Summertime in northern Michigan receives rave reviews amongst midwesterners and for good reason; perfect weather, lush greenery, lakes around seemingly every corner and, of course, golf courses aplenty. This September, a group of CDGA members learned first-hand that autumn is no different, as the fall foliage and sunsets over Lake Michigan served as the perfect backdrop for a CDGA Road Trip to Arcadia Bluffs. The trip included two rounds on The Bluffs Course, one at The South Course and a stay at The Bluffs Lodge, all of which are operated by the Arcadia-based public golf resort. Situated just steps from The Bluffs Lodge, the opening tee box at The Bluffs served as the start of a phenomenal three days filled with casual competition amongst peers.
Opened in 1999, The Bluffs Course is situated along the Lake Michigan coast, providing beautiful views from nearly every corner of the property. Precisely positioned native grasses and sod-walled bunkers protect the generously sized fairways and greens at the undulating and open links-style layout. After making the turn from the mostly-inland front nine, golfers are treated with a three-hole stretch at Nos. 11-13 that delivers views of Lake Michigan rivaling any in the Midwest. The Bluffs allows players of all abilities and skill levels to enjoy a day on it, as the five tee sets range from 5,000 to 7,300 yards.
Following breakfast at The Lodge, members then trekked just one mile south to a completely unique golf experience and one that rivals some of the most prestigious C.B. Macdonald- and Seth Raynor-designed private clubs in America. Opened in 2018, The South Course features unpredictable lies, firm and fast conditions, plenty of wind and perfectly squared off greens. A tribute to an era of golf course design that is seldom seen in today’s game, The South Course’s slogan “Complexity Veiled by Simplicity” was perfectly selected.
A second loop around The Bluffs in the morning of day three was the culminating stop before a return trip to the Chicago District. Three rounds in three days on two vastly dissimilar golf courses, along with a number of delicious meals on-site, provided for a special autumn week in northern Michigan.