Shanty Creek Always in Great Condition: Classic Up North Golf and Fun
By Tom Lang
Shanty Creek resort is not considered flashy.
It doesn’t usually get the first mentions of Up North golf – but it is certainly qualified to.
The golf is pure.
The golf is great.
The golf courses are designed by some of the best names in the business.
The five courses are all different and offer something for everyone.
The conditions are some of the best any golfer can find.
“I’m calling Shanty Creek the ‘Phenomenal Five,’ because …there you’ve got five golf courses, with something for everyone,” said 3-time Michigan Broadcaster of the Year, Jack Ebling, out of Lansing.
Ebling’s personalized label encompasses Shanty Creek’s Cedar River Golf Course design by Tom Weiskopf (which turned 25 years last year), The Legend (1986) by Arnold Palmer, the original Summit course, Schuss Mountain GC and the acquisition of nearby Hawk’s Eye, which has been in Shanty Creek’s portfolio since 2021.
Blessed with nearby Lake Bellaire and Torch Lake, Shanty's 90 holes offer something for everyone.
“What I noticed about Shanty Creek, and maybe there are other resorts in Michigan that would have the same characteristics, but I was very impressed,” Ebling said at another time. “We played one course there but got to look at the others, and each one has a distinct personality. It’s almost like if you went up for a week, it’s like being at three, or four, or five different resorts because each course is different.”
Another media member, Bill Hobson of Michigan Golf Live, told me: “I believe Cedar River is one of the best and underappreciated courses, not just in Michigan, but in the entire Great Lakes region. From the Michigan Open to everyday resort play, Cedar River not only stands up, it stands above most of its better-known northern Michigan neighbors.
“What Tom Weiskopf did with that stunning piece of property is the height of creativity, challenge, and fun.”
The Michigan Open was played at Shanty Creek in mid-June, bringing in the pros and top amateurs in the state for four rounds of a true test in golf.
Steve Scheuermann, director of golf at Shanty Creek, worked with the Michigan PGA to bring the golf major back to Shanty Creek after it had been in Southeast Michigan for the past two years. It was a full team effort to bring attention back to Shanty Creek, while testing the best players and giving them something to talk about.
“For me, Cedar River is one of the best golf courses in Michigan,” Scheuermann said. “Tom Weiskopf was a brilliant architect, and the way that he used the contours and the rolling terrain and the strategic landing zones for your tee shots. It has very fair greens, they are not as hilly as the Arnold Plamer Legend Course; but there’s some challenging pin placements, that’s no doubt.
“Then the Arnold Palmer design (The Legend) that’s a lot different, with very difficult greens. Schuss Mountain, you start out on the front nine that has very flat terrain at the base of the mountain that’s heavily wooded. Then you go to the back nine and you have some definite steep inclines and elevated tee shots. Hawk’s Eye is kind of a mixture of all those types of terrain and is very unique to itself. And the Summit Golf Course, the original here, it’s more of a links style course with very challenging greens. So, yes, you do feel like you’re at a different location on each of the golf courses.”
Shanty Creek celebrated 60 years in 2023. The Summit Course was the first green grass entertainment added to the resort originally known best for wintertime skiing. The Summit, first called the ‘Deskin’ after founder Roy Deskin, came on the scene in 1968.
NBC GolfPass raters made The Summit their No. 11 in the country for ‘Most Improved’ earlier this year. Various reviewers wrote: ‘Best Bang 4 Buck. Best course you can play in Northern Michigan for 50 Dollars. Has all you want in a course (except) a steep tee fee. I would recommend to any level player.’
Yet another: ‘Picturesque and challenging. Course was in really good shape. Greens a touch on the slower side but rolled true. Nice elevation changes and excellent use of the natural landscape. Got a heck of a deal too. 8/10 in my book.’
Palmer’s The Legend was added in 1985.
“The Legend was a huge deal back in its day and was part of helping bring northern Michigan golf to the forefront and made the area a destination,” said Lindsey Southwell, director of marketing and an avid golfer who played high school golf at Greenville. “With Jack Nicklaus (The Bear at Grand Traverse) and Arnold Palmer and their courses up north here, it really made a name for northern Michigan golf. And that made for a natural rivalry even for the golf courses.”
I am unaware of any other Michigan resort that emulates what Shanty Creek does to ensure ‘rest’ for their courses. Every golf course is closed for a minimum of one day per week, most for two days.
“It really works well for our golf portfolio (of five courses and 90 holes) because we’re able to let the courses have the rest that they really need and fit in that maintenance that you wouldn’t normally get in during the summer,” Southwell said. “It really ‘ups the game’ on the golf maintenance side of things.”
I first played at Shanty Creek over 20 years ago when the Michigan Interscholastic Coaches Association asked me to make a media presentation. I went back again in 2023 and was truly mad at myself for the long break.
Weiskopf’s gem sits on a piece of Shanty Creek land not as hilly as Arnold Palmer’s The Legend, but still has enough dramatic rolling features it will maintain any golfers interest all 18 holes. Speaking of which, the 18th is very striking and one of my favorites. It’s a long par 5 that stays level for the most part (with a danger zone left and long off the tee) but then the entire fairway drops off dramatically the last 150 yards to a large green guarded on the right side with water, one of only three ponds on the entire layout.
The 13th hole starts my favorite stretch on the course. It’s a shorter par 4 with a split fairway going around a huge tree, with the Cedar River babbling in the background to quiet the ears and brain.
The 14th hole could be one of the toughest par 3s in northern Michigan. It’s all drop off from tee to green; so golfers must land the tee shot on the green as there is no fairway fronting the hole, but rather, deep bunkers going down the hill and deep woods right at the back edge of the bean-shaped green. The tee shot also must proceed between ‘goalpost’ trees on both sides to safely reach the dance floor.
No. 15 is a long but fair par 5 that accentuates Cedar River’s overall setting of wide fairways in which many are shaped with mounding along the way that potentially kick off-line shots back toward the short grass.
Scheuermann agrees the Palmer Legend course is the one most golfers want to play…. “But it is the most difficult course we have. It does make you score a little bit higher than you hope to, but it’s such a wonderfully designed golf course, that I thoroughly enjoy.”
Whether you are thinking about Shanty Creek Resort as a buddies’ trip destination or the next family journey – the Bellaire ‘Fresh Air’ region can provide so many other activities like hiking, swimming, footgolf, biking, canoeing and beaches – to supply a truly amazing Up North getaway experience that could generate many return visits in the future. Find more information at: https://www.shantycreek.com/golf/
Overheard at the Michigan Open at Shanty Creek
The prestigious 108th Michigan Open was played at Shanty Creek’s Cedar River course in mid-June. Here we share comments overheard from some of the best players in the state:
Eric Lilliboe, 2024 champion, Okemos:
“This is a good golf course. There’s lots of unique tee shots, a lot of downhill shots. It’s a very playable golf course. I had a lot of fun playing it.
“I saw a good amount of the resort (this week). Actually, talked with a couple moms and dads at dinner one night with my girlfriend. Their kids were playing down at the pool and I asked if they come here often. They said they come here every year and really enjoy themselves. There’s a lot of things to do out here. It’s my first time on property and I’m impressed.”
Lorenzo Pinili, T4 and low amateur. MSU player:
“It is my first time out here and I didn’t know what to expect. There’s a little bit of pulls on the greens because of the mountain. The greens are pretty fast and the course is in good condition. You get a little bit of everything.
“It’s challenging enough to where people would have a hard time if they play the wrong tees, but if you play the right tees, it’s not too easy and not too hard.”
Beau Breault, runner up, Howell:
“I enjoyed being here. I always love coming up north. Look forward to coming every year.
“Out here it gives you the option to hit driver. Some fairways pinch in at a certain spot, but you still get options and I’m in favor of that. The greens rolled great but a little difficult to read. A very fair golf course, in good condition, and I look forward to coming back.”
Winner Otto Black, Brighton:
“I just like the design. I think the designer is one of the best and the greens are so good. Very fast and very smooth. My first time here. I was very impressed with the golf course, and look forward to coming back.”
