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Rating Index Rating
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4.6
220 Reviews (220)
5 Stars
118
4 Stars
74
3 Stars
21
2 Stars
7
1 Stars
0
Conditions
4.6
Value
4.5
Layout
4.4
Friendliness
4.7
Pace
4.6
Amenities
4.3
90.7%
Recommend this course
192 out of 220 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.7
7 Reviews (7)
5 Stars
5
4 Stars
2
3 Stars
0
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
0
Conditions
4.9
Value
4.9
Layout
4.9
Pace
5.0
Amenities
4.8
StaffFriendliness
4.9
100.0%
Recommend this course
7 out of 7 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.6
32 Reviews (32)
5 Stars
23
4 Stars
6
3 Stars
3
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
0
Conditions
4.7
Value
4.5
Layout
4.5
Pace
4.5
Amenities
4.5
StaffFriendliness
4.8
90.6%
Recommend this course
29 out of 32 reviews
Read Reviews
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AI summaries based on real golfer reviews
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Course Highlights
The Chief delivers a challenging, scenic layout with well-maintained fairways and greens that consistently impress recent golfers. A brand-new clubhouse featuring Trackman simulators and a welcoming staff elevate the overall experience.

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

4.6
220 Reviews (220)

What Golfers Are Saying

The 19th Hole is Great For:
Drinks 6
Course Challenges Include:
Elevation Changes 15
Forced Carries 15
Bunkers 14
This course/club is great for:
Advanced Golfers 13
Wildlife/ Scenic Views 10
A Weekend Splurge 7
This Course's Location is:
Worth the Drive 9
At a Resort 8

Numbers based on reviews tagged with attribute.

Advanced Filters
Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 23
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
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 5
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Conditions Good
Value Fair
Layout Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Good
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 25
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Wet weather
Used cart
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 59
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Well Kept

This course can be a challenge. The course was in very good condition for this time of year. Greens were mowed well but leaves were all over - bring a blower!

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Played On
Reviews 6
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
4.0
Verified Purchaser

Was I great shape

But was fairly unforgiving if your shot veers to the right or left. The rough falls off to out of bounds with very little reprieve on many of the holes

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

The Chief Challenge

Beautiful course, challenging and well conditioned.

Definitely a course I would recommend

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 56
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played

The Chief

Beautiful challenging golf course!! Very scenic with woods and elevated views. Fairways and green were in great shape, tee boxes were a little rough. Staff was very friendly. Would differently recommend to friends. It’s a got to play up north course!!!

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 9
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Nice but very tough

This is the second time I’ve played this last being 8 years ago and now I remember why. It is tight, steep, tough to walk around even with a cart. Several steep hills while driving to each tee.

Its in great shape as it doesn’t get a lot of play. Most golfers in the area are retirees and I can see them having difficulty especially if they have knee problems or they are not in great shape.

Cart was slow but they must gear them down because of steep slopes. Im a 10 handicap and struggled. Not a fun course. I couldn’t wait to finish after 12 holes. Sorry but it’s exhausting.

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Fair
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Long saturday.

Very nice course and layout. Fairly busy and beautiful saturday in late august. Great staff. Incredible bbq dinner at nest after. Nest packed out for dinner. Fun.

All that said, 6-some in front if us and 5-some in front of them. Five other groups playing scramble and brutally slow. Even some of the twosomes were terribly slow. Would have been a six hour round but played thru a couple of the groups (with tudes!!) and skipped two holes and got done in 4:40.

My wife and i are mid 60s, so it’s the pot calling the kettle old…but don’t know if i want to play any shanty courses on the weekend. Not worth the risk of an all-day round.

It’s simple…GET a RANGER out there with a CATTLE PROD!! No ranger anywhere!!

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Poor
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Used cart
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 5
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Played On
Reviews 3
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart
Conditions Good
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 4
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played

Up North Golf at it's Best

A true shotmakers course. Tough, but fair. Fantastic elevation changes and scenery. Bring extra balls if you tend to slice or hook. Add at least 6 strokes to what you expect to shoot. Take care in selecting the right tee box to suit your game. After the round, enjoy the selection of beer and excellent food at The Nest right on property.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 4
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Challenge Your Game

With a slope of 139, The Chief is a test of your skill set, and use of most every club in the bag. It rewards good shots, and penalizes almost anything errant. A truly beautiful up north golf experience. And, great food and drink at The Nest right on property. Oh, and bring extra balls.

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 174
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Top 250 Contributor
Previously Played

Enjoy the cart rides!!

We played this course last year for the first time and I thought it was a little bit tracked up. It’s really quite an odd layout you have to drive literally a quarter mile to the first hole and then when you make it back to the clubhouse at the turn you have to drive darn near half mile to the 210 T. The main reason we came back was because we enjoyed ourselves tremendously at Dunmaglas on Wednesday. We like the mountain club courses, but this does not really compare to Dan McGrath’s Dunmaglas

Course conditions are pretty good and we got a great rate of $37 each on a Thursday which as well we did it for but the price was so good And it wasn’t really slow. It’s just it’s so weird driving all over up and down mountains and dirt roads and and if the parking brake goes bad you’re screwed here also but we had a good time it was hot we scored OK it doesn’t really matter enjoyed ourselves and they’re smaller screens here if you don’t get them on the green, they’re gonna roll off and down into the woods. It’s kind of tricky, but get your butts up there to Dunmaglas

Shannon Creek Summit looks awful Shanty Creek you’re dumb in Kalkaska today playing twin birch not Murch birch and this is flat compared to what we just played the last couple days. OK I guess that’s about it yes go and play the chief and see what you think but if your idea of driving up and down dirt car, Passin in the woods and, that kind of thing then go for it specially, for that price but I would pay no 75 bucks or anything like that no way Jose I don’t think we’re gonna play it again. I said that last year but I mean at this time just tripped up until weird.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Beginner
Plays Once every three months
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 18
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
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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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