Riverview Highlands, Riverview

We golfed the gold and red today. The course was in really good condition considering the rain we got yesterday & last night. The water was over the banks but the fairways were well drained. There were only a few wet spots, though the sand was still pretty wet. The womens tee boxes were not in really good shape - hopefully they'll work on them this summer! Lots of CLEAN port-a-potties and of course the really nice bathroom on the gold 9. Well, worth the money!

The Monument, Boyne

Day 5...the last day. This course is right next to the Alpine and is also very woman friendly. There was actually a "turn" on this course. You could order food on hole 11 and pick it up or sit and eat before hole 12. Unfortunately, we weren't able to finish playing this course. We were leaving for home and it was just too slow for us to finish. We played 12 and then left. The fairways were in really good condition but the greens weren't quite as nice as the Alpine. Elevations, more sand and more water made this course a little tougher than the Alpine, I think, but not being able to finish, I can't really say. But the huge bunker on hole 1 (in the picture) will give you some idea.

Alpine, Boyne

Day 4 of our trip...Alpine in Boyne. Loved this course - it was the most woman friendly course we golfed on. They had 3 bathrooms on the course - not port-a-johns, actual bathrooms which were big and clean. The cart girl was around frequently and made great bloody marys. The course itself was hard but the women's tees were about 100 yards closer to the tee than the mens so it was very playable. The fairways and greens were in excellent condition and there were lots of elevations, which I love. There wasn't much water on the course but lots of sand. The bunkers were in good condition too. I would love to go back and golf this course and the others at Boyne.

Wilderness Valley, Gaylord

Day 3...we golfed Wilderness Valley, part of Black Forest. Today was cold and rainy so it was a good day to play this course because it was a smaller course with only three par 5s. But considering the rain, it was in very good condition. Hole 9 ended at the clubhouse - which was good because there was no cart girl. The folks at the clubhouse were really nice and gave us a good discount on what we bought. The food was good and the clubhouse itself, though small, was really nice. The first 9 were kind of close together but the second 9 were more spread out. There were quite a few golfers out but we rarely saw anyone. Would play this course again as a warm up for some of the larger courses in the area.

The Tribute, Otsego Club, Gaylord

Day 2 of our 5 days...golfed The Tribute at Otsego Golf Club. Loved the course...lots of hills with elevated tees. We drove forever to reach the first tee. The course was in great condition - lush fairways and well maintained greens. There was a threesome in front of us and one behind us but we rarely saw them. Two problems...first, no turn and no one told us this. However there was a "cart girl" waiting between 9 and 10 so that was OK. Second, two port-a-johns...the first one at hole 2 (way to soon) and the second at hole 13 (way too late). But they were clean and fresh, a big difference from yesterday. The course was challenging but very enjoyable. Will golf here again for sure.

Amendment: September 4, 2014.  Golfed here again in 2013 and again 2014. Still really enjoy this course.  One new thing: They have new port-a-potties that are huge and flush! They're kind of like airplane bathrooms but bigger.  Very nice! And now there are 4 of them! Also 2 cart girls waiting for us this time.  Nice improvements!

Course remains in beautiful condition.  On this day there were 139 golfers scheduled but it moved OK for us.

Black Forest, Gaylord

Today was the first day of five days of golf in upper lower Michigan. We golfed at Black Forest today. The course is really isolated and a true "Michigan" course...in the woods, no cart paths, no bathrooms, etc. It was a hard course in really good condition with lots of pretty holes. The bad things were...we were attacked by flies (they didn't bite but were really annoying), the port-a-johns were full of flies (no real bathrooms), there was no turn (although we were warned about that when we started). The good things were the course was pretty, in good condition, uncrowded and the weather was great - not too warm and cloudy. I don't know if I'll golf here again though. Bathrooms are a must for women...

Carrington, Monroe

Golfed Carrington Golf Club for the first time this year. It was in good shape considering all the rain we had yesterday and this morning. But the rough was really, really rough...if you hit off the fairway, you rarely saw your ball again. It was deep and dense and balls just dropped to the bottom. The fairways were nice, the women's tee boxes were OK...some of the greens, especially the par 3s were pretty rough. No cart girl...

Huron Meadows MetroPark

This was my first visit to this course. The metro parks were having a special - $10 for 18 holes with a cart so the course was very crowded. The first nine was a little tight with some side by side fairways, which I don't really like. The back nine was wide open though and much less crowded for some reason. This is a pretty course with some interesting holes...some water, long grass, & marshy areas. I'm told there is alot of wildlife here but we only saw some sandhill cranes which walked right near folks. The tee boxes (for women anyway) were a little lumpy and some of the greens weren't in great condition but overall, really enjoyed playing this course and will go back soon I hope.

Fox Hills, Plymouth

First time golfing at Fox Hills this year. We did the Hills and the Lakes. The Hills was very crowded and is a very tight course. It was in good condition especially considering the rain we got last night...it wasn't even cart path only! The ranger allowed us to do the Lakes instead of the Woodlands and though it was quite wet in spots, it was still very playable. It was crowded either, no one behind us - probably because there was a lot of mosquitos because of the rain. But my Off Clip On was working so we weren't bothered. We'll play there again for sure!