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Rating Index Rating
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4.1
238 Reviews (238)
5 Stars
78
4 Stars
79
3 Stars
22
2 Stars
20
1 Stars
39
Conditions
4.0
Value
4.3
Layout
4.4
Friendliness
4.5
Pace
4.0
Amenities
4.1
86.4%
Recommend this course
177 out of 238 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.7
9 Reviews (9)
5 Stars
6
4 Stars
3
3 Stars
0
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
0
Conditions
4.6
Value
4.6
Layout
4.7
Pace
4.3
Amenities
4.4
StaffFriendliness
4.8
100.0%
Recommend this course
9 out of 9 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.2
26 Reviews (26)
5 Stars
11
4 Stars
12
3 Stars
1
2 Stars
2
1 Stars
0
Conditions
4.2
Value
4.3
Layout
4.5
Pace
3.9
Amenities
4.3
StaffFriendliness
4.5
88.5%
Recommend this course
23 out of 26 reviews
Read Reviews
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AI summaries based on real golfer reviews
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Course Highlights
A unique practice hole, elevation changes, and a diverse layout make this northern Michigan course a consistently rewarding round. The upgraded clubhouse, bourbon bar, and simulators complement outstanding staff and exceptional value.

About

Holes 18
Type Resort
Par 72
Length 6425 yards
Slope 144
Rating 71.8
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Black Bear Golf Club
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Course Details

Year Built 1996
Golf Season Open: 4/01 Closed: 10/15
Architect Mark Sauger

Rentals/Services

Carts Yes - included in green fees
Clubs Yes

Practice/Instruction

Driving Range Yes
Golf School/Academy No
Golf Simulator No
Teaching Pro Yes
Pitching/Chipping Area Yes
Putting Green Yes
Practice Hole No

Policies

Credit Cards Accepted VISA, MasterCard, Amex Welcomed
Metal Spikes Allowed No

Food & Beverage

Restaurant

Accolades

  • Golf Advisor: Top 25 Most Improved U.S. Golf Courses (2024 #1)
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Reviews

4.1
238 Reviews (238)
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Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 6
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
1.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Don’t play

Worst course I’ve played. Fairways, greens, and tee boxes were in terrible condition.

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Fair
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Poor
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 6
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
1.0
First Time Playing

Don’t waste your time/money

Fairways were awful. Patchy grass. Tee boxes grass was over grown. Greens were not maintained. One of the worst courses I’ve played.

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Fair
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Poor
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
1.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Just not good

Slow greens. Tall rough with excess clippings from previous mowing that a ball could hide under everywhere. No yardage markings. Red, white and blue ground discs were very small and hard to find.

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Excellent
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

The place to be

Great course and a great price to play in northern MI

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Fair
Value Average
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Played On
Reviews 2
1.0
Previously Played
Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Good
Friendliness Average
Pace Excellent
Played On
Reviews 6
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Last group out 2021

The course layout is great. But it was the last day of golf there and the greens were furry - no problem though….will play in the summer next year.

Conditions Fair
Value Average
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
1.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Why so bad

I played this many years ago. The staff was at the Fort Wayne golf show. It was I believe shortly after it opened. The track is amazing. Great variety and views. However what has happened. Are the owners struggling? I have never played a course where the tee boxes were not mowed. I had to find the spot where everyone was using to be short enough to use a tee. Why was that? The sand bunkers were full of grass. They are not being maintained. The fairways were awful. You can tell something is going on. The clubhouse and signs are really showing the age. There were no yard markers on the sprinklers or distance markers in the fairway. Unless you have a range finder you will be approaching blind. This is sad but did have a 83 and was happy.

Conditions Poor
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap Don't know
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once every three months
2.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Hot weather
Used cart

Course in poor shape

Tee boxes were beaten up pretty bad on more than half of the holes. Several greens were so bad that the ball changed direction on short gimme puts due to unrepaired potholes. Looks like oil or gear lube from mowers dripped all over every green. Cart paths were in very poor condition with pothole. crumbling asphalt and heaving due to tree roots. Fairways seemed to be all that was well maintained.

Conditions Poor
Value Fair
Layout Fair
Friendliness Average
Pace Good
Amenities Poor
Difficulty Fairly Easy
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once every three months
2.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Probably won’t be back

The course layout is great, not great signage for first time players, and the course is in really rough shape! Many of the old sand bunkers/traps are still there with grass and weeds growing in them. Even for the cheap round of golf, we probably won’t be back.

Conditions Poor
Value Fair
Layout Good
Friendliness Average
Pace Good
Played On
Reviews 1
3.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart
Conditions Poor
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 8
Handicap 5-9
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
1.0
Previously Played

So sad that Black Bear has Deteriorated

Nice staff, great pace of play, but conditions are abysmal ! The course has deteriorated so so much since I played a few years ago that fairways look like rough (hard to find your drive right down the middle!? Play somewhere else! Until they put some money into this once-great golf course.

Conditions Poor
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 1
1.0
Previously Played

Do Not Pay Their Bills

Stiffed local garage door company for new door and maintenance work. No integrity!

Played On
Reviews 45
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Beginner
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0

Conditions are a little rough but still ok for the value

Course was a little rough, greens were spotty, not sure if because covid or what but still playable and good value for the money.

Conditions Fair
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Mixed emotions

Great value, beautiful views, challenging holes. Disappointed in the menu, lack of beverage cart, very few clothing options overall, none for women. Would have been helpful to have ranger to speed up play. Nineteenth hole great idea for warming up. unfortunately, Rick had to do everything on his own, the bar and the pro shop. He was very pleasant about it and wish he could’ve had some help.

Overall, we enjoyed our time playing and would do it again.

Conditions Poor
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Poor
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 5
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 43
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
2.0
Previously Played
Conditions Fair
Value Average
Layout Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Average
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 1
1.0
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart

Course is in terrible shape

This course is definitely not worth the money. The greens are half dead, most holes don't have a fairway cut and there are weeds all over the place. The range also wasn't open as they didn't have anyone there to collect balls. The only thing going for it was the lack of people/pace of play. This course has so much potential as the layout is pretty good, but for now save your money and play somewhere else.

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Poor
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
2.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Course is going downhill

I think the course has an interesting and fun layout. But they seemed to always struggle keeping it green. This year was by far the worst I’ve seen it! Greens were terrible! Most greens were more dead than alive.

The staff has always been very friendly and were the same this time.

But the course isn’t worth the money.

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Fair
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Golf Packages

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