Michigan has well-earned its reputation as a golfing paradise within North America. The landscape undulates pleasingly, there’s a type of soil that provides excellent drainage, and there’s abundant daylight until a late hour, which permits play on as many as 36 holes before finally calling it a day. The presence of these amenities does pose a peculiar kind of problem for someone contemplating a golfing vacation. You are torn between playing on America’s premier golfing course, the ones that adorn magazine covers, and ones less likely to attract tourists.
High-profile course options vs. gems involves more than going out to the greens. It all boils down to the kind of experience you seek, the ambiance that suits your preference, and the memories you aim to bring home. The initial step towards creating your ideal itinerary involves knowing the merits that come with each option.
Establishing the High-Profile Experience
In terms of ranked courses, we are talking about the layouts that are ranked in the “Top 100” lists. This is for both private and public courses. It is common for such golfing layouts to be designed by legendary golf architects or have impeccable conditioning that compares to the same layouts you see being showcased during TV tournaments. The status here is what you are prepared to pay for, such as at the Links/Quarry golf club course.
The amenities associated with these types of facilities are usually in line with the reputation for excellence associated with the course. You can expect a high level of service, right down to the use of professional caddies who can read your putts for you. Service is usually impeccable, and you’ll find that the whole experience is like participating in a major sporting event.
Of course, with such sophistication, you can also expect the service to come with a higher price tag, as well as a pace of play that may slow down because of the difficulty of the course, coupled with the sheer number of visitors.
The Allure of the Hidden Gem
Then there is the extreme end, which is represented by the hidden gem course. This category may not have an esteemed course designer attached to its credit, but is still an amazing place to go for golfing. In Michigan, these can usually be found secluding routes or along backwoods inland lakes.
The hallmark of a hidden gem is the value for money. You are paying a tenth of the price of a resort course for something that is surprisingly good. The quality of the course itself is much more relaxed. The pro shop can be limited, with more conversations with the starter about the local football teams than about your golfing handicap.
Hidden gems are links with a certain charm of discovery in the local golfing scene, something of a rarity in the big resort courses. Many golfers also enjoy the absence of fanfare in these links in order for them to center more in the game.
Choosing a Tee Box
Whether you are making the cut on a buddy trip of a lifetime or trying to wow a client with a business meeting turned golf game, it is best to take a course that has been ranked. The courses are guaranteed to be of a certain standard that you can brag about for a long time after you are done. However, it is a degree of difficulty that is steeper, testing all levels of your capabilities.
However, if it is in your group that it may be best to have an informal atmosphere in which you can play off quickly and then have an informal drink later without it costing an arm and a leg, then the hidden gem course is clearly the best route to take.
Planning the Ideal Schedule
Ultimately, the greatest golf experience in the state of Michigan does not necessarily have to be one or the other. What makes the most sense in these types of situations is to play a combination of both. You can anchor your golf holiday with one or two rounds at the best course in the state to experience what it is like to play at the level of a major. Then, the remaining golf in your schedule should be played on local courses that provide local color!
