garvelink5

Gents, I have played almost every course in Northern Michigan and have been the group planner of an annual trip up north for more than 25 years so I know what I'm talking about. I personally think you have to much driving planned. The drive from Arcadia to Forest Dunes is about 2 hours 15 minutes. I have made the drive plenty of times as I will play both courses in the same day and its not an easy drive and its hard on the body. I would not recommend it as the roads are all 55 mph and your already driving enough coming from Ohio. I would also suggest going in May as you can get killer deals. Best option in my opinion. Friday - drive to Gaylord Michigan and play the Otsego Club (Tribute). This is ranked in the top 10 best courses in Michigan and has some of the most amazing views in Michigan. You could have a stay and play for $95 .....here's the link http://otsegoclub.com/summer/golf-packages-rates.html Saturday - Treetops offers a crazy May Special that I use every year and I provided the link below. 1 night stay and 2 day unlimited golf for $129 a man. They even throw in a free breakfast so how can you beat that? It's only a 5 minute drive from Otsego Club to Treetops and play 45 holes that Saturday since its all you can golf. I would rank the courses at Treetops as follows 1. Signature 2. Premier 3. Masterpiece 4. Threetops ( best par 3 course in world). Don't play the Tradition as its garbage. http://treetops.com/courses/packages-and-rates/golf-packages/ Sunday - 36 holes at Treetops since its free RECAP - so you stay 2 nights and play 97 holes of golf for $224 a man and you get a free breakfast. That's as good as it gets and my group has always went up in Mid/late may and have never had a problem with weather. Last but not least. Forest Dunes is an amazing golf courses and the conditioning is awesome but its a very flat golf course. There are no breathtaking views. When you play Treetops and Otsego Club there are 15 holes that will make you shit your pants as some of these holes have views that you can see 15-20 miles. I love Fores Dunes but the trip I listed blow forest Dunes out of the water. Arcadia and Forest Dunes are amazing but they really don't represent what Northern Michigan golf is all about. Email me at rgarvelink@portage with any questions. Cheers!

Kiva Dunes is the one of the best courses in the state and is by far the best in Golf Shores. Dont miss a chance to play this course!

There is nothing like golfing in Northern Michigan. My top 10 is as follows: MY TOP TEN 1 . Black Lake - Onaway MI 2. Treetops - Gaylord MI 3. Forest Dunes - Roscommon MI 4. Kingsley Club - Kingsley MI 5. Lost Dunes - Bridgman MI 6. Sheppards Hollow - Clarkston MI 7. Eagle Eye - Bath MI 8. Hawkseye - Bellaire MI 9. Cedar River - Bellaire Mi 10. Black Forest - Gaylord MI FYI...I have not golfed Arcadia Bluffs, Tullymore, Boyne Courses, True North, U.P. Courses

You made a good choice paying the extra money for those courses. I would higly suggest paying a little more upcharge and play Bay Harbor which is also part of boyne. The course is one of the bet in Michigan

You are correct. I was probablt a bit harsh on Boyne but I just feel most of the courses feel manufactured. Either way he will have a great time.

If your down to Boyne vs. Shanty then I would go with Shanty Creek. The courses will be the closest thing you see compared to treetops. Dont get me wrong Boyne has some okay courses....but they are resort courses and most golfers will tell you they are pretty boring. I would go to Shanty and golf the following 1. Cedar River 2. Hawkseye 3. Legend 4. Chief 5. A-ga-Ming Sundance Go to golfthechief.com and check out the cabin you can rent. Its awesome. Boyne is terrible....you will be dissapointed in the courses

Take it from a guy who has played almost every course in Northern Michigan. If you have never played Treetops then that is your best best bet. They have 4 courses plus the worlds best par 3 course. Treetops has some of the most scenic holes in the entire country and they currently have a special going for $109 a person for 1 nights stay and two days of UNLIMITED GOLF. You wont be able to find a better deal than that. IF you do choose treetops then I would recomend Playing the Premier, Signature, and MAsterpiece as well as "threetops" which is a crazy par 3 course. The tradition is a nice course but is not as good as the other courses. IF you are gonna golf treetops then I would also suggest playing the Otsego Club "Tribute" which is a 5 minute drive from Treetops. Its ranked in the top 10 courses in the state and you can get a twighlight rate around $45. Trust me....you wont regret this trip. Shanty creek is probably your next best option. Cedar River and the Legand are the two best courses at Shanty Creek. HAwkseye and the Chief are also a must play and are a 5 minute drive from Shanty Creek. I would also recomend 1 round at A-Ga-Ming Sundance (probably a 20 minute drive from Shanty Creek. Go to www.golfthechief.com and look at the log cabin they have for rent. It sleeps 8-12 and I have a group going up in June and they are only charging us $150 a man for 3 days and 5 rounds of golf. Thats a crazy deal Garland is a nice resort but the courses dont compare with Treetops or Shanty creek. Stay away from Boyne as well. The courses are ok but they dont rival the other resorts that I mentioned. Hope this helps and hit em straight!!!!

intheholegolf.com had a sale with free shipping.....sale is over now

Well gentlemen I ended up getting the clicgear on sale with delivery for $168.00. This thing seems like its gonna last me a lifetime. Very sturdy and is very easy to operate. Now I need to get my wife one. Thanks for all the feedback.

Hey Fellas, I am in the market for a pushcart. I have been researching a few models (Sun Mountain, Bagboy, and caddytech) but it appears the clicgear is the grand daddy of them all. If you have any experience with this model let me know and if you could post the pros and cons I would appreciate it. Hit em straight!!!

Anybody played Kingsley Club or Dunmaglas???? I heard the Kingsley Club is allowing public play but its $150 a round.

I will check out Lockenheath and Belvadere next time im in the area. Somebody else told me to play Dunmaglas and also I heard that the Kingsley Club is allowing public play although its expensive. Anybody played Kingsley Club or Dunmaglas????

Hey fellas, I have come to the conclusion that it doesnt get much better than golf in Northern Michigan and the deals that they are running these days are simply amazing. Listen to this deal that I set up at the WM golf show in GR. Here is the info.... 12 guys pay $125 a man and the following is included (FYI....we are staying June 22-24)....primetime baby!!!! 2 night stay in a 4000 sq ft. house on the Chief Golf course (this house overlooks the 18th hole and has amazing views of lake bellaire....the house also has a 1200 sq ft deck to party on) 5 rounds of golf (3 on the chief and 1 round at Hawkseye and 1 round at the Cedar River course at Shanty Creek) I was amazed when I found out the price. Treetops is also running an amzing deal that includes a 1 night stay and 2 days of unlimited golf for around $120 a man for primtime. Hit em straight boys and if you have never had a chance to golf in Northern Michigan I suggest you get up there ASAP.....the courses are second to none in the nation. My personal favorites in Norther Michigan are as follows 1. Arcadia Bluffs 2. Forest Dunes 3. Treetops Premier 4. Cedar River Shanty Creek 5. Treetops Signature 6. Hawkseye 7. Black Lake 8. Legend at Shanty Creek 9. Tribute - Otsego Club 10. A-ga-ming (Sundance) & Treetops Masterpiece FYI....I have not played Elk Ridge, True North, Black Forest, Boynes Courses

I would highly suggest either A-ga-ming (sundance) or Hawkseye in Bellaire. Both the Cedar River Course and the Legend at Shanty Creek are awesome as well. Hit em straight!