34
ARCADIA BLUFFS SITS ON SAND DUNES
high
above majestic Lake Michigan and is considered
Michigan’s finest golf course. I agree that Arcadia
Bluffs is worthy of high praise, but there are two
other courses that deserve mention as the state’s
finest.
The Kingsley Club was designed by Mike Devries,
who spent most of his life studying golf course
design at Crystal Downs. Crystal Downs is
annually ranked as one of the top-10 private golf
clubs in the nation and was built by none other
than Dr. Alister MacKenzie.
Devries incorporated many of the good doctor’s
design features in his work at the Kingsley Club.
Rolling sand dunes are used for dramatic elevation
change from tee to green. Severe undulation on
the beautiful green complexes make keeping
3-putt greens to a minimum a challenge.
Slope and bunkers are used to disguise distance
and there are precious few level lies to be found
in the fairways.
Another enduring feature of Kingsley Club is the
lack of an ornate clubhouse. There are two lodges
that can accommodate guests, but the main
feature of the property is the golf.
The other course that captured my heart when I
first laid eyes on it is Forest Dunes.
Kingsley Club & Forest Dunes
Challenge Arcadia Bluffs in Michigan
NWO Golf Links