Crystal Lake Golf Club

$21 (cart included), played on Thursday, October 2018 at 9:45 AM

What better place to start your Fall color tour in Northern Michigan than on a golf course. The Crystal Lake GC clubhouse starts you out with views on a hill overlooking the course and beautiful Crystal Lake.

Even though the trees are starting to shed their leaves, the course was very clean and caused no real problems. Having four (4) tee boxes from 6,703 to 4,678 yards there's something for every level of golfer. Fairways are very lush and a little shaggy, but it is October and that's normal. Greens were rolling very true (7-8) and the aeration was filled in very nicely. Sand traps were still soft and fluffy with white Lake Michigan sand, love that feeling.

Being one of the first ones out, because of the windy/cooler weather, the $25 for 18/cart in 2.5hrs was very nice.

The Front 9 (3,457yds/Par 36) is fairly open of trees but not for ponds(4) and fairway traps(4) that are well placed in your visual viewing area. Number #3 478yd/Par 5 will be your first to deal with both and stay right on your tee shot. Number 4 is a 447yd/Par 4 Dogleg Left that has sand traps forcing you RH side, take this suggestion unless you carry 250 yards. Your shot to the #4 green has a pond tucked to the green on LH side, miss right to sand trap is much better. The #7 453yd/Par 4 is tough LH dogleg with a sand trap on the inside corner to catch the wannabe "Big Dogs" that can't carry 220 yards.

The Back 9 is where things tighten up on the mostly tree-lined fairways, doglegs(6) and ponds on #10 and #11 causing the only water problems. Number 12 an 418yd sweeping RH dogleg Par 4 has nothing but trouble (sand/trees) on the inside corner so stay left. (#14 is the same) Hole #15 446yd Par 5 is nothing but narrow, so I hit two (2) 4irons, PW and walked off happy with a 2 putt Par. The #18 hole 402 yds Par 4 dogleg is a good uphill finishing hole and leave you with a good feeling on this Matthews 6,703 yd / 72.3 / 130 Par 36/36 layout. In shooting 41/41 w/30putts I learned more about corner placement carries than I can ever remember. Stop in for great views, conditions and of course Golf if you're in this area.

$21 (cart included), played on Thursday, October 2018 at 9:45 AM

What better place to start your Fall color tour in Northern Michigan than on a golf course. The Crystal Lake GC clubhouse starts you out with views on a hill overlooking the course and beautiful Crystal Lake.

Even though the trees are starting to shed their leaves, the course was very clean and caused no real problems. Fairways are very lush and a little shaggy, but it is October and that's normal. Greens were rolling very true (7-8) and the aeration was filled in very nicely. Sand traps were still soft and fluffy with white Lake Michigan sand, love that feeling.

Being one of the first ones out, because of the windy/cooler weather, the $25 for 18/cart in 2.5hrs was very nice. The Front 9 (3,457yds/Par 36) is fairly open of trees but not for ponds(4) and fairway traps(4) that are well placed in your visual viewing area. Number #3 478yd/Par 5 will be your first to deal with both and stay right on your tee shot. Number 4 is a 447yd/Par 4 Dogleg Left that has sand traps forcing you RH side, take this suggestion unless you carry 250 yards. Your shot to the #4 green has a pond tucked to the green on LH side, miss right to sand trap is much better. The #7 453yd/Par 4 is tough LH dogleg with a sand trap on the inside corner to catch the wannabe "Big Dogs" that can't carry 220 yards. The Back 9 is where things tighten up on the mostly tree-lined fairways and ponds on #10 and #11 causing the only water problems. Number 12 is a 418yd sweeping RH dogleg Par 4 has nothing but trouble (sand/trees) on the inside corner so stay left. (#14 is the same) Hole #15 446yd Par 5 is nothing but narrow so I hit two (2) 4irons and a PW and walked off happy

$36 (cart included), played on Saturday, June 2017 at

Friendly staff and a great practice range with a green and bunker. The course has been renovated within the last 10 years. Adding fairway bunkers at strategic places, restructuring greens and relocating one green to wrap around a pond gives the golfer more to think about when it comes to club selection. There are some low spots on the course that when they get significant rainfall, it makes some areas unplayable if you do not stay on the fairways. The course is consistently well-maintained and the greens are fast. The clubhouse is perched atop the course, giving some great views from the deck. They do have a beer and wine license with good pricing. As of June 2017, they do not have a food menu other than some brats, hot dogs, and cold sub sandwiches. That could change as they do have a kitchen. A unique feature is their season-long Dollar Days which are on Mondays and Thursdays. Pricing is $15 for 9 w/ cart, and $25 for 18 w/ cart.