King's Challenge GC in Cedar, Michigan

King's Challenge Golf Club in Cedar, Mich., about 20 minutes northwest of Traverse City, and is an upscale Arnold Palmer design featuring great elevation changes and good shot values.

Opened in 1998 as part of the Sugarloaf Resort, King's Challenge survived the would-be skiing mecca's closure not long afterward. The golf course runs in and out of the old ski hill, with dormant lifts between some holes. While a little short for top golfers, it's a good challenge for everyone else. The highlight is the beautiful and difficult par-5 eighth, from the scenically elevated tee to the small, pond-guarded green.