arcadia bluffs golf course

This was one of the finest golf courses my wife and have have played, and we do have some great ones in US, Scotland and Ireland in our playing history. Weather in early October was a bit spotty with rain showers threatening, but we called in the morning and got on for nine just after noon. Nine holes for $50. Unfortunately we already had a dinner reservation north of Traverse City and we couldn't squeeze in 18. A links-type course with ample views of Lake Michigan and several holes right on the dunes above the lake. For late in the year, we thought the condition was very good. Four or five sets of tees; the tips are capable of bringing almost any golfer to his/her knees. Even with a good, in-cart, hole-by-hole GPS guide to the course, the first time you play there are some holes where you just can't tell where to hit. In the summer you can arrange fore-caddies, which would solve this problem. Still, each of us (and our partners whom we met on the first tee) played well enough that we thoroughly enjoyed the round. Since we played on a weekday in October, tee times were obtainable on a same-day basis -- that's probably unlikely on a weekend or anytime during the summer. This course has been described as similar to Whistling Straits, which I've only seen on TV; the comparison seems fair. Take your camera or mobile device and snap some pictures. It's a very picture-friendly course.

The food was mediocre, and the table cloth had holes in it, the glasses had water stains on them, and the furniture was old. Yet they charge a ridiculous amount for not a lot of food.

Very pretty and challenging. Get a forecaddie. You 'll need one to help you find balls and tell you where to hit. The bunkers are brutal, just like Scotland. We liked it better than Whistling Straits. Go on Teusday, half price for anyone 55 and older.

I am rating my personal experience. I did not stay at the resort, nor did I golf.I was there for a wedding rehearsal dinner. I really wanted to give it one star, but there were a couple things which were nice, like the full-window view, and the bagpiper at sundown.First, the parking was very far from the door. They did have valet parking, but with the large group all arriving at the same time it would have been very slow. Several of us opted to instead park ourselves and take the golf-cart shuttle back to the door.The gentleman driving the cart was very nice and friendly! We were seated in a beautiful room with full windows to have a view of Lake Michigan while we were dining.We walked out the back door to a grassy area with a number of Adirondack chairs available for viewing the sunset.From this back area, you also overlooked some of the golf course with rolling hills. It was a beautiful site.Just as we all sat down for dinner, a bagpiper arrived and played on one of the hills. We were told we were supposed to have free wine with dinner, but I never had any sever come by with the wine. My friend and I finally went to the bar to get a drink, since we weren't being served at the tables. I asked about a local brew which was on the menu, and the bartender had no clue what type of beer it was, nor could he even find one in the cooler. A single bottle of beer was $8. Yikes.Dinner began with a salad. It was good. We had to wait a long time in between each course. Each guest was given a choice of a pasta with tomato sauce or fish with rice and vegetables for an entrée. I had the fish. It was supposed to be oven roasted. Instead it tasted like it was boiled and then covered with chopped dill. It also tasted as if it was spoiled. I love fish, and was expecting some of the best ever, since this place was extremely expensive. However, I had better fish at some of the local diners in the area. I rarely do not eat everything on my plate, but this fish was absolutely unpalatable. I left more than half of the little fillet. I ate most of the rice, but it wasn't great. The vegetable mix was cooked unevenly, so some pieces were cooked and others tasted almost raw. We were served ice cream for dessert. They couldn't mess that up.Finally, as the sun was setting, the bagpiper went back to the hilltop and played "Amazing Grace" as the sun set. It was the highlight of the night.

Arcadia Bluffs is a beautiful course set in the perfect location on Lake Michigan. The course itself is fun, but extremely challenging. The links-style layout allows for good scores, but missing the fairways and greens will result in a lot of high scores and lost golf balls. The rough is extremely deep, and the bunkers are very challenging. The clubhouse is very nice, and sits at the top of the property with great views of the course and lake. We enjoyed a couple post-round drinks outside the clubhouse and listened to the bagpiper that evening. As for the negatives, the pace-of-play was extremely slow when we were there. I think it took our group around 5 1/2 hours to finish our round. That was way too slow, and definitely impacted my enjoyment of the round. I also felt the hospitality at the course was lacking compared to some of the other top-end courses I have played. Due to pace of play, we understood that the course officials instructed the beverage service to stop on the back nine. The slow play was bad enough, but not being able to enjoy a few drinks while waiting for the groups in front of you made it even worse. We drove right past a beverage cart on the back nine, and were told that she wasn't allowed to sell us anything. (It should also be noted that the course does not have coolers, and will not see beers in cans. If you want a beer on your cart, it has to be in a plastic cup, and you won't be able to have more than 1-2. As you would expect, plastic cups of beer don't last long bouncing around in a golf cart). While the waitresses in the restaurant were great at lunch, I didn't feel that many others on staff were very welcoming or responsive to our group. We stayed in Traverse City for our trip, and made the hour drive to Arcadia for the round. The remoteness of the course was also a negative. There is nothing around the course, and I felt the hour drive each way was a little much. All in all, it was a nice course, but I wouldn't play there again. Especially for the price.

Finally had a chance to play this golf course. Everything I've heard or read is true, it's a great course. From great views to a great staff at the course, this is a must play if you are a golfer. By far the best course in Michigan!!

Very up market 'country club' setting, but everyone welcome. The views are amazing the staff exceptionally friendly and efficient. The food is out of this world especially the bread which just keeps on coming!! Very well stocked cellar. Watching Stephen the piper as the sun sets is brilliant.

Great course with first class service - ate dinner there and stayed at lodge, both were a pleasant surprise. This course is as nice as Whistling Straights and a lot cheaper. Good destination golf trip, although only one 18 hole course.

Arcadia Bluff, located in rural northwest Michigan, is first class when it comes to the golf, the lodging and the friendly and capable staff. You will find no more scenic golf course anywhere and it will test any golfer, no matter his or her ability. The new four bedroom cottages are perfect for a buddy trip and you really need at least two rounds to have any chance to learn the greens. Three or four would be better. The only less than bright spot in the entire facility is the restaurant. It is fine for breakfast and sandwiches but dinner is not on a par with the rest of the amenities. Try Manitou Beach Inn, about 25 miles North on Hwy 22. Rustic but wonderful, fresh, seafood. Even if you must eat at the Bluff, do not miss this golf experience.

Just finished spending three days hanging out at Arcadia Bluffs with my son playing golf. The course is amazing. Wonderful Links Layout. Forgiving on the front and tough on the back. The views of Lake Michigan are unmatched. The course is an excellent condition and the deep sod bunkers are British Open-like. They now have a lodge with 15 rooms (each with a king size bed... roll away available). The rooms currently go for around 330 a night and include breakfast. Golf is currently 190 a round but if you stay at the lodge 140. Replay the same day is 75. They just finished addend 4 cottages that sleep 8-10 and there were several groups renting those. The food at the restaurant is superb. Wonderful craft beers on tap. If you love good golf you must go check this place out.....

While expensive to us, my wife and I really enjoyed the course. Unlike any you play often, this links course had views that were breathtaking. Course was in great shape and was demanding.

Stunning in every way. Bring your wallet and your a-game. Tuesday senior discount applies to age 55 & over....amazing deal for the price. Also bring your camera...every hole is a postcard!

If there was a golf course in heaven, this would be it. I had an amazing experience, and I give it a 100 out of 100

Hands and above my favorite golf course, and I play a lot. I try to get up here 2x a year, once solo and once with a group. The course alone is a great design, coupled with wall to wall views and mystical silence, Arcadia is as unique a golf experience as you will find anywhere in the world. So imagine my disappoint when my wife and I stopped for lunch on a return trip from Bay Harbor and had without question the worst perch sandwich ever plated at any price. OK, so maybe banana-sized perch fillets are becoming rare, but this thing was a thickly crusted piece of fish smelling cardboard that was probably processed in Kansas. Good God, man, get that off the menu!

My wife and I stopped and had lunch on the patio after biking the St. Francis trail. She had a Ruben and I had the fish tacos. Both were outstanding.Amber was out server and she was terrific.I highly recommend this place for lunch.