Crystal Mountain is a Great Escape in Northern Michigan
The Reigning 2025 Michigan Course of the Year
By Tom Lang
Our family has had such great experiences at Crystal Mountain over the years that my now-adult daughter asked that we return to the resort this summer so her two young boys can begin to experience some of the amazing fun she had as a child and teen.
What golf-loving grandpa would say no to that great idea?
That same scenario has been played out for thousands of families over the decades in northern Michigan – as Crystal Mountain’s award for 2025 Michigan Golf Course of the Year is just part of the story. Many other honors have been bestowed upon the resort from golf, skiing and travel publications too numerous to mention.
Highly accomplished amateur golfer Olivia Stoll personally knows all about it.
Olivia won several college golf tournaments while starring at Grand Valley State University, graduating in spring 2025 and soon after qualifying for the LPGA Tour’s Meijer Classic. She remains an amateur and will in June again be playing in the Michigan Women’s Open at Crystal Mountain (her 7th), against other top amateurs and mini-tour pros from across the country. It is Crystal Mountain’s 24th consecutive year hosting this significant tournament.
Olivia’s actual first time at Crystal Mountain was one of those very first years, as a ‘rider’ because her mom, Stacy, the MSU women’s golf coach, was playing in the tournament while pregnant with her.
“Even before I began playing in the Michigan Women’s Open (her summer before senior year of high school) my mom (Stacy Slobodnik-Stoll) always played, so often times my grandparents, my aunt and uncle and little cousins would come along, and we made it a big family event.
“It certainly turned into a summer tradition that we all loved. Every time we go up there, I just get so happy. I think of all the memories and the times me and my cousins were feeding the fish at the pond or running up the hill by the chairlift. Lots of the same staff are there and it was always nice to see everyone again. Crystal Mountain has always held such a special spot in my heart. I just love Crystal Mountain.”
Michigan Golf Live’s Bill Hobson agreed in many ways:
“Crystal Mountain is one of the true gems in the Midwest as they blend an amazing combination of family-friendly fun with championship golf and a resort setting so different from the norm. From the time my kids were little, we've been huge fans of Crystal Mountain and it's so fun to be there now and watch a new generation of families experience this special place.”
Michigan Golf Course of the Year
Stoll additionally understands why voters for the Michigan Golf Course Association named the Mountain Ridge course at Crystal Mountain as Golf Course of the Year.
“The course is very nice. It’s a good challenge,” Stoll told me. “There are some holes that are definitely harder than others, but it’s balanced by other holes that have risk reward, but if you take the risk you can get the good reward, like hitting a par 5 in two. But overall, I would say it’s a very fair course for the tournament.”
Personally, I truly enjoy Mountain Ridge and plan to play it again in June. Holes 16-18 are as memorable as any closing three holes in golf. The adventure begins after the 15th green, when golfers climb into their carts for the long ride – up the back side of the mountain – to the 16th tee. A pathway cutout stopping point on the upward climb gives you the chance to pull over and take a long pause to enjoy the wonderful views over the valley below to the west. If you’re playing late in the day with a setting sun, all the better. Taking photos is necessary.
Hole 16 is a challenging par 4, with a big dip in the land formation between the elevated tees and a slightly uphill fairway. The 17th is an aggressive par 3 downhill where club selection is paramount in gauging the altitude shift. The closing par 5 is a gradual downhill grade with bunkers and out of bounds to navigate on the way to the multi-tiered green of the grand finishing hole.
Crystal Mt.’s Director of Golf, Mark Fenech, says a lot of work goes into maintaining the things golfers love about playing the game, which is both challenging and beautiful to look at and enjoy a half day outdoors.
“We do a pretty good job with forestry management,” Fenech said. “And you have to – otherwise the growth up here (in the north), the weather conditions are so ideal that if you don’t maintain the forestry floor, it can simply take over. You have to stay on it all the time or literally your golf course will disappear; the growing conditions are that good. So, a couple years ago we did some really good clean out so visually you can see (some of the) other holes, and it just really beautified the property. It’s a lot of work but it’s a big part of our golf course beautification.”
Sister course Betsie Valley received a majority of that tree work – enough that I saw the immediate positive results playing the course in 2024. Corridors were more open, which improved playing the game and also improved air flow and sunshine to green up the grass playing surfaces and property even more. Betsie Valley is the original course at Crystal Mountain and is a great compliment to the Mountain Ridge Course. Betsie Valley remains a challenging track for good players, but when using the right tees, juniors and less-experienced players can still have a lot of fun.
Home Base:
“We are what we call the ideal base camp for up north,” Fenech added. “Any family reunions or any outings at all, you can check in and stay here. If you’re going to play golf you don’t have to go anywhere else, we have two great courses to play. We have pools and multiple restaurants, the Alpine Slide and other fun activities and they are all right there. We’re like our own small town.
“But if you want to venture out and roast hotdogs on a campfire at the beach, go lake swimming, those are only 10-15 minutes away. Or if you want to go explore a historic lighthouse or visit a nice harbor or go shopping in one of the many beach towns, you’re close to everything. We’re just an amazing base camp.”
I will additionally mention an iconic worldwide draw for visitors – it’s about a half hour drive to the famous Sleep Bear Dunes. And there is minor league baseball in Traverse City. Then one of the only remaining drive-in movie theatres in Michigan, the Cherry Bowl, is found on US 31, north of Crystal Mountain.
My favorite – and something I’ll definitely introduce my grandsons to – is the Crystal Coaster Alpine Slide – the only dual alpine slide in Michigan. It’s like a luge track but without the ice and snow, complete with high bank turns, twists and dips. Riders sit up straight on the sled outfitted with wheels and riders utilize a hand brake to adjust their speed. Riders take the Loki chairlift up the mountain to the start line where they’ll take in wonderful views before flying down on the coaster. Two parallel runs twist down 1,600 feet to the bottom of the ski hill.
Fenech also talked about other opportunities for kids and junior golfers. Crystal Mountain has an outstanding golf practice area with a large driving range and multiple chipping greens.
“We have junior golf camps, and junior series and a new one this year is Junior Adventure Day – because we can do more on the property than golf,” he said. “We have wall climbing, and pools, and archery and lots of different events. We take them on what’s like a junior scavenger hunt that keeps them active outdoors in all those categories. We open that to anyone. We have great junior activities all summer.”
Crystal Fins and Skins:
Fenech is starting a new event this June 13th, called Crystal Fins and Skins – a combination fishing competition and golf event. The date was chosen because Fenech said it’s a day the state of Michigan does not require fishing licenses, to promote everyone getting outside and enjoying the Great Lakes State’s natural resources.
The goal is to start simple this year. Participants will fish in the morning and show off their fish with a selfie and a time stamp. Turn that in at noon, then play golf in the afternoon. The size of your fish will impact your handicap, as prizes are doled out.
“Eventually I’d like to see it turn into a full-day fishing tournament with (pro-like) rules,” Fenech said. “The fishing is so good up here, and we could add categories and have a fish fry, then play golf the next day. But that’s a goal for the future; we’ll start small and easy this year with a one-day event.”
Whether you and your buddies, golf-mates or family make the crystal-clear choice of Crystal Mountain, there’s so much to do at the ‘base camp’ and beyond, everyone will be well entertained and fully rejuvenated – body, mind and soul.
Crystal Mountain is celebrating 70 years in 2026, and is a family-owned, four-season resort destination in Thompsonville, about 30 minutes’ drive southwest of Traverse City. Featuring golf, 59 downhill ski slopes, wonderful lodging options and sizes, conference amenities, and the award-winning Crystal Spa, the resort is one of the most highly-regarded destinations in the Midwest. More information can be found here.
