Black Lake Conference Center

First time here. Course is so great!! Cant say enough about it. Cut out of the woods - no houses on this bad mother! Clean and mean with elevation changes babbling brooks running thru it and dear and turkey out and about. Starters were so cool and very informative. Cart had perfect GPS system too. Most impressive was it was early in the morning and they let my broken down 84 year old Dad ride along in the cart with me for no charge! Unforgettable experience for both of us!! Big Thanks!! Don’t miss this place.

Staff was awesomel! Course in beautiful condition! $$ was vey affordable!

It’s been a long time since I’ve played this course, and it was better than I remember (I was maybe 16 the first time I played). Very challenging and plays longer than listed. if you don’t hit the fairways, you’ll be in trouble. But there are also a fair share of inviting fairways. Greens were quick, and some had multiple tiers but very well kept. Sand traps had fine sand, not dirt with rocks in it like other courses. Layout was beautiful; tough to beat the pine trees lining every fairway with multiple small ponds and ravines. Beautiful spring Saturday am and the course wasn’t crowded at all. Will be returning.

It is a beautiful course, especially during fall foliage season. Friendly staff. Strongly recommended.

1 :30 hour pace through the first seven holes, Forty minutes to play 8 and 9. When made the turn, there were literally 5 groups at the tenth tee box. There wasn't a starter to get play moving or even an explanation. This resulted in a 6+ hour round and we played the last hole in the dark.

With all of the different courses to choose from in the surrounding areas, it's not worth the extra forty minute drive....I'm just saying

After playing many courses both collegiate my and professionally, this course is a very strong track. Great design and condition. One of the most hidden courses I’ve played which intrigued me. When I saw Reese Jones designed it, I wanted to give it a go. Played long when I played as it was wet. Great practice facility, clubhouse and restaurant. I highly recommend.

Found the course in good condition.

When we paid no receipt was provided, and person in pro shop disinterested.

We were charged gratuity to have our golf bags placed on the golf cart, this was not optional. The individual did not wear gloves or appear to use a hand sanitizer. Also disinterested

The Starter was the shining moment in customer service, he offered some course incite, and wished us a good round.

The GPS on the cart was not always helpful. While driving on the paved cart path the GPS would stop showing the selected hole and ask us to return to the cart path, annoying! And the GPS stopped at the beginning of the 17th hole, I found this annoying as the score card does not show pictures of each hole, thus the last two holes we were hitting blind.

Two of the sand traps were difficult to physically enter and exit from, and I fell during one attempt.

When leaving the course again limited COVID, no gloves yet they instist on handling your golf bag, remember they include their gratuity as a separate charge. When making Tee Time all fees especially mandatory gratuity should be shared to a customer.

Played this course twice in a weekend on a golf trip. Worth the drive to the middle of nowhere. Beautiful clubhouse, go inside and check it out. Only thing I didn’t care for was the additional charge for bag handling and I put the bag on the cart myself. Very tough course, it’s going to test every club in your bag. Rough is thick, and the greens roll fast and true. Each hole feels like it’s by itself - you don’t have people from other holes hitting into you ever. We will be back for sure.

An experience you can only get in Northern Michigan. The course is beautiful and in excellent condition. Greens were very soft in the morning hours and they never quite rolled like i expected. Otherwise, well worth the trip.

Played this course for the 2nd time in 3 years. At one time if you were not allied with the UAW, you could not play it. Outstanding layout in the middle of nowhere Michigan (Onaway). I will defiantly play this again !

Driving north from Kalkaska, it took about an hour+. GPS had us on 2 lane highways instead of I75 . We arrived 30 mins before our tee time. The staff was able to accommodate us by holding off a group of 12 and letting us play first. It was a slight hurry but no problem. The morning sun hadn't even risen over the pines so it was indeed feeling a little Black and gloomy in the trees.

Overall, great course!! The all woods layout separates nearly every hole and your nestled away 1-18. Some seem a bit repetitive. Very challenging green complexes and par 3s. Good fairway forgiveness. Immaculate condition and phenomenal sand. We paid 49 bucks on a Monday. Huge burger and slaw hit the spot post round.

We played here June July & August this year. It’s always been a true gem of our northern Michigan golf experience. I can honestly say I’ve played this course every year since it’s opened as well. Unfortunately we found it to be a bit rough this year. Greens pock marked with unrepaired ball marks, traps unraked and when the course was wet, it had been damaged by carts that should not have been allowed on fairways. We also encountered more none golfing golfers then we’ve seen before. I mention that only because I believe social media is promoting a poor level of behavior on golf courses and Black Lake was not exempt from it this year. Surprisingly Alpena’s public course was in better shape as well as Rivers Edge (which has always been well looked after). We’re hoping for a return to the previous spectacular conditions we’ve experienced in the past. The restaurant and bar staff are still excellent.

Don,t know why you would switch the front and back nines? The course played better the other way!