Golf Guide: Upper Peninsula - MI

Settled by trappers and loggers, Michigan's Upper Peninsula (UP) comprised of mature wilderness with tall pines and hardwoods, the Great Lakes, 1,700 miles of shoreline, and 12,000 miles of rivers is prized by those who love to kayak, fish, boat, hike and golf.

Just 384 miles from east to west; 233 miles north to south, the UP shares a border with Wisconsin, connected to Michigan by a mere thread, the Mackinac Bridge (Rt. 75). With more than 55 no slouch golf courses in the UP including top-rated Sweetgrass Golf Club, TimberStone and Greywalls., this could be called one of the best golf destinations in the country.

The Sweetgrass Golf Club, an amenity of the Island Resort & Casino near Escanaba, was designed by Paul Albanese. Playing 7,300 yards, with 40 acres of fairways, generous landing areas and sensible routing, there are no houses to jar the sense of nature and five restored historic one-lane bridges add local interest along with Native American lore woven into the design. Sweet

TimberStone at Pine Mountain features huge stands of tall pines and a hilly, rocky terrain. Opened in 1996 and designed by Jerry Matthews, the course tests your putting skills with rock and roll surfaces. The first nine is less hilly but after hole #10 the course starts to get more intricate as you slowly wind your way up the mountain where you get knockout views of Lake Superior and the Menamamee River.

At Greywalls Golf Course at Marquette in Marquette, you're in for a rugged, wild ride. Designed by Mike DeVries, who if he had a diabolical bone in his body, had to relish carving a track out of this scary land of ravines, rock faces and steep hillsides. About the only soothing aspect of this course may be the views of Lake Superior. It's a great play.

And there are so many others at afforable rates from $20 to $60 like the Northern Michigan University Golf Course (formerly Chocolay Downs); Hessel Ridge, a good courses for all levels with a lot of bail-out room; Red Fox Run, a friendly track with a tougher back nine; and Indian Lake Golf & Country Club.

For affordable golf on superb courses in a knock-out scenic area, certainly Michigan's Upper Peninsula gets high ratings. And a huge bonus for golfing fanatics: in the summer the sun rises at 5 a.m. and stays light until about 10:45 p.m.