The Tribute Course is one of two golf courses at the Otsego Club. With its other course, the Classic, Otsego was the first of what is now Gaylord's golf mecca. Added in 2001, the Tribute is the newer of the two but it has quickly made a name for itself. In addition to being a challenge, the course also offers picturesque scenery on almost every hole. more»
Built in 1939, the Classic Course, as its name would imply, has a traditional layout that is straightforward with no hidden tricks or hazards. The golf course sprawls across scenic parkland that overlooks the nearby Sturgeon River Valley. more»
Many Michigan golf resorts double as ski resorts filled with winter sports activities. Or, as skiers would argue, they're ski resorts disguised as golf vacation destinations. Whatever side of the argument you land, Jason Scott Deegan offers up some great places to hang out in any season, green or white.
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Many of northern Michigan's highest-profile golf courses are modern developments.
But world-class courses in this region, which is seemingly ideal for the game, are nothing new. In fact, golf has been a major draw here for more than a century. It's just that the courses from yesteryear are very different than what we see today. If you know where to look, you can sample some of the best courses, old and new, built by some of golf's most prolific architects.
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LochenHeath Golf Club, which originally opened in 2001, closed for all of 2009 and most of 2010 until it was purchased by new owners, who opened the Steve Smyers design for 2011. LochenHeath gives players of this public course a feeling they've snuck into a private club. Jason Scott Deegan shows us more in this photo gallery.
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The reopening of LochenHeath Golf Club after a two-year closure can be traced to the unwavering commitment of a handful of its original members. But can the course maintain its momentum in a state that is losing more players than it is gaining? Jason Scott Deegan has more on LochenHeath.
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The Gaylord Golf Mecca in northern Michigan proclaims to be "America's Summer Golf Capital." The mecca will celebrate its 25th anniversary next summer. Its staying power comes from the variety of 21 courses and 20 lodging properties, providing something for every budget. Here are the 10 reasons why Gaylord should be your next summer getaway.
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Let's say you're a links lover, oenophile and movie buff. Where would you go to get your fill of all three? Traverse City, in northern Michigan. The Traverse City Film Festival is the premier pull in summer, and eight wineries pepper a 22-mile strip that's become renowned for its production of 45th-parallel varietals. But golf -- at courses such as Kingsley Club and Forest Dunes -- remains the top draw for links lovers on the go.
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Three founding fathers of golf in northern Michigan are celebrating significant milestones. The Bear at Grand Traverse Resort & Spa celebrated its 25th anniversary last summer. The Legend at Shanty Creek Resorts and The Masterpiece at Treetops Resort are in the midst of their silver anniversary birthdays this season. All three have aged with grace. Veteran Michigan golf writer Jason Deegan pays homage to the threesome that started it all.
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Arcadia Bluffs Golf Club, sitting on bluffs high above Lake Michigan, is considered to be the top public golf course in Michigan according to many state and national rankings. Arcadia Bluffs features five par 5s, including three on the first five holes, so bring your swing to the first tee.
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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. Here's a photo tour of The King's handiwork at Shanty Creek Resorts.
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Northern Michigan is filled with big resorts and top-notch golf courses, but there's a quiet, family owned and friendly place you can go to get away from it all -- Hidden River Golf and Casting Club. While Hidden River may be a notch below the area's nationally acclaimed golf courses, it should still be part of your northern Michigan golf tour.
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