Gull Lake View Golf Resort

Reservations for 12:50… finally made the turn at 4pm. We didn’t get to finish because of pace of play. Had prior commitments for 6pm. the geoup behind us hitting into us. Group in front playing at a snails pace. Course staff did nothing but make Excuses. Not even an apology. No attempt to rectify the situation. We were told Simply it happens sometimes. What a joke! I’ll never play here again!

I really like the layout of this course. Challenging but not overwhelming.

Pace of play is terrible. 5 1/2 hour round minimum. No ranger to keep groups moving.

I played and only got 2 to 5 yards advantage from the gold tees on 80% of the holes. The ladies should have a separate tee which would reflect ladies avg. distance from very long hitting Senior men golfers.

Two to 5 yards is NOT enough difference ....

But...I'll try here. So yes, first time I've ever broke 80. Most of your golf hardos will laugh at that and make fun of me but it was a fun round. 4 birdies and the course was in great shape. I'm a bogey golfer but drained 2 long putts and 2 out of my mind approach shots had me in the zone. Straight driver working all day made things very easy and kind of boring but enough about the round.

Since the last time I've played the course, it has grown in so much. As a guy who dislikes very much a tight fairway lie I loved this place. The fairways had just enough shag on them to stand up my ball for some great contact on approach shots. The tall grass was penial for sure if you hit in there, we rarely found any ball that went far in but man o man it looks pretty out there. Right now the wildflower areas are popping w/ butterflies and birds like crazy. I think the playability of the course is much better with how they have it cut and lengths of fairways and rough areas. I dig the greens that just appear from the fairway and no apron or fringe along the green, very cool look to it.

11-16 are the best stretch of holes, 12 is so fun to bomb the drive, 16 shared fairway and the view from the green make the whole round. Can't wait to go back and it's a must play in the area.

I really enjoy this course. If you are going to Gull Lake, you really should include this course in your package. It's a nice change up from the other GL courses. Pay the extra.

The course was in great shape. I saw numerous staff working on the course and doing a great job. The carts are kinda lame and there is no GPS. Not a big deal since a lot people have some type of GPS for themselves. My only complaint is about divots and ball marks on the greens. The carts don't have sand, which would help quite a bit. It would also help a lot if people would fix their ball mark on the green. Fix yours & 1 or 2 more. It only takes a few seconds and makes a big difference. Go play Stoatin Brae if you get the chance!

With the recognition that the course has received in the various golf magazines, I expected a lot more. On arrival on Sunday at 1:00 PM, there was no course employee at the bag drop and nearby cart area. Upon checking in our twosome at the Pro Shop, we asked about moving up from our 2:00 PM tee time and were told that the course was fully booked and another twosome would be joining us. The Pro Shop mentioned nothing about the practice range. We loaded our clubs into a dirty golf cart with no GPS or ice container. At 1:30 PM, a Pro Shop staff member told us that they had some cancellations and we could tee off immediately. No welcome to the course or instructions from the Starter. There was no one in front of us and we played the front nine in a terrific 90 minutes. The front nine is very plain with parallel holes. After getting drinks at the half way facility, we had played four holes on the back nine and arrived at the 14th tee with a foursome waiting for the green to clear. We could see three foursomes on the 15th hole and decided to not finish the round. The four holes we played on the back nine were much more challenging and interesting than the front nine, with some elevation changes. The course conditions were good and the sand in the bunkers was properly maintained. If they bring the service levels up to the advertised "Resort" facility, this would be a much better experience.

Of the six Gull Lake View courses you'd be a dummy to not play this course. On a package deal staying a Gull Lake....they charge an extra $55 to play Stoatin. Far and away the best track of the bunch....and the only one links style. Built on a treeless ridge overlooking Kzoo County the vast vistas really play with your depth perception and direction. Staff is welcoming and friendly. There's a driving range (off mats) next to clubhouse with a miles for days overlook but it's a real head scratcher as to why they built the clubhouse without a view of the course or 18th - probably a reason why the restaurant is still closed and only has rudimentary food service and bar. The 19th hole view is nice but that's about it (no watching other golfers at all) - the course itself doesn't return after nine however a really cool feature is the halfway house named The Bunker. It's located in the middle of the course. You go nearby with access it midway on both nines or just after nine due to the routing of the course. In my book makes the course a must see. Course flows nicely over the ridges and can't go without mentioning (as others have written in mags and other places) that the 6th thru 8th hole stretch is just wonderful, incredibly challenging, fair yet really fun design. We were fortunate to catch an overcast light wind day in July. If it had been hot/windy the course would have been a beast. Our group was able to play the course twice since it was a Monday.....many had much better scores 2nd time around....but they charged yet another $35. But even the initial $55 Gull Lake View up charge had some of our older group members grumbling. If it's not part of a package deal Stoatin is a solid $60 play and a really solid overall 4.3 stars plus in my book. Highly recommend a stop here if traveling through the area to play the best public access possible. If you do avail yourself of a couple day Gull Lake View package or are looking for a nearby dinner place.... make sure to make reservations at least a day beforehand to dine at nearby South Kitchen... as well as close by Kitchen House in Richland owned by a local husband/wife team. Outstanding food and service at both places.

Played 5 out of the 6 Gull Lake View courses last week. Rank this one #2. A course I'd absolutely play a few times a season if I was a local. Really friendly staff and really good conditioning. Through the tunnel from away from the main clubhouse north under M89 there's a halfway house, putting green and a much better golfing experience. Way more open than the forested south course...you have some room to breathe and aren't fending off mosquitos all day. But it is another Gull Lake View course where no one hole stands out so much that I have to travel to play the course again. North course does have a really nice flow to it. A number of blind shots....many on your 2nd shots on par 5's. Picturesque and the "cachet" of the North Course is that each nine has 3 par 3's, 3 par 4's and 3 par 5's. 40 value/3.7 stars.

Played 5 out of the 6 Gull Lake View courses last week. Rank this one 4th. Really friendly staff and really good conditioning. Decent but dated clubhouse and facilities. Driving range/practice green. A somewhat tight tight tree lined design to shape shots in the mid-Michigan forest. Don't go into the forest you'll get you'll be swarmed and bit up even if you take bath in bug spray. Another Gull Lake View course where no one hole stands out so much that would make me want to travel to play them again and again. Picturesque and the "cachet" of the South Course are rock stone walls on several holes some which will keep your ball in play if you hit an errant shot. If I was a local another track I'd probably only play in a pinch. 5 of 6 Gull Lake View courses designs unfortunately are just average to slightly above average experiences for me. This one is a 40 value/3.4 stars.

Played 5 out of the 6 Gull Lake View courses last week. Rank this one last (didn't play the West course of Gull Lake View surmise that to be pretty much the same except for maybe the swamp parts). Really friendly staff and really good conditioning. Decent but dated clubhouse and facilities. Slightly above average lunch/dinner food...from what I hear their breakfast omlettes are outstanding. Driving range/Huge practice greens....appears one used to be a putting course. A tight tree lined design where you're shaping shots/avoiding trees (don't go into the forest you'll get you'll be swarmed by bugs).....several framed by green dirty swamp water especially on the back nine. Many elevated greens a lot of tucked pin positions that force play to centers of greens. No holes that really stand out so much that would make me want to travel to play them again. I was local.....sans the pesky bugs.... (doused myself with bug spray 4 times during the round)....I'd probably only play this track in a pinch. Our group was on a package deal staying on location.....the bed I had to sleep on had a horribly worn out mattress....so I really don't miss Gull Lake View after 5 nights. 5 of 6 Gull Lake View courses are just average to slightly above average golf courses. This one is a 35 value/3.3 stars.

Played 5 out of the 6 Gull Lake View courses last week. Rank this one 3rd best. Really friendly staff and really good conditioning. Decent but dated clubhouse and facilities. Driving range. Practice green is not representative of what you'll find on course...it's too small and sloped. A decent fairly open enough design but mainly it's just a hit over/around sand traps and tree avoidance course.....then a putting contest on some larger than normal mainly elevated green pads. I'd play it again but there just aren't any holes that stand out so much that would make me want to travel to play them again. If I was local I'd probably play Bedford just once a year or less. Our group was on a package deal but overall I'd give it a 40 value/3.5 stars.

Rained a lot before we went out. Course still in great shape.