Bring your 'A' game to survive Cutters' Ridge at Manistee National Golf & Resort in northern Michigan
MANISTEE, Mich. -- How good are you? Cutters' Ridge at Manistee National Golf & Resort separates the haves from the have-nots.
This Jerry Matthews design from 2000 just might be the toughest course, yard for yard, in Michigan. It's 6,654 yards of wetland and woods. Its slope from the tips soars to 149, quite possibly the highest in the state.
Wetlands lurk seemingly everywhere -- right of the first and 14th greens, right of the ninth and 17th fairways and forcing scary carries off the second, 10th, 11th and 18th tees. These aren't all of the ball-gobbling hazards, just a sample.
Manistee National General Manager Doug Bell says golfers wear how many balls they lose like a badge of honor.
Golf Advisor user "robertneal" recommends playing Cutters' Ridge despite its difficulty. He wrote: "Some really scenic holes, with lots of chances for trouble. Course is target golf in some cases, so bring your A game. Can be difficult depending on which box you play. Fun and pretty course overall."
Manistee National is also home to the Canthooke Valley Course, a Gary Pulsipher design.
![From the tips, the slope of the Cutters' Ridge golf course at Manistee National soars to 149, quite possibly the highest in the state of Michigan.](/departments/photo-galleries/images/small/58464.jpg)
![The first hole on the Cutters' Ridge golf course at Manistee National is a gentle starter.](/departments/photo-galleries/images/small/58465.jpg)
![The par-3 second hole on the Cutters' Ridge golf course at Manistee National plays over a wetland.](/departments/photo-galleries/images/small/58466.jpg)
![The green of the par-5 fourth hole on Cutters' Ridge at Manistee National Golf & Resort is tucked to the left behind a hazard.](/departments/photo-galleries/images/small/58467.jpg)
![A wetland crosses the third fairway on the Cutters' Ridge golf course at Manistee National in northern Michigan.](/departments/photo-galleries/images/small/58468.jpg)
![The wetland crossing the fifth fairway on the Cutters' Ridge golf course at Manistee National is in play.](/departments/photo-galleries/images/small/58469.jpg)
![Yep, you guessed it, more wetlands on the seventh hole on the Cutters' Ridge golf course at Manistee National.](/departments/photo-galleries/images/small/58470.jpg)
![On the par-3 eighth hole of the Cutters' Ridge golf course at Manistee National, the tee shot must hit and hold a plateau green.](/departments/photo-galleries/images/small/58471.jpg)
![The 10th hole on the Cutters' Ridge golf course at Manistee National looks intimidating off the tee until you reach a generous fairway.](/departments/photo-galleries/images/small/58472.jpg)
![The 190-yard carry off the 11th tee eats a lot of balls on the Cutters' Ridge golf course at Manistee National in northern Michigan.](/departments/photo-galleries/images/small/58473.jpg)