Chestnut Valley GCChestnut Valley Golf Course

Chestnut Valley Golf Course
1875 Club House Dr
Harbor Springs, Michigan 49740
Emmet County

Phone(s): (231) 526-9100
Fax: (888) 833-9524
Website: chestnutvalleygolf.com


The 19-hole Chestnut Valley Golf Course in Harbor Springs, MI is a semi-private golf course that opened in 1994. Designed by Larry Mancour, Chestnut Valley Golf Course measures 6406 yards from the longest tees and has a slope rating of 125 and a 71.8 USGA rating. The course features 3 sets of tees for different skill levels. The greens are bent grass and the fairways are bermuda grass.

Chestnut Valley Golf Course
4.5 stars out of 5 (based on 5 reviews)
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A view from Chestnut Valley Golf CourseA view of a tee at Chestnut Valley Golf Course

Golf course details

  • Holes: 19
  • Designed by: Larry Mancour
  • Public/Private: Semi-Private
  • Year opened: 1994
  • Golf Season: Open: 4/01 Closed: 11/01
  • Guest Policy: Open
  • Tee times welcomed: Yes
  • Fairways: Bermuda Grass
  • Greens: Bent Grass

Facilities

  • Pro in house: Yes
  • Driving range: Yes
  • Rental clubs: Yes
  • Rental carts: Yes - included in green fees

Green fees price ranges

  • Week days: $59
  • Weekends: $70

Course policies

  • Metal spikes allowed: No
  • Dress code:
  • Credit cards accepted: VISA, MasterCard Welcomed

Length, slope and rating for each tee

Tee Par Yardage Slope Rating
Blue 72 6406 125 71.8
Red (W) 72 5166 116 72.1
White 72 6007 118 69.5

Reader Ratings / Reviews

  • Chestnut Valley Golf Course
    4.5 stars out of 5
    by Matt Bedtelyon
    on October 02nd, 2020 13:24
    Chestnut Valley is a wonderful place and a great value for golf in Northern Michigan. It is a public 18 hole course located away from all of the city life. Too hilly to walk but we found that all of the rates included a cart at no extra charge. Course is one of the nicest we have golfed in the area, and its grounds crew and staff seem to have everything dialed in perfectly. It has a wonderful driving range, and a practice tee. Greens seem a little faster this year, and it just keeps getting better. The Pro Shop is small, but well stocked. I would highly recommend this course to any golfers who get to the Harbor Springs area. Prices are slightly less then neighboring courses and it will not disappoint you!
  • Chestnut Valley Golf Course
    4 stars out of 5
    by David Theoret
    on September 21st, 2018 12:54
    The Chestnut Valley Golf Course & Restaurant is a semi-private facility that opened for play in 1994. The course was designed by local PGA professional Larry Mancour and is located in Harbor Springs, Michigan. Chestnut Valley plays 6,506 yards from the back tees with a course rating of 69.9 and a slope of 120. A second set of tees plays 6,007 yards (67.8/114), while ladies will have an enjoyable time from the Red Tees at 5,166 yards (68.4/116). Choose the set of tees that best match your game and you’ll have a good time. Chestnut Valley has been awarded a 4-star rating from Golf Digest.

    Chestnut Valley gets its name from the American Chestnut Tree, which is very rare. The golf course is fortunate to have one of the few remaining American Chestnut Trees in the nation, located between the 10th and 11th holes. Everyone’s best guess is that this one is around 125 years old. The course sits within a beautiful log home community in Michigan’s northern hardwood forest.

    You won’t find anything fancy at Chestnut Valley; what you will find is a fun, friendly and affordable golf experience that will test even the best of golfers and leave everyone who plays with some fond memories. The front nine plays over 400 yards longer than the back regardless of which tees you play. It’s also a par 37 with a 3rd par 5 thrown in. The front nine cuts its way through the Northern Michigan forest and can be a little tight in spots, while the back nine is considerably shorter and more forgiving. The course has well-groomed Bermuda fairways and mildly undulating Bentgrass greens. If you’re still tied after the round or need to recoup some losses, there’s a short par 3, 19th hole.

    Before your round you can warm up Chestnut Valley’s full-length driving range and take a few putts on the practice green to get an idea what you’ll be facing once you get out on the course.

    Memorable Holes (All Yardage is From the White Tees)

    Number 5, Par 4, 370 yards. It may not be the longest par 4 on the course, but according to the scorecard, it is the most difficult. It’s a slight dogleg right with a strategically placed fairway bunker that awaits errant tee shots on the left. With trees bearing in on the fairway on the right, the landing area tends to look small. The approach shot plays uphill and will require at least one extra club. There is a lot of undulation in the green as well. A word of advice: Try and keep your approach shot below the hole.

    Number 6 Par 5, 482 yards. There is no trouble on this hole other than the trees that line both sides of the fairway. Play your tee shot down the left center of the fairway, if you can hit a fade, even better. A good tee shot will give you a look into the green and the opportunity to get home in two, The green angles away from you and is wide left to right but shallow front to back. A back left pin placement can be tricky.

    Number 9, Par 4, 325 yards. There’s something about a short hole that is exciting, however this shorty is no pushover. Accuracy is more important than distance here as trees line the right side and the driving range is OB on the left. All you need to do off the tee is find the fairway. A lone pot bunker on the left can ruin what you thought was a perfect tee shot. There’s also another bunker guarding the front left side of the green. The green slopes back to front, so play your approach shot just short of the green and watch it funnel down.

    Number 11: Par 3, 110 yards. A short par three with a difficult green. Your tee shot needs to be deadly accurate as a bunker guards the right side of the green. The green slopes left to right and should you fly the green, just head to the drop area. Short off the tee is much better than long.

    Number 12, Par 4, 270. A quick look at the scorecard and you’re thinking drivable green. Not so fast; it’s uphill and plays a lot longer than indicated. For those of you that decide not to go for the gusto, be warned: There’s a fairway bunker about 200 yards out on the right and a grass berm about 240 yards out on the left. A bunker back right tends to catch long shots. Hit it on the road to the right and just go ahead and retee. If you’re putting from the lower level of this two-tiered green (front right and rear left) be sure to hit it hard enough to get up the hill or you’ll be doing it all over again. A short hole that can provide unfavorable results if played incorrectly.

    Number 15. Par 4, 370 yards. This is the beginning of what may be the best four finishing holes in the area. A well-placed bunker waits for anything hit right and a large gully awaits any approach shot that is hit short, making it necessary to carry the green. The green slopes upward from front to back. Play this hole down the right side to have the best angle into the green. Mishit your tee shot and you’ll probably have to layup in front of the gully.

    Number 18: Par 5, 495 yards. This double dogleg par 5 starts out to the right and then comes back left, only to go right again. You’ll need a good tee shot to make it to the crest of the hill, which will give you a good look downhill into the green. The landing area for your tee shot is narrow with fairway and grass bunkers populating the landing area of your layup shot. There’s also some heather on the right side that needs to be avoided. Two solid shots will leave a short pitch into the green and a good chance at par or better.

    Dining

    After your round, stop by the restaurant for some well-prepared food and your favorite post-golf libations. They offer both lunch and dinner menus and have some of the best grilled chicken sandwiches and burgers in the area. After 5pm, the dinner menu kicks in, with entrees such as an 8 oz. Center Cut Sirloin or Sautéed Walleye. All entrees are served with potatoes, vegetables and a dinner roll. On Fridays it’s all you can eat perch night and Saturday features slow roasted prime rib. There’s also a complete kids menu. No wonder many of the locals show up just for the food.

    Stay and Play

    Although there are no accommodations on property, Chestnut Valley has teamed up with a few local providers to offer some stay and play packages. The Crooked River Lodge is located about 10 minutes east of the golf course and offers cozy log cabin rentals. Trout Creek offers vacation condominium rentals and Land Masters offers both condos and vacation homes. Visit the Chestnut Valley website for more information.

    Last Word: It’s not high class or over the top; what you see is pretty much what you get at Chestnut Valley. General Manager Lloyd Swadling IV has put together a friendly and knowledgeable staff who not only go out of their way to make sure you enjoy your time here, but can also offer some tips on how to best play the course. Out here you’ll find that the course can be somewhat challenging and if you start to get overwhelmed, just look around at the natural beauty and terrific views that God has created. Chestnut Valley offers good values for both golf and food and is well worth checking out if you’re in the area.
  • Chestnut Valley Golf Course
    4 stars out of 5
    by Mary Ready
    on July 07th, 2018 01:02
    The course was reworked about three years ago, changing some tee positions and adding one new tee for a total of four for all levels of play. Some very interesting holes with unique challenges, but fun for all levels of players. Friendly and accommodating staff. Restaurant is casual with expansive windows overlooking the first and 18th fairways. Very nice menu, limited for lunch, but more expansive for dinner. The Friday perch fry is the best of the North. I have played almost all of the public and private courses in the area, and this little gem continues to be my favorite.
  • Chestnut Valley Golf Course
    5 stars out of 5
    by Kathy Davis
    on April 01st, 2011 12:15
    Wonderful natural course with great 19th hole.great people
  • Chestnut Valley Golf Course
    4 stars out of 5
    by Dan Capua
    on October 01st, 2009 14:58
    It is a fun course and great bar after a round
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