The Homestead

Always a pleasure to play this course when in the area. Good test of your golf skill but not crazy difficult. Will play again.

Second time playing here. Greens were rolling nicely and even though it was busy pace of play was great. I don’t think we waited on a single shot. Staff was great. Only wish they had a range but the nets were ok.

Great day. Great price on a Hot Deal!

Beautiful conditions and layout. Super friendly staff. I'll be back. Worth any drive.

Great course with attractive amenities: Electric carts with onboard gps course layout and yardages, small cooler with ice and water, ball cleaner. Not one thing to complain about.

Manitous Passage is in my top 5 favorite northern Michigan courses. I consider it to be somewhat of a hidden gem. The conditions are always excellent and the staff is very friendly. I could play this course over and over and not tire of the layout. The enormous elevation changes make for a gorgeous round, especially in the fall. I will continue to come back multiple times a year. Great value, great course!

Had a great time playing here this August during a family vacation in Northern Michigan. It's a beautiful course that challenges you more often than not. I found myself not playing my best on this particular day, but it never took away from the experience. I loved the history in the clubhouse (lots of tribues to Arny). The course was in great shop. The bartender was a sweetheart. All said, it was a great afternoon! Thanks Manitou Passage

Very friendly staff, nice layout, - semi tricky shots required but gps on carts helps a lot. The greens were nice, moderate speed but a little bumpy (it is fall golf). Some excellent vistas and very pretty scenery. Very favorable women's tees.

Clubhouse filled with information about Arnold Palmer. Golf course is challenging from all tees and is in very good condition. Cart paths only on par 3's and GPS restricts where carts can travel on the course. Pace of play was a little slow but worth playing again and again and again and again. Hope to be back soon.

Do yourself a favor and play this Northern Michigan gem.

This is the best course that I've ever played. Excellent layout. Errant shots are penalized and I had plenty of those, but still had a blast! Played 2 course in NW Michigan on this trip and I'd come back here in a heartbeat. Excellent staff that was very accommodating.

First time was better than the second time

First-time starter was on point, rhythm of play was consistent I felt like I was at a high dollar course.
Second time the play was extremely slow and had trouble finding somebody who worked there.
Hope my third experience is like the first!

First time playing this course in 20 years -- very nice course. Well kept. Rolling hills and scenic holes but fair -- played off the whites.

a bit off the beaten path, but well worth the drive. Course plays a bit long, undulating, twisting, very difficult when shooting into prevailing wind. Great views, not crowded, well maintained, wonderful friendly staff. Will definitely play again!

I liked this course. My friend didn't. Maybe because he was not playing as well. We had a wonderful golfnow deal so the price was good. The regular rate is pretty steep. With the name I expected some nice vistas overlooking Lake Michigan, but there aren't any. This course plays through the woods. There is some water, some nice sand and decent undulating greens. The tees showed remarkable wear for this time of year. The fairways are well kept and dry. If you can find a deal this is a nice course. All the carts have GPS and they say they will control your rate of play, so if you are slow and like to ball hawk there might be better options when it is busy. The staff was super friendly and helped make us feel comfortable about some of the elite aspects of the course.

It's not often a northern Michigan resort course goes under the radar, but Manitou Passage, part of The Homestead, seems to get a lot less ink than some of Michigan's famed multi-course resorts.

The result is a smaller, 18-hole club that feels a lot more low key than the bustling resorts shuffling groups off multiple first tees. Since The Homestead took it over (it used to be named King's Challenge named after designer Arnold Palmer) they've made constant strides in course maintenance and service. You can even order beverages and food from their own app.

The course winds pleasantly around the old Sugarloaf Ski Hill, which has been defunct for years. On the back nine, you pass right under an old wooden ski lift and wonder who ever trusted that thing with their children decades ago. But I digress...

The routing features a mix of wooded holes with a few more open and surrounded by heather. The elevated tees are awesome, particularly the par-5 8th which offers a glimpse of Lake Michigan and Manitou Island.

It's certainly one of the best options within minutes of the summer hotbed of Traverse City. And if you stay at The Homestead, enlist in a 1- or 3-day golf camp from the Dave Pelz scoring school.