GolfPass Icon
Rating Index Rating
Tooltip Information Icon
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
34 Reviews (34)
5 Stars
24
4 Stars
7
3 Stars
3
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
0
Conditions
4.7
Value
4.5
Layout
4.4
Pace
4.6
Amenities
4.4
StaffFriendliness
4.8
88.2%
Recommend this course
30 out of 34 reviews
Read Reviews
frame.svg
AI summaries based on real golfer reviews
circle-star.svg
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.

Book a Tee Time at
The Chief Golf Resort
Powered by GolfNow.com
Hot Deals at The Chief Golf Resort
View more Hot Deals on

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
The Best Way To Book Is With GolfPass+ Annual
golf ball.svg
$120 in monthly tee time promo codes
waivedfees
12 rounds of waived fees
redeemtrophy
GolfPass Member Pricing
teetime protection.svg
Tee Time Protection

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 65
Handicap Don't know
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Top 1000 Contributor
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart

For advanced players only

This course is for the advanced player: many blind spots, sloping greens, heavy rough along the fairways. Directions are not at all clear. It took me awhile to figure out where the pro shop was. During the round, I played hole #7 when intending to play #3. Later, I spent 10 minutes looking for #16, despite following the one sign. Play was very slow because a best ball tournament was taking place ahead of me. I lost more balls during my round than on any other course I've played in the U.S.

Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Poor
Amenities Good
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Challenging Course

Great Northern Michigan golf experience. Very good value for the $$. The layout was very challenging. The yardage is short but really does not play that way with many blind shots into greens and very tight landing areas off of the tee. Not a beginner's course at all.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 1
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 6
Handicap 0-4
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart

Course is beautiful and week maintained. Very nice layout through woods. One of best courses I have played.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 6
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

Great course

The course was in superior shape. The course director was very accommodating; we were an hour early for our tee time with 6 players and he let us go off without a hitch. A great time!

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

Excellent course, lackluster amenities

Course was in excellent condition and was a great challenge. Was very surprised at quality of the course for just $55. But the trailer-like club house, closed restaurant, and no cart-girl were a disappointment. I’d have packed my own cooler and snacks if I had known that typical golf course amenities were non-existent, like having the ability to even buy a bottle of water.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Average
Pace Excellent
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 15
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

The Chief

Course was in excellent condition. Loved playing there.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 4
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 Excellent
Played On
Reviews 449
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Illinois Advisor
Top 10 Contributor
Previously Played
Hot weather
Used cart

Decent Shape but still a tricked up challenge

Took a 5 year hiatus from the Chief and have played it more than 30 times since it opened in 1996. They've taken out some of the traps, filled in a lot of the frog pond that entirely fronted the 5th green (former 8th - now all land fronting the middle of the green) and significantly rerouted the course so it returns to the clubhouse after the 9th hole (was the 18th hole originally) and the course now finishes on what was the 3rd hole. The Chief is overly challenging and any ball that is just a skosh marginally off line usually results in a penalty or dropped shot. Several holes that you have to play multiple times to even know how to score well on them let alone know where you're going.....In general the course is in very decent shape....better shape than when I played it 5 years ago. Scads of trouble/several longer forced carries......but a beautiful if not spectacular Northern Michigan routing. On a hot Tuesday summer afternoon we likely were the only group on the course. I recommend the course however I also highly recommend you play with someone who has some local knowledge. If not you'll probably get lost making some wrong turns a few times and hit a few shots you'll want back or just remember for next time you play it. Several challenging shots this course demands you pull off. 3.75 to 4 stars.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 56
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Scenic views and challenging!!!

Awesome, beautiful, challenging course with breathtaking views!!

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 4
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
3.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Cold weather
Used cart

The Chief is a challenging, unforgiving golf course. Almost every tee has a forced carry and in some cases the hole required an almost perfect tee shot to reach the fairway.

We also a sixsome two groups ahead of us that severely affected the pace of play on the back 9.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Poor
Friendliness Average
Pace Poor
Amenities Good
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 11
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Chief was chief

Overall excellent day. Course was a little soggy on certain holes, but all in all in good condition. Need new range balls as many were old and torn. Staff interacted with was friendly and helpful. Nice to see female grounds keepers. Excellent layout with lots of doglegs. EXCELLENT, EXCELLENT OVERALL EXPERIENCE.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 15
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Golfing the Chief

Excellent golf course; women’s tees provide for a good round for women - not too difficult, yet challenging. Our son enjoyed his first time playing the course, shooting three under par from the tips.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 5
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 122
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Top 500 Contributor
Previously Played

A little quirky

I enjoy playing here but this time although the greens were in nice shape , they were not fast. There is a lot of cart driving to get to many holes. All holes are unique but some are a bit tricky and have blind shots. It definitely helps to have played it several times.

Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Average
Pace Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Club house clsed due to covid ,,,

Wife and I played and she ;iked the courtse even tho iit was alittle hard for her. I have played other courses in the the aera and found this to be the cest Ive seen so far...

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 3
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Fair
Friendliness Average
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Nearby Courses
Bellaire, Michigan
Resort
4.0534700722
130
Bellaire, Michigan
Resort
4.2215854009
158
Bellaire, Michigan
Public/Resort
4.3118886287
343
Bellaire, Michigan
Resort
4.4588935574
163
Bellaire, Michigan
Public
4.3238636364
182
Bellaire, Michigan
Resort
4.6439997051
162
Elk Rapids, Michigan
Semi-Private
1.5833333333
3
East Jordan, Michigan
Public
3.5
2
Kalkaska, Michigan
Public
4.5356311618
307
Kalkaska, Michigan
Public
4.6557152777
318
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).
Now Reading
  • Home

  • Memberships

  • Library

  • Account