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Rating Index Rating
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4.3
156 Reviews (156)
5 Stars
93
4 Stars
42
3 Stars
12
2 Stars
8
1 Stars
1
Conditions
4.2
Value
4.4
Layout
4.6
Friendliness
4.4
Pace
3.9
Amenities
4.2
90.4%
Recommend this course
140 out of 156 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.4
5 Reviews (5)
5 Stars
3
4 Stars
1
3 Stars
1
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
0
Conditions
4.0
Value
4.6
Layout
4.6
Pace
4.4
Amenities
5.0
StaffFriendliness
5.0
80.0%
Recommend this course
4 out of 5 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.2
17 Reviews (17)
5 Stars
6
4 Stars
8
3 Stars
3
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
0
Conditions
4.1
Value
4.5
Layout
4.6
Pace
3.8
Amenities
4.2
StaffFriendliness
4.6
94.1%
Recommend this course
16 out of 17 reviews
Read Reviews
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AI summaries based on real golfer reviews
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Course Highlights
The Legend's highly rated layout delivers dramatic elevation changes, scenic woodland drives, and unexpected water features that challenge golfers of all skill levels. Excellent conditions, friendly staff, and strong value through GolfNow make this northern Michigan course worth booking.

About

Holes 18
Type Resort
Par 72
Length 6764 yards
Slope 137
Rating 73.2

The Legend Course is one of four championship golf courses at Shanty Creek in Bellaire, one of northern Michigan's most popular golfing destinations. The Legend might be the most well known of the four since it is the club's Arnold Palmer design. It has been ranked as one of the top four resort courses in the country and the best resort course in the Midwest. It is definitely a challenge but Palmer incorporated generous fairways and true-rolling greens that allow golfers to play to their handicap. The golf course features elevated tee areas and slightly raised, heavily bunkered putting complexes. Water hazards also come into play on five holes. The 12th is one of the most challenging holes and also one of the most scenic. There is water to the left and a treacherous bunker waiting on the right.

Book a Tee Time at
The Legend Golf Course at Shanty Creek Resorts
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Course Details

Year Built 1986
Fairways Bent Grass
Greens Bent Grass
Golf Season Open: 4/27 Closed: 10/21
Architect Arnold Palmer (1986) Ed Seay (1986) Robert Walker (1986)

Rentals/Services

Carts Yes - included in green fees
Caddies No
Clubs Yes

Practice/Instruction

Driving Range Yes
Golf School/Academy Yes
Teaching Pro Yes
Putting Green Yes

Policies

Credit Cards Accepted VISA, MasterCard, Amex, Discover Welcomed
Metal Spikes Allowed No

Food & Beverage

Restaurant

Available Facilities

Clubhouse, Meeting Facilities, Banquet Facilities, Spa

Available Sports

Fitness

Accolades

The Best Way To Book Is With GolfPass+ Annual
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$120 in monthly tee time promo codes
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12 rounds of waived fees
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GolfPass Member Pricing
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Tee Time Protection

Reviews

4.3
156 Reviews (156)

What Golfers Are Saying

Course Challenges Include:
Elevation Changes 10
Bunkers 9
Undulating Greens 8
This course/club is great for:
Wildlife/ Scenic Views 12
Advanced Golfers 10
Group Getaways 9
This Course's Location is:
Worth the Drive 11
At a Resort 9

Numbers based on reviews tagged with attribute.

Advanced Filters
Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 31
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
3.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Expected Better

For an Arnold Palmer design, I was really expecting more. The tee boxes we used were not in great shape. The staff told us later that because many of the holes were built between ridges that the course stays quite wet, which we noticed right away. The design was OK, but I thought that there were too many sharp dog leg holes especially with the thickness of the surrounding forest.

Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Played On
Reviews 7
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

The course has amazing views!

Elevation changes, green undulations and natural surroundings impress!

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Response from on 06/10/2026:
Thank you for the five-star review! We're thrilled you enjoyed your visit and appreciate you choosing to spend your time with us. We look forward to welcoming you back soon.
Played On
Reviews 5
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Fair
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 3
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 122
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Top 500 Contributor
Previously Played

Nice course

Greens were moderately fast but need more grass growth. Love the layout, each hole is somewhat unique. A must play if you’re in the area.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Played On
Reviews 5
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
First Time Playing

Very nice course. Beautiful layout and scenery. You can tell this once was a gem. However course conditions left a lot to be desired. There were a few spots in fairways a greens that had dead spots that would make Arnold Palmer roll over in his grave. Lack of ball washers and trash cans was shocking. But the biggest issue with course conditions was definitely the clientele. Seemed like nobody would fix their divets in the fairway or pitch marks on the greens. Tee boxes were all chewed up. You could tell the course was filled with a bunch of drunk rowdy golfers that had no respect for a beautiful course.

Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 5
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

The course played well and enjoyable.

Greens were fast on the day we played and the course has water features I didn’t expect. Beautiful course and I will play it again this Fall.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 4
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Hot weather
Used cart

Legend of Slow Play

While the course was in good condition, the pace of play was extremely slow. The marshalls did not move things along and it took almost 6 hours to play. That being said, it's a great course for all skill levels as its 5 tee boxes can help you adjust easily. The greens were slow for a course of this caliber. The course looked well used. The views were wonderful and the ups and downs of northern michigan golf were fantastic. If you like golf, you have to try the legend. Maybe just play on the weekdays and twilights to avoid the crowds.

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Poor
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Previously Played

Good value through Golf Now. I wouldn’t pay full

Price

Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 18
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Average
Pace Poor
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 19
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Palmer designed course. Excellent layout

I thought the GC was great and challenging. The most undulating (hilly) I have ever played. The one rather flat hole par 5 will also eat your lunch. Views were great. ARNY DID A GREAT JOB IN THE LAYOUT.. IAM from a Country Club background in Florida and was disappointed in the Tee boxes conditions. Nothing flat. A good grounds keeper would address the issue in off season. I realize there are five golf courses but hire golf grounds keepers not landscapers. Will play again

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Hot weather
Used cart

just what the doctor ordered

layout and the pleasant drive through the woods made the slower pace of play almost non existent. it was an great day all around!

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Fair
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 9
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Mixed feelings

Some very soggy fairways, greens in excellent condition.

Course is difficult but knew that , soggy fairways prevented some roll out, some tee boxes could use some better conditioning.

No drinking water on course. $13 turkey wrap at halfway house. Friendly employees at halfway shack and cart pick up/ return.

4 hour 15 minutes - we were a twosome waiting on n foursome. Moved along OK.

Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Fair
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Hot weather
Used cart
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 5-9
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart
Conditions Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Beginner
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Average
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 5
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Early in the year but good condition.

The grass is still very dormant but given the temps and time of year the course was in great condition, greens were rolling very true

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
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Golf Packages

Shanty Creek Stay & Play Package

Click Below
BELLAIRE | Enjoy lodging accommodations at Shanty Creek's Lakeview Hotel or Lodge of Cedar River and golf at Shanty Creek - Cedar River, Hawk's Eye, Legend, Schuss, or Summit Courses.

Destination Kohler - Champions' Trail Golf Package

FROM $617 (USD)
KOHLER, WI | Enjoy 2 nights’ accommodations at The American Club or the Inn at Woodlake and 3 rounds of golf at Blackwolf Run (River or Meadow Valleys Course) and Whistling Straits (Straits or Irish Course)

Destination Kohler - To Dye Four Golf Package

FROM $557 (USD)
KOHLER, WI | Enjoy 3 nights’ accommodations at The American Club or the Inn on Woodlake and 4 rounds of golf at Blackwolf Run (River & Meadow Valley Courses) and Whistling Straits (Straits & Irish Courses).
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