The Chief

The Chief has always been one of my favorite golf courses in Northern Michigan. It’s not the hardest but the layout and natural terrain gives you plenty of risk vs reward shots. I have always loved coming up to northern Michigan and playing this course. However since 2020 the course has pretty much gone bare bones, but the price has kept increasing. I used to pay 30-40 dollars for the Chief and now they’re charging 60 and most of the ball washers and garbages are gone. They have new carts but no gps (not a big deal but it’s almost standard on my courses back at home). No starters, no beverage cart, no bag service, and no sand in the container on the carts. If it was my first time playing to the course I would assume it would be a 30-40 dollar cheap park district course. It’s sad to see it decline the way it has and yet still charge higher rates. Disappointing to see.

If you like the challenge of tight Fairways, forced carries, and some blind shots, then this is your course. You can almost leave your driver in the bag. Stay patient, keep your self in the moment and you will do fine.

My husband and I played this and had a great day on the course! Course was well maintained and interesting to play. A good mix of elevation changes made it challenging at times! We were staying in nearby Shanty Creek so it was a convenient location for us too. Restaurant here is very good as well...we will definitely be back!

You would have to love uphill, downhill side hill lies, to play this course. Strategic golf. Lots of blind shots, 150 yd carry. Very challenging. It brought me to my knees. It here are too many nice courses in the area to play this one more then once a season. I like a challenge but nit this much. Lost a lot of ballls.

The Chief is not for golfers that are new to the game.

Long drives from the Blue and White tee boxes over stretches of wetland grasses. Some 90 degree turns on the fairways, rolling hills and ravines, and well placed sand traps mean bring your 'A' Game!

The course overall is in excellent shape.

Greens are hard to read and play fast.

Loved the challenge!

Course is in beautiful shape! The layout takes the driver out of your hands on many of the holes from the white tees. This didn’t bother me.

The round would have been perfect if I had my own clubs. I had to rent and unfortunately, they don’t really have a rental set so I was given a throw together bag. Otherwise, I’d definitely play there again.

This course can be a challenge. The course was in very good condition for this time of year. Greens were mowed well but leaves were all over - bring a blower!

But was fairly unforgiving if your shot veers to the right or left. The rough falls off to out of bounds with very little reprieve on many of the holes

Beautiful course, challenging and well conditioned.

Definitely a course I would recommend

Beautiful challenging golf course!! Very scenic with woods and elevated views. Fairways and green were in great shape, tee boxes were a little rough. Staff was very friendly. Would differently recommend to friends. It’s a got to play up north course!!!

This is the second time I’ve played this last being 8 years ago and now I remember why. It is tight, steep, tough to walk around even with a cart. Several steep hills while driving to each tee.

Its in great shape as it doesn’t get a lot of play. Most golfers in the area are retirees and I can see them having difficulty especially if they have knee problems or they are not in great shape.

Cart was slow but they must gear them down because of steep slopes. Im a 10 handicap and struggled. Not a fun course. I couldn’t wait to finish after 12 holes. Sorry but it’s exhausting.

Very nice course and layout. Fairly busy and beautiful saturday in late august. Great staff. Incredible bbq dinner at nest after. Nest packed out for dinner. Fun.

All that said, 6-some in front if us and 5-some in front of them. Five other groups playing scramble and brutally slow. Even some of the twosomes were terribly slow. Would have been a six hour round but played thru a couple of the groups (with tudes!!) and skipped two holes and got done in 4:40.

My wife and i are mid 60s, so it’s the pot calling the kettle old…but don’t know if i want to play any shanty courses on the weekend. Not worth the risk of an all-day round.

It’s simple…GET a RANGER out there with a CATTLE PROD!! No ranger anywhere!!