The natural, up-north setting; 27 holes and a fine clubhouse/restaurant operation set Shepherd's Hollow apart from the competition, even from its sister courses, Cherry Creek and Pine Trace. Calling the land leased from Jesuit priests "heavenly" wouldn't be a stretch.

The Orchards bills itself as "Your Club for the day", meaning you'll get the service and conditions of a private club. The Orchards has the best tournament pedigree of any local public venue. It hosted the Michigan Open three times (2011-13) and even a USGA event in 2002, the now defunct U.S. National Amateur Publinx Championship.

The Majestic at Lake Walden by Jerry Mathews marches gracefully around Lake Walden. All three of the loops are equally good. Golfers who start on the back nine are escorted by pontoon boat to the 10th tee, a neat experience.

With five par 3s, Coyote Preserve is as fun and it is beautiful. It might feature the best closing stretch in the state. Nicknamed the "Coyote Trap", the par 5-3-5 finish is epic. The 16th can feel a bit goofy until you play it a few times. I'm not shy to admit I never aim for the green on the 196-yard (white tees) at 17. The water is all carry, so you better hit it pure. The 18th, a nice risk-reward, will likely decide your match if a few lost balls on the previous holes haven't already done so.

Eagle Crest, where I learned the game in college, is my sentimental pick. Its scenery alone merits inclusion. The driving range and clubhouse atop a hill overlook Ford Lake. The 16th, a dramatic par 5, runs along the shoreline as one the most intimidating par 5s I've ever played. Ponds lurk throughout the round. The 10th is almost like a "road hole" copycat. Bash one around/over a tree and the hotel parking lot at the corner of the dogleg for a chance to reach the par 5 in two.

No homes in sight and that "up north" vibe of hills and trees endears Moose Ridge to anybody who tees it up. The log-cabin clubhouse is also one of a kind. Moose Ridge engages golfers with a scenic, target test of golf.

The competition to be called the best Arnold Palmer course in Michigan is fierce, considering there are four strong candidates. Northville Hills probably bats cleanup, but that's no knock on the quality of this course. The design is solid and the bunkering eye-catching. Two-third of the holes are lined by water or wetlands, as well as large homes, which takes away a bit of the beauty from the overall setting.

The Golden Fox is the signature experience of the 54-hole Fox Hills complex. Hills tricked up the greens with lots of undulations and they're kept firm and fast. He also buried a large elephant in a mound fronting one of the greens, providing a different look for this strong test of golf.

Boulder Pointe (2000) does push the boundaries of metro Detroit, but its 27 holes built on a reclaimed gravel mine are well worth the drive. The Dunes/Peaks combo is perhaps the best. There's 15 lakes/ponds to navigate and some nice elevation changes to boot. The Greystone Golf Club near Romeo is another former gravel pit operation worth playing.

It's by design that these two courses owned by the same ownership group ended in a tie. Some people favor one or the other - me, Cherry Hills - but they offer the same commitment to quality service, conditions and facilities. Pine Trace (1989) by Hills feels more like northern Michigan than Cherry Creek, known for its sprawling clubhouse with some nice memorabilia inside from architect Lanny Wadkins.