Great
Lakes
Most golfers are slowly becoming aware of what is now one of
America’s finest golfing venues: The Great Lakes, particularly
Michigan and Wisconsin. In recent years, some of the most celebrated
new courses in America opened in this region. The varied topography–everything
from sand dunes to abandoned stone quarries—combined with
perfect soils and abundant water have made the area an ideal
place for building exciting golf courses.
The result is a collection of high-end resort courses, the caliber
of which can compete with any golf destination in America. You’ve
probably heard of Michigan’s Bay Harbor and of Wisconsin’s
Whistling Straits, but there really is a whole lot more.
Northern Michigan has long been the summer-time playground of
the rich the famous. Ernest Hemingway, Walter Hagen, Tom Watson
and former Augusta National and Masters Chairman Hord Hardin
loved to visit the quaint towns of Petoskey, Harbor Springs,
Boyne City, Charlevoix and Traverse City. Needless to say, golf
courses were developed to accommodate them.
But here golf is not just for the wealthy. Michigan is known
for having the most public golf courses per capita of any state
and the tradition of public play goes deep. As a result, almost
all of Northern Michigan and Wisconsin resort courses are open
for public play and at rates much below those in other resort
areas.
As a result, golfers from all over the Eastern Seaboard and
the Midwest now come to Michigan and Wisconsin to play summer
golf. From April through October, these courses are busy from
early until late—very late, as in mid-summer the sun does
not set until after 10 p.m. |
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The list of golf resorts is impressive: Bay Harbor Golf
Club, Boyne USA, Garland, Treetops, Shanty Creek and Grand
Traverse Resort all boast multiple golf courses, for every
golfing level.
And vacationers don’t just come for golf, although there
is plenty of it. They come to enjoy the shores of the Great
Lakes (much of both states are surrounded by water), or to
fish in the little lakes and streams, or to climb the sand
dunes, or hike through the woods, or bike one of the state’s
great trails.
Another big lure for Northern Michigan is Mackinac Island,
one of America’s most popular summer destinations.
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Once you arrive by ferry you go back to a time
to when people traveled only by horse and bicycle (no motorized
vehicles are allowed). It is a charming and magical. No fear,
there is golf on Mackinac, as well.
All of this is why Michigan and Wisconsin are perfect for all
types of golfers: the play-all-day golfing groups, golfing couples
who want fine dining and superb accommodations and golfing families
who want something to entertain everyone.
While mid-summer is high season for Midwest golf, spring and
fall are also excellent times to hit the links. Prices are even
more favorable and the many hues of fall foliage on the hardwood
trees are simply fabulous to behold.
Of course, there is wildlife, too. You rarely play a round without
encountering nesting eagles, swift white-tailed deer, flocks
of turkeys, rambunctious red-tailed squirrels and even a crafty
fox or two. These courses have them all. |
