Mountain Ridge Course at Crystal Mountain Resort
Thompsonville, Michigan 49683
Benzie County
Phone(s): (844) 254-0011, (231) 378-2911
Fax: (231) 378-4757
Website: crystalmountain.com
Crystal Mountain is one of northern Michigan's premier golfing destinations, offering two scenic championship golf courses that play across wooded hills. The Mountain Ridge and Betsie Valley Courses share the same scenic landscape but they offer two completely unique layouts. Mountain Ridge was carefully carved from densely forested highlands that climb to a peak of 200 feet. The challenging design incorporates tree-lined fairways and expansive waste bunkers. The 13th is the most difficult hole on the golf course and it is also the longest par 4. A narrow driving area is framed with a bunker to the left and a large beech tree on the right but then golfers are also faced with a challenging green that is protected by a bunker on the left and falls off to the right. Although it is a formidable test, four sets of tees make it more approachable.
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Golf course details
- Holes: 18
- Designed by: Bill Newcomb
- Public/Private: Resort
- Year opened: 1998
- Golf Season: Open: 4/15 Closed: 10/15
- Guest Policy: Open
- Tee times welcomed: Yes
- Fairways: Blue 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: $55 - $85
- Weekends: $60 - $95
- Check prices
Course policies
- Metal spikes allowed: No
- Dress code: Appropriate golf attire
- Credit cards accepted: VISA, MasterCard, Amex, Discover Welcomed
Length, slope and rating for each tee
| Tee | Par | Yardage | Slope | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Back | 72 | 6258 | 129 | 69.8 |
| Forward | 72 | 4956 | 123 | 69.4 |
| Member | 72 | 5700 | 122 | 67.6 |
| Championship | 72 | 7007 | 135 | 73.5 |
Reader Ratings / Reviews
- Course was in great shape. Very challenging but fair.
Pro shop staff was extremely courteous, helpful, and polite.
We were a little disappointed with the bag drop staff, though. There were quite a few young men and women available and not busy, yet no one offered to help remove our clubs from our vehicle, When we finished, there was no offer to clean clubs or help in moving them to the bag rack. Just a lack of interest - kind of unusual for a venue that bills itself as a golf resort.
well-groomed downhill runs or a golf resort with 36 holes of championship golf. Yet, regardless of the
season, it’s one of Northern Michigan’s best resorts.
Crystal Mountain has the most unique history of any resort I have ever written about. It began as a
school project when a geography teacher at Benzonia High School tasked his students to find the best
place in Benzie County, MI to start a ski area. After much research and debate the class determined the
Buck Hills Range offered the best combination of terrain and snowfall.
The Buck Hills Ski Area became a reality in 1956 with a rope tow powered by an old pick-up truck engine
and a warming hut built with donated lumber. In 1960, Buck Hills became Crystal Mountain Resort when
it was purchased by a group of 96 shareholders, many of whom had homes nearby. The new owners
made many substantial upgrades including a new lodge with dining and 21 rooms for overnight guests.
By 1966, ownership had dwindled to a small handful of owners who realized that the best way for the
resort to be profitable was to make it a year-round destination. Fast forward to 1981 and sole ownership
of Crystal Mountain came down to the flip of a coin between George Petritz and Robert Meyer. Crystal
Mountain has been owned by the Petritz family ever since.
Golf entered the equation at Crystal Mountain in 1977 with the opening of the Betsie Valley golf course.
Mountain Ridge followed in 1995. Both Betsie Valley and Mountain Ridge have received the prestigious
4-star rating from Golf Digest Magazine and are members of America's Summer Golf Capital, a collection of resort properties that feature 26 golf courses across northern Michigan. Both courses play out of the same clubhouse, which features a well-stocked pro shop, The Thistle restaurant and bar, and an outdoor patio complete with a bar, grill, and often times live music.
Before your round, be sure to visit Crystal Mountain’s 10-acre learning center and practice facility. You’ll
find a targeted grass range, along with a short game area featuring chipping and putting greens
complete with sand bunkers for practicing. Everything you need for a quick tune-up before heading to
the first tee! The Learning Center is also home to Crystal Mountain Golf School, which has been
recognized as one of the best golf schools by Golf Digest. They feature a variety of single or multi-day
lesson options including private, group, women-only, and juniors.
The Mountain Ridge course was carved from the mountainside, so it offers both a challenge and some
terrific views. The golf course covers a range of elevation changes from subtle to spectacular; in all,
you’ll ascend over 200’ during your round. Mountain Ridge is situated among huge Northern Michigan
pine trees that frame many of the fairways and greens. Water is a predominant factor on the first four
holes, guarding the left side of both #1 and #2 greens, and then off the tee on Numbers 3 and 4. You
won’t see the wet stuff again until the 9th hole. After that, you only see it on Numbers 10 and 12.
Bunkers and sandy waste areas are more prevalent on Mountain Ridge than on Betsie Valley and usually
factor into play. This course emphasizes brains over brawn, and having a sound strategy for each hole is
important.
Like its sister course, Betsie Valley, Mountain Ridge is very playable and offers the same four sets of tees and combo yardage with distances ranging from 6,973 to 5,018 yards. I found the White Tees again to be a fitting challenge.
With a course this beautiful there are many memorable holes but what I remember most are the par 3s;
they were scenic, challenging, and fun to play. The second hole plays 143 yards, slightly downhill into an
hourglass-shaped green with bunkers on either side as well as water on the left. The green is deeper
than it is wide, so distance control is important.
The 183-yard, 5th hole plays slightly downhill and sometimes one club less than usual. With one
large bunker front left and three more surrounding the back of the green, playing to the front right
portion may not be a bad idea, regardless of where the pin is. Be sure to take in the views before you
tee off.
Number 12 may be the toughest of these four. It plays 177 yards and the deep-faced grass bunker in
front of the green gives it the feeling of a much shorter hole. Don’t be fooled though; as you will want to
hit one extra club to carry your ball onto the green avoiding the grass bunker in front. Anything hit short
right will likely find the waste area or bunker.
Mountain Ridge hole number 17 is the course’s signature par three, playing 169 yards straight downhill.
The green slopes front to back, which makes it harder to stop the ball on the putting surface.
When it comes to accommodations, Crystal Mountain has the widest variety of any golf or ski
resort—everything from hotel-style rooms that sleep two or four guests to mountainside homes that
sleep up to 14. There are bungalows and cottages to choose from; all are equipped with everything
you’ll need during your visit and, if you need something, just ask. They have the politest staff I have ever
met. Visit the website for a complete rundown of everything they offer, including a long list of
houseguest perks.
Crystal Mountain offers several dining alternatives from pizza and subs at Betsie River Pizza to casual
fine dining at The Thistle. As its name implies, this Scottish-themed venue has something for everyone.
It’s best described as come-as-you-are fine dining. The menu is eclectic with everything from burgers
and fries to Cornish hen and rack of lamb. Breakfast is served daily at the Wild Tomato with just about
any breakfast food you can think of. They also serve lunch and dinner. During the winter, Wild Tomato
adds several “igloos” to their property where you can enjoy a cocktail and shareables outside under the
twinkling lights of the Michigan sky.
A golf vacation to Northern Michigan just isn’t complete without a visit to Crystal Mountain.