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 Intermediate
Plays Once a week
Recommended
Played

Great course

Nice brand new clubhouse with Trackman simulators, huge bar, pleasant staff. Course was in great shape and has a great layout. No back and forth holes. Will definitely play again. Well done to the team at The Chief.

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
Reviews 4
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
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 2
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
Recommended
Played

Fun and Challenging

Difficult layout, but a really fun course. I’m a 14 handicap, and the white tees gave me all I wanted and then some. Par 3s were particularly challenging. I look forward to playing again, now that I understand a little bit about the layout.

First Time Playing
5.0
5.0 out of 5 stars
Conditions 5.0
Value 5.0
Layout 5.0
Friendliness 5.0
Pace 4.0
Reviews 21
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
Played
First Time Playing
5.0
5.0 out of 5 stars
Conditions 5.0
Value 4.0
Layout 4.0
Friendliness 4.0
Pace 5.0
Amenities 3.0
Reviews 19
Recommended
Played
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
4.0
4.0 out of 5 stars
Conditions 4.0
Value 5.0
Layout 2.0
Friendliness 5.0
Pace 5.0
Amenities 4.0
Review 1
Recommended
Played
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
5.0
5.0 out of 5 stars
Conditions 5.0
Value 5.0
Layout 5.0
Friendliness 4.0
Pace 5.0
Amenities 5.0
Reviews 11
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
Recommended
Played

Interesting Layout......Hilly, Challenging Course!

First time playing this course. Front nine is not as penal as the back nine. The back nine is basically cut out of woods with lots of elevation changes, few flat lies, and fairly narrow fairways/landing areas. I would think that a high handicap golfer would struggle on the back nine especially if they did not play from the correct tees. If you have trouble hitting the ball straight you could loose a lot of balls on this course, balls hit off line are hard to find and even if you could see it , it might be impossible to get to. I would say this course is not possible to play without a cart, i'm not sure if they even allow walkers. The course was in very nice condition and although it kicked my butt, I was glad to have played it.

First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart
4.0
4.0 out of 5 stars
Conditions 4.0
Value 4.0
Layout 4.0
Friendliness 4.0
Pace 4.0
Difficulty 5.0
Reviews 3
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
Recommended
Played

Fantastic course! Pretty challenging, but not super long.

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 10
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
Recommended
Played
First Time Playing
4.0
4.0 out of 5 stars
Conditions 4.0
Value 4.0
Layout 4.0
Friendliness 5.0
Pace 5.0
Amenities 5.0
Reviews 4
Recommended
Played
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
5.0
5.0 out of 5 stars
Conditions 4.0
Value 4.0
Layout 5.0
Friendliness 5.0
Pace 5.0
Amenities 5.0
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 59
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
Recommended
Played

Nice course

The course was in pretty good shape. However, the greens were a little slow and the "slits" from the fall areations had not filled in yet. The course can be quite a challenge if you don't stay true. It was a bit windy and still chilly for this time of year. The new clubhouse looks great.

Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Windy weather
Used cart
4.0
4.0 out of 5 stars
Conditions 3.0
Value 4.0
Layout 4.0
Friendliness 5.0
Pace 5.0
Amenities 3.0
Reviews 30
Plays A few times a week
Recommended
Played

Enjoyed the beauty

The course is in great condition. I think it is very challenging with many blind shots and tee shots through narrow openings to narrow landing areas. They continue to strive towards making it more playable with signs indicating the distance and flags at the landing areas. I love playing the course because of the beauty. The cart paths lead through hilly, wooded areas where wildlife is always present. The white and blue tees on the par 3 #5 are nestled over a canyon and you have to take a foot bridge to access. While this can be a difficult course, it makes for a fun and beautiful day.

Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart
5.0
5.0 out of 5 stars
Conditions 5.0
Value 4.0
Layout 3.0
Friendliness 5.0
Pace 5.0
Amenities 4.0
Difficulty 5.0
Reviews 19
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
Recommended
Played
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart
5.0
5.0 out of 5 stars
Conditions 5.0
Value 3.0
Layout 5.0
Friendliness 3.0
Pace 4.0
Amenities 4.0
Difficulty 5.0
Review 1
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
Recommended
Played

Test your ability to hit straight

Fun/challenging course. If you know your distances and can consistently hit in the right direction, you will enjoy getting to the green where the fun begins.

Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart
5.0
5.0 out of 5 stars
Conditions 5.0
Value 5.0
Layout 4.0
Friendliness 5.0
Pace 5.0
Amenities 4.0
Difficulty 4.0
Reviews 3
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
Recommended
Played
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 4.0
Amenities 5.0
Reviews 8
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
Recommended
Played
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
Amenities 5.0
Reviews 57
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 5.0
Amenities 4.0
Reviews 9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
Recommended
Played

Chief excelkence

Course excellent shape. Choose your clubs wiseltmy for tglhe first 2 hills. Most difficult holes I have ever played in the last 35 years.

Pristine shape and friendly staff. .

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 1.0
Reviews 3
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
Recommended
Played

Challenging placement course

This is the first time we played this course, it is beautiful well-maintained and a great challenge. You will need a yardage book. They don’t have GPS and it is a placement course with shots into layup areas, and some drives with some huge carries. But a beautiful course when we played, they were just working on some new condos in a new clubhouse that should be finished next year 2025 looks awesome are a bit old and struggle, but I’m sure they have new ones on the way afterwards the restaurant the nest has a lively atmosphere outdoor seating and great food Staff was super friendly to

Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
5.0
5.0 out of 5 stars
Conditions 5.0
Value 4.0
Layout 5.0
Friendliness 5.0
Pace 5.0
Amenities 4.0
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