crystal downs

If you get invited to play this private golf course, drop whatever you are doing and head to Frankfort, Michigan. Maybe the finest green complexes in golf. One of Alister MacKenzie's masterpieces.

What can I say????? I have the joy of living in Crystal Downs. I never tire of looking at Lake Michigan or listening to her roar. The golf course is one the best in the world. The clubhouse, open mid-June to mid-September is a wonderful dining experience. world.

This is a private club golf course. Only open to public one day a year. Nice golf course, well-maintained.

I had the privilege to play this very private MacKenzie masterpiece, as a guest of a long time member. You realize how gimmicky and artificial most other courses are, once you've played an architectural masterpiece that is beautiful, challenging, charming and untouched by bulldozers. Unaccompanied guests may find the opportunity to play on the off days early and late in the year, if they have the right connections. It's worth every ounce of energy to get on.

One of the top 10 rated golf courses in the United States. Fantastic, rustic club house

We had a foursome play there this last week (mid- Sept.). The bag staff, pro staff and members there couldn't have been any more helpful or friendly. They really made us feel comfortable on the course. Course is very highly rated (top 10 or 20) and you can see why. It has the toughest greens around. Very reminiscent of Oakland Hills greens. Large changes in elevation. Designed by Alister McKenzie (sp?) who designed Augusta National and Cypress. A couple holes seemed tricked up to me. To many blind shots and greens that break huge that you can't see from the fairway. I'm sure this would be remedied by more rounds there but this was my first. We did have one green (#11) which was so severe 3 out of our group of 4 couldn't keep there ball on the green. Either putts or chips would roll off and down hill 40 yards. A 9 handicapper in our group picked up after chipping onto the green 4 times before he could get the ball to stay, then putting it back off the green twice. I'm a 10 handicapper, put my chip 3 foot above the hole, missed the putt and had a 40 yard chip for my next shot, and my next shot. The members behind us also couldn't finish the hole as we found out later. They came into the parking lot to apologize for the green, explaining that an intern must have set that pin today. We were impressed that they were so concerned with us.Only downside was the fact that they said we should go up to the clubhouse for the view, but we weren't allowed inside to have a drink. Only other time I ran into this was Royal County Down in Ireland. Every other course I've traveled to has allowed me into the clubhouse and allowed me to buy a drink and relax after a round.

Crystal Downs is probably the most beautiful golf course in Michigan. Unfortunately, it's not open to the public.