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Rating Index Rating
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4.5
211 Reviews (211)
5 Stars
111
4 Stars
72
3 Stars
21
2 Stars
7
1 Stars
0
Conditions
4.5
Value
4.4
Layout
4.3
Friendliness
4.7
Pace
4.5
Amenities
4.2
90.2%
Recommend this course
183 out of 211 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.6
32 Reviews (32)
5 Stars
21
4 Stars
8
3 Stars
3
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
0
Conditions
4.5
Value
4.4
Layout
4.3
Pace
4.5
Amenities
4.4
StaffFriendliness
4.8
87.5%
Recommend this course
28 out of 32 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.6
32 Reviews (32)
5 Stars
21
4 Stars
8
3 Stars
3
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
0
Conditions
4.5
Value
4.4
Layout
4.3
Pace
4.5
Amenities
4.4
StaffFriendliness
4.8
87.5%
Recommend this course
28 out of 32 reviews
Read Reviews

About

Holes 18
Type Public/Resort
Par 71
Length 6482 yards
Slope 145
Rating 72.3

The Chief Golf Course, nicknamed the Spirit of the North, is one of northern Michigan's premier courses. The championship course tumbles across rolling hills, providing dramatic elevation changes throughout. If you're a fan of mountain golf then this is the golf course for you. By far the toughest challenge golfers will face is the carefully sculpted mounding that borders most of the greensides. The mounds can create difficult angles for pitching and chipping. There are also a slew of strategically placed bunkers throughout. Strong mid and short iron play is important since accurate approaches are the key to this course. The unique design definitely makes it a course for shot-makers. The layout finishes with one of its most challenging holes, a par 4 with water to the left and bunkers and mounding to the right.

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The Chief Golf Resort
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Course Details

Year Built 1996
Fairways Bent Grass
Greens Bent Grass
Golf Season April - November
Architect John F. Robinson (1996)

Rentals/Services

Carts Yes
Caddies No
Clubs Yes

Practice/Instruction

Driving Range Yes
Teaching Pro Yes
Pitching/Chipping Area Yes
Putting Green Yes

Policies

Credit Cards Accepted Visa, MC, AMEX, Discover card(s) Welcomed
Metal Spikes Allowed No
Walking Allowed No
Dress code No Swimwear or Beach Attire

Food & Beverage

Bar, Grill, Restaurant

Available Facilities

Clubhouse
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Reviews

4.5
211 Reviews (211)
Advanced Filters
Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing

Great course

Nice brand new clubhouse with Trackman simulators, huge bar, pleasant staff. Course was in great shape and has a great layout. No back and forth holes. Will definitely play again. Well done to the team at The Chief.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing

Fun and Challenging

Difficult layout, but a really fun course. I’m a 14 handicap, and the white tees gave me all I wanted and then some. Par 3s were particularly challenging. I look forward to playing again, now that I understand a little bit about the layout.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Played On
Reviews 18
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
5.0
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 17
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Fair
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 1
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 10
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart

Interesting Layout......Hilly, Challenging Course!

First time playing this course. Front nine is not as penal as the back nine. The back nine is basically cut out of woods with lots of elevation changes, few flat lies, and fairly narrow fairways/landing areas. I would think that a high handicap golfer would struggle on the back nine especially if they did not play from the correct tees. If you have trouble hitting the ball straight you could loose a lot of balls on this course, balls hit off line are hard to find and even if you could see it , it might be impossible to get to. I would say this course is not possible to play without a cart, i'm not sure if they even allow walkers. The course was in very nice condition and although it kicked my butt, I was glad to have played it.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing

Fantastic course! Pretty challenging, but not super long.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 9
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
First Time Playing
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 3
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 57
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Windy weather
Used cart

Nice course

The course was in pretty good shape. However, the greens were a little slow and the "slits" from the fall areations had not filled in yet. The course can be quite a challenge if you don't stay true. It was a bit windy and still chilly for this time of year. The new clubhouse looks great.

Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 30
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Enjoyed the beauty

The course is in great condition. I think it is very challenging with many blind shots and tee shots through narrow openings to narrow landing areas. They continue to strive towards making it more playable with signs indicating the distance and flags at the landing areas. I love playing the course because of the beauty. The cart paths lead through hilly, wooded areas where wildlife is always present. The white and blue tees on the par 3 #5 are nestled over a canyon and you have to take a foot bridge to access. While this can be a difficult course, it makes for a fun and beautiful day.

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 18
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart
Conditions Excellent
Value Average
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Average
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart

Test your ability to hit straight

Fun/challenging course. If you know your distances and can consistently hit in the right direction, you will enjoy getting to the green where the fun begins.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 8
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 55
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Chief excelkence

Course excellent shape. Choose your clubs wiseltmy for tglhe first 2 hills. Most difficult holes I have ever played in the last 35 years.

Pristine shape and friendly staff. .

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Challenging placement course

This is the first time we played this course, it is beautiful well-maintained and a great challenge. You will need a yardage book. They don’t have GPS and it is a placement course with shots into layup areas, and some drives with some huge carries. But a beautiful course when we played, they were just working on some new condos in a new clubhouse that should be finished next year 2025 looks awesome are a bit old and struggle, but I’m sure they have new ones on the way afterwards the restaurant the nest has a lively atmosphere outdoor seating and great food Staff was super friendly to

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