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May 2009
Traverse City Golf-Design Guru’s Fave Courses

Traverse City Golf-Design Guru’s Fave Courses

We check in with Traverse City’s own Mike DeVries to find out which courses Up North golfers must play this summer.

May 22, 2009 By Lynda Twardowski

Mike DeVries on the grounds of the Kingsley Club, south of Traverse City, one of the award-winning courses he designed Up North.

Todd Zawistowski

Traverse City's Mike DeVries has designed award-winning courses Up North and is wowing duffers around the nation and world as he takes his design ideas outside the mitten. In the June issue of Traverse, we asked him to name 5 courses Up North golfers must play this summer. In true DeVries style, he went above and beyond. In no particular order, DeVries recommends:

1. Belvedere Golf Club in Charlevoix.

A classic, traditional golf course with great putting contours. Host of 39 Michigan Amateur Championships and one of the finest examples of golf architecture from the 1920's Golden Age of golf architecture.

2. Forest Dunes near Roscommon.

A very fine Tom Weiskopf design with immaculate conditioning. Its remoteness is even more noteworthy than many of Northern Michigan's secluded courses.

3. Arcadia Bluffs in Arcadia, south of Frankfort.

What a view!!!! Good golf in a great setting, plus fine food for the 19th hole.

4. Black Forest in Gaylord.

Sentimentally a favorite (since I ran the project for Tom Doak) and a wonderful "get back to nature" kind of place. You are sure to see some wildlife while you are out there.

5. Any of the multi-course complexes...

Where a group of players can stay and play while enjoying friendship -- the game is supposed to be about fun, right?!?

Bonus selections

Greywalls in Marquette

My course in Marquette is full of drama, fun shots, and fantastic views, plus Yoopers are great people who enjoy life and really make you feel at home. It isn't as far as you think and worth the journey.

There is lots of fine golf downstate...

So grab a round at one of the courses on your way Up North to get ready for your round in Northern Michigan!

Read the Interview with Mike DeVries

Buy the June 2009 issue of Traverse Magazine in your local bookstore or online now, and find out what moves Mike DeVries about Up North's natural landscape when he's designing courses; learn about his next project, bringing to life the "Lost MacKenzie" golf course, the never-realized vision of the world's greatest course designer, Alister MacKenzie; and DeVries' personal No. 1 favorite Up North course to play. (Hint: It's also sentimental.)