Black Bear Golf Club

I've been to this course a couple of times in the past years. This year I got delayed in getting there.
Last week, I called several times to get tee times and got the same recorded message, dated Monday Oct. the 9th that the course would be open on Wed and the tentative closing would be after Sunday the 15th. There was some good weather during that time to play; but I was able to get someone to call me back.
I finally got a hold of a man today and he said that the course was closed for the season last Wednesday and it is in the process of being sold.
The really good news for all of the subscribers/members of Group Golfer holding prepaid vouchers: He assured me that the new owners would be honoring the unused vouchers next season.

I love the layout on this course, however, it appears to have suffered from years of neglect. The greens were playable, but the fairways, rough, and tee boxes are barely maintained. There was one kid who was very hard working and friendly running the whole course. No other staff on site. It’s a shame. The other reviews here are accurate, it has so much potential and was probably a great course 20 years ago. Unfortunately, it needs a ton of work and money put into it. If it was properly maintained, I’d come back to play again.

The course is a good layout. Unfortunately they need some money and love to survive. The owner / pro was a very engaging man. Wish him the very best in the future.

Susan and Tommy

The course is a mess— it shouldn’t be open at all. Wcccwilly

This course has NOT been maintained! there are NO fairways, and the tee boxes were long, but the greens were smooth but very slow. You can't enjoy this place. Horrible, the management should be ashamed of the condition of what I believe was a well-designed course but not a cow pasture. Don't waste your money. The best thing I can say about this is they sell beer.

Course is in pretty rough shape.but for the price it is above average! The greens are huge and in decent shape. Tee boxes need work. If just out to swing and work on your game it is a fantastic value !

Course could be great. Unfortunately fairways and tee boxes were in terrible condition . Don't think they have been mowed or watered in weeks. Weeds as high as 8 inches in fairway. All tee boxes had either complete dead grass areas with dirt or grass that hasn't been cut so affected tee shots. When you are looking out towards fairway from tee you can't tell where fairway is compared to rest of course. Greens are slowest I played all year but if they made faster woukd make course impossible to play. They staff was very nice but conditions are unacceptable. This course needs to be taken over by someone else and given the maintenance it needs to make it a beautiful course

This course would be a great scene for a post apocalyptic movie. I can tell at one point this course was probably amazing, but it would take a decade or more of absolute neglect for a course to look this bad. Zero mowed fairways, horrendous tee boxes, water all dried up from every water hazard, sand traps were unplayable and filled with weeds and rocks. I have golfed at over 100 golf courses and I have never once seen a course so poorly kept. Our party of 4 was in disbelief the entire time because the course truly could be great. The pace of play was great because nobody was golfing there.

Showed up for our tee time. No one around to help us clubhouse locked up. Golfed 9 holes called it after that due to poor poor conditions of course. Sparse grass in fairways. The greens looked to be the only maintained grass to be found. Hope they can get the course back into the shape of the photo online. Would love to try it again if it gets back to playing shape.

Our tee time was Mon at noon. We were the only ones on the course. The tee boxes and the fairways were very patchy like they haven’t been watered. The greens were mostly ok but some had dry patches, most were slow and needed mowing, one green was reduced in size by half due to poor condition. We made the turn and stopped at the clubhouse to get something to eat but all the doors were locked and the lights were off (at 2:00 PM). We have golfed here numerous times and like the layout but due to poor conditions we probably won’t go back.

One of my favorite layouts in northern MI! Course conditions are not good EXCEPT for the greens. They are ok. I am hoping this is a sign that ownership is going to restore this OUTSTANDING LAYOUT to the beauty it deserves. I played for $35. Would not pay more currently but this is an $80-100 course if it were maintained

I booked through GolfNow and the course ended up being closed for the season. Not sure why GolfNow was advertising several hot deals for the day I booked to play
I cannot find a way to contact anyone with GolfNow to find out what happened and to try and get a refund.

I know this review is for the course but when I click the link to review the booking it just takes me to the same page that does not allow me to contact anyone.
It says it offers “online chat” help but there is no link to do so?!!?!?!
VERY disappointed with GolfNow!!

I played this course around 10-12 years ago and absolutely loved it. The views were great, course was challenging but enjoyable and the layout was perfect! This was my second time and wow...the course is in very poor shape. In some sections of the course, you can't tell much of a difference between the greens, fairways and sand traps. Very weedy and some areas were completely bare. It was a bit shocking. The nicest thing about the course was the golf carts. They seemed fairly new and were in great shape.

Never write a review
Grass on the fairways and greens were optional. It was that bad!

Don’t ever review normally
Grass was so sparse, you couldn’t find the fairway because it’s in such bad shape!! Second time I’ve tried it
Never again !