Take on Arnold Palmer on the Legend golf course at Shanty Creek Resorts in Bellaire

BELLAIRE, Mich. -- Golf has been played at Shanty Creek Resorts in northern Michigan since the Summit Course opened in 1965, but the resort came on the national radar when Arnold Palmer designed the Legend Course, which opened in 1986.

The Legend plays around Summit Village, one of the ski hills at Shanty Creek, and rolls up and down the mountain, affording high drama and lots of elevation changes on many tree-lined holes.

The course begins with a player-friendly par 5 that heads straight downhill and is 496 yards, making for an easy birdie opportunity out of the gate with a good drive. There are many tight doglegs and water hazards here, which makes the 6,764 yards from the championship tees more demanding. The Legend boasts a 73.6/137 slope/rating from the back tees.

Since the Legend Course opened, Shanty Creek Resorts has added a fourth golf course, Cedar River, which was built by Tom Weiskopf and opened in 1999.

Also located at Summit Village is the original Summit golf course, while Cedar River is a few miles away and has its own lodge and clubhouse.

Shanty Creek Resorts - Legend golf course - hole 18

The 18th hole on the Legend golf course at Shanty Creek Resorts is a long, dogleg left par 4.

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Shanty Creek Resorts - Legend golf course - hole 1

The opening hole on the Legend golf course at Shanty Creek Resorts is a short, downhill par 5.

Brandon Tucker/TravelGolf

Shanty Creek Resorts - Legend GC - hole 2

The par-4 second hole on the Legend GC at Shanty Creek Resorts is a sharply uphill hole with hazard before the green.

Brandon Tucker/TravelGolf

Shanty Creek Resorts - Legend golf course - hole 3

The third hole on the Legend golf course at Shanty Creek Resorts is a dogleg right par 4.

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Shanty Creek Resorts - Legend golf course - hole 4

The par-3 fourth hole on the Legend golf course at Shanty Creek Resorts.

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Shanty Creek Resorts - Legend golf course - hole 6

One of many elevated tee shots on the Legend golf course at Shanty Creek Resorts is the par-4 sixth hole.

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Shanty Creek Resorts - Legend G.C. - hole 7

The par-5 seventh hole on the Legend G.C. at Shanty Creek Resorts features a creek running before the green.

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Shanty Creek Resorts - Legend golf course - hole 10

The 10th hole on the Legend golf course at Shanty Creek Resorts is a downhill par 4.

Brandon Tucker/TravelGolf

Shanty Creek Resorts - Legend GC - hole 12

The par-3 15th hole on the Legend GC at Shanty Creek Resorts plays over water.

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Shanty Creek Resorts - Legend golf course - hole 15

The par-3 17th hole on the Legend golf course at Shanty Creek Resorts plays 190 yards downhill.

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Shanty Creek Resorts in Bellaire - Summit Lounge

Shanty Creek Resorts' Lakeview Restaurant was part of a $10 million renovation and overlooks Torch Lake.

Courtesy of Shanty Creek Resorts

Lakeview Hotel and Conference Center at Summit Village

The Legend course plays next to the Lakeview Hotel & Conference Center at Summit Village.

Courtesy of Shanty Creek Resorts

Legend Golf Course at Shanty Creek

The Legend Course is one of four championship golf courses at Shanty Creek in Bellaire, one of northern Michigan's most popular golfing destinations. The Legend might be the most well known of the four since it is the club's Arnold Palmer design. It has been ranked as one of the top four resort courses in the country and the best resort course in the Midwest.

Also see these nearby courses: