Pictures: Northern Michigan in May

[Kace]

Back in May, the week following May 2-4, a group of my friends and I joined along with another large group of guys and headed up to Gaylord, Michigan.

It was a package deal where we stayed at a villa/condo on the Marsh Ridge Golf Course and included 4 nights and 4 rounds of golf for less than $300 USD. Since it's before the US Memorial Day, it's a spring rate.

We drove up in a big school bus that had been coverted into a "party bus". :D It had couches down the sides, a washroom and a Viagra clock.

Pics of the bus:

http://www.killkace.com/michigan/image005.jpg

http://www.killkace.com/michigan/image004.jpg

http://www.killkace.com/michigan/image007.jpg

It was approximately a 6 hour drive to Marsh Ridge from Kitchener, plus a stop at Duty Free to load up on the essentials; beer and cigars.

The course we were staying at was a beautiful gem. Great conditions and an interesting setup.

http://www.killkace.com/michigan/image009.jpg

There are a lot of trees in Northern Michigan. This makes for some interesting holes and greens.
A nicely tucked away green at Marsh Ridge.

http://www.killkace.com/michigan/image010.jpg

The next day, our first full day there, we played a course called The Tribute at the Otsego Club. Another beautiful course with amazing conditions. The holes are layed out kind of in a circle. Therefore, you never see other groups or other holes around the one you're playing.

http://www.otsegoclub.com/images/Tributemap2.jpg

Lots of elevation changes at The Tribute as they have skiing and snowmobiling runs in and around the golf course.

http://www.killkace.com/michigan/image012.jpg

In the afternoon, after playing The Tribute, we made our way over to Treetops and played a round on the Robert Trent Jones, Sr.'s Masterpiece Course.

Here's a shot of some of us on the first hole at Treetops. (I'm 3rd from the left). :D

http://www.killkace.com/michigan/image016.jpg

Here's the signature hole on the Masterpiece course. A towering Par 3 with a 120 ft. drop. I believe it read something like 140 yrds on the scorecard but it actually played 100yrds.

http://www.killkace.com/michigan/image017.jpg

The 8th hole at Treetops had a very narrow green that was very well protected by water. This is a shot from the side, the fairway is directly to the left of the green.

http://www.killkace.com/michigan/image018.jpg

The next hole, the 9th, has something I have never seen before and it was quite cool...an island tee box.

http://www.killkace.com/michigan/image019.jpg

The next day we played The Loon. It was another beautiful course, heavily tree lined as usual with great conditions. I don't have any decent photos of it.

The last day we played The Pines. And once again, another beautiful course in great shape.

http://www.killkace.com/michigan/image022.jpg

All in all, there was a lot of golf played and a lot of beer drank. I don't really remember much else. But all the people and golf courses loved us as they are usually pretty empty at that time of year and we shared the love back. I had been told that Michigan has the most golf courses per populus then any other state. This has lead to too many courses, not enough golfers. Which leads to cheap golf on very nice courses for us. :D

Everyday, after we played our morning 18, we would come back to Marsh Ridge where we were staying and play another 9 or 18 holes.

I absolutely loved it and we're planning on doing this for years to come. I couldn't believe the conditions of these course in May.

[51Phantom]

Nice Pics,
I am heading to Lakewood Shores in a coupleof weeks. Can't wait. you can't beat the deals or the courses in Michigan

[hogannut]

Michigan....particularily northern Michigan is the best kept secret for golf in the Great Lakes region. It's fairly cheap golf (from what I understand) and you get top notch courses.

[nearace]

great pics beautiful country setting,nice load of supplies lol,thanks

[laxgolf]

Can that bus be rented?

[thekathrynorchard]

That looks like a great time. Was the bus and everything included on the package deal or did you arrange all that on your own?

[Kace]

The bus is actually owned by the London Firefighters. They use it for their sports teams and such, mainly hockey I believe.

The guys that got it for this trip are in the Baden (a small town between Kitchener and Stratford) Fire Dept. My buddy's brother-in-law is in the Baden Fire Dept and that's how we got in on this trip. They've been doing this trip for over 10 years now.

The cost for the bus was like $60 per person which covered the fuel and stuff.

I doubt the London guys would rent the bus out to just anyone. And it's also getting kind of run down and falling apart, see the photo of the rear emergency door, haha...the "washroom" is a water cooler jug with a hole cut in it and a PVC hose that leads down through the floor and out beside the exhaust pipe. :rofl:

[thekathrynorchard]

the "washroom" is a water cooler jug with a hole cut in it and a PVC hose that leads down through the floor and out beside the exhaust pipe. :rofl:

That's glorious :p :rofl::rofl::rofl:.

BTW, what the legalities of drinking in a bus such as that? Obviously it's allowed since you did it?

[Kace]

That's glorious :p :rofl::rofl::rofl:.

BTW, what the legalities of drinking in a bus such as that? Obviously it's allowed since you did it?

I have no idea...the windows are tinted black and we were with Firefighters...they weren't afraid to pull that card if it was necessary.

[laxgolf]

While playing junior lacrosse and travelling around Ontario by bus for 5 years, our team used one of those blue water containers that people take camping as the team p*ss jug. To this day I will never, ever, ever drink water out of one of those things even if it's brand new. I won't even touch them at the store.

[Frank101]

what are the chances of being included on such a trip? :D

I love Northern Michigan golf and would LOVE to hang out with some firefighters.

Looks like a great trip!

[Kace]

what are the chances of being included on such a trip? :D

I love Northern Michigan golf and would LOVE to hang out with some firefighters.

Looks like a great trip!

The chances can be very high. :D

There are two requirements though...you must really enjoy beer and you must be able and capable of playing a lot of golf over four days. :p

[51Phantom]

I have no idea...the windows are tinted black and we were with Firefighters...they weren't afraid to pull that card if it was necessary.

Once you cross the border and as long as you stick close to the speed limit you will be fine having a few, except the driver of course ( he can only have a couple). You are in the middle of no where pretty much the whole way.

[3Putts459]

Kace,

VERRRRY COOL.

Baden fire fighters huh? That's quite a crew. After reading the post and seeing the pictures I have a couple questions.

A. How did Sammy hit them? :rofl:

B. Are you guys playing in the EJ's tourney Monday?

[Bellyhungry]

.....would LOVE to hang out with some firefighters.....

Christ!! You are the first guy that openly admit this....:(

[owenmxz600]

sweet bus man wow id live in that thing

[Kace]

Kace,

VERRRRY COOL.

Baden fire fighters huh? That's quite a crew. After reading the post and seeing the pictures I have a couple questions.

A. How did Sammy hit them? :rofl:

B. Are you guys playing in the EJ's tourney Monday?

Hahaha...small world. :D

I never did actually play in Sammy's group.

Unfortunately, none of us can get off work for the EJ's tourny. We even missed the EJ's beach volleyball tourny this year...it filled up too fast to get a team in. Last year it was a blast.

[Frank101]

:eek: I meet both thouse requirements Kace. Not only do I love beer, beer is my life!

In terms of lots of golf, I'll play from morning till night!

Give me a p.m. Maybe we can try and get a round out together.