Leelanau: Manitou Passage Golf Club
By Tom Lang
In its early life, Manitou Passage was called King’s Challenge, an Arnold Palmer signature course cut through the woods at the base of the since-closed Sugar Loaf ski resort.
In more recent years, after a slight redesign of a couple holes, golfers still enjoy the traditional Arnold Palmer-style layout with magnificent views, tree-lined fairways and cool breezes coming off the nearby Lake Michigan shoreline.
“Obviously an Arnold Palmer design, and what that means is if you hit it to where it’s designed to, you’ll be rewarded; and if you don’t, you’re going to get punished. Yet I think it’s very fair,” said new GM Josh Schlump, formerly of Ann Arbor.
“I think it starts when you first pull in…we’re going for the wow factor,” Schlump said about the clubhouse and restaurant, the nicest building of all four courses in this series. Palmer memorabilia and his umbrella trademark abounds, from both his amateur and pro championships.
“The thing people are most surprised at when they get here is the overall layout of the golf course,” Schlump said. “We get the compliments like, ‘hey, that’s a fantastic layout,’ or ‘on No. 17 I can’t believe that elevation change,’ and the always, ‘gosh, that view from No. 8 is really cool.’
“The two nines are completely different,” he added. “Some people are a little frustrated that the turn but when we tell them it opens up on the back side, then they smile a little.”
The first hole is fairly wide open, and most golfers can reach it in regulation, but from that point forward the front 9 is fairly tight.
“On holes 2-6 you need to just hang on there and stay as close to even par as you can,” Schlump said.
No. 8 is the highlight hole of the round. It’s a long, downhill traversing par 5 that also acts as the property’s highest lookout point. The back tees are a must visit even if you are playing your round more forward – as most golfers should. Some trees were strategically removed along the tee boxes’ right side to clear a visual path to both Manitou Islands off on the distance horizon of Lake Michigan. The course is 12 miles from the shoreline, and the view at No. 8 tee gives the course its name. It’s a perfect example of hundreds of Leelanau Peninsula’s picturesque views to the west up and down the shoreline of Lake Michigan, and Grand Traverse Bay to the east.
The turn features possibly the easiest hole on the course, No. 9, then 10 is a reachable par five to kick off the back nine. Both 11 and 12 are shorter par fours to keeping easing you into the trip homeward, with additional birdie opportunities on holes 16-18.
Friday, Sept. 9 is a big day for Manitou Passage. They are hosting the First-Annual Arnold Palmer Children’s Hospital Charity Outing, to benefit the legend’s work in central Florida. Hospital reps are coming as well, to enjoy all the Michigan fall colors. You can join in by contacting the course. The event is the day before Arnold Palmer’s birthday.
Other Things To Do:
Just like all the Leelanau courses featured this month, none are all that far away from downtown Traverse City. And of the four courses, this one is closest to Sleeping Bear Dunes by a couple miles over The Old Course.
Schlump said that most families and couples use overnight accommodations at The Homestead, while buddy groups utilize Airbnb’s more often.
All-in-all, the peaceful, pristine landscape of the entire Leelanau Peninsula should be first and foremost enjoyed to the maximum. It could be the best trip you always thought about but never gave a shot – until now.
