The Chief GCThe Chief Golf Course

The Chief Golf Course
5085 Shanty Creek Rd.
Bellaire, Michigan 49615
Antrim County

Phone(s): (231) 533-9000
Fax: (231) 533-5543
Website: www.golfthechief.com


The Chief Golf Course, nicknamed the Spirit of the North, is one of northern Michigan's premier courses. The championship course tumbles across rolling hills, providing dramatic elevation changes throughout. If you're a fan of mountain golf then this is the golf course for you. By far the toughest challenge golfers will face is the carefully sculpted mounding that borders most of the greensides. The mounds can create difficult angles for pitching and chipping. There are also a slew of strategically placed bunkers throughout. Strong mid and short iron play is important since accurate approaches are the key to this course. The unique design definitely makes it a course for shot-makers. The layout finishes with one of its most challenging holes, a par 4 with water to the left and bunkers and mounding to the right.

The Chief Golf Course
4 stars out of 5 (based on 7 reviews)
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A view of a well protected green at The Chief Golf Course.A view of a tee at The Chief Golf Course.A view of green #14 at The Chief Golf CourseA view of the 2nd hole at The Chief Golf CourseA beautiful autumn view from The Chief Golf Course

Golf course details

  • Holes: 18
  • Designed by: John F. Robinson
  • Public/Private: Public/Resort
  • Year opened: 1996
  • Golf Season: April - November
  • Guest Policy: Welcomed
  • Tee times welcomed: Yes
  • Fairways: Bent Grass
  • Greens: Bent Grass

Facilities

  • Pro in house: Yes
  • Driving range: Yes
  • Rental clubs: Yes
  • Rental carts: Yes

Green fees price ranges

Course policies

  • Metal spikes allowed: No
  • Dress code: No Swimwear or Beach Attire
  • Credit cards accepted: Visa, MC, AMEX, Discover card(s) Welcomed

Length, slope and rating for each tee

Tee Par Yardage Slope Rating
Blue 72 6482 0 0
Gold 72 5363 0 0
Red 72 4528 0 0
White 72 6033 0 0

Reader Ratings / Reviews

  • The Chief Golf Course
    1.5 stars out of 5
    by john doe
    on July 25th, 2016 11:19
    This course is for young low handicap golfers. For older mid to high handicap it will prove itself to be very difficult - and not much fun. It does have some nice views but so do most of the courses in the area. I will not play here again.
  • The Chief Golf Course
    4 stars out of 5
    by Brian Wittkop sr
    on October 28th, 2015 07:56
    This is a really fun and challenging course .it is one of NW Michigan's best kept secrets love going back here time and time again..BTW the ten hole is a real trip,
  • The Chief Golf Course
    4.5 stars out of 5
    by Daniel Downey
    on April 21st, 2015 11:02
    The Chief earns its reputation as a very challenging golf course. A player must control his golf ball on this course not only in the fairway but also by the many elevated greens. Easy to hit the ball into the woods so take a few extra sleeves. The Chief is a course that my group chooses each year for our 3 day, 36 holes a day golf trip. The challenge is definitely worth it!
  • The Chief Golf Course
    5 stars out of 5
    by Jeff Hudson
    on March 25th, 2012 18:37
    Thie Chief is an amazing golf course. I have played the course several times and it is always very well maintained, and the staff has always been very polite. It can be very challenging especially the first few times you play it, but once you know the layout it will be the course that you compare all others to. Give it a try. You won't be sorry!
  • The Chief Golf Course
    3 stars out of 5
    by kenk
    on May 24th, 2010 19:48
    great views but too tough ifeel for the average golfer
    would choose hawks eye instead
  • The Chief Golf Course
    5 stars out of 5
    by Dan Capua
    on October 01st, 2009 14:56
    It was heaven on Earth,Cant go wrong here
  • The Chief Golf Course
    4 stars out of 5
    by Johnny 3Fingers
    on June 02nd, 2009 08:26
    The Cheif is a nice course if you are really up for a challenge. Most of the holes, the green is not visible from the tee box. Sometimes the end of the fairway isnt visible either. My group found it helpful to take the cart up and preview the hole. Dont get me wrong, the course is really beautiful with alot of room between holes, we didnt hardly see anyone else on the course. Just for our group of mid to high handicappers, we found ourselves taking alot of odd shots off of the fairways. but still alot of fun to play and admire the beauty of the course layout
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