Michigan Courses In Golf Digest’s Top 100 “You Can Play”

Michigan Courses In Golf Digest’s Top 100 “You Can Play”

I maintain a certain degree of skepticism about the validity of the various golf publications’ “best courses” lists — and particularly “best in state” lists. It is my observation that more than a few make such lists because they convenient to play, or because they offer great deals for buddy trips (if you live and play in Michigan, you know exactly which courses I’m writing about).

For my part, in spite of having played some three hundred courses in Michigan, I always have trouble creating a “best in state” list. I always come back to the question of “best for whom?” Best for people for whom cost isn’t really a consideration? Or best on a budget? Best for accomplished players? Best for those who like classic courses? Best for fans of modernity?

I could easily create a list of “Top Ten Small Town Courses That I Am Certain The Residents Are Proud Of” or “Best Suburban/Urban Course That Lets The Working Man Get Away From It All For A Few Hours.”

Still, it is always fun to check the lists

The latest list from Golf.Com of the 100 Best Courses in America features eight Michigan Courses. I’ve played them all and reviewed them. Links to the review are after each.

• Forest Dunes Loop (30) [Forest Dunes Loop Review]
• Belvedere (40) [Belvedere Review]
• Arcadia Bluffs South (50) [Arcadia Bluffs South Review]
• American Dunes (51) [American Dunes Review]
• Arcadia Bluffs (57) [Arcadia Bluffs Review]
• Greywalls (62) [Greywalls Review]
• Forest Dunes Weiskopf (64) [Forest Dunes Weiskopf Review]
• Stoatin Brae (92) [Stoatin Brae Review]

All of these certainly are worthy. Here’s my order, though:

• Forest Dunes Weiskopf
• Belvedere
• Greywalls
• Arcadia Bluffs South
• Forest Dunes Loop
• Arcadia Bluffs
• Stoatin Brae
• American Dunes

With American Dunes in the last spot in that ranking its position in jeopardy. While I am in awe of the mission of American Dunes, as a golf course, I think there are better designs. On my list, Boyne’s Hills and Heather would be in the running, as would Sweetgrass and Black Lake.

Even those come with caveats, though. Best mid century course overall? Heather. Most thrilling? Boyne’s Hills. Linksy prairie course with impeccable conditions? Sweetgrass. Best course to experience the feeling of being all alone in the world? Black Lake.

If I appear indecisive, I am. I had the same problem with grading student papers. On the one hand, I have an exceptional student who very clearly half-assed a paper. On the other, I have a special education student with cognitive challenges who gave it everything they had. Cold hard rubrics aside, how do you grade those?

I am often reminded of an article I read many decades ago by a newspaper movie reviewer whose name I cannot remember. The crux of the article was that the reviewer would give a Doris Day movie top marks because it achieved what it set out to achieve: light entertainment and ninety minutes of escapism. On the other hand, an art film that set out to make a statement but missed its mark would get a lesser score than the Doris Day.

Some may be outraged that the high-minded movie got a lesser rating than the fluff, but to that reviewer, the question was: what did the director set out to do? If they hit their target, the directors made a good movie.

I feel much the same way with golf courses. The best course in Michigan is the one you enjoy regularly, at a price you can afford. For me, that’s Washtenaw Golf Club and for much of summer, Indian River Golf Club.