2470 Old Bridge Road, Bay City, Michigan 48706, US
(989) 686-3500
Location Map

About Bay Valley Resort

The Bay Valley Resort in Bay City can be enjoyed for business or pleasure. The resort is centrally located right off of Interstate-75 in Michigan's mid-section. Lake and golf course views can be had from the Royal Troon Ballroom, dining outdoor terrace and Player's Lounge. Guest rooms feature one king-sized bed or two double beds. Parlor suites include a king bed and comfortable seating area. Complimentary continental breakfast and internet, a fitness room, hot tub, sauna, live entertainment and an indoor/outdoor heated pool are just a few of the perks. Water hazards define the golf course, designed by Desmond Muirhead in 1973.

Facts

Price Range$$
Property Class★★★
Acres470
Year Opened1972
Number of Units100-300

Amenities

RestaurantsCasual
Room TypesRoom
PoolIndoor
Fitness CenterYes
Practice FacilityYes
Banquet SpaceYes

Services

Room ServiceYes

Rules

Is the resort pet friendly?No
Is resort stay required for a tee time?No

Golf courses at Bay Valley Resort

Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars
204 Reviews (204)
Default User Avatar
Anonymous
Review 1
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
Played
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
1.0
1.0 out of 5 stars
Conditions 1.0
Value 3.0
Layout 4.0
Friendliness 5.0
Pace 4.0
Reviews 62
Played

Bay Valley

This course is easily accessible, a good layout. It it needs water badly.

Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
1.0
1.0 out of 5 stars
Conditions 1.0
Value 5.0
Layout 4.0
Friendliness 4.0
Pace 4.0
Amenities 3.0
Review 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
Recommended
Played
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
5.0
5.0 out of 5 stars
Conditions 4.0
Value 5.0
Layout 5.0
Friendliness 5.0
Pace 1.0
Amenities 5.0
Review 1
Recommended
Played
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
4.0
4.0 out of 5 stars
Conditions 3.0
Value 5.0
Layout 5.0
Friendliness 5.0
Pace 5.0
Amenities 4.0
Review 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
Recommended
Played
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
5.0
5.0 out of 5 stars
Conditions 4.0
Value 5.0
Layout 5.0
Friendliness 5.0
Pace 5.0
Amenities 5.0
Review 1
Skill Intermediate
Played

Painfully Slow

The pace of play was out of control. There was on more than one occasion 4 groups on a single hole. They were severely overbooked and took people without tee times.

Some of the folks who had played before talked about how bad the conditions of the course were too. I didn't have a problem with most of the shape of course, however at the normal price point I expected much better.

I'll never play this course again unless it is $12-15

Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
1.0
1.0 out of 5 stars
Conditions 3.0
Value 2.0
Layout 3.0
Friendliness 5.0
Pace 1.0
Amenities 2.0
Reviews 26
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
Recommended
Played

Always a good round

Bay Valley remains as a great place to play in the Tri-Cities. Easily in the top 2-3 public courses in the area. Some terrific signature holes. The pro-shop staff is knowledgeable and accommodating. A solid afternoon of good golf.

Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
4.0
4.0 out of 5 stars
Conditions 3.0
Value 5.0
Layout 4.0
Friendliness 5.0
Pace 3.0
Amenities 4.0
Review 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
Recommended
Played
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
4.0
4.0 out of 5 stars
Conditions 3.0
Value 4.0
Layout 4.0
Friendliness 4.0
Pace 4.0
Amenities 4.0
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
Recommended
Played

Nice course

I found this course challenging and fun. Nice greens and fairways with a good mix of long. And short holes. I will definitely be back and recommend this course to beginner and pro a like.

Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
4.0
4.0 out of 5 stars
Conditions 4.0
Value 4.0
Layout 4.0
Friendliness 4.0
Pace 3.0
Amenities 3.0
Reviews 11
Handicap 25+
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
Recommended
Played

Excellent layout

Love the layout, great challenges & 5 sets of tees. Greens & rough need some attention, but doesn't take away from the overall course.

Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
3.0
3.0 out of 5 stars
Conditions 3.0
Value 4.0
Layout 5.0
Friendliness 5.0
Pace 5.0
Amenities 3.0
Reviews 4
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
Recommended
Played

Bay Valley Fall Golf

Love the course but unfortunately the day we played they were dressing the greens with sand. Putting was like putting on a beach. At least we only paid $15.50 on Golfnow site. But I guess we have no complaints playing on early November in Mid Michigan!

Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
4.0
4.0 out of 5 stars
Conditions 3.0
Value 4.0
Layout 5.0
Friendliness 4.0
Pace 5.0
Amenities 4.0
Review 1
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
Played

Pace of Play

Horrible course management, sending tee times out so close that you have to wait between every shot. 3 hours to play 9 holes and when I got to the tenth hole there were three groups waiting to tee off. Complete waste of time and money, I left after 9 holes and will not be back.

Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
1.0
1.0 out of 5 stars
Conditions 2.0
Value 1.0
Layout 4.0
Friendliness 4.0
Pace 1.0
Amenities 4.0
Reviews 7
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
Played

It's the Toby Keith of golf courses - not as good as it once was.

It's worth noting that in terms of layout this is, by far, my favorite course in the area. But, it seems the years of mismanagement has finally caught up with this once great course.

The course itself has fallen to shambles. Three seasons ago there was hope, as a new greens-keeper/superintendent had the conditions of the course approaching those of other "premier" courses in the area. Two seasons ago, suddenly the course was in rough shape again. I play it a couple times every year in hopes that the conditions improve, but to no avail. There is drainage tile sticking up out of half-a-dozen bunkers, and many others need sand desperately. There are weeds throughout the fairways, will poorly maintained fairways and first cuts. To top it off, the greens have gone from some of the best in the area, to easily the worst. You'll step onto a green and it's smooth, fast and hard, then the following green is like walking on a wet sponge, where a 7-iron "bump & run" shot will check, stop, and barely roll out at all.

The staff isn't much better, with most of the "Pro" shop staff barely acknowledging you are there. Eric is particularly stuffy and rude, and comes across as arrogant and pretentious.

Then there is the pace of play/treatment of players.....

There seem to be 2 extremes at this course. It's either a ghost town, or it's overbooked to the point of 6+ hour rounds, with long stretches of waiting on the groups in front of you. In the 100+ times I've played this course over the last 5-10 years, I've not once seen a ranger out keeping the pace of play going.

While I understand that single golfers can be difficult to fit in during peak hours, Bay Valley has stopped offering reasonable tee-times for single golfers altogether. Sure, I can call the clubhouse and schedule a single tee time for early in the AM, but then I don't get the GolfNow rate, and was told it would be $45 for 18 holes with a cart. I can play Apple Mountain for $55, so why would I spend $45 on a course in as bad of shape as Bay Valley when I can play Apple Mountain for only $10 more, with true greens, fast pace of play, and a fantastic atmosphere?

This brings me to my final point - Price. The course is not worth what they are asking anymore. The tee-time prices have gone up, while the course conditions have gone down significantly. I mean, I can play Swan Valley in Saginaw for $35 and it's in FAR better shape.

I have little hope that this course will turn things around. I'll keep going back a couple times a year, just like I continue to watch the Lions. "Maybe this will be the year."

Previously Played
Excellent weather
Walked
1.0
1.0 out of 5 stars
Conditions 1.0
Value 1.0
Layout 5.0
Friendliness 1.0
Pace 2.0
Amenities 3.0
Difficulty 4.0
Reviews 3
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
Played

Wow

looks like mgt. are getting ready to close down the course granted its been dry ,hot summer , however having played several different courses under the same drought conditions I see no attempt here to weather the conditions. Either they have given up or they plan to close the course permanently.

Previously Played
Excellent weather
Used cart
1.0
1.0 out of 5 stars
Conditions 1.0
Value 1.0
Layout 4.0
Friendliness 3.0
Pace 4.0
Amenities 3.0
Difficulty 2.0
Reviews 7
Handicap Don't know
Skill Beginner
Plays Once a week
Recommended
Played

Great Price

I've played here twice and I can't complain. The staff was very friendly and even with a strict dress code, they made you feel like you belong.

Previously Played
Excellent weather
Used cart
5.0
5.0 out of 5 stars
Conditions 4.0
Value 5.0
Layout 5.0
Friendliness 5.0
Pace 5.0
Difficulty 4.0
Review 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
Played

Pace of play

Took 3 hours to play 9 holes , had to quit 10 th tee 10 people waiting to tee off, 3 twosomes, a foursome ahead off us, no course management on pace of play or starter present at all, very very poor grounds up keep course hard as a rock dry

Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
1.0
1.0 out of 5 stars
Conditions 1.0
Value 1.0
Layout 3.0
Friendliness 4.0
Pace 1.0
Amenities 1.0
Reviews 3
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
Recommended
Played

Getting Better

I wrote a poor review of this course late in 2015. With the recent fix to the watering/sprinkler system, everything is beginning looking better. The maintenance guys were out working on the course, there's sand in traps, new rakes in traps, the greens are transitioning from brown to green. The clubhouse staff is great and are working to bring the conditions back to what Bay Valley used to be known for. Thanks to Tom for his leadership.

Previously Played
Excellent weather
Used cart
4.0
4.0 out of 5 stars
Conditions 4.0
Value 5.0
Layout 5.0
Friendliness 5.0
Pace 5.0
Amenities 4.0
Difficulty 4.0
Reviews 2
Handicap 20-24
Skill Beginner
Plays Once a week
Recommended
Played

Spending all day on the course

This round of 18 took the two of us just under 5.5 hours to complete. Other than chipping and putting we had to wait for every single shot to be made. There was no rhythm to the game. The course was super backed up so we had no opportunity to play through the multiple foursomes in front of us.

Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Good weather
Used cart
3.0
3.0 out of 5 stars
Conditions 2.0
Value 3.0
Layout 5.0
Friendliness 5.0
Pace 1.0
Amenities 4.0
Difficulty 4.0
Reviews 5
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
Played

horrible condition

Once the crown jewel of the Tri Cities has fallen on hard times. Dry, chopped up greens, dilapidated tee boxes and fairways. White Birch is in better shape. Unbelievable that this is the same course from the last 40 years. Maintenance funds are being spent else where on this resort. The layout is still one of the best. Don't waste your money until Bay Valley uses theirs wisely.

Previously Played
Excellent weather
Used cart
1.0
1.0 out of 5 stars
Conditions 1.0
Value 3.0
Layout 5.0
Pace 4.0
Difficulty 5.0
Reviews 9
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
Recommended
Played

The greens are dry and alot of brown.

It took 5 1/2 hours to play 18 holes. There was no Ranger out on the course to move play along. The greens were dry and brown, must have a water problem or not enough water. I have played here many times before and can't believe the condition of the course at this time of the year, would expect this in August, not in June. Hope they get it together as I do really enjoy playing this course and the staff is very friendly.

Previously Played
Excellent weather
Used cart
2.0
2.0 out of 5 stars
Conditions 2.0
Value 5.0
Layout 4.0
Friendliness 5.0
Pace 1.0
Amenities 5.0
Difficulty 4.0
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