true and were in phenomenal shape.  Rees Jones did a fantastic job carving this course out of the forest.  

   This course is also one to be respected. This is not where you have a round shot-gunning Natty Lights while cranking modern country on your magnetic cart speaker. Sure, the carts are equipped with a cooler, and some in my group used them.  It’s just that your game needs to remain mostly unblurred to get around the course. Black Lake is what I like to call a morning course. Even in the afternoon, a morning course.

   After the round we went back to the condo and to debrief.  Higher than usual numbers confessed.  Lots of discussion about playing the correct tees.  Waxing poetic about the beauty of the course.  Most importantly, everyone agreed that the course offered a positive challenge.  They appreciated and respected how the course played and tested their games.  Nothing negative.  

   Now, let’s talk about the accommodations for a second.  Yes, you have to park your non-UAW vehicle in a lot just outside the property.  There is a shuttle and you can drop things off at your condo/lodge.  Black Lake is secluded, but they do have a well-stocked general store on site.  I am amazed at everything the property offers.  Beach, gym, Bocci Ball, nature trails, pool…  I could go on and on.  I didn’t get to see the old lodge or accommodations there.  I can tell you about the main lodge and the condos we stayed at.

   Black Lake looks like Mike Brady gave a Master Class in Mid-Century Modern architecture.  This place is fantastic.  Our condo was clean, comfortable and absolutely oozed retro cool.  Relaxing in the common room we felt the need to have a Manhattan/Rusty Nail/Tom Collins or some other Rat Pack era cocktail.  All of our condos had room for the entire group to gather.  The kitchen, dining area, bed rooms and other areas were great.  I want to go back.

   We did this trip as a package with two other courses.  The Pines at Michaywe and Gaylord Golf Club.  It was a tremendous deal in hindsight – and name me one golfer that doesn’t seek a deal.  Three distinctly different courses, two nights, all reasonably priced.  Good stuff.   

   Both the Pines and Gaylord GC took a great deal of damage with the late winter ice storms.  Let me tell you, the staff at both have done amazing work.  Both courses are fully playable and able to offer the complete golf experience.  I stand behind my thoughts on Gaylord from last year's MGJ article.  It was my first time playing the Pines though.

   The Pines at Michaywe is a very nice cottage course.  The cottages are not packed together nor are they on top of the course.  They do not interfere with your experience, but are present.  The course itself is a good time.  You can see the sense in the design.  Myself and my group had a great time playing it.  Even though I was more than satisfied with the condition, I know the staff is not.  That is a testament to them.  

   The courses I write about don’t know I’m coming.  I see what I see.  With the Pines and Gaylord CC I saw two courses that are ready to go and great to play.  I also saw staff that were working very hard to get it to their standards.  I appreciate that and believe that all of you do, too.