Arcadia Bluffs

I have had the opportunity to play some great courses around the country and Arcadia Bluffs still stands out in my mind - definite top 5 behind the likes of Pine Valley and Merion.

The course is challenging but definitely fair, for golfers of most skill levels. If you have the opportunity to play, I suggest not passing it up!

While you could debate which course is Michigan's best, it would be tough to argue who has the most dramatic setting. That's Arcadia Bluffs, thanks to a perch well above Lake Michigan that makes every step here feel like it's on the ocean. The greens are large and fast and undulating, pot bunkers are plentiful and the grass and dunes can be very penal. I really like the five par 3s and five par 5s that increase scoring opportunities and hole variety. I could nitpick a few design shortcomings that makes it merely a Top 5 pick in Michigan instead of a slam dunk No. 1, but nobody walks off the 18th disappointed here, that's for sure.

I have played most of the great Michigan courses including Bay Harbor, Tullymore, the Galles & Oakland Hills South. While all of them are great in some way, Arcadia takes my No. 1 ranking because it challenges you on every hole, and provides scenic natural views o a level than none of the others do. The top notch facility and staff are equal to those of the best resort Courses I have ever played anywhere. This one is a must play but play it a second time after you have some "local knowledge" about positioning your shots.