Arcadia Bluffs - Arcadia, MI

I've played it several times.  (In fact it's my avatar).  It's a beautiful course and facility, and you have awesome views throughout the course.  It's a tough course to play, especially if the wind is strong coming off the lake.  When the wind is really blowing, it takes a while to get dialed in on the club adjustments.  Playing a lot of knockdowns helps, but you still have to deal with it. 

You'll love the course.  It's on par with anything in the country and certainly one of the best public tracks in the Midwest.  I play it at least once a year, and it's always a treat.
 

I think it's significantly better than Whistling Straits (which is also a great course).  If it was easier to get to and had better amenities nearby, it would be top 10 public.

I have played Arcadia several times, although it has been a couple of years since I made it up there.

It is absolutely worth it - besides an amazing view of the lake from every hole, the course itself can be very challenging (depending on the weather). Every time I've been there the staff in the pro shop, on the course and in the restaurant have been very friendly and helpful.

There are people I play with locally that won't go there due to a 3+ hour drive, it really is pretty close to the middle of nowhere; and the fees $180 prime time - but compared to what I've paid to play other destination courses in CA and NC, that is a bargain for what you are playing.

If you can stay for sunset and dinner - it is truly worth the experience.

I have family & friends coming up for an event this July & hopefully I can get a few of them over to Arcadia for a round or two.

Spyder,

It's a pretty cool place.  Entirely artificial golf course with unbelievable views and a whole bunch of thrilling shots.  

Here's a course review with a lot of pictures: http://onegolferstravels.blogspot.ca/2012/01/arcadia-bluffs-golf-club-review.html

If you can figure a way to get on to either, don't miss The Kingsley Club (http://www.kingsleyclub.com) or Crystal Downs (http://onegolferstravels.blogspot.ca/2011/12/crystal-downs-cc.html)

I haven't played there, but hear good things about Belvedere, a Willie Watson design(!): http://www.belvederegolfclub.com

Belvedere is a nice track, but it's not close to Arcadia.  It's about a 2 1/2 hour drive with no slow traffic.  There's just not a good way to get there from Arcadia.  Also if you were going to go to Charlevoix, I'd just say go another 25 minutes and play Bay Harbor, which is probably the second best golf "experience" in Michigan behind Arcadia (Public courses anyways).  Or save yourself an hour and a half of driving and just play Lochenheath in Traverse City.

Crystal Downs is the best course in Michigan, and rivals anything else in the country (it's routinely listed in the top 10 tracks in the nation.  However, it's impossible to play unless you know a member.  It's pretty much as private as private gets in Michigan. 

Kingsley Club is also a great one, and a little easier to access but still private. 

Other courses of note in the area:

Manistee National - Cutter's Ridge is a pretty nice course that's on your way to Arcadia.  A lot of people will pair this with Arcadia and play 36.

Crystal Mountain has free golf this year from 12-3.  I forget the details, but I believe it's M-Th, 12-3, on their Mountain Ridge course which is a decent track.  A little hike from Arcadia, but not too bad (45 minutes to an hour). 

Heathlands in Onekema is an okay track.

It should be noted that none of these courses even remotely begin to compare to Arcadia, but are solid tracks at reasonable rates that can be played along with AB.  Cutter's Ridge is definitely the best of the group.