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3.9
13 Reviews (13)
5 Stars
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Conditions
4.0
Value
4.5
Layout
3.9
Friendliness
4.0
Pace
3.7
Amenities
3.0
84.6%
Recommend this course
11 out of 13 reviews
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About

Holes 18
Type Resort
Style Links
Par 72
Length 6954 yards
Slope 138
Rating 75.0

Course Details

Year Built 1992
Fairways Bent Grass
Greens Bent Grass
Golf Season Open: 4/01 Closed: 10/31
Architect Kevin Aldridge

Rentals/Services

Carts Yes
Clubs Yes
Pull-carts Yes

Practice/Instruction

Driving Range Yes
Caddies No
Teaching Pro Yes
Putting Green Yes

Policies

Credit Cards Accepted VISA, MasterCard Welcomed
Metal Spikes Allowed No
Walking Allowed Yes

Food & Beverage

Snacks, Restaurant, Beverage Carts

Available Facilities

Clubhouse, Banquet Facilities

Reviews

3.9
13 Reviews (13)
Advanced Filters
Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart

Buddies Weekend

We booked our annual buddies weekend at Lakewood on the recommendation of friends who played the three courses on a stay and play package. There were no surprises. The fairway villa was modest but comfortable and convenient. Food was only mediocre at best, especially the breakfast buffet at $14.00 ! We played each of the three courses -18 holes on Friday, 36 on Saturday and 18 on Sunday. Pace of play was good on all three days. We enjoyed the layout of all three courses. The greens where not in great condition but good for a high traffic resort course. The only real negative comment would be the condition of the golf carts. On the Blackshire course carts were covered with mud and we had to call the pro shop twice to have them bring replacement carts to us because the batteries died. However, the staff handled the cart replacement quickly.

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Fair
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 3
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
3.0
First Time Playing

Sad demise

Sorely disappointed after hearing all the hype. Realize its early in the year, but relatively speaking, conditioning was average at best. Great layout, and you can sense at one time this was a premier destination. Amenities were non existent for a Championship style venue. No bag drop, Carts are old with no windscreen or GPS, Cart paths are mostly dusty dirt trails. bridges, stairs and tee markers ( where the exist) are in major states of disrepair. Starter shack has broken windows and looks as it hasn't been used in years. and the same goes for the snack hut in the middle of the course between 9 and 10. Clubhouse is extremely dated, and offered little in the way of merchandise. Snack bar was a joke. Links style course with average to above average layout. Generous landing areas in fairways and large greens (except #12) that didn't have crazy hard to read breaks. Course condition when you compare it to the rest of the property, was above average, especially considering the time of the year. On a positive note, you can't beat the value! Overnight stay and two rounds, 80 bucks. (I guess you get what you pay for) Wish I would have had the opportunity to play in its prime. Sad to see these once great destinations spiraling downward. Likely won't return.

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Layout Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Excellent
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 34
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart

Links in Michigan

Looking forward to coming back when my game is in better shape.

Fun layout, no trees but the burn, heather and traps are there to suck up your ball on an errant shot.

Had a special, we were able to play the Gailes and Blackshire with a night's accommodation for only $79 per person, which makes this an unbelievable deal.

Only negative, no beverage cart - closest place to go back to the pro shop to pick up beverages is between 10 and 11 and adds 15-20 minutes to your round as it is quite a drive back to the pro shop.

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Average
Pace Good
Amenities Fair
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 3
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
2.0
First Time Playing

Very Disappointing for how the Course is Advertised

Driving range was in awful shape & range balls are in rough shape. Nobody used it but my group. Outdated carts. No halfway house or beverage cart on hot days. The fescue has been overgrown with weeds and brush. Unplayable. The bunkers are not taken care of. Overgrown with weeds and lots of rocks. The course has a decent design, but the condition is horrendous. Appears as if there are only 3 grounds crew employees to take care of three courses. Would not turn off sprinklers in fairways even when groups are playing the holes mid-day. Was a nice way to cool off with no beverages available though. Lots of dead areas. The area has been in a bit of a drought but other area courses are in far better shape! Would not recommend.

Conditions Fair
Value Average
Layout Fair
Friendliness Average
Pace Excellent
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 37
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Michigan Advisor
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart

One true links courses in Michigan

Just as matter of prospective I have played in Ireland and Arcadia so now links style course. The course was good condition and has true links style bunkers. We played in light wind which I can say I was thankful. We played the following day at different course with 15 to 30 mph winds. This course would have been a beast in those winds. A couple of issues on the layout. Holes 2 and 17 and 11 and 14 are played as double green. 2nd hole is par three and points you more to the 17 flag which may slow groups down playing 2 and people on are the 17th. The 14th green pushes you way from flag and as result you could find yourself shooting over people on the 11th. One hole the Gold/Blue tees are right next to the green (not that many were playing those tees). In my opinion these items could slow down play. The website has the yardages for traps which was not on our carts. So either out for end of season or no longer printed. Not sure which but you need these for the course to understand where these little pot bunkers (stroke takers) are located. Overall I would play the course and make things a bit easier with the layout. Accommodations were good with adjoining rooms for your groups and wee links play is right behind accommodations so if bet needs to be settled opportunity to play it off.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
Incentivized Review
4.0
Previously Played

Links style golf

A very challenging links style course . Every shot in the bag is required to get around this course . Some massive double greens make putting a challenge . There is a good mixture of long and then manageable holes to keep all players interested.. this course has the tallest bunker sod wall I’ve ever seen ‘! Also has a green which is approximately 50 yards wide and long ! The staff is awesome and the resort is very lates back . The city of oscoda doesn’t have much to do in the fall when we go but the Irish Pub keeps us busy !

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 40
Handicap Don't know
Skill Beginner
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart

Wow!

This course is a must play at lakewoods resort. Difficult scottish style layout with lots of bunkers and hazards. Great course to play. Encourages accuracy and not distance. Lots of fun Highly Recommend

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played
Windy weather
Used cart

Love this course

I love the Gailes.. I've played it now 4 times, but this was my first time playing it in a few years. To me, it's more challenging than the rating might suggest. If your shot placement isn't precise, you'll be punished by one of the bunkers that are seemingly placed everywhere, or the thick fescue/rough. The most frustrating part is hitting a perfect tee shot, and then realizing that it found one of the fairway pot bunkers. Be wise with what club you decide to hit out of said bunkers, and maybe even consider hitting it out sideways in some cases. The greens are also pretty fast and approach shots can be relatively difficult to hold in some cases. I had a few that were just a little short, and ended up at the bottom of the hill below the green. I love the challenge of the Gailes, and will definitely be back soon!

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 10
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Excellent weather
Used cart

Nice Course

I think they had several course outings going at the same time plus trying to squeeze regular tee times in between. Play was extremely slow. (It took 3 hours to play the front 9) Other than that, the course was nice and in good condition. I would play it again but would check first to see how they were booking tee times for the day. A TRUE links course.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Poor
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Fair weather
Used cart

great features

will play again and again.very different from your regular course has that scotland look and feel the swirling wind and long heather grasses.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 5
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Excellent weather
Used cart

The Gailles

First time on a links course, what an experience. This is a beautiful course, lots of challenges. We did have a problem with a pair of guys that hit into us, made us nervous. The course was crowded because of an outing and slow play. The ranger tried his best to keep them moving. All in all I would go back to try again.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Poor
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Good weather
Used cart

Course is a good design, but needs LOTS of work

The Gailes at Lakewood Shores is a great design but has not been taken care of. It is in poor condition. The rough is all weeds and the bunkers are not maintained. This is the first golf resort that I have ever been at where there are no people to help you with your clubs. We had to carry our clubs from the car to the golf cart and when finished, we had to take them off the cart and carry them to the car. Pro shop people were not friendly or helpful. I will say that John, the manager of reservations was great. Without him we would have left after the first day.

Conditions Fair
Value Average
Friendliness Poor
Pace Good
Amenities Fair
Difficulty Moderate
Default User Avatar
Commented on 08/29/2014

The villas are in the same, neglected condition.

Played On
Reviews 324
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Texas Advisor
Top 10 Contributor
First Time Playing
Average weather
Walked

Great, golf-til-you-drop resort, but worthy of Top 100?

Lakewood Shores Resort is ideal for a value golf binge for Metro-Detroiters looking for a great long weekend with a handful of courses all offering a little bit of a different style compared to one another. The Gailes Course came to fame as a replica links course in the early 1990s and has earned regular Top 100 acclaim since.

But I must be honest, when you consider the great strides links-inspired golf design has taken in the U.S. in the last two decades (thanks largely to folks like Doak, Coore-Crenshaw, Devries, Kidd, etc.), the Gailes falls a step back. It's fairways and greens are bent, while a true links is fescue. It really doesn't play like a links course, instead it's rather soft.

For me, northern MIchigan golf is all about rolling hills, tree-lined fairways a little water and great value. Why try to be something you're not when what you have to begin with is pretty darn good?

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Amenities Average
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 18
Handicap 0-4
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0

My favorite course! You'll love it or hate it.

A true scottish experience. I swear you hear bag pipes when you walk on the course. Perfect flat tees with "back cut" fairway bunkers...you can not see the bunkers from the tee box...use a yardage book from the pro shop. And, bring a lot of golf balls as you're in the fairwar or heather. If you got what it takes, you'll love this course as I do!!!

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
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Destination Kohler - Champions' Trail Golf Package

FROM $617 (USD)
KOHLER, WI | Enjoy 2 nights’ accommodations at The American Club or the Inn at Woodlake and 3 rounds of golf at Blackwolf Run (River or Meadow Valleys Course) and Whistling Straits (Straits or Irish Course)

Destination Kohler - To Dye Four Golf Package

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