LANSING, MI – Michigan has been voted the country’s 11th best golf destination by readers of Golf World. Michigan has the most public courses of any state on the list at seven. In addition, four resorts and two private courses are ranked in their respective Top 50.
“It is an honor to have Michigan ranked 11th Best Golf Destination in the United States in the Golf World Reader’s Choice Awards,” said George Zimmermann, Vice President of Travel Michigan, a business unit of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. “Michigan’s varied topography, from dense forests to picturesque sand dunes, blended with perfect soils and abundant water make Michigan the ideal location for great golf. Our collection of top-ranked courses and resorts is why Michigan is referred to as ‘America’s Summer Golf Capital.'”
In the public course category, Forest Dunes Golf Club in Roscommon is the most popular course in the country according to Golf World readers. Forest Dunes is a Tom Weiskopf designed course and managed by Troon Golf. General Manager, Mark Gurnow’s course has won many awards but said this one stands out. “This award is probably the most meaningful. It is given by the golfing public and takes in all the factors that make a great golf experience and not just the golf course. The team here is proud to have been selected by our guests and we look forward making the golf experience at Forest Dunes even better.”
Just down the list, Golf World readers chose the dramatic Arcadia Bluffs Golf Course as the 16th most popular public course. Cedar Chase Golf Course in Cedar Springs is ranked 23rd, Eagle Eye Golf Course in East Lansing is 27th, Bucks Run Golf Course in Mt. Pleasant is 30th, Pilgrim’s Run Golf Course in Pierson is 31st and Shepherds Hollow Golf Course in Clarkston is tied for 49th.
The Resorts of Tullymore in Stanwood, which include the Tullymore and St. Ives Golf Courses, have the highest resort ranking in Michigan. At 27th in the country, General Manager, Kevin O’Brien, is proud of his ever growing facility. “We are honored to be ranked the best resort in Michigan. Our owners have put their heart and soul into this massive undertaking. In addition to golf our new spa and the community developments we are building are attracting people from all over the country.” The Tullymore Golf Course, designed by Jim Engh has won a number of national awards including a spot in the Top 15 Public & Resort Course in America according to Golf Digest. St. Ives is their original course and is a Jerry Matthew design.
Treetops in Gaylord which has courses designed by Robert Trent Jones, Rick Smith and Tom Fazio is ranked 32nd, Bay Harbor is ranked 38th with their Lake Michigan bordered course designed by Art Hills, Grand Traverse Resort and Spa near Traverse City is 45th featuring courses designed by Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and Bill Newcomb. Boyne Highlands Resort in Harbor Springs received a very high rating just outside of the top 50.
Two of Michigan’s most noteworthy private courses ranked high among raters as well. Oakland Hills Country Club in Bloomfield Hills ranked tied for 27th and Crystal Downs in Beulah also received high marks.
The Reader’s Choice Awards are based solely on the input of Golf World readers and are available on line at www.golfworld.com. More than 46,000 votes and 600,000 criteria evaluations led to Golf World’s Readers’ Choice selections. The categories are public, private and resort courses.
Travel Michigan, a division of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, is the state of Michigan’s official agency for the promotion of tourism. Travel Michigan markets the state’s tourism industry and provides valuable visitor information services. For Michigan travel and golf news, go to michigan.org.
Contact:
Kevin Frisch
Phone: (989) 614-0241
E-Mail: Kevin@fusionmediastrategies.com
Tim Hygh
Phone: (517) 582-3414
E-Mail: thygh21stcentury@gmail.com
