The Heathlands golf course, located about 10-15 minutes south of Arcadia Bluffs in a town called Onekama of northwest Michigan, is a very hidden gem of a course. For the price, it is just unbeatable! $58 in the Summer on the weekend if you are walking! Not very many people know about this course, as it is off a side road in a town of 600 citizens.
The town of Onekama is full of nice people. Everybody waves and says hello as you are walking or driving by. The town nicknames itself the "Two Lake Town" as it is on Lake Michigan as well as a smaller lake, Portage Lake.
I wasn't expecting much by this course, but was blown away once I started to play. I only was able to play the front 9, though. An updated review of this course will be posted next Spring or Summer, when I get the chance to play it again.
(All yardages posted are from the black tees)
View from the 1st tee box.
The course plays short, 6569 from the blacks. You begin your front 9 with a fairly easy starting hole, a 401 yard par 4. A wide open hole, there is fescue on both sides of the fairway though, but there is some rough separating the 2.
The course continues then with an open par 3 at 173, with only bunkers guarding you from hitting the green.
The 3rd hole is a real joy to play. A 559 par 5, your tee shot should be aimed over the very short fairway bunker. I know, it will seem like you're aiming way right, but after you get past the bunker, the whole doglegs to the right, and your tee shot, if straight, will be in the middle of the fairway.
#3 approach shot to the green.
The 4th hole is another fun one, at 383 yards. It is a very severe dogleg to the left. This whole will not require driver for most players. However, don't play it too short, or you will have an approach like the one shown below.
Approach to the 4th green if left short.
The 5th hole is a true monster! At 445 yards, the tee shot is extremely tight. Trees lining almost the entire right side of the fairway and left side as well. An uphill approach shot is then left after the tee shot.
5th tee shot- very tight!
The 6th is a fairly easy par-5 at 541 yards and a little bit of a dogleg left. Once done with the 6th, you travel through the trees on a path to my favorite hole on the course, #7. This was a very fun hole to play. It is a severe dogleg right at 339 yards. Driver should only be needed if going for the green. The only players who can make it to the green, however, can hit it long and hit a cut.
7th tee shot, scenic and fun!
Trees are completely lining the right side of the whole, and the fairway slopes to the right. You will have a better angle at the green if aimed more to the left. There is a huge bunker guarding the entire front of the green, and you almost have a blind shot to the green because of a small hill in the front left.
7th approach to the green.
This is a very nice hole to play as it gives many options to the shot choice.
The 2 front 9 finishing holes are nice ones as well. The 8th is a downhill par 3 at 191. Your tee shot is from in the trees and the green ends up in the wide open. Also, a bunker guards the left while fescues guards the right.
The 9th is a fun hole to play as well, with a bunker smack dab in the middle of the fairway. Playing at 346 yards, its an easy finisher if you miss the bunker.
The overall experience was a fun one. This course provides some scenic views as well as fun holes to play. While not the hardest and longest course, it does provide many options in your shot and club selection. The head pro was the only worker there besides the man working the register. It gave off a nice quaint feel, as both were extremely nice. My family travels up to Onekama every Summer, but this was my first time playing the course. I cant wait to return next year and play all 18 holes!
P.S. If looking for a bite to eat, I recommend The Glenwood, great fish and pasta! The workers there are nice as well!
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