Black Lake Conference Center
About Black Lake Conference Center
Not everybody realizes that the Black Lake Conference Center - also known as the Walter and May Reuther UAW Family Education Center owned by the United Auto Workers - is open to the general public. It was built in the 1970s on roughly 1,000 acres of remote, idyllic property in northern Michigan. Accommodations range from 228 rooms in the Lodge to a selection of condos, apartments and camp sites. With a massive auditorium, Black Lake is perfect for conferences, retreats, weddings, family vacations and reunions. Rees Jones added the award-winning Black Lake Golf Club in 2000. Other recreation includes exploring the surrounding forests hiking and biking or fishing in Burt Lake, Mullett Lake or its namesake Black Lake, teeming with walleye, bass and perch.Facts
Amenities & Services
Rules
Golf courses at Black Lake Conference Center
Images from Black Lake Conference Center
Reviews
Reviewer Photos
Other than the Gnats
Course was lush and in good shape. Thick rough, fairways overall good shape and greens were smooth and rolled with good speed. If it weren’t for the bothersome gnats that wouldn’t leave us alone it would be 4.5 stars.
Excellent course
Challenging, yet very playable. Great layout. Awesome GPS in carts. Probably can't find a better course for the money. Will return many times.
Beautiful golf course during fall foliage
It is a beautiful course, especially during fall foliage season. Friendly staff. Strongly recommended.
The pace was excruciating.
1 :30 hour pace through the first seven holes, Forty minutes to play 8 and 9. When made the turn, there were literally 5 groups at the tenth tee box. There wasn't a starter to get play moving or even an explanation. This resulted in a 6+ hour round and we played the last hole in the dark.
With all of the different courses to choose from in the surrounding areas, it's not worth the extra forty minute drive....I'm just saying
Course nice, lacking customer service and ...
Found the course in good condition.
When we paid no receipt was provided, and person in pro shop disinterested.
We were charged gratuity to have our golf bags placed on the golf cart, this was not optional. The individual did not wear gloves or appear to use a hand sanitizer. Also disinterested
The Starter was the shining moment in customer service, he offered some course incite, and wished us a good round.
The GPS on the cart was not always helpful. While driving on the paved cart path the GPS would stop showing the selected hole and ask us to return to the cart path, annoying! And the GPS stopped at the beginning of the 17th hole, I found this annoying as the score card does not show pictures of each hole, thus the last two holes we were hitting blind.
Two of the sand traps were difficult to physically enter and exit from, and I fell during one attempt.
When leaving the course again limited COVID, no gloves yet they instist on handling your golf bag, remember they include their gratuity as a separate charge. When making Tee Time all fees especially mandatory gratuity should be shared to a customer.
Amazing hidden gem!
After playing many courses both collegiate my and professionally, this course is a very strong track. Great design and condition. One of the most hidden courses I’ve played which intrigued me. When I saw Reese Jones designed it, I wanted to give it a go. Played long when I played as it was wet. Great practice facility, clubhouse and restaurant. I highly recommend.
A Northern Michigan Gem!
An experience you can only get in Northern Michigan. The course is beautiful and in excellent condition. Greens were very soft in the morning hours and they never quite rolled like i expected. Otherwise, well worth the trip.
Must Play
Played this course twice in a weekend on a golf trip. Worth the drive to the middle of nowhere. Beautiful clubhouse, go inside and check it out. Only thing I didn’t care for was the additional charge for bag handling and I put the bag on the cart myself. Very tough course, it’s going to test every club in your bag. Rough is thick, and the greens roll fast and true. Each hole feels like it’s by itself - you don’t have people from other holes hitting into you ever. We will be back for sure.
A gem in the north woods
Played this course for the 2nd time in 3 years. At one time if you were not allied with the UAW, you could not play it. Outstanding layout in the middle of nowhere Michigan (Onaway). I will defiantly play this again !
Great course
Very nice course,this is the first time I played it in the rain making it more of a challenge.it was still very nice
why
Don,t know why you would switch the front and back nines? The course played better the other way!
Black Lake was a little rough this year
We played here June July & August this year. It’s always been a true gem of our northern Michigan golf experience. I can honestly say I’ve played this course every year since it’s opened as well. Unfortunately we found it to be a bit rough this year. Greens pock marked with unrepaired ball marks, traps unraked and when the course was wet, it had been damaged by carts that should not have been allowed on fairways. We also encountered more none golfing golfers then we’ve seen before. I mention that only because I believe social media is promoting a poor level of behavior on golf courses and Black Lake was not exempt from it this year. Surprisingly Alpena’s public course was in better shape as well as Rivers Edge (which has always been well looked after). We’re hoping for a return to the previous spectacular conditions we’ve experienced in the past. The restaurant and bar staff are still excellent.
Maintenance not suited for promoting pace of play
Watching most golfers hack and chop out of the rough, couldn’t help but wonder what grounds team is thinking. Surely not the greens, worst I’ve putted on this year. Very bumpy and speed was anything but consistent
Very disappointed, played the course last three years, always a treat, not this time.
Beautiful and hard
This may be the best test of golf anywhere. Perfect condition and a golfers golf course. Plays long.
A true Northern Michigan golf experience!!
Driving north from Kalkaska, it took about an hour+. GPS had us on 2 lane highways instead of I75 . We arrived 30 mins before our tee time. The staff was able to accommodate us by holding off a group of 12 and letting us play first. It was a slight hurry but no problem. The morning sun hadn't even risen over the pines so it was indeed feeling a little Black and gloomy in the trees.
Overall, great course!! The all woods layout separates nearly every hole and your nestled away 1-18. Some seem a bit repetitive. Very challenging green complexes and par 3s. Good fairway forgiveness. Immaculate condition and phenomenal sand. We paid 49 bucks on a Monday. Huge burger and slaw hit the spot post round.