Playing The Lakes and Schuss Mountain

Playing The Lakes and Schuss Mountain

Two of the latest additions to my “collection” of golf courses are Schuss Mountain and The Lakes at the Loon Resort.

Schuss Mountain (above) is one of five courses at the Shanty Creek Resort in Mancelona, which is located about thirty miles southwest of Gaylord. I have previously played Cedar River and The Legend at the resort.

In spite of its name, Schuss Mountain is a relatively flat and walkable course that meanders through forest and past marsh. Houses and condos can be seen alongside many of the holes but for the most part, they are sufficiently set back so as not to jar the senses. A stretch of holes on the back nine introduced some hills, but I had no problem with the walk.

I appreciated the wide fairways and the hybrid tees that let me pick out a yardage that fit my game. It’s not an easy course, but it does give you a chance.

Large portions of fairways were roped off from cart traffic (and felt squishy underfoot), making me wonder if they were experiencing temporary water problems. Or maybe that is a permanent condition.

It was an enjoyable round, though. I would go back to play.

The Lakes Course is one of three at the Loon Resort (although they are not on the same property). The others are The Ridge and the eponymous Loon.

For a course called, “The Lakes,” I expected more lakes. There are four holes around Lake Michaywe, as well as a pond on the eighteenth. There are small bits of water on seven and nine. And that’s pretty much it.

The front nine is quite hilly, with a couple of sharp uphill approaches, and a spectacular downhill par five. That was tough to walk. The back nine is flat, except for a couple of spots going down toward the lake and back up. The wooded fairways are tight, but there are also several wide-open, linksy holes.

For what it’s worth, the back nine abuts Michawye Pines.

I thought it was a fairly challenging round. My suggestion would be to move up a tee from your usual.

I’m glad I played, but don’t feel a need to go back.

For what it’s worth, I got fantastic deals on tee times on these courses via the First Tee of Northern Michigan Players’ Card. For $149, you get discounts at thirty nine different courese.Rounds at the listed courses are $39 Monday through Thursday after 10 am and $49 after noon on weekends. Some restrictions may apply, of course, (such as the one round per course rule) but you could make your money back after just a few rounds. I certainly got my money’s worth this past summer.