Shanty Creek - Cedar River: #18
A view of the 18th green surrounded by tricky bunkers at Cedar River from Shanty Creek
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Rating Index Rating
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4.5
163 Reviews (163)
5 Stars
116
4 Stars
38
3 Stars
7
2 Stars
1
1 Stars
1
Conditions
4.4
Value
4.2
Layout
4.7
Friendliness
4.1
Pace
3.6
Amenities
4.0
87.6%
Recommend this course
153 out of 163 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
5.0
4 Reviews (4)
5 Stars
4
4 Stars
0
3 Stars
0
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
0
Conditions
4.3
Value
5.0
Layout
5.0
Pace
4.5
Amenities
4.8
StaffFriendliness
5.0
100.0%
Recommend this course
4 out of 4 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.3
15 Reviews (15)
5 Stars
8
4 Stars
4
3 Stars
3
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
0
Conditions
4.2
Value
4.2
Layout
4.6
Pace
3.4
Amenities
3.9
StaffFriendliness
4.0
80.0%
Recommend this course
12 out of 15 reviews
Read Reviews
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AI summaries based on real golfer reviews
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Course Highlights
Cedar River's elevation changes and well-separated holes create a beautiful, challenging layout that consistently earns high marks from returning golfers. Fairways and greens stay in excellent condition, making this Shanty Creek course a favorite worth revisiting.

About

Holes 18
Type Resort
Par 72
Length 6980 yards
Slope 135
Rating 73.2

Shanty Creek in Bellaire is one of northern Michigan's most popular golfing destinations, offering 72 holes of championship golf. The Cedar River Course was Tom Weiskopf's first design in Michigan. It has been ranked as one of the top 100 resort golf courses in the country. The layout closely follows the natural contours of the landscape, providing a wealth of unique shot opportunities. The dramatic elevation changes define the traditional layout, which gives an excellent rhythm to the course. The course will appeal to low and high handicappers alike offering a mix of generous landing areas and ones that require accurate tee shots and approaches. The 13th and 14th holes are quite unique and located in the most scenic section of the golf course. They play across rolling hills framed by tall heather and fescue as well as strategically placed bunkers and trees.

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Course Details

Year Built 1999
Fairways Bent Grass
Greens Bent Grass
Golf Season Open: 4/27 Closed: 10/21
Architect Tom Weiskopf (1999)

Rentals/Services

Carts Yes - included in green fees
Pull-carts Yes
Caddies No
Clubs Yes

Practice/Instruction

Driving Range Yes
Golf School/Academy Yes
Teaching Pro Yes
Putting Green Yes

Policies

Credit Cards Accepted VISA, MasterCard, Amex, Discover Welcomed
Metal Spikes Allowed No
Dress code Proper golf attire required.

Food & Beverage

Restaurant

Available Facilities

Clubhouse, Meeting Facilities, Banquet Facilities, Spa

Available Sports

Fitness

Accolades

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Reviews

4.5
163 Reviews (163)

What Golfers Are Saying

The 19th Hole is Great For:
Drinks 6
Course Challenges Include:
Elevation Changes 12
Bunkers 11
Forced Carries 7
This course/club is great for:
Wildlife/ Scenic Views 16
Advanced Golfers 12
A Weekend Splurge 10
This Course's Location is:
At a Resort 14
Worth the Drive 14

Numbers based on reviews tagged with attribute.

Advanced Filters
Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 6
Handicap 0-4
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Excellent weather
Used cart

Tough, Fair, and Fun

This is a must play when you are in Northern MI. The course layout is excellent and challenging - especially from the tips - but still fair. The conditions were great. We teed off at 4:40 and were done by 7:30.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Hilly up north course

Very nice "up north" course. Not for beginners.

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 24
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played
Used cart

Cedar River is a Must Play

Outstanding track. This course will not disappoint you or your partners. Challenging but fair layout with large landing areas for drives. Greens roll true and reward well struck putts. Scenic views with the resort feel you desire. Simply put, this course is worth the drive.

So much more to say but just go and play and decide for yourself.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 7
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Spring golf

Fair course for average golfer enjoyed our day

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Played On
Reviews 9
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

View from above

Very nice elevated tee boxes that makes a true test of golf, when played from the blues. Excellent tee boxes and scenery that's worth the drive

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 324
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Texas Advisor
Top 10 Contributor
Previously Played

The best of the Shanty Creek foursome

Tom Weiskopf's better known Michigan course may be Forest Dunes, but an entirely different beast awaits at his Cedar River design, part of the Shanty Creek Resorts in the lil' golf hotspot of Bellaire. I favor Cedar River by a nose over The Legend, the resort's Palmer design, as well as the other two, older resort courses here. There are some really lovely elevated tee shots, and you can really swing away with a driver on a lot of holes. I'm still trying to figure out the short, par-4 13th, which is totally blind with all sorts of trouble. I'm all for the occasional blind shot but there is so much going on up by the green I really think you need to elevate that tee. Having said that, the course is still a lot of fun with great hole variety. It makes my Top 10 Northern Michigan (public) courses every time.

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 59
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Top 1000 Contributor
Previously Played
Average weather
Used cart

GLC - Good Looking Course

The weather was cool but the course was in great shape and this was after an overnight rain. Fairways and greens were in very good condition. Rough grass was a little high -- again, after an all night rain. This is a very nice Up North course with scenic views. Fairways are wide enough so no excuses. On the short 13th hole, lay short of the front bunkers or you're in trouble.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 449
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Illinois Advisor
Top 10 Contributor
Previously Played
Excellent weather
Used cart

Getting Overplayed by Resort Guests

Cedar River is one of my all time faves in Northern Michigan. That being said while the course is in very good shape it's showing some signs of wear and tear (not poor maintenance but by resort guests not repairing/sanding divots or repairing ball marks properly). The Legend was in excellent shape....Cedar was just a tad below. Pace of play was an issue for us because there was a clueless 3 some of 1st timer resort guests a couple of tee times in front of us. A two foursome ladies league actually played around them skipping 10 and 11 and then we were stuck behind them. On the 18th tee as we pulled up one of the resort guests told me they had been waiting all day for the group in front of them. Funny because the entire par 5 18th in front of them was empty. I never miss a round at Cedar - a fantastic Weiskopf design....just too bad the resort guests don't care about taking care of the course and think they are entitled to a 5 hour plus round on a Thursday morning.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Poor
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 56
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

This course Is beautiful, challenging with many elevation change, a must play.

Challenging golf course with beautiful up north view.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Beautifully Playable

A very nice expierence... the guys liked it a lot, the wife's loved the course...

Nicely Done.!!

Conditions Good
Value Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Last minute

Woke up in gaylord ready to head home. Golf now email offered tee time for 53.00 fire sale. We jumped on it and ended our golf weekend at a great northern michigan course. Course ranks up there with forest dunes, Sundance and Hidden River.
Will for sure be playing at shanty creek resorts Cedar River. TRULY BREATH TAKING!

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Excellent weather
Used cart

Not a bad hole on the course! So much fun to play!

Cedar River is in perfect condition from tee to green. Nothing tricky about the greens or the holes. There are few holes (5 and 10) that require the golfer to drive up to see below the hill to understand how best to hit the next shot. All of us thoroughly enjoyed playing the course and would do it again and again.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 17
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Excellent weather
Used cart

Great track. Free balls !!

Cedar River is a great course. Despite being stuck behind 3 groups of senior women (which by the way courses should prohibit from happening!), it was an enjoyable day; made better by the free golf balls on hole 7.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 8
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Average weather
Used cart

Great course

This course is a must play, put this in your top 10... The greens are excellent and putt true, Pleasure to play this work of art.. Thank you "Golf Now" for the incredible rate... Don't forget to pile on the mustard on the turkey wrap... mmmmmmmm

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Used cart

Great moment

Wonderful colours with the trees and the surrounding nature.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 7
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Good weather
Used cart

Our new favorite Michigan course

Beautiful, well maintained golf course. Presents some challenges, but still very playable. We couldn't wait to get to the next tee for every hole to see what view awaited us. We were not disappointed one time. My husband and I had a wonderful day of golf here.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Beautiful course

This is a challenging course. Ample fairways with nice greens. It's a very picturesque course.

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

Great Course

Overall great course to play. I'd play it again in a heartbeat.

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

Cedar River is a solid course which an average golfer can enjoy

After playing The Chief nearby, this course was a relief. It is typical resort golf in Northern Michigan with some refreshing design touches and a couple of oddities. The 13th hole needs to be viewed from the green on backward to the tee before you play it and 18 is 604 yards from the tips. Maintenance was above average. One or two greens differed noticeably in speed from the other 16. I'd recommend it and play it again myself.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 4
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Excellent weather
Used cart

My Favorite Shanty course

Cedar River is both challenging and forgiving at the same time. Course conditions were excellent. This is our golf group's favorite Shanty course.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
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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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