Monday, August 24, 2020

Cheboygan Golf and Country Club (Cheboygan, MI)

Up near the top of the Michigan mitt lies the town of Cheboygan. It’s just down the road from Mackinaw City and offers a respite from the high summer costs. While the hotels and restaurants are gouging every dollar they can get, this little course is family friendly and will take it easy on your wallet for a day. 


(The short par three ninth is only 139 yards but deuces are hard to come by. The pin can be tucked in a few tight places. The simplistic clubhouse provides onlookers a view of the action.) 

The front nine was designed in 1922 and the back nine was recently added. The original holes take advantage of a valley and creek that flow through it. You’ll be challenged to avoid the hazards and navigate the slight elevation change. It’s solid architecture. 


(This is the approach to the 401 yard par four fourth. The hole doglegs left, leaving this mid iron shot to a back to front sloped green. The front pin is probably the toughest since anything coming up short will spin back down the hill. A par is a nice score.) 

The back nine enters a more heavily treelined parcel of land. There’s a few doglegs that I feel detract from it, specifically twelve with its nearly ninety degree turn around tall trees, but overall, it’s a decent addition. The eighteenth is a really cool finisher. 


(The 380 yard par four eighteenth leads to this green. Note the bowl in the rear which is higher than the flagstick! It’s not a big green, but one can take solace knowing a long shot is probably going to slingshot back onto the putting surface.)

Cheboygan reminds me of Eagle Rock in Defiance. Both are par 70 courses that play just over 6,000 yards. They both also host quality regional tournaments. [Cheboygan hosts the Northern Michigan Open] It does a good job keeping scores close to even. 


(The 471 yard seventh is a reachable par five that plays over a couple shallow valleys. Breathe in the pastoral setting as the northern Michigan climate soothes your senses.) 

This part of Michigan is a wonderful vacation spot. It has a lot to offer, and I’d be the first to admit Cheboygan is not the first option when it comes to golf. However, this little course is a nice getaway without the high costs. I give it a 4 (above average)(worth driving 30-40 minutes). 


                  Mackinaw Bride





No comments:

Post a Comment