Great Golf Courses in Mid-Michigan

For the golf enthusiast, there are several great golf courses just a couple of hours north of metropolitan Detroit in Mount Pleasant, Michigan. Whether making your trip a weekend of fun, or just for the day, these courses offer a variety of challenges.

Mount Pleasant, a charming town in the center of Michigan's "mitten," is the home of Central Michigan University. Surrounded by farm land and woods, Mount Pleasant is located at the intersection of State Highway 20 and US 127, making it easily accessible for people in Lansing, Saginaw, Kalamazoo and Grand Rapids. Fabulous golf courses are tucked away into the rural scenery.

A perennial favorite is Buck's Run Golf Club. Fashioned from the remains of an old quarry, this Jerry Matthews designed course features gently sloping hills, wide fairways, and thick woods. Don't let the open feeling fool you; it's a tough course, with some wildly undulating greens. The nice thing about the course is that the rangers are diligent about keeping their parties on track. Seldom does a round extend to five hours. A beverage cart makes regular rounds, and there is an outside grill for picking up snacks at the turn. (Buck's Run has the best golf course hot dog in Michigan! It's large, with a wonderfully soft and chewy bun.) Buck's Run also features full service dining in a well-appointed restaurant. You can find more at http://www.bucksrun.com/.

Another challenging course is the Pohlcat, designed by Mount Pleasant native and PGA touring pro, Dan Pohl. After playing the first two holes, which are located out in the open, you will find this course is carved out of dense forest. In fact, by the time you make the turn between holes 9 and 10, you will find yourself deep in the woods and no where near the club house. The Pohlcat is extremely difficult especially for women, with many water features and forced carries over marshland and the nearby Chippewa River. For this reason, it's not my favorite course, although it's breathtakingly beautiful. The Pohlcat features a full restaurant. Since there is no return to the club house mid-game, I would recommend getting a box lunch and plenty of beverages before starting your round. If your intention is to "stalk the cat" you can make your reservations online by visiting their web site at http://www.pohlcat.net/. The Pohlcat is now affiliated with Soaring Eagle Casino Resort, and offers packages with hotel stays.

The Riverwood Resort started out as a small nine hole course and is now a full 27 holes of golf fun. In addition, the Riverwood is now a resort, with fairway villas, completely stocked club house and gourmet dining. There is even a 24 lane bowling alley! This resort is off the beaten path, but well worth the trip. Make sure you check their web site for monthly specials on golf and bowlling. You can find more information at www.riverwoodresort.com.

Pleasant Hills Golf Course is located south of Mount Pleasant, hidden from view by acres of farmland. Pleasant Hills is a bit off the beaten path, but if you're in town to golf anyway, it's worth the trip. I won't say the 18 holes are easy, but they are certainly interesting. Pleasant Hills offers a pro shop and the chalet style club house serves beverages and food. More information can be found at http://www.pleasanthillsgolfcourse.com.

Finally, for the new golfer or young people, make sure you try out the Holiday Greens. This executive course, located behind what used to be a Holiday Inn (now part of Soaring Eagle Casino), is short and sweet. Forgo the cart and walk the 18 holes for some exercise. There are some challenges, but what makes this little course sweet is that your kids will feel like Tiger Woods when they play it. The greens are smooth and flat, and even a golf dummy like me can look like a pro when playing it. The Holiday Greens are located at 5665 E Pickard Street, Mt Pleasant, 48858, phone 989.775.9004.

Besides lodging at Soaring Eagle and Riverwood, the intersection of state highway 10 and US 127 includes several hotel choices, including the Comfort Inn, Fairfield Inn, Green Suites, Baymont, Microtel and Super 8, among others.