Arcadia Bluffs (Arcadia, Michigan)

Arcadia Bluffs is the #1 rated public golf course in the Midwest! 

The hype surrounding it has always been very high and the moment I stepped out of the van, and walked to the clubhouse, was when I realized the hype was true! This place is absolute gorgeous!!

The views across the property are very inspiring, and it's an incredible feeling walking around the clubhouse, looking out the windows, and realizing the greatness this place has. It's one of my favorite places in the world. 

The first hole plays out to the furthest point east on the property. It's an uphill par five that eases the golfer into the round. The sod faced bunker and the large bold contoured green are the main challenge and these will be the primary defense for the round. 

As illustrated in pic above, the cavernous black wall of grass forewarns the depth and utter difficulty of being in that front trap. 

The second hole is then a beautiful par three played across the corner of the property. 

Critics levy the change of bunkering style as a design flaw. It's more of the natural blow out look here. While I do concede the change, I still think it looks good and fits the hole well. The green has two bowl shaped sections, the front half and rear half. A well struck shot to the proper section should gather and leave a decent birdie attempt. 

The third is my favorite hole on the front, a downhill par five with incredible views of the lake!

When the big boys play here, they can use the black (502) or white (476) tees and make this a tremendous par four. As a par five, the wind will determine how reachable the green is. The fairway dips into a shallow valley so regular players decide to advance it forward on second shot or challenge the sod bunker to gain the higher ground, where the green is on full view and open for an easier third. Advancing it forward leaves an uphill shot to a skyline green....with a large sod faced bunker guarding. Great golf hole! 

Four is a downhill dogleg right par four with a punch bowl green. Five follows with the third par five in five holes. 

The hole plays downhill towards the lake to a baraitz green. This is my second encounter with a feature like this. The first was at Glenn Mills on the par five fifteenth. Both times I've been in the trough that bisects the green. And it's very difficult putting out of it. I can't imagine putting through it! I feel Henderson overdid it here. The green is situated beautifully above the lake and the architecture trumps the setting. 

The sixth is an excellent par three! It plays uphill in a natural amphitheater. 

The bunker complex fronting the green is very imposing. With the pin behind it, a decision has to be made. Playing out to the side and trying to two putt from thirty feet is an acceptable strategy. It's possibly the best par three on the course. 

Seven is a long uphill par four. There's plenty of room to run the ball into the green. Usually holes like this are a slog but I didn't get that feeling here. Warren Henderson did a good job limiting the uphill holes, or at least they don't stand out in my view. 

Up til now, besides the second, the holes have either played towards or away from the lake. The eighth is one of the few holes that plays across the slope of the terrain. A large sod bunker sits in middle of the fairway, influencing the decision off the tee. Being short or right leaves a sidehill lie below your feet to an uphill green. The deepest bunker on the course guards short right, exactly where a mishit from said lie goes! The ninth finishes off the front with a beautiful par three across the valley to a green below the clubhouse. 

The front right bunker dominates the setting but there's several side slopes that can be used to navigate around it. All three one shotters on this front side are very well done. 

The tenth kickoffs a great stretch of holes! From the tee, aim at the barber pole and let it fly. The green lies at the base of the dunes, a large sod faced bunker guarding the left. 

There's a lot of room behind the trap and balls that bail out right will catch the false front and spin off the green. It's a great hole! 

Then eleven, possibly the best hole on the course, swooshes down the hill, twisting, cambering, rolling, all the way to the green! 

It's possible to hit 400 plus yard drives! The view is unbelievable too! It's just a gorgeous hole! My favorite! 

The course finally arrives at the lake! 

Twelve plays along the coastline, a large gaping bunker in front of the tee begging the player to drive across it! Most will hit out to the right and hit a mid iron into the green. Behind the green is a deep ravine, so hitting short and letting the ball bounce in is the play. Thirteen tee is just to the right, and it's green is in full view from twelve green. It's hard not to get excited while you're waiting to putt! 

Tom Doak criticized it in an interview because there's no way to run it on the green, especially into a strong wind. Henderson countered by stating there's plenty of room to land it on the green and have it stopped. I hit three wood to ten feet for birdie! Yes the green will hold a fairway metal shot! As great and as beautiful as the hole is, I feel it's not the best one shotter at Arcadia. Nonetheless, it's a wow moment! 

The next two holes go inland and play up the hill. On paper they look like birdie holes, short par four and short par five, but they play longer and tougher than anticipated. Fourteen has three pot bunkers guarding the fairway, and a green that has another false front and deep bunker too. It's a mean little hole! Mistakes are punished severely! There's a chance on fifteen. Most of the challenge is finding the right angle to the pin. It should be a good chance at four. 

I love the routing of the last three holes! The tee box of sixteen is just feet away from the clubhouse porch. Normally this would be the first hole, but Henderson instead uses it to bring the golfer back to the clubhouse to finish the round in style. Sixteen is an excellent downhill par four. The green falls away from front to back, and the golfer is left trying to figure out how to leave the ball below the hole. 

The great views and bunkers all down the right side of the green are ready to distract and punish the player not executing his shots. Seventeen is then across the terrain from a low tee to an elevated green. It's a fortress hole. Anything short or right will kick down to the base of the hill, leaving a tough up n down. Eighteen finishes off the round with a strong par four that has received plenty of criticism for the amount of elevation on the approach. I don't see how this could've been avoided and I think it also makes this a legitimate long par four. There's a bunker in the middle of the fairway, and it forces the player to make a decision off the tee. Laying up definitely leaves a longish approach shot. Don't miss the view from the back tee. It's the highest point in the dunes and the vista of the golf course is unbelievable. It's a great way to end the day! 

Arcadia Bluffs is recognized by many as one of the best in the United States. It's rated as high as #13. In terms of settings, it's one of the more magnificent courses I've played, and the fact that I was awestruck the moment I stepped onto the property really heightens my feelings for it. I told everyone to make the seven hour trip up to see it! I give an 8 (excellent) rating!