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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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$120 in tee time credits
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Reviews

4.5
211 Reviews (211)
Advanced Filters
Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Great deal

Got a great deal to play here for $25. Course layout was pretty challenging with lots of intimidating tee shots. Good variety of holes that require different clubs off the tee. Scorecard and the provided guide book were nice features for first time players. One downside is that once you tee off there isn't any place to grab a snack or a drink. We played on a Thursday and there was nothing other than a few water coolers available on the course. Load up at the clubhouse before you head out. Overall it was an enjoyable round.

Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Decent

Course is slightly suffering from dryness, but they were working hard to keep it watered on every hole. Good experience overall

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 48
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Hot weather
Used cart

Excellent Course!

Excellent course, extremely challenging if you don't stay down the middle! Fairways were in terrific shape. Greens were good, except fairly small, and undulating. Will continue to play here!

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 4
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

A Challenge, But Rewarding, Too!

A Challenge for all skill levels. Rewards shot placement, penalizes errant shots. Beauty of northern Michigan on almost every hole. Forward tees and "beginner" tees accommodate the less skilled quite nicely, while middle and back tees raise the bar significantly for those who want to challenge the layout.. Bring extra balls if you can't hit 'em straight! After the round, have a draft or a snack or a great meal at the Pelicans Nest right on property! Great food and ambiance dining outdoors!

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 15
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Played On
Reviews 13
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Toughest course

This corse demands that you be able to place your ball if you expect to score well. The corse conditions were good, there weren't very many golfers there on a Sunday afternoon so pace of play was good. I would recommend this corse foe boggy or better golfers.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 15
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Fair
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 12
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
2.0
First Time Playing

Poorly maintained

Very poorly maintained. Never saw them cut the greens in 3 days staying on the course. Actually never saw any mowers at all Some of the holes were so beat up from being in the same location for days. The layout is so quirky barely used a wood off the tee. Super tight like 20 yd fairway and 2yrd rough then basically a forest or unplayable area. There were a couple holes that were nice like #6 and 7 but that was about it. The rest were so tight and not fun. I'm a 5 handicap and thought it was unfair and really poorly set up. Plenty of other courses in the area that are much nicer.

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Poor
Friendliness Fair
Pace Average
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 4
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
First Time Playing
Poor weather
Used cart

Cool Track

Local mom and pop feel to clubhouse and bar. Nice people running the shop as well. We played on a rainy day and had a good time. Very demanding layout and very scenic. Pretty good shape condition wise. Fair price and would return for sure.

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 16
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

staff are great folks

Nice layout. Every hole has character. Challenging but lots of fun. Check the gas tank. Hole 10 is quite a distance from the clubhouse and Hole 11 is a country mile from there. Definitely taking on the Chief again.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Fun Course

This is a course to have fun on! Very challenging, beautiful, and super fun course. Not a boring hole on the entire course.

Conditions Excellent
Value 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
Excellent weather
Used cart

Not for the beginner

Course was in very good condition -- greens were slow but true. For the low to mid handicap players, this course would be a gem and a challenge. Not for the faint of heart or high handicappers. Some very scenic holes.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 15
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Average weather
Used cart

Come and take a beating

Unless you are a STEADY lower handicapper, say under 13, you will find The Chief will scalp you. This is tougher than Pebble Beach, Bay Harbor or the nearby Hawks Eye ( which isn't easy).

I don't need the abuse, not a replay for meas a 17 handicap index and an erratic player.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
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
Fair weather
Used cart

This course has some beautiful views

It is a challenging course for women, lots of hidden holes, when you play the first time if you can, ride up the fairway and take a look where to place your next shot. There is no easy shot to the green, lots of deep bunkers.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Must Play

Each hole was fun, conditions fantastic. The food was great!

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

Nice course but difficult

It was a nice course but fairly difficult. We were a twosome playing with a lot of foursomes which held up our pace of play. We only saw the food cart once and it was not well stocked. Nothing at the turn except pop vending machines. Bag drop service was subpar we've been ro less caliber courses that have better bag drop/first hole service. It was our first time playing rhe course so when we asked the girl at bag drop wher hole 1 was she pointed in a direction and said its up there.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Friendliness Average
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 10
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Very tough

The course is beautiful however the immense number if blind shots detracts from its overall appeal. It's value is tremendous however if you don't bring your A game you may be very frustrated and will definitely not leave with as many balls as you came with.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 3
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
First Time Playing
Good weather
Used cart

Tough course if you haven't played it before...

Played the Chief as part of our annual golf trip to Michigan. What made the course tough for me was not knowing where to be off the tee. Drove the ball well but put it in some bad spots from lack of course knowledge. It is target golf. Some greens are small so your yardages need to be pretty accurate to score well. We had several guys shoot anywhere from 75 to 91. The greens seemed slow due to not being cut that morning. We stayed in the cottages on the 5th hole and the pin locations hadn't been changed since we were there. We also had an 8am tee time and the course staff weren't ready for us when we arrived. Carts were still locked up. I was also a little disappointed that after paying for the golf package they still charge you for range balls to warm up with.

Conditions Good
Value Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
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The Loon Golf Resort Stay & Play Package

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Pohlcat Golf Getaway Package

FROM $177 (USD)
MOUNT PLEASANT | Enjoy 2 nights’ accommodations at the Holiday Inn & Suites Mt. Pleasant and 2 rounds of golf at Pohlcat Golf Course.

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).

SentryWorld Stay & Play Package

FROM $347 (USD)
STEVENS POINT, WI | Enjoy 3 nights’ accommodations at The Inn at SentryWorld and 2 rounds of golf at SentryWorld Golf Course (site of the 2023 U.S. Senior Open).
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