5085 Shanty Creek Road, Bellaire, Michigan 49615, US
(231) 533-9000
Location Map

About The Chief

The Chief is one of three golf resorts within close proximity of one another in Bellaire - Hawk's Eye Golf Resort and Shanty Creek Resorts the others. It offers several accommodation choices. The golf cottages along the fifth fairway are executive quality with upper and lower units. Each one sleeps eight (four double beds total) with a kitchen and living space. The five-bedroom Valley View home is located across the street from the course. A four-bedroom cabin called "The Roost" sits on the 18th fairway close to the Pelican's Nest restaurant. For all three options, passes to the Shanty Creek Resorts pool facility are included. The Blue Pelican Inn & Restaurant, run by the same owners, is roughly 10 miles away in Central Lake.

Facts

Price Range$$
Property Class★★★
Year Opened1996
Number of UnitsLess than 100

Amenities & Services

RestaurantsCasual
Practice FacilityYes

Rules

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

Golf courses at The Chief

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
231 Reviews (231)
Review 1
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
Recommended
Played

Friday 18

Nice staff, good fairways and greens. Very tight with lots of blind shots which were fine except 18 which was just not a good golf hole. Good course for a casual round. Plays much longer from blues than stated 6400 yards.

Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
3.0
3.0 out of 5 stars
Conditions 3.0
Value 3.0
Layout 2.0
Friendliness 5.0
Pace 5.0
Amenities 4.0
Reviews 19
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
Recommended
Played
First Time Playing
5.0
5.0 out of 5 stars
Conditions 5.0
Value 5.0
Layout 5.0
Friendliness 5.0
Pace 5.0
Amenities 5.0
Reviews 13
Handicap 5-9
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
Recommended
Played
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart
5.0
5.0 out of 5 stars
Conditions 5.0
Value 5.0
Layout 5.0
Friendliness 5.0
Pace 5.0
Difficulty 5.0
Reviews 93
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
Recommended
Played
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Wet weather
Used cart
5.0
5.0 out of 5 stars
Conditions 5.0
Value 5.0
Layout 5.0
Friendliness 5.0
Pace 5.0
Amenities 5.0
Difficulty 5.0
Reviews 3
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
Recommended
Played
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
5.0
5.0 out of 5 stars
Conditions 4.0
Value 4.0
Layout 5.0
Friendliness 5.0
Pace 4.0
Amenities 4.0
Reviews 19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
Recommended
Played
Verified Purchaser
5.0
5.0 out of 5 stars
Conditions 5.0
Value 5.0
Layout 5.0
Friendliness 5.0
Pace 5.0
Amenities 5.0
Reviews 4
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
Played

One and Done

This is a challenging track. Visually intimidating with several forced carries over valleys, a number of elevated greens and, by the way, those greens are tiny. The first hole is an indicator of what to expect with a dogleg right and a severe downhill approach to a postage stamp green. Three of us moved up a tee box. We all love to golf but won’t return to the Chief. We felt punished.

Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart
3.0
3.0 out of 5 stars
Conditions 3.0
Value 3.0
Layout 3.0
Friendliness 5.0
Pace 5.0
Amenities 3.0
Difficulty 5.0
Review 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
Recommended
Played

Very challenging

If you want to be challenged this one will. Good condition but you have to be very precise on the landing areas.

Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
5.0
5.0 out of 5 stars
Conditions 5.0
Value 5.0
Layout 5.0
Friendliness 5.0
Pace 5.0
Amenities 5.0
Reviews 12
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
Recommended
Played

Fun course in very good condition

Highly recommend. 1 of my favorites. Pace of play early in the morning is a bonus

Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
5.0
5.0 out of 5 stars
Conditions 5.0
Value 5.0
Layout 5.0
Friendliness 5.0
Pace 5.0
Reviews 9
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
Recommended
Played

Chief is a challenge, needs a few improvements to get 5 stars.

New clubhouse is nice but the range is pretty far away, really need new range balls. The course itself has always been a challenge due to the sharp corners and elevation. Greeans were a touch slower than expected, bunkers are showing their age and could use some newer sand. Some of the paths could use repaving. Overall good value but only because of hot deal rate, not sure this pushes $115 peak season in the current condition. No cart girl on a Friday was unfortunate. And the turn is at 8 now, not 9 like it used to be so make sure you stop between 8 and 9 if you want food! Good prices on food and drink, well stocked. Nice simulator setup for the off season!

Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
4.0
4.0 out of 5 stars
Conditions 3.0
Value 4.0
Layout 3.0
Friendliness 5.0
Pace 4.0
Amenities 4.0
Review 1
Recommended
Played

Very Friendly Staff and good course conditions

The golf course conditions, especially the greens were in great shape, and the staff was super friendly and helpful

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 4.0
Amenities 5.0
Recommended
Played
Verified Purchaser
5.0
5.0 out of 5 stars
Conditions 5.0
Value 5.0
Layout 4.0
Friendliness 4.0
Pace 5.0
Amenities 5.0
Reviews 9
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
Recommended
Played

What a challenge!

Beautiful course, lots of doglegs and elevation changes! My husband loved it, but there were several blind shots. That should be indicated on the card. On 18, you couldn’t see the green from 50 yards out! For a first time player, it was quite a challenge. Also, not a course for your average woman player, where are the Senior Women’s tees? Men have 3-4 tee boxes…women only 1!

Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart
4.0
4.0 out of 5 stars
Conditions 5.0
Value 5.0
Layout 5.0
Friendliness 5.0
Pace 5.0
Amenities 4.0
Difficulty 5.0
Reviews 21
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
Recommended
Played
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
4.0
4.0 out of 5 stars
Conditions 4.0
Value 5.0
Layout 5.0
Friendliness 5.0
Pace 5.0
Amenities 5.0
Reviews 3
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
Recommended
Played
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
5.0
5.0 out of 5 stars
Conditions 5.0
Value 5.0
Layout 5.0
Friendliness 5.0
Pace 5.0
Amenities 5.0
Reviews 12
Recommended
Played
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
5.0
5.0 out of 5 stars
Conditions 5.0
Value 4.0
Layout 5.0
Friendliness 5.0
Pace 5.0
Reviews 3
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
Recommended
Played

Beautiful Course

Really enjoyed the course. Difficult to play the first time because some of the holes are shot placement holes with no room for error.

Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Windy weather
Used cart
5.0
5.0 out of 5 stars
Conditions 5.0
Value 5.0
Layout 5.0
Friendliness 5.0
Pace 5.0
Amenities 5.0
Difficulty 4.0
Reviews 17
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
Recommended
Played

Great course

I played this course a few times last season and it is just as nice as it was last year, layout is something I’ve never seen before on a golf course as far as all the ups and downs of the holes but overall I love this course.

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

One of the best in Bellaire

Played it twice this week. First time for my brother in law who was very impressed. It’s very steep on cart part so be careful. Trees were turning which made the view’s outstanding. Greens are very fast. Love it

Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
5.0
5.0 out of 5 stars
Conditions 5.0
Value 5.0
Layout 5.0
Friendliness 5.0
Pace 5.0
Amenities 5.0
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