Crystal Mountain

Depending on your perspective – or favorite season – Crystal Mountain is either a ski resort with 59 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 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 oftentimes 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.

Since opening in 1977, the Betsie Valley course has received many upgrades, most recently from the summer of 2021 to the spring of 2022. Renovations included widening the fairways, building new tee boxes, a forestry management project to clear out brush, redesigned cart paths, and more. Even with all of these changes, the course still retains its original character and is now more playable than ever before.

Betsie Valley is spread across the rolling terrain which is blanketed in mature forests of pine and hardwoods. Water comes into play on several holes, and although there are only a few bunkers on the entire course, the majority of golfers tend to find at least one during their rounds. The tight, tree-lined fairways are often accented with wildflowers and lead to small, severely sloped greens making Betsie Valley is more of a shot-maker’s course. Golfers are welcome to walk or ride the course.

Both nines start with short but challenging par fives. The first hole plays 462 yards with water on either side of the landing area off the tee, so accuracy is required right off the bat. It’s a double dogleg and requires three good shots in a row to get on the green. Most players will opt to layup rather than try to get on in two as the fairway gets very narrow the closer you get to the green. The green is guarded by water on the right and fescue grass to the left.

Remember those “few bunkers” I mentioned? Two of them are located just right of the 7th green, which is bad news for most golfers. It’s a short, 129-yard par 3 with a narrow approach that feeds errant tee shots right of the green and into those bunkers!

You may think that the 10th hole is a short par 5, at only 444 yards, but as you stand on the tee box studying the dramatic uphill nature of the hole, all of a sudden 444 yards isn’t short anymore! In fact, it may play up to 75 yards longer! It’s a dogleg right that just seems to keep on turning, and with trees lining both sides of the fairway, it emphasizes shot control over distance.

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.

Depending on your perspective – or favorite season – Crystal Mountain is either a ski resort with 59 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 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 oftentimes 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.

Since opening in 1977, the Betsie Valley course has received many upgrades, most recently from the summer of 2021 to the spring of 2022. Renovations included widening the fairways, building new tee boxes, a forestry management project to clear out brush, redesigned cart paths, and more. Even with all of these changes, the course still retains its original character and is now more playable than ever before.

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 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.

Crystal Mountain is a pretty cool resort in general. In fact, the California Club in the restaurant was probably the best I've ever had. Unfortunately, the Mountain Ridge golf course is just overpriced for what you get. At $140 I would have expected to not be hitting out of mud on numerous tee boxes.

The layout is decent. Some holes are VERY average and some holes are pretty cool, but overall nothing to write home about.

Pace of play on a Saturday morning was very slow. There were 3 groups lined up on #1 when we teed off. We waited every hole and almost every shot.

The course has some challenging aspects to it, but attention to detail was lacking. No way they should be charging over $100 to play this course. let alone $140. $75 would be doable based on the condition in June 2023.

The greens however, were in great shape and rolling nicely.

Overall, just a big let down in course quality and conditions based on price.

it was a beautiful day to play golf in October. The course was beautiful as usual. The tees were pretty beat up but he rest of the course was still in great shape.

Great course. Beautiful views and great conditions. Everything about the experience was great. Will definitely be back next time in the area (we live 4 hrs away)

Most of the front 9 is nothing special other than a hole or 3 that were beautiful. I started to feel as if i wasted my time and $ playing the round. However 10 tee surprised me with its immediate uphill elevation / tee shot. The back 9 is beautiful and true Northern Michigan golf. The back 9 definitely saved the day and makes the course worth what I paid. Glad I played it.

I went here with my dad on family vacation at twilight time. Its a nice course through the woods of the Northwest LP and a fair amount of variety. There are four different tee boxes, a good deal of elevation change, and smooth greens that are swift but bot crazy fast. The fairways are fairly open and there are a couple doglegs but its pretty straightforward. It's totally worth it at the twilight rate but I would not personally pay the full rate for what you get.
This is nicer than the other Crystal Mountain Resort Course and more manageable than Arcadia nearby. Its worth trying for a price when you are around here.

The golf experience on Betsie Valley has always been considered a step down from Mountain Ridge. The gap is closing with a renovation that is altering several holes, opening up corridors and making them more playable. With fewer trees, conditions should improve.
On the day I played, several holes had temporary greens, but you could see the potential. I look forward to seeing the finished product.

Mountain Ridge has gained fame as the host of the Michigan Women's Open, an event that attracts aspiring pros from around the country.
It's the perfect resort course - tough enough for a highly respected championship but fun and engaging for 9-10-handicaps like me. It's generally flat until the final stretch climbs up the ski hill and ends dramatically with a go-for-it-in-two downhill par 5. It's great fun.

Staff was great and the course was beautiful. Working on making updates to a few holes and I can't wait to return to see the results!

This is an unattractive course, and in worse overall condition than most municipal tracks I have played. Most of the residential property that surrounds the course is under heavy construction…which I get…it has to be done sometime…but construction aside, this course is still not worth your money.

Beautiful course, great layout, challenging holes. Greens in fantastic condition, people so nice,,will definitely play here again, and would recommend to anyone, fun to play.

Played the Mountain Ridge course on the last day of a buddies golf trip. Greens were fantastic. Not wicked fast but rolled very true. A nice break from the toughness of Arcadia Bluffs but still not a pushover course. All of the staff were very friendly and the practice area was nice as well.

Mountain Ridge is one of my favorites in Michigan. Each hole is different and keeps you guessing, unlike some other resort courses. As you near the end of your round, you take the cart path up the mountain and are met with the best three finishing holes in the area. You can sometimes get stuck behind groups of people (it is a resort, after all), but don't let that stop you from coming. This is a wonderful course and I would definitely recommend playing it.

This is a pretty average resort golf course. The pace of play is usually slow due to the lower cost, meaning the less-skilled players usually choose it over its higher-priced sibling. The greens are nice, but some of the other conditioning is a little lackluster. It's a somewhat challenging track in a few places due to the protected greens, but an average player should be able to score pretty well here. You'll have fun if you play Betsie Valley. It's certainly not a bad course, but it's just dwarfed by how good Mountain Ridge is. It's just a shame it always has to be compared to a much better course.