FEATURE STORY

How much is
too much when
it comes to golf?

By Jason Scott,
Senior Writer

TROY, Mich. (May 24, 2004) - The Michigan golf monster will continue to grow this year, feeding itself fat with nine new courses.

Those additions are nowhere near the figures that made Michigan the nation's No. 1 course builder for five straight years in the 1990s. Still, the state already leads the country with 800-plus public courses, how many more can it support?

• On the record with Mike Tirico • Michigan golf course reviews • Robert Trent Jones, Sr. Masterpiece Course at Treetops Resort

As golfers, all of us can get excited about new places to play and the competition they provide, which drives greens fees down, but we also wonder how many of these properties will change ownership within five years, as has been the case with many designs of the last course-building frenzy.

It will be interesting to watch which is the lesser of two evils - building in a crowded market, like True North in Harbor Springs and Sanctuary Lake in Troy, or building in a small market that doesn't have many quality courses, but is also less accessible to the masses (Peacock Ridge in Marcellus, just southwest of Kalamazoo, comes to mind).

Here's a firsthand look at Michigan's new additions (in order of projected opening). Let's hope they all find a niche in the state's crowded golf market.

The Hawk's Eye Golf Club in Bellaire - David Hill, the head professional for Hawk's Eye and its sister property, the Chief, says the 7,011-yard course can hold its own with any of the major resort properties up north, including nearby Shanty Creek Resort, and it costs about one-third less ($89 is its peak summer rate). Golf packages to play both courses top out at $139. Small ponds dot Hawks Eye, and play prominently on the first three holes. The rating (74.6) and slope (140) imply a rugged challenge. Ten brand-new cottages on the Chief will serve as a home base for golfers. It opened last fall.

The Nightmare in West Branch - Don't be intimidated by the name. This course, a sister to The Dream, opened for limited play last August. It' s in an ideal location. You can either play it on your way up to northern Michigan on Interstate-75 or on your way back. West Branch is also the home of one of Michigan's most popular outlet malls. If your spouse doesn't golf, you two can head in separate directions for five hours and both come back smiling. Green fees top out at $75.

Angels Crossing Golf Club in Vicksburg - Angels Crossing, which overlooks Portage Creek and Barton Lake, is a symbol of rebirth in this quiet village just southeast of Kalamazoo. When the Fox River Paper Company left the area in the economic downturn of 2001, the move eliminated 250 jobs and roughly 23 percent of the village's tax base. A group of local investors, led by Bob Thompson, have created a course and residential development on the mill's old irrigation fields. Eighteen of the proposed 27 holes, all designed by Michigan-based W. Bruce Matthews III, opened in May, introducing golfers to a classic architectural style not native to the state. The 7,169-yard course looks more like a century-old creation on the East Coast. Cost is under $40, including cart.

Stonegate Golf Club in Twin Lake - This 6,890-yard residential course just northeast of Muskegon could open June 15, according to Superintendent Jeff Knowlton. Architect Pat Grelak of Canton created a parkland layout with five sets of tees and a mere 25 bunkers. Three holes play over a natural ravine. The highest rates are $49 on weekends. A 6,000-square-foot clubhouse will come later, Knowlton said. "We intend to have upscale conditioning and moderate pricing," he added. A group of investors from Muskegon own the 450-acre course and 170-home real estate development.

College Fields Club in Okemos - This 6,800-yard course on 300 acres of pastureland will be the focal point of a 250-home real estate development by Tartan Development Company in an affluent suburb of Lansing, the state capital. Architect Tom Mead and David Savic of Old Course Design created a classic layout with six sets of tees. It plans to go private soon, so play it while you can. It is set to open in late summer, possibly by August.

True North in Harbor Springs - The 7,017-yard course, designed by Jim Engh, Golf Digest's 2003 architect of the year, will be a private club eventually, but it will have limited public access during membership buildup. It is already the first golf course in Michigan to become a member of Audubon International's prestigious Silver Signature program. The Silver Signature designation recognizes a club's commitment to environmental planning and resource management. Founders Jeff Brown and Brad McGinnis' master plan calls for 72 home sites as well. It is set to open August 1.

Angels Crossing Golf Club 3600 East W Avenue Vicksburg, MI 49097 (269) 649-2700 www.golfangelscrossing.com The Hawk's Eye Golf Club 5820 Shanty Creek Road Bellaire, MI 49615 (231) 533-4295 or (800) 968-0129 www.hawks-eye.com/course The Nightmare 5266 Old 76 West Branch, MI, 48661 (989) 345-1500 www.golfnightmare.com College Fields Club 4036 Hagadorn Rd. Okemos, MI, 48864 (517) 333-3333 Stonegate Golf Club 4100 Sweeter Road Twin Lake, MI 49457 231-744-7200 www.stonegategolfclub.com Sanctuary Lake Golf Course 1450 E. South Blvd. Troy, MI, 48085 (248) 619-7600 www.ci.troy.mi.us/parks True North Golf Club 3750 W. Stusmanville Rd. Harbor Springs, MI 49740 (800) TRUE-NORTH www.truenorthgolf.com Grey Walls at Marquette Golf & Country Club 1075 Grove St. Marquette, MI 49855 (906) 226-6582 www.marquettegolf.org Peacock Ridge Golf Club 94777 M-40 Marcellus, MI 49067 (269) 646-3300

Peacock Ridge in Marcellus - Peacock Ridge, the restaurant and banquet facility, has been open since July of 2001, but the course, designed by co-owner Dane Terrill, has been slow in coming. It could open by July 1, but a wet spring might push that back a month. Gently rolling hills, five natural ponds and 25 bunkers highlight the par-71 layout. Three sets of tees will play from 6,350 yards to 5,100 yards. "It was designed with the beginning golfer in mind," said Terrill, who used to draw golf courses as a child but has no formal training in course architecture. The entire project cost about $2.2 million, Terrill said. Greens fees will run $24 (including cart) during the week and $32 on weekends.

Sanctuary Lake in Troy - This municipal course, which will be roughly 6,800 yards set on 195 acres, will complement its sister course, Sylvan Glen, which caters more to families, leagues and beginners. Sanctuary Lake, which could open as early as mid-July, will play tougher over natural wetlands and 68 bunkers. Kevin Grubb, the golf shop manager for the city of Troy, said more than a million feet of cubic dirt was brought in by architect Douglas Treadwell to cap an existing landfill. One hole tees off atop the big hill, dropping 100 feet to the fairway. A new clubhouse is already open, as is the driving range and golf academy, run by teacher Paul Toski. "The discussion on this dates back 15 years. Finally, everything came together," Grubb said.

Grey Walls in Marquette - In saving the best for last, the 6,773-yard par-71 Grey Walls probably won't open until September, but the buzz is already spreading. This could be Michigan's next natural wonder, along the same lines as Arcadia Bluffs and Bay Harbor Golf Club. Mike DeVries, best known for his work at The Kingsley Club, was chosen from a pool of 30 architects to craft a wooded, yet rocky, 300-acre site that the Marquette Golf & Country Club has owned for three decades into 18 memorable holes, just 400 yards from the existing 6,231-yard design.

Rock cliffs (hence the name Grey Walls) tower 60 to 80 feet above the fairways at points along the front nine before the property dips into a valley. Several streams and waterfalls complement the natural terrain. Views of Lake Superior add even more to the experience. "There are some huge elevation changes. This course is going to be unbelievable," head professional Marc Gilmore said, noting that membership is steadily climbing in anticipation of its new playground. A new clubhouse is planned for 2007, Gilmore said.

Any opinions expressed above are those of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of the management. The information in this story was accurate at the time of publication. All contact information, directions and prices should be confirmed directly with the golf course or resort before making reservations and/or travel plans.