Shanty Creek -- Cedar River and The Legend

 

(h ttps://www.shantycreek.com/golf/ )– On our way to Cedar River (about a five minute drive from Lakeview Hotel with a few roundabouts) we grab Starbucks (yuk) and then head to check in. We’re the first tee time. And, with just “two and a half” it should be a quick round. I have my obligatory pink sweater (been on every Michigan trip) and “free” AA blanket (these are the best when it’s chilly).

About the course: Cedar River Golf Club was designed by Tom Weiskopf and opened in 1999. It’s pretty wide open with trees – and up and down hills, typical of Michigan.

“Among "America’s Top 100 Resort Courses" in Golf Week and the “Top 1,000 Courses in the World” by Rolex. Along with The Legend, Cedar River is listed among Michigan’s Top 20 Public Courses according to Golf Magazine. “

Slope + Rating: Cedar River GC

Tee	Rating	Slope
Black	73.2	135
Blue	70.9	131
Blue/White Hybrid	69.6	127
White	68.5 / 74.5 (W)	124 / 136 (W)
White/Silver Hybrid	68.1	120
Silver	66.0	116
Red	70.3 (W)	121 (W)

 

The best thing about the course is this hole “gizmo” – you can use it to pop your ball out to the hole. We guess it’s a pandemic “thing.” And it’s fun. We demonstrate. Quite fun.

I’m on good behavior. No drivers. Nothing more than a six iron. Tom and Pete play well – Pete with a 74, Tom with a 79. We meet some dogs – she has four and one wanted to go for a ride with us. We finish the round in 3 hours (and we’re not really flying and we’re goofing around).

The Legend was opened in 1986 and is an Arnold Palmer design. Arnold Palmer helped introduced northern Michigan golf to the world when Golf Magazine named it among the “Top Resort Courses” in the US. 4½ stars from Golf Digest.

Slope + Rating: The Legend

Tee	Rating	Slope
Black	73.2	137
Blue	71.0	131
Blue/White Hybrid	69.9	130
White	68.8 / 74.4 (W)	129 / 132 (W)
White/Silver Hybrid	66.7	122
Silver	64.6	115 / 123 (W)
Red	69.3 (W)	121 (W)

 

They tee us off about 15 minutes early – in front of a large group. We see a deer run by us right on the first tee. Nice, with the exception of the puppies, first “critter.” Like the Lakeview Hotel, the club house at The Legend is a bit tired and dated. But, like Cedar River, the course is nice. The Legend has a lot more trouble around it. Tighter, more slope. Tom loses a ball to the left on the first shot – but we found about 10 balls while looking for his. The group ahead of us has some issues. And we think that the groups behind us are playing a scramble format.

See more critters this round. I still just keep hitting chips and putts – and use the “gizmo” that seems to be on all of the holes.

Zoom in - our first deer spotting

Raspberries for the taking!

 Lazy-ness prevailed on this picture. The flowers shape the The Legend logo, with Arnold's signature umbrella.

Best pretzels ever are from Better Made -- taste like butter.

"Puppies at Shanty Creek"

Then off to Boyne, with a stop at the grocery store for stuff – including Better Made Butter Braided Pretzels. This year, we’re staying at Disciples Village at Boyne Mountain. Three BR, three BR condo, closer to the Lodge. They give us amenity packages (wine, flip flops, fruit and complimentary drink coupons!). We have dinner at Everetts (40 Tavern is at least an hour wait) and then head home.

I’m up in the balcony bedroom typing on the floor as we speak. A fuse must have blown because I don’t have power in my bathroom (no windows) and my phone and things aren’t charging. Need to head to breakfast and stop at the front desk for them to deal with while we play the Mountain today – Alpine and Monument!